Monthly Archives: November 2018

Hello 🙂 This entry, is about JOY. It is about joy, in ALL things. Joy, in suffering, trials, and JOY in the successes too. Snow, is beautiful, pure and precious. And, it represents, a cleaning. I remember, as a little girl, I loved to WATCH snow fall down. There was a just AWESTRUCK reaction, I would have. And, I mean…EVERY time, it snowed, I would just BE…OVERJOYED. There was something about it, that just made me, KNOW, LIFE was still good. Somehow, it would get better, and ultimately, I was safe.

Now, it was NOT just the SNOW. This, I know, now. I really LOVED making snow creme, and snowball fights, and sledding. It was the JOY, that needs to BE the focus here! I still marvel, at the GRACE, WE ALL had as kids. I was reading a book recently, and the author, spoke of being a latchkey kid. YES, that was me too. And my brothers as well. I remember growing up, the door was, ALWAYS open. Especially, during the DAYTIME. Now, that would be unheard of. In so many ways, it feels like, it was a “simpler time.” But God.

Was it REALLY a simpler time? Well, it was different. I’m NOT sure, if it was simple. I have learned, and AM learning, that different is good. That in order, to EMBRACE differences, WE must choose LOVE. And, WE are guaranteed, to get fussed at. It’s just an absolute certainty. BUT, we are also guarantied of the SNOW. You see, JESUS gave me another insight, about SNOW. And it means, SECRETS in the NATURAL from an OMNIPOTENT WARRIOR. I remember, that day. I was like, WOW!!!!! I love that JESUS 🙂 It was like, a little kid, had just gotten a new present.

There are some THINGS, you don’t know, until you do. And, some of those things, are tough to process and digest. Be it memories, knowledge, wisdom…..depending on where WE are. It can FEEL, like we “STOP in OUR TRACKS.” I had this happen yesterday. A song came on, while my husband and I were out. He was just enjoying his dinner. This song comes on….and ALL of the sudden. I’m on our glassed in porch, dancing for my Momma. The song, “I Miss you like Crazy.” And my heart is just aching. As ALL the other people, around me, seem to be noticing the cold. I can’t help, but notice, the old.

Eventually, I get the courage to share a bit about, the memory. Knowing, that I might not get the reception, that I’m looking for. And, My husband, just kind of nods. Grace. Oh my, is He a Grace kid. So, I quietly, begin to just break inside. Yet, on the outside, somehow don’t. And, I thank God for the healing. But, am reminded, how HARD choosing, to HEAL, can be. Tears. Yes, LORD….Let is SNOW….We need the healing. We need more JOY and laughter. Tears. This is NOT, what I thought, Happily EVER looked like. Again…but GOd.

DEEP DOWN, I know this is how THINGS must be. But, does that make it EASY? NO! It just doesn’t, my friends. Not sure anyone, ever gets used to being slandered, cut down, overlooked. But God. Grace Grace. His fruit, will speak for itself, EVEN when YOU….or WE cannot. His Fruit of LOVE WILL be present. EVERY single time, HIS LOVE wins.

So many people will mention, to me…”Your daughter is ALWAYS with you.” I have no doubt, that is true. By His Grace, she shows up. In ways, that ONLY HIS LOVE could. But, things are not the SAME. I can’t physically hold her, anymore. And, EVERY single day, I give that ACHE, to JESUS. I thank HIM, for His plans, and that HIS LOVE always wins. I thank HIM, for the joy, pain, sunshine, and rain. Because, He knew then, and knows now, every STEP. He knows, what I , and WE can handle, and what, WE can’t. Grace.

In a movie, I love…there is an important line. The mom, who ends up taking over, because there is a death, says it. She speaks, to the biological mom. She says, “You know, EVERY story, every hurt, EVERY wound.” It is in a film, called “Stepmom.” And, I can so relate, to feeling like, THAT character. But, I find comfort, in the fact that JESUS is the writer, director, producer, best actor, and so much more. HE KNOWS ALL those things too. So, even when WE think WE have just failed, or flubbed up…He knows. And, He is already in process, of making it right. But, oh my, does HIS process, LOOK different. Grace.

This WORLD will NOT hold perfection, or protection. That is found, in ONLY one place. HIS arms. His eyes. In Jesus. ALL of Jesus. Grace Grace needed, as ALL the stuff and yuck tries to stir up. Because, HIS LOVE will stand. That is the command. WE simply MUST LOVE. Love ALWAYS, LOVE often, LOVE even, when it is rejected. JUST LOVE. Because, it is in the LOVE, we can ENJOY the SNOW!!!!! SO, I say… “LET IT SNOW!!!!!”

