“Being kind means responding to the needs of others - and people can be kind, no matter how old or young we are.” Fred Rodgers...

My morning seemed to start normal, just like most days. But my quiet mood was soon interrupted by a call from my granddaughter… 

She could not contain her excitement!!!  She informed me that her mini donkey had had her baby. We had a new foal in our midst... She quickly told me we needed a name and wanted my help naming him. She wanted a name from the Bible. The Easter story was still fresh on our minds. So, this task placed me in the thought of that significant day when Jesus was crucified.   Thinking of that day along with this new little foal. I remembered where a lowly donkey played an essential role in Jesus' life. 

A donkey carried Mary to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Another carried Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod’s decree to kill all baby boys two years of age and under. And a foal of a donkey carried Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  Amazingly, this humble animal bears the markings of a cross on its back.  

Many names raced through my mind… And then my thoughts stopped on the name Simon… 

He helped Jesus on the horrific crucifixion day. It was not the disciples; they bailed. Even Peter said, “he did not know Jesus."

After the scourging and other torturous beatings that Jesus endured, He was so weak He could not carry the heavy cross.  He was clearly struggling and would not make it without help. The soldiers grabbed Simon and forced him to carry the cross.

They gave Simon no choice!!! 

I can only imagine that the blood covering Jesus stained all of Simon’s clothes, his arms, and his face. It was a life-changing encounter. One that I am sure Simon would never forget. Simon had an up-close experience with the Son of God, and his life would never be the same. 

This statement is supported by a verse in Romans 16:13. It states that both sons and Simon became passionate witnesses for Jesus. 

Simon… a humble little donkey whose ancestors played a significant role in our Savior's life. Our new little Simon carries the mark of the cross upon his back to remind us of the significance of that day….

“And they compelled one Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross.” Mark 15:21

“Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother…” Romans 16:13

Written by Joann Turnbull

Photography by MJ

Edited by Lori Garner 

Sinner's Prayer

Inspiring Music by (YouTube)

Little Donkey.

Occupy until I come!!!!

The word occupy means to take back and keep that which is His aggressively. 

Occupy is used 45 times in the Bible. 

He is coming again in the same form as He left. Two thousand years ago, He ascended into the clouds. Are you looking for His return?

While we wait, we are to occupy? What does that mean today? If you follow Jesus, what are you doing to occupy?

Are we taking a stand in this world? Do we have influence in government, entertainment, the education of our children, and the technology that every child and adult holds in their hands every day?

Do we complain there is no prayer in our schools?

If we are to occupy, take, or possess what is His, we must be bold. He has given us the talents and gifts we will need. He has given us His love, His power to speak, to write, and to share His wonderful message with the world. 

In the Old Testament, there was a man named Caleb. It says that when facing the enemy, he had a different spirit, and he followed God fully. That different spirit in Him said our God is mighty, and with Him, we can take the land, even the giants in it. 

We can also say this: The enemy is defeated. Our Father has given us the tools to occupy and stand strong. We can wield His sword and shine His light in the darkness that seems to be trying to take over our world. Let us join our hands and our hearts and hold fast our positions. I urge you to discover your talents and gifts and use every possible way to share Him!! 

He is our hope for a brighter tomorrow. 

“And he called his ten servants and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 

Luke 19:13 KJV

Image and Written by Joann Turnbull

Sinners Prayer

Digital creation by Lori Garner 

Inspiring Music by (YouTube) 

MORIAH - Stand Strong (Official Lyric Video)

“Consider your ways” were words spoken to some 42,000 people who had returned to Jerusalem in 538 BC after spending seventy years in captivity in Babylon.  

The king told them to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple that had been destroyed, and he gave them all the supplies necessary to do it.  

Fast forward 18 years.  The people had only the foundation of the Temple built.  But they had built themselves fine cedar-lined houses fit for a king.  They had plenty of food and drink but were still hungry and thirsty.  They had plenty of clothes but were not warm.  And plenty of wages, but they were put in a bag with holes. 

God said to them, “You, you have built your fine houses, and My house still lies in ruins.  Consider your ways!” 

What was the problem?  What did they need to consider?  Was it their priorities?   They had lived to please themselves instead of pleasing God. 

