A Passionate Life

Proverbs 4:23 "Watch over your heart with do diligence, (guard) for from it flow the springs of life."

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡   Did you know it is Heart Health month?  ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡  *

The brain is really the organ in charge of our thoughts and actions. Our heart, our life pumping, blood delivering hub, gets the romantic attachments, the icon shape, and sometimes the blame for when things happen--either for the good or not so good emotion- based actions. 

But really, that is, again, our thought processes, our decision making brain and all our input into it. 

I think the author of Proverbs is referring here to our passions--where our input comes from. 

Watch what you become passionate about. Be careful how much time is devoted to other things and not spent with God. (balance). What messages from the world are you listening to more intently than the Word of God? 

What are your priorities concerning your spiritual growth? 

To watch over something, to guard, indicates that there is an expectation that something may be lurking, may be ready to attack, may be wanting to steal away, slowly yet with intent, filter into our thinking and our passions. And so begins the dilution, the compromise, the passionless, unmarked, dimmed Christian life. The world bombards us with many ideologies, temptations, smart phone apps, social media, Super Bowl commercials...you know. But God gives us all we need to guard against it. 

Sometimes, it is subtle-- all the busyness of everyone these days, yours truly included. 

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A challenging end to January going into February, my writing and ministry partner has been hospitalized for almost 3 weeks now.  I've had to do some things without her. My heart and my brain hurt for my friend; and it is only human that feelings and thoughts build. It is in community, in strong friendships and in prayer where the Holy Spirit Commanding Guard stands ready to help us keep the beat going. Her faith and love for me--  heart medicine for encouragement and my strength. We soldier on to continue in our mission, a passion for story-telling and sharing within our community to discover and connect similar passions,  and just maybe, in our obedience, spark an eternal passion. God is so good. 

When we are overwhelmed with everything that is not of God, our life-giving, God reflecting spring just may begin to dry up, become bitter-tasting, and/or reflect a lot of other things, not the face of Christ. 

Christ is what gives our hearts life. His heart, his blood, his grace IS our life spring. 

So why wouldn't we want to guard that, cover it in prayer, protect it with accountability partners, bathe it in His Word and His truth? 

I know what I am passionate about. My family. I love them and I am loved and through our trials and our victories, our passion increases, our faith endures. I am passionate about keeping my son's memory alive in me and in others, for the hope of Heaven. The Word of God. It sustains me, oxygenates my blood and gives me life. Writing. I write for His glory. My friends. Like-minded, authentic, praying friends who want more of God and want to grow together, share His insights together. Creating in nature and art. To use the gifts He's given me and keep active, to see the beauty of His promises and know His grace when I seek Him and spend time being still, listening to His passionate, love-filled, guiding whispers, His wise leading. 

Oh, and then there are those butterflies. My heart's passion is for God and from it flows the life-giving passions that I pray reflect Him in all He gives me to do, to be in this world for His eternal Kingdom. That is worth guarding and protecting until the day He takes me Home.  ♡

                                                                          

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us both a brain to think, to choose, to know, to reason with. Thank You for giving us a heart, our emotions, to feel love, pain, forgiveness and grace. With both of those, sin entered the world and my own life. But because of Your own plan, and Your own love, You--The Creator, the two are connected. Love and Wisdom from You are life-sustaining and eternity-giving. Without Your sacrifice,Your grace, worldly passions disappoint, end, change and/or keep us spinning on a hamster wheel with no hope, no eternal purpose. Thank You Lord, that You are a passionate God for us, so passionate, You gave Your only Son so that I can be full of purposeful passion for more of Your own heart and have a passion for others. Help me Lord to be the best reflection of that passion, even and especially when my own emotions are challenged and my mind is drifting. May You guard against my heart and my brain from receiving messages of doubt and fear, for they are not from You. How thankful I am to be a child of God because You chose to be passionate for me. Amen. 



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Crowned in Grace

Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me, to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners."

 June bursts into July like a firecracker.  An explosion of  pictures with  rainbow filters, commentary, debate, and questions permeate our social media and conversations. 

Amongst my circle of close friends, we dialogue.

