Has your heart been touched by Jesus? 

Then the Holy Spirit will touch your heart and soul. This past week I kept seeing the verse in Acts 4:13.  Especially one part of the verse. 

”And they recognized that they HAD BEEN WITH JESUS”. 

 Another translation says......

“Then they began to understand the effect that Jesus had on them simply by spending time with Him”.

Peter and John spoke with BOLDNESS about Jesus to anyone.  This day they had been talking with the religious leaders.  Leaders who did not like the name of Jesus.  They told Peter and John not to speak about Jesus.  Peter and John said, “we cannot keep from talking about Him”.   After warning them two more times Peter and John went to the other believers and rejoiced together and prayed.  

Did they pray for protection?  NO.  They prayed for more BOLDNESS. 

Two things hit my heart this week. 

       1.    Believers are known by the time they spend with Jesus.  Is He always on our mind?  Do we dig deep into that well of His love and compassion?  Do we feel that response from Him as we tell Him we love Him?  Are our steps ordered by Him? 

       2.    Peter and John said to the leaders in verse 19, “is it better to listen to you or to God”?   Are we so hampered by worrying what others will think?  I will say that I have been many times.  It hurts to think about it.  He is the Holy One Who humbled Himself and came to earth to save me so I might walk with Him here and spend eternity with Him.  

As I shared the word BEEN it led me to these two thoughts.  There is really no option.  Is it my heart's desire to spend more time with Him and to be bold?

Time with Him is purest joy.  So love Him with all your heart, soul and mind. 

If you want the whole story read Acts chapter 3 and 4.

Photography by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

Give Me Jesus - Fernando Ortega + Lyrics

“A clean heart is a free heart. A free heart can love Christ with an undivided love in chastity, convinced that nothing and nobody will separate it from his love.” - Mother Teresa

In biblical usage, the term "purification" refers to a certain rite in the external worship of God. Purification seeks to remove legal uncleanness so that the purified individual may resume normal activity in society

There are 28 verses in the Bible that point us to the word purity. 

Are our thoughts and actions pure? Are they clean from judgment, hate, and discord? Are they from a beautiful place within our hearts or are they tainted from the darkness that can overshadow our very existence?  Do they weigh us down or do they give us the passage of amazing freedom!! 

I do believe it’s a daily struggle!!! Our human DNA makes us work really hard to achieve even the slightest improvement towards purification... It’s a moment-to-moment decision... Do we have the strength to withstand the temptations and harshness of our troubled world ?? Or do we join in the chorus of discord and lash out with our thought or remorse??

What is a pure heart? How do we attain one? And if get close to having one is it sustainable ?? 

I can only share my thoughts and my flight to freedom experience...

As we try with all our strength to obtain this status we will find that it is not achievable without God... We must surrender our ties to things of this world... We must give Him our heart and ask Him to help us become better humans each and every day... 

He knows our heart better than we can ever imagine. He sees every thought, every action, every word that is spoken... 

I can say as we travel closer to His heart we will begin to understand Him.. and our desire will be to please Him ... We will learn to listen to that so small voice from within ... And They will guide your thoughts, actions, and our hearts. This process is getting you ready for the most amazing journey we could ever aspire to travel... 

Into our Savior's arms... where the purest heart can be felt within our yearning souls...

It’s Him, It’s always Him!!! 

He holds all the answers!!! He has traveled this road before us !!  

And He knows we are forever a work in progress!!  And yet He loves us anyway!!! 

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

A PURE HEART WORSHIP SONG BY HILLSONG WORSHIP (LYRIC VIDEO)

"Eclipse of the light of heaven, eclipse of God - such indeed is the character of the historic hour through which the world is now passing" ~ Martin Buber

Meaning of a Lunar Eclipse: an eclipse in which the full moon passes partially or wholly through the umbra of the earth's shadow. 

There are 9 verses in the Bible that point us to the word Eclipse. 

This is such an amazing event. I wanted to capture the moment. However, I fell asleep early... and I did not prepare my camera to capture the beauty or significance of such an amazing moment in history... 

In my deepest state of slumber, I suddenly woke up ... at exactly 1:39 ... give or take a few sleepy moments… And as I became aware of my thoughts. I remembered the Lunar Eclipse... I grabbed my iPhone and my jacket in hopes that I could catch a glimpse of this once-in-a-lifetime event... 