I encourage you ALL, to engage, and share. The blog, is hopefully to get US all talking, and connecting. My prayer, is that, as HE brings the SNOW….the LOVE will grow. Because, WE definitely are BETTER together. That, is true. Especally, when WE are united, in HIS LOVE. ~~~~~~

I am often, my own WORST critic. Daily, I am still having to , give that up. Because, God says, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” And, those are not ONLY words. They are HIS words, of LOVE. So, every day, I am thanking HIM, for the imperfections, or what I see as those. Plus, I am thanking HIM, for the repair too. Grace to grow, heal, and at time be wrong. Thank GOD for that. His Love amazes me.

In the LIFE book….the bible 🙂 There is a book called , “Song of SOngs.” In Chapter 3, it says

On my bed night after night, I sought the one

Whom my soul Loves. ; I sought him but did not find him. v 1-2

Commentary says, the maiden was dreaming. That she was longing, for her beloved.

WE must LONG for Jesus this way….

When Sarah was born, I remember, seeing JESUS in her eyes. Others, would think perhaps, that was not possible. But, it WAS. She looked at me, just for a moment. And, I saw JESUS. I had been searching for years to find HIM. I had looked in MANY eyes, but there HE was. In this precious, litlle angel. And, I was absolutely TERRIFIED. It wasn’t terror, like from a  horror film. It was MORE like FEAR, I had never known. This covergence of HEAVEN and EARTH was there. It was so strange, yet beautiful too. The GRACE present, just leaves me, practically speechless.

Even NOW…it is tough to find words, to describe THAT day. Yet, unlike some I remember SOOOO much. Grace. His Grace is indeed sufficient. #LIVINGPROOF

Be encouraged today, that HIS LOVE succeeeds. 🙂 Even when it looks like, it did NOT, it did. THAT is His promise. SO, let it SNOW! And choose to be awestruck, by HIS LOVE today. ~~~

In His Grace,

E

Hello!  I woke up this morning, hearing “Everything is gonna be alright.  Rockabye. ” It was a comfort to me.  A reminder, Im safe in His arms.  Love❤️ A very OLD song .  But God.  As I prepare for something NEW, yet Old, He does this with ME.  Have you ever walked, down   memory LANE?  Sometimes, it can be, a tough road.  It can be littered with stuff, that can pop up, and hurt . Or,  just get in your shoes, like a pebble that eventually blisters.  It starts out as an irritation.  Can you relate?  Please SAY, I’m not alone in this.. .Because, the last thing, a writer wants ,is to feel alone.  ❤️

JESUS has had to break me of this,  The FEAR of being alone.  Some callings, require, a certain amount, of “alone” time.  And well,  mine definitely does.  I used to be terrified of, ending up alone.  But, one day, I realized, by God’s Grace, that I’ll never be, ALONE. Because, HE is ALWAYS with ME.  In fact, HE, and ALL of Heaven too.  ❤️ ❤️ ❤️  Now, that is Great news!

As the song… “Just Be Held” comes on.  Was just speaking about this, on Thursday. You’d think it would not, be hard, to practice what is preached, so to speak.  But, sometimes, it is. Because, to be honest, I still have, VERY hard days.  As “In the Eye of the Storm” plays.    This song a key for me.  Grace needed, just to breathe.  Because, somedays. Wow.  Tears.

The title, of this entry is about what, gets added, or Subtracted to our life.  A few years ago, someone told me, I was learning, about “Catch and release. ” I later had a memory, of playing softball ⚾️ ,as the catcher.  I would practice, with both my parents, separately.  Never knowing then, what I know now.  I was just grateful, for the time. I’m still, honored, by the memory.  But now, I see, God was teaching me more.  About catching the good, throwing out all the negative and icky stuff.  Subtract the yuck➖ ➖ ➖ Such a simple concept, by His Grace.  Just Love.  ❤️  ➕ ➕ ➕ ➕ ➕ ➕ ➕ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

I realized very young, that I was an inquisitive child.  ❤️ My biological mother, said, “You ask “500 ” questions a day. ” Now probably not that many.  But, you get it.  It was a lot.  A BIG Lot!  I wondered about EVERYTHING! ! ! I kind of became addicted to “wanting to know. ” And there was some danger in that.  But, oh my, did I get Grace to try and figure things out.