How can we be more like Christ? How do we do this?  Our own God-filter doesn't screen the darkness perceived;  it lets the light in, giving us a correct focus.  Light scatters the darkness.  

We live and breathe the Good News.  God is the Doer. 

So, we step ahead, continuing to soak in the Light and give off the Light. 

I took a small day-trip this week, going with another friend to visit a very sick young lady. As moms, we both can relate to  "the living in a hospital" situation, tucked away in the lonely, fearful sections of our memories.  This young girl suffers with a genetic affliction, a life-long chronic disease.  She is a miracle girl really, holding on with all her strength. Her hope, to once again hold a camera to her eye and capture God's miracles in her photography.  Her Facebook page holds a last attempt before this ground-breaking surgery 5 months earlier, a  most courageous step. As we visit, dialysis filters her blood because her kidneys sleep;  her two new lungs, new liver, her new pancreas fight to be accepted. She is our brave hero. 

Her heart,  bound up tight by the love and sacrifice of her family and her knowledge and love of the Lord from an early age, beats with a passion to live. At three years old, she sat in her car seat on a long trip and told the story of the Savior from His birth to Revelation, amazing her parents. Her dad shared that story with us. 

Now in her early 30's, to us,  she is held captive by her disease, yet her joy is a smile from her dad and a promise he'll return with a little chili from the cafeteria. I wish I could open the windows so she could breathe in the smell of the ocean which is not too far away or hear the booming fireworks as Freedom is celebrated tomorrow night.   

While walking back from lunch with her dad, planters in front of a bungalow held a certain plant, four of them.  I stopped to take a picture of the Crown of Thorns also known as a Crucifixion plant. 

 I know the Truth as the blood of the Lamb of God trickled down, our sin filtered out by our own belief in the Miracle,  through Grace and Perfect Love so that we can be free to resume a relationship with the Father.  How many stopped to notice the four pots of thorns as we walked along the broken up sidewalk, notice the hospital rising up from the everyday lives of people out strolling the beach town and making a living, a place where the afflicted hope to be healed?  The captive sit at their bedside, pace the halls, and press into their own crown of thorns circling their heart.  

We are all afflicted. We all fight to be accepted. We're held captive by our opinions, our politics, and even our religion. We're imprisoned by our anger, our fear, our weak faith.  

The Crown of Thorns, it flowers.  In it, there blooms Life. 

The red flower bursts forth through the thorns to capture our attention. 

In our freedom,  may hope be found in our thanksgiving, in our humble awareness of grace.  We are capable of great love in our freedom to choose His Great Love. God sets us free to be a Light among the crumbling sidewalks of this great nation and beyond. 


Plant it Lord, deep into my own affliction, bloom in me the grace I need for the moment, for the day, for change and culture. You Lord, are the King of Kings, Giver of Life, crowned in Eternal Glory. Make me into a healer, not a wound-maker. Make me a locksmith, ready and equipped to provide a key for the captive. Holy Spirit, be upon me, prompting and urging me to pray for our nation, our leaders, our children, speaking words of hope, forgiveness and truth in love. Lead me into obedience in Your Word and in my actions. I  ask Lord for healing, for Grace upon amazing Grace to trickle down, for compassion and wisdom to walk this busted up path, knowing where it leads. Help me to lift open windows for others to    see Your power and to listen with an open heart, the boom of Your hope, an eternal fireworks show of Your sovereignty. 

Be near our dear girl Lord, her family and her doctors. In Jesus Name, Amen.  

I'm in the Band!

Psalm 81: 1 "Sing for joy to God our strength ; shout joyfully to the God of Jacob. Raise a song, strike the timbrel,  the sweet sounding lyre with the harp."

I stepped outside a little bit ago. Listening, I heard it in the distance, a sound, a certain beat that is celebratory. A sound that reverberates. It's an image the wind carries to my ears; my mind's eye sees it, the formations, the footwork, the reflections of the instruments as they turn and move.

 You know that sound.

Harkening back, it is the sound of team spirit, football games and school starting in the fall. It's a drum core, a horn section, xylophones, piccolos and tubas. Yes, the high school marching band practicing on a football field not so far away, I can hear it and it made me smile.

