Can I Borrow Your Glasses?

I have noticed a phrase that seems to repeat in my prayers, both on my blog posts, and in my own private prayers. I seem to always ask God to “help me see”. I am always asking Him to “open my eyes” to things around me. There are many things about this life and this world that I do not understand, many things that I do not see clearly, and without His help in opening my eyes to see, I will never understand them. I will never see them clearly as He does.

Even in my physical self, I wear glasses to see better, but in my spiritual self, I wish it were that easy. I wish I could lean over to God and ask “Hey, can I borrow your glasses for a minute?”. It seems like borrowing His glasses would make my decisions so much easier.

Even with my glasses on, I don’t have truly perfect vision. I have the best vision that is possible in the physical with the help of my eye doctor. However, I will never have truly completely perfect vision as long as I am on this earth. Only God has completely pure perfect vision.

What I mean by that is, only God sees all things completely accurate, as they really are. Only God sees things without flaw, without partiality. Only God can discern all motives. Only God sees the big picture.

He is not near sighted.

He is not far sighted.

He is ALL SIGHTED.

He can take it all in at once, He never has to squint to make something clear. All is clear to Him. He never has to lean toward the light to read something, He is the light.

Only God has true 20/20 vision.

In the medical community, 20/20 vision is considered perfect eyesight, which is why I would love to borrow His glasses, if He had them. In His perfection, He has no need for assistance from anyone or anything else to see clearly. I can say this though, the closer I get to Him, the better my sight becomes. Although I will never see all things perfectly this side of Heaven, in the process of becoming more like His Son, my spiritual vision begins to improve as I begin to look at things from His perspective.

It always amazes me how crisp and defined things are when I get a new prescription in my glasses. When I leave the eye doctor’s office, I read every sign I can, amazed at what I “didn’t” see before. I study the brightness of the green leaves on the trees, looking at the edges of the leaves, edges that before blended from one leaf to another. Along those same lines, when I have learned a new truth from Him and have realized how it fits in my life, I am amazed even more at how crisp and defined things in life seem to be. The things that were fuzzy, are no more. There is no question of where right and wrong overlap. There is a definite difference when I have worn the prescription of His Word as I look at questions and circumstances.

So really, I guess He does let me borrow His glasses, they just aren’t glasses in the way I was expecting. Only God would prescribe perfect vision by looking through the pages of a book. The pages of His Word. When I hold those words to my eyes, everything seems so much clearer.



Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

What Were They Thinking?

It was just another ordinary work day. An ordinary Wednesday morning. I walked across the same parking lot as I do on every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. As I walked toward the building, many other people were making their way in the same direction as I. I looked upon the faces and wondered what was going through their minds.

Were they thinking, as I often do, about just making it through today?

Were they thinking of the rest of the days activities and what must be accomplished once they leave this building later today? Ball practice, band practice, tutoring, something for dinner, a couple of loads of laundry, homework, church, AWANAS, answering emails, returning telephone calls, etc, etc, etc.

And then I thought to myself :
Do they ever wonder why we do these same things every day?
Do they wonder why we are here?
Do they get bored with the cycle of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. ? Nothing really changing except for the seasons, which themselves repeat too.
Do they ever wonder why we do this over and over and over? Do they think beyond the day at hand looking for the purpose of living in it?

My question for you is - Why ARE we here? Why do we keep repeating Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, etc?

I know the “Christian” answer. Most of you are thinking what we have always been taught, “We are here to glorify God.” And we are.

But more specifically, more personally, I am here to make a difference. So are you.

Jesus made a difference.

Contrary to the way I often live, I am not here to just merely survive to the end of the day, falling into bed totally exhausted. I am sad to say, often exhausted from running through a day totally void of eternal meaning. Useless Exhaustion. Exhaustion that accomplished nothing for the Kingdom.

I am here to make a difference. I am here so that He can make a difference.

As long as there is new life being birthed into this world, I have a purpose. You have a purpose.

That purpose? To make a difference in someone’s life. To move someone’s day from the “blah” level to the glimmer of hope level.

I can do that. You can do that.

How?

Think of some ways you can make a difference in the every day and post your ideas for us to read. It would be wonderful to have a toolbox full of ideas on hand ready to bless someone else in our experiences “Beyond Sunday Morning”.

God, I have a purpose. You are my purpose. Others experiencing You is my purpose. It is not enough to simply survive through each day, retreating into my home at the end of it, shutting the rest of the world out like they don’t exist. Surviving in relation to this subject is not really a positive word is it? You want us to thrive, not just survive. Thrive on the life and vitality that You bring into us. We have such a gift to give, such hope to share, such a difference to make, even if only to just one. Father, don’t just show me, knock me down with opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of those around me. Then YOU WILL BE GLORIFIED. Survival is not enough. Surviving leaves me with nothing left to give the ones I meet. I need to THRIVE, so that I have extra hope to share with the hearts void of Hope itself. I don’t want this to be a prayer that ends at the end of this post, Holy Spirit, bring it to the forefront of my thoughts, readily upon my mind and heart. Use me, Jesus, to accomplish your will.


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Blinded By the Light

First of all, I want to start off by saying I loved the comments you shared on Testify Tuesday.  If you didn't get a chance to read them, you will be blessed if you go back and take a peek.  It is a wonderful reassurance of God's activity when I read about the ways He reveals Himself to others, it reminds us that He's still active, that He doesn't forget about us, and that He can teach us in the simplest of ways.  By the way, if you leave a comment, check back on it later, someone may tell you how much your story meant to them, which actually happened here yesterday, and that's neat too.  Now - on to today -

Just before the time change in spring and fall, the position of the sun seems to change just enough that we notice it during our regular everyday activities in places where it had gone unnoticed before. As fall stretches on, it seems like driving in a westward direction is near impossible between four o’clock and five o’clock in the evening and the opposite is true in the morning hours.

I noticed the presence of the sun more than usual as I drove to work on Monday. There is a place along the road I travel where I approach a curve as I begin to descend a very long hill that winds a little. As I made the curve and began down the hill, the sun shone so brightly from behind me, out of no where, that I had to lean toward my steering wheel to keep from hurting my eyes. That sun was radiant, I travel that way 5 days a week at that time of the morning, however, only a few days out of the year do I experience this. It was so bright from behind me, its light bouncing off my rear view mirror in trio with my side mirrors, it was practically blinding me. The caution sign to my right was gleaming and even the yellow center line looked as if it rose from the asphalt as the light reflected back from it toward me.   The cars coming toward me could hardly see me, they could only see the light from the sun.

