Inspiration

From His Vantage Point It All Makes Sense

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I just completed a walking tour in Jordan via iFIT and my Nordictrack treadmill. It has been amazing to see how history in that part of the world intersects with the Bible, making God’s story more real and palpable with each step.

Tour Guide Fadi Abu Jaber stands in front of Al Khazneh or “The Treasury”, a popular tourist attraction in Petra, Jordan. This site is a giant sandstone temple facade that dates back to the first century AD. You might recognize it from the Indiana Jones movie “The Last Crusade” as it is where he found the Holy Grail. In real life, the site was used for different purposes over the thousands of years it has been standing–from mausoleum to crypt to temple and places of worship and more.

I learned just how valuable and important things like frankincense and myrrh were to the economy of the day; the importance of goats and lambs then and now; and how the natural lay of the land allowed for some of the most fortified and safe strongholds. Scripture about building your house on rock instead of shifting sand makes more sense as I got to see ancient structures carved into the mountains or built with stones still standing and often still used. So many places in this land where Jesus and his disciples actually lived and walked; where the Romans built their cities; and where King David, led by God, took back what was meant for God’s people, still stand today.

This is Petra Theater. The theater was built in the cultural and political apex of the Nabataean kingdom under King Aretas IV (9 BC-40 AD)

I got to walk in beautiful Jordanian deserts, step into the now dried up Dead Sea, and hike up mountains upon which God often met with the likes of Abraham, Isaac, and Moses; where the tombs of people like Aaron, Moses’ brother, still stand. It is so hard for me to imagine how so many people still doubt the Bible. As I listened to the tour guide refer to time periods as BC and AD—a system that has been used throughout the world for century upon century and that uses the birth and death of Jesus Christ as its very foundation—I wondered how people can still doubt the importance of this one “man” who walked the earth over 2000 years ago?

How can they not believe? There was no social media nor television to send out “fake news” to the masses? There were no newspapers or telegrams or even carrier pigeons. Even without my personal relationship with Jesus which waters my faith every day, the history etched in this beautiful land, would certainly get my attention.

But, perhaps, the most impactful moment I experienced during this 7-series walking tour that covered almost eight miles of hikes through this beautiful Middle Eastern land, happened at the very end as I stood atop the final mountaintop and looked down over the area that I had just traversed. As I stood virtually atop this beautiful mountain, sweaty and tired, joy overcame my spirit as I gazed upon the places from which I had come. I could see the other mountains and the valleys and the deserts that I had walked through—sometimes just barely trudging along—to finally arrive at this pinnacle vantage point where it all became clear. I could see in a breathtaking display why each step had mattered and why it was all worth it.

You know, I truly think that this is what will happen at the end of our life.

I can just imagine standing on Heaven’s highest mountaintop and gazing upon the journey which brings me to the physical place where I stand arm-in-arm with Jesus. From His vantage point, I imagine seeing every twist and every turn, every mountaintop, every valley, every dry spot, and every place of joy which I had traversed in my lifetime and every single one will suddenly make complete sense. Each journey mattered; each step had a purpose and that purpose was Him. Our life is all about Him and all for Him. It always has been, and it always will be. He is our Protector, our Comforter, and our Savior. He is our one, true love. For eternity.

Peaceful Nights

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Photo Credit: Alice Blue of Aliceblue.com

Sometimes you just need to press pause on life.

Take a stroll in the night air. Sit on the porch and take in all the sounds. Marvel at the little flashes of green as the fireflies put on a ballet in the air about you.

Smell the honeysuckle growing wild just beyond the fence.

Listen as the crickets chirp in harmony with all the other creatures of the night assigned to keep watch on the world as most of us wind down and enter the land of sleepy slumber.

I understand for some, the dark brings fear and evil. But, for me, at this time in my life, the night brings me peace.

Sweet sounding peace. Heavenly protection.

I haven’t always felt safe and protected, but oh what a sweet feeling now that I do. I no longer fear the dark or the unknown like I did for so long, because I now have an eternal night light living inside of me and a God that has promised—and proven Himself time and time again—to always protect and cherish me.

If you know God, I hope you will take some time tonight to feel His great love for you. And, if you don’t know Him, I hope you will take some time to seek Him. I promise you that you will never, ever regret it.

May you all have a blessed week and a happy summer of peace-filled days and nights. Much love and many blessings to you all.

Amen and Ehmen

Hugs from Heaven

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It’s a beautiful spring day. The temperature is perfect, not too warm and not too cool. I came outside to try and see if my mama’s hummingbirds had made it back this year, but my eyelids felt so heavy, I had to close my eyes.

Oh, the sounds of God’s creation. The sunshine brings out the most beautiful sounds from nature. It’s as if a new song is being composed as I listen. The beat is rhythmic, slow, and steady. It reminds me of our breath, when we are breathing as we are meant to. Inhale, 2, 3, 4; Hold, 2, 3, 4; Exhale 2, 3, 4.

There are two birds in the distance that seem to be vying for a soloist spot, but they wind up performing one of the most incredible duets ever. The rest of the birds in the neighborhood chime in like the perfect backup singers.

The wind blows gently, cooling my skin and playing a tune of its own on the many windchimes hanging on my back porch. The rustling of the wind through the palm leaves is incredibly soothing and the sun’s warmth on my face is like beautiful wrapping on the best gift ever. It feels like a sweet hug from Heaven, and I can’t imagine it getting any better.

