Speak of His Beauty… #shineon

what made her strongNot striving to be a “better” christian… Not getting caught up in foolish arguments, or tearing others down…

No…

My hope is in the promises of His loving goodness that refreshes and cleanses my heart…

No.  I’m not striving to be a better christian.

I’m seeking the gentle showers of  grace that soften my heart…

Choosing Your joy that fills me with thankfulness.

Never letting go of the love You bestowed when I was ever so lost… hurting, and hardened…

Your love gave me life…and to this day gives me life…

No, I am not striving to be a better christian…

I’m striving to be the most beautiful reflection of Your hope I can be…

That’s how I met You…

that’s how You drew me…

Beautiful grace how can this be, that You my king would die for me…

“I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law of Moses?  Of course not! 

It’s because you believe the message you heard about Christ…”

Galatians 3:5

Soften my heart, Oh Lord, I want to see You….

In Jesus Name,

I pray,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

Wonder… Bravery & Hope… #Shineon

 

and there is wonder...Walking through a moment of conflict …

A feeling of unrest…

A conversation that has gone bad…

Not letting my thoughts take over and start the analyzing process… Keeping a Heavenly perspective…

That’s the goal…

“For our present troubles are quite small and wont last long.  Yet the produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen.

For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.”

2 Corinthians 4:17

I so love You Heavenly Father…

Every detail of my life matters to You…

You are growing in me a strong,

courageous, kind heart ….

One that is not easily swayed by the actions of others….

 When hurt, doubt, wonder, or fear tries to take root, You are shining Your light of love and destroying those seeds.

Father, by Your grace, I sense You  planting in my heart seeds of hope…

Seeds of great forgiveness..

Patience…

Truth  and sweet goodness…

My heart has taken great comfort in trusting Your love…

Not having to work everything out…

Gently letting conflict slip away…

Keeping my eyes on Heaven…

Trusting the process of letting go and letting God…

Learning that I won’t die if I am uncomfortable in a situation….

You are very much in control…

My soul is fueled in my weakness… because of Your strength…

There is so much love covering our hearts…..

“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

That is why for Christ’s sake I delight in my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties…

For when I am weak, then I am strong…”

2 Corinthians 12:9-11

Father, I trust in You with all of my heart…

I can feel you freeing my soul…

My weaknesses are Your glory…

I praise and thank You for Your power in my life…

In Jesus Name,

I pray,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

Riot Against Rogue Feelings and Emotions…! #shineon

riot  I keep pushing my thoughts, and my heart forward…

Not for a minute letting a single thought of anger, resentment, judgement or fear captive my mind, I feel the anchor of my soul being set free… and my heart setting sail…

I am learning it may take a second for me to realize that I am being tempted to think on things that are destructive, but in that second;  I know the feelings that will be unleashed if I even begin to entertain a dark emotion.

I don’t want to go there…

I am letting God walk me through the uncomfortable feeling of letting go…

That is where the joy begins.

“… we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

2 Corinthians 10:5

How do I do that?

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

I turn my thoughts to my day… to the beauty in what is happening right before me…

The things I can do, need to do, and want to do..

Loving others, pushing forward…being productive :)

That’s what I can do.  That’s what helps me to  ease the desire to over think and self destruct!

 Keeping my heart open to what is true and good in God’s eyes,  keeps my thoughts away from rogue emotions and feelings…

Being the best me right where I am.

Rioting against the flow!

Best days ever!

Live in Love,

Lisa

Give Peace A Chance… #shineon

give peace a chanceBe gentle with yourself…

Let the sweet whisper of grace touch your soul and heal your heart…

God is near…

His gentle warmth, and overflowing power is working in and around your life…

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Those who know Your name will trust in you, for You. Lord have never forsaken those

who seek You..”

Psalm 9:13

Father, how I praise and adore You..

Thank You that our hearts can draw near…

 As I cling to Your power that reigns in staying low before You, I sense my spirit being

attached to Your grace…

Your grace gives me life…

Your power overcomes my weakness, and I am filled with hope.

Thank You, Jesus, that I just have to be me…

You are my refuge and strength, and I will trust in You.

I give You my day…

Use me, Oh Lord, to love … to shine of Your great hope…

What peace overflows as I leave my burdens at Your feet.. lift up my eyes, and get busy about Your business…

Thank You, Lord, for using my life… all for Your glory… all for Your gain…

Today… I will give peace a chance…

In Jesus Name,

I pray,

Amen

“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Live in Love,

Lisa

Mind Over Matter…! #shineon

mind over matterPressing on…

Being the light of love, hope, and faith… right where you are.

Not looking back.. turning Your mind and thoughts toward God’s Holy truths of power and might…

This is a matter of mind of matter for me in so many ways…

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

Ephesians 2:10

Each encounter in our days and lives can be used to encourage someone’s broken and weary heart,  to laugh, or share a word of encouragement and hope…

If we are lost in  thoughts of ourselves… our yesterdays, or tomorrows we will completely miss the glory of God at work in our lives…

I cannot remember a time when I have ever truly felt ready to be used by God…

And that is the point.

We are never fully ready…

We will always see our inequities.. our fears of not being good enough..

Always..

Pushing forward in faith means learning how to come before the presence of God…

Right where you are…

Giving Him your heart, your love, and letting Him fill you with His…

Then off you go…

Into the big wide world of life…

Letting Him have your moments…

Right where you are.

I love this truth…

“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the special favor of the Lord Jesus.”

Acts15:11

Walk in His special favor…

Let the truth of who you are to Him sink in…

You are chosen for His glory…

Don’t waste anymore minutes on looking back…

Keep moving forward, and love someone today…

Right where you are, someone needs encouragement…

That’s is our life’s purpose…

Love on sweet friend!