I thought about how bright that light was, a light that was created by the Father of Lights, and how brilliant the light of His presence must be. If even the sun, a created light causes us to squint and shield our eyes, I can’t imagine the intensity that comes forth from within Him.

I also thought about how I was moving forward in my car toward a destination, where I was supposed to be going, and that sunlight was brightening the path before me. If I had looked back at the sun, I would have wrecked, not reaching where I was going. Instead, the light supported be from behind, making the direction of the road more vivid.

The same is true in my life. If Jesus is the force behind where I am going or what I am doing, directing me with His light, illuminating the center lines, highlighting the caution signs, I can get there no problem, and those I meet along the way, well, hopefully, they will be blinded by His light.  He will be so bright behind me that as we cross paths, they don't see me at all, just Him.

His splendor was like the sunrise;
rays flashed from His hand,
where His power was hidden.

Habakkuk 3:4

Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Testify Tuesday

It's Testify Tuesday! How or where has God wowed you lately? We want to know.

My Testify Tuesday comment for today is what I experienced in our worship service on Sunday morning. Holy Spirit, You were there and sensed deeply within me. There was such a heaviness of your presence and it could be seen upon the faces and heard within the prayers being raised. I'm looking forward to seeing You draw more unto yourself this Sunday. It was wonderful. I am anticipating your works just like Isaiah 43:19

Behold, I will do something new,

Now it will spring forth;

Will you not be aware of it?

I will even make a roadway inthe wilderness,

Rivers in the desert.

I decided to post a comment from last Tuesday. Let me remind you that last Tuesday was not Testify Tuesday, but I was so blessed by the excitement Mitzi had in anticipating it and her willingness to testify to all of you what God had shown her that week that I asked her if I could use her "testimony" to bless you all today, and she kindly said yes.

I was so hoping today was testify Tuesday. I have been about to burst with excitment in the awe I felt this weekend. We went to pick apples and a pumpkin this weekend- that is where my AWESOME GOD opened my eyes. The pumpkins sitting there in the dirt were all different shapes, sizes, shades of orange and some had a curly stem while others were straight-just like us. All of the pumpkins were from a very small seed and were planted to grow..be picked..and let a someone enjoy their beauty. As we were ready to pay for our pumpkin(that took a while to pick)I was thinking of how each one of the families in line would take it home, carve it with a smile, hollow it out and put a light in it. WOW...dont you think that is what God wants for us........Seed, Picked, Carved with a smile, Hollowed out, and put a light for all to see. And even our trash(seeds pulled out)can be used for good. It will grow another pumpkin for someone else next year. What a GOD moment. I can only thank him for the blessings he gives us everyday and in the smallest thing how he has planned it. Thank you God for the little things as well as those big things that you are in control of. Also thank you Amy for sharing blog and helping me to see God in the small things too. Mitzi

Now, it's your turn - tell us how great He is!

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Sunday Siesta and A Winner

A little housekeeping first off today - If you read last week's post called "Camping Out", you probably remember that I was going to draw a winner from those who posted a comment. Now girls - let me remind you this blog is mainly written for us GIRLS, but we a have a few guys that read too, and they are showing you up in the comments department! EHHEM! Can you hear me clearing my throat?!?!? All jokes aside, I really enjoyed the comments that were posted and we will probably all go camping again sometime, so keep your bags packed and ready. The winner from those posts was Camillia Madden. She gets a copy of the book Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst.  Love this book, Camillia, hope you enjoy it.  Now on to today's subject.

Yesterday afternoon Brenna and I decided a Sunday afternoon nap was a wonderful idea. Our bellies were full and our eyes were heavy as we crawled into bed for a little rest. Brenna brought several “guests” along with her for our siesta – Care Bear, Pooh Bear, Sock Monkey, and a huge Raggedy Ann doll. As the guests began to pile in, I knew that unless those little visitors stayed on the other side of the bed, our nap would be anything but restful.

As I began to drift off to sleep, I felt Brenna move to snuggle up close to my back. This did not surprise me since she is such an affectionate child, but what surprised me was when she put her little arm around my neck, there was something between us. Normally, she gets as close to me as she can, so I asked her, “Brenna, what’s between me and you?”

“Raggedy Ann and my monkey,” she answered.

I lay there thinking for a few minutes about me and God. How often do I agree to rest with Him, yet I bring along “extras” like Brenna did? All the extras inhibit true rest.

How many times have I attempted to snuggle up close to Him only for Him to feel something in between us?

I fear too many to count. I fear this scripture sometimes describes me, Isaiah 30:15

For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing.

I have often tried to rest in Him without repentance, without quietness, and without trusting Him to be my strength. I was not willing to leave my “visitors” behind while I rested with Him.

If you were to snuggle up close what would be between you and Him? Think about that for a few minutes.….What would keep space between you and Your Maker?

Psalms 62:1 says:
My soul finds rest in God alone.

In God alone.

I know you are aware of what the word alone means, but I looked it up in the dictionary to draw us a more vivid picture. According to American Heritage Dictionary, alone means 1) apart from other people; single; solitary. 2) excluding anything or anyone else. 3) with nothing further added.

My rest is in Him alone, apart from others, excluding anything else, with nothing further added. I guess that means when I want to rest in Him, I shouldn’t bring Care Bear, Pooh Bear, Sock Monkey, or Raggedy Ann along!

Rest in Him is good. It is refreshing, it brings new perspective, it brings new passion. So, if you haven’t rested with Him lately, it’s time.

He doesn’t mind your affection, He wants you to snuggle up close, but you can’t truly rest if there are things keeping you at a distance from Him.

Father, please in your infinite wisdom, open my eyes to the things placing a distance between me and You. Reveal those things that are preventing true rest in You and after You reveal them, remind me to trust in your power within me to lay them down. I know that you rescue me with that rest and that I gain strength from quietness with You and trust in You. May this day be different for us, God. I pray that my friends do not settle for less than your perfect plan today. Quiet, trust, rest, strength. You.


