If you haven’t picked up a copy of the books in the Divine series, here are some additional online platforms where you can find them.
Powell’s, Bookshop.org, Walmart, Indigo/Chapters, Barnes & Noble, EBAY, Half-Price books, Books-a-Million, Waterstones (UK).
If you are local, you can find them in-store at Reasonable Books in Lafayette, CA.
Thanks for all the support, friends, it means a lot!
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
As we head into the weekend, I pray that our lives reflect some of these good fruits, as we allow God to mold us, heal us, love us, and guide us. What a lovely way to be Jesus’ hands and feet to a world that is really hurting right now. I hope that we are the recipients of some of this fruit, too! You are deeply loved by God. Peace be with you!
Psalm 32:7 NLT “For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.”
The bench under this willow tree is a peaceful, restful spot at the pond by my house. I’ve written several short stories, poems, and devotions about this pond, the willow tree, and the bench. Jesus and I have had many long talks on the bench under the willow. I feel protected here listening to nature do its thing. I’ve poured out my heart to Him on this bench in laughter, joy, tears, and anger. For just a bit, I can hide myself in Him no matter what hard, frightening, out of control things are spinning around me. I’m safe. I’m protected. He’s my hiding place. Resting in nature and restoring my soul, He sings and surrounds me with songs of joy, victory, and the deep mystery of His peace that passes all understanding.
I hope you have a place that feels safe where you can sit in His presence allowing His songs of joy, victory, and deep compassion flow over you as you are tightly held and protected. You are so loved. Peace be with you.
Psalm 34:5 NLT
“Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.”
As we start off on today’s journey, let’s be quick to ask Him for help, guidance, patience, and strength to navigate those things that lie in front of us. There is no shame in admitting the need for help, healing, and hope. We were designed to live in constant communion with God – He is our Shepherd and He knows the lay of the land.
His peace gently blankets us when we seek direction, and wait in trust while He opens the way before us. There is beauty strewn along our path. These hidden gems of joy wait for us to take our eyes off of the uncontrollable circumstances and focus Jesus. One step at a time. He’s got us. You are so loved. Peace be with you.
Proverbs 19:21 NLT “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”
Are you a planner? I am. I love plans and lists. I like to know what’s coming. It makes me feel safe and secure, as if my plans and schedules can keep blindsiding circumstances, conversations I’m not prepared for, or situations that require a quick response at bay until I can rehearse, plan, and plot how to circumvent or control it all.
I love this verse, but it’s also challenging and it is hard to wrap my mind around it. Of course I want the Lord’s will to prevail in my life and the lives of those I love. I know all the reasons why His will is best. He’s omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. He knows the number of hairs on my head, the deep, inner workings of my heart, and the wounds I carry in my spirit. He had a plan and divine purpose for me before I took my first breath. He is never far from me and I am deeply loved. Yet…
My need for control and protecting myself from chaos is strong and tightly woven into my heart. I have experienced quite a few blindsiding situations and each was devastating in its own way, leaving scars and fear in the aftermath. However, through these situations, I have learned and embraced that God’s presence never left me in those times. His will and ways were always perfect, shaping me into who I am now. These things allowed me to live out my purpose albeit with scars; reminders that I pushed through things meant to derail, wound, and cripple me.
I treasure in my heart the lessons learned. Above all, I discovered that Jesus is safe. He is good, He is compassion, He is my Warrior and Protector. I learned, and am still learning, that I can trust Him with me and that is a lesson I would not trade for a smoother life-road. His ways and thoughts are higher that ours. His plans are good and perfect, but not without scars that are a constant reminder of our healing. We can plan, be wise, and discerning as we look ahead, but ultimately His plans and His purpose for you and for me will prevail and it does bring comfort, peace, and rest for a plotter and planner. Trust Him. He won’t fail you. You are loved. Peace be with you.
Psalm 141:3 NIV “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
The imagery of words bubbling up and out of my mouth from what is stored in my heart has always been fascinating, yet convicting for me. I like to think that my words are always lovely and inspiring, flowing from kindness, but they aren’t always. I don’t like to envision my heart filled with poisonous words and thoughts that leak and spill over onto other people, but I know that they have and they do. They likely will again.
The only way I know to keep these knife-sharp words at bay is to ask Jesus to examine what’s in my heart. It’s not pleasant. Most of us don’t relish having our hearts and deepest thoughts laid bare before God.
There are things deep inside these hidden places in each of us that are not nice, not kind, and in desperate need of healing, and cleansing. Secret things and painful wounds that we have tried so hard to heal, clean up, and bandage on our own with weak, frail bandages that are temporary and fleeting. Our self-made bandages never stop the seep and stain that taints our hearts and souls with pain that spews up and outward. That depth of exposure and healing can only come from Jesus and His mercy, compassion, and power to bind up and heal our soul deep wounds. He will do it, if we invite Him in to do that hard work.
As we go about our lives and intersect others life-travelers, I hope we keep fresh in our minds that our words contain so much power – the ability to heal, lighten, inspire, and spread kindness. I want to be known for that – kindness, acceptance, compassion. Everyone we set eyes on is deeply loved by God.
Father, please keep a guard over our mouths. Let kindness, mercy, joy, and compassion be what bubbles up from our hearts, out of our mouths, splashing all whom You place in our path. Keep watch, Lord, on the door of our lips, so that hatred, condemnation, judgement, and cruelty have no room to pierce and wound those we come into contact with daily. Let us not give the Enemy a foothold to weaponize our words. Fill us with Yourself – Your name is enough to silence all thoughts and words that are not of You. You are good, You are love, You are peace. In Your name, Jesus our Healer, amen.
You are so loved. Peace be with you.
Extravagant Hope 