This blog has been on my mind for weeks. I think I’ve been struggling a bit lately because I feel like I’ve wandered from the heart of this blog, which is supposed to be seeing the real application of Scripture in my life, and from sharing how I’ve seen God move.

I’m not exactly sure where this will take us today, but I cannot go another week without getting a post in here. With physical obedience brings spiritual release.

These past several weeks have been intense on my personal and professional life. Changes abound, fundraisers were happening, and life was just a lot. I know that one of my recent posts discussed marathons and running, and it was true, I was aware that some of these were coming up, but mixed in with all of that were unanticipated changes. And regardless of how well prepared you think you are, or not, when you’re actually running a marathon and experiencing all of these changes, it can be intense. Rewarding, but intense. Challenging and intense. And, during this time, I just kept reminding myself of so many of my key verses that keep me going during those times. Scripture that renews my strength. Scripture that quiets my Spirit.

I found this verse shortly before I was working two jobs, and being garnished, with the holidays coming up.

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

I heard an interpretation of this verse that helped me find the true peace of the Messiah, in all circumstances. When I had everything over to God, and learn to trust Him, I receive the supernatural peace of God that transcends understanding (peace that doesn’t make sense in the circumstances to those around me), and that peace guards my heart and my mind (from worry, and discouraging thoughts).

Be anxious for nothing, but I everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

These two verses have brought me such strength and resilience in these intense times. That I constantly am referring back to them. That I have hidden His Word in my heart, for moments that are hard or intense or seemingly overwhelming. That I always remember that Jesus has come that I may know Him, and share in His Victory over the world, over my circumstances, that I am an overcomer because Christ Jesus lives in me.

Stand firm, and you will win life.

Luke 21:19 (NIV)

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

That I hold onto these verses, and speak life into my circumstances as I keep my eyes fixed on the goal. That His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. He holds me in his hands, and knows the hairs on my head, and He only has good plans for me.

I hope all of you are comforted by these words, and blessed in His love. That these promises are for each and every one of us, who has a Savior who is genuinely, personally invested in each of us.

Let’s Pray

Father God, Thank you. Thank you that you sent Jesus for our salvation. That You gave us the Word, that we might know you more, and that we might hide it in our hearts for our salvation here and now. For tools to win life. That You bless us Father, that you speak life into our lives every day, through prayer and the reading of Your Word. Thank you Father, for loving each and every one of us in a personal way. Thank you for all that you have done and all that you will continue to do, this day and every day. IN JESUS’ NAME! AMEN!

Years ago, we used to have a dog. She loved camping. But of course, we couldn’t always take her with us. And when we would come home, all of our belongings smelling like a campfire, she would come up to us and take one whiff, and spent the rest of the night pouting that we had gone camping without her.

I’ve been slowly plugging away through this series of Identity. Who we are in Christ. Who God says we are. And He says we are a sweet aroma to Him. And, a sweet aroma to those around us. Now, I will be honest with you, I never really took this literally.

But, maybe, it can be a literal application.

I know God wants us to sacrifice ourselves, our lives, our needs and wants for His. That when moments arise and we have to choose between the flesh (our wants) and the Spirit (His want), that we should be taking that opportunity to climb up onto the altar and sacrifice that for Him. That it should be considered a privilege to be a offering for Him. That we should want it so much that it shapes our daily lives and changes how we think, how we approach situations, how we do life.

And, years ago, I really started to try to get this from my head to my heart. That worship song, “New Wine” became a constant loop in my head. Praying for God to make my heart, a heart of flesh. To see His will, and to make it my purpose.

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Ephesians 5:2

Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:18

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1-2

¹⁵ For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

2 Corinthians 2:15-16

² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:2

⁴¹ I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy through you in the sight of the nations.

Ezekiel 20:41

The act of sacrifice, walking in love, makes us a sweet aroma to the Lord. It is a tangible effect of our submission and gives Him pleasure. And, I really like what 2 Corinthians 2:15 says, that we will also have this aroma to those around us. That, truly, this could be a real, literal effect on us, that we cannot comprehend. I’m sure, we’re aware, that we can’t really smell ourselves (unless, of course, we’re absolutely foul from working hard, or other extenuating circumstances.) But, truly, we’re unaware for the most part, of our scent to those around us. And, yet, when we think of a loved one, they have a definitive scent. That, if we ever run across a similar odor somewhere else, we’re instantly reminded of that person. Which, is really incredible, if you think about it, because it’s definitely something we have little control over. And yet, smell is one of the strongest senses? Smell can rocket our brain right back to a particular situation, or person. That the capability of our brains to perform such an amazing task is really incredible. The rest of the senses hardly evoke this response. Smells also have the capability to soothe us, like nothing else. The smell of fresh coffee grounds. Lilacs. Puppies. And, what’s incredible, is as you read those words, you probably remember their smell before you see the images. God is in the details.