Please Heavenly Father,

use our lives for Your glory and grace…

In Jesus Name,

I pray

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

Consumed… #shineon

you are precious in His sightNeeding to be consumed by all that You are..

Quieting the voices in my head that pull me away..

Listen..

Can you hear Him?

That still little voice…

That quiet, gentle, and hopeful voice..

That voice of forgiveness, compassion, and deep understating….

That voice that is whispering to You, “Everything is going to be ok.”

That is the voice of God..

Listen carefully…

His voice is always good… calming, forgiving, and faithful...

God is love.

His voice is the voice  of reason and security…

Of hope, truth, and light.

The voice that holds your heart in the palm of His hands…

‘This is the message we have heard from Him, and declare to you:

God is light; in Him there is not darkness at all.

If we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live in truth.

But if you walk in the light, and He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His son, purifies us from all sin.”

1 John: 5-7

Do you see that?

We have been purified from all the things that make our hearts heavy, isolated, and fearful…

You can choose to walk in the light, right where we are.

Turn your eyes toward Heaven.

Let God’s love draw You near to His heart.

It’s not about you, Dear Friend, it’s about God’s Holy love cleansing you, and setting you free.

There is no darkness in Him, only the light of His love that beacons you near..

In Him you are free..

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

If we claim we have sinned we make Him a liar, and His word has no place in our lives…”

1 John 5:8-10

He has seen every low, and every high..

His compassion for you is deep…

You are not stuck.

God is fighting for You…

Do not turn away.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I give you my heart and my mind.

I want to live my life moving forward.

Thank You for cleansing me daily of my sin, hurt, pain, and regrets..

I choose to live my life in the light.

No more darkness.

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.

 But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense- Jesus Christ, the righteous one.

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, but also for the sins of the world.”

1 John 2: 1-2

No matter where you find yourself today…

God sees you.

God loves, and adores you.

Thank You, Heavenly Father, Your love never gives up on me…

In Jesus name,

I pray,

Amen

Keep moving forward…

Good Morning Sunshine…! #shineon

the sun is upShine bright starlight!

“For God did not send His son into the world to condemn it, but to save the world through Him..”

John 3:17

Jesus came to light our paths, and draw us into His mighty peace…

He came to set the captives free, and unleash the chains of the downhearted…

May our hearts be confident…Our thoughts be grounded.

May our hearts desire be  to live in His holy light.

May your soul burn with passion, as you trust His awesome love and power in your life.

Today the Son is searching  for your heart…He wants to fill you to overflowing with the majesty of His grace..

Today, let’s live big… hope big… and love each other bigger!

Today, Oh Lord, I surrender all..

Oh Lord, I want to love big…

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

Use Me, Oh Lord…. #shineon

think less live moreUse my life, Oh Lord, that I would be a vessel unto You…

Use my life, Oh Lord, that My soul be filled with the light of Your love…

Use my life, Oh Lord, that others would be drawn into Your glorious presence…

For we are but ambassadors, here for a short time, and gone forever…

“For we are God’s workmanship, created for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should do.”

Ephesians 2:10

Living boldly in His sight, drawing everyone we meet into the light of His hope….

This is why we are here.

How I pray we wont waste a minute of our days full of self pity, doubt, and confusion…

How I pray that today is the day that we pick up our cross and live on purpose…

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me.”

Matthew 16:24

Power and majesty flow from His heart…

Oh Lord, Yes!  I chose You.  I want to follow You.  Please cover me with Your wing of strength, and lead me into Your loving arms…

Fill me with desire

Ceanse me from myself…

Oh Lord, use my life… every minute of it, every hour…

I want to follow You.

In Jesus Name,

I pray,

Amen

Live in Love,

Lisa

Shout Out To All You Beautiful Women Out There…! #shineon

mothers day 2015Shout out to all you beautiful women out there who love BIG!

We love you, we need you, and we are thankful for You!

Keep loving…

Keep growing…

Keep shinning Your light!

The world needs Your beauty and grace!

Live in Love,

Lisa

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:10

Happy Looks Good On You… #shineon

smile. happy looks good on youOh Lord,

You have plans to prosper and to help us…

to give us a hope and a future…

My heart leaps at these beautiful words of hope and inspiration…

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.  “They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 20:11

In You, I am covered by Your love.  I am safe, honored and adored…

Father…. I thank You for this day.  I thank You for the  beauty in Your words, and the warmth of Your touch.

Help me to stay focused on Your words of truth.

 For in You there is no darkness…

No confusion…

No senseless chatter…

You bring light and peace to all the dark corners of my mind.

“This is the message we have heard from Him, and declared to you:

God is light; In Him there is no darkness at all.”

1 John 1:5

Today.  I boldly confess that You are my God…

I will not entertain thoughts of darkness or strife.

I will focus on what is in front of me, and all the good You have done, and are doing.

I will not have a conversation with evil…

I will slam the door on any darkness or hatred.

I am crowed by Your love, and I will walk in Your light…

“One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him and knew how long he had been ill, he asked him, “would you like to get well?”

“I can’t sir,”  the sick mans said, “for I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am trying to get there, someone else always gets in ahead of me .”

Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat, and walk!”

John 5:6-6

Today, Father, I will grab Your hand.  I will pick up my sleeping mat and walk…

In Jesus Name,

I pray,

Amen…

Live in Love,

Lisa

Keep walking in the light, Dear Friends, and go bless someone today…

Keep pushing ahead to be the best YOU ca be :)