The Temple was the place where they could come to hear the words of God, read, they could pray, and feel His presence.  God wanted the people to have that beautiful fellowship with Him as they worshipped.  The younger generations could hear Him say, “Love Me with all your heart, soul, and might.”

The Scrolls containing His words had not been read, nor had they sung the Psalms together for seventy years.  

The words in this little two-chapter book in the Bible took place over 2,500 years ago.  What is it saying to us today?   He is still saying, “Consider your ways!  Examine your priorities.  He is calling you to come closer to Him.  To really get to know Him and love Him with all your whole heart, soul, and mind.”

The time is now, not next week or 18 years from now.  He is waiting with open arms.

Photography by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Bible collaboration & Written by - Joann Turnbull

Inspiring Music by (YouTube) 

Casting Crowns - The Change in Me, Only Jesus Visual Album

You walked among us so long ago... How is it that you have left your fingerprints on my Heart. The beauty of that moment is, I can recall it like it was yesterday (LG)  

The word recall means to bring a fact back into our mind that we have learned.  It is used 39 times in the Bible.

I celebrate the amazing mind that we have been given.  Often I will recall a song or verse that I have not heard in a long time and it will speak to my heart. 

Do some of you recall the love letters written to you with pen and ink?  You would find one in your mailbox and you would hurry inside to a safe place to read it in private.  You would quickly tear it open and even as you read ‘Dear..............’ your heart would begin to beat a little faster.  You might read it so many times you had it memorized. 

We have a greater Love Letter, the Bible, written to us.  Most people have at least one copy written in ink and many have it encased inside a slim phone that can be opened anytime you want.  

My question is:  Are we in love with the author who wrote this Love Letter to us?  

Do we meditate on it day and night?  Do we hide it in our hearts?  Do we have it so close that if our children have a question we can tell them what the Writer of this Love Letter says?  

In Joshua 1:8, Joshua was told to meditate upon the Word day and night.  There were few copies of the first five books of the Bible written 3000 years ago. He repeated these words over and over to himself so they became a part of him.  

Memorizing Scripture is a wonderful gift to give to God.  I had a pastor that memorized The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7.  There are 111 verses in this passage.  He would often be asked to repeat this from memory.  When he was over 100 years old he was still able to stand and recite all 111 verses.  What a sermon that was!!!

Now, what about us?  I must admit I don’t have that many of His words hidden in my heart.  But I would like more because it is a joy to remember them as I talk with Him.  Words from Him and words from His Love Letter to us.  The freshness at our recall washes over us as we feel Him in our spirit.  He loves to hear His words from us. 

Let’s memorize the following word as a gift to Him today. 

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength:  this is the first commandment.”  Mark 12:30

“Never mind searching for who you are. Search for the person you aspire to be.”-Robert Brault...

Do we really know our identity?  How would you describe yourself?  How do others see you?  How does God see you?  

For years we may not understand our identity.  Or we may know it and refuse to be who we really are.  Because of our age, either young or old, we do not speak up. 

 I want to share two stories I recently heard. 

At the end of WW2, there were many orphans in Europe.  They did not know their identity.  One day a Jewish rabbi came to see them. He began speaking the Jewish prayer that is repeated twice a day by Jewish families.  As he spoke many of the orphans were in tears as they remembered these words spoken to them by their now-dead parents.  “Hear O Israel the Lord is One God, love Him with all your heart and soul and might.”  These words from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 identified who they were.  

The other story was from a friend that had moved to a new location and she was missing people who would talk freely about Him. What she said really spoke to my heart.  She said maybe it is me. I have not been who I really am.   

Do we act, think or speak as who we really are?

If you are a believer the Lord will show Himself in our actions, and we will speak about Him.  He is our Redeemer, our Protector, our peace, our King, the Lover of our souls, our Savior, our Confidant, our Beloved and so much more. 

We should be so excited about Him that we share our love for Him every chance we get. This was a lesson for me. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul and might”. Deuteronomy 6:5 hit me right between my eyes over the last two years. Everywhere I went I saw this verse.  On paper napkins and most recently in an estate sale.  There were the words printed on parchment paper hanging on the wall of the house. I could tell it had been there a long time. I could not leave it there. I bought it brought it home and painted the old frame.  It now hangs on my wall as a constant reminder of His love for me and what He wants from me. 

