"And I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will even betroth you to Me in stability and in faithfulness, and you shall know (recognize, be acquainted with, appreciate, give heed to, and cherish) the Lord." -- Hose 2:19-20 AMP

Abba, You are planning a Destination Wedding for Jesus and Your Church...Jesus and I.

I am amazed at how You lovingly assure Israel  - three times - that You will marry her. You are well aware of her shortcomings, her weaknesses, her blatant disobedience. Yet, You make a Covenant with her to save her.

Your vow to Israel, and to me, is to join us together in so many wonderful ways...in righteousness, in justice, in steadfast love, in mercy, in stability, in faithfulness. Isn't that what every wife would want and need? Yes!!

Jesus, my Prince, I have so much to look forward to! Our marriage is not a "til death do us part"...no, it's for eternity. I will be by Your Side, the very place the church was born, forever. Oh the comfort that brings my heart.

This is The Sacred Romance. You are pursuing me and I am pursuing You.

Until we meet face-to-face...

Morning Manna

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -- Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Abba, some days this verse is my only hook...my only handle. Some days I look up and say, "I sure hope You know what you're doing!" Some times The Plan can feel willy-nilly...like a roller coaster ride to only You know where!

This verse isn't a cliche. This verse is Your Truth that ministers to my heart today. You do know what You are doing. As a matter of fact, what You are doing is already done through Your Son! Jesus, Your birth gives me Life and Your death gives me Hope. You have pre-conquered every obstacle, every demon, every slippery slope on my path. Have Your Way...for I know it is The Better Way for me.

In my head, the future is uncertain...what, how, when, and where have yet to be answered. In my heart, what, how, when, and where require great faith. Increasing my faith means exercising my faith.

Like Jeremiah, You chose me before I was born. You knew me and approved of me before I was in the womb. I am Your chosen instrument for such a time as this. You set me a part, consecrated me, and appointed me for my current roles at this current time in my life.

I read a devotion this morning, I read this quote by Boyd Bailey: "None of us likes to be rushed, especially God!" Help me, Abba, I'm an Activator...I freely admit that patience is not one of my strengths. However, I want Your Perfect Work to be done in me, my family, and for my future.

Thank You for reminding me today to grasp Your Word with all of my might. Jeremiah 29:11 is a Promise and I am an heir!

Morning Manna

"And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God's Word and the right of their necessity]." -- Psalm 9:10 AMP

Abba, when I'm tired and uninspired, You pick me up. I lean into You as my Strength, my Strong Tower, my Refuge and my Very Present Help.

I know Your Name. I am acquainted with and have experienced Your Mercy and Your Grace in undeserved, unmerited measure.

I call on Your Name and You answer, "Yes, Child?" Your warm and loving ways break down the walls of self-protection, misunderstanding, and hardness that the circumstances of this life often erect. You melt my heart...I am weak in the knees and You catch me.

You have given me Your Name, You have given me power of attorney, to pray with authority and great faith. I pray for my family this day because I know Your Name. I pray for our desires, our future, because I know that Your Name causes Heaven to stand still and make note. I trust in, I lean on, and I receive from Your Gracious Hand because I know Your Name.

I know No Greater Love because You laid down Your Life for me. I lean into You today and I am refreshed and renewed in Your Name.

Morning Manna

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me." -- Revelation 3:20 AMP

Abba, I had a small card with Revelation 3:20 and the beautiful picture of You knocking at a door as a small child. I kept it in my room, often times attached to my mirror. So this Scripture and picture are very dear to me and bring me warm memories of solitude with You.

You have made me a Learner. Most times when You have caused a verse to bubble up in my heart, I will go to the Lexicon and dig into the original meanings in Greek and/or Hebrew. You know that I'm going to run to the computer to look the Scripture up in its original language. I bet You take Joy in that...You find Joy in watching me find Your Treasure. I love being Your Scriptural Archeologist!

I am blown away by all that Revelation 3:20 has to reveal. You establish Yourself at the portal of my heart and strike at the opening. You pursue me, not quietly, but making loud noise. If I even crack the door open, You shine - You come in. You bring enlightenment in my times of darkness. You offer me of Yourself, the Bread of Life, the Chief Meal...this is my Supper, You're my Sacrificial Lamb.

Jesus, You have given me Food for my thoughts that will last throughout the weekend. I am overwhelmed and am about to bust!

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for unveiling Jesus. This is Your Supreme Pleasure and I take Joy in knowing Him more.