As I stumbled to the back porch ... My eyes began to focus on the illumination I could see in the blackened sky directly in front of me... I was mesmerized for a few moments, and I felt God woke me up at this very moment so I could witness His lunar creation ... I attempted to capture the image with my iPhone... But I could not capture the true essence of its beauty. I knew as a photographer, I could get much closer to the moon and document this moment in time. I grabbed my work camera and zoom lens. I stood on the back porch of my home in Triune, TN. And as I brought the viewfinder up to my eye I witnessed the breathtaking view. I indeed knew I could capture this beautiful moment. 

The sky was dark but clear, the air was cold and crisp and the stars twinkled. As I stood watching the moon shadow dance with earth in the vastness of the universe that God created...

I stood there in my PJs, staring into the illuminated dark sky, as tears began to roll down my cheeks... 

I could only ask myself, what kind of mind creates such wonder??? 

It’s Him! It’s always Him... 

As the sun began to usher in the morning. My curious mind wanted to know more about this Godly phenomenon. I needed to understand the Heavenly connection. And then I found this… 

Did you know that some scientists and scholars have discovered, That there was a partial lunar eclipse that occurred on what we now know as April 3 in 33 A.D., the day some think Jesus died?

I do believe that scripture confirms that there is a heavenly connection to all events that happen in the Heavens and Earth. I feel these events tug at our souls... 

The question becomes do we sleep during these events...? Or are we awakened from our slumber… just in time to stand ready, gazing into the night sky. In hopes of witnessing prophecy being fulfilled!!!

And as we stand there in awe... we can only whisper… 

He's here... 

“The sun will be turned into darkness. And the moon into blood. Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. Joel 2:31

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

All My Tears

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” ― Ernest Hemingway

Mark (letters, words, or other symbols) on a surface, typically paper, with a pen, pencil, or similar implement.

There are 91 verses about writing in the Bible. 

Writing has never really been something that interested me... I became a photographer so I could capture the beauty of life with just one image...  And that seemed to satisfy my need for creative expression... 

But one day that all changed! It changed just as fast as the shutter speed on my camera could capture the moment.

I am still not sure why but God decided to give me a story to share that could not be fully shared without the heartfelt expressions of words... So, He freed my once bound heart ... and filled it with a LOVE that I could not contain!!! Tears began to flow, and I found my voice... and a pen. 

I started this amazing writing adventure by writing love letters to Him... I found a richness in Him that was not of this world. I am not truly sure how it happened, but I fell in love with Him?  I was not accustomed to sharing my spiritual heart on such a deep personal level... Where did these bottled-up feelings for God come from??   How do you express this heavenly relationship? Photography? Writing? Music??  He knew me better than I could ever know myself... He knew how to reach places in my soul that I never even knew existed ...I found that He was teaching me the art of the written word because He used this art to create a masterpiece of wonder!! Many call it the Bible! He has used this tool to communicate with His children for centuries...  

Why would He not touch my heart and plant the desire to write within me? Why would He not use writing as communication tool to talk to my heart ?? I am not sure if He meant for me to share this gift with the world or was it a personal gift to help me find my way back to Him.  Interesting enough I have found many of His children began the art of writing because of their own journey with Him. 

He knew!!! He knew that my heart could not keep these words bound in my now freed heart! I had this burning desire to tell the world how amazingly wonderful He is!!! There is no way I could keep the gift of Him a secret!!!  

Sharing Him brings such peace, joy and love to my soul... 

Whether it’s in an image of a delicate rose, a smile from a beautiful child... or any subject matter... I always see Him!!! All my writings point to Him!  

And well the music? I will admit I am not a musician, but I am a music lover ... And I have found He speaks to me through the lyrics and songs.... And when all 3 collide ... I am done!!  

He WOWs me like no other!! 

It’s Him! It’s always Him. 

I still write love letters to Him everyday ... many call them prayers... I call them Heartfelt. 

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So, you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man Proverbs 3:3-4 

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also, he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation21:5 

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35.

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

Good To Me - Audrey Assad

Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:44

The meaning of tell to communicate information, facts, or news to someone in spoken or written words. “I told her you were coming." 

There are 652 Verses About Tell from 48 Books. 

