My morning and afternoon shattered like my mug filled with coffee.  Boom! Splatter! Crack! Whack to the spirit.  My morning started off in a chaotic cove that cracked and rushed with suffocating waves of “something going wrong after something going wrong”. I have to admit…A stressful scream echoed my house. Then, I sat and cried because of my inability in the maniac moments to keep calm. I cried because I did not want to make my baby girl anxious who is still packaged and pink-bowed inside me. I cried because I wanted to keep my composure for my dog, Tucker. I cried because I had a moment of brokenness like my “Coffee and Jesus” cup.  I felt defeated by sickness and stained coffee walls. Then, my husband called me and he said, “I felt the need to pray over you, Tucker, and our baby girl.” He told me to put the phone on speaker so our daughter could hear his voice. Well, I cried again…crystal tears of liberation and clarity.  The Holy Spirit lighted on my husband. He th

As I drove home from my doctor’s appointment (baby check up 🙂), I looked at rows of trees and thought to myself…”Do I have ‘timber-top’ faith?”  Do we have a faith that reaches past the ground work of roots, and climbs up tenacity trunks, and tops the pinnacle pines?  Does our faith look past the rigid, hopeless bark and glance towards shining hope, “topping” the trees?  Do we waver with worry in the somber shadows under branches or is our mind filled with a “timber-top” faith? Do we think upon whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report? In doing so, we will think upon a faith that tops the Red Woods and cascades o’er a “timber-top” hope filled forest.  Don’t settle at the cold bottom of a tree. Don’t settle in muddy worry…climb unfathomable heights to reach a faith that peaks with sound glory!  #tree #trees #liveoak #liveoaks #faith #timber #faithoverfear #faithquotes #god #jesus #holyspirit #blogger #bloggerstyle #bloggersofinstagram #faithblogger #christianblogger #blog #blogpo

When my mom was a younger mom and some tense moments would arise, she would say, “I’m going to come unglued!” I’m sure whatever she was facing, was an “un-glue-able” feat.  My brother heard my mom say the historical line on occasion. When he was 4 years old, he replied with an innocence and a grand truth…”Mom, we’re not glued together. God made us with bone.” When we trust God fully, a fullness fills our bodies, casting solid and spiritual bone that is unbreakable. We are not just lightly glued together, melting at weak seams. We are purposely formed with God’s strength that thickens our inner core with fusionend faith.  When we ponder the plundering initiatives of this temporary world, it’s easy to become “unglued”. Although, if we look upward and onward towards God and Heavenly places, a soundness will fuse spiritual bone together, stabilizing bold steps of trust and faith. Within our spiritual bone flows a force that will not shatter and scatter upon fearful doubt. No, we are formed

Sometimes my mind wanders to Heaven’s gate, ‘What’s the point? I just want to go home... Jesus, come back.” I look at the world around me and see such sinful destruction and people standing beneath loosened boulders, being crushed by unawareness.  The mountains around us are crumbling with ravenous rage. An evil dust plumes, suffocating unknowing lungs that are breathing in every word spoken to them from demons roaming streets.  The world is darkening with a calloused sun that once shone upon God and His righteousness. The sun dips lower with every hand upon the grandfather clock, bringing night into noonday. The devil whispers...open ears listen with inclusive and broad malignant thoughts...”Come, come fall with me into a pit that will rip your soul out.” Christians, we are fighting an invisible war, that needs to be recognized and fought with extremity. Pin the unseen enemy with ferocity...open the Bible as evil shakes with despair, share God in conversation as blackness flees, pray