Unveil and reveal more and more to my heart today.

Morning Manna

"First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first." -- 1 John 4:19 MSG

Abba, the Truth that You loved me first blows my mind!! I didn't have to perform, I didn't have to act a certain way, I didn't have to do a thing...You simply loved me period!!

Just as I loved my daughters from the get-go, I loved them first, You also loved me.

The best part? You still love me. Your Love reaches far into my future and covers me. Under the protection of Your wings is where my heart dwells.

My aim, my focus, is to grasp the height, depth, width - the full measure - of Your Love for me.

Being reminded of Your Unceasing, Overwhelming, All-Surpassing, Far-Reaching Love has given me Joy for my Journey!

Abiding in Your love...living loved today.

Morning Manna

"Be merciful and gracious to me, O God, be merciful and gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge and finds shelter and confidence in You; yes, in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge and be confident until calamities and destructive storms are passed." -- Psalm 57:1 AMP

Abba, in You I find my confidence and strength. In You I take refuge and find shelter.

There are days on my journey that all I need is You. My strength is worn, I cannot read another book, I can't hear another teaching, I cannot apply another principle...I simply don't have the energy...all I need, all I want, is You.

- When the winds of adversity blow, my foundation in You is secure.
- When the waters of an unwilling heart rise, as long as You are with me, I will not sink.
- When the thunder roars and the lightening strikes, I will not fear the noise.
- When the storms blow through, I will grasp Hope, the Spirit of Grace.

Be merciful and gracious to me O God, be merciful and gracious today.

Morning Manna

"Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life." -- James 1:12 MSG

Abba, You my Personal Trainer in this life! You are my Guide and I trust in Your Leadership.

Sometimes this life feels like a family favorite show - Survivor! What shall we eat? What shall we drink? Where do we take shelter from the storm? Who's taking the lead? How will we win this battle? Do we get immunity? Is there a reward?

You've created me to welcome a challenge. I love a challenge...the harder, the better! I like a coach to be hard on me. I like to be pushed. I play to win!!

In these times of challenge and testing, I'm sticking it out. Two words = Focus & Sacrifice. That's what I'm chewing on this week. Focusing on Your Target for my life...sacrificing my all with Your Strength to hit the target the first time around. Adjusting my aim and trusting You to steady my hands to release at the right time.

Loyally in love with You, my Jesus, I receive Abundant Life. Your are the Source and I ask You to pour into my heart today.

Morning Manna

"Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. "Honor your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, "so you will live well and have a long life." -- Ephesians 6:1 MSG

Abba, today I will spend a few hours with my parents. You know my heart...I'm a bit overwhelmed with items on my plate and truly would love to spend the day at home. I ask You to help me to have the right attitude about being gone from the house the entire day. I want to honor You by honoring my mom and dad.

I pray that our time together would be mutually encouraging. Grow us in relationship. May I never think I am too old to learn from them. I know that they love me with all of their hearts. They were meant for me and I for them. They are full of wisdom...may I receive their thoughts for my life with Grace.

Bless them as they bless me today. Bless them with Your Shalom...long life, health, peace.

May we delight in each other knowing that You are delighting in our fellowship. Have Your Way today, I pray.

Morning Manna

"Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, "It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That's why it is said, "Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right." But it's not just Abraham; it's also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God." -- Romans 4:19-25 MSG

Abba, the pressure of the fulfillment of Your Promises in my life is on You. My partnership with You in relationship to Your Promises in my life is to focus...focus forward.

When change comes, sometimes I am tempted to look back at how things were because it seemed so much easier then. However, looking back stops me in my steps. Looking back stunts my growth. Looking back causes me to doubt Your Goodness in any new direction.

I dont' want to be like Lot's wife...she is no longer the salt of the earth. She is a monument, a statue, of salt as a reminder of what looking back will do.

Thank You for reminding me this weekend that any movement forward requires focus and sacrifice. Focus on Your Word and Your Sacrificial Love for me.

My Arranger strength prompts me to study patterns. However, I don't have to get stuck studying old patterns and expecting doom and gloom. You are the Divine Designer of my life. You create patterns as You go. You are not bound to any constant formula. I give You room to surprise me!

Give me strength to focus on You and Your Word to me today, I pray.

Morning Manna

"In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." -- Proverbs 3:6 AMP

Abba, when I recognize that You are my ultimate guide for my life, I open the door for Your direction in my life. You long to show me the Better Way.