If you had the news in your heart that could change the world, would you want to share it!!! Would you want to shout it from the mountain tops? Or would you let fear dominate your mind and sit on such amazing news??? 

Well, I must share my heart!!  Don’t ask me why. It truly is way out of my comfort zone, but I have grown in so many ways these last three years... I found a love that rocked my world!! And He gave me the strength to discover who I am... And I am no longer afraid to shout His name from the mountain tops .. I no longer care what others will think??? I will tell you; I love Him out loud and proud... 

He has shared so many things with me!!  But I must open my heart and tell you some amazing news!!! 

He is coming home!!! 

Have you ever given it any thought that our world is also His home? The home He grew up in.... He was born here.  He grew up learning about what it’s like to live as a child, a teen, a man...He was baptized here. He performed miracles here. Many loved Him. Many misunderstood Him. Many feared His heavenly connection. He made many memories while walking here on earth. 

We have all experienced that warm going home feeling. We seem to get that feeling because our memories and people we have grown to love live there.

Can you image what a celebration it will be! It will be heard all over the world and beyond... Every media channel will share the news!!! Many believers are readying themselves for such an amazing home coming!!! Hearts will dance. Songs of praise will fill the air... and our souls will feel His presence and be filled with that heavenly love that can only come from knowing Him. ...It’s a love that our souls have longed for. 

Will you join me in organizing this amazing celebration?? Will you help me shout from the mountain top... Let’s gather our hearts, Let every soul ready themselves for the most amazing celebration!!! 

Tell the world that He is coming Home!!!  Keep your eyes fix 

to the sky for the most amazing phenomenon that man can ever witness!!  Whether you are earthly bound or heavenly found!!! Look just beyond the clouds!!! He is the brightest star in all the universe!! And He is coming sooner than we may think!!

It’s Him! It’s always Him!!!

Sing to him. Sing praises to him. Tell of all his marvelous works. 1 Chronicles 16:9

Revelation 1:7 (ESV) Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail^[a] on account of him. Even so. Amen.

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 1-3

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

I'm Late, I'm Late
for a very important date,
No time to say hello, goodbye,
I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.  - Disney Alice in Wonderland 

Meaning of late doing something or taking place after the expected, proper, or usual time.

We were not too late, we were able to find 75 verses about the word late. 

I do believe we all have a date with destiny.. We may not have it circled on our calendar. We may not have set a reminder on our phones... But life shows us that we all have an experation date.. 

I urge you don't be so caught up in the daily traffic of life that we suppress the urgency we feel tugging at our souls... 

Life is a beautiful but fragile gift... I urge you to stop for just a brief moment.. And think of tomorrow.. Will you be blessed to live another hour? Another day? Another year? Why do we always feel that we have enough time to get things right with God? Do you have the ability to see into your future? I have not run into one person that truly has such a talent!!! 

So why do we procrastinate on the most important decision of life? I am not here to point a finger. Trust me I have walked in the procrastinator’s shoes...I thank God that He made it clear to my heart that I needed Him...I feel so blessed that it was not too late ... 

He gave me a gift of time. Allowing me the opportunity to discover who He is... To fall in love with our Creator is the most amazing spiritual adventure we will ever have the privilege of experiencing in this lifetime. 

What an amazing gift!! Was I late!!! Yes!!! Did I listen to His voice ?? No!! He has been tugging at my heart for a long time.. But I was so busy with life I did not listen... It took an act of God to get my attention!! 

If I have one regret in life.. Is that I did not know Him sooner. It's to late for me too turn the clocks back and re-live my Life... But it's not too late for me to make up the time that I have lost not knowing Him.

I have found with Him in the center of my life... All life has become richer and has taken on a deeper meaning.

With His gentle guidance, we began to understand our true purpose. Our appreciation for life, love and the world around us seems to exponentially grow... We began to focus on a future that goes beyond this earthly existence...

I can not place the urgency in your heart...I can only pray that you find Him today... Because tomorrow may be to late.. Without Him in our life the word hope becomes flat,dull and void... 

He is our hope,  He is our greatest love.... He is our future... Why do we procrastinate on receiving the greatest gift we could ever receive in any lifetime? Earth bound or heavenly found? 

