Author: Vickie

“But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

Mothers notice things, keep things in the most secure space they own, their heart. The space that spasms with every joy or sorrow. That jumps to attention when her loves are threatened. That melts in moments when her loves return affections or do something from their own hearts of love for others.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was no different. She felt the full range of mother monitoring. She quickly offered her breast to her hungry baby. She knew that this birth meant immeasurably more than any other baby’s birth in the history of the world. That His fame would be a flame that could never be extinguished. I imagine that it was all too much at first, but God made it just enough for her to handle. He quieted her heart to ponder what was happening. He caused her to keep it all in the safe place of her heart. He revealed at the most appropriate times all that raising the Son of God would entail.

I think of Mary more at Christmastime because of the focus on the Savior’s birth. I thought of her with each of my own children’s births. Going through the labor and delivery process with a mind prepared by Lamaze, in a clean hospital with good support. I felt empathy for this young woman who only had Joseph and a stable. How strong and trusting she had to have been.

This Christmas I have been stuck on the song “Mary did you Know?” The lyrics, penned by Mark Lowry, ask a question, over and over, listing the miracles that Jesus would perform, the redemption and deliverance He came to offer. Where He came from and where He was going and what He would be doing in the time between. I believe Mary knew her son was God’s only begotten Son, yet a human heart can only hold so much.

“And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.” Luke 2:51

The pondering part is always the rest of the story. In her heart she knew her baby boy would change the world. In her heart she knew that no one would ever be the same once they asked Him into theirs.

Mothers really can’t know everything their children will do or become. Will they cause your heart to almost burst with pride and love or will they cause your heart to break with disappointment? In my experience, yes and yes. They are human beings after all. The cost of loving your children is so high at times you wish you could somehow bail yourself out. But you can’t. Mother love is unconditional.

For all the mothers pondering all you hear, all the “sayings” that will be in your hearts forever, Jesus came, and what that means to me and all of us is this, “God with Us” Emmanuel. (Matthew 1:23) No struggle we face as a mother is a surprise to God. The shock you may feel in the deep tender area of your heart needs the comfort that God sent Jesus to give.

Mary had to have known that her baby boy would have to die one day, yet she pondered the moments that lay ahead of her, the mothering day to day. And this is all we can do. Ask God for guidance and help in the now. Trust God to handle the future. Live in the hope that everything is going to be alright, because God gave us His Son to one day right all the wrongs in this life.

On these days after Christmas, before we set out on this New Year, I pray you linger at the manger a little longer. With Mary, ponder all the things that really matter and let this year go in gratitude and grab on to the new one with gusto. In Christ, the best is truly yet to come!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:13-14

“For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that I do not;

But what I hate, that do I.” Romans 7:15 (KJV)

How do we get from a battle we cannot win, to a battle we cannot lose?

A little more clarity comes with the New King James Version:

“For what I am doing, I do not understand.

For what I will to do, that I do not practice;

But what I hate, that I do.” Romans 7:15

One of the most perplexing chapters in the Bible is Romans 7. You have to read it very slowly, you have to read it reflectively. You have to read it responsively. Repenting at the end of nearly every verse. It is that convicting. You have to read it with gratitude to Jesus, because He truly is your only hope.

Believers have a type of split personality. The Bible calls it out as a struggle between two natures. The “old man” and the “new man.” (Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:10) One part that is corrupt, dying daily and one part that being made new and is alive forever.

The term “born again” describes it perfectly. Our first birth, by flesh and blood, our second, by the Holy Spirit. Our first birth, biological, our second, spiritual. Our first birth, on a journey that ends with the grave, our second, everlasting, from the first moment we trust Christ as our Savior. (John 3:3, 1 Peter 1:23)

Romans 7 describes the time between the second birth and when we leave this fleshly existence and enter the eternal, when we are glorified. (Romans 8:20) Everyday, after day, is a step in the process. A struggle between the old and new you. One nature that can be tempted and tried by the enemy, Satan, and a nature redeemed by a Savior that gave His life for you. Jesus.

We might ask, and I do often, why we have to battle this when Jesus has already won it for us. The only answer is found in faith that God knows the struggle is good for us and produces good in us. This struggle in my life forces me to trust Him, to seek His help and find the only peace and joy that truly satisfies my soul. The answer is found in our focus. What do we seek and set our affections on? (Colossians 3:1-3) We can be too short sighted. What we want right now becomes more important that what we would hope to become on the other side of the struggle.