This concept of a sweet aroma has been kicking around in my brain for a while. Just a couple weeks ago, I was in a little restaurant, waiting to meet a friend for lunch, and as a lady walked past me, she stopped and said, “Your perfume smells wonderful.” I don’t wear perfume. I haven’t worn perfume in years. In fact, I hadn’t even showered yet that day. Of course, I smiled and told her thank you, but my mind was instantly reminded of 2 Corinthians 2:15, that we are a sweet aroma to those around us. And, maybe, if this had just happened once, I would write it off. But, this has been a constant recurrence in the last few years. Several people have told me that I smell good or commented on my perfume. Some people, I’ve even been honest, stating I’m not wearing any perfume, and tried to run through a list of potential things they could be smelling, and never able to determine what it is – besides me.

It leads me to wonder, that as we walk in His Will and His Way, and become a sweet aroma to Him, maybe He makes us a sweet aroma to those around us. That He is so in the details, and taking such a personal interest in our lives that He would do that. That He would actually change the way we smell, or how our scent is perceived by those around us. It’s just an incredible thought. How great is our God? To be so in the minutia of such a thing, and use such a discreet, yet powerful tool to connect with us.

Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You. Thank You, for being so incredible, so omnipresent to be in such details. Thank you that your Word breathes life into us. That you are in every moment with us. That you use such amazing, small details to show up in big ways. That You are such a personal God, that such details even matter to you. Thank you Father, for every opportunity that You take to show up and be the amazing God that You are. IN JESUS’ NAME! AMEN!

Back to my original plan, of Who Does God say I am, deeper dive.

God says, “I’m never alone.” *emphasis below, mine

⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”... ⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:6,8

⁵ No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:5-9

²⁰ David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.

1 Chronicles 28:20

Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:3

If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.

Ecclesiastes 4:10

So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:20

²⁹ The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

John 8:29

¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:18

⁷ For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 

Romans 14:17

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6-7

God has given us this assurance, throughout the Bible, old and new testament, through various examples, that we are not alone. Even if and when we feel alone, He is ALWAYS there.

I recently had a live example of this. About 1 1/2 years ago, I was praying one morning, and I received several names of people. Some of them, good friends, others – acquitences at the time. Just a list of people kinda popped into my head. And, I was moved to pray for them. So, I did. Just general prayers, really. Lord, help them. Guide them. Provide for them.

About 6 months went by, and another morning during prayer, I was moved to actually reach out to these people and ask for their prayer requests. Ooooh, this was another level. And, for some of these people, this would be seemingly out of the blue? I’m not sure I’m comfortable with this… so, you know, the Lord and I wrestled about it for a while. But, ultimately, of course, He won, because I just couldn’t get it out of my head, that I needed to reach out to these people for their prayer requests…

And, they slowly started to trickle in. Some broad strokes, other very pointed. Ok. No problem. One thing, I was not anticipating – several people asked me, what could they pray for, for me?

Whoa – I wasn’t ready for that, when the first one came in. Took me a little while to respond, now I had to be open and honest with these people and let them in, even if it was just a little bit.

This continued for another year. About once a month, I reached out for prayer requests, and spent the next several days, collecting theirs and sharing my own. I also started to find, that some people now also, reached out in moments of need. Live prayer requests – and those moments were incredible! I was doing life, with these people that God had brought to the forefront of my mind.

This blessing was amazing, because little did I know in August of 2021, when I started this, that I was about to go through some of the most tumultuous times of my life. That, I, in fact, was absolutely going to need prayer, and that I was going to need this group of people that God was establishing for me. That, I was going to lean heavily on some of the people within this group, in the months to come, as I, myself, was going to dig into some pretty hard stuff.

Then, in January, this year. The Lord said to me again, one morning in my spirit, “We’re going to make care packages.” And, hesitantly, I agreed – that apparently, we’re going to make care packages. I had no idea, the contents, or what we could possibly be putting together, for no apparent reason, but the Lord provides. So, over the next couple months, I had started a Devotional – “Women of Valor” – and here was a story about each person I had been praying for (which had been on my bookshelf for years, and I had just recently added it to the rotation of what I would be reading….) I was scrolling through Pinterest, and saw these beautiful crocheted mini-prayer shawls and knew that I could make those. And, slowly, but surely, these little care packages came together, this devotional, and that book, and it was all just falling into my lap, as the Lord does. His yoke is easy.

