Recent conversations and happenings have led me to really seek out the “why’s” of how I worship and how I view worship.  When I first asked God how He wants me to view worship, I couldn’t stop seeing David and thinking about the Psalms he wrote.  I think about how he had paid worshipers to create music and new instruments and spend time in God’s presence and so much beauty was borne out of that place.  I think of how David must have worshiped God while in the fields alone as he was shepherding his flock, and then how he worshiped with equal abandon right out in the streets in front of everyone…even to the point of losing his clothes.

We were made to worship…..We all say that, but what does it mean?  To me it means that I plan to spend the rest of my life learning more about worship.  Praying and singing and dancing and being creative and loving those around me.

We are to worship in spirit and in truth.  Recently, I was mocked for being led by the Spirit in worship….That was crazy to me at the time, and even now it grieves me that anyone would see that as a bad thing.  But I think what really bothers some, is that if we truly worship led by the Spirit, then we must surrender our control.  Worship has been a lesson in release.  In surrender.  In knowing that I am worshiping an infinite God, so I will never reach the end of releasing myself into His presence during worship.  I don’t want to be controlled by religious program, but rather consumed by my Creator….the One Whom I worship.

He is truly all there is that is worth living for anyway.

 

Take some time today and truly worship the Lord.  What type of worship really connects to your heart?  Whatever it is, go and do that. Spend some time just enjoying Him.  Delight in Him. Rejoice in His faithfulness and goodness.  If He begins to speak to you, take time to write it down.  Reflect on those words throughout this week.  God is always eager to speak.

 

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works.  Psalm 145:9

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His loving kindness is everlasting.  I Chronicles 16:34

When did the church become afraid of emotion?

I ask myself this question all the time.

Wasn’t it an emotional and spiritual response that drew us to Jesus in the first place?

Do we think that Jesus had no emotion? Because from what I read in the Bible, He was moved frequently.

Even though He knew that Lazarus would be raised from the dead, He wept.

When the woman touched the hem of His garment and was healed, it seems clear that He was moved by her?

He cares

He weeps

He laughs

The Father rejoices over us with singing! He takes great delight in us!  If that’s not emotion, then I don’t know what is.

Who gave us our emotions in the first place?  The Father.  So why should we hide them away and pretend they have no purpose?

I am lead to compassion by emotion.  My emotions lead me to rejoice!  When each of my babies was born, I was overcome with emotion.  On my wedding day, I was drowning in a sea of emotion, and I was so glad!

Emotions help us to know that we are alive!

I believe that so many parts of the church and the world, for that matter, are numb because they have been so afraid to feel! So shamed because of emotion that they can’t let go and just be content to feel!

I want to be fully alive. Fully alive in Him and all the emotion He has blessed me with.  To let emotion help lead me to places inside myself that need healing or release.  To let emotion lead me to the arms of the Father.  To dwell at His feet forever.  That is my place.  My station in life.  My joy.  My satisfaction.  My goal.

 

Do you struggle to let your emotions be released?  Today I challenge you to truly acknowledge and feel your emotions.  Don’t let them take command of you, but let them serve their purpose.  I see emotions like the gauges in the dash of a car.  The gauges don’t steer the car, but they have an important part to play by showing us when something needs special attention.  If you feel easily irritated or angered or frustrated most assuredly the problem isn’t others, that emotion is an indicator of a wounded place inside your heart.  Do you always think everyone is against you?  They aren’t.  If you feel that all the time take a minute and ask God to show you the root of that fear.  It started somewhere.  Somewhere inside of your mind and heart there is a lie that has taken root.  Wouldn’t it feel great to weed that out and live free!  It is possible! But you have to take time and be still before the Lord and let Him show you all that you need to know and then you must surrender to His healing hand.  He is truly that good!

 

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save; He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17

 

“Where have you laid him?”  he asked.  “Come and see, Lord.” They replied. Jesus wept. John 11:34-35

 

He says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10

God recently spoke to me when I was thinking about needing His breakthrough in several different areas of my life and He said, “You are victory!”

In a flash, I saw that all the victory that I will ever need is already stored up inside my heart.  Like a keg waiting to have a tap put into place, my heart is brimming full of His victory!  The moment I asked Jesus to enter my heart, I became full of all kinds of victory. (Christ in me, the hope of glory! Col. 1:27)      When the God of all the universe came to live in my heart He did not become any less of Who He is or all that He is!  No, He just poured out a full measure of Himself into me! The One Who is infinite and never diminishes can pour out a FULL measure of Himself into every single heart and still have more to give.

That is so amazing!