From a VERY early age… I began trying to be creative. Not exactly technical.  I fell more into, arts and entertainment.  Yes. Give me a stage, and I was home. ❤️  I loved to perform.  Because it brought people joy!  And somewhere along the way, the temporary  addiction of “wanting to know” became a NEED. It got like obsessive.  And I was not trusting God, with the plan.  This was in my late teens early 20’s.

I still Loved Jesus. I still Loved the whole Family of God.  But, I felt so disconnected. At age 23, my biological mother, went Home to Jesus.  And my world, dramatically changed.  I left my home town, to try, and find a new way. But, that didn’t last long.  Then, I left a second time.  This time, I did not return.  And, on this leg ,of the journey, I met my AMAZING husband. ❤️  And Sarah was born .

Add and Subtract.  Yes.  Love ❤️ does that.  It definitely does.  No question. Grace Grace.  Is it easy?  No way.  The song.  “At the Cross” ( Chris Tomlin). ”  At the cross, at the cross,  I surrender my life… ” Yes… That.  Every SINGLE moment, of EVERY single day. With every Single breath.  #unitedbytheloveofheaven ❤️

“Here my hope is found.  Here on Holy ground.  Here arms open wide.  Here you saved my life.  ” (CTomlin)

His GRACE is sufficient ,and POWER is perfected in our weaknesses.  Today, is NOT… My strongest day.  But, may HIS ❤️ shine ✨ brightest ,because of His perfect Grace.

Much Love ❤️ to You ALL ~

In His Grace,

E

For a few days now, I’ve been reflecting on what to write about.  I asked for a sign ➗ . It had to be one, that ONLY made senses to ME.  Because, that’s just how Jesus and I are.  We walk together and talk together.  Always.  It’s like this constant dialogue, never ceasing.  And, most of the time, it’s awesome .  But, sometimes, it can be challenging. I’ll explain a bit more ➕ on that.  ❤️

Everyone has things, God gives them, that are gifts .  In fact, today in Sunday school , that was a hot topic.  The main discussion was on service.  The question at hand, simple.  Are we, natural servants?  Then, Are we serving for God?  I’d hope the answer is… Yes.  But, honestly, it depends… where WE are… with God.  ~~~

One thing I have learned, about Grace is…. Everyone who is in Christ can be at the same place, because of Christ’ s Love.  Yet, also, AT very different places , because of the individual walk with Christ.  Jesus is truly, Grace personified. ❤️  And when WE take the time, to sit with Him, and get to know Him, it changes us, and His heart unites with ours.  It is a B E A utiful thing!!! ! ❤️ ~~~

Now, it is NOT however, ALWAYS, a super EASY thing, to do.  It takes consistently, making a choice… Daily.  In fact, moment to moment, for His ways and plans.  I want, the music of Heaven, instead of this world.  This world is way more chaotic.  Whereas that of Heaven is melodical and just precious, in every way.  But, not always simple to listen to.  Sometimes hurts my ears , and I have to press pause, on occasion. ❤️

Our job, is to Love.  ❤️  It seems like, a simple thing…

Today… Under the rainbow ☂ I sat, with my King. My favorite Lion. I could lay, with Him forever.  He makes Me Brave. Strong . He reminds me, to be silly. . Yet, astounds ME still, ALWAYS. This warrior, ⚔ is His child . Surrounded, by angels .  I can come HERE, broken feeling, beyond repair.  And, He says, “You are So perfect. ”

I’m looking ✉️ up at Him, like… “Huh? !!?! ? I sure don’t feel like I , AM perfect… In Soooooooo many ways… I have Never felt More messed up.”

Buckets of   tears   fall…. He catches them… ALL.  Yes, it could definitely, make a river, dear friends.  I wonder will they end. Grace.

He tilts my face up, and He says, “My idea of Perfect is You being YOU.  And YOU, are a PERFECT, YOU. Oh, how I LOVE ❤️ You.  Thank you, for being You. ”

Wow.  The precious and pure. Love ❤️ of Jesus.

To Him, We are perfect, just AS we are.  ❤️

We come, as always with repentant hearts , choosing to receive the Love ❤️, with Joy .  Thank you, Family of God.  Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, and Beautiful Jesus, for Loving us, so much.  ❤️  We so appreciate you.  Grateful for wisdom, guidance, strength and everything we are given, in this journey.  We love ❤️ you.  In Jesus name, and blood. Amen.  ~~~

The Greatest of these IS Love ❤️

In His Grace,

E ~