Stop and think!

Do we love Him more than anything or anyone? Do we seek Him with all our hearts?   It is the first great commandment.  It is repeated by Jesus three times in the Gospels.  

Will we be identified by this verse?

“Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul, and might.  And teach it to our children and grandchildren......”

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

inspiring Music by (youtube)

Lyrics~ The Great Pretender-Platters

A wonderful gift may not be wrapped as you expect. - Jonathan Lockwood Huie...

The word expectation is in the Bible 37 times. 

The meaning of expectation is to look forward to what will come. 

That day had finally come for one elderly man. His day of expectation had come. He was led by the Spirit to be in the Temple. 

Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to the Temple to dedicate Him forty days after His birth. As they walked into the Temple suddenly an elderly man came up to them.  He took the child Jesus and cradled him in his arms. As he held Him I can imagine the tears of joy rolling down his wrinkled face. 

Who was this old man?  And why did he take the baby from Mary’s arms? Let’s look and see.  There is always a rich nugget that our Father wants us to learn.

His name was Simeon.  He was a good man, a lover of God who kept himself pure, and he was a listener of the Spirit.  Actually, the meaning of His name is one who listens. 

Simeon believed that the Messiah, the Encourager of Israel would soon appear.  The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he saw the Messiah. 

At the very moment Mary and Joseph arrived in the temple with Baby Jesus, the Holy Spirit led Simeon to them.  Simeon had waited so long for this moment.  

As he held the Baby close in his arms he began to speak these words, “Lord, I am your loving servant and I have seen today with my eyes the Savior You have sent to the world to be a Light, and an Encourager to all.” 

Mary and Joseph were amazed at what Simeon was saying about their Child. The promise of His coming was revealed that day to Simeon.  He was overcome with joy. 

The presence of God had returned to the Temple as Baby.  The One who would feed thousands, the One who would speak with authority, and the One who was the fulfillment of every commandment. 

The One we would love with all our heart, soul, and mind.  All He would ask us to do was to love Him and follow Him.  That beautiful Lamb of God.  

He was revealed to shepherds, wise men, and an elderly listener and lover of God named Simeon.   But there is one more that saw Him that day, but that story will have to wait. 

With my own eyes I have seen your Word, the Savior You sent into the world. He will be a glory for the people of Israel, and the Revelation-Light for all people everywhere. Luke 2:31-32

Written by Joann Turnbull 

Sinners Prayer - link by Lori Garner 

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

 Photo by Nasimul Islam from Pexels

Expectation (feat. Joshua Miller)

What is this magnetic pull you have on my heart? What is this love I feel so deep in my soul?? I yearn to hear you whisper my name forevermore you are my beloved and I am yours. 

Beloved is a quaint and lovely name for someone. 

It is used 60 times in the Bible. 

We have lost this name over the years in the church.  We have gone after other things. How to start a small group.  A better way to save souls.  The best way to study the Bible. How to draw people into a beautiful Church. 

All this time we should have been seeking Him. The one who loves us so.  Seek me and find me if you seek me with all your heart.  When He comes, he draws all men to Him? His beauty and love open the door for His presence among us.  

Repent of seeking everything but the one who is worthy to be sought.  The Beloved who comes when we call.  The one who will shower down on you all the love you have ever wanted.  He longs for us.  His presence above all else will set our soul on fire.  He will envelop you in His arms.  He will hold you close.  He will never leave you. 

Seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.   Do not turn aside from this until you find Him.  You will never be alone.  All you will need to do once you have found Him is to just get quiet for a moment and say, Jesus, I love you.  He is there so willing to whisper to you how much He loves you and desires you. 

He delights in you and one glance in your loving eyes, and He is undone.  His love for us is so strong.  Yes, in His presence is where we want to be.  It is where we belonged since we were a child.  Loving Him. 

It has always been Him!  