You have established a New Covenant through the Broken Body and Shed Blood of Your Son, the Darling of Heaven. A Great Price was paid at Calvary!

You have given me a Jeremiah 29:11 Promise. You have a Divine Plan for my life and it is abundant...much fruit! Teach me the Way that I should go. Teach this learner, the Better Way...for marriage, for parenting, for friendship, for leadership, for influence.

Show me the Signs:

- When to stop, when to go
- When to speak, when to be silent
- When to labor, when to rest

I have so much to learn about the path ahead. I ask You to use Pilgrim's Progress and the writings of the Eldredge's to lead me safely through my mid-christian crisis.

Lead me and I will follow...

Morning Manna

"I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the SECRET of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]." -- Philippians 4:12-13 AMP

Abba, what is highlighted for me this morning in this passage is the word secret. The Apostle Paul knew the secret and is sharing his secret with the church at Philippi. His secret is sufficiency in Jesus Christ.

Paul had learned how to be satisfied in Christ alone. When his circumstances swirled all round him, his anchor was Christ. Christ was the One who did not and would not change. Christ was Paul's security. In Christ, Paul lived and moved and had his being.

What amazes me about Paul is that he wrote the book of Philippians, this book of letters, while he was in prison. Paul put his money where his mouth was. He wrote from his jail cell. He backed up what he was writing by the way he was living. He is SO strong!

What Paul gave the Philippians was perspective. Sometimes we just need a little perspective. In comparison to what other brothers and sisters in Christ are experiencing, our situation really isn't all that bad.

Jesus, our family overcomes in You. Our family's anchor is You. When the oceans roar and the mountains fall into the sea, You are our Everlasting Strength.

You are More Than Enough and You supply all of our needs. Thank You for reminding me this morning that You are the Author and Finisher of our faith.

In good times and in not so good times, You will never fail us or abandon us.

My strength is in You today...

Morning Manna

"...We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!" -- Romans 5:3-4 MSG

Abba, troubles cause the fruit of the Spirit to grow within us. Pressure causes us to deepen our roots in Your Love. Obstacles develop character.

I pray that passionate, Christ-like character be developed within our family. Use the weights of this world to draw us into Your Bosom. May leaning into You cause us to grasp that we are the family whom Jesus loves.

Root us and establish us in Your Love so much so that when the winds of adversity blow, we will stand strong. We will dig deep. We will brace ourselves with Your Character.

Develop patience, develop virtue, develop character, I pray...and may we in turn prepare our vessels for the Living Water that You abundantly supply as our reward.

Expectantly waiting...

Morning Manna

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!" -- Proverbs 3:5-7 MSG

Abba, You have created me with Strengths that I love and know are for a good purpose. When they are submitted to You, they flourish exactly they way You designed. However, when they are out from the covering of Your Wings, they are loose cannons!

My Learner, Activator, and Arranger strengths are very investigative and thorough. With my daughters, this can seem as though I am constantly searching for something...constantly putting the pieces of the puzzle together. This often times is negatively interpreted and I must be aware of their hearts. I must put the sandal on the other foot!

The last thing I want to do is turn my daughters away from me. You know my heart. Help me to express my care in a way that lessens offense and opens conversation. I need Your Help...keep us on track.

Jesus, when I am self-focused, it effects me...it's stressful, irritating, and comes off edgy. When I enforce my will, it brings heart sickness for all of us. I bet my cat can even sense it!

Submitting my motherhood to You, the Perfect Parent. Teach me Your Ways, Your Better Way, that I might follow Your Voice.

Morning Manna

Today's Morning Manna is an excerpt from my "Joy for the Journey - A Woman's Book of Joyful Promise" devotional. This morning's reading ministered to my heart deeply. I pray that these precious Scriptures and thoughts will bless you as they did me. 

"...A time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted." -- Ecclesiastes 3:2 AMP

"I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well." -- Psalm 139:14 AMP

Accepting Your Body Cycles

Woman are always aware of their bodies. Changes within our hormonal balances are always sending us signals that can affect moods, strength levels, and even our perceptual capacities. If we don't understand those things, thinking positively about them and accepting them, our bodies can betray us and leave us in a non-growth predicament.

A fellow-learner in a class I taught shared thoughts about the tendency of many women to fight depression in the fall of the year. She reminded us that Psalm 1 suggests that we are all to be like trees planted by a stream -- trees which bear fruit "in...season."

