“Heaven’s kingdom realm is also like a jewel merchant in search of rare pearls. When he discovered one very precious and exquisite pearl, he immediately gave up all he had in exchange for it.” Matthew 13:44 TPT.

Meaning of closet: tall recess or wardrobe with a door, used for storage:  used to refer to a state of secrecy or concealment,l
shut (someone) away, especially in private conference 

The word closet is in the Bible approximately 6 times. 

Closet is such an obscure word to study in the Bible. It is not a word that is considered a normal word for a Bible word study... But what is normal?? 

I have found that when God is involved nothing is normal each one of us has a unique experience with Him... 

But as I studied this word,  I immediately thought of my own newly cleaned-out closet... All the things that did not matter are no longer hidden in the darkness they have found new homes... But my closet still seemed dark. I could barely see what treasures I had kept? So we installed lights that turn on automatically ... I stood at the door like a wide-eyed child... And opened the door slowly ... and with great anticipation, I peeked in and watched the light spill in, and with extreme delight, I could see... Colors, treasures, everything I had collected was no longer in the dark. I was filled with excitement when I realized the solution was so simple.

But what does this illustration have to do with this Bible word study... 

How many of us hide in our closets ??? Many of these closets are physical some are only in our minds... How many of us feel we have been consumed in this darkness? How many of us are so scared that we don’t know how to live??? Do we hide in this darkness we have created? Is life passing us by... So many beautiful moments were lost. Are you frozen due to fear... This darkness can cripple the heart and choke out the soul...

When I look back at my life, I now see I was in the closet of my mind... I learned to hide the hidden treasures God had planned in my soul... I am not sure what happened... Did I value what others would think way too much? Society had outlined what is acceptable? But who has the right to say what's normal?  

One day I heard God call my name... It’s a voice that I had been hearing but I did not recognize it, so I did not respond. I lacked understanding... I did not know that He was trying to save me from my darkness. This darkness in my mind had become my safe zone... 

But thank God one day I decided to listen to His voice and crack open the door... I grabbed the door handle and inhaled with a deep deliberate breath... And pulled ... And there I saw it. I felt it.. it ran through every fiber of my being... And at that moment I fell in love with this beautiful light.  I was mesmerized there was no turning back ... This light began to spill in brighter and brighter each God-given day... And with its help, I started cleaning out the closet of my mind... I felt lighter, I felt a freedom that I had not felt since I was a child... I could finally breathe.  As I cleaned out this closet I made room to fill it with the love this amazing light brought to my life. This light opened my soul, my heart, and my life... The darkness had lost its home... This light contains an unexplainable love and it fills me with an excitement that I find so difficult to contain... This light seemed to spill out from me where ever I travel. 

What is this light? How did it speak to my soul? How did it save me from the darkness of my mind?? It is a beautiful and sometimes painful process but I have grown to love this light with every beat of my newfound heart !!! It warms my very existence... It has freed my mind and makes my unbound soul feel the beauty of life... 

Let me introduce Him... 

He is the most amazing soul I have ever grown to know... He is the brightest star to ever shine... He offers love, not of this world ... He is the handsome bridegroom that is waiting for His bride... Some call Him Jesus, Some call Him Yeshua, Some call Him Savior. 

I stand in His light raise my hands to the sky and call Him mine... 

It’s Him, It’s always Him...  He calls me His beloved ... can you guess who I have become ??? 

“Let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber and the bride out of her closet” Joel 2:16 

So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. John 10:7

So, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Matthew 24:33

And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut Matthew 25:10

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube

Out of the Darkness

)

The meaning of judge - to form an opinion or conclusion about something or someone.

The word “judge ” seems to have been used 45 times in the “authorized” KJV of the Bible. 

Who can honestly say without reproach that they have never been guilty of judging others?? 

This is such an ugly human trait. Do we become the judge and jury and throw that discerning eye and walk away too fast?? 