Because of Jesus, not me, I am not condemned, no matter what. Even though I am flesh, I am also born after His Spirit and am free from the law that, even though it is good and points out my sin, could never save me from it. Only Jesus can, and has and does forever. (Romans 8:1-3)

Claim this today. When you step over your restrictions and guilt comes. Claim this today when you know you thought wrong thoughts, said wrong things, ate too much, spent too much, worried too much, complained too much. Claim this when you find it hard to love or serve someone. Walk on, dear one. In the Spirit.

“Trying…Again.”

“MY heart is overflowing with a good theme:

I recite my composition concerning the King;

My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”

Psalm 45:1

Gratitude 13,763: “Writing…again.”

I just have to. When the Lord asks you to do something, there’s just no way around it. If your eyes have fallen upon these words, they are for you. I have prayed for that.

The Scripture that precedes my words describes the calling. From an overflowing heart I write. Everything we do or see others do comes from an overflowing heart. A heart overflowing with grace or grief, good or evil, love or hate, fullness or hunger. Hearts overflow and spill out with what they contain. What will yours spill out today?

The alternative is to attempt to hold back what your heart contains. Methods may vary. Believe me, I know. And some not at all bad. Avoiding people and situations that cause you to spill out the bad stuff can be helpful until you’re ready to constructively handle them. Some can be quite bad though. It can be destructive to try to numb your heart with substances or experiences that are fake or counterfeit. It can be harmful to isolate yourself from friends or family for fear of burdening them or revealing a false image or reputation you are trying to protect.

It can be hard to try again, when your past experiences have been unsuccessful to say the least. Try again anyway friend. Prepare your mind by taking it to a higher level of thought. One led by His Word.

“Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there by any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

I’ve been knocked down this year, we all have, but don’t stay down for the count. Rise up! It starts when we change our minds. When we change the way we think. Let’s dwell on things that are

TRUE:__________________________________

HONEST:________________________________

JUST:___________________________________

PURE:__________________________________

LOVELY:________________________________

OF GOOD REPORT:_______________________

VIRTUOUS THINGS:________________________________________________________________

PRAISEWORTHY THINGS:____________________________________________________________

You fill in the blanks. Soon your heart will be spilling over and blessing others and heart of our Savior. In His love and mine

Do We Need To Say It?

Ah, the power of words. Sometimes I think that it would be easier if I were born mute. If I couldn’t speak, I would not be able to say words that hurt people, or words that were not meant to hurt people, but did. Words that could be taken in the wrong way, for good or for bad. Words that tried to elevate myself or put down another. Why do words carry so much weight?

I have to go back to the very beginning. “And God said.” There are nine of those (God saids) in the first chapter of the first book of the Old Testament, Genesis. The book of beginnings. The first eight times the “God said” is followed by something that never existed before.

1. Light
2. Firmament (heaven)
3. Waters (bodies of)
4. Grasses, herbs, fruit trees
5. Sun, moon, stars
6. Animal life of sea and air
7. Animal life of earth
8. Humans (male and female)

These were all created over 6 days, (bodies of water, land and vegetation were created on the third day.) Of all of His creation, He gave humans something extra. His breath.

Genesis 2:7, “And the LORD GOD formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

It is impossible to use our voice without breath. We are able to speak out loud when air, as we exhale, passes through the folds of our vocal chords. This vibration causes the unique sound waves of our voices. I find it so amazing that God shared not only His intent when He spoke us into being, but He shared His breath with us to make us a living soul. And with that breath, we can speak too. And those words have creative power. Power to build up and power to tear down.

I am a big proponent of Ann Voscamp’s mantra “Only speak words that make souls stronger.” But there are times I fail. Miserably. I have to remind myself that just as God breathed life into Adam’s nostrils and he became a living soul, God breathes life into me as I follow the example of His Son, Jesus. When I choose to love and forgive. When I choose to examine my own heart before judging another’s.

Matthew 12:34, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

Every time I say something that I shouldn’t have, whether the words were wrong, or the timing was wrong, or vice versa, or both, I have to examine my heart. Maybe silence would have been a better choice. Can you relate? Only God has a perfect enough heart to speak and only good, always good, be the outcome.

Any time I dare to think that when bad things happen to good people, like cancer, persecution, injustice or other types of tragedy, I want to question God. I do. Still, after He has given me so much and proved His goodness to me time and again. I wonder why He could not have spoken good, or what I consider to be good over that person and caused it to happen. And He appeared silent. Knowing that all the while He has told me in Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I would not want to believe in a God that thought or did things like me, I am no match for his wisdom and power.

