Good morning, DearHeart,

Butterflies are one of my favorite things.

I once read a story about a young brave going into battle. The elders of his tribe painted a butterfly on his shield? Why a butterfly instead of a panther, or badger, or more fierce creature? Because to be that

tender and

wet-winged,

to break through the walls of a cocoon,

and to fly into a world that is completely unknown

is the ultimate act of bravery.

Your Creator sees you through eyes of pure love. The authenticity with which He made you and me is steeped in pure potential. To fly through each season of life –

joy –

sorrow –

love –

uncertainty –

this day –

well, that takes some serious God-instilled moxie.

When you want to love and be loved (and, really, what else is there?), your truth becomes a very tender thing, and sharing it is a mighty gift. A mighty, mighty gift.

To all heart-dwelling heroes, like the shepherd boy, David, who dare to stay true to who they are, I applaud you!

Be profoundly and completely you, no matter what, even when difficulties come … simply revel in the peace that this sincerity brings.

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Wake up.

Moxie on.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

Have you ever found that your life has been profoundly shifted? You take a moment to breathe and in the pause you wonder, “how did this happen? How did I get here? Where did this even come from?”

Reality sets in. We thought we were going this direction, then, suddenly realize …

this place,

these people,

this knot,

these tears,

… this is not at all what I was expecting.

Love does that. It moves us. It shifts our hearts and opens us up to examine the stories playing out. And, the people playing out.

And, the movement of your soul.

There are many tormented creatures you will bump up against every day.

Joyless. Aggressively searching. Not everyone has received the

help,

happiness, or

His Holiness for which they search.

Some will choose searching over receiving forever. The Creator places us together with lives that blend to draw out our gifts. You are being drawn upon, DearOne. Where you are has reason and meaning. Your light has purpose and is moving you into the next chapter of your life-story. And, the most phenomenal part is that the gifts within that are being pulled from you are not for you – their impact is for another. There is sacredness in your deep bank of originality that is meant to awaken the deep bank in others. When God Most High places His mark on you to do His work, He also places “your assigned people” in your path who are waiting for your giftedness to arrive. Being motivated by love means you are the conduit. Whether you notice or not, you are not the head of the selection committee of how others respond and react, you are simply the YOU that the Master Author writes into the story. Shake the dust off your feet and move into today’s assignment. Someone’s life will be shifted by your call. If peace doesn’t come, you are being shifted … move on into your next chapter.

“…and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it. But if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.” Matthew 10:13-14 HCSB

Wake up.
Prepare to be shifted.
Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

I praise God for His continuous refinement in my life. He often uses people to refine us. Make a quick list of ten people you are thankful for. There doesn’t have to be a reason you are thankful for them. You simply appreciate something they’ve brought in and added to your life.

There is so much suffering all around. It seems to me that one of the most thankful things you can do for someone is simply spot their joy. Find the places they light up and let them know. That’s powerful – maybe even the most powerful observation we can give – spotting someone in their joy.

Most of us don’t need more constructive criticism … or told how to fit into the box … we need to be witnessed in what is working – in the areas where we are doing something right – right there, in that place, having my joy reflected back, to be seen in that way – in the fullness of the gifts bequeathed by God, The Master-Creator .. that’s powerful affirmation of being on track.

Besides, no matter what pit or scum you may be suffering through, when you affirm another, it has a powerful B-12 like impact on you.

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:11, NLT).

Wake up.

Fellowship & Friendship.

Community & Connection.

Friends encourage.

Spot their joy.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart,

We are all wounded, aren’t we? Yet, your Creator planned for you to never be alone,

even when the stakes are high,

when your heart is shattered,

when your body breaks down,

when precious ones are taken from you.

You don’t know how long you will remain here. Life has invited us in for a while. Joys and hurts and all … you and I are all-in. While you remain, there is so much more going on in the heavenlies all around you than your mind can know.

God Most High’s beings are in motion. On assignment from the Commander-in-Chief. They have been charged to

move mountains

and thoughts

and attitudes

and wrong assumptions

and blow breezes of knowing into every soul along your trail. And, breezes of knowing into you.

