holy ground

Surprises

~ Extravagant Hope ~ Leave a comment

Early morning sunlight cheerfully illuminates the cozy kitchen in her cabin by the lake. A hot cup of Paris blend tea keeps her hands toasty. Steamy, hot oatmeal with brown sugar, walnuts, and golden raisins awaits. The embers from last night’s fire snicker and glow, still giving off a bit of heat.

January at the cabin is chilly and peaceful. Dewdrops glint off the reeds standing guard at the edge of the lake. Sunlight sparkles off the frosted needles of the old pine that has stood as protector over the cabin for as long as she can remember. The many creatures that call the lake their home are still here prowling, hunting, and sunning themselves. The pace and rhythm of life slow a bit as Nature cozies into the slumber of Winter.

Charity feels her bunched-up shoulders and neck relax and release as she sits in the silence. Her tense body and racing mind need a reprieve. This is where she’ll find it. “Help me find my way back to You,” she whispers.

Charity has walked with Him for a long time, and she knows His voice, the gentle nudge that tugs at her soul. The songs and murmurs that whisper holy, divine things into her heart, speaking healing over her. “Come away…” they say.

Dressed in layers with hiking boots and a hat, Charity heads out for a walk around the lake. Filled with anticipation at the treasures and surprises she will come across, her heart is happy, and her steps are light. The crisp wintry air is rejuvenating as she breathes in deep and long, inhaling peace and exhaling heaviness. The mysterious, divine exchange she’s been waiting for over these past few months. Rest. Peace. Hope.

As the leaf-strewn path veers down and to the right, she hears the lapping waves on the bank of the lake, moved along by a brisk, bright breeze. Rhythmic and soothing, the sound comforts and calms.

Further along, sunlight filters through the pine branches, leaving lovely patches of light and shadow along her route. A reminder that light always pierces the darkness. Nothing is hidden from Him. He will always find her, even when her life-journey leads through valleys and twisty paths that seem hopelessly dim and gloomy. Those who follow Him shall not walk in darkness…1

Around a sharp twist in the path, a small outcropping of rocks hugs the edge of the water. Reeds and other water plants grow along one side, creating the perfect hiding spot for crawdads and other small lake creatures. Footprints in the squishy mud at the edge of the lake—raccoons or perhaps an opossum looking for a late-night nibble? Remnants of red, orange-y shells confirm it—the circle of life.

Sitting on the rocks, Charity soaks in the warmth of the wintry sun, inhaling that earthy lake smell that feels like home. His presence is strong here. The sights, sounds, and scents of the trees and lake are like beautiful gifts waiting for her to unwrap. How He knows her! The One who created all things hand-picked bits of joy, delight, and unexpected encounters with Himself to remind her that all is well. She is loved, and never alone.

Moving along, Charity tucks into her heart all the carefully placed blessings and treasures she encounters along the way. Reminders for when life gets messy and chaotic. The beauty of a sweet purple mountain flower that stubbornly holds on despite the cold slumber of winter. Antics of the scrub jays and squirrels dashing through blankets of pine needles, scolding each other, and making her laugh. Whiffs of old-Earth scents—timeless and eternal. Everything that speaks to Charity—safety, love, and being fully known—was intentionally scattered along her path this morning by the Father.

Back at the cabin, she relaxes on the deck in her comfy lounger, hot cocoa taking the chill from her hands. Her time with Jesus this morning was exactly what she needed—refreshed with treasured surprises and blessings to keep close to her heart.

As the sounds of the mountain lake stir, shush, and float over her, she gently drifts off to sleep in the winter sun.

1. John 8:12 NIV

Chapel in the Woods

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There is a little chapel in the Redwoods. It is deep in the forest along a narrow, off-the-beaten-path trail. Tucked underneath a canopy of clustered old-growth trees, the forest has accepted the chapel as one of its own, the way it is sheltered and hidden away. The silence of this little grove is like a holy hush as only nature and the Divine speak here.

Gentle, filtered light bathes the steep roof, highlighting the moss and lichen that cover it.

Tall stained-glass windows with cracked and weathered wooden sills welcome the sunrise in the East. The light casts a holy glow of muted purples, blues, and reds along the simple wooden pews and the rough-hewn altar.

Hand-carved double doors, slightly off-kilter, creak in welcome to the one who enters.

His Spirit dwells here in this simple, hidden chapel; a palpable presence of sacred mystery. Those who seek refuge, peace, and rest find it—a Divine invitation. Hurts are healed and tears are caught, wounds are bound, and answers sought. Holy breath speaks life and rebukes those things that have no place here. This is holy ground.

