spring...

"You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."-1 Peter 1:23 NIV

How beautiful and amazing our Lord is...we mourn the crucifixion of our Lord and savior, Jesus...we praise with joyful and humble hearts His resurrection and our most precious gift of salvation...and then I look...I look at my physical surroundings.

A ground frozen, covered with snow. A sky still, sounding only of the chilled wind. Trees bare, branches swaying back and forth, resting, quiet. A season that brought an end to vibrant greens, a brilliant array of colors, sweet sounds of the free flying and roaming creatures. A winter that brought an end to the budding trees, an end to the lingering scent of the front porch roses, a winter that covered the green earth. A season that to some things has brought a final end.

But this season of winter, with its harsh and chilled winds did not bring an end to all. For these trees, flowers, animals, birds have quietly rested. And now I see them...with God's perfect timing, after the celebration of His son, His resurrection, the vibrant green pushing through the earth, not held down by the snow or the frozen ground. Pushing through knowing it is time to wake. A new seedling, a new life blooming. The delicate pink flower blooming upon the hard, dark branches of the Cherry blossom tree, a sight breathtaking, showing the glory of its Creator, new life after the cold, after a rest, a hope of a farmer, a child, a mother, a Father fulfilled.

How amazing, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, a life that conquered death. A life given that we may have a new one. Our own hearts renewed by the Father, our hope brought to life...by His life, and what do we see around us...Spring. A season God created, a season bringing forth new life, just as He has given us. How precious we don't have to wait for that new life, like the flowers and creatures have to wait for a season, we only have to ask and He offers it freely, filled with redeeming grace and mercy and unconditional love.

Spring is here. It may be a bit later for others, but it is here. We only have to look around to see God's hand, in the trees, in the fresh ground, in the chirping of the birds. It is a new season filled with life...how precious and amazing, God's perfect timing...

Praying for you, to see Him through the seasons, and in the renewing only He brings to you through His son, Jesus Christ. God bless you with peace, strength, joy and the freshness of His Spirit.

"God we thank you; we thank you because you are near."-Psalm 75:1

The Gift...

Easter....

Praises for such a beautiful and amazing gift...the gift of the Lord. The gift, by grace, of life. The gift of hope and love. The gift of prayers heard, the gift of a Father's love, the gift of forgiveness. The gift of a life given for our sins. The gift of cleansing. The gift of freedom, strength, endurance. The gift of peace in the midst of war. The gift of ... Jesus...our Lord and savior. A gift given by a loving, forgiving, healing, joyful Father to His children in their sorrow. A gift given through a crucifixition. A gift given with the resurrection. A gift given with Life conquering death.

A gift offered to you...will you accept it? What will you do with this most precious, beautiful gift being handed to you by your heavenly Father? A gift He brings to you by He, having endured nails, bloody thorns and death. A gift He brings to you wholeheartedly, with His unconditional love and His desire to meet with you daily, hourly, minute by minute. A most precious gift He offers to His children, that He may heal, deliver and bring His spirit to!

Praises for Jesus! Praises to Jesus! Praises to His rising, His resurrection, His forever Life!
Amen! Amen! Amen!

"Alive, alive, Jesus is alive!!!!"

God bless you! Praying for your walk with Jesus! Praying for your hearts, awaiting and preparing for His return! Praising the Lord for a pricess gift we could never give, but offered to have. Praise you Lord, for your generosity, your love, your protection, your life and your giving of it for our own lives. Thank you Lord for not giving up on us, for you had a plan and purpose for each and every one of us! Lord, mold us...may we be the clay in the hands of you, the potter...
Praise you Father!

Happy Easter, may your heart feel His spirit and celebrate His life, and His gift to you...
...in the name of Jesus...Amen...

missions...

There is something interesting the Lord has been laying upon my heart- missions.
I've always thought how wonderful missionaries were and what an amazing calling the Lord has upon their lives, but never felt called to that area of ministry before.
I suppose as I'm getting older and drawing closer to the Lord, He is truly allowing me to see situations through fresh eyes.
-First, missionaries are not just people who go over seas (ohhhhh). Serving and witnessing to our neighbor is what the Lord calls us to do.-Second, this is not about me.
I speak truthfully for myself- I am selfish. I've lived in a place of self pity, resentment, comparison, doubt, guilt, shame...woo, quite a list! However, GLORY! The Lord has been workin' some amazing beautiful healing! Through His gracious hands, I'm being washed of these strongholds, these chains. Now, it is a daily walk with Him on this, a surrendering. I've asked and had to listen, coming with it things that have hurt to hear. But, through that pain has been acceptance, truth and AMEN- freedom and peace! My heart has felt immediate joy when I've quickly renounced a moment that I know was leading down a path of "woe is me." I'm thinking of that statement, "name it and claim it", but instead "name it and renounce it, in the name of Jesus!" Being able to give a name to what I was feeling and doing put it into persepective and gave me the Lord's armor to stomp those nasties out! Amen and Praise Jesus!
The Lord has given us HIS word to protect us, minister to us, teach us and love us. It is through Him that we are saved, through Him we are rescued, through Him we are given a second, third, fourth, fifth...chance. It is through Him and only Him we are forgiven and washed with mercy and grace.
And because of this most precious gift, who am my not to share it with others? We are saved by faith (Amen!) and with that faith, we are to share and be fruitful. We need to be gardeners! Go and sow HIS seeds! We are to live our lives for God. Sharing the most precious gift of Jesus and His life, death and resurrection and the love He has for us. Knowing there is a hope, joy and forgiveness to a life that has had no meaning before. It weighs my heart heavy to think of all of those who are hurting right now...and I want to know that I've done all I can, allowing the Lord to use me to pull them up from that quick sand of darkness, just as someone gave me their hand, and the Lord pulled me up from that darkness .
So, my love and desire to share the Word and God's saving grace...well, the Lord is working in my heart, a heart for missions, be it to my neighbor and maybe someday, someone in a land I'd never dream I would go...
May Your will be done dear Lord....good stuff!

"Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." John 4:10

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."

2 Corinthians 2:14-15

God bless you! May you be bold with a humble, gentle heart in your faith!

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A touching and truthful reminder...His love is amazing, may we never forget...
Be blessed!

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