I often wonder...

Let's start with the verse first today:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

— Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)'

My hand is sore. From all of the knocking. I am weary and worn in so many ways. Yet each day begins anew! I have never once awakened in the morning and felt hopeless. But as the day goes on, I knock through prayer and thought and intention and good old fashioned positivity.

There are some days when I waiver.. if "God's will be done" then why pray at all? But if God's will is for me to pray, worship, be specific and bold in my requests, then he must know what they are, from me. So, I knock. I seek. I want my heart to be ready when he is ready to bestow. I say bring it! ... and then I remember: it's already here. God's grace has been around me this whole time. There are days and moments when I can feel it more perhaps, but it's always here. Even in our darkest hour (which according to my favorite songwriter, David Crosby is "always just before the dawn").

Our most recent and ongoing life's struggles have pushed me in spiritual directions at their extremes. And NOW, NOW I can see clearly that the extreme opposite of despair is HOPE and GLORY. And as the days go by, I can feel more of the upswing than the low-end. PRAISE GOD!

I am knocking and will continue to do so... the Lord is good, gracious, unchanging and all powerful, I seek.. and I cannot wait to see what I'll find...

Seems so appropriate today.. and any day!

Today's verse seems fitting for everyday. Because I am a mother. I care for my kids all day, every day.

These children are the choices we made from clarity regarding LOVE. The overflowing love that calls me to protect and teach them. To watch over them.

The love from the Lord, and because of the Lord and TO our Lord is really too beautiful to comprehend.

Praying and saying OUT LOUD that we wish for love to increase feels only like asking for water to survive. It's fundamental to my day, yet, profound that we could even seek and ask for more of it!


Lord, let your LOVE and your LIGHT shine on us daily. From now until eternity. Let us overflow with love and we go through and about our days. Keep us in your loving care. Allow us to hold your hand as you have held ours for so long. In your LOVING name I pray. Amen.


Anyway- here's the verse:

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

— 1 Thessalonians 3:12

As we live...

As we move into our new home:

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

— Psalm 34:1 (NIV)

As we do battle with earthly problems:

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

— Psalm 34:1 (NIV)

As we are and forever shall be:

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

— Psalm 34:1 (NIV)

Enough said...

Father, make me holy. Holy Spirit, make me eager. Jesus, make me glorious.
Do these things for your praise and for the blessing of those who need to know you better.
Please forgive me for the times I have settled for mediocrity and stir me to a holy passion to belong to you.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.

Wavering for a day....

There was a day- not so many days ago- when I was wavering. I felt that God had left me to linger. I literally said out loud that I felt I was sitting in the devils lap. It was VERY uncomfortable. I do not ever plan to return to that place.

The next day, new good things began to happen. I am saying it out loud that those things were not a result of my 'day with the devil' but despite it.

The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways. When I am feeling 'left to linger' I need to remember that God's timing is divine. And unknown to me.

Patience had never been a well practiced intention of mine. And I have now intended to master it with the Lord as my guide.

Heavenly Father, Oh, that you would bless us indeed.
Continue to increase our territory!
That your hand would be with us!
And that you would keep us from ALL evil. Amen.

Romans for the day.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

— Romans 6:11-12

This verse of the day was very timely for me. I put it out there for a reminder to not 'sit in the devil's lap' for even an iota of a second!~ Stay clearly and blatantly in the lap of our Lord Jesus Christ.