peace meter February 27, 2012

1 Corinthians 14:33(NIV): For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

When I was in college, the Lord blessed my life with an amazing woman of God to be my “mom away from home.”  Frances Harper is a Godly woman who is full of wisdom.  I loved just sitting with her and taking in all of her knowledge of the Lord.  I would share family situations, boy issues, college drama and you name it with her and she was always right on with a solid answer from God’s word.  The best advice that I have ever received from her was 1 Corinthians 14:33.  When she quoted that verse to me, it just stuck with me and truly changed my life from that moment on with any situation, problem or decision that I have had to make.  I now refer to that scripture as my “peace meter.”  God is not a God of DISORDER but of PEACE!  Amen to that!  If I am at a cross roads and can’t decide which direction to take, I always turn to 1 Corinthians 14:33 for direction.  I pray over a matter and feel peace then I go forward with it.  If I feel disorder, I sit on it until I get to the conclusion that leads to peace.  The answer will either be yes, no or wait, but one of these answers will give the answer of peace.

There is such truth in that very short scripture.  If it is of the Lord then it will be peaceful.  We are able to experience that peace because of the Holy Spirit living within us (Romans 15:13). The Holy Spirit will direct us and give us that nudge which will in turn show is what the Lord desires in and from us with any decision that we will ever have to make.  If you are trying to make a decision just rest in which one leads to peace.  The answer will not always be the easiest route, the simplest route or the route that makes the most sense, but I promise you it will be peaceful.

Are you currently at a cross roads and praying over a certain situation?

The following tool may help you with your answer.

1. Pray over the decision
2. Jot down all of the pro’s and con’s of this decision
3. Pray over #2
4. Circle all of the answers that equal peace
5. Pray again and rest in the answer that leads you to peace.

I realize that some decisions are in need of a much quicker answer and you are not able to utilize the above mentioned tool.  The tool is helpful for decisions that are more thought provoking and deeper rooted decisions.  At times you need an immediate answer and the Lord is very capable of answering those calls as well.  In ANY request that you present to the Lord, He will lead you to the answer that leads to peace.  The road will always lead you to peace if you are following His direction.

peace out! February 21, 2012

I studied the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) with my children over the summer.  It was a great lesson for us to learn together.  I taught the virtues as a means of discipline for the children and to teach them how to have their hearts directed towards Christ as they interact with others.  Not only did I pray these virtues over my children, but over my own life as I desired to possess the same virtues when I am disciplining and raising my children.  I also desire to have the fruit penetrate my heart as I walk through life. My last 2 posts were about the fruit love and joy.  Today I would love to introduce the third fruit to you.

I love hearing my children quote the fruits back to me.  I am always tickled to pieces when Emma Rose (my 3 year old) cites the virtues and always says love, joy, “peace out” … when she gets to the fruit that we will be looking at today.  I thought there would be no better introduction to this post than to pray that you all will go forth in peace as you allow the Holy Spirit teach you through His truths over this virtue.  So, PEACE OUT!

Have you had hectic weeks lately?  Do you just feel that life is spinning faster and faster as each day approaches?  We live in a fast paced world.  At times, it is nice to take a retreat, a break from the mundane and take your mind off of the reality of an everyday busy life.

Although I can’t physically take you to a retreat spot right now, I would love to take you there in your mind. After reading these next few sentences, I want you to close your eyes. Be still (Psalm 46:10) and enjoy the silence if it is for just a moment.  I want you to picture yourself in the middle of the woods sitting by a stream of softly flowing water.  There is a gentle breeze and no other sound but the water hitting the pebbles.  Nice and serene, isn’t it? If that is not your “cup of tea” then picture yourself at the beach or on top of a mountain.  You get the point, close your eyes and picture that scene of peace in your mind.

Where did your mind take you?  How did you feel in that peaceful moment? How long were you able to sit in silence before having a distracting thought?

As a mother of young children, at times, the only time I am able to have a “peaceful” moment is when I lock myself in my closet or bathroom. You are laughing because you so get that, don’t you?  Do you realize that the peace you felt in that moment is the exact same peace that the Lord intends for you to feel in any and every circumstance?  He is a God of peace!

Life may be busy… but He is peace.  Life may be confusing… but He is peace. Life may be loud… but He is peace.  Life may be………. But He is peace.