That’s His Holy Spirit at work.

As souls cross your mind, draw a circle of light around them. Even the troubled ones. Now, fill that circle of light with a blessing for their protection and their strength. You can do it – because your own strength is being powerfully fueled by The Almighty. Yahweh.

Your healing has begun.

“He said, “Don’t worry about it—there are more on our side than on their side.” Then Elisha prayed, “O GOD, open his eyes and let him see.” The eyes of the young man were opened and he saw. A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha!” 2 Kings 6:16-17 MSG

Wake up.

Open your eyes.

Light the circles.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

I’m stifling a laugh and the harder I try to keep quiet the more tickled I get. Read this:

‘The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.’ Hosea 3:1 (NIV)

‘sacred raisin cakes’?!

Really? Did the author have a ‘SQUIRREL’ moment? Where did that come from? It doesn’t even fit with the story! Raisin cakes! For whatever reason, this strikes me so funny!

So, looking up different commentaries – maybe it references overindulgence in wine, or cake offerings given to pagan gods or something along that line.

Or … maybe it means fruitcakes.

‘love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, and love the fruitcakes among them.’

This is a stretch, and I may be way out of line – but maybe I need to hear – ‘Ang, you’re going to run into fruitcakes. Actually, I may even send a few your way. Love them, too.’

The fact that it is “sacred” implies that these raisin cakes (fruitcakes) have a distinctive, if not divine, purpose. Perhaps God is saying to me … its okay to love others even though they do not reciprocate that exact love in return … and their behaviors represent a love for the materialistic ego-centric world that they live in …. they are in the world and part take in worldly deeds as a way to win and influence others … they are still worthy of being loved. Perhaps God is reminding me that even those who see ME as a fruitcake … well, love them, too.

Just see them and love them through Divine eyes. I’m glad our God has a sense of humor.

I’m suddenly hungry for blueberry muffins. Lol. Y’all make it a great day!

Wake up.

Love the fruitcakes.

Go.

Good morning, DearHeart.

I follow a ‘health and safety’ account on Instagram that shows workplace accidents. Often, carelessness is the cause. Someone gets hurt. Does anyone out there struggle with relationships because at some point carelessness crept in? Loaded question, right?

Struggle ONLY happens to help you. And only you can choose to enter with the Most High God to rise from it.

You have the power within you to open up the most significant relationships of your life. You see, when you are in first relationship with The Chief Soul Therapist: Jehovah Rapha, The God Who Heals You, the quest to love and forgive is precious. Even when it has traditionally been ugly.

Even when the baggage is heavy.

It can also be the hardest journey you ever walk. It requires an inner reconstruction –

hammering,

sawing,

drilling …

all of which feel as if they are happening physically when you are in that relationship-repair mode.

It’s a heroic journey.

It will affect every other relationship in your life.

And, guess what? For me, it always comes down to first loving the me that God loves. Go figure.
You will feel challenged all the time with those that create the most grief in your life. Learn to recognize the weaving of Satan’s scheme that’s keeping you spinning in the rapids. You want to be perfect, say the perfect things, but there’s something about dealing with our challenging peeps that is like taking LSD. You trip. Things appear and words spew sideways and people grow multiple heads. Then you drive away and wonder, “where did that come from?”

When we begin to see ourselves through our Father’s eyes, we quit making demands. While those who see themselves and others through human eyes, are like wild stallions and act as such. Some relationships are just triggers, aren’t they? The jaw sets, stomach knots, we begin foaming at the mouth when we feel their energy walk in. That can’t set the stage well. The truth is, when you are tired, emotionally. . . physically . . . you are weak . . . and don’t have it in you to be on your game and centered. So, start with love. Not feeling it? Ask God for it.
Ask the Almighty to help you try. Ask your Creator to forgive you and help you forgive yourself. Then you are ready to enter in with God Most High, and begin healing with your people.

“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,” Colossians 2:1-2 ESV

It’s not complicated.

It’s not even so hard when you open your heart to it.

Wake up.

Just ask for love.

After all, it’s what people are seeking most.

Knit together in love.

Go.