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Majestic Manger

I am a sucker for pretty things and I have an extreme weakness when it comes to Christmas decorations. I guess it’s pretty bad when you wake up from a dream where you’ve been in search of that PERFECT décor item, see it from a distance, go toward it, pick it up looking for a tag only to be snatched from dreamland before you see the price.

Yes, that happened to me.

I woke up that Saturday morning a few weeks ago with images of this perfect Baby Jesus figurine in this gold majestic, royal looking manger bed, nothing like the real one. He was just glowing on that shelf; I could almost hear the angels singing. It looked more like what He should have been able to have slept in as a tiny babe - but, well, God didn’t ask me, and I have learned that His way is best. The baby was almost life sized perched upon a soft silky white pillow that was encased within a golden metallic bed sparkling in the light. In my dream, it was one of those items that you see when you first walk into a store and go directly to it, you’re drawn to it and you know the search of perfect item is over. In my dream I had been shopping for something to give away the Christmas party at work, and this was the gift to end all gifts.

I rushed to it, quickly but carefully moving the breakable items around it so that I could pick it up and peek at the price. I positioned everything out of harms way and began to reach for the Christmas Gem just as the sales clerk approached and started talking to me. Slowing my movements, I turned to give her my attention and as my hands finally reached the Babe………….

I woke up.

UHH! I tried to go back to dreamland, but to no avail. It was already daylight, and I could already hear the Saturday morning cartoons playing in the living room.

I would never see that perfectly beautiful Baby Jesus again.

I would never know how much it cost.

Just like I will never know how much dying on that cross really cost my Savior.

He didn’t come to us in a gold covered majestic manger like the one in my dream, and He sure didn’t have a soft fluffy pillow to lay His head on, but He did have a price tag attached to Him, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot comprehend the price tag attached to Him.

I am forever thankful.



Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Camping Out

My brother, sister-in-law, and their family recently went on a camping vacation and invited us up to visit one evening. After cleaning up the dinner mess, I thought to myself, “This would stress me out!” I know – many of you camp and enjoy it tremendously, and there is nothing wrong with that! However, there is something about cooking a meal and cleaning up in such tight quarters; being careful of your noise level, as to not disturb the other campers near by; constantly being on guard so that the children don’t fall into the campfire or burn someone else with their hot, roasted marshmallow; and the looming thought of loading up all of the lawn chairs, coolers, bicycles, string lights, rugs, tables, radios, etc, etc, etc, just to come home that doesn’t appeal to me.

But hey – by ALL MEANS, if its your thing, I’m glad you love it!

I remember sitting down by the fire after dinner was done and telling my husband, brother, and sister-in-law that I had always wondered if I would like camping, and that now I knew the answer. I guess I’m too soft, but sand, ocean, and a full size shower with hot water-a-plenty is my idea of a dream vacation. My brother, well, he’s an outdoorsy kinda guy, and his wife doesn’t mind to join him, so camping is right up their alley.

Speaking of camping though, there is a certain type of camping that I love to do, and I want to invite you along on a camping trip with me.

Sometimes God grabs my attention, or shall I say, puzzles me with something in His Word and I just have to “camp out” there for a while. Anybody know what I’m talking about? Sure you do. Sometimes He stops me dead in my tracks and I have to pitch a tent and stay for a bit while He teaches me something new about Himself or about me. Sometimes it is something new in a very familiar scripture, and other times it is a truth that I just have never noticed before.

I love to camp out with Him. I love to feel the warmth of the fire of His presence. I love to taste His sweetness in my soul, swetter than a hot marshmallow smothering some chocolate squished between two graham crackers! He’s cozy, yet unfamiliar all at the same time. What’s funny about it is, although at times He is teaching me things that aren’t comfortable, I still enjoy the time with Him. Kinda like camping, you don’t have all of the comforts of home, but the time away is still enjoyed.

Here’s an example of a camping trip I took with Him several weeks ago: We went to Psalms 103:1-5. As we sat around the fire of His Word, He taught me something to do when my soul is downcast or when I’m discouraged – may be it will help you too.

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The view from this campsite was splendid to me. He taught me that my youth could be renewed, if, when I am down, I tell my soul, if I tell all my inmost being, to praise Him, no matter what I “feel”. I will be renewed if I remember ALL HIS BENEFITS, which he so graciously lists right there in the verse for me. I tell ya, I remember that camping trip often, usually on Mondays around 8AM!

What kind of camping trips have you taken with Him? It can be something recent, or a memorable trip, forever etched upon your heart. Share with us the thoughts or verses that have caused you to “pitch a tent”, build a fire, and roast some marshmallows with Him, while you learned what He had to say.

If you have never commented – this is your chance! Just click on the comments button, if you don’t have one of the accounts listed, just pick the anonymous option and you can always type your name at the end of your comment.

You never know ------ (Hint-Hint!) there just might be a prize in store for someone who comments! Besides – where ever you’ve been camping with Him, once I hear about where you went, I might want to go there too!   


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

P.S. I'll announce the winning campsite on Monday!

Natural Born Leader

We’ve all known or heard of someone who is a natural born leader, maybe it’s even been said about you. Natural born leaders are those that seem to excel at most anything they attempt, other people look to them for guidance. They are looked to as an example and often seen as role models for others. Employers and teachers love them because they often make life a little easier for them. Leaders influence us and are the ones we look to when we need an answer about or direction in a situation. To be told you are a leader is usually a wonderful compliment, where being told you are a “follower” isn’t necessarily something we are excited to hear.

Not only do we all know leaders, but I think most of us can relate to someone, possibly yourself, who is a follower. Being a follower can be both good and bad, it just depends on who you follow, right?

As a song played on my new Third Day CD (a gift from Leslie, thank you!), the lyrics got me to thinking about following and leading. When Mac Powell belted out the words “Follow me there!”, I thought about Who I want to follow, although sometimes that’s not who I follow at all. What’s very scary about that thought is that as I follow, I am also leading - whether it be my kids, my extended family, my friends, my co-workers, or someone observing me from afar.

Even though it’s a compliment to be called a leader and even though it is considered a positive character quality (most of the time), when you think about it, aren’t leaders followers too?

We are all following something, even those who lead follow.

If you are a leader, my question to you is who are you following?

And who is following you?

If you are a follower, I ask - who is your leader?