And, as I made these care packages, I just kept feeling the love of the Lord, for each one of these individuals. Just this, all consuming, overwhelming love. Many times, I was moved to tears, while making each of these, when finding new items to add, as they all just came together. And, each time, He was constantly reminding me, that He loves me – this much. That although, each of these gifts was going out from me, they were pouring into me. And, I was consistently reminded of this verse, “²⁵ Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) Jesus – is praying for us. He is there, here, being an intercessor, and praying for us, on our behalf. And – that feels as real and active as the last year and half, I have spent praying for the people the Lord brought to mind. And making those care packages, is the same kind of care that He puts together, every time He blesses my life, and in the moments we have daily together.

And, I have never been so grateful, and felt so loved. And, so reassured, that a God who did all of that, absolutely never leaves me alone.

Let’s Pray

Thank you, Father God! Wow. Words cannot express my gratitude for your lovingkindness, for your faithfulness, for your ever present self – in every moment that I need you God. Thank you for being my provider, for knowing what I need, before I needed it. That You are just, so good, in every way. I am so grateful, to have you in my life, to have this format to share your word and your encouragement with others, and to just feel the blessings, and the good things that you have for me, this day and every day, Father. Thank you. IN JESUS’ NAME!! AMEN!

So – there was a follow-up question to my last post. How has rehabilitating your bird impacted your faith?

What an excellent question.

I think I have found the whole relationship, progress, and similarities very insightful. Her walk and rehabilitation is not unlike my own.

I grew up in the church. Going to church. Potlucks. Special events. Youth Group. Even, missions trips and conferences.

And yet, as I grew closer to adulthood, I felt myself drifting away. Doubting the goodness of God. Doubting if there even was a God.

I didn’t go to church, or read my Bible, or pray, for years. I honestly could’ve cared less. I was out on my own, doing my own thing, and God was not someone that I had a personal relationship with, or even truly understood that, that was how it worked.

Fast forward several years… About 7 all together. And, suddenly, here I was with a 3 year old, my soon to be husband, and my life that was quite chaotic on a daily basis, between trying to put food on the table, go to school, work, keep a roof over our heads, etc. And, here, my little son, tells me – he wants to go to church…

But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God”

Luke 18:16

There were a few other things that led up to this moment as well (people asking me about Jesus, someone praying for me at the store) – that made me look to my ceiling in that moment, and say, “Ok God, no more signs, I’m good.” As, of course, the story of Jonah rang through my head, that He already seemed to be calling me home, and now he has used the mouth of my own child to escort me to where I needed to be.

So – I brought it up to my husband, who was not brought up the same way. “Our son has requested to go to church.”

My husband’s response (to my utter disbelief in that moment, and only reinforcing the feeling I was already having that this was all a sign.) – “Ok, well I guess, if you want to take him to church. Go ahead. Not like they teach anything bad there.”

So, I did. I started taking my son to church. Out of the pure intent that it wasn’t really going to change anything between me and God, but I wasn’t about to deny my son something that apparently he wanted.

And, slowly, as I started to truly hear the Word. It started to chip away at me.

I started to look forward to going to church.

I started understanding the fellowship at church, and the fact that Jesus wanted to have a personal relationship with me.

I started to read my Bible, outside of church.

I started praying.

I started doing devotionals.

I started hearing the Holy Spirit stirring within me, to hear more, see more, read more, do more.

I began surrounding myself with Christian friends that would help me grow.

Then, I started to struggle a little with the church that I was at. Some of the things weren’t quite jiving with what I was reading.

And, then, one of my son’s friends, invited us to their church.

OOOOOHHH buddy. This other church seemed to have meat and potatoes, and my original church still seemed to be working off milk.

I started switching back and forth, one week this church, next week the other church.

I will also add-in here, that while I was growing up, my parents did stress to me that church was more fluid than most followers seem to understand. That God doesn’t just live in this one church on 5th street, but in all these churches. Wherever they’re preaching that Jesus died for your sins, and is your salvation, and the way to heaven – that’s God’s church. And, that nobody seems to have it exactly right. Everyone has certain parts right, and maybe working on other parts, or whatever. So – this has contributed to my fluid understanding – that God is not a building, and has allowed me to stay open to the fact that you need to go where you’re getting fed.