Ahhh, the things these old trees have seen and heard as weary wanderers discover the little chapel in the woods. They are drawn by Divine whispers and the need to find solace and love, the need to find Him. Chains breaking, hearts mended, victory shouted, and deep pain healed. Nature and the Divine intertwined in a holy and sacred dance of healing and peace. The Healer enthroned in a simple old chapel nestled in the midst of His creation.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Pexels.com

Hallowed

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Photo credit: Johannes Plenio

Hallowed

The word hallowed often evokes a mysterious and magical feeling. Supernatural. Visions of sacred, lovely light and silence swirl in my mind—a sense of something in the atmosphere crackling with divine prophesy. Holy ground—a place where angels and heavenly beings tread.

In my limited understanding of all things Divine, these images come from the knowledge that a place deemed hallowed has been consecrated and made holy by the divine presence of God.

Imagine a quiet neighborhood in the early morning hours, still sleepy from a night of peaceful rest. A man and his dog venture out for their morning constitutional. The beauty of the morning, the sleepy quiet of the houses, and the cool air on his skin bring a smile to his face and a lightness to his steps. Heavy things are weighing on him. This lovely morning soothes his spirit and invites conversation with the Creator. As he spills his fears and concerns to the Father, he is enveloped in such peace; peace that shouldn’t be here in light of his circumstances and worries, yet it is. The Father soothes and speaks provision and safety into his tired soul. Hallowed.

The woman on her bike follows the paved path through the city on her way to work. The busy street, impatient drivers, and slow-moving pedestrians blur as she frets over the presentation she will be giving in a few hours. Is she prepared? Did she remember to hit all the important points? Will what she says make sense? Her mind spins and panic tries to surface, so she lifts up a quick prayer asking for wisdom and courage. As she pedals, her thoughts come together more clearly. She remembers the hard work she put into this presentation and the success she’s had in the past. She is enough and deeply loved. Her worries dim and fade. Excitement replaces fear as her tense shoulders and churning insides relax. The Lord is with her; she can do this. Hallowed.

Night falls in the campground as the older couple settles into their camp chairs to relax and unwind before bed. The campfire dances and sparks, giving off a warm, happy glow as s’mores fixings are passed between them. The peace of the Redwoods falls around them, filling them with a sense of belonging. They find peace in nature. Listening to the forest slow down for the night, the feeling of being wrapped up and carefully tended to fill their souls. They know they are in the presence of the Holy One. Their campground in the Redwoods is hallowed ground. The Creator is everywhere. He whispers peace in the wind sighing through the trees, and sings provision as His creatures scout for food in the nooks and crannies of the forest floor. He speaks joy into this season of life as the campfire snaps and cracks. Hallowed ground.

Wherever life takes you today, myriad opportunities are waiting to usher you into the presence of the Divine. He is everywhere. Divine encounters and Divine appointments are waiting like hidden treasures to be found. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is peace, healing, hope, and freedom. Hallowed ground.

Take His Hand

~ Extravagant Hope ~ Leave a comment

Grab His hand and walk with Him. You are safe. You are loved. Peace be with you.

My Divine series…

~ Extravagant Hope ~ Leave a comment

Hello everyone! These are the current 3 books that I have published on Amazon as Kindle, eBook, and paperback. They are also available from other online retailers.

I would love for you to check them out! In each book, I firmly believe that God has something for each of you that will speak to you right where you are in whatever circumstances and life season you may be in at the moment. He loves you and wants you to know Him on a deeper, intimate level. He speaks to everyone in such a unique and beautiful way that I am confident there is something in each book for everyone.

I will soon have book #4 Divine Presence…launched and published. I’m so very excited to get this 4th book into everyone’s hands and see what God has tucked into the pages for you all.

You are loved, be blessed, peace be with you.

Raw

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Raw

The morning view from my kitchen window is filled with shafts of pink and pale orange that stripe the sunrise sky and mix with the slate grey of the cloud cover. It’s so quiet and still. The neighbor’s fig and plum trees have lost all their leaves. The branches look stark and raw stripped of their leaf cover. Raw…

I’m the first one up except for the dog and cats. The house is chilly as the heater begins its task of warming things up. I love the feeling of my warm coffee mug bringing warmth to my chilled hands. It’s comforting. It’s soothing. It’s routine and I look forward to it every day.

Standing at my kitchen window watching the Creator begin painting the sky with even brighter hues and bursts of brilliance that word, raw, simmers in my brain. I feel raw this morning. It can be defined as in its natural state; not yet processed or purified; not analyzed, evaluated, or processed for use.