Her insight? That even trees don't flower and bear fruit all the time -- only in season. But men and women alike seem to think that we should be bearing fruit all the time; we punish ourselves when we're not. She was teaching us the beauty of personal dormancy: We must allow for it and accept it joyfully....A time of inner strength-gathering for a better bloom later.

Gail MacDonald
High Call, High Privilege

Morning Manna

"The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]." -- James 5:16 AMP

Abba, I know that You love to hear my voice the same way that I love to hear the voice of my children. You hear my cry the same way I hear the cry of my children. When they call my name, I stop in my tracks. When I call Your Name, You stop in Yours. You bend Your Ear down to hear my petitions.

Your Word says that my prayers move mountains. You Word says that my prayers, rooted in Christ Jesus, are powerful and dynamic. My heartfelt, and some times gut-wrenching, prayers shake Heaven.

Yesterday, my husband and I had a time of heaven-shaking prayer. You were there with us. We prayed and put the matter into Your Lovable and Capable Hands. Now, we rest and come to You in thankfulness that You will see to the matter.

You are working behind the scenes. The seeds of prayer have been sown and we leave the cultivating, watering, fertilizing, growing, weed pulling, and harvesting up to You. You are the Vinedresser and You wash and tie up Your vines perfectly.

You are the Potter...we are the clay. Have Your Way in us today.

Morning Manna

"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation! The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!" -- Habakkuk 3:18-19 AMP

Abba, Hinds Feet on High Places has ministered to me time and time again. What a beautiful struggle. Oh how I identify with Much Afraid!

The word that strikes me most in Habakkuk 3:18 is yet. Even though, regardless of, although...I will praise You for You are always and forever Good. No matter how high the climb, how difficult the terrain, how ominous the journey may seem, You are omnipresent...You are always near. You go before me and protect from behind me.

The hind is the female deer who is able to calculate her steps with precision. She runs with abandonment and momentum. She stays on track and her footsteps are sure and steadfast.

Strengthen my walk, today, I pray. Make me to walk and not to stop in my tracks.

Cup my face in Your Hands and show me the way, Great Shepherd.

Morning Manna

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me." -- Psalm 51:10 AMP

Abba, King David wrote this Psalm as a result of repentance and a desire to get right with You. This morning, I stand right with You because of the blood of Your Precious Son. I am thankful for Your Grace, Your Mercy, and Your Wisdom that are available to me simply for the asking...You are a liberal supplier who gives out of Love.

My focus on Psalm 51 this morning is as a result of lots and lots of thinking. My focus is as a result of things that were, are, and might be. I ask You to check my motives. I do not want to respond out of fear of the future, but rather faith for the future.

Jesus, killing desire is not Your Desire. Desire unleashed at the proper time yields a great harvest. Help me to know and to accept the seasons...for they are changing.

Your Ways are not my ways. My vision for my family is limited, but maybe myopia is not such a bad thing. Myopic vision requires Faith because everything passed reality is blurry...and this feels quite unnerving. Good news for me - You are not bound to the realm of feelings, but rather the realm of Faith.

Create in me a clean heart. Increase my faith I pray.

Morning Manna

"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth." -- Psalm 127:4 ESV

Abba, our daughter's are arrows in our hands. I pray that You would help us to sharpen our aim. Teach us their individual targets.

Wield the point of their arrowheads to be incredibly sharp...to strike their purpose and stay there. Strengthen their shafts that they may not bend under pressure. Settle the notch into place that they may rest tautly against the string. Use the wind of Your Holy Spirit to direct the aerodynamics of their flight. And as they are released, may my husband and I have the privilege to remain as fletchings for stability and direction.

Jesus, our desire is that our children hit their mark and make a mark. Our desire is that they make an impact on this world for Your Kingdom.

Use both the pride and the pain of an arrowhead in the hand to train us - their parents - to be skillful, careful, and purposeful.

Being aware that the time is short, may we hear Your Voice and follow Your lead when the time is right to release.

Morning Manna

"And all your [spiritual] children shall be disciples [taught by the Lord and obedient to His will], and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children." -- Isaiah 54:13 AMP

Abba, this has been my foundational Scripture for homeschooling my daughters. I have trusted you every year, every month, every day to be their Teacher. I am fully aware that I cannot educated their heads nor lead their hearts without You.

Each of my daughters has entered a unique season in their lives. Many life lessons to learn and grow through. Have Your way in them. Give me the wisdom to answer every question, the energy to tackle every obstacle, and the love to conquer every fear. I lean into You for Strength.

Thank You for Circle Christian School. What an incredible support! Thank You for their teachers and coaches. What seasons they have enjoyed!