Another quick note here, also – after I was grown, and attending church again on a regular basis, my mother, my father, and myself all attended different churches – but we could all sit down together, and share our different insights and understandings gain from each of them, and help each other grow. Which, is also, very similar to the Ladies’ Bible Study I lead – we all attend different churches too – but it is really cool to hear all the different snippets from different sermons that we hear that help tie our faith together and help each of us grow in our walk.

Back to the story – so I was bouncing back and forth for a while, then I finally committed to the new (to me) church, because I really felt like I was getting fed there.

Then, I started listening to podcasts of sermons all over the country.

I started a Ladies’ Bible Study.

I started a blog about walking in faith.

And, just this past year, I started doing some local missions work again.

So – I see the similarities between the bird and myself, because it’s been a slow process. He had the ladder there all along. I just had to take one step, and then another, and that step encouraged me to take another, and another. I returned to church, 10 years ago. This process has spanned 10 years. And, there is almost nothing about me that is the same since I started this journey, and I could not be more grateful.

That I continue to take steps, and he continues to be there, encouraging me. Waiting for me. Feeding me. Taking care of me. And, just letting me warm up to Him. To let Him show me all the incredible things He has in store for me. I just have to keep taking steps. Staying close to Him. He’ll keep showing me that I can trust Him. Just like we keep showing the bird, we’re worth being trusted. We’re not going to abandon her. We’re not going to force her. We give her space and respect her, and she’ll eventually come around on her own – because we just keep showing her, how good we are. Just like God. If you give Him a chance – He’ll show you his goodness, and love, and grace. For all circumstances, in all things, He is a good God.

Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your patience. For your grace. That you leave the 99 to rescue the 1. Thank you for moving in supernatural, and natural ways Father God. Thank you that you never give up on us, no matter where we’re at, or what we’re doing. Or if we’ve even turned our backs on you, and walked away, you don’t write us off, you keep actively pursuing us. You are always chasing after your children, and patiently waiting for them to return home. That you show up each and every day, in your faithfulness, to show us that you can be trusted. Thank you for sending your son, to make a personal relationship possible. Thank you, for being you, and loving us so much that we’re allowed to see that, and to have this amazing relationship with you. Thank you, for all you do, and all that you are, and all that you would have us be. IN JESUS’ NAME!! AMEN!

As I have been working through this journey, the Lord speaks in all kinds of ways. One in particular, is one of our rescues. It’s funny, we’ve tried to have brand new pets, with no damage, and those never seem to work out for us. Our family is destined to have a rescues. And, I’ve started to see this as a blessing. I’m not sure that everyone has the patience and resilience to help someone work through trauma. And, that’s exactly what rescues need.

I grew up picking up dogs from the pound. They’re cheap, and they need love too. They all had their own stories. Sometimes the pound knew what they were, and sometimes they didn’t. You just got to kind of figure it out, along the way, and make your own deductions. This one doesn’t like to be chained up, this one needs lots of attention, and each one is unique. Each one is interesting in it’s own right, and the most invaluable lesson, they all seem to teach you something about yourself.

The first rescue, my future husband and I had together, was absolutely something else. She had been through a significant amount of trauma. At times, her trauma broke our hearts. And, yet, somehow, we just loved her even more because of it. And, in our 11 year journey with her, we learned so much about ourselves, and about others. That an animal who had been through so much, could still love. That she just needed some love, attention, patience, and safety to help her become her whole self. And, she spoke lessons and love into our lives that we will never forget. It’s been many years since she passed, and she still brings tears to my eyes. She was an absolute champion and shining example of how incredible you can be, if people just take the time to help meet you, where you’re at.

But, the rescue that has been speaking to me lately, is our pet bird. Obviously, she’s not like trying to rehabilitate a dog, at all. And, me personally, I hadn’t had a bird since I was very young, and because I also had cats, I didn’t have it for long… So, I was a little apprehensive about a pet bird, but my husband really wanted her. So, here we are. He has a special place in his heart for birds, and even has the seemingly magical capability of being able to befriend wild birds outside, which never ceases to amaze me.

But – back to the pet bird. She was living with some friends of ours, who had another pet bird, and apparently the other bird was not sociable. So – it was making our future pet’s life absolutely miserable. So, our friends came to us, hoping to rehome the bird. They informed us, that she was already about 14 years old, and was only expected to live to about 30-35 years. Which is a little longer than a dog, but she was so gorgeous, we decided this was ok. They did note that they guessed she had been through some stuff because she had some quirks. Well, fair enough, we only seem to be able to handle rescues anyway, she’ll fit right in.

