July's intense heat made me think about many many years ago (maybe about 15 years ago), when I took my young kids to a water park with a friend and her kids. First, let me tell you, I have an aversion to water parks, so this was definitely an act of sacrificial love on my part! My friend Sharon and I put our kids on the buddy system and off they went to conquer the slides in the refreshing water. There was one particular water attraction in which a HUGE bucket filled up with water and then eventually poured out all over those who were waiting in anticipation underneath. When this powerful diluge finally happened, the whole group of both young and even older people squealed with delight!

Meanwhile, because of my waterpark phobia, I was sweltering in the wretched heat of mid-July. I was miserable... but my childern were free!

Today, I aiso read these particular verses that spoke extra loud to me due to our hot summer days: When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer (Psalm 32:3-4). This verse makes me feel sweaty and miserable just reading it. I don't want to be in this place physically OR spiritually. Thankfully, there's a remedy!

My friend, let us realize that just like the refreshing water poured out all over my own kids and provided immediate relief and joy physically, we too have an outpouring of forgiveness waiting for us every single day spiritually. We have been invited to the waters to confess our sins before the One who can wipe us completely clean! He delights to see us standing at the foot of the cross, waiting to be covered with His unfailing love. No sin is too great for Him to wash away! What freedom! What redemption! What revival!

May His delighted children shout, How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful is the man the Lord does not charge with sin and in whose spirit is no deceit! (Psalm 32:1-2)

No need to be miserable…stand under the Living Water…and join in the joy of forgiveness.

In Scripture, God uses so many beautiful analogies to encourage His children. I recently read this verse which compares an eagle and its young to God and his own children:

(He cared for them)...like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions. Deut. 32:11


The eagle is a magnificent bird. Its hollow lightweight frame is covered with 7000 feathers that allows it to soar as high as 2 miles above the ground. But the eagle doesn't start with knowing how to fly; it has to be taught in its early stages of life. Once the eaglet loses all its baby feathers, the parent eagle begins to teach the young bird to flap its wings; the adult bird does this by hovering over them and flapping its own wings. The little bird then mimics the parent inside the comfort of the nest; the airflow of the flapping wings causes the little one to rise ever so slightly above the base of the nest. Then, over time, the adult eagle coaxes its hungry young by holding captured-prey in its beak a short distance from the nest. And thus, the growing bird flaps... and follows... and flies...

God is prodding you to fly. He never meant you to stay in the comfort of His "nest." In this place of safety, you learn from Him, and you begin to mimic Him; but He means for you to soar.

You may be at a crossroads of life, having to step out of your comfort zone into the unknown; trust Him. Or, you may be in a new place of growth in your walk with the Lord and He's asking you to share your faith, or to give up a habitual sin, or forgive someone that you vowed never to forgive; again, mimic Him, and trust Him as he strengthens your wings. Then, start flapping, and following... and then... fly. Remember, He's watching over you. If you begin to falter, He will be there to catch and comfort and carry you. Under His care, you will learn to soar into new heights.

Will you respond to His prodding? Or is it too risky? If you choose to take this new leap in your faith, God promises this:

But those that hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

What can I give my President? What can I give my country?

Prayer.

I sit with a group of women once a month who have committed to pray for the President, Vice President and their wives. This group, formed by Lori Rydberg and April Eshleman, called the Glove Club (representing Melania’s glove underneath the Bible during the inauguration ceremony), has opened my eyes to the powerful gift that each one of us can give Donald and Melania Trump and Mike and Karen Pence on a daily basis.

I’m humbled and excited to say that we are using my devotional book,The Heartbeat of God, as the daily guide for our prayers. For example, today’s devotional is entitled, “God, You are the Author of Faith.“ Particular scripture pertaining to faith is claimed throughout this prayer. This name of God and these scriptures are what we are giving our President, Vice President and their wives… today. Tomorrow we will pray a new name, Perfecter of Faith, and we will claim new scriptures for them. And the next day will be another new name, the One Who Prevails, and more scriptures to pray on these leader’s behalf. The prayers go on and on, and they are new every morning!

Prayer. A powerful gift.

There is nothing we can give our country’s leaders that is better than the gift of His name and His word. God is the One who can transform hearts and minds. Our passionate words spewing back and forth to each other do very little other than add to our ongoing chaos. Our prayers to God will actually get things done because we are talking to the One who is REALLY in control!