It has been in the last few weeks that I have realized that when I am asking God to release healing, or favor, or blessing, or freedom, etc. over me that He actually releases from what’s already hidden in my heart!  In one encounter with Him He walked me through some heart healing, and then I had a vision of my heart and it was full of holes and I thought He would come in and fill up the holes, but instead I saw water begin to pour out of the holes.  It was an exciting moment when I realized that I was already full, but just needed the release of forgiveness to open the flood gates.  Sometimes, we feel empty, but what I’m beginning to see is during those times we need to ask God to examine our hearts and remove any blockage from within ourselves in order to restore the abundant flow from within us.  It’s not that we are running out, it’s that we have a blockage inside of us.

So much of these blockages come from internal healing that must occur as part of our walk into the fullness of His grace.  We all have some baggage from childhood, and also more recent hurts that must be dealt with in order to experience a fuller relationship with Him. This is a step that I wish was more widely taught in our Christian circles.  Yes, God redeems us fully, but we must learn how to walk out that newly redeemed life, and some of that process involves walking hand in Hand with the Healer and learning new thought patterns and finding the release from old and/or hidden wounds.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2. This scripture indicates a process. Something to walk out with Him. Everything He does is always all about a relationship.  One of the best ways for relationship to grow is to walk through the good and bad together.  I have so loved getting to know Jesus better and better while walking out my own healing journey!  I have never felt more loved, and I wouldn’t know so much about who I am if I had avoided this part of my walk with Him.

I guess what I’m learning is that, in order to know who I am, I must discover more about Who He is and then live accordingly.

Do you need to extend forgiveness to anyone?  Do you have any places in your own heart that you need to ask God’s forgiveness?  Do you need to forgive yourself?  Yes, it’s true, forgiving ourselves is a step that cannot be skipped.  Take some time and ask God to bring to your mind anyone or anything that you need to walk through forgiveness about. This is necessary and sacred time.

The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works.  Psalm 145:9

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.                Psalm 143:10

 

This last season of my life was, to say the least, stretching. Stretching in a really, really good way.  During a time when many would have thought they must be headed in the wrong direction, God kept confirming His Presence and approval in many ways.  I have seen him as a closer and more constant companion than He was to me before.  I only thought He and I were close before, now the intimacy I feel with Him has grown exponentially.  Even as I speak of Him, I feel His touch on my shoulder. Oh, how I adore Him and how I have grown to love being adored by Him!

My greatest pleasure in life has become time spent with Him.  Worship has become my very breath.  Prayer has become my constant, never ceasing conversation with the One that I adore.

I am a lover who loves to be loved 😊

Much of life felt like an unrequited relationship when I was growing up, now I see fulfillment in His eyes.  When life feels like a whirlwind around me, I keep my eyes locked on Him.  Like a ballerina finds her spot to whip her head around to when doing her graceful turns, I have made Him my spot.

No matter what is going on, I am always searching through the storm or the fog or the silence to find where His Spirit is and then I always know which way to go.

I am grateful.

Whatever your season, there is always something to be grateful for, even if it’s only that a season won’t last forever.  Seasons come and season go, but the Lord remains constant and faithful throughout.

Do you know what season you are in?  It is truly important to keep tabs on your life and to know what your season is so that you know how to approach life. Take a moment and reflect on your life.  Are you in a time of abundance, a time that looks a lot like the harvest? Or are you in a barren time that feels like the dead of winter? Are you feeling refreshed, like when the spring rains come?  Search out your season and then ask God how He would have you approach it.  He alone knows when the season will change.  That makes me certain that He is the most equipped to guide my life.  Will you allow Him to take the wheel?  Will you surrender control and let Him steer your ship?  The most fulfillment in life can be found only with open hands and a humble heart.

 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:  a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Recently while running, I saw Heaven.  I saw a large gate opening up, and fog poured out as it opened wider and I was elevated up to the ground level.  I immediately noticed a great assembly standing on what appeared to be a road, and they were all looking at me.  As if I knew what I was supposed to do, I began to sing worship to God, and immediately the entire assembly turned to face the Father and was singing the same song as me!

In that moment I knew that my worship affected much, even though I may not always see it with my earthly eyes.

Next, I heard the Father say, “The whole earth and all of Heaven are waiting to hear your voice.”

It was a great and humbling moment.  (It was actually one of the catalysts for me beginning this year long journey with you.)

But, who am I? And why does my voice matter?

Does the pot ask the Potter why it was made a certain way? No. I believe a pot would only desire to be useful to the Potter.

I too long to be useful to Him, so when He speaks I believe it.  On my own I am nothing special, but full of His Spirit there is nothing I can’t do.  You are the same.