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There is a rhythm in life all around us. Bees buzzing, birds chirping, rain pitter-pattering, wind rustling, dogs barking, a wave washing up to meet the shore. Nature's noise

The sound of letters being pressed on a keyboard, the beep of a notification on Facebook, the vibration of a cell phone, a CD changer--changing, the spitting out of papers on a copier. Techno tunes.

The screech of brakes, the back-up warnings of a truck, the jets overhead jetting, the train whistle, a subway sonnet, the gear change of a bicycle. Transportation tones.

The whir of a coffee being made by your favorite Barista, the sizzle of bacon on Saturday morning, the pop of kernels in the microwave, the slurp of soup, the crunch of a taco. Sustenance symphony.

The world makes a noise. Do you hear its groaning? Waling warfare, vociferous viruses, pontificating politicians, ear-piercing poverty, hollering hunger and thirst, the din of death without hope.

Turn it down!  

As a Believer, God gave us a voice, a command, to share the Chords of Christ.  With that voice, we combine with a section of instruments and create a harmony. Together, with the whole band, The Body of Christ, we can be a significant part of making a joyful noise. You may need practice, you may need to learn to read music, march in time, feel the beat, go to "Band Camp." The Director's got this; He's writing your part in as you continue to learn your song of purpose.

Turn the music of your soul up and sing His praises. God hears it from Heaven, but maybe your neighbors, your co-workers, your friends may want to listen to the way your heart beats, the sweet harmonies of Hope in the Lord God Almighty. The groaning of the world only promises to loom louder, more deafening. March to the beat of a different drummer; you never know when the hum of your heart harmonizes with another waiting to find their own song of salvation. Share the Music.

Lord, help me always to hear your voice above the noisy, clamoring world. To be a part of a grand orchestra creating beauty is a blessing. I am thankful to be a part of your "sheet music" ministry.  May I stand tall, in-line with Your Word, and use my gifts to your glory. Block the discouragement of the one who tries to trip me in my march, convince me I am out of tune.  Help all of us Lord, to listen with intensity for the part you've called us for and may it be made clear through the band members around us as we march through this symphony called life. Amen.

"Light Switch"

John 12:36 "Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light."

Did you receive some cool gifts this Christmas? I received two similar gifts from two different friends I really like.  In fact, I think sharing them with you today seems like a good idea!

Flameless candles. Turning upside down, move the switch to “on”, and the light begins giving a soft glow, flame-like, without the worry of wax melting down onto your tablecloth or forgetting to blow out the flame and leaving the house.

The first one I put in my front windowsill. After cleaning up Christmas decorations, packing it up just didn’t seem right. I enjoyed the ambience and mood it gave to my front room. It came from our friend Eileen who shares the same heartache, the loss of her adult son from an accident a few years back.

The second one arrived just this week, coming from my east coast best friend, Diane. Her unique, thoughtful gifts always display a love of vintage Americana or something hand- crafted. This year, a “burnt marshmallow” flameless candle arrived, which cleverly, once  switched on, remains on for 5 hours then switches off, only to automatically switch back on the next day.  That initial “switching-on” sets a timer for it to carry on its purpose.

One candle glows to remind me of everlasting life. Though two loved “flames” came to an early than ever hoped for end to earthly life, we continue to keep a hope burning in our hearts, knowing that one day, a reunion awaits us in a bright and beautiful eternity. 

The other candle reminds me of this life. Despite the world’s harshness and disappointment, God’s toasty-sweetness of promise fills me as I wait to take a “bite” everyday. Counting on His timing once I’ve pushed the switch in my heart to “on”, God always provides a way for me to see in my darkest hours. 

The reflection, magnificent, unique, beautiful and purposeful--gifts that keeps giving.

If I want the glow to continue, I must keep them energized, powered up. I will need supplies and effort to do that. That’s certainly not hard, for the directions are easily accessible and I am just blessed with friends who won't let me go "dim" for long!   

Lord, You came into this world to be our Light, to be THE Light of the world. I ask that the flame of your will for my life keeps burning with strength and a desire for obedience and willingness to be a light myself in whatever I do and say.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.