Category: the-journaling-journey-2/

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) Ever noticed that the cute white painted brick house down the street begins to look awfully dirty once the snow falls to meet its foundation? Or had a shirt with a stain on it that no product could remove? You try to fight the stain by using bleach, stain stick, special methods, and still the stain shows through? You just can’t find the remedy.  Do you try to fight your “stains” apart from Christ? Striving to cover up your mess? Or maybe you don’t think … Continue readingSnow Reminds Me of Easter

“MARY HAD THE PERFECT LAMB WHOSE FLEECE IS WHITE AS SNOW!” So, let’s be sure we get this straight. Mary did not have a little lamb, but the virgin gave birth to the perfect male spotless lamb, born to die. The one who took our place, served our sentence and rose from the grave to prove its finality. Read all about it!!!! Not in nursery rhymes, but in the Old testament of God’s Holy Word. Not just as white wooly animals kept by the shepherd, but as merchandise sold at the market.  It was year after year that everyone was to buy a lamb and bring a lamb. What kind? A clean one, the best male wool they could find. … Continue readingMary’s Lamb Wasn’t Little

We all have desires, some are good, they are a delight to us, to the Lord and to others. Other desires we’d prefer to take a hike, tied to habits and attitudes that take over and weigh us down. Then still there are more that we might not even realize. Did you ever stop to wonder what God’s desire is? I found a little treasure in Psalm 51:6 ~ “I know You delight to set Your truth deep in my spirit.” Do you hear that? His delights to tell us the truth! We all want truth, don’t we? But so often, I can forget to ask. I trip over my own inhibitions and forget to seek the Lord’s desires and … Continue readingDesires of the Heart

We’ve moved so many times in our marriage. Last count was five. We’ve always bought the fixer-upper, moved in and given it a whole new look, settling into our new home. Our last move proved a little different. Before pulling the trigger we actually paused to think on why we were moving and it really was a good idea. Our ideas in the past weren’t all bad, but we both admit now that we were often chasing down dreams that we see now didn’t deliver. The brick and mortar just didn’t fill us the way we thought. The best move we ever made was when we made a move in where we sought to be filled. It was when we … Continue readingMake A Move

Oh, I love to sing. Just ask my family. An ole’ favorite took my heart to deep places this week with just this one line ~ Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. Most all of us are familiar with this song, but do we rest in this word? A wretch? Whoa! Do we realize what we’re admitting? We are saying we are messy miserable rascals apart from Jesus; poor, pitiful and without hope. This song goes far, deep and wide. I am captivated by what this is saying and what this is inviting us into. Admitting who we are so that we can receive who Jesus is ~ Mighty to save, full of grace, … Continue readingAmazing Grace in Full Color

I have so many notes; throughout my journal, on notecards, necklaces, framed, typed, taped up, on chalkboards, you name it. Think on all the notes you post as motivators. They are reminders, positive suggestions, words of comfort. All of them, an effort to lift you up and keep you going. Right? Today I hear the higher call, the reminder, the invitation, as I type “footnotes”— Y’all, footnotes have feet! They take action. Only in walking them out do we experience the power of them. He said to me, “My grace is sufficient and My power is made perfect in weakness.”“When I am weak, I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-11) This footnote, forever a favorite. It tells us to remain dependent … Continue readingFootnotes

I found this nugget in scripture that covered my heart with such comfort. I can’t help but share the goodness. Do you love the beach? Well, travel with me to the shores and see if you leave refreshed like I did upon hearing this! Grab your beach chair for a front row seat with your feet placed in the sand and your eyes toward the rolling waters and hear this from Jeremiah 5:21-22. “Do not fear. I’ve placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, an eternal decree and a perpetual barrier beyond which it cannot pass. Though the waves toss and break, they cannot prevail. I’ve ordained the sand to hold them back. The waves and billows roar, … Continue readingBreathtaking Barrier

Do you have concerns that try to win, to gain ground and take over? My concerns can cause competition. The competition for my heart. Will my heart win or will my concerns consume me and take me down? We all have concerns, “Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34) Some concerns are huge, others are the every day kind. It made me think of God’s concern. He is concerned too. His highest concern is that we’d draw close to Him with all our concerns. That we’d believe He has us covered no matter what. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) Lord, our concerns compete, they try to sweep over us. … Continue readingCompeting Concerns