I don’t understand how we can not be more accepting of others. We are only here on this planet for such a short time... We should attempt to look past the outward appearance and see the rawness of a soul and maybe what you think you saw, is nothing like envisioned in your mind. 

Does our judgment come from fear of the unknown? Or is it due to our own inadequacies? Are we so full of ourselves that there is no room in our hearts for anyone that does not meet our standards ??? 

This is such a sad thought! 

This type of behavior can wound hearts! It can make them bleed.. and leave scars for a lifetime... I believe the one judging is truly missing out on the fullness of this life. 

There are times in our lives that we feel like we do not belong and we can feel lonely... Those heartfelt feelings can raise many of our insecurities... Looking to others to validate our worth is such a critical mistake... 

I do believe our deepest desire is to belong to something bigger than ourselves. But are we limiting ourselves to be earthly bound? Or are we reaching for something beyond this life?

There are times I have been on the side of the one being Judged. I feel many may judge my outward appearance of an inward love that is so beautiful and yet so hard to contain.  

And when I have been made to feel different is when I may withdraw and look like I am detached from this life. “Distant” 

But do not fooled by my silence. I have found solace in the loving arms of my Savior. He offers no judgment. He accepts me where I am at that beautiful moment in time. I look to Him for my validation. 

I have witnessed and felt His love.  His love is the most important love our soul should ever crave... It fills every void. It heals every scar. It is timeless and yet so difficult to describe. 

It's been my experience that our Savior speaks of love and acceptance. I ask Him often to teach me of His great love!! I want to learn to love with this type of love!! How, just how does He do it !! 

It’s His type of love that we should be desiring. It’s a love that is unconditional. It does not judge. It’s kind and forgiving. It has no boundaries...  

So the next time you feel the urge to judge ... look in the mirror and ask yourself am I full of myself? Or is there room in my heart to love... 

If you do not know the answer turn to the greatest teacher of life and love. It’s Him! 

Don’t judge something you do not understand.. embrace the differences.  You might surprise yourself and learn the most beautiful lesson of life!! 

To love like!!  HIM!!

It’s always been Him! 

He has only one request. That you love God with all your heart and soul and mind.

1 John 4:8 - But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:16 - We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.  

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37 -42 

A safe place to land lyrics Sara Bareilles ft John Legend

When you know how much God is in love with you, then you can only live your life radiating that love. —Mother Teresa

The concept of Crazy Love highlights God's incomprehensible love for humanity, and our love for Him should be equally as incomprehensible and radical in its sacrifice for Christ.

Wow, how do we explain this kind of love???

As we delve into the boundless ocean of His Crazy Love, we find ourselves on a journey of ultimate self-discovery and sweet intimacy with our first love. 

His love defies the boundaries of human comprehension, touching the depths of our souls and inspiring us to soar to greater heights.  Only when we abandon our humanness and give ourselves entirely to Him can we truly love Him with the intensity and commitment He craves! 

Feeling His divine love is just the start of an incredible adventure that will transform you in ways you never dreamed of. A taste of His Holy presence makes you long for Him with all your heart and soul. It’s such an enlightening spiritual dance. It brings wonderment, excitement, and renewal, culminating in a complete surrender and deep spiritual connection with His Divine majestic beauty.

His love ignites our hearts and frees our souls to explore the vastness and wonder of who He truly is!  As we continually look to discover more, He will reveal the hidden clues that He so graciously left behind… His words will take residence in your heart and speak love to your soul.  He will never give up. His ultimate desire is to guide us home, back into His loving arms…

Seeking and immersing ourselves in the Oneness of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is testimony of His sacrificial love and truly a gift from Heaven! To know Him on such an intimate level becomes as essential as the air we breathe.

The knowledge gained during this experience produces trust and love for Him and Him alone …

Sometimes, I pause and reflect on my journey and the mystery of how I fell in love with Him, and many times, I am still baffled… 

Just how did it happen? To cherish Him so much defies what my mind can comprehend. Yet, loving Him with such heartfelt intensity feels so soulfully natural... 

