It’s The Little Things… #encourageoneanother

its the little things“So then let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up…”

Romans 14:19

Building each other up… I love that!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for Your amazing patience and goodness…

How we need to be reminded that harmony, peace and love is an overflow of who You are…

That building each other up, and spreading hope is what makes the “church” different from the “worlds” point of view…

Jealousy, competition, self centeredness tear us apart and divide our hearts, remind us, Oh, Lord, that there is no place for that…

Help us to see the hurting hearts… they are everywhere…

To be Your eyes, Your tender heart, and Your hands that reach out and fill the gap.  This is what the “Church” looks like..

Help us to be aware of the needs around us…

The little kind words of encouragement, a smile of love, and a gentle touch of caring, can go such a long way…

We love You Jesus,

In Your name, I pray,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

“Ears to hear and eyes to see-both are gifts from the Lord”

Proverbs 20:12

Ready…? #love

are you ready for your dayLiving in the light of God’s love..

Holding on to His words of truth…..ever so gently..

Letting them spill over my thoughts, permeate my heart, and ooze from my hands….filling in every dry and cracked area of my  soul;  and of my mind – like a soothing balm that heals and protects…

Your words heal and strengthen…

“Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever..”

Psalm 23:6

Dear Heavenly Father, How my heart and hands reach for You… Praising Your Holy goodness and love for me…

Thank You for covering me with Your gentle whispers of hope…

You are my God in whom I am safe.

Please walk with me through this day, keeping my mind and heart centered on who You are…

You got this…

I am Your’s.

In Jesus Name, I pray,

Amen

Now, I’m ready for my day :)

Live in Love,

Lisa

“The Lord is my Shepard; I have everything I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams.  He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, brining honor to His name…”

Psalm 23: 1-3

Walk confidently in His love for you :)

Honor Each Other.. #encourageoneanother

delight in honoring eachother blog“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other…

Be glad for all God is planning for you…”

Romans 12:10 &12

These words are packed full of good vibes…

It’s so so good to love others with genuine affection…

To delight with others, and honor them.

But I also know that this can be a real struggle…

Sometimes I find myself holding back because of what others may think of me…

I want to reach out in joy and be happy for a friend or acquaintance, but, at that same exact moment, I find my heart holding back…

“Will I sound too mushy.. too dramatic?  Am I too much?  Maybe it’s not my place…!”

The list can go on and on…

But.  For me.

It’s my heart’s desire that love wins…

That I be my best self..

That I choose to live a life of love, hope and encouragement…

That I live to please my Heavenly Father…

That I can look in the mirror, and know I am loved by my Father, and beautiful in His eyes…

That’s the stuff :)

We are all in this thing called life together..

Why do we hold back?

The truth is.  In my inner most depths.  I am so over joyed when some one reaches out to me in love…

I never think it’s too much, too mushy or overrated…

Their loving gesture always gives me hope, and strengthens my weary soul…

So prayerfully, I choose love.

Prayerfully I will choose genuine affection, and encouragement for those in my life’s circle, and beyond…

I truly don’t want to hold back what is good, especially for fear of being judged or condemned.

God knows our hearts.  He knows our thoughts, and our very soul…

Let’s not hold back in doing good :)

Let’s honor those who we love.. who cross our paths, or maybe just make us smile…

Let’s be open, honest and transparent with what is good, and trust God’s generous heart for us in loving so unconditionally…

I know that brings a smile to God’s face…

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

Ephesians 2:10

Dear Heavenly Father, Oh how I thank you for all the good, sweet and kind gestures you unlock for me in my days…

May you give me the strength and conviction to trust in that goodness.. that I would let it be an overflow from my heart to this world that can be so harsh…

My heart cries out for kindness… may I not back away from sharing what You have instilled in my heart…

Your beauty and grace overflowing…

I pray this in Jesus Holy Name,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

“Don’t just pretend that you love other.  Really love them.  Hate what is wrong.  Stand on the side of the good..”

Romans 12:9

Let your love light shine :)

Listen…Can you Hear Him…? #goodness

lean in.. listen blogOh, Dear Friend, what beauty is God’s great mercy.. A free gift of love and hope flowing in and around your life…

Lean in.