In our nation today, there is a lot of injustice. A lot of anger and revenge and disillusion. And fear. And a lot of words that aren’t helping. I have to believe that it is because they are not necessarily the right words for healing and hope. Only God’s Word holds those.

Only what God has said is what will stand and win the victories we are all longing for. And we may not even know that is what we are longing for because we are looking at the symptoms and not the root cause of our problems. Sin. We just feel this hunger for righteousness, for things to be made right that never will be, apart from a right relationship with our Creator. He is the Source for words that speak peace and calm into chaos. There are some of those voices out there and you know them when you hear them.

John 10:27  “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Yet, what are we supposed to do with all this anger and energy we feel when something atrocious happens and injustice follows? Could I suggest that we might first try energetic self-examination and repentance…energetic intercessory prayer…energetic worship…energetic love for others. Energetic reading and memorization of Scripture. (And may I add that in the day of COVID, all of this can be done while social distancing.) Perhaps if we do this first, we might be able to use words that build up, that bring about justice, that heal and give hope, and finally with wisdom, answer the question, “Do We Need To Say It?” And if we do, do so with kindness and courage.

Ephesians 4:14-15, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head even Christ:”

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the width and length, and depth and height- and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19 (NKJV)

What more could we ask for? What more could we pray for? For ourselves or others, as we wait. As we struggle with living a life with purpose when we feel like our purpose has been put on hold. I want to encourage you that your purpose has not been put on hold. What you have to offer during this time is crucial. It may look different and some days be hard to figure out, but that is what the “through faith” is for.

When I wake in the morning I am finding that I need to take extra time with the Lord to do “this” again. To do another day of social distancing. Another day of keeping anxiety at bay when doing things that I would normally do, without wondering if the invisible enemy might get into mine, or my loved ones, lives. The things I see now, on the news, when out and about, seem so surreal. Dear reader, aren’t you thankful that you don’t see what’s coming sometimes?

Who would have thought we would be wearing masks, standing six feet away from others and told not to go visit people? That there is the potential of giving something to someone else that could be life-threatening? That going to a church building and worshipping together could be irresponsible?

During these times, I have found I need more structure. More accountability with myself that what I can still do, gets done. I’ve started my “to-do” lists again. I find that just checking off some things that are important to me and my circle is incentive enough to make sure they get done. Laundry, check. Workout, check. And so it goes. I was afraid that if I put my prayer and journal time on the list it would become more robotic and not spirit-filled, but that has not been the case. It goes on the list too. My prayer and journal time are richer than ever. God has seen to that. Do you already do the checklist thing? If not, do you think maybe it will help you right now to keep the things that need to happen, happen indeed? When so many of our “normal” routines have been disrupted, it feels good to create some new ones that you can actually keep.

When things that should normally happen, don’t, because of this virus, it can be very difficult to continue with what control you really do have over your hours and days. If I don’t have to go to work, do I need to shower and dress for the day? If I’ve got all day to do just a few things, is this a license to be lazy? This could be the time in your life when you will shine the brightest! This doesn’t have to finish us and make us feel completely inadequate and out of control. (Preaching to myself here.) May I suggest a few things that might help based on Paul’s prayer for the church?

1. Realize the tremendous power of prayer. First thing, for me, just to know that one of the great saints of the Bible, the Apostle Paul, prayed for me. He prayed for you too. He was a faithful servant so I am sure he had God’s ear. He bowed his knee. He humbled himself before God for my sake. I can rest in the fact that I am prayed for and pray for others more with the more time I have at home. That prayer is always accomplishing something. (James 5:16) We do not need to see the results, although He is gracious to show us them at times. Just pray in faith believing and know that God, in His wisdom and power, will use those prayers for our good and His glory.
2. Paul prayed that the strength I need for each day is available when needed and the way needed. My weakness is not something to fret about. The strength that I need will be supplied by the power of the Holy Spirit. It will be deep inside me and I will have the faith I need to know that Christ is dwelling with me at all times through His Spirit.
3. Paul prayed that the love that God has for me, through Christ, has strong roots. That because of this, I am grounded in the truth of His Word. When other words try to discourage me or cause me to fear, I have His Word as the unfailing truth. I can read it and meditate on it, pray it and practice it. His love surrounds me and envelops me. It is so large I would never be able to fully comprehend its enormity. It will never run out or give up. God’s love is perfect.
4. Finally, Paul prays that I would “be filled with all the fullness of God.” To be full with all that it means to call myself a Christian. That I would be a shining example of Jesus. The fullness of God means I would have His character, love like He does and live like Jesus did when He came to earth to show us His Father’s love and character. The word “Christian” means “little Christ.” We are to be “little Christs” in this world, doing big things for His Kingdom. I know that I am no way near that standard, but this is what the journey is about. We are pilgrims as it says in Hebrews 11:13. All our days here are but opportunities to show others how to find God, and how to inherit eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Our lives can be the example of His goodness.

