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The Heart of Ruth

“But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.”  Ruth 1: 16  (ESV). The words that come to mind as I read the verses were vow, commitment, covenant, oath.  Then I thought who are my committed friendship like this?  Who am I doing life with, committed to, loyal to and in covenant with?  Not only who is this committed to me but who am I this committed to? …

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A Call to Dream

As the year is coming to a close I set and purposefully reflecting on the past year. Looking at goals I set, dreams achieved and the work God has done in my life.  I even look at my failures and how I learned and grew from them.  Then I begin to dream. I prayed asking God to draw out the dreams He put in my heart and help me not to dismiss what seems too big or out of reach.  Then I just begin to write about whatever is on my heart.  What my life will look like the next …

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Dead Trees Standing

Over the past weekend, I traveled with some friends to do some camping and fishing.  It was a nice relaxing two days out in nature.  I was able to clear my head a little, met some amazing people and enjoyed the down time.  This was much needed. Saturday as we stood along the creek while the kids fished, one friend points to all the snags along the creek.  A snag is a standing dead or nearly dead tree.  I stood there staring at those snags thinking, “How long are they dead before they fall?  How long do we stand and …

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Loving Others Begins with Loving You

Have you ever been hurt so badly that you cannot hide it?  Or felt pain so deep that it can be seen in your smile?  We have all been there.  We have all experienced pain. Our own heartaches, hurts, brokenness and issues cause congestion and make it hard for us to love God with all our hearts when it is still aching. Then He says love your neighbor as yourself but unresolved heart issues prevent us from loving others when we do not truly love ourselves. Mark 12: 30-31 (NIV) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and …

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Fear Has No Hold on You

Today is the second day I find fear circling around me like standing in the eye of a storm. Fear trying to consume me, pull at my heart and plant doubt.  My heart guarded itself and walls went up.  I pulled back and began to self-protect. That is when I began to see.  It was as though through the fear that was ensnaring me I could see the truth.  The enemy brought the fear but it was my submission to it and acceptance of it that was going to cause destruction in many areas of my life.  If I did …

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God’s Plan Hasn’t changed

  I just want to encourage you with something today. As I read these verses, my heart felt that others need this too. You see here God is speaking to Joshua. Moses has died and God is telling Joshua the plan has not changed. Get going. Keep moving on with the plan God has for the people. He tells Joshua the anointing will be there, God will be by his side, now lead those people into their inheritance. I see God telling us all in this hour….THE PLAN HASN’T CHANGED….Get going! Do you see? Even though things had died, failed …

Unpublished Writings

I recently revisited some unpublished writings that I have.  I call them ramblings because they are simply my thoughts poured out upon a page.  I came across a writing from over the summer and I realized I must share it. Let me set the stage. If you have followed me then you know my story but for those of you who don’t I will recap quickly for you.  Last year my marriage fell apart and we sold our home, divided up our things and went our separate ways and was pursing divorce.  But leave it to God in the final …

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A Call to Dream

As last year ended, I set and purposefully reflected on the past. Looking at goals I set, dreams achieved and the work God had done in my life.  I even looked at my failures and how I learned and grew from them. Then I begin to dream. I prayed asking God to draw out the dreams He put in my heart and to help me not to dismiss what seems too big or out of reach.  Then I just begin to write about whatever was on my heart. What would my life look like the next year personally, professionally, in …

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Back To Your Roots

Over the past few weeks, I have been so busy and distracted that I felt a loss of creativity when I would write.  So last Sunday morning, I felt a need to get back to my roots. I grabbed my pen, journal and my travel mug of coffee, jumped in the 4 runner and headed off to the area where I grew up. There is a bridge I absolutely love not far from where my grandmother and aunts lived.  I used to drive down the old dirt road that lead under the bridge by the river. There was a large rock …

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My Redemption Story

It was a Sunday and that means church.  But it was not the usual Sunday. With Christmas around the corner it was time to attend my grandson’s Christmas play.  Our daughter was in town and we decided to all go as a family. We arrived at church and socialized and showed off all our new grandbabies then settled into our seats.  As I sat there holding one of the little guys my heart flooded. I became undone. I looked to my left and to my right and I was surrounded by my family.  Then I heard “this is your redemption …

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When He Feels Far Away

As I was getting ready for work one morning, I was thinking about how I felt congested, blocked and separated.  God had been feeling so far away. I knew He was with me but I couldn’t feel His presence. A friend had recommended a Julie True worship CD to me.  So, I went online and purchased it. As I began listening to the melody and words and the song “Enter In” came on.  Those words began to penetrate my heart and soon this dropped in my heart ‘enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise.  You must enter in My daughter. …

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Miracle in Your Midst

Sitting this cold winter morning, Christmas music playing in the background, the tree lit and twinkling perfectly.  My favorite coffee mug in hand and a heart focused on Jesus. I sat thinking of the miracle Christmas story of a babe being born out of impossibility.  He was born as a gift to the world, that would actually change the world and save lives forever throughout history.  This was a true Christmas miracle. Fully wrapped in the moment my eyes were drawn to the photo Christmas Card tucked within the pine on my tree of our beautiful daughter, handsome son-in-law and …