Good morning, DearHeart.

Is it just me or has this year already dealt hard blows everywhere?

Covid-19 is after our health, our work, our minds. What’s next?

I watched my kids walking back to the house from the pond last night. They’d been fishing.

Even though they are young adults, my mom-mind still thinks in terms of what I’d do to protect them. Maybe even more now than when they were little-at least then I had some sense of control.

There was a woman who had no control, but knew that if she just gave it to Jesus, she would be fine. She was absolutely desperate. She had been suffering with illness for so long that it became the only life she knew and it took its toll. Yet, she knew if she could just get to the Christ …

Instead of feeling regret over the “what if’s”, what would happen if we were to respond like this woman? Her “what IF” drove her to desperate measures. She was fresh out of

answers,

resources,

effort,

power

& ideas.

Her “what IF” drove her to the Only One that could change her situation. She only wanted to touch the clothes of Jesus & believed she would then be healed.

Healed, as in

safe;

delivered;

made

whole;

preserved from danger,

loss or destruction.

Those things we all want.

Her situation caused her the loss of her everyday life. She was shamed out of society because she was unclean.

She could not socialize.

She could not be with family.

She could not have a husband

or children.

She was alone.

Desperate.

Physical and mental pain.

And, an amazing thing happened that day….

“Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” (Mark 5:29 NIV84).

Not only did she receive healing in her body but she was freed from her SUFFERING mind. For you see, sometimes our situations cause us to feel like we are held captive. We feel hopeless. We don’t see a way out. We are in inner turmoil. We feel that our circumstances will never change or be any different. May we remember that she received a freedom that day. A relief from both the physical ailment & the mental & emotional pain she had endured. She was free.

May we be desperate for Him in the midst of our situations.

May we be driven to get out of our heads and with everything in us be pulled in and held by spirit knowing

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6 ESV)

“Out of the depths I cry out to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.” (Psalm 130:1 NIV84).

Wake up.

The end to your suffering is near.

Touch Him.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

Is it just me or has this year already dealt hard blows everywhere?

Covid-19 is after our health, our work, our minds. What’s next?

I watched my kids walking back to the house from the pond last night. They’d been fishing.

Even though they are young adults, my mom-mind still thinks in terms of what I’d do to protect them. Maybe even more now than when they were little-at least then I had some sense of control.

There was a woman who had no control, but knew that if she just gave it to Jesus, she would be fine. She was absolutely desperate. She had been suffering with illness for so long that it became the only life she knew and it took its toll. Yet, she knew if she could just get to the Christ …

Instead of feeling regret over the “what if’s”, what would happen if we were to respond like this woman? Her “what IF” drove her to desperate measures. She was fresh out of

answers,

resources,

effort,

power

& ideas.

Her “what IF” drove her to the Only One that could change her situation. She only wanted to touch the clothes of Jesus & believed she would then be healed.

Healed, as in

safe;

delivered;

made

whole;

preserved from danger,

loss or destruction.

Those things we all want.

Her situation caused her the loss of her everyday life. She was shamed out of society because she was unclean.

She could not socialize.

She could not be with family.

She could not have a husband

or children.

She was alone.

Desperate.

Physical and mental pain.

And, an amazing thing happened that day….

“Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” (Mark 5:29 NIV84).

Not only did she receive healing in her body but she was freed from her SUFFERING mind. For you see, sometimes our situations cause us to feel like we are held captive. We feel hopeless. We don’t see a way out. We are in inner turmoil. We feel that our circumstances will never change or be any different. May we remember that she received a freedom that day. A relief from both the physical ailment & the mental & emotional pain she had endured. She was free.

May we be desperate for Him in the midst of our situations.

May we be driven to get out of our heads and with everything in us be pulled in and held by spirit knowing

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6 ESV)

“Out of the depths I cry out to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.” (Psalm 130:1 NIV84).

Wake up.

The end to your suffering is near.

Touch Him.

Go.

Good morning DearHeart.

The last time we were out we picked up some mulch and plants for our flower beds. At least if we lose the blessing of being social with people for a while, we can build a blessing with the soil and the sun. That will also help keep my thoughts from swirling me into a crater (Dale was planning ahead – self protection!). I have noticed over and over that when our mind is rolling with worry or heart torn, we can find breath along the silence of a pond or field, or listen to the simple, steadying rhythm of breezes. The steady and the still settle us and takes us over. Our breaths deepen and our hearts calm and our hungers fade. When peace is passed into us, new perspectives open to us and from difficulty and pain a call begins like an invitation to new growth. This welcome to friendship with nature does presume a willingness to be alone there. Yet this aloneness when given over to the Holy One is anything but lonely. Silence slowly calms the heart until Christ allows the weighted comfort of true tranquility.