I imagine this wonderful example of a man who was found by Christ when he was on a road to persecute Christians, got blinded by God’s love, gave his life to Christ and then spent the rest of it proclaiming Christ and Him crucified.

“For I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Paul, 1 Corinthians 2:2.

When the troubling thoughts come, when I see myself be less than I hoped and wonder how God could still allow me to draw breath, I want to remember that Paul prayed for me and possibly that is why I can do this again, one more day. And I am praying these verses in Ephesians for you Dear Reader, that you are well and growing in grace during these trying times. One more day at a time.

Easter 50% Off?

I was looking for shoe laces. I know I was under a “Stay-at-home” order, but I was out on an “essential” mission already, and I needed shoe laces to complete some cloth masks I was crafting at home for myself and my family. I know they won’t protect us from the COVID-19 virus, but the experts say it can protect others, when we have to go out in public places, if we would happen to be carriers. I’ve used one the past few days when out, and I’ve noticed something. Even though others try to keep their distance, the workers seem less anxious when I asked for help. (I just couldn’t reach the Bran Flakes, or seem to find the shoe laces.) In this time when there is so little we can do to help, this seems doable.

The store that had the shoelaces reminded me at the register that “All Easter is 50% off.” This struck me because at this time in our history, all of our attention can be focused on this pandemic, if we let it. News channels focus on it 24 hours-a-day. The counts are going up and I know we should keep ourselves informed, but let’s not let this distraction, however formidable it may be, cause us to forget about Easter, of all things. The grandest celebration of the Christian Calendar!

More than ever, we should take each day of Holy Week and offer to our wonderful Savior praise and honor and glory.

Each day, make our accounts clear with Him with repentance and worship.

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

Psalm 51:2 (NIV)

“Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

1 Chronicles 16:29 (KJV)

Each day, give Him thanks in all things and offer our lives as a living sacrifice.

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 5:20 (KJV)

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Romans 12:1 (KJV)

Each day intercede for others like we never have before.

“I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)

Below is a chart of the days of this week leading up to the celebration of our Risen Lord. I have seen, online, families celebrating Palm Sunday with their little ones and it has blessed my heart. Go ahead and plan special activities this week on your own or with your families in the “safe” way, to celebrate each day in a special way.

Dear Reader: even though we will miss our church services, hearing the inspiring preaching in person, seeing all the pretty outfits, and singing or listening to the Cantatas, we can and must celebrate our Risen Savior. More than ever before, make the effort to give Easter 100% this year. Ask the Lord to show you how and when and where. Because He has already shown us the reason why.

“LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.”

Psalm 90:1

I see three vital life-sustaining truths right there. Faith. Home. Family.

I can’t get over this Scripture right now. Psalm 90. This “A prayer of Moses, the man of God” as my Study Bible entitles it. I’ve typed the first verse of it above in the King James Version. In the middle column of my Bible, it tells me that “dwelling place” can mean refuge. Which our homes should be for all of us. But during this time in history, they are no doubt, being so much more.

A lot of us are working from home, schooling from home, visiting our loved ones online from home, ministering from home, the list could go on and on because most of what our world gets to do, has to be … from home.

Faith. The Christian Calendar has us on the last half of the season of Lent. This year, I’ve been doing my daily reading from Bill Elliff’s book “Prayer With No Intermission: 40 Days to Unceasing Prayer.” It is from his Graceful Truth Series, Volume 3. For the 40 days, Bill leads us to a Scripture and truth that focuses us on the importance of unceasing prayer. Which is not just a suggestion in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, but a goal set by a man of God who should know it works.

“Pray without ceasing”

1 Thessalonians 5:17

On Day 24, the reading was focused on the brevity of life. Psalm 90 is his text where Bill makes this statement, “We act as if there are many days to accomplish the work set before us, when in reality there are but few.” We need to grow a faith that stands firm during the toughest of times. The kind of faith that depends every moment on the mercy and grace of God. The kind of faith that prays about everything, at all times. The kind of faith that refuses to waste one moment of the limited days we have.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Psalm 90:12

Home. Corrie Ten Boom is quoted as saying, “You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have.” This is a woman who should know what she is talking about as well. Google her life and you will find a woman, full of faith, who knew that God was her home. This was her truth. Her relationship with Jesus held her through the Holocaust during World War II, a concentration camp and beyond.