Trusting You today for their Peace, Great Peace, and undisturbed composure.

They are Yours.

Morning Manna

"You are my dear flock, the flock of my pasture, my human flock, and I am your God." -- Ezekiel 34:31 AMP


Abba, Ezekiel 34 has been a great comfort to me in the past and is a great comfort to me this morning.

Thank You for reminding me of Your Divine Protection. Thank You for reminding me that You take personal responsibility for my welfare.

You feed me, You bring me back when I wander, You cause me to rest, You bandage my hurts, You calm my agitation, You protect me from becoming prey. You are acutely aware of my frailties and bring Your Strength. You restore my soul.

You lead me with Your Rod of Protection and Your Staff of Guidance from pasture to pasture in Unfailing, Secure Love.

I am Your sheep and You are my Great Shepherd.

Lead me in paths of Righteousness today I pray.

Morning Manna

"Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?" -- Matthew 6:26 AMP

Abba, I confess that fear is a huge button for me. Fear of abandonment, fear of being left alone, is an enemy that I have fought since I was a very small child. The temptation to fear is great...this is my pattern and the enemy of my soul knows this very well.

It started with being put up for adoption, then followed by my father constantly choking at dinner time, followed by a failed marriage, followed by both of my parents fighting cancer...the list goes on and on. The enemy has used memories from these events to bring feelings of doom and gloom. The enemy has done his best to convince me that I am captive to a life of hopeless solitude = LIE.

The Truth, the Good News of the Gospel, is that You will never leave me, nor forsake me! I was not alone then, I'm not alone now, and I will never be alone!

You give me a bird's-eye view! Living on a lake, I have seen with my own eyes how the birds walk across the grass gathering their food. I have this picture of You throwing out their manna, their food, every morning. All that rests on them is to gather for themselves and their families.

A bird's-eye view...if you care for the birds, how much more will you take care of me?

Thank You for the Truth that sets my heart free...every time!

Morning Manna

"[I can feel] [Do I have a constant sense of my Shepherd's presence, regardless of my surroundings?] his left hand under my head and his right hand embraces me!" -- Song of Solomon 2:6 AMP


Abba, what a great question! Do I have a constant sense of my Shepherd's presence, regardless of my surroundings? My answer is NO. I've got to be honest. I let circumstances choke my hope. I let fear - false evidence appearing real - cloud my vision.

What a beautiful picture! My Shepherd holds me the same way that I hold a baby. One hand supporting the baby's head and the other supporting it's weight. The baby bears no pressure...all the baby needs to do is relax on my bosom.

Jesus, that fills me! Knowing that You hold me close sets my heart at ease. Such a loving picture...brand it on my heart I pray.

You're a meek and lowly in heart...You restore my soul.

Morning Manna

"Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." -- Joshua 1:9 AMP

Abba, You command us to Be Strong and Very Courageous because You see the end picture. You know that the pressure for Victory in this life is on You, not on me.

Sometimes the battle seems so strong and I want to give up. Sometimes the battle depletes me - emotionally and physically.

You are reminding me this morning that we pray from a position of victory, not for victory. You have invaded the kingdom of darkness on my behalf. You have depleted my enemy of any power. His only tool is deception. Satan IS a liar. My part is to focus on Your Truth that I may reign in this life!

This morning, I blog from fullness and not depletion. I pray with a thankful heart knowing that You have already won every battle that lies ahead.

I will not fear...You are with me.

Morning Manna

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer." -- Psalm 19:14 AMP

Abba, You want me to have a Jesus-consciousness vs. a sin-consciousness, for being conscious of my sins brings fear of punishment and condemnation.

Jesus bore the weight of my sin, received the wrath of my punishment, and voluntarily died in my place. He received what I deserved so that I could receive what He deserved...this is Amazing Grace.

Help me, strengthen me, to watch my words. Help me to be aware of what my brain is chewing on. You and I  know all to well that the battle for me is in my mind. Some days the arrows are many in number. I need You.

Oh that I would have a Philippians 4:8 mentality.

Beholding Jesus, I am changed.

Morning Manna

"Come and hear, all you who reverently and worshipfully fear God, and I will declare what He has done for me!" -- Psalm 66:16 AMP

Abba, You have ordained today. You have set the stage to highlight Your Son. May Jesus be glorified in my words, my heart, and my life this morning.

Thank You for allowing me to partner with You to bring HOPE. Your Story in me is one that I cannot withhold. Your Strength in me causes me to worship!

