It's on the mountain that God reveals to us our weaknesses and insecurities. We find in our relationship with him a strength we didn't know existed.  - Jarrett Stephens...

Meaning of mountain - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level.

Mountain formation refers to the geological processes that underlie the formation of mountains. These processes are associated with large-scale movements of the Earth's crust.

The word mountain is referred to 55 times in the Bible. 

When we look at the word mountain we can stand at the foothills or rise to the beautiful peaks.  

There have been times I have stood at the foothills and looked up to what I felt were impossible odds. I have cried and asked my Heavenly Father to remove this mountain before me!! I have opened my eyes and I thought nothing changed... I felt alone, unsettled, and felt like my prayers went unanswered. 

But as I traveled this path of life. I knew “I” would need to prepare myself with everything I could think of for this difficult climb. Ropes, climbing shoes, gear... And with an uncertain heart, I began my journey living life one day at a time.  As difficult as some of the terrains became to overcome I found comfort, the strength I did not know even existed. There were days that were without challenges smooth and unencumbered. But then there were treacherous places that I wanted to quit, throw in the towel..and just withdraw from my very existence. 

But like most I too have been guilty,  in final desperation, we seem to cry out to our Heavenly Father help me I need you !!! 

Only to realize at that moment He has been traveling beside us every step of the way.  He has danced with us through the beautiful light and through the darkness of despair. 

He held us tighter when we began to slip and lose our grip... and as He holds us we can hear “Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you” ( Deuteronomy 31:6). 

In my journey, I have stood at the foothills and traveled to the mountain peaks... I find that He is always at my side. there are times I think .. where are you? You are so distant! He was always there ... I am sad to admit it was me who moved. 

But to