I’ve been praying for us who have to stay at home when we would really rather be out fellowshipping face-to-face. Hugging and kissing on our grandkids. Giving and receiving a genuine handshake to a new acquaintance. But I’ve also been praying for those who don’t have a home to shelter in. Who don’t get to go to work, who don’t have the privilege of online visitation or worship. I am praying that the Lord would comfort them and make Himself so real to them now. To show them that He is their Home, their Refuge. I am also praying that those of us who have the ability to share, do it now, more than ever before.

Family. From generation to generation there have been challenges. In my lifetime, I have never seen one such as COVID-19. An invisible attacker that can only be fought right now with us distancing ourselves from one another. We are flesh and blood, carrying around the precious truth of Christ. Body and soul, while we are here. This attacker wants to destroy the body and that prompts us to fear, but we are more than that. I am a nurse, so I know the basics of how viruses operate, and this is a bad one. However, it does not have the power to separate us from the love of God. Nothing can.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

From one generation to another, we need to pass this truth on. The younger ones are looking to us and watching our actions and reactions right now. We have the potential to influence them for the Kingdom and show them that He is our Home, our Shelter, our Refuge at all times. He is good, merciful, kind and loving.

We will be on the other side of this one day, I don’t know when, but faith doesn’t require me to. The next generation will remember how we handled it. May their memories contain our courage, wisdom, kindness, faith and most of all love.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:1, NIV

His Delight

I had a wonderful day yesterday. I got to spend it with a 14-month old. She doesn’t need to do or be anything other than who she is and I smile. I had hours of just watching her discover and play and follow little commands, which of course, shows her grandma how brilliant she is! It was pure delight.

There are many teachings in Scripture about the blessings we receive from children and I believe every time Jesus grinned ear-to-ear, a child had to be involved. As heartbreaking as it can be for us when one of them is harmed here, I have to believe Jesus is with them in a special way. Holding their little hearts safe in His care, giving them His presence, which is their greatest need. I can pray for them to know He is there and I can pray for healing, both physical and emotional. But I still hate it so much that they get neglected or wounded in this world.

There is just no way any of us make it to adulthood without some wounding. Some get more than others, because of the original sin in the Garden of Eden, this world is fallen. The perfect, or not even close to perfect, parenting has never been done. And as I watch my granddaughter play I wonder if I paid enough attention. I know I was never patient enough or protective enough, or prayed enough for them. And I have regrets, but am thankful that I have a Redeemer that has taken the mistakes I made as a parent and turned out some pretty wonderful adults who are wonderful parents themselves.

“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest (quiet you) in his love, he will joy over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17, parentheses mine.

Dear reader, you are a delight to your Heavenly Father. He watches over you as you live your life and, unlike me, He is a perfect parent. He sings over you when you need soothed. He listens to the desires of your heart and only gives you what would be the absolute best for you in the long run. He knows the exact stage of development your soul is in and does not expect too much from you. His mercy and grace chase after you, just like I chased after that little one. Making sure the door to the basement steps was closed and there were no glass dishes that could be pulled out of the bottom cabinets onto little toes.

“He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.” Psalm 1:19

Can you imagine it right now? A loving Father that knows all we are up against and so desperately wants to help if we would only allow Him in and stop saying “I can do it myself!” Because we can’t.
Truth is, we can’t see the future. We don’t know when we get up in the morning what will happen that will change our plans for that day. And just like that little one, we have to trust without question, the One who is taking care of us.

“The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6

One of my favorite things this little one does, is reach up with both arms when she wants picked up and held. And it’s not that she just reaches up. She flexes her little wrists and presents the palms of her hands to you. The reaching seems urgent. Her eyes will lock on yours and you just have to pick her up. It’s obvious her hands are empty and she only wants you.

I am sure you know that I love to share what the Lord is teaching me through everyday life. Being a mother and grandmother are my favorite, but you don’t have to be one to know the truths of this post. If you are reading this right now, you are or can be a child of God. You do have or can have a Heavenly Father who loves you unconditionally. (See “Statement of Faith” at gloryrenewed.com) I need to be reminded of the very things I write about because I have what Ann Voscamp calls “soul amnesia.” I know what I know until it “slips my mind.”
I imagine our Heavenly Father’s heart, when He sees our surrender. Our hearts and hands raised in prayer and praise. I am sure He can’t help but take delight. And He lift us up. When we have a need we can’t express, when we present ourselves empty, we get what we reach for. Even a 14-month old knows that.