We all follow someone, and if we aren’t very intentional about who we follow, we might be very surprised at who is actually doing the leading when we stop to think about it.
I quickly counted 20 different times Jesus is recorded saying the phrase “follow me”. I don’t know how many times in my frustration I have said to my kids “I’ve told you that 20 times, when are you going to listen?????” He told us at least 20 times to follow Him. I wonder when I will get it?

Jesus words to Matthew in Mark 2:14

Follow Me!

Plain and simple, that’s all He said.

Jesus, The Natural Born Leader

My Leader, You are the only One whom I can trust to never lead me astray. You are the one who’s path is perfect for me. You lead with such love, confidence, such grace, and an abundance of mercy. Thank you, Jesus, that You don’t take off without me when I’m not following as I should. Thank you that You are always still easy for me to find on the path. Father, sharpen my spiritual senses to the places where I easily follow the wrong lead. May I not follow my emotions when my heart is broken, may I not follow someone else just because of who they are without knowing it is of You first. May your voice of direction resonate within my heart and mind when I reach a crossroads offering many pathways. You, OH GOD, are My LEADER. Bring me to a place where I desire to follow after no one, no thing except for You. Thank You for always welcoming me with open arms.


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Growth On the Mountaintop

The past few days have been less than glamorous and as I arrived at work yesterday and attempted to complete the tasks at hand, many of the burdens over the past few days felt very heavy upon my shoulders. In an attempt to move my spirit from its discouraged state, I logged my work computer on to K-Love so that I could listen for His voice through the lyrics of the songs. I needed to feel Him near and I needed Him to encourage me in the valley, and the music mixed with the conversation of the announcers helped some, but I still felt downcast.

During my lunch break, I decided to go out and take a walk. I always feel closer to Him outside, and what better weather for a long walk? As I traveled along the sidewalk, I thought to myself, my “shield” feels like it has holes in it, and that I don’t feel strong enough to fight today.

I rounded the corner of the sidewalk block and followed the walkway in a new direction. As I walked, a woman was walking toward me. Although I don’t know her well, I recognized who she was, and remembered that she is a Christian. I wondered to myself if she gets out on her lunch break for the same reason I did yesterday, to clear her mind and to get closer to Him. I wondered if she feels like her shield has holes in it sometimes. I have no idea why she was walking, she could have been a weary soldier too, but one thing I do know - she was obedient. She let God use her to touch me.

As she approached, we both exchanged a business-like “hello”, but just as she passed, she turned her head to say, “I read your devotions, and I love ‘em!”

I was totally surprised, and I felt my heart get lighter. I knew that He had met me on that sidewalk as I replied, “Thank You. I’m glad you like ‘em!” With just those words a hole in my shield was patched up.

She smiled and added something like, “I really enjoy them,” stepping further away, the distance between us growing.

I couldn’t help but turn back toward her to say, “Thanks for telling me,” as I tapped my heart with my hand.

She had no idea where my thoughts had been prior to her words of encouragement, she had no idea my heart was in a valley, and she allowed God to lift it up from where it was through her kind words.

Later on, I was back at my desk feeling more encouraged after my walk, and I continued to work listening to K-Love. The announcers came on and one of them mentioned being taught a lesson about mountains and valleys by her pastor. She pointed out an interesting point that I never realized, although it seems very simple. It went something like this:

Nothing grows on top of a mountain. Growth happens in the valleys.

Often when we are in a valley, we long to get out, we long for the mountain because that is where the view is so splendid. But - if you think about it, what grows at the very top of a mountain?

Nothing.

What grows in the spaces between the mountains known as the valleys?

All kinds of beautiful things.

So thank you, my sidewalk friend, for a bloom of encouragement in the midst of a valley. May God bless you today.


I don’t know, Father, why I cannot learn to be satisfied in the valleys. As I come out of them and look back, I can always see how close you were in the midst of them. I can see your hand and your presence in many ways, yet when I am there, I long for the mountains. It is true that the most beautiful things in my life have been grown in times of valleys and I am so thankful for those things. I thank You that You count me worthy for valley travel, You count me worthy to spend time refining and growing me. Father, I ask you to grow within me a heart of expectation in the valleys. May I grow into a daughter that naturally expects you to show up in those places instead of one who longs for the next mountain. As Mrs. Pat Greer used to sing at my home church, “The God of the mountains, is still God in the valleys, and the God of the day is still God in the night.” You are that God and You call me your own. Praise You.


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

If I Were A Tree

As I drove to church yesterday morning, the leaves on the trees were so gorgeous. I enjoy the season of fall, the heat begins to fade, God displays His artwork on the canvas of His trees, and the approach of Thanksgiving and Christmas crowd my thoughts. I often find my mind drifting to the experiences of seasons past recalling the closeness I have felt to Him simply celebrating within my own heart who He is and the awe of a tender tiny babe bursting onto the scene just for me. Just for you.

But, back to fall. As the seasons change, the leaves are so beautiful, their colors so rich. There are some that are such a bright gold, some a deep fiery red, and many colors in between. As I think about the colors of the leaves of fall, I go back to the basis from where those leaves get the richness in their color. We all know that the fall display we see is very much affected by the amount of water the trees have had to drink in the weeks approaching fall. If they have had no water, the leaves just turn brown and brittle, not producing much beauty. They fall to the ground and crunch beneath your feet and sometimes they hang on to the branches, never falling.

But oh - when those leaves have been watered- what beauty our eyes behold! Yes, those trees have endured the brutal cold of winter, the storms of spring, and the blazing heat of the summer just like the other trees, but they have so much more magnificence to show us in their colors simply as a result of their water supply. When their leaves fall, they don’t crumble as they touch the ground, they stay intact drifting from place to place.

As the wind blows, the leaves touched by the paint brush of our Master Artist, fall from the limbs and are carried wherever the winds of the air take them.

My question for you is – What color are your leaves? Are they brown and brittle crumpling under the slightest weight? Or are they a brilliant display of God’s hand upon a life supplied regularly with living water?

If I could be a tree, I would want to be one with the radiant yellow leaves or maybe one with the leaves rich with the Painter's scarlet ink. I certainly know I don’t want to be one of those trees that holds on to its brown crumpling leaves throughout the approaching winter displaying nothing of the beauty of its Maker for the world to see.

Don’t forget, those trees endure the same seasons, but the outcome is different all because of the water supply.

