Within the Garden of my Heart

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Checking Your Roots: Jeremiah 17:7-8

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8

This season has been such a time of peace and joy. The loving comfort of knowing that all truths about the health of my roots has been lovingly revealed, nurtured, and given a revitalizing renewal. There has been a wealth of joy once His pruning began. The elimination of the branches which were creating diseased thoughts (shame is a deceptive evil spirit). His tender attention and life giving words refreshed my mind, spirit, and soul. Oh what joy is found under His watch!

Being taught "how-to" nourish my foundational roots is giving such energy. An energy in which the Holy Spirit is guiding the works of my hands. This summer has been the least busy, yet the most focused. Spending my days in scripture, slowing down and relishing the ever changing moments of Gabriel Michael, and just letting my days unfold has provided an overflow of peace and... oh, such delight.

As this season comes to a close, I can only hope for His continued nourishment. Allowing me to continue to grow stronger, more gracious, gentler in what I say and do.

Dear Abba, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit... guide me and strengthen me so I bring glory to You! For I trust in you. For it is written in your promises:

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD,
He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers,
and under his wings shalt thou trust:
his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;
nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness;
nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side,
and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the LORD,
which is my refuge,
even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee,
neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee,
to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands,
lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder:
the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon me,
therefore will I deliver him:
I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me,
and I will answer him:
I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Psalm 91

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Gratitude: Hebrews 12:28

"Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken,
let us show gratitude,
by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe..."
Hebrews 12:28

He is faithful forever! Open my eyes my Lord. With these last few weeks, I find that my walk is blessed beyond my expectations. Worry and anxiety is bound. Moments in His loving presence nourishes beyond my expectations. Gratitude that I walk as His, ever under His watch.

This year is the time to learn how to walk with gracious dignity. It all begins with living free from the deception of shame. What a truly ugly spirit shame is. What a perfected blessing is His blood covering. His gracious gift of forgiveness brings joy. Yet, His amazing and precious blood covers us in such a way that we are allowed to live free from ugly deceptions like shame.

Gratitude is a reflective heart and mind set that is leading beyond my yesterdays and into my todays.
If you are looking to live free from the ugly deception of shame, join us as we learn how to walk without the cloak of shame.


Unashamed Study Guide: Drop the Baggage, Pick up Your Freedom, Fulfill Your Destiny
Shame has no place in the purpose, plan, and destiny God has for us because shame lies to us, robs us of the freedom we long for,
and shackles us in the prison of our past.
In this five-session video Bible study, author and teacher, Christine Caine, weaves examples from her life with those of biblical characters who failed but overcame their shame to show how God heals us and redeems us. In her passionate style, she explains that if we want to change our futures, we have to believe God is bigger than our mistakes, our inadequacies, our pasts, and our limitations. We have to believe God created us for a unique purpose, has a specific plan for us, and has a powerful destiny he wants us to fulfill. God has already won the victory over sin and its shame, and we do need to spend our lives believing the lies of the deceiver. Instead, we can allow ourselves to be defined by God’s truth and choose to see ourselves the way God does—through the lens of his eternal perspective. So join the journey. Stop merely existing and start thriving. Lay hold of the power of Jesus Christ today and step into his future—a beautiful, full, life-giving future filled with purpose. You can live unashamed! Session titles include: Session1: Run, Don’t Hide Session 2: Today is the Day Session 3: Posses Your Inheritance Session 4: God Never Wastes a Hurt Session 5: Highly Unlikely. Join the book study at: http://www.faithgateway.com/unashamed-study-registration

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"Ask the Lord for rain in the Springtime; it iS the Lord Who SendS the thunderstorms.He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the fieLd to everyone." Zechariah 10:4