Read over Philippians 4:1-9:Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, 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. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

As you read about the virtue of peace, please be in tune to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to show you the specific areas in your life that can be filled with peace.  Are you filled with anxiety or are you calm?  Do you show peace in your relationships (your spouse, children, family members, friends etc)? Do you rest at night knowing that the Lord is in charge and you are able to sleep peacefully or do you lie awake in doubt and worry?  Trust the Lord and rest assured that He desires to fill your life with peace.

I would love to pray over you (put your name in the blanks)

Lord of Peace,

I come before you praying over my precious sister/brother ___________________. Please fill his/her mind, actions and attitude with peace.  Thank you that with you all things are possible and that your peace transcends all understanding.  May ___________live a life of peace and not disorder.  Guide _____________ to bathe in the virtue of peace every day as he/she trusts your word and your love towards him/her.  You are an amazing God and I pray that ____________ will  bask in the peace that you offer, for he/she is your child.

In Jesus name, Amen.

James 3:17 (ESV) tells us that the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

the joy of the Lord February 18, 2012

Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT): “for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

Let’s have a little history lesson on the background behind these words.  Nehemiah was a common man, who was cupbearer to the Persian King Artaxerxes (do not ask me to pronounce that name).  He was a man of God and was called to a very difficult task.  The Lord wanted Nehemiah to help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and to not only restore a broken city, but to restore broken lives.  There was much opposition with rebuilding the city. Do you ever feel opposition when you are trying to do something the Lord tells you to do?

After completing the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah gathers the people around to hear Ezra (a priest) read the Book of the Law of Moses, also referred to as the Pentateuch, the first five books of the bible.  These people, the Israelites, were previously led out of a long period of 40 years in the wilderness and desert then after many years taken into captivity in Assyria and Babylon because they didn’t value God’s law to walk in it.  As the Book of the Law was read to them, they began to weep because they felt so far from righteous.  By the time we reach Nehemiah 8:10, he says to the people, “do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  As we read further, we learn that they followed the Law by celebrating a seven day Feast of Tabernacle.  The entire group that had been delivered from exile had not celebrated like this in a very, very long time.  We learn from verse 17 that their “joy was very great.”

Have you ever felt like you were in a desert, a dry and weary land?  Let’s refer to those circumstances or times in our lives as our “Egypt.”  Some of you may feel like you are there now.  If we are anything like the Israelites, we will find it very difficult to praise and glorify the name of the Lord when we are in a dry and weary land.  In the book of Exodus we learn that the Israelites grumbled and complained practically the entire time the Lord was leading them to their promised land.  I am sure the complaining was much fewer and far between once they experienced the land flowing of “milk and honey” (Exodus 13:5; NIV).

Life’s journey will take us through mountain top experiences and valleys, highs and lows, happiness and sorrow but if we keep our eyes on the prize (Jesus Christ) (Philippians 3:14).   We may not always be happy, but we can have joy.

We know that God’s promises are true and we know that He will always provide our every need (Philippians 4:19). The best thing that we can do in the midst of trials is to keep joy in our hearts.  It is not always easy to do that but it is always best.

IS the JOY OF THE LORD your strength?

It’s all about love February 14, 2012

1 Corinthians 13 is considered the LOVE chapter of the bible.  I am sure it is quoted in more weddings than not.  I vividly remember it recited at my wedding to my prince charming (it is Valentine’s day, so you can’t chuckle today when I say that). Let’s read all 13 verses below:

1 Corinthians 13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.For we know in part and we prophesy in part,but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I love this chapter but even more than that I love the tiny verse that set’s the stage for these 13 verses in chapter 12 verse 31 (NIV) which says to “eagerly desire the greater gifts.  And now I will show you the most excellent way” (italics added). I must pause from the love chapter for a moment and explain that the Lord has been penetrating my heart lately over the word excellent.  He has called us to live an excellent life.  We at times, only do things half way or just enough to get credit but are not always eager to do them excellent.  If we do everything to bring glory to His name (Colossians 3:23)  then we most assuredly should be doing them in an “excellent” way.  If you are working for an employer, work with excellency.  If you are a stay at home mom, fold the clothes, clean the house, cook the meals and get on the floor and play with your children with excellence.  If you are being a servant and doing something for another person, serve with an excellent heart.  You can put whatever it is that you do in the blank and ask yourself if you are being excellent in what you are doing.