But wait, what’s THAT sound? Is that a humming sound coming from the direction of the hummingbird feeder that hangs outside my mom’s old window? Could it be?

Yes!!! I opened my eyes to see that the first hummers of the season have arrived as if right on cue. I’m quite sure that some are my mom’s old friends, including her favorite blue/green little guy with the ruby throat. He and his friends look incredibly comfortable and familiar.

Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll make sure they always have plenty of fresh food. We miss you here on earth, but I’m thrilled you are now watching the show from the best vantage point ever!

My day, my week has been made. *Happy sigh.*

Friends, if you are stressed at all, I hope you will go outside and just drink it all in, if for only a few minutes. It’s almost physically impossible to be stressed and out of sorts when you let God and nature fill your soul and senses.

We are blessed.

Amen and Ehmen.

Joy for the Generations

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As I walked along with my one-year-old granddaughter today, I was overwhelmed with love and gratitude. I am so thankful that God chose me, first, to be my baby girl’s mama and now this baby girl’s grandmama.

I see little pieces of many generations all melded together into one beautiful work of art. Each time I see the twinkle in her sparkling blue eyes and the joy that fills the room every time she smiles or giggles, I see the perfect blend of all the goodness of all the generations who came before her, all wrapped into one little bitty joy-filled package.

It makes me sad to know that, in this broken world that just continues to get more and more broken, it won’t be long before the enemy tries to snatch the joy from her. But, as her grandmother and a Christian, I pledge to do my part to help teach her that the joy of the Lord has nothing to do with what happens around us. In fact, the joy of the Lord abounds despite what happens. Hard stop. Read that again. The joy of the Lord abounds despite what happens.

Let me keep it real, though. Unfortunately, I’m not walking around emanating joy 24/7. I’m still a work in progress, too. I don’t always succeed at feeling or expressing the joy of the Lord when bad things have happened. Trust me, our family has had our fair share over the generations, and I used that as an excuse to not draw closer to God for many years.   

Thankfully, though, He makes a way to bring good out of whatever evil throws at us. He never gives up on us and that means He never leaves us. I have seen this so many times in my own life and that is why I am a full, devoted believer of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I need to experience things personally, and, mercifully, the Lord understands that and obliges. But it’s also good to take His Word for it to begin with.

The Bible says in its very first chapter, in Genesis 50:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

And, in Romans, 8:28, His Word says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good for those that love Him, to those that are called according to His purpose.”

Trusting the Words in scriptures such as these is what brings us the Joy of the Lord; an unyielding joy that

radiates from us, just like it does my one-year-old granddaughter; a joy not dependent on circumstances.

Lord, I praise your patience with me as I learn from and grow in Your Word and in the Holy Spirit. Thank you for never giving up on us and for pursuing each of us as if we were the only person on the planet. And thank you for the beautiful gift of family, children and grandchildren. May You always remain at the center of our lives and may Your joy follow us throughout our generation and the generations to come.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen and Ehmen.

Going All In

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It’s amazing how many times and how many ways the Holy Spirit tries to get our attention. But, what’s more astounding, is the lengths some of us will often go to ignore Him.

Sometimes He whispers and sometimes it’s as if He is standing on the runway of life, trying everything to wave us down and get us to the right place. But how do we often respond? If you are like me, you sometimes look the other way and then come up with every excuse in the book for your state of total oblivion.

“Sorry, I didn’t see you,” you say, knowing full well both of you know that’s a lie from the pit of hell.

“I don’t have time right now,” you whine, knowing deep down that His timing is always perfect.

And, sometimes, you question Him or, worse yet, just downright ignore Him

We’re human. We all do it at some point. Some of us, more than others. But we are warned, this is a very dangerous practice, particularly when we do it for too long. For, if we do it too long, our hearts can become hard of hearing.

I cannot imagine forever living without the two-way communication we get when we accept Jesus and His Holy Spirit comes to reside in us. What comfort there is in knowing that we are never alone. No matter what is going on around us, He is there to guide us and give us wisdom, to protect us, to comfort us and to empower us to share our God-given talents and gifts with the people of the world so that they, too,

can see Him through us; so that they, too, will want to partake in the joy and power that comes from knowing Him.

In being completely transparent, I have been very sporadic in allowing the Holy Spirit to fully guide me during the tumultuous parts of my story that have unfolded over the past few years. Don’t get me wrong here, though, He has been with me every step of the way during this time, comforting me and giving me everything I need. Thankfully, no matter where we are, He is always all-in with us. The real beauty happens when we are all in, too!

This morning, as I breathe in all the peace and love that He has to offer me, I desire to bring myself to that same all-in status. I want to hear and feel every word He has for me; I want to embrace every bit of direction; every bit of promise and light and hope and joy and love.

Stop with me for a moment. Turn off all screens, close your eyes and breathe Him in. His breath is healing and full of abounding energy. It is rhythmic and melodious like a beautiful symphony. What’s that I hear? Ahhhh, it’s the clock keeping time, synchronizing its rhythm too. Oh, and the sweet birds outside the window are joining in the chorus.

What do you hear?

Breathe. Breathe. He loves us so much. Thank you, Lord.

Amen and Ehmen.