God promises to answer prayer concerning His name and His word.

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If you want to join in this simple yet monumental growing movement, please do! Every day, pray. Many of you already have a copy of The Heartbeat of God and are currently using it in your daily devotional time. (These books can be purchased on Amazon). Let’s truly become one nation under God by uniting together in prayer.

Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.  Hebrews 11:6

The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God–it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. James 5:16 AMP

Prayer. A powerful gift that brings great reward.

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I left town for a short weekend trip and came back to a nice surprise in my backyard: daylilys are a blooming! I wrote a post about them a couple of years ago that I'll reshare today:

Consider the Daylily

Many years ago, I bought some daylily bulbs from a friend of a dear friend. I picked a special place in my backyard near a stone wall to plant them; and then, I waited. The first bloom was a huge celebratory moment for me (I do NOT have a green thumb in the least, so anything that grows in my yard is a minor miracle). Now, every summer I look forward to the re-birthing of these radiant flowers.

What's crazy to me is that this flower's bloom only lasts one day, hence the name day-lily. It's as if this particular plant embraces this fact however, and puts a hundred percent of its beauty into the time it has been allotted. These brick red, butter yellow, and melon orange blossoms splay themselves open unashamedly, shouting "Beautiful!" and "Majestic!" and "Glory!" in the designated place that they have been planted. Scripture uses the blossoming flower as an anology to teach us:

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."  I Peter 1:23-25

So, when studying the temporal flower alongside the above scripture, a wise, yet convicting question can be, What am I doing with my days? Am I shouting "Beautiful", and "Majestic", and "Glory" in my designated place? 

Be challanged by the Creator of both the fleeting flower and your seeking soul. Take inHis word, the imperishable seed, and choose to hear it, and heed it. And then, without fail, you will not only be living in this world radiantly, but also at some point, leaving this world triumphantly, having impacted it for eternity. And this my friend, is a major miracle.

Teach us to number our days, that we may enter the heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Over the past couple of weekends we have had an influx of visitors in and out of our home. From family, to friends, and friends of friends, the beds have been full and the table has been surrounded. Observing the diversity of people and the use of their unique passions fills my cup to overflowing. I love seeing God at work in so many different ways THROUGH His people.

As I was tidying up a bit this morning, I came across a pair of one of our guest’s shoes. I immeditately knew to whom they belonged, and I smiled as I thought of her extraordinary individuality.

From this happy thought, I wrote 5 allegorical tips (some are borrowed) concerning filling the shoes on your own two feet:

1. If the shoe fits, wear it. Be your own person. The world is waiting for YOU.
2. If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it. Somebody else’s shoes are meant for somebody else.
3. Don’t be afraid of new and different. At some point, it might be time to break in an entirely new look.
4. Also, be content with old and worn. These shoes exemplify perseverance and experience to many.

5. Walk. Be confident in where you are going, but avoid climbing the status ladder in your heart and mind. Keep your feet moving forward on the humble ground. In doing so, you’re less likely to fall.

These five tips were beautifully lived out before me through our different guests these past two weekends. A few artists, an art agent, a knitter, a couple of musicians, a Ukranian advocate for orphans, two doctors, a coach, four turkey hunters, a golfer, a nurse practitioner, a realtor, a Bible teacher, a fellow writer, a PA school graduate, a waiter, a vetinary receptionist, and a couple of business men … all filled their own particular shoes. I marvel at the specified touch of God on each person, not because of their job title, but because of their individual distinctiveness within their choice giftings. No one can fill their shoes.

And my friend, no one can fill yours.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. Ephesians 4:1

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Words. Choice words.

Words can hurt, words can heal.

Words can tear down, words can build up.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Pr. 18:21

In heated relational situations, is my tongue like a machete that swings with vast and defining blows? Or is it like a surgeon’s scalpel, that makes a small and accurate incision for the purpose of healing and hope?

Words. Choice words.

Words can destroy, words can restore.

Words can confuse, words can infuse.

Words can deform, words can transform.

“Lord, help me with my words. Make my words, Your words. May I pause and pray and hear Your voice telling me what to say, and what not to say. Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips (Ps 141:3). I only want to speak words that heal, build up, infuse, create, and transform.

Words. Yes, O God, I want to speak…

Your choice words.”

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