The Lord makes our goal of excellency a little easier when he tells us the recipe for love.  If we are living out 1 Corinthians 13 then it will be easier to life an excellent life of glorifying the Lord in all that we do.  I love the way the Lord chose to end this chapter… “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

How are you demonstrating love today? What does this day of love mean to you?

The word love and Valentine’s Day always takes my mind to hearts, roses and chocolate.  Immediately after that thought my mind goes to memories of high school and how the front office was always full of flowers for so many girls on Valentine’s Day.  Many girls were on the list to pick up flowers and candy at the front office.  My name was never on the list.  That always hurt.  I am so thankful that love does not end there.  Love is not just about a day once a year when all of those with a “love” get to celebrate and all of those without one get to dress in black and eat bon bons all alone for the day.

LOVE IS GREATER when LOVE rests in Christ. I cannot begin to get my mind around the love of Christ. Who can comprehend it?  Who could even begin to understand the mystery of His love?  Why in the world would someone love us so much that He chose to have a miraculous birth through a virgin and then choose death on a cross for our sins?

Love exists because Christ first loved us.  We are able to love others because of Christ’s example of love. His love towards us is much more than just a feeling; He demonstrated it by taking action.  For God SO loved the world that He spared His own life and only Son in exchange for our lives and benefit so that we would be able to experience eternal life.  Now that is some kind of love.  I pray that you know and are living out real love!

  John 3:16 (NIV ’84): For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

freedom January 9, 2012

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we, with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18; NIV).

There is complete freedom in Christ.  Why do we have such a hard time basking in it?  Christ called us to live a life of freedom.  I grew up in fear.  It was not fun.  I still live in it quite often.  A very wise woman once told me that fear is the opposite of faith.  If we have true faith we should rest in the freedom that comes along with it.  We can also refer to the word freedom as liberty or victory.  Freedom in Christ and His glory go hand in hand.  When we bask in that freedom we are basking in His glory.

Freedom does not mean that every day and every situation will be all “roses.”  True freedom in Christ also includes trials and very sad times.  We can experience freedom in the middle of trials when we experience the glory of God and true liberty in Christ.  Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV) tells us that the “joy of the Lord is our strength.”  When times are tough, we can still rest in His freedom when we allow His joy and His glory to shine through our circumstances.

Ahhhh freedom, just a taste of it will leave you wanting, craving and desiring more and more.  Let’s use a little chocolate analogy to drive home the desire for more freedom.  I love chocolate.  I also love strawberries.  Put the two together and you have one good thing in my opinion.  Jeff gave me the best chocolate covered strawberry from the Ghirardelli factory when we were in San Francisco for our 1^st anniversary (which is exactly why I love him so much and am happily married yr after yr).  One small taste of that chocolate covered strawberry made me crave more and more.  However, the strawberry cost $5 so needless to say; I only got one of them.  But man did it taste good!

Have you ever tasted the Lord’s GLORY?  Just a little taste is all you need and you are hooked.  There is nothing like being in the center of the Lord’s will and truly experiencing freedom in Christ.  Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  Are you resting in His complete freedom?  Have you surrendered your hopes, dreams, trials and triumphs to Him?  He wants us to rest and relax in His presence.  His glory is so good and it comes with complete freedom, liberty and victory!  Are you experiencing that freedom today?  Allow Christ to break the chains that are holding you back and binding you from experiencing true liberty in Christ.  Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18; NIV). Italics added.

sufficient grace December 30, 2011

I hope you all had a peaceful Christmas and are looking towards 2012 with a heart of joy.  The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day feels like so much of an “in between” time.  You may have remnants of Christmas decor up, gifts still under the tree that have yet to be delivered, kids still out of school and sweets lingering from Christmas Day.  You probably have yet to feel motivated enough to start all of the new year goals of healthy lifestyles, new organization tactics and all of those other standards you set for yourself in a new year.  For me, this week always seems to be one to hold on to or let go of the old, prepare for the future and get ready to allow the Lord to change all that He desires in my life in the new year that is right around the corner.

There is so much to learn from God’s word in 2 Corinthians 12:9 regarding trusting God with the past and allow Him to transform your mind towards a new, fresh start and future. 

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV):  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 weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

The Message words it this way “and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness.”

