A Work of Heart

03/14/2025

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02/29/2024

“Slow me, and Show me”

Don’t let the emphasis on your ministry be knowledge, but rather, let it be conviction.

(Something I jotted down after talking to the Lord the other night).

It goes along with the message from last night on Mary and Martha, the “all too familiar” passage in the Bible of an anxious heart vs a quiet, reverent one.

Martha let “All the things” become “All the distracting things”.

There’ll always be an allurement to get caught up in the BUSINESS of ministry, or rather the BUSY’NESS.

The temptation to focus on quantity over quality, which the mentality of the world has fed into.

How many times have you grabbed your phone to search a scripture, only to be sidetracked by a text, email and an advertisement or a TikTok?

With the many different things we juggle and multi-task, when we aren’t careful we risk pushing the Savior of our souls to the background, or completely out of the picture.

Martha saw Him there but didn’t engage.

In His presence physically, but not mentally in His presence.

Mary did that which was VALUABLE. With ALL of her conviction, she bowed before His feet and waited to hear from HIS heart.

Not desiring her life to be filled with more things, but desiring for the Lord to fill her heart will the ONE THING that would change EVERYTHING.

The best sacrificial lamb we can give Him in this day and age is our time.

A missionary from Africa came to our church years ago and afterward, several of us met at a restaurant for fellowship. Before eating we asked him if he would like to pray over the food.

He looked caught off guard and said “You stop and pray over your food?”

Okay, now “we” were caught off guard, wondering why this was surprising to our missionary.

It made sense when he explained it.

“We don’t stop and pray, we are always praying.”

✝️✝️✝️

Leading by conviction and yielding to the heart of our Father, I wonder what healings and miracles He could do through us?

Learning to stand strong when we learn to reverently bow.

02/26/2024

02/22/2024

“Seedtime & harvest”

Thinking today of the seeds that’ve been sown in my heart over the years.

Words & sentences my grandparents & parents have spoken that would be etched in my heart & stick with me.

An old Chinese proverb states “The mind is fertile soil.” Whatever is planted there will grow.

Whether it be fears, sinful lusts, deeds of darkness; or faith, pureness & compassion, the seeds will grow.

If you have a seed, you have a tree. You have a harvest.

Hold fast to the words of life that’ve been spoken.
Allow them to take root in your heart & grow.

Your life story & testimony can provide shade for someone else who is walking through a trying time.

🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

Years ago, we were out driving and I noticed a stalk of corn growing in the gutter of a house as we drove by.

This piqued my interest, thinking of how it happened.

Most likely a bird had carried the seed & dropped it in the gutter. There must’ve been just enough dirt, water & sunlight to allow growth.

My friend, you may be in that gutter of failure today, wondering how the Lord can cause anything good to come to fruition.

Don’t give up.

He can cause things to grow in the darkest, most unlikely places.

His ways are above our ways.

It may not happen as you think, but when fully trusting in the Lord, it will undoubtedly happen.

Barrenness will give way to bounty when the Lord cultivates the seed in you.

This is the planting of the Lord. 🙌

02/16/2024

“Fear & anxiety VS Fear of the Lord”

We’ve all experienced it.

Panic, dread, anxious thoughts, rapid pulse.

Something the Lord has been speaking to me is how fear and anxiety go hand in hand.

If you operate in one, you most likely operate in the other.

The torment of fear leads to anxiety.

The thrust of anxiety leads to fear.

Fear - as an emotion leads to stress.

Fear - of the Lord leads to benefits.

David reminds us these benefits “of the Lord” are daily LOADED upon is. Psalm 68:19

By not allowing our flesh to be governed by our emotions, we remove the load of fear and anxiety and allow the load of the benefits of the Lord.

This “Godly” fear brings peace and is defined as “unrivaled awe and unparalleled allegiance.”

We can rest in this, that Psalm 34:9 reminds us that we have no WANT when we fear Him.

He’s got you.

He’s got me.

And with Him, we have all we need.

🙌✝️

02/03/2024

“Quality over quantity”

27+ years ago, just after marrying Rick, I had only recently come to know Jesus & was super excited to discover all He had for me.

I set out alone, to go to a women’s conference about an hour away. The only person I knew in the service, ( if memory serves me correctly), was the host of the event who had ministered at our church.

I sat all the way in the back. The house was full. It was a wonderful service, and I do recall such a sweet anointing of the Lord was present.

At the altar call, many women gathered around and were praying and receiving prayer.

The minister looked directly at the back of church to me and asked if she could pray for me. 😭

This service was pivotal. I knew I was supposed to be there, but not sure yet the reason why.

As I walked up to the front for prayer, I was getting excited thinking of the encouraging prayer I was sure to receive.

Maybe it would be a prayer of the Lord reminding me he’d seen me in the brokenness I’d just stepped out of.

She layed her hand on me and began to pray, along with the other women gathered at the altar.

It was the wisdom at the end of the prayer that pierced my spirit and has rang true throughout my walk with Jesus. 😭

She said, “In this walk you won’t have many friends.”

That was it. Short and sweet, but the way she said it was directly from her spirit to mine. Downloaded from the Lord’s spirit, because it struck a deep chord within me, and has never left my heart.

She had no idea I was the child and teenager who always wanted to be surrounded by friends.

No idea that I yearned for friends and didn’t like the idea of being alone.

What I’ve learned to be true regarding the truth spoken over me is this:

* Your circle gets smaller the closer you get to Jesus

* 4 quarters are more valuable than 100 Pennies.♥️😭

The “friends” the Lord has sent me have been invaluable to me. They’ve sharpened my iron and I hope to think I’ve sharpened theirs.

Sometimes the Lord’s voice speaks things that our hearts receive like daggers. But the things He speaks resonate, and are meant to propel us to walk the path that He’s ordained for us.

What a teacher the Lord is. What a comforter.

What a friend. ❤️

02/01/2024

“What is our investment level?”

I’ve been meditating on how invested we are in our children, the ones who share our DNA.

We go to great lengths to maintain our relationships with them because of our deep bond, unlike any other one we experience.

We’ve been seen going to bat for them & many times, nearly coming to blows over protecting them.

Our hearts see their mishaps, and even then, relentlessly cheer them on.

We know the untapped potential within them. The potential we’ve observed from day 1.

If they shout in our face and tear our hearts out, still nothing in us brings us to the point of turning our backs on them.

Other relationships, we’ve chosen to walk away from, but not these ones.

Why is this?
——————

WE ARE INVESTED.

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We signed up for the blood, sweat and the tears many times over, through all of the years.

We’ve paid the price to provide a safe haven for them.

The price we’ve paid is nothing to compare to the dividends we’ve received in all of the joyful and heartfelt moments.

From the “stooping down to bandage up a wound” moments to the “stepping back and praying that God guides you in this decision” moments.

As I was driving a few days ago, I had this thought from the Lord.

“I’M FULLY INVESTED IN MY CHILDREN.”

😭

He’s seen us at every stage of our life and since we’ve surrendered to Him, He has been on a passionate pursuit to have a relationship with us.

He has too much in us to just walk away in a moment when we’ve failed Him.

His life’s blood now runs through our veins.

HE’S INVESTED.

He died so we can have a peace that passes all understanding.

Take heart today.

He doesn’t see you as a failure beyond hope.

He sees you as HIS INVESTMENT.

You were His high price.

He paid that for you.

For all of your mishaps.

For all of your quirks.

For you.

Let His crimson blood remind you of the Heavenly DNA that you’re adopted into today.

He’s got you. ♥️

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