I will admit it is a life-altering experience. Embarking on this transformative journey of discovery and building an unshakeable trust and love for Him will forever alter your life. 

Sometimes, you may feel earthbound by our human existence, but our soul has been given the keys to a new spiritual future with HIM... So, if you see me gazing towards the heavens, you will know my soul is communicating with the One who LOVEs me beyond my human understanding.  

Call it crazy?

I find it crazy that so many people turn away! Who doesn't need or crave the kind of love that He offers? It's unwavering, nonjudgmental, and compassionate, and that is only the beginning. 

Crazy love??? 

I often wonder, “To be loved intimately by man, was and is this His sole reason for creating human life???” 

Our journey to intimately know Him becomes a brilliant light and inspiring testimony for others who have yet to experience HIS kind of Crazy love!!! 

It’s Him! It’s always been and will always be Him! 

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. John 3:16 

Art & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull

Inspiring Music: YouTube

Falling In Love - Phil Wickham - Lyric Video

The choices we make day after day determine if we are pursuing God.   A.W. Tozer...

Did you ever wonder about why you were born?  How do you live on this fragile place called Earth?  How many years will you live on this earth?  And when you breathe your last breath, where will you go? 

Life is not an empty dream.  There is One who loves you deeply. When I say His name, you might say He is not the one who lived and died for me.  But He is the one Who created the Earth, the Sun, and the Stars for man to dwell here. 

The One who did this longed to share His love. So, He created a man in His image and kissed him with the breath of life. All of humankind came from this man and woman, including you and me.

If you are reading this, I don’t know who you are, but you live on this earth just like me. 

So, what do we do about this life we have been given? Many years ago, I had this same thought, and not by chance, someone told me about Jesus. 

They did not tell me much, but enough to make me want to know more about Him. So began my pursuit.  

I began to read about this one called Jesus.  I discovered that I did not have to do good things to have life forever.  He came to give me eternal life. 

I will not say more now.  

The One who created all of life is in pursuit of you.  He will not stop His pursuit until you receive Him. 

Who is this One who loves you?  This One who walked this earth 2000 years ago.  Seek Him!  

“To as many as receive Jesus, to them gave He, power to become the son or daughter of God….”  John 1:12.

Photography & Written by Joann Turnbull

Sinners Prayer

Carrie Underwood - I Surrender All (Official Audio Video)

Spirit of God, You are my primary teacher of God’s Word; I yield my heart and mind, my soul and spirit, my will and imagination to You as I immerse myself in the Word during these dedicated moments. Teach me in Jesus’ name, Amen. 

The meaning of immersing oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest.

How and what drives us to immerse ourselves in any particular person, place, or thing??? 

There are many things in our world that people could immerse themselves in! work, entertainment, sports—the list could be so long that we would never be able to discuss them all…  

So, Let me close my eyes, immerse myself in thought, and see where this word leads me. 

Will I be whisked away for just a moment, or will my heart yearn never to return? Or will my thoughts take me to where my soul wants to travel?  

Of course, I traveled to my safe place… it's Him… Immersed in the heavenly realms, we can escape the mundane and travel to a place of complete peace, love, and total surrender… 

I will be bold and ask you… have you ever immersed yourself in Him, His words, His grace, His forgiveness, His compassion, His undying love?

When we take the time to worship and immerse ourselves in His presence for any length of time, the outside world will become dim… and we will feel a warm, loving light that will fill our hearts and refresh our souls….. it’s like nothing else in our world… 

Being Immersed in Him is more than just a temporary escape - it's a path to lasting change and spiritual oneness with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit!

Immersed ….. 💦

It’s Him! It’s always Him!!

Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

Art & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull

Inspiring Music: YouTube

Looking Through His Eyes

The meaning of the word Bride betrothed or newly married woman. 