Painter of the world’s canvas, I ask you to dip your brush onto your palette of endless colors and touch me with a color that is signature, uniquely, You. God, I want to display You to everyone. I want them to see not me, but brilliant evidence of You when they glance my way. You. That’s what’s it all about. You. None other. You. Enflame my desire for your water, for your Word, for time with You to a level that it has never been before. I desire and I know You desire for many more to know You, God, not just know about You, but KNOW YOU, as the only source for their survival.


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Don't Steal My Joy

I came home to a surprise last night, and it wasn’t a pleasant surprise either. You see, I had arranged a few fall mums on my porch. I love to decorate my porch for the seasons and was particularly fond of the mums I had gotten this year. I have been careful to water them, or at least make sure one of the kids does. The blooms were so dense and full on the yellow ones and the red ones were deep and rich had yellow centers. They looked so pretty by my front door and in my wooden wheelbarrow. I have enjoyed them very much over the past two weeks since I bought them--

Which is why my surprise was anything but pleasant when I returned home from work yesterday evening!

My surprise was coming home to a porch void of mums except for one mum that the offender had crushed and broken. I’m not talking that maybe a dog drug them off, they were gone. G- O- N- E. Gone. Picked straight up from where they were. Nothing around them had been disturbed. It was like the mum rapture had taken place.

As I stood on my porch, hands perched on my hips, I sighed with my “UH” sigh as I thought why would someone take something that brings someone else joy. I can’t fathom why people do the things they do.

The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy…….

There is more behind stealing my mums than a mere human being. I think you know what I am getting at – the prince of this world. Here’s the thing though, they may have my mums, but they were not able to take away the days I enjoyed them. They cannot take away the beautiful picture I have in my mind of them. They may have my mums, but they cannot have my joy. It can’t be stolen. The enemy wanted my joy, but he didn’t get it.

The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and mighty have it abundantly.
John 10:10

My first fleshly response was “I hope they die!” (the mums, not the people!) I didn’t want someone to be able to enjoy my beautiful flowers if they were going to steal them, so I thought it best if they just wilted up and died! But – as the thought has settled on me and I allowed the truth of scripture to be put to it, I realize that someone compelled to do such must not know real joy and maybe God will use those bright vivid beautiful blooms to shine the light of His joy inside a dark heart. He can use anything to touch someone.

Meanwhile, you might be able to steal my mums, but you can’t steal my joy. The enemy wants to steal from me, but Jesus wants to give me life, give me true joy, and that he does!

This is what Jesus told his disciples when they were upset he was explaining to them the joy of seeing Him again someday:

..but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.
John 16:22

My friends, that is why I say, you can steal my mums, but you can’t steal my joy. My joy comes from Jesus (not my mums or anything else!) and from the experiences in which I see Him everyday, and no one can rob me of that. I know I will see Him again today, and there will be more joy to add to what I already have and that is something wonderful to experience. The same can be true for you.

Father, I lift up my friends to You asking You to give them an extra measure of joy today. Joy that comes from recognizing You in the world around them. Increase their faith today by experiencing You in their comings and goings. There is nothing I want more for them than to know You as the God of the here and now and not the God of the far away. Be real to them, Father, in a way they have never experienced and may their eyes be open to your fingerprints around them. And – for the one who has my flowers, shower them with the moisture of your love, give their eyes appreciation for the beauty of the blooms as a signature of your creation, bless them and draw them to your throne.


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Man's Best Friend

A few days ago, I sat on our couch with our little dog next to me. She took in every sound and movement in the room. She perked her ears and raised her head at McKayla walking by. McKayla stopped to pet her for a moment and then began to walk away from her. As McKayla walked away she asked, “I wonder what it’s like to be a dog?”

My answer to her question was, “Probably not very fun.”

“Why?” she asked inquisitively.

“I think it would be very lonely to be a dog. It wouldn’t be fun to sit around all day just waiting for someone to pay attention to you. Waiting for someone to acknowledge you were there, much less take the time to pet you. It’s not like they can have a conversation with you and tell you they need some attention.”

“Yeah. I never thought about that.” she agreed as she came back over and gave Marlie a little more attention.

What’s great about a dog is that despite the lack of attention, like of time spent, lack of interaction, they are still so eager to love back. Marlie never holds it against us when we’ve been too busy to play with her, too busy to give her a bath, to busy to simply pet her. She continues to enjoy the time she does get and is always eager for our eyes to turn her way. It’s as if those little moments spent with her completely erase all of the hours she has spent laying around waiting for one of us to call out her name. BUT- when we call her name – she comes running like she has existed all day just for that moment. As the old saying goes, a dog is a man’s best friend.

This may be a simplistic way of thinking, but to me, God has some of the same character qualities. Loyalty. Love. He is often ignored by me, taken advantage of by me thinking there will always be tomorrow. He is patient when it has been days since I have called out His name, but when I do—it’s a glorious thing. He doesn’t resent my time away from Him, He enjoys the moments I give to Him and takes advantage of them to the fullest. Loving me, teaching me, bringing joy to my heart.

Even though I ignore Him sometimes, these words till hold true:

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20


Did you notice those words – be sure of this.

Be sure of what?

I am with you.

When?

Always.

My friends, that is loyalty. I love those words.

People may say that dog is man’s best friend, but I believe I have found a friend that is better than that.

His name is Jesus.



Dear Jesus, I call upon your matchless name. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. There’s just something about that name. Thank you for the pureness of your character. Thank you for your never failing love, for your mercy that is brand new for me every day. Thank you that you don’t hold grudges. Thank you for understanding me. Thank you for sitting at my Father’s right hand, talking to Him about me at this very moment. Words cannot describe who You are and who You will be if I would but let you. Please forgive my laziness and my days of taking advantage of my relationship with You. You deserve so much more. Teach me to give You more. Reveal to me exactly what it is that You want me to give You from within myself. May I hold nothing back from your possession. I know that no matter what I hold inside, it would be so much more effective for your kingdom if it were in your hands and not in mine. I love how You do what it is You do inside of my spirit when I am with You. I am so overcome at the stirring I feel inside right now. I recognize that stirring as the voice of Your Spirit within me. I want that Spirit to live and move and breathe through me all the days of my life, even to the end of the age. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus, my soon coming King, I love you.


