So Sings My Soul… #hope

so sings my soul blog” How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity…”

Psalm 133:1

Days can be long… our hearts filled with sadness or pain…

It’s so easy to lose focus on the bigger picture of why we are here..

“But my life is worthless unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus.  The work of telling others the Good news about God’s wonderful kindness and love…”

Acts 20:24

No matter what is going on around you, how I pray you would be touched my the gentle hand of Your Heavenly Father who loves You… Sees you, and wants to use the beauty of who you are to reach out and inspire others..

He created You for Himself… He loves everything about you from head to your toes…

Let Him shine through your smile today…

Dear Heavenly Father, How my soul sings of Your amazing grace.  How my heart leaps for joy in the calmness of Your presence…

Thank You for Your words of hope.

I love You, In Jesus Name,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

“How good it is to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how right!…

He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds.  He counts the stars and calls them all by name.  How great is our Lord! 

His power absolute!

His understanding is beyond comprehension! 

The Lord supports the humble, but He brings the wicked down into the dust..”

Psalm 147: 1-6

Pursued… #hope

aint no mountian high enough blogGod will pursue you with abandoned passion…

He will not hide His face from you, nor turn His back on you…

You are sealed by His blood.

Saved by His grace…

“Oh, Lord, you have searched me and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise, You perceive my thoughts from afar. 

You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all of my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely.

Oh Lord, you hem me in behind and before. You have laid Your hand upon me…”

Psalm 139:1-5

There is definitely no mountain high enough that could keep Him from running to you!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for such comfort.  You know my inner being, you listen and encourage my every thought…

I don’t want to turn my eyes from Your great love,  and run from Your tender mercies…

Give me the courage to stand in Your presence, letting You have all of me…

Give me the desire to follow Your ways..

 Soften my heart to the things that hurt Yours…

I want to walk where You show me, and love without fear!

Thank You for Your grace that carries me, and the joy that fills me.

You are my biggest cheerleader…

How I want to make You proud :)

I love You, Heavenly Father,

In Jesus Name, I pray,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever do not abandon the works of Your hands..”

Psalm 138: 8

The Strength I Need… #courage

The strength I need blog“When I pray, You answer me;

You encourage me

by giving me the strength I need.”

Psalm 138: 3

Sometimes…

It’s as easy as that :)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your strength that covers my heart.. Thank You for Your constant encouragement that fills me to overflowing…

May my heart be still, as I trust in Your undying promises of hope, mercy and strength.

“I bow before Your holy temple as I worship.

I will give thanks to Your name for Your unfailing love and faithfulness

because Your promises are backed by all the honor of Your Name…”

Psalm 138:2

In Jesus Name, I pray,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

“Though I am surrounded by troubles, You will preserve me against the anger of my enemies. 

You will clench Your fist against my angry enemies. Your power will save me…”

Psalm 138:7

One Stepping Stone At A Time… #foreverfaithful

one stepping stone at a time blogI want to see the whole gigantic picture!

Uggg…

No matter what I am going through, I want to run to the end and see the prize!

I do that with cracker jacks…

Yes.

Cracker Jacks!

I put my huge hand in that tiny little box, and dig around till I find it…

THE TREASURE!

It’s messy and sticky but I seriously don’t care!

There’s a prize!!

I eat all the marshmallow treats out of my Lucky Charms Cereal first!

Yes!  They are magically delicious…

Just sayin ;)

When I buy Oreos at the grocery store, I can’t wait.

I pretty much eat as many as I can before I get home!

 Believe me!

Oreos stay in your teeth… and are very crummy!

Seriously!  I just want that creamy filling!!!

I’m just the worst prize waiter!

So when it comes to life’s challenges, I want to get through them… get to the other side, because I do believe with all of my heart…

There is always a prize!

As I walk through my daily life… I notice that when I cry out to God for comfort.  More faith.  Clarity…

He gives me a stepping stone..

A lot of times just one little stone that I can jump to…

Seeing his encouragement through a friend, an answer to prayer.  A laugh, or a quiet reminder that He is near…

I don’t have to dig for the prize, He quietly and generously lays them out for me

One stepping stone at a time…

The Lord will work out His plan for my life for Your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. 

Don’t abandon me, for you made me…”

Psalm 138:8

Oh, Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for not letting me feel too overwhelmed on this journey called life…

We. I..  get so used to instant gratification, that when I don’t see the end, I so quickly feel abandoned and afraid that I have lost my way…

How I pray that today, we would remember to ask… to seek, and to knock.

That you will ever so graciously lay out our stepping stones… and we wouldn’t miss them.

Thank You for Your amazing faithfulness.

I am in awe of Your gentleness… once again!

I love You Jesus,

In Your name,

I pray,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; He who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened..”

Matthew 7:7

Don’t forget to ask :)

Where is My focus… #renew

where is my focus blogWhen we take our focus off of ourselves, we begin to see the light of God’s love…

His goodness our purpose.

His love renown our desire…

May His love grip you..

Change you.

May His truths and freedom be the overflow of our hearts, and

May His tender hand of forgiveness and mercy, give you the strength to live a life of love…

May we be strengthened in hope,

filled with His light, and free to shine…

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every form of malice.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you…

Be imitator of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love,

just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Ephesians 5: 1-2

Dear Heavenly Father, it’s so hard to focus on You when there is so much going on around me…

Help me to find that still quiet place in my heart where I know I can meet You…

I want to lay down the commotion, confusion and distractions that tear me away from you, and  leave me feeling empty and alone..

Draw me into the light of Your love…

Cleanse me, Oh Lord, that my heart would be refreshed…

I want to live a life of love that other’s would see Your beauty and find Your grace…

We all so need forgiveness and healing…

I love You, Jesus,

In Your name, I pray,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him…”

1 Corinthians 2:9

That is a beautiful promise!