I will admit, I had no real concept of what it would mean to rehabilitate a bird, and the fact that it would take sooooooo long. I’m definitely more inclined to real results, sooner vs. later. So – this bird didn’t fit in my box of expectations whatsoever.

The first year we had her, we made some real strides it seemed, right away. We figured out that she was primarily kept in a cage her whole life, so we almost never lock her door. She’s free to come and go as she pleases. She doesn’t really talk much (she is a parrot) but she loves music. So does my husband. They have definitely bonded over their love for music. But, she just isn’t a “people” parrot. She doesn’t like hands. She doesn’t like flying much. She just didn’t really seem to be too crazy about life in general. Ok – well, she’s been through some stuff, rehomed how many times, not always great owners. We understood. So, we took everything in stride…. little tiny baby strides.

One thing, we did start to notice, is that every time, we moved & she moved with us, she seemed to trust us more. Our consistency, and our actions, and our unwavering love seemed to be whittling away at her. Every time we moved, she started showing us more and more of her true self. Like, maybe these people aren’t so bad, and like she could maybe let us in, a little more.

In the midst of all this, we also figured out that she wasn’t the kind of bird, we were originally told she was. Which, when we did figure out what kind of bird she was – her new life expectancy – is actually closer to 60 years. LOL! But, by that time, both my husband and I just shrugged, and stated, we apparently had made more of a commitment than we realized, but it didn’t change anything, except that maybe we had even more patience because we were in it for the long haul.

So – what I find so incredible, is that we’re going through life. And the last couple years have definitely been interesting, and had their ups and downs, and their changes, and we both continue to grow. And suddenly – in the last couple months, seemingly out of the blue, the bird has started leaving her cage. My husband had installed a ladder down to the floor, years ago. She wouldn’t even go near it. We were almost considering removing it, when she started using it. She randomly started climbing down the ladder, and walking across the house, to beg for our lunches, just like our dog does. We were floored. We have had this bird for 7 years, at least. And, suddenly, she is engaging us. Now, just in the last two months, this has become a daily occurrence. And, just this past week, she actually figured out how to climb up the chair, and sit in my husband’s lap. It has been mind-blowing, and heart-warming. And, she has even tried to take food from his hand.

And, I can’t help but feel, isn’t this how the Lord is? Here we are with all of our stuff, and He’s given us a ladder to make a way to get to Him. We just have to take it. That He has all the patience, and love, and understanding in the universe, and He’s just waiting for us. He just keeps giving us love and affection, and respecting our space, as we work through it. He’ll be there. Waiting. Ready to receive. Ready to love. And that once we do, our relationship can really grow and flourish as He intended. That He’s ready to give us all his good gifts, more than we could ask or imagine, we just need to take the steps to get to Him, and He’s waiting with open arms.

Can I also just tell you, the first time she did this, I was telling everybody! I was so excited! And, I feel that God feels that too. He’s so excited you’re here, and He is so ready to do this thing they call life with you!

Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You! Thank you for your incredible patience and mercy and grace. Thank you for loving us more than we could ever ask or imagine. Thank you for sending your son for us, that we might have the way to have a personal connection with you. Thank you, that all creation shouts Your Name! Thank you for speaking to us in all kinds of ways. For showing Your hand and Your work in all things, Father. That you are blessing us, and healing us, from the inside out. That you are here and willing and able to make us whole. Thank you for your faithfulness. IN JESUS’ NAME!! AMEN!!

I feel like one of the things, the Lord has been trying to drive home for the past few weeks, is that I am whole. He completes me. He makes me whole, and complete. That I am lacking no good thing. That when Jesus died for our sins, and we accepted Him as the Lord and Savior of our lives, the Holy Spirit dropped in, and filled that God-shaped hole in our hearts.

He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good as long as they live; and also that every man should eat and drink and see and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor can anything be taken from it, for God does it so that men will fear and worship Him [with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is God]. That which is has already been, and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by [so that history repeats itself].