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Touching Innocence

Even if you’re not a “baby person”, there is something about a little one that captures our attention. As I asked myself why they capture me so, I recognized the pull they seem to have. When I see a baby I immediately want to get closer to it. My heart longs to touch it, observe the perfection of its creation.

What is it about a baby that draws us to it?

I think there is something within us that longs for pure innocence, for complete perfection, for a sacredness, we long for a gaze purely of awe. We want to be connected to something completely clean. A baby is the closest example we have this side of Heaven. Although we are born as sinners, that little one fresh from the mother’s womb, seems like the most pure demonstration that we can see, touch, smell, and gaze upon and get lost in its perfection.

God created us to be drawn to such, because that is what He is made up of. He is completely pure, completely sacred, completely innocent, completely holy and He designed us to be drawn to that place of awe when gazing upon Him.

I am so thankful for that longing within me to touch innocence, that longing to be captured in awe at complete holiness. I know how my heart stirs now even glimpsing a newborn for a few seconds, it moves me so much, that I feel certain my heart will burst when I actually gaze upon the purity of my Lord.


I touched innocence today, or at least as close as I’ll touch until I meet Jesus.

Welcome to our world
Owen Andrew Heisner
8lb 1oz 19in
son of my sister and Andrea and her husband Josh

Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Testify Tuesday

It's Testify Tuesday again! It's your turn to share about God and His presence, His hand, His protection. Where ever you have experienced Him, tell us all, it will open our eyes to His presence in our own lives.

Habakkuk 1:5 says this:

Look among the nations!
Observe!
Be astonished!
Wonder!
Because I am doing something in your days--
You would not believe it if you were told.

That's God's words to Habakkuk, and I believe that same God is still as much at work today.  Tell us something so we can be astonished, so we can have wonder.  Tell us what He is doing in your days!

Don't be afraid of that comment button - it doesn't bite!  My prayer is that you will knock each other's socks off with your stories.

Be Blessed in Him today,

Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Trusting and Knowing

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

I wonder how many of you could finish the words of those verses in your minds without really having to read them? Probably many of you. Please don’t let its familiarity lull you through the words, there really is treasure in those sentences.

The truth from those scriptures certainly crept into my mind a few days ago when I experienced it lived out as an illustration to me from God. A few days ago, the girls and I embarked (shall we say!) on a journey on our bicycles. We were going to ride from our house to my parents’ home which is about three miles. Let me remind you, I am not the portrait of a daring mother who throws caution to the wind. I have experienced both of my girls unconscious at different days on the calendar, and when you have actually tilted your little one’s head back to begin CPR, your perspective changes on so much, rendering you overly cautious at even normal childhood adventures. We have been on little bike rides on the lane in front of our home many times and each time, one of the two manages to push my buttons by failing to listen. I’m sure NONE of you can relate. Although I was uneasy about us riding three miles on the road, I knew they would be thrilled.

I warned them very clearly before leaving the driveway that they must listen to me and stay close to the edge of the road. I reminded them to listen for my voice and if I heard a car coming I would ask them to pull off to the side of the road. I even made them repeat my instructions as evidence they had heard me. There is not a great deal of traffic on our country lane, so we did not have much of an issue until we got out onto the highway. On more than one occasion though, I warned them that there was a car coming up from behind and, since we were in a place where it may be difficult for the car to see us, we should pull over into the grass.

Instead of immediately heeding my instruction, McKayla decided to look over her shoulder for herself to see the car coming. Each time she careened her neck over her shoulder, she also steered her bike into the center of the lane making the situation more dangerous. I could have choked her! Why can’t she just trust what I am telling her? I thought to myself, for goodness sakes I am your mother, why would I ever steer you wrong?

As I thought about her desire to see the situation for herself instead of just listening to me, God taught me a little lesson as well. (He probably could choke me sometimes too!) Immediately, this verse came to mind. The Holy Spirit reminded me - trust in God, don’t lean on your own understanding. Just as she wanted to see the car for herself to see how close it was, I often want to see a situation myself, I want to understand what’s coming my way.

That’s not trust.

That’s leaning on my own understanding.

Leaning on her own understanding is what was putting McKayla in more danger, right out in the center of the lane. Leaning on my own understanding can put me in danger too. Maybe not always physical danger, but danger of not experiencing the fullness of what He has planned all because I want to “know” for myself. Danger of falling into sin. Danger of hurting someone I love.

There’s no trust in “knowing”. Knowing is knowing. Knowing gives me opportunity to, shall we say, meddle in the outcome so that it plays out the way I think it should. Knowing allows me to stay in the road until the very last second before pulling off into the grass. Knowing does not require me to let Him be God.

Ouch, that hurt a little.

By the way tomorrow is another “Testify Tuesday”, so be ready to share with us what God has been showing you. I can’t wait to get some goosebumps!

Be Blessed Today,


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Window Shopping

I took the day off work yesterday to spend with my girls since school is out for fall break. Brenna has been asking for several weeks to go to our local mall. She has been saving up for something and thought she was ready to make her purchase.

Brenna and McKayla both loaded up their purses with the usual girly stuff along with the money they had saved, and we hopped into the car destined for the mall. Their main focus was on what they planned to buy and my main focus for today was just to be with them.

No agenda. No plan.

It was a great day. We entered and exited many stores without acquiring anything new. As the girls shopped for what they thought they wanted, their eyes were opened to the cost of things and how long it took them to save their money. Each of them decided she would rather save her money to use it more wisely later. I was excited that they made those decisions on their own and that I didn’t have to intervene or talk them out of something foolish.

We were gone for several hours and both of them came home empty handed. No big purchases, nothing new.

But – we still had a wonderful time.

Time.

That’s what was wonderful. Time. Time together without a plan. I love days that I can spend with them that way, and I wish we had those days more often. As we simply spend time together, they learn things about me, asking me questions, singing along in the car. I learn things about them too. Actually, this time I learned something new as a mom. I learned what it feels like for your child to be embarrassed to hold your hand in the mall. It’s a new phase for McKayla and certainly a new phase for me.

I learned that we actually can all three go shopping without one of them getting a spanking.

I was also reminded that even though I can’t buy them all of the things they want or that I might want them to have, we can still enjoy each other without spending a dime.

I learned that McKayla knows when happy hour is at Sonic.