My husband and I have been married for 2 years and 7 months.  I wouldn’t live this life with anyone else, because I know God affixed our soul-mated hearts.  I’ve noticed the naive notion, “A marriage certificate is just a piece of paper”. Ah, but tis’ a simpleton sample of scarcity in meaning.  Marriage is not just a piece of paper. It’s a spiritual document that binds two souls together. It’s commitment and dreams of two hearts that become one beat. That piece of paper is charcoaled with the artistry of rocks that intensify the life-trail.  That piece of paper is also drawn with peaceful lulls between dips and waterfalls.  That certificate is also colored with coffee that steams with conversation of God and life. Souls sip as time sits. Then, both look upon wrinkled faces with loving eyed embraces. The marriage certificate is strongly shaded with hardships, laughing bouts, passion, peace, cries, and a few shouts.  A marriage certificate is not just a piece of paper. It’s a document th

My husband is working a night shift tonight and as I sit here in an empty living room, I think to myself, “What kind of legacy will I leave behind?” I have experienced major losses in my life. I lost my dad when I was 21, my first baby (miscarried), and now, my grandpa at 34. Each person I lost, left behind favored fruits from each of their ‘life trees’.  So, as the rain falls behind my shoulder and the thunder orchestrates music notes of a lightening ballad, I think about legacy. A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold. - Proverbs 22:1 I’ve heard people say, “We shouldn’t care what others think,” but is that entirely true? King Solomon wrote otherwise. We are to walk a walk that ensembles godly characteristics. People will know us by our fruits. Are they watching a healthy and ornate orange tree blossom or a bug infested and rotting apple tree appear?  When we pass, will we pass by loved ones with a breeze of benevolence and beauty?  ‘

   We all experience trials that whisk in front of us like a tumbleweed that trips our balanced feet.  Will we crush, burn, and smoke out the tumble weed or will we let it roll by our feet until we pass away? God gives us the resources along the path to strengthen our enduring race. Water - God hands us living waters to rejuvenate our scorched spirit. He refreshes our morbid minds with water that livens hope. Shade - When we are being sunburnt by sadness, God shades us with cooling comfort. He provides a stump to sit upon and rest our heart and mind. Then, we can start running again, facing the tumbleweed in the road. Food - While running, God is on the sidelines, handing out food to feed the spirit. Your spirit is fed with faith to crush out tumbleweeds in your path.  God spreads out dirt upon our paths to stabilize our run. He packs it down, strengthening our stride.  He gives you the resources to face problems, bash and burn them out.  So, are you relying on His assets to help you w

  My husband got home from work late last night and we were both eager to take our usual run, to talk tenderly, and romantically reconnect.  While jogging under the foggy sky, it started to rain. We both got aggravated, because it upset our paved plan. But, I said, “Let’s keep going...” So, we kept running as the rain slowly stopped drizzling. The rain no longer lingered.  We completed our run and we felt like we won a marathon. If we took the initiative to press fervently forward everyday, God before us, He would cut the ribbon before we even get to the finish line. We’d cross our destined border with an abundance of aptitude.  If we trusted God with a very loose rope, we’d bust out of the corral that captives our mind with worrisome wonders.  God does not want us to give up with ease, because the repercussions will be hardened with depression, anxiety, and defeat. Run! Run boldly through the rain the rampaged rain! Keep going, keep pressing, and focus on God. Trust His outcome for us

I’m learning as I get older, that you can’t make people happy. Only God can make people happy like the flowers upon my countertop that are color bursted with glee. I’m learning you can’t stop people from sinning...but, we can be disciples and pray. We can place caring carnations in a person’s vase, but it’s up to them to keep the vase filled with living waters.  I’m learning you can’t give people a picked flower, and expect them to find the joy within the simple beauty. Only God can give true joy that’s abundant like a bouquet ravished with red roses of true love. I’m learning you can’t save a person from misery. Only God can shine the sun upon shadows that darken Sunflowers, bringing glorious cheer to a home. I am learning...God gives bouquets of trueness and life and fills a person with joyous daisies 🌸  You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. - Psalm 16:11 #flowers #flowers🌸 #flowersofinstagram #