Ecclesiastes 3:11-15 AMP

And, if we recall, the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfullness, and Self-Control. So – when the Holy Spirit came into our lives, and lives within us, it’s giving us the ability to tap into all these things – that we already have. Many times, it seems that what we’re “looking for” in our lives – has something to do with each one of these things, but as God tells us – He already gave them to us – through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Part of how it grows – is using the opportunities in our lives (the situations where we struggle) to grow those characteristics that we already have, because they’re already in there. God tells us, that He makes us whole. Together – we are complete. (emphasis below, mine)

⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

²³ May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 5:23

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17

¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10

¹⁶ By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

Acts 3:16

If only you had paid attention to my commands,
    your peace would have been like a river,
    your well-being like the waves of the sea.

Isaiah 48:18

16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:16

Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains (of punishment)… And with the stripes (that wounded) Him we are healed and made whole.

Isaiah 53:4-5 AMP

And – let’s look at some examples of what Jesus showed us, while He was here, of God’s great love & His desire to make us whole:

²² Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

Matthew 9:22

⁵² “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:52

¹¹ And it came to pass, as they were on the way to Jerusalem, that he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. ¹² And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off: ¹³ and they lifted up their voices, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. ¹⁴ And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go and show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed. ¹⁵ And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, with a loud voice glorifying God; ¹⁶ and he fell upon his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷ And Jesus answering said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine? ¹⁸ Were there none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger? ¹⁹ And he said unto him, Arise, and go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Luke 17:11-19 ASV

I really like this last one, because – it shows – that all 10 lepers were healed of their leprosy, but the one who returned and gave thanks to God, and showed his appreciation and his faith – is the one who was made whole.

God didn’t send His Son to die for our sins, just so we can get into heaven and eventually have a relationship with Him. He sent Him to die, that we may have a relationship right now. God know that this world is a hard, incomprehensible place at times – but with the love of the Holy Spirit living within us, and the relationship we have with our Lord and Savior – we are made WHOLE. Complete. We are exactly who He wants us to be. He cares about us so much as to the details of our fingerprints, and the speckles and stripes in our irises… does that really seem like you were made by a far off, distant Creator? Or someone who truly sat down and made you exactly how He wanted you to be? For His Joy and His Glory, and for you to have a FULL LIFE because You are WHOLE!

Let’s Pray

Thank You Father! Thank you for sending your Son to be an example. To speak to us, through Your Living Word over 2000 years later – so that we may know, in our hearts and souls, that You sent Him to make Us WHOLE. That through Your love, we have been made complete. I pray that everyone reading this, feels the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. That you bear fruit within them, and through them. That they are complete and whole. That You are healing their minds, spirit, and body. That they are seeing your goodness at work in their lives. That You are speaking love over them, and through them. That You are blessing them, in each and every way. IN JESUS’ NAME!! AMEN!!

These past two weeks, I have been focused on the fact that the next part of our identity, is that we are children and co-heirs with Jesus.

This means that we are accepting that God is our Father. And regardless of what our worldly parents were/are like, He is a good Father. A Good Father, who only wants good things for us. If He is our Good Father, then we are His children, and as his children, we are co-heirs with Jesus. That’s a lot to consider, but truly, it is a part of our identity as Christians and believers in Christ. A part that we have to dig into, and accept to help us grow in our faith and our relationship with the Father. (all emphasis throughout, mine)

¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:11

I know personally, as a parent, I always want THE BEST for my kid. And, as it says here in Matthew 7, if I want the best for my kid, how much more does the Father wish to give us the best?! And, He is much more capable than I am.

But, more at hand here, is MY identity, as a child of God.

First, let’s look at an example of how Jesus treats the children he encounters:

³ People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Mark 10:13-16

I receive it! What a great example of what we can expect from our Father. He took them into His Arms, placed His hands upon them, and blessed them. He protected them from those around them – who were trying to keep them apart, He comforted them, and He Blessed them. Amen! That’s a great example of parenting, and wouldn’t we all want that?

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:5

⁴⁰ And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Luke 2:40 *This verse in particular, is talking about Jesus, and because we are co-heirs and temples of His spirit – it is also true of us.

¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

John 1:12

¹³ It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Romans 4:13

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 8:14-17

²³ What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— ²⁴ even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? ²⁵ As he says in Hosea:

“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
    and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”

²⁶ and,

“In the very place where it was said to them,
    ‘You are not my people,’
    there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

Romans 9:23-26

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”

2 Corinthians 6:18

²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,…If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:26,29

⁶ Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Galatians 4:6-7

¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children

Ephesians 5:1

⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:7

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5

²⁸ And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

²⁹ If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is…¹⁰ This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

1 John 2:28-3:1-2,10

⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

3 John 1:4

²¹ To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Revelations 3:21

⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Revelations 20:6

⁷ Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Revelations 21:7

There are many more examples, but truly God is constantly telling us, and reminding us, that we are His Children, and in a few of these examples – he explains in the same breath, that we are co-heirs with Christ. That we are entitled to all the same things as Jesus – since He died for us and for the forgiveness of our sins – to give us that right. And, I love how it states that once we believe, it is our right. Our right to have a relationship with the Father. A right to consider ourselves His children, and that we have a right to all the things that come with it! All that, being a co-heir with Jesus means. God has already given to us. The moment we believed that Jesus died for our sins, and we wanted him to be our Savior – we inherited all these things, all these good gifts! We just have to receive it – to obtain it. To walk into our inheritance and know that all these good things belong to us. We have to speak them into our lives, pray that the Holy Spirit cooperatively work with us to manifest our inheritance. We are His Children, and ALL THAT IT MEANS!!

Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you. Thank you for telling us how much you love us. Thank you for showing us how much you care, and reminding us of Your Love, and of our place in Your Kingdom. That You are guiding the works of our hands, and the words from our lips, that we may manifest these good works in our lives, by Your Spirit, and by Your Word. That Your Word does not return void. That You have said it, and that makes it true. This day, and every day Lord, that we may walk in the knowledge and the assurance that WE are Your Children, and You are our Father. Abba, Father! Great and Glorious God of Good things, for His Children. Bless Us, this day, and every day. IN JESUS’ NAME!! AMEN!!

I continue down the path of discovery. The path of Who Am I? Ultimately – who does my Creator say that I am? This week, I’m focusing on the Creator – says I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. That I wish to say to all of you, out there, who were told that you were a mistake, or an accident, or whatever anyone else has ever said about you – Please know, deep down in your soul, God made YOU. And, HE doesn’t make mistakes. He purposefully made you. He looked down at the world, and decided it needed YOU. No matter what ANYONE else says about you, God says He created you, He created you for a purpose, He created you to be who He wanted you to be.

Something, I heard this week, that I feel everyone should hear, because I know I needed to hear it. Let’s remember that God lives outside of time. That He sees the future, in the now, He can see everything before it happens. And, with keeping that in mind, think of David. King David, who was anointed with oil to be the next ruler. But – in that same moment, that he was being anointed with oil – God saw what David with Bathsheba… and He still anointed him. He saw the mistakes that David was going to make, and he still anointed him. He knows who we are, and He loves us anyway. He loves us, in spite of ourselves. He still chooses us. Another thought – He knew Judas would betray him, and he chose him anyway. That just blew me away. I think, I knew it, but to hear it in that respect, just struck me with awe. So, keeping that in mind, let’s look at all the verses where God tells us – exactly how we were made.

All emphasis is mine.

⁴ But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me. ⁶ He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

Jeremiah 18:4-6

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Psalm 139:13-15

 But whoever loves God is known by God.

1 Corinthians 8:3

Your hands made me and formed me;
    give me understanding to learn your commands.

Psalm 119:73

⁴ The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew^[a] you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:4-5

²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Romans 8:29

As you do not know the path of the wind,
    or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
    the Maker of all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:3

For we are God’s masterpiece, created in the Messiah Jesus to perform good actions that God prepared long ago to be our way of life.

Ephesians 2:10 (ISV)

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”

Revelations 4:11

¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

Colossians 1:16

¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27

We are masterpieces, made by God. He knit us together. He purposefully created us, in the image of His Son. He designed each one of us. He thought about each of us, and made us, just how He intended. He masterfully crafted us, and created us to be in His image. He thought about each hair on our heads, and our fingers and toes, and everything in between. He made you, whole and complete, in Jesus. Any gap, you think you might have, isn’t there. Jesus has made you whole, and God made You just the way He wanted You to be.

I think – this is such an important lesson, because the world tears us down. The world creates gaps that aren’t there. The world wants us to believe that there’s something wrong with us, but truly, there is something wrong with the world. And, Jesus came, to close that gap, and that thinking. That we may know our Creator in a close, and intimate way. That the Creator had this insatiable need for us to know Him, and for us to understand – that HE KNOWS US. HE KNOWS US, better than we know ourselves – He CREATED us. That, in order, to better know ourselves – we just have to seek God, and He will tell us who we are. We are BELOVED, and we are A MASTERPIECE, FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE.