I saw a glimpse of what it may be like someday when they are grown and we get together as mother and daughters simply enjoying one another’s company.

The girls understood the term “window shopping” by pure experience.


I could go on, but my point is, we learned all of those things merely spending time together.

Oh what I could learn about God by just spending pure, unplanned time with Him. No agenda other than experiencing Him with me. What joy it would bring Him and certainly what joy would bubble up within me. Instead, I often come to Him with my list, all of my cares, all of my struggles, and I shop for His answer. Isn’t it funny how all of the things I would bring to Him lose their significance in light of sitting at His feet?

That’s all He wants.

Me.

At His feet.

Spending time.

God, the One who loves me fiercely, time with You is priceless. There is nothing that compares. I beckon your presence today, I welcome You into my comings and goings. Ride in the car with me, sing the songs with me, enjoy the sunshine with me. Teach me something new about You. Give me the questions to ask so that I can discover something about You that I have never understood. Time. You, Father, never run out of it. You always have plenty of it to spend with me. I pray for a pull from within my heart to run to your feet, often, and then some more. I want to know You better than I know myself. I want to know your heart, and I certainly want to be accustomed to hearing your voice, whether it is in laughter, advice, or warning and that familiarity can only come from being with You. Forgive me, Jesus, for always coming to You with a plan, or for not coming at all. I want to know you so well that I would know what You would order at happy hour at Sonic! Thank you for loving me so simply, so purely, without an agenda. Just pure love. Only You are capable of such, and it is You who watches over my very soul.


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Broken Strings

This past weekend I climbed up and down from my attic as I brought out my fall decorations. On one of my trips down the ladder, my oldest daughter came into the garage in a hysterical state. Her face was white as a sheet, she held her hands by her face trembling, tears flowing down her cheeks, voice paralyzed. It was as if she had seen something terrible and was unable to catch her breath. I attempted several times to find out what had happened to her and she could not get the words out. I had no idea what she was in horror over.

Finally, I grabbed her trembling hands, pulled her close to me and told her that unless she told me what had happened, I couldn’t fix it. She then took a deep breath and uttered these words:

“My violin….(sob,sob)….I broke one of the strings….(gasp for air)…. I didn’t mean to.”

After all of the terrible things it could have been, simply a broken string.

As I began to persuade her that everything would be ok, she continued her frantic explanation. “I promise, Momma, the string looked like it needed to be tightened and I barely touched the knob, and when I touched it, it snapped” she pled through her tears. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to.” She was so afraid we would be upset with her and take her violin away thinking she had not been responsible with it.

I reassured her again that she was not in trouble and that this was something that could be dealt with, but she was heartbroken that this had happened. Inside I was proud that she had taken it out to practice, she had attempted to play her newly learned music notes in an effort to get better. That is all I want her to do is try.

Once she calmed a bit, I walked in to her room with her and asked her to show me what she had been taught in violin class this week. Although she is a beginner, she displayed so gracefully the proper technique for holding the bow in order to glide it correctly over the strings. As she stirred the bow across each string, a music note rang forth that was beautiful to my ears, even the sound that came out when she ran across the broken string. Despite the broken string she attempted to show me what she had learned anyway.

You see, for me as the parent, it wasn’t about the exact notes that she played and the amount of perfection with which she executed it, it was about her effort to play at all. She was attempting something that she had not yet mastered, and was so grieved when she thought she had messed it all up.

Isn’t that how we are? Our life is an instrument to play for the Father. We are all still new at some parts of it, sometimes we break strings, sometimes the notes we play aren’t exactly the right ones for the tune, but He delights in your passion in trying.

If only I became as broken as my daughter was that day when it comes to disappointing my Father. If only I took seriously the responsibility of this instrument He has given me. Regrettably, I don’t always do so well with that.

But – you know what I love about Him?

As I delighted in the fact that my daughter was practicing at all, He delights in my practice, He delights in the passion I have to bring it out of its case and attempt to play its music. I wasn’t upset at all about the broken string, accidents happen. We will break strings along the way, He knows that.

You know what else?

He won’t take our instrument away; we don’t have to fear that. Because of the love of Jesus, He has plenty of grace, mercy, and love in his hands to repair and restore our instruments to their perfect music playing condition so that we can try again.

I believe I’ll keep playing for Him.

How is your instrument today? Do you have a broken string or strings? Go to Him, tell Him. He knows anyway. He can restore your instrument to it's finest state and He will be glad to comfort you and teach you something new along the way.


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Sin Stained

When I was two, I received a Christmas gift that became very special to me as I grew. This special gift was a baby doll that I named Jeannie somewhere along the way. This is a picture of our instant bond the day that I got her. We became inseparable.

Where ever I went, Jeannie was a tag along. I played with her, slept with her, ate with her, laughed with her, and cried with her. Even as I gaze upon her today, her features seem so pure and precious.

Before I started Kindergarten, my mom and my “Nanny”, which was my dad’s mom, worked together at the local shoe factory. My Granddaddy was retired, so he became my babysitter. One of my most vivid childhood memories was one afternoon when Jeannie and I were playing out on Granddaddy’s carport while he was in the utility room. There was this, what seemed to me at the time, HUGE puddle of oil on the carport. As I pranced around the carport, Jeannie in hand, I remember very distinctly thinking to myself What would I do if my Jeannie fell in there?. I remember being saddened at even the thought of how stained she would be if she wound up in such a mess. As children do, though, the thought quickly left my mind and I continued imagining and playing with her on the carport, next to the grease puddle. How often do we dance dangerously close to grease puddles?

The next memory I have is both seeing and hearing her kerplunk, face down into that grease. I really don’t remember how she got there, whether she slipped out of my hand, or what, all I know is that she was there. My worst thoughts had happened and my little heart broke. I yelled for Granddaddy, he probably thought I had severed my arm or something because of my frantic state, he stepped down the porch steps and scooped her up, assuring me that everything would be ok and that he would do the best he could to clean her up.

I remember being so sad. Even at that young age, I already knew that grease stains were permanent and that she would never be as good as new.

He scrubbed her and then tossed her into the washing machine. After a few cycles and much effort, he told me it was the best that he could do.

She wasn’t the same, but I loved her anyway.

If you look closely in this picture, you can see the stains on her little legs. I remember often looking at her wishing that day had never happened. I guess that was the first time I really experienced regret, and I still don’t like to experience it today.