Is forgiveness just for our heart, but not the receiver’s heart? Shouldn’t forgiveness be brimmed with “love creamer” that stirs the other person’s spirit with God?  We are called to bestow grace. Shouldn’t that include a mug that steams with mercy? When you forgive, what is your ulterior motive? Is that motive served with “selfish sugar” or motivated by God’s love?  I’ve read the notion, “Forgiveness is for you...for your sake?” But, should it just be for you? Yes, the act releases you from anger, bitterness, and resentment, but shouldn’t another cup be filled?  When God forgives us, He does not withhold any extra “love whips” or “comfort cream”. He extends the handle of His cup with tenderness.  God does not forgive just for His pleasing, but to render a mug rimmed with grace. That grace then covers our hearts with dignity.  As we hand the cup of forgiveness to our debtor, make sure your mug is truly handled with sincerity like God’s.  When you forgive are you?

We all have free will that was given to us by God...are you treating His gift with precious purity? Is your will willing to make the correct Christ-like choice or is your will wandering into scorched sin? Are your choices aligning with God’s aura or are they discombobulated and detached from His direction? Yes, He gives us free will freely, without question, but we should be questioning our choices before we make them. We should pray deeply before delving into decisions. Questions to ask... Would your choice bring peace into my life or chaos? Does your choice please God or stricken smiles on worldly wiles?  Would your choice cloud your senses with anxiety? Do you see the direction of God clearly without grayness?  Would your decision dictate your life with unnecessary stress and strife?  Does your decision delegate delight in the Lord’s eyes? Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh w

My husband and I have been married for two blissful years.  Within our years of matrimony, we are learning that outside sources can belittle your bliss. Those sources can also tense your bond, and cause your marriage braid to fray. Do NOT let that happen! Put up blockades and set boundaries to stop traffic of tension within your romantic realm.  Outside sources that negotiate your marriage: Immediate family that negotiates the peace treaty within your marriage and causes chaos. Friends that cling to you or your spouse, negotiating unwanted attention. Activities or groups that negotiate the quality time spent with your spouse. Sinful acts that splutter red ink upon the sanctity of the marriage contract. Foreign frivolities can dampen the treaty of your marriage that you have negotiated with your husband or wife. Outside sources can wet the paper and tear at your hearts causing arguments. Do NOT let that happen!  Distance yourself from family (but pray for them

Let’s talk about forgiveness... God has set up a beautiful backdrop of loving lavenders and graceful grays like the colorful scene behind me and my husband. His grace and mercy erases words upon words of instructional forgiveness. Jesus...just...forgives. He went to the cross, watercolored with pastel perfection. He did not owe anyone forgiveness, but His love outshined our charcoal “sin-shadows”.  He...just...forgave. There were no money tags attached to His framed forgiveness.  He has freely given us all an acquitted piece of art to hang in our homes.  Shouldn’t we do the same? Forgive how Jesus has forgiven us? Don’t delve into a monstrous manual on how to forgive to only forget about the ease of forgiveness. Don’t stick gouging money stickers onto the penance of a person’s sin, because we all sin. Let’s all try to forgive how God forgave us...without artful animosity. Ease your heart...set a peaceful scene of forgiveness upon your easel. . . www.br

As I sit here next to my dog Tucker, I feel empty. Even though the warmth of him touches my legs, my heart feels slightly cold.  . Only a few weeks ago, I felt filled with my baby, glowing with the thought of what was to come.  . I decorated my baby’s room and started to renovate my mind with excitement, nervousness (would I be a good mom?), strength, and heart banners of growing love. . I lost my baby at 6 weeks, right before Christmas. Then, the physical pain pricked my body and laboring thoughts of “empty grief” pulsated.  . Until I miscarried, I didn’t know how common this puncturing loss was. I didn’t know about this hidden grief that many women don’t talk about.  . Many of us who have experienced a miscarriage look down at a desolate basket once filled with bountiful Baby’s Breath.  . My baby’s breath budded a small bloom under my “soul sun” beautifying my life just for a miraculous moment.  . A miscarriage grief empties a part of your heart and your “life pail” i