As you go “out with the old” and “in the new,” may you rest in God’s truth.  There are no goals that can’t be accomplished, past hurts that can’t be removed or a future that couldn’t be any brighter when we rest in His grace alone. I am so thankful that His grace is enough for me! Is it enough for you?

kitty cat November 30, 2011

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV): Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

The following is a fun little story that I wrote about my 3 kiddos a few years ago.  I love that it has the same verse that I shared with you yesterday so I wanted to share this story with you as well.

I find great joy in watching my three little children play together. Their current ages are so much fun (4, 3,and 17 months). They are the best of buddies.  A few days ago they were playing a very creative game. The 2 boys were pretending to be puppy dogs and Emma Rose, my baby, was the kitty cat.  The puppy dogs were “pretending” to eat the kitty cat. The boys chased Emma Rose all over the kitchen trying to pretend eat her. She was enjoying the game so much, I assume because she had no idea that they were pretending to eat her up.  I heard her sweet giggle all over the kitchen.  The boys were saying “We’re gonna eat that kitty cat, yum, yum, yum”… over and over again.  Up until the point I heard Emma Rose’s pitiful cry, they were having a blast.  I walked over to see why she was crying. I asked Jonah, my oldest, what was wrong with her. He replied “she is crying because Jacob bit her.”  “Jacob!” I exclaimed. “Why in the world did you bite your sister?” Well, “Jonah said we were puppy dogs and we were eating that kitty cat.” I had to scold him slightly beneath my laughter. I told him that Jonah wasn’t really eating her, he was only pretending.  To this day, I can hear his sweet, innocent voice tell me that he was eating her because Jonah told him they were eating up that kitty cat.

In the world of make believe, all things are fun and full of laughter. It is fun to pretend, isn’t it?  I love to pretend in my mind that we live in a perfect world. That I really am a princess, that I have a perfect prince charming and three perfect children. In reality though, I do have a wonderful family, but we are far from perfect.  Life is real, and every day is not full of laughter. Some days are sad, lonely, and every now and again, anger likes to creep its way in. There is always a pile of laundry to wash, dishes to clean, and with three boys in my house, toilets to constantly scrub.  Life is not always as perfect as I like to make it up to be in my pretend world. Non the less, it is a great life!  It is so refreshing to know that I don’t have to “pretend” to be perfect or have it all together.  I mess up, my house gets a little dusty from time to time, and every now and again, I slip up and  just bite that kitty cat! (Not my Emma Rose).

There is a fine line between pretending and reality. We can’t spend all of our time, efforts and energy creating this perfect world for ourselves because in reality, there is no perfect world or situation.  It is nice to know that in Christ, we are “new creations” and we no longer have to pretend to be perfect because in Christ we were created just as He wanted us to be. Our imperfections allow us to reveal His perfections.  We are imperfect people striving to perfect the creation of Christ.

Stop trying to be perfect or comparing your life to the life of your neighbors who also “pretends” to have it all together. Let me let you in on a little secret, Come closer, because I am going to whisper it……. THEY ARE NOT PERFECT EITHER.  THEY ARE ONLY PRETENDING TO BE.

Let’s read that all so encouraging scripture one more time.  2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV): Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

What we are IS what HE wants us to be.

We don’t have to pretend.

How often do we wish, hope, pray that we looked like her, had her bank account, didn’t have the family life we have, was skinnier, had a different hair color……..

Has there ever been a time in your life when you accepted the truth that He died on a cross and rose again all for your sins?  I pray there has been, and at that moment you became a new creation and you no longer have to pretend to be something that you are not because in HIM, you just ARE.

You are an amazing woman of God created for His glory!

Not of this world November 29, 2011

Romans 12:2 (NIV 1984): Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

We are not of this world and sometimes it is so hard to be different.  It is much easier to just “go with the flow” and conform to the patterns of this world.  The truth is, as Christians, we are different.  The moment we accept Christ as our Savior, we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; NIV).  At that very moment, we are no longer of this world but of His world.  I want to encourage you this Christmas season not to get caught up in all of the “things of this world” but allow the miraculous birth of a Savior be your focus.  Western consumerism (customs of this world) so easily takes our focus off of Emmanuel “God with us” and fills our minds and days with nothing short of stress, hustle and bustle.