Don't be a procrastinator... Don't be late! Circle the time in your calendar.. Set the reminder in your phone to spend time with Him every day...  Tomorrow may be too late... 

Your destiny hangs in the balance!!! Invest in your spiritual future.. It's not too late..

It's Him, it's always Him.

But they who wait for 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 faint.Isaiah 40:31

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord' (Romans 6:23). Don't delay any longer, for you don't know how long you may have.

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube) 

Alabama Im In A Hurry To Get Things Done

“When a man is filled with the Word of God you cannot keep him still, If a man has got the Word, he must speak or die.” Dwight L. Moody

Why do I podcast... 

I have always been quiet and somewhat shy. However three years ago. With no prior religious background ... While driving I had a Holy Spirit Encounter... It rocked my world. I pulled over and basked in the moment...The love I encountered took my breath away and I was left with a burning desire to discover more about this beautiful LOVE that fell so gently in my soul.  

The funny thing was, I was not searching for God or anything spiritual at the time... I thought my life was on a nice track... I only felt a little stagnant since moving to our new location here in Tennessee. 

Luckily soon after my experience, I landed a job as a photographer with a company called LifeTouch. The position placed me in churches, of all denominations across various states. I was hungry to know more... I found discovering more of Him and sharing Him gave me such amazing joy...  

But I feel many did not understand my exuberance about this amazing LOVE and turned away... I felt the loss, but this love had such a magnetic pull on my heart...I could not stop learning more each day...

When Covid hit and I like many, found my employment terminated.

But the desire of sharing Him never left my soul... He kept tugging at my heart... He became as important as the air I breathe.  

Without even knowing how to begin...

I launched a blog the very day I terminated. I must thank you the reader for sharing this amazing love journey.

But that was not enough... I kept feeling Him stirring in my soul... He opened my soul to such beautiful wonder...  I felt driven to find my voice and share this story of love with anyone who would listen... 

Three months later I launched my first podcast episode... I have a small following... on the podcast but between the blog and podcast we have hit almost 33k views...It’s a small victory for a once shy personality...

But to have your soul blown open by God is priceless... 

The answer to why I stepped out of my comfort zone... 

It is His fault.. and I love Him for it... 

He helped me find me... and I fell in love with the most amazing soul I will ever have the privilege of knowing...

It has always been Him!

He WOWs me... 

He wants to wow you too... quiet your soul and listen to His voice... and you will embark on the most incredible journey of LIFE.

 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”John 20:21

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube

Dancing on the Waves (Official Lyric Video) - Bethel Music feat. We The Kingdom | Peace

Unraveling His mystery will open your heart to a beautiful world of wonder. (lg)

The meaning of How: is used to ask about the condition, quality, or extent of something.  How it works. 

How does He love us so?  How many times have we hidden from Him like Adam and Eve? Or we have made excuses for not spending time with Him.  

When He says, “Come and follow me.”  

We give every reason we can think of to go our own way. How did He pay such a high price for us?  How did He leave His heavenly home for us? How did He endure rejection by so many? He wants to set us apart for Himself.  We are to be His beloved ones.  He longs for us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind.How does this happen? How does He draw us to Him? 

He gives us the desire to seek Him.  The more we seek Him, the more we find how much He loves us. Seeking Him becomes our passion.  He said, seek me with your whole heart and you will find Me.  He puts signs and clues along our path.  

For me it was seeing the excitement of someone that spoke with boldness of His love.  It was a napkin in a store that said, love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind.  And it was a song that said, “the more I seek You the more I find You and the more I find You the more I love You.”

He loves us and longs for us to love Him.  So, look for clues from Him. Tell Him how much you love Him.  As you sit at His feet you will find that you have fallen in love with Him.  The One who created you and has loved you before you were ever born. He is more than our Savior.  He is our companion.  Our very life.  And our beloved. 

Even in times of unrest, how do we find rest?   He says, “Come unto me and you will find rest for your heart and soul.”

Stop and find that quiet place.  Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and listen. His peace and rest will come.  Listen.  Worship Him.  Sing praises in your heart to Him.  

All our HOWs will become a WOW!! 

O God, how extravagant is your cherishing love!  All mankind can find a hiding place under the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7 TPT

Photography & Design by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube)  

Sissel - I Don't Know How to Love Him