"BELOVED"

There is nothing I can add to this....The beautiful love of Jesus... He is my only need...

Be Even More Amazing

God determines who walks into your life. What will you give them before they walk away?

John 21:15-17 < I found TWO TERRIFIC TUESDAY LESSONS HERE!

(Jesus appears to His disciples following His crucifixion.. )

"15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."

LESSON ONE:

...is simple! Jesus said, "....take care of my sheep..." That is "sheep".. US...!! We are called to care for one another, lift one another up and to genuinely CARE for one another....!!! Simple, right? *Wink, Wink

LESSON TWO:

The beauty of FORGIVENESS! This to me (apart from the cross) is just the most beautiful example of the love of Christ. Notice how many times Jesus asked Peter, "..do you love me...?">THREE TIMES He asked this question! And Peter is like..."YES!! I LOVE YOU ALREADY>what's the deal!!!"

Here is the BEAUTIFUL deal:

Jesus was demonstrating the most amazing act of FORGIVENESS and LOVE in this moment. Peter had DENIED Christ THREE times just prior to the Crucifixion!! (Matthew 26:34)

Peter, that name means "rock" btw, DENIED even that he would DENY Christ, prior to DENYING HIM! And he did it THREE times.....

and THREE times Jesus is saying, "I KNOW you love me...Peter, I FORGIVE YOU! I KNOW you LOVE me...Peter, I FORGIVE YOU! I KNOW YOU LOVE ME, PETER...I FORGIVE YOU.."

He was unwinding the ball of yarn ALL the way down for Peter. Even to the very last denial>no more wondering for Peter>just TOTAL FORGIVNESS! *sigh

The sweetest thing......The sweetest thing we can give and pass on to another: FORGIVE so you can LOVE so you can MOVE so you can LIVE!!

"Feed my sheep....">Today.

Be even MORE amazing! 2gether we CAN do this!

Don't forget:


HIGHLAND GAMES @ STONE MOUNTAIN PARK! GONNA BE AMAZING!!! BE THERE!

For More Info, Click Here-------------> http://www.smhg.org/index.html

"Where the Wild Things Are" <---------release October 16th!! I can't wait to see this movie.

“Lay the proud usurpers low;
Tyrants fall in every foe! Liberty's in every blow!
Let us do – or die!”
~Robert Burns

What are the first (thoughts) words from your mouth in the Morning?

DON'T start here > "I hate MONDAY!!"

Our words are so important! What will YOU bring to the table TODAY: Deterioration or Liberation?

YOU have the power today to DETERIORATE or LIBERATE another. Watch the words of blessing flow from your mouth to another and then see how your day unfolds! *wink

Proverbs 18:21

"The POWER of LIFE and DEATH are in the power of the TONGUE; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.Proverbs"

Proverbs 15:4

"A gentle TONGUE is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit".

Psalms 37:30

"The mouth of the righteous talketh of wisdom, And his TONGUE speaketh justice."


If you rose this morning on the "wrong side of the bed," try some fast talking to turn your ship around. Start with the one in mirror! YOU MATTER!

Think before you speak.....and speak blessings to yourself and others. Sometimes, it is just as simple as a "good morning!" *insert smile here*

The point is there is someone that will cross your path today and YOU have the power to CHANGE their life in a moment! To MOVE that person from DETERIORATION into LIBERATION! What an honor! DON"T MISS IT!!!

And in other news:

My boys were baseball SUPER-STARS this weekend! OFF THE CHAIN!!!!! They were on FI-YAHHH!

And I won the LOTTERY!!!!

Now go slay your dragons! 2gether WE CAN do this!!!!





Just Kidding about the LOTTERY!!

HIGHLAND GAMES @ STONE MOUNTAIN PARK! GONNA BE AMAZING!!! BE THERE!

For More Info, Click Here-------------> http://www.smhg.org/index.html

Grumpy and Liberty Part II:

Moses, and so much of the actual journey of Moses and the Israelite people through the desert, is a story based on grumpy choices and a “prison” of resorts; missing a personal “promise land’>where is the liberty? Can freedom be recaptured? If the mark is missed, where is the freedom in the “prison” that now seems just that > a prison? Do we want the scars erased or are they a mark of freedom? In the story of Moses and the journey of the Israelite people, I am finding so many answers to these painful questions.

The story of Moses is very personal to me. However, that is another blog entirely. What I find in the life of Moses and the journey of God’s people is essence of God’s divine work in the lives of His people. It seems there are “parentheses” in the passages of this specific biblical story that define the Christian walk: through calling, following, trusting, protections, salvation, the Law, His guidance and entering into the promise land. And, furthermore, vision, leading, direction, provision, grace and mercy, it’s all in this story. I love this story!

Where is the liberty? Where is the escape from the “prisons” we find ourselves in? Even Moses was “not allowed” to enter into the promise land? How do we enter into our “promise land” if, in fact, we have missed it or Found ourselves in a bondage, pain and brokenness? Have you found yourself here? I have.

God called to Moses, spoke to him, to come and rise up to lead the Israelite people out of bondage. Moses was “slow in speech” and was nothing more than an outcast shepherd. He had no place. He felt caught between being an Egyptian and Hebrew. And, yet, God called him out of a desert. Have you found yourself in a dry desert?

The first key is that Moses ANSWERED the call of the Lord. The second key may then be that he WENT BACK to where he came from; to restore FREEDOM and LIBERATE the Hebrew nation. So often we have to go back to go forward, huh? Was it hard? Yes! There were plagues, there was famine, there were FROGS and there was even death. Yes, it was very hard and painful. Bondage is painful and the journey out is often more so. But, these people wanted FREEDOM/LIBERTY at all cost. They focused on the Lord and trusted Him for their every need. They had no food, no water; only that which they could carry. But, they WANTED OUT of bondage no matter what the cost; no matter what the pain. Yet, they followed the Lord.