Even though, I am sin stained, even though God rescued me from the greasy pit, oh how He loves me anyway. Even though Granddaddy couldn’t remove the stains from my baby doll, God has washed me and washed you white as snow. There is not a blemish one upon you. Not one.

Many years later, our Sunday School Class had a special dinner for Valentine’s Day. Each husband was instructed to bring something sentimental as a gift to his wife. Upon arriving, I was seated at the table designated for us, and as instructed, there was a very special gift there for me.

My husband had purchased me another Jeannie doll, and she was just like brand new.

One as white as snow, and one tattered from everyday life.

Jesus purchased you, and you are just like brand new, my sweet sister. He loves to gaze upon your face, your features so pure and precious. Relish in that thought today. He wants you to.


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Growling

My stomach is growling, a sure sign that hunger is about to set in. Good thing it’s time for dinner and good thing I am blessed to have something to put in my stomach. God designed our bodies so that they will tell us when it is time to eat. He’s a pretty smart guy.

We’ve all heard the word growling in relation to our stomachs, and we have also heard the word growling in relation to someone’s attitude or demeanor. I can’t tell you how many times in my life I have heard this question after two people encounter each other while one of them was, shall we say, not so pleasant. “What was he growlin about?” or “What was she growlin about?” And yes, sadly, sometimes it has been said in description of me.

Sometimes my stomach growls, more importantly, sometimes my soul growls. As my stomach alerts my body of physical hunger, my attitude growling is an alert that my spirit is hungry. If I don’t feed my growling stomach in a reasonable amount of time, the growling progresses into hunger pangs and those are painful. Let’s be honest though, we, as Americans, don’t have a clue about true hunger pangs in a physical sense. Regrettably though, I fear that we are often at the top of the list when it comes to spiritual hunger pangs. I starve myself spiritually sometimes so severely that everything within me hurts, and because I hurt, my attitudes hurt other people. We have so much that falsely fills us, taking the place of our true nourishment, leaving our hearts in a starved state, unable to ward off impending spiritual sickness.

How sad to live in the richest country in the world, yet be starving.

By our own doing.

It doesn’t have to be that way though; we are not doomed to a life of starvation like many are physically. We have such a great gift in the freedom of worship. It’s as if God, through our forefathers, prepared us a buffet of the finest choices, yet we settle for the drive thru version. Instead of prime rib, we chose a TV dinner. Although the TV dinner will stop the pain for a little while, we aren’t satisfied. The next thing I know, I’m growling at someone I love. This should be a red flag to me that it’s long overdue for me to fill my spirit with the heart of God.

Jesus has this to say,

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6

He will satisfy. He will fill us. He will stop our hunger pangs.

He also tells us in John 6:35,

I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

All I have to do is come to the table.

God, I pray for more of You. Fill me to overflowing with your bread of life so that my spirit is not growling from hunger at the ones I love. I pray that my spirit be one with yours, honoring You, giving example of You to the ones I come into contact with every day. Bring to my remembrance, Holy Spirit, this analogy in the days to come as a reminder to make eating from your table a priority everyday. I have no excuse to live in hunger when you have a feast prepared for my consumption, completely accessible to me. I come to you today, ready to be filled.


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Surpassing Comprehension

Let me start off today by telling you that I truly experienced God’s peace and presence as I stood in front of many women on Friday night speaking at Unveiled Faces. This was the first time I have done anything of this sort and I was very apprehensive, yet excited at the same time. Boy did God come through, as He always does. I cannot explain to you His mighty right hand that held me up. Any other time I have made an announcement in front of the church or shared with the congregation in relation to a special song, I have been literally trembling in my hands; my knees have felt that they would buckle. However, on Friday, I don’t know what happened except to say, I experienced the peace of God that passes ALLLLL understanding.

I experienced Philippians 4:6-7.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I will not lie to you, there were moments in preparation for Friday night where I was nervous, I was anxious, and as I told the ladies to whom I spoke, I felt very inadequate to stand before them. I took those anxieties to Him several times in the days leading up to Friday, and each time I did, His peace came over me. I was nervous as I sat in the sanctuary waiting for the rally to begin, but when I stepped onto the platform, something happened and it surpassed comprehension. I still can’t wrap my mind around it.

My God is so good to me, He is good beyond measure and I do not doubt for one second that He was my hands, my feet and my voice, because left to myself, it would have been nothing. Being the emotional open book that I am, I would have never made it through the first sentence without blubbering so terribly that no one could have understood my words.

This past week, actually, this occurred on “Testify Tuesday”, I received a delivery at work. I have been so excited to tell you all about it. Knowing that the rally was only a few days away, the message was constantly in the back of my mind. I wanted so badly to find some extra pockets of time to review, to go over, and “practice”, but those pockets of time were few and far between. You know what? He knew that would be the case before the days of last week unfolded. On Tuesday, a beautiful floral arrangement was delivered to me at work. This was the most beautiful arrangement of flowers I have ever received. It contained red roses, pink roses, gorgeous white lilies, and many other flowers. As my co-workers gathered around, like we girls do, I opened the card and here is what I read:

Be Blessed.

Philippians 4:19

Love,

Jesus

Philippians 4:19 says this:

And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Needless to say, I got goose bumps, and of course, I bawled like a baby.

He knew that my days and evenings would be too crowded with homework and mommy stuff to commit the amount of time I thought it would need. He knew that I had need of Him for Friday night. And He supplied richly. Not only did I experience His peace beyond comprehension as Philippians 4:7 describes, but I also experienced Him supplying my needs according to His richness. He was enough.

I am awestruck at His hand.

Know what?

That hand reaches out for you too. He doesn’t love me anymore than He loves you.

He wants to boggle your mind.

That’s a neat place to be.

Father, my Supplier, my Peace, be those very things to the people whose eyes fall upon these words. Boggle their minds, God, with much of you. May they be unable to wrap their minds around the peace that You fill them with as they face many things. Some of the things my friends face are very difficult, some are life altering things, but as large as they seem to us, they are not large to You. I pray for a supernatural trust to well up within us toward You. A reliance upon You like never before, so that You can be the Peace that surpasses comprehension, at the same time You are supplying their needs through your richness. Praise be to God.




Royal Princess Daughter Of The King