Let’s Pray

Dear Father God, I pray that everyone who reads this – truly understands that You made Us. That You don’t make mistakes. That You looked at this wonderful creation, and decided it needed one of us too. That You are such a good Father, that you want to have a close and personal relationship – with your creation. That we may understand who we are. That we may draw closer to you, and in doing so, find the deeper things of ourselves, and who you created us to be. That we may let you do your work in our hearts and minds – to see ourselves, the way that You do. That You see us as whole and complete. That we may understand that, Father. That you bless the work of our hands, and the words from our lips, that we give you glory and praise all the days of our lives, for making us exactly who we are, and who you created us to be. IN JESUS’ NAME. AMEN!!

I don’t know about you, but I grew up pretty quick. And, what I’m finding out about growing up too fast, is that it catches up with you. At least, for a lot of people it does. You suddenly find yourself, all grown up – literally, and you have all this luggage that you’ve been dragging around with you, and you’re like, “HOW DO I GET RID OF THIS??”

At least, that’s what happened to me. All my luggage came tumbling down on me, around me, popped open and burst all over the floor, and the walls. And suddenly, as I looked around, I realized, there was no way you could a) keep carrying this around forever or b)possibly fit all this stuff back in (nor should you.) As I’ve found out, God doesn’t want you to carry it all around, He wants to help you get rid of it. He wants to dig all that nasty garbage out and throw it out! And, then, fill you with the good stuff of God instead.

So, part of my journey, has required that I go wayyyyy back. In fact, all the way back to the beginning. And, with that journey back, I realized. I don’t know WHO I am. Like, as person. I have been going at Mach 5 for so long, and re-acting to everything happening in my life, I haven’t really ever taken the time to understand, WHO I am. Which, to be honest, in your mid-thirties, is a little disconcerting. Feels like I’m a little late to the game, but as always, my rose-colored glasses remind me that, better late than never. And, as I let this realization sink in, of course, it instigates the quest to discover – Who I am. Who Am I? What do I like? What defines me? And, thank God, that I have cultivated this relationship enough to understand, that the best place to look to figure out who I am, is in the Bible. Because – you don’t ask the creation what it is, you ask the Creator. And, God, has a lot to say about who we are. I’m going to unpack those things with you, over the coming weeks.

The first one, I wanted to focus on, was “I am Beloved.” I wanted to start here, because I know God is love. And, I know, that He tells me, I am Beloved.

Beloved – clearly defined – is an adjective. It means “dearly loved”. As a noun, “A much loved person.”

So, here, just getting started – it’s not just someone who is loved. But dearly loved. Very much loved. Here is our Father, doing more than we can ask or imagine, again.

All emphasis below, is mine. Let’s look through what the Bible has to say to the beloved.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:34

“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him,
    for he shields him all day long,
    and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.”

Deuteronomy 33:12

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:7,9-12,18-19

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:12-15

¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:17-19

⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹ Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ¹¹ Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:6-11

¹⁹ “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Galatians 2:19-21

¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way 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

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

John 15:9-17

Through all these verses, we can see the emphasis, that God so loved us, that He sent His Son to die for us. That’s extreme love. Dearly loved. Beloved. We are the Beloved.

I heard a saying years ago, that’s always stuck in my heart, and reminds me constantly of how personal the Bible is for me. How personal my relationship with my Savior is for me.

Even if, you were the only person on the earth, God still would’ve sent His Son to die, just for you.

unknown, potentially St. Augustine or C.S. Lewis

I really like to think about it that way, not to elevate myself, but to magnify God’s love. That He would’ve done it anyway, even if it was just for me. That’s how much God loves us. That’s how much we mean to Him. He cares specifically for each of us.

 ⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. ⁷ Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows…

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Luke 12:6-7; 22-26

He knows the very hairs on your head. And, how much more valuable are you, than the ravens, and the sparrows, and the wildflowers? That He would die for you, to have a relationship with YOU.

Let’s Pray

Dear Father God, thank you! Thank you for your blessings today, and every day. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for loving us more than we could comprehend or imagine. For being the God of more than enough. That although, we may have gone through life, not fully understanding or experiencing love through those around us, that you have shown us Your love by sending Your Son to die for us. That You want to have a personal relationship with us. That You can love us better than anyone, and that you can show us how to love. How to love others, how to love ourselves, and it’s all through the love that you’ve already demonstrated. Love that you wish for us to experience each and every day, in a personal way. That you enter in, and heal us from the inside out. That you are blessing us, Father God. Thank you, for being Love. Thank you for your example, and your never-ending fount of all the good things. IN JESUS’ NAME!! AMEN!!