He has given us each a totally unique and useful voice.  Sometimes I imagine just what would happen if we all decided to discover our own individual voice and then use it without comparison.  The body would certainly become whole in that moment.

Today, ask the Father what voice He has given you.  Ask Him where you were made to shine brightest for Him.  Write it down and begin to pray over it.  He will surely cause that to grow within you if you let Him.  We were never designed to hear a word and make it happen on our own.  No, we are to listen and receive and then give Him permission to fulfill it in His perfect way and timing.

Trust and obey.  It’s so simple that we discount it, but it’s a great truth.

O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You.  Psalm 84:23

O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!  Psalm 34:8

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.  James 1:17

 

Here’s a little poem I recently wrote about my voice:

The voice I have

The voice I have, it may seem small, but it carries the authority of Heaven.  At one note sung, the warring angels have already surrounded to hear where they will go.

I know my voice, it may sound small, but it carries the voice of Eternity.

The voice I have is all I’ve got, and I’ll use it loud and proud.

The voice I have, it has wings and flies in many directions to slay a giant or comfort a heart, whatever the Father’s instructing.

My frame may seem so slight and small but when I walk in the anointing, the steps I take cause a great earthquake and the impact shakes to the heavens.

I am the only “me” I’ve got, so I will do the most I can, but I know that because I carry God inside there’s nothing I can’t command.

 

 

Here we are on the first day of a new year! It’s always such an exciting time full of promise and hope and joy!  As each new year peeks around the corner at me, I always take a moment to stop and quiet myself and ask God what His word for the new year will be.  The only way to successfully navigate a journey is to know where you are headed, and every year without fail His word for that year has been a beacon of hope and encouragement to keep at it when times are hard.  I also use these words as a light house for the year, so no matter where life drifts me, I can keep my eyes focused on the truth He revealed in advance to sustain me.

As I press into His heart, I hear it beat for me.  How can you not feel loved when drawing near to the Father’s heart.

 

We will need a firm foundation to build upon this year, so take a moment and find a quiet place and ask Him what His word is for your year.  Usually my words are accompanied by a scripture.  I always look up the word in the dictionary (even if it’s a common word) because undoubtedly one of the definitions will speak deeply to my heart. Write down this word and scripture and return to it throughout this year to encourage your heart!  He has so many great things in store for us!!

 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path Psalm 119:105

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9

I am so grateful that you’ve decided to take this 365 Days in the Presence journey with me!

I am confident of this, we will endeavor deeper into the Father’s heart this year, and I trust that we will come out with a better understanding of His love for us and a clearer vision of ourselves by looking into His eyes, and discovering our purpose on this earth.

For well over a decade now, God has been repeatedly telling me to write a book.  My first step toward this seemingly daunting task was to begin journaling.  I have done so for many many years now, some seasons more faithfully than others, but I’ve done it none the less.  Then last year, once my kids were all school aged, I began to spend more focused time pressing into the Father and asking what He wanted me to write about.  As things began to unravel, I saw that I was uniquely fashioned in my walk with Him to write devotionals.  I find Him releasing visions over me almost daily as I run on my treadmill at home.  It may sound odd, but it has become the most Holy of places for me because I know that He waits there for me to meet with him daily.  Oftentimes, I wish I had a recorder of some sort to immediately speak out the wonders that I see when I meet Him there.  He is a faithful and intimate Friend and Father.  So, while committing to walk out a 365 day journey is intimidating and honestly quite frightening, I am confident of this…..He Who began a good work will be faithful to completion. (Phil. 1:6) This was His idea, so He will work it all out for me……

I keep seeing a rose when I pray about this journey.  But the rose doesn’t just symbolize one thing.  In one instance, it represents you and your heart.  In another, it represents God in all 3 of His parts.  And in yet another instance it represents our interaction with the world (or roses) around us.

I want us to look at this year as a rose, and throughout these 365 days we will be carefully inspecting each petal and all the different parts that make a rose so beautiful!  From the texture, to the color, even to the thorns, and then allow us to stretch ourselves to see down into the dirt and inspect the roots that hold the rose bush in place and even draw in nourishment from the dirt it is dwelling in.

It is amazing that we can find beauty even in the thorns of a rose…..

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

 

In the following devotional post….Day 1….I want you to consider it, in it’s simplicity, to be us establishing the garden for our rosebush to be placed into.  Before we can grow, we need a safe space to stretch ourselves or a word of freedom to set the compass of our hearts in the right direction, and to give us hope.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance!  Psalm 16:6