Did they “stumble” along the way? Yes! They became grumpy! So much so, they forgot the miracles they had witnessed first hand! The journey which should have been a week took FORTY YEARS! For forty years they wandered in a dry desert of grumpiness! And God never left them. He never left them hungry or thirsty. He stayed right there.

The lesson: They kept going. Following the Lord, they kept going…going to a land they had never seen! They journeyed on blind faith that God would deliver them to their promise land. And GOD DID!

Where are you today? Are you in the desert? Are you in bondage by someone or some sin in your life? Satan will send events, people, situations that are the “wolf in sheep’s clothing” to try and kill, rob and destroy you of the promise land God has for you. We often find ourselves confused, angry and searching desperately for answers: in a dry desert of waste. Have you been there? I have.

Do not be confused>it is the devil trying to steal the plan God has for your life. The real battle is not that of flesh it is a spiritual battle. This where the answers to the “why” questions are answered. This why the Lord says, “the battle is MINE..” Ephesians 2:6-7

When you feel you have nothing to bring to the Lord but a broken heart, shame and confusion, God says, “Just BRING IT!” He can and will deliver you and heal every wound. And, one day, our grumpy scars will be like those of our Lord Jesus: VICTORY!

Touch your wounds now and know, they will heal to scars They will heal to scars that ARE a glowing testimony to your personal promise land!

I know this personally. I have faith in this now in my own life. With great faith and prayers for others…let us trust in the Lord of all Heaven and Earth! “Victory is Mine” says the Lord.

Do you trust Him enough to lay it all down…?

^{Lamentations 3:22-25}

²² Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

²³ They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

²⁴ I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

²⁵ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;

The answer: Give it to Him and walk away! And when you become weak with pain and doubt, talk to the Lord Jesus…literally one moment at a time…step by step and He will bring you to LIBERTY!

Forgive.Love.Move.Live.

HAPPY EASTER! Be still and KNOW..

you know what I find so amazing about the story in the Garden of Eden? Adam and Eve had sinned (eaten from that dang tree) and God was there>"walking in the cool of the morning" LOOKING FOR THEM! (Gen. 3:8) He knew EXACTLY where they were. And, yet, He was still looking for them. He KNEW their sin and He still wanted them. Though they were hiding, our loving God was still seeking! He is seeking us still today. THAT is how much He loves us! In all our sin, He says, "just bring it to me!" Because of HIS great love, we are not consumed! Put on His armor, rise up and change your world! God is so awesome! What more can one say. Love Him!!

What do we "hide" from Him? He longs to have a relationship with us. Just Bring it! Rise up and change your world!

"Keep your head held high; don't stop believing; you are God's child; His strength is stronger than your weakness.." (Warren Barfield)

Wishing you all a very blessed Easter!

In today' modern world, it seems we are "stalked" by avenues trying to control our minds, thoughts and deeds: TV/Radio (even Christian), billboards, internet, Church/School/Social activities, etc.

Someone sent me a piece of paper which was distributed by her Sunday School Class. It said the word "BUSY"...are you "BUSY"?

B > Being
U> Under
S> Satan's
Y >Yoke

Psalm 46:8-10 (New International Version)

8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields [a] with fire.

10 "BE STILL AND KNOW that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

Can you be still before Him today?

Forgive.Love.Move.Live

Grumpy and Liberty: Part I

I find grumpy people to be funny and, for some reason, I have always been drawn to them and them to me. It is not the amusement factor that draws me, but the fact that I do not believe they are really “grumpy people” or mean people. I believe they are really scarred people that need someone to reach out and not fear the wrath. In my conversations with the grumpiness clan, I have often found stories that have touched me deeply. Wounds and scars that become a prison for so many of us are really choices we have made in life that leave a hurt, a failed plan or a loss of some kind; lending to “grumpy” and a soul in need. For me personally, I have learned to look to my savior for liberation and understanding. That being said, it is an immense struggle! In John 20:19-30 it shows that one of the first things Jesus did following His resurrection was invite Thomas to touch, not merely see, the scars of His hands. His scars are liberating and, with great faith for others and myself, I choose to believe our “grumpy” scars can be liberating as well.

In having a conversation with someone a few weeks ago, we were discussing that very thing: the scars of life because of choices made. This person made a statement, “..you must understand, just because a person in prison has changed, is willing to move forward and believes, does not negate the fact that they are still in prison…where is the liberty?” Powerful, huh?! To be honest, I struggled with my response and, honestly, am still trying to fully find the answer to give this person and for me personally. Where is the liberty in the ‘prison’ of circumstance?

My response started here, with a story that I had actually shared with another friend in a different context, in the story of Moses. Moses is one of my favorites in the Bible. Can you guess why? It is because I find him grumpy and I think he is funny. I mean, no person, but a grumpy one could take tablets that were written on by God and smash them to the ground, right? And, I can only imagine God rolling His eyes and saying, “OK, umm can you just come back up this mountain and let’s try this one more time…!” Moses, and so much of the actual journey of Moses and the Israelite people through the desert, is a story based on grumpy choices and a “prison” of resorts; missing a personal “promise land’>where is the liberty? Can freedom be recaptured? If the mark is missed, where is the freedom in the “prison” that now seems just that > a prison? Do we want the scars erased or are they a mark of freedom? In the story of Moses and the journey of the Israelite people, I am finding so many answers to these questions.

This leads me back to “grumpy” and a blog series where I try to work it all out for my own sake, If you are reading, bare with me, this could take a while…..and waiting so often makes for grumpy….

To be continued….

FORGIVE.LOVE.MOVE.LIVE.