Listen.

Can you hear Him?

Let His mercy.  His kindness, and compassion.   His grace.  Melt your heart, and ignite the flame burning within your spirit that quietly cries..

Abba.  Father.  I love You…

For He says…

“…I will show mercy to anyone I choose,

and I will show compassion to anyone I choose..”

Romans 9:15

Has He chosen You?

Can you feel His great love surrounding you?

Comforting you?

Has His mercy touched your heart, and changed your life?

Have you heard Him call you by name?

Because.  He has…

He pursues you with great passion, let Him in..

Let His still quiet voice permeate your heart.

Let His still quiet voice activate hope, and instill peace…

For that is what He longs to do for you…

His sweet child…

Abba Father, how I love You.  Thank you for coming into my heart, and cleansing me of what was, and drawing me to what will be…

Forgiveness of sin is the freedom to live… and how I praise Your Holy Name, for cleansing me, choosing me,  walking by my side, and calling my name…

Your love is better than anything this world can offer, and I am humbled by Your grace…

Please forgive the sin that wants to entangle my heart, and strangle my faith…

Draw me close, Oh, Lord, that I would lean in.  Listen.  That I would crave the moments we spend together in our secret place…

How I love You…

How I need You…

How I cherish You…

In Jesus Holy Name,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

“How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults…

Keep me from deliberate sins, don’t let them control me. 

Then I will be free of quilt and innocent of great sin.

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer…”

Psalm 19:13-14

Your life Matters… #renew

your life matters.. my life matters blogYour life matters…

My life matters…

How I love this beautiful verse from 2nd Corinthians…

“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing…”

2 Corinthians 15

No matter how you are feeling.  What you are doing, or where our path is leading…

 We are leaving a sweet aroma of love; or a stinky aroma of death…

Pretty harsh?

I don’t mean to be…

This verse helps keep my heart open, and my mind focused on what is true…

Our lives matter…

The other day, I failed at this pretty miserably…

It’s hot in Arizona… Really hot!  Lol

I was helping my daughter get the littles out of the car, and just as I opened the back door to unbuckle my granddaughter’s car seat, a woman approached my side of the car  wanting to get into her car… standing uncomfortably close, holding a child, and looking through me…

“I’m sorry” I said…

She wasn’t budging, just staring.

Soo….as I stood there fumbling about..and  trying to rush, (I hate car seats by the way… there are buckles eveywere! hahaha)  I could feel her stare, and knew she wanted me to close the door so she could walk by…

This was terribly annoying!  LOL

I just wasn’t going to… It was hot.

Way too hot to close the car door even for a second.

My thoughts were conflicted, I knew she was hot too…

but she was annoying me by her stare!

Ugggg

Finally I got all the buckles unbuckled, (like 1,000 of them:))  and helped my granddaughter up and out…

closing the door to the car, and having to squish by this woman to get by…

I said,

“You’re welcome..Have a nice day..”

My daughter was like…

“Mom!  Now she’s going to do something to my car!!”

Hahahaha

I’m not very proud of that moment, and I was even surprised at myself…

Just goes to show you how fast we can react if our hearts aren’t focused on leaving a sweet aroma no matter what ;)

Live in Love,

Lisa

My Cup Of Blessing… #soverythankful

forgiven and loved forever blog pic“Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. 

You guard all that is mine. 

The land You have given me is a pleasant land.  What a wonderful inheritance!  I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me…

I know the Lord is always with me, I will not be shaken for He is right beside me…

No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts His praises! 

My body rests in safety…

Psalm 16:5-8

How beautiful are these words to my soul…

He is my cup of blessing…

Drink His goodness in…

He guards all that is yours..

He is fighting on your behalf.. guarding and protecting you always..

Be truly thankful in Your inheritance…

He wants you to enjoy the people, and the things He alone has given you..

For every good thing is from His hand above, and is truly wonderful…and in so; by doing so, we are blessing the Lord who guides us, and instructs us, even by night.

He is always with you…

We will not be shaken for He is right beside us… He is our rock.  Our redeemer…

Rest in His safety…

May my body and mind rest in Your great safety, Oh Lord…

No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and our mouths shout His praises!