Best News Ever… #soverythankful

best news everBest News

EVER…

“When we were overwhelmed by sins…

You forgave our transgressions.

Blessed are those You choose and bring near to live in Your courts. 

We are filled with the good things of Your house, of Your holy temple…”

Psalm 65:3-4

Today is a new day…

Be blessed.

Be encouraged..

He has brought us near to live in His courts, lavished us with unconditional love… hope and forgiveness…

He has filled us with good things from His house..

From His holy temple.

Feel His blessing of love running through your heart….

Live in Love,

Lisa

“For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do…”

Ephesians 2: 8-10

God sees you…

You are so loved!

 

My Inner Most Being… #trust

I belong with YouGod values and loves you.

He really does…

Though you may be surrounded by family or friends who love you…

There are those days when our hearts feel overwhelmed… Maybe God is calling you to sit with Him for awhile…

 So sit.

Close your eyes. Take a deep breath… and let it all out.

You have a friend in Him.

He wants to encourage you… bless you… value and love you!

Let Him…

Let Him.

Dear Heavenly Father,  Today I need to know you are near.  My heart feels overwhelmed.  I feel isolated and alone…

Am I walking in the right direction…

Oh, Lord, I call on Your name…

Please comfort and guide my steps.

How I thank You for loving me.  How I thank You for drawing me to sit awhile in Your presence… just letting the world slip away.

I lift my hands in holiness,  bless the Lord, Oh my soul…

My hand clings to Yours, as I fall on bended knee, and worship You on High…

Letting my mind quiet and my heart open wide… How I praise You, my Father in heaven…

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.  Praise the Lord, O, my soul and forget not all His benefits who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles’..”

Psalm 103: 1-5

I trust in You Lord…

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

“Lift your hands in holiness, and bless the Lord.”

Psalm 134:2

He’s got a plan, You are not alone :)

 

He Is Able… #hope

dont give up blog“Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. 

I don’t concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me. 

But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. 

Yes, like a small child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord- now and always..”

Psalm 131:1-3

I must confess.  When I first read this Psalm, my thoughts were of unworthiness and disappointment in myself.

Pride and haughtiness have crept up on me lots of times… the outcome devastation!

But that last line of the top paragraph

“I do not concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me…”

gives me some much needed clarity.

Reminding me of how far I have come…

Living simply.  Loving dearly…

Not letting people or situations change me, but instead,

staying in step with the Holy Spirit’s peace and comfort…

“My heart is not proud, my eyes are not haughty..”

Though I may feel a sting from what someone may do or say…

I am learning this sweet little treasure…

“But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother.  Yes, like a small child is my soul within..”

This brings to mind the sweetest picture of comfort…

Instead of letting pride or haughtiness take over…

I see myself looking for My Heavenly Father… collapsing on his lap.  His arms wrapped around me, my head buried in His chest…

In an Instant I am filled with comfort… reassurance that He is able..

more than able to fight my battles…

“.. Put your hope in the Lord, now and always…”

Live in Love,

Lisa

“Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.  My souls clings to you; your right hand upholds me…”

Psalm 63 7-8

Step by step… Carry each burden to His Throne of grace… #renew

carry your burndens step by step... to the throne of graceRight where you are.

God sees you.

Right where you are in the calm, or in the storm, God loves you.

He sees your precious heart.  He hears your cries.  And feels your struggles.

Carry each worry.

Step by Step… to His loving throne of grace…

Fall on bended knee, and pray..

“Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come, Your will be done

on earth as it is I Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one..”

In Jesus Name,

Amen

This simple, yet Heart felt prayer brings back one of the most beautiful memories in my life…

My father in law was dying.  It was a gut wrenching and overwhelming time for His precious wife, and my sweet husband.

I had never sat with anyone while they were so sick…

It was just Ben and I.

My husband and his mom were taking a break… having a cup of coffee.

It was so white in that room.  So quiet.

He was resting, and I was holding his hand.

Out of the sterilness, and quietness that was overwhelming my heart, I heard my father in law whispering…

I wasn’t sure if I should say anything or just be still and hold his giant.. soft…warm, loving hand…

and just as I was I thinking that thought…He squeezed my hand ever so gently…

My heart pounding… I didn’t want to cry.

He looked at me with the most beautiful blue twinkling eyes I had and ever seen…

EVER

and barley whispered…

“Please pray…”

Nervously, and searching my thoughts for words.. I started rambling..

He ever so patiently whispered…

“No..”

“Like this…”

“Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name…

Tears began to run down my face, then his face, as we locked eyes…

and we prayed the rest together…

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is I Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one..”

Words cannot express what we both felt at that moment…

The sterile feeling of that bright white room was gone… we were surrounded by the overwhelming feeling of warmth… comfort.. it seemed as if soft white clouds were surrounding us… holding us.

In that moment.. so treasured and true..

I know I saw a glimpse of Heaven.

My father in law was being surrounded by the beauty of God…

What a privilege and honor to have been there with my precious father in law in those moments…

Oh, Heavenly Father, how I thank You…

Live in Love,

Lisa

 

Be your Best Self… #shineon

your best self blog post“I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live..”

Ecclesiastes 3:12

Dear Heavenly Father, Good morning, and thank You for Your beauty and grace…  I thank you for your love, and goodness.

How I Pray our hearts would be happy,

filled with hope, love for others, and truth.

Fill me, Oh, Lord, with courage, and abandon… that I wouldn’t miss an opportunity to be Your hands and feet.  That the people You bring on my path, would be comforted because I choose to seek You above all else…

May Your love burn within us… May that be our driving force.

I pray this in Jesus, Holy Name,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will  make your righteousness shine like the dawn.”

Psalm 37: 5-6