Be still.

It is there, in the silent stillness that we feel intimately connected with the Father … there is where the caged mind gets released from the terror of itself, and the winds of His Spirit become the wisest balm.

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you…In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.”

Job 12:7-8, 10 ESV

Wake up.

Breathe in the morning breeze.

Be calmed.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

Our baby, Rush. He is like opening the curtains on a bright spring morning after a stormy night; a breath of light and new beginnings … as though the world itself has been remade. I love to look at him – I see light. Lots of light … constellations of light illuminate from within him. He has stolen our hearts. And, we are fiercely protective of his health – especially, right now, as his lungs were damaged from RSV earlier this year, leaving behind a stain of asthma. Prayer time, in and out of the hours, I ask the Maker of the Stars to wrap a protective cover around him. He was healed by the pure grace of God. We do not take that lightly. Some families didn’t get to take their babies back home from Children’s. And, for those who did, those who are held in their momma’s arms this morning, I wonder what God has in store for them? Perhaps, He is raising up a generation who will, in turn, raise their Creator – high and lifted up, drawing all men to Him, so that these illnesses, this season of sickness will result in the turning of hearts to the true Light of the World.
‘And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.’ Ephesians 3:17-19
Wake up.
Let it be, Father.
Draw all of mankind to You.
Go.

Good mornin, DearHeart.

These are bizarre days. It is going to be strange for us to spend a span of our days at home, on the farm, through the rest of March – into April. Who would have thought that a tiny, microscopic germ could move us into such mayhem? Yet, I know a new dance will come from this disruption – it always does. When we get forced out of our norm, when calamity comes, there is always good that comes from the ghastly . Everything happens in its own precise time, and its own right way. I know it because I have witnessed it. I’ve been

awed,

humbled,

gratified, and

shaken to my core.

But before there was awe, there was simply aimless selfishness.

Let me explain.

I’m prone to believe in the crazy brilliant workings of the Holy Spirit, the Day Star, Creator, Friend, Master Artist, God Most High. But, also down deep I am a reasonable gal. I know that cynics think that spirituality is a crutch. And they’re right. It is a crutch. It’s something to lean on when you’re flopping and hobbled and too frail to amble on your own two feet.

Yes, of course, I could lay there on the ground and claim my independence from a belief in ease, love, and compassion. You can call me morally lazy, but I’d rather stroll onward in my life and accomplish things that are set into me by The Holy … knowing the Redeemer gives me the gift and the grit to go on. I move because I trust Him. I don’t take actions when I don’t trust. There you have it.

That’s why I don’t see knowing God as simple-minded idealism. I see it as time-tested pragmatism.

I feel Him as faith. I hear Him when I get still. I feel Him when I take a breath.

The easy, natural, human nature way is to insist on shooting sarcasm at all that is “touchy feely,” but I’m not interested in fueling my weakness, anxiety, and irritation as much as I’m interested in healing them. Especially in times like these; when we wonder what will be left on the other side of this trial. I want God Most High to use me for His results in my lifetime.

There is no better time than today for you to commit to the same.

Come. Walk this faith-journey with me.

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:24-25 ESV

Wake up.

Feel His presence.

Allow fear to fall.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

This infectious disease scare – praying as we obey the warnings … that nothing happens. That is exactly the point – for us to get through – unscathed. No illness in our loves. None in us. And, to realize this time has purpose … so much good will come from something so bad. Even here, you and I have been called to fill a need. We are an answer. And, not just any answer, God’s answer. We have been selected for this day to bring our Creator in with us, to fill the space and these times with His GLORY. It is our move now, to honor the Source of Life with presence, that through us, when we invite Him in, The Maker of the Stars wraps the air with His presence-

colorfully, like heavily beaded leathers with feathered Fancy Dance regalia. I so long for you and me to bring His ancient presence in, to sing Him into our spaces, enunciating each syllable as we join the nodding of heads, the resonance of believers, that all may feel what we feel … urgency in the camaraderie to share Him with souls who follow us.

‘In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple with His glory.’ (Isaiah 6:1)

Wake up.

Call on His presence.

Enter in.

Go.