May You bring Healing, Grace, and Peace...gifts to be unwrapped in our conversation. May those You have chosen for this hour experience their freedom in You!

Storytelling is my favorite! The opportunity to comfort those with the comfort I have been given ignites a holy fire in my heart. Fan the flame, Jesus...fan the flame.

Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee.

I am free.

Morning Manna

"He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love [for love waved as a protecting and comforting banner over my head when I was near him]." -- Song of Solomon 2:4 AMP

Abba, any time that I am with You, Love covers me. Your Love is the cloud by day and the fire by night on my journey. Your Love is the Holy Spirit in me. You are my Protection and Place of Refuge.

You are known for Your Love and I am known by the fruit of that Love growing in me. No matter what the world or anyone says, I am loved. I am wanted. I have a beauty to unveil that reflects the image of my Father.

Your banner is a standard...a warning to the enemy of my soul. You are my Defender, my Deliverer, and my Strong Tower.

I am the Beloved, bought with a great price, by the Lover of My Soul.

Abiding in You, near You, I am safe.

Morning Manna

"Pile your troubles on God's shoulders— He'll carry your load, He'll help you out." -- Psalm 55:22 MSG

Abba, our burdens can feel like boulders! They are weights that we were never meant to carry. Your shoulders are broad and strong.

You offer to carry the load, but I often resist. Most of the time, if I'm honest, I feel that if anything is going to happen, I'M going to have to make it happen on my own. The pressure is on me. This tendency comes from my wounds...it's an age-old pattern in my life.

Teach me, Jesus, that You came to set the captive free. From captive to Captivating is Your Desire for me. I am not a slave to sin, fear, or even death itself. I am an adopted daughter of the Most High God invited to live in union and partnership with her Loving Savior. 

Increase my faith to trust in You and find joy in this season...for this is my hope and strength.

Could I really be Captivating?

Over the summer, I felt the Lord nudging me to re-read Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge. I rarely re-read a book unless it's had a major impact on my heart (i.e., The Shack - I've read it four times!).

Because I am a learner, I purchased the "revised and expanded version" along with the DVDs. I figured that if the Lord has something to say to me, then I'm all ears. I'll buy the book, the movie, the Cliffsnotes, even the Spanish version if I have to! I'll learn the lesson, implement the changes, and move on with the rest of my summer.

However, as I began to read, I understood more and more that it wasn't about the itemized list of issues that I had conjured up. It wasn't about my stinky attitude, the length of my quiet time, or the the spring cleaning that has now gone into summer. Jesus was wooing me. He was pursuing something in me that has yet to be revealed. He wants me to be free.

Watching the DVDs has been especially wonderful. The Eldredge's have a deep understanding of the feminine heart. Stasi is strong, yet without offense and the ladies who partner with her are beautifully vulnerable. I have yet to sit through a DVD session with dry eyes!

The feminine heart is deeply, deeply, deeply connected to Jesus. He wants us to know that we ARE beautiful, that He has a grand adventure planned for each of us, and that He delights in us. The King IS enthralled by our beauty (Psalm 45:11).

But do I really believe that? Do you?

There's so much to my life story. There's so much yuckiness that blurs any beauty that I can see. The Good News is that His appreciation of my beauty is driven by His love for me. It's not dependent on me, but dependent on His holy perspective of His creation. I AM His Beloved whether I feel like it or not. That's the Truth about me and that makes me Captivating.

I am continuing on this journey. I'm not done and neither is He.

In the distance I can hear the freedom bells ringing...and they toll just for me.

Morning Manna

"But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired." -- Isaiah 40:31 AMP

Abba, weariness is a tool of the enemy, especially weariness from trials...at least that's the way I feel.

You whispered Isaiah 40:31 to my heart when I called upon You in desperation several weeks ago. I didn't understand why this Scripture at the time, but I do today. Thank You for the message shared at church yesterday. In light of Isaiah 40:31, James 1:2-4 took on a new meaning:

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."

You are asking me to wait while You do the transforming. You will either transform my circumstances or transform me. One way or the other, I will be changed by Your Skillful Hand. You are the Potter and I am the Clay.

Oh how I fight pain and resist Your Perfect Work in my heart. Today I understand that You are producing patience and it'll take special care from the Vinedresser for this fruit to come forth.

You're not holding out on me, Jesus. You are Trustworthy and Faithful. You hear my cry. Have Your Way today.

Refining brings the Shining!