The Christmas season is over and the new year looms ahead. I always feel off-kilter and unsettled this time of year. The build up and anticipation, the plans and decorations, the bright glitter and shine, the special food and the hope of seeing loved ones has worn off and dulled. Putting it all away for next year, the clearing up and cleaning out, the good-byes and see ya laters await and it all just feels raw and painful. So much can happen in a year, a month, a minute and I am not a fan of uncertainty. I try to live in the moment and let go of worry, fear, lack of control and lean into the new, the blessings and adventures that will come.  But it’s still hard. My emotions are raw and chaotic. They need a resting place. Help, Jesus…

As I watch the morning unfold on my patio trying to sort my thoughts, a feeling of safety and tucking-in surrounds me. It’s beautiful and startling. I know it’s You. The comforting words of Psalm 139: 1-2 open up in my mind, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.” As Your words soak in, the pent-up emotions and chaos tumble forth. You understand the raw, the chaos, and the frantic unsettled feelings that don’t have a place to land. You are the landing place and the wide-open hands. You are the Alpha and Omega, the One who can sort, sift and make any sense of the jumbled thoughts and rawness. You are the One who calms and smooths out the unanalyzed, the not yet processed, natural state of the human heart and You purify it. It feels freeing, safe, and cleansing giving it to You in its raw, clouded and mixed-up state.

With You, I don’t have to tone it down, gauge the emotional capacity of the one I’m sharing with, dismiss and diminish myself and the rawness of my emotions in order to protect someone else, or use copious amounts of humor to tame it and make it palatable to another. With You, I am just me – all the raw feelings, the laughter and tears, the rumblings, the nonsense, the hope, and the fluttering anticipation that watches and waits to see what blessings You will pour out this year.

We all need a safe, protected place to just be with Someone who knows every single thought, emotion and the reasons behind each of them.  It is a beautiful, holy and sacred thing to be raw. No holding back – no lengthy explanations and justifications. The whole of our humanity in the presence of the One who created every nuance.  I never fully realized how freeing and breathtakingly intimate it is to be raw in the presence of God. It is sacred ground.

Hallowed

~ Extravagant Hope ~ Leave a comment

To make holy; consecrated.

To me, the word hallowed evokes a mysterious and magical feeling. Visions swirl in my mind of sacred, lovely light, and silence – a sense of something in the atmosphere that crackles with divine prophesy. Holy ground, a place where angels and heavenly beings tread.

In my limited understanding of all things Divine, these images and feelings are evoked by the knowledge that a place deemed hallowed has been consecrated and made holy by the divine presence of God. His actual presence in a place.

Imagine a quiet neighborhood in the early morning hours, still sleepy from a night of peaceful rest. A man and his dog venture out for their morning constitutional. The beauty of the morning, the sleepy quiet of the houses as they walk, and the cool feel of the air on his skin brings a smile to his face and a lightness to his steps. There are some heavy things weighing on him and this lovely morning soothes his spirit and invites conversation with the Creator. As he spills his fears and concerns to his Father, he is enveloped in such peace; peace that shouldn’t be there in light of his circumstances and worry yet it is. The Father soothes, calms, and speaks provision and safety into his tired soul. Hallowed.

There is the woman on her bike, following the paved path through the city on her way to work. The busy street, impatient drivers, and slow-moving pedestrians blur as she frets over the presentation she will be giving to new clients, in a few hours. Is she prepared? Did she remember to hit all the important points? Will what she says make sense? As her mind tosses and panic tries to surface, she lifts up a quick prayer asking for wisdom, clarity, and courage. As she pedals, her thoughts come together more clearly as she is reminded of the hard work she put into this, the success she’s had in the past, and that she is enough and deeply loved. Her worries dim and fade. Excitement replaces fear as her tense shoulders and insides relax. The Lord is with her, she can do this. Hallowed.

A long day of hiking and rafting is complete. Night is falling in the campground. The campfire dances and sparks, giving off a warm, happy glow. As s’more fixings are passed between them, the older couple settles into their camp chairs to relax and unwind before heading to bed.  This is their favorite way to vacation. The peace of the Redwoods falls about them, filling them with a sense of belonging and joy. They find peace in nature. It restores them like nothing else. As they sit listening to the forest wind down for the night, lost in their thoughts, a comforting and mysterious feeling of being wrapped up and carefully tended to fill their souls. They know they are in the presence of the Holy One. Their little campground in the Redwoods is hallowed ground. The Creator is everywhere, whispering peace in the wind sighing through the tree branches, singing provision as His creatures scout and find nourishment in the nooks and crannies of the forest floor, and speaking joy into this journey of life in the snapping and crackling of the campfire. Hallowed ground.

Wherever life takes you today, I believe you will have myriad opportunities to be in the presence of the Divine; to walk, lie, and sit on hallowed ground as the Father whispers and shouts His love, protection, and presence. He is everywhere and Divine appointments are waiting for you.