I am unsure why I landed on this word… other than “It’s Him.” Last week, I felt the pulling in my soul to paint a female face. 

I kept hearing paint a female... 

I wrestled with this thought and could not decide how or who to paint… and then I experienced His presence… 

“This is my bride… do you see her? Paint with your heart and let the colors flow…  feel her with your soul” … as I added color, she began to appear… 

I shared the result when I posted the word challenge… little did I know that was not the end…. 

For what is a Bride without her love… In the Bible, the church is described as the Bride… When we hear this, we think of a typical church building filled with people of all ages and stages of believing. But the Bride goes oh so much deeper… The Bride is dressed in white to signify purity… is our heart pure enough to offer it to Christ? The Bride is in love with her betrothed, and the glow of this love radiates from within.  You can see it on her face, her smile, and the joy she exudes… Do we radiate His light and happiness for others to witness???  

The Bride is committed to fulfilling her destiny of becoming one with her Groom… She vows to love Him until death do they part… With Jesus, there is no death. This union goes further than any human mind can fully understand. It’s a spiritual journey and commitment that will fill our hearts and souls with a love that transcends all space and time. It’s a love bond that has drawn us to Him since the beginning of time… 

To be drawn into the sea of His love and set apart as His Bride is a miracle beyond what we can fully understand… 

It’s Him! It will always be Him! 

The yearning of Christ to be reunited with His Bride is a date with destiny. Only the Father knows the day and the hour. We can only prepare ourselves and wait with great anticipation for our (groom) King to return…

That at that time the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord Philippians 2:10-11

Art & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull

Inspiring Music: YouTube

Audra Lynn - 13 - Adorned

“The most holy and necessary practice in our spiritual life is the presence of God. That means finding constant pleasure in His divine company, speaking humbly and lovingly with him in all seasons, at every moment, without limiting the conversation in any way." - Brother Lawrence.

Meaning of feeler: an animal organ such as an antenna or palp used to test things by touch.

The term I'm referring to here is the gift of discerning spirits described in 1 Corinthians 12:10.

What is this mysterious word? It can not be seen with the naked eye. It cannot be heard by the human ear? It can not be held in the palm of our hand?? Is it just a human emotion?  Feelings that can be felt deep within our souls!! Feelings so strong that the human body reacts to this stimulation? Goosebumps and chills up your spine, sweaty palms, trembling, body temperature may even rise…  

It is a spiritual connection with God, a soulful intimacy, and our chance to see Him with our spiritual eyes… and sense Him deep in our souls. He is that awe-struck moment in time. 

Many grow a loving relationship with our Creator by becoming in tune with this heavenly language of love. 

We feel His subtle but powerful presence, sense His beauty within our hearts, and are moved to tears of adoration… for He alone is the greatest love we will ever know... This rush of emotion can cause our human bodies to manifest many outward changes…as our souls whisk us away to a higher plane of love beyond this world… 

There are no earthly words to describe the spiritual experience.  Being a feeler is definitely an emotional, soulful experience … When the unexplainable finds its way into your heart, there is a soul connection with the One that has created all things… We are but a speck of brilliant dust among many of His stars… 

We are an amazing part of our Heavenly Father's greater plan… To feel Him is a gift of the soul  … But to Love Him is a beautiful gift of the heart… He takes my breath away… 

I thought of buying a tee shirt and staking a claim that says “ I am a feeler” But with reservation, I felt it could get me in trouble with the ones who do not understand…(LOL) so for now it’s written across my heart 

“I am a feeler” and I will chase My King until my last dying breath”

Signed

The Feeler 

Psalms 16:11 TPT

Because of you, I know the path of life, as I taste the fullness of joy in your presence. At your right side, I experience divine pleasures forevermore!

Close your eyes and listen to this song and wait on HIM! 

Photography, Art & Written by Lori Garner  

Inspiring Music: YouTube