How I need You, Heavenly Father everyday… all day.

I love You Jesus,

In Your name I pray,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

“For God did not give you a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline…”

2 Timothy 1:7

Be strong in His love today and everyday! :)

My Great Defender… #courage

my great defender blog pic“The helpless put their trust in You.

You are the defender of the orphans..”

Psalm 10:14b

I love this little scripture for so many reasons.

I have come to realize that feeling helpless doesn’t have to make me feel vulnerable or afraid.

In fact, it should have the opposite effect..

When I feel helpless in my life’s trials, I don’t seem to over react, lash out, or try to fix the problem..

I am somewhat paralyzed…

And. That. Is. A. Blessing..

My helplessness opens the flood gates,  and allows God’s spirit of love, hope, and power ease my heart and direct my path…

I have found my way into my Heavenly Father’s presence…

I have surrendered what I don’t understand into His hands.

He is my defender.

No people pleasing.  No condemnation.  No hatred…

I am free to walk in His light of goodness,  knowing that He has my life in His hands, and He will guide my path…

I surrender all… and He picks up the pieces of my heart.

Dear Heavenly Father, how I need Your grace in my life… Thank You for Your amazing hope, power, and strength…

I am laying down the things that strangle my heart and drown out Your voice…

I turn my eyes toward You, and praise Your Holy Name…

Thank You for all the beauty You have surrounded me with…

Thank You for the love of family and friends, and hope that never ends…

This is my song to you.

I love You,

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

” But now God has shown us a different way of being right in His sight- not by obeying the law, but by the way promised in the scriptures long ago.

We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.

And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who you are or what you have done..”

Romans 3:21-22

We are set free!!

Forever Loved… #renew

forever lovedThis scripture is such a blessed assurance and reminder of who I was…

And who I am now In Christ…

I pray that you bask in His Holy goodness.. letting His tender mercies wash over your heart, and flow through your life…

“Oh what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,

whose sins are put out of sight. 

Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord..”

Romans 4:7

Thank You, Oh Lord, for this refreshing, wonderful, and beautiful truth!  My heart overflows with gratitude and hope…

I fully know who I was…

what I am capable of… and that brings tears to my eyes…

Oh, how I praise Your Holy Name for Your great redemption and love for me…

How I pray for those whose lives cross my path.. that I would be a shinning reflection of all  that You are.

My rock.  My redeemer.  My comforter, and friend…

I am wholly forgiven, and fully loved,  and I stand in awe of Your great mercies…

How awesome it is to know I am beautiful in Your sight…

Beautiful in Your eyes…

I love You Jesus,

In Your Name,

I pray,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us..”

Romans 5:1

My Great Defender… #soverythankful

my great defender blog pic“The helpless put their trust in You. 

You are the defender of the orphans..”

Psalm 10:14b

I love this little scripture for so many reasons.

I have come to realize that feeling helpless doesn’t have to make me feel vulnerable or afraid.

In fact, it should have the opposite effect..

When I feel helpless in my life’s trials, I don’t seem to over react, lash out, or try to fix the problem..

I am somewhat paralyzed…

And. That. Is. A. Blessing..

My helplessness opens the flood gates,  and allows God’s spirit of love, hope, and power ease my heart and direct my path…

I have found my way into my Heavenly Father’s presence…

I have surrendered what I don’t understand into His hands.

He is my defender.

No people pleasing.  No condemnation.  No hatred…

I am free to walk in His light of goodness,  knowing that He has my life in His hands, and He will guide my path…

I surrender all… and He picks up the pieces of my heart.

Dear Heavenly Father, how I need Your grace in my life… Thank You for Your amazing hope, power, and strength…

I am laying down the things that strangle my heart and drown out Your voice…

I turn my eyes toward You, and praise Your Holy Name…

Thank You for all the beauty You have surrounded me with…

Thank You for the love of family and friends, and hope that never ends…

This is my song to you.

I love You,

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

” But now God has shown us a different way of being right in His sight- not by obeying the law, but by the way promised in the scriptures long ago.

We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins

And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who you are or what you have done..”

Romans 3:21-22

We are set free!!