I encourage you to take a deep breath in and exhale.  Feel that peace?  Christ’s birth has peace written all over it.  Christmas is all peace.  What can you do different this season to make Jesus’ birth the focus of Christmas?  Take great delight in being “not of this world!”

Romans 12:2 (NLT): Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV 1984): Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Jesus November 19, 2011

One night, when my middle child Jacob was around one year in age, my husband was rocking him in the nursery, while I walked our oldest child, Jonah (2 ½) at the time upstairs to put him to bed.  On our way up the stairs, Jonah kept saying “Jesus” over and over again.  I finally caught on to what he was saying and peered down at him, and said “Why are you saying Jesus?”  His reply was “he’s right there.” “Where, I exclaimed.” “In Jacob’s room,” was Jonah’s reply.  I was beside myself with this thought. I once again asked Jonah, “Did you say that Jesus is in Jacob’s nursery?” Jonah continued to point into the nursery and said “Jesus.”  I went on to put Jonah to bed but could not get the thoughts of what he was saying out of my mind.

Before heading to bed myself that night, my husband and I were chatting and I told him about my conversation with Jonah.  Jeff’s eyes got really big in amazement as he told me that while he was rocking Jacob that night, Jacob continued to point and say “Jesus” as well.  We both had chills all over and couldn’t believe what we were hearing.  We were in complete amazement that both of our boys felt the presence of the Lord in the nursery at the very same time without even realizing that the other one did.

I love the innocence of little children.  They are so simple and so pure.  Little ones are not yet scarred by the ugly things of this world. It makes me sad that as we move past that age of innocence, we allow our vision get so clouded with the things of this world that we are not able to see the Lord so clearly. However, I know there will come a day when I will see the Lord face to face and I can only imagine the same amazing glory will be revealed to me then as it was to my precious little boys in our baby’s nursery.

As I am writing this post, I just finished spending a little time in Jacob’s room at midnight because He just turned 5 years old.  I always wait up and go into my kids rooms at midnight on their birthdays in order to kiss their little faces and thank the Lord for the gifts that they are in my life.  I can’t even believe my sweet Jacob Avery is already 5 years old.  He is such a sweet little man.  He loves the Lord with all of His heart and always thinks of others.  He has such a sweet spirit about him.  It has been an amazing five years watching him grow.  We praise God for Jacob is “fearfully and wonderfully made!” (Psalm 139:14)

sunflowers November 16, 2011

Last month my youngest two children were playing outside and riding their power wheeled jeep in our cul de sac.  During their drive they decided to pull over and pick me a few “flowers.”  Jacob and Emma Rose were beyond ecstatic when they delivered my flowers to me.  They were jumping up and down and had the biggest smiles on their faces.  With great excitement, Jacob asked “don’t you just love your beautiful flowers mommy?  They are sunflowers!”  Both of my children were so proud of the new flowers they picked just for me.  They could not wait for me to come inside and put them in a vase.

If you are picturing bright, beautiful, yellow sunflowers right now, I do not mean to burst your imagination bubble.  These beautiful, yellow flowers were in reality tiny yellow weeds.  I knew the truth of the matter, although my children thought so, these were not sunflowers.  However, because of the joy of my children and the sweetness in their little spirits as they lovingly brought them to me, I received the flowers as if they were the prettiest “sunflowers” I had ever seen.

As I brought them into the house and got down a special vase just for these flowers, I raved at how beautiful they were and how thankful I was for them to my precious children.  I knew they were just weeds but to Jacob and Emma Rose, they were beautiful, yellow sunflowers.

The Lord used these flowers to reveal a few truths to me.

1. Do I see things/events/circumstances as mere “weeds” but if I we were to look at them through the eyes of Christ, would these things/events/circumstances become beautiful sunflowers? Isaiah 61:3(NLT): …he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.

2. I was encouraged to look at every situation in life as a beautiful sunflower even when it feels more like a weed. Jeremiah 29:11(NIV): For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

3. The innocence of a child always humbles me.  If only I could see the beauty in life like they do. If only I could remember to get excited about the “little” things in life like they do.  Matthew 18:4 (NIV): Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

May this post encourage you the next time you see a tiny yellow weed to thank the Lord for His perfect plan over your life and the beauty in every circumstance.  For He can truly take “beauty from ashes” (Isaiah 61:3).

Isaiah 40:8(NIV): The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”