Written by Joann Turnbull 

Photo by Ana Paula Lima from Pexels

Sinners Prayer

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

EVERYTHING // Lauren Daigle (cover)

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

“God’s real desire, in addition to displaying His glory, is to claim your heart and the hearts of those you love.” - Priscilla Shirer...

Fervent means to be hot, to boil, to show great warmth and feeling, the intensity of spirit.

Fervent is used 12 times in the Bible. 

Some often think that the Bible is a dry and cold book. But it is filled with emotions of every kind. It is not dry history.  It is teeming with the feelings and emotions of God and His children. 

We are made in the image of God. In us are all the 5 senses, as well as the sense of the Spirit living in us.  God is living, feeling, and full of emotions. 

We see in Luke 10 that Jesus sent out 70 disciples to go to every town and tell them that God’s kingdom had arrived and to heal the sick.  When they came back to report to Jesus, they were full of joy and excitement.  

In that hour it says that Jesus was overjoyed and rejoiced greatly(fervently) in the Holy Spirit.  The emotions He had were boiling over and fervent with excitement. Everywhere they had been there was a harvest of souls for the kingdom. 

What causes the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to be fervent?   What makes Them full of joy?  The harvest of souls!!!  

He has called us to share His love, His message to everyone.  May our soul be overflowing as we Talk about Him with fervency.

In another instance, in the Bible, we are called to be fervent in prayer.  Our prayers should be burning within us as we talk with Him.  He hears our cries.  He knows our hearts. 

Let us not be lukewarm or cold, but hot in our walk with Him.  And be fervent every day as we respond to His love.  Loving Him with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.  212 degrees!!

fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”
Romans 12:11-12 KJV

Photography Lori Garner Written by Joann Turnbull

Sinners Prayer 

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Katy Perry - Firework (Lyrics)

The heavens proclaim the glory of God...night after night they make him known (Psalm 19:1,2).

At Even Ere the Sun Was Set

As the sun is setting in the evening sky.  The colors are bright orange and red. Spectacular visions to our eyes. How can He show such rare beauty?  It is His gift of love for us to behold. 

Father, though the evening of this world is here, we come with the hurt, the sick, the prisoners, and all who need You.  

Jesus - At evening they brought all the sick to You.  You took all pain and sickness to the cross as well as man’s sin. With every blow, wound, bruise, and touch of the spear you took it all.  And at the end, You said “Father forgive them.”  The thunder sounded in the darkness and the earth shook as You breathed your last breath and said, “It is finished”.  

It was evening.  

As watchers of this scene went home. So sad.  They did not know that Jesus had fulfilled His assignment, the Lamb of God had been slain. He was slain for you and me.  The redeeming price had been paid.  The evening sacrifice had been made. 

Soon the evening and darkness would turn to dawn.  He was raised by our Holy Spirit. And early that morning on the third day He appeared.  They had last seen Him in the evening on the cross. 

Now He is alive and He is still healing the hurt, the lost, and those without hope.  He says come,  In this evening of time, His touch is the same as in ancient times.  Come to the One who loves you with eternal love.  Love this One who gave His all.  Love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. 

Psalm 113:3  From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised. 

Psalm 65:8 They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs: You make the dawn and the sunsets shout for joy. 

Photography by Lori Garner 

Written by Joann Turnbull 

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube) 

have i told you lately that i love you - van morrison

If you’ve got pain, He’s a Pain Taker, If you feel lost, He’s a Way Maker.If you need freedom or saving, He’s a Prison-Shaking Savior. If you’ve got chains, He’s a Chain Breaker. Zach Williams..

Written by: Joann Turnbull 

When this word captured me. I could not move. I thought I was forever bound…Is there a price on life?  Do we get bogged down? Are our burdens weighing us down… Does our heart get chained? Do we forget how to live, how to love, and even how to breathe? 

As I felt this heaviness in my soul my mind went here. 

Life can be bound by bitterness, fear, unforgiveness, hurt, or fear of what others might think.  If we are held down by these chains we will not move either. We will just stay in that spot.  

There is a region of the Atlantic Ocean near the equator that has no wind, current or movement, and sudden storms.  It is called Doldrums.  Sailors feared this spot.  They could be there for days or months.  If they were trapped in the Doldrums their ship could not get out.  Their sails needed the wind.  

We can stay chained in the doldrums spiritually for many reasons.  We can stay trapped.  Our life will become dull, inactive, sad, and without enthusiasm.

How does the ship get out of the Doldrums?  Eventually, the wind will begin to blow.  But sometimes not before the crew is down to almost no rations. The wind that finally hits the sails with such power makes the sails come alive and the ship starts moving.  And it is no longer trapped in that dead spot.  

What about us?   Do we want to stay in the doldrums of life?  Chained down by fear, unforgiveness, bitterness, fear of what man will think of us.   Ask the Holy Spirit to bring His wind into your life. You will come alive with His mighty wind.   Where you were once bound you are now set free from those negative emotions and thoughts.  We become alive with His love.   

So don’t start the new year hanging on to negative thoughts and emotions. They were all about self anyway.  This life we are living is not about us.   It is about Him.  Seek Him with all your heart.  Love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind.  You will be amazed when you are set free.  You are set free to love Him and others.  And you will want to share His love.  Life with Him in control is full of joy and excitement.  You want to dance and sing as you realize you are free. He is the lover of your soul. Break the chains of a bogged down life. He will remind you how to live, How to love and He will free you to breathe again…

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

Written by Joann Turnbull 

Photo by Joey Kyber from Pexels

Inspiring Music by 

Zach Williams - Survivor (Lyric Video)

Written by Joann Turnbull 

How many can look back to your years in Middle School and remember a lesson you had?  This happened to me this week.  I never thought I would use it years later.   This is a story of four words.   They are what we call “Helping Verbs”.   They are: SHALL, WILL, SHOULD, WOULD

There is a verse in the Bible that says, “You shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul, and mind”.  The word SHALL LOVE the Lord is used.

Any of these four words could have been used in this verse.  Let’s look at each word and what it could mean. 

WOULD. I would love Him, but I was too busy making money or pursuing a hobby so I did not make this my priority. 

SHOULD.  I should love Him, but I just kept putting it off. Other things kept getting in my way. I thought I will do that tomorrow. 

WILL.  Will is that good word of intention.  Will is that future tense.  I will love Him.  I really want to.  But sometimes it is never accomplished until it might be too late. 

SHALL.  I shall love Him.  What is different about this word?  Shall is the strongest helping verb of the four. Shall is helping the word LOVE.  And LOVE is the most beautiful verb in the English language.  Shall means something that is done with great determination and desire. It opens the door to the verb it is helping. 

I suddenly became aware of this verse in Matthew 22:37.  I began to see it everywhere.  Even on cocktail napkins in a store.   So I asked a friend how do you say this verse in Hebrew.  She said it is called the Shema and we say it twice a day.  Surprise!!  

Then I found it is the FIRST great commandment and Jesus repeats it in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  I was astounded! Why did I not see this before now?   

I found in the past that sometimes I “would” love Him but.....  other times I “should” love Him but......   and sometimes it was I “will” love Him but.......    You can fill in the excuses. 

To say I SHALL LOVE HIM with all my heart, soul and mind sent me on a quest. I started to listen to some songs with lyrics like, “The More I Seek Him, the more I find Him, the more I find Him the more I love Him”.  The music spoke to my heart. 

To say “I shall love Him with all my heart, soul, and mind.” is a game-changer.  It means you love Him more than anything else or anyone else or yourself.  You love Him with a great desire, passion, and determination.  You just whisper His name and your heart fills with His love. 

Let’s get rid of should, would, and will.   Let’s now say, I SHALL LOVE HIM WITH ALL MY HEART, SOUL, AND Mind.  Once you do there is no turning back.  You don’t want to.  This commitment just gets stronger every day. You feel His love overflowing in you.  Which is for now and forever!!

So I hope you look at this verse and decide which of the four words best describes your response to Him. 

“And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’”Matthew 22:37 NASB:

And you shall search seek me, and find me when you shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Photography Lori Garner

Written by Joann Turnbull 

Bible Verses from KJV, NASB / Sinner's Prayer

Inspiring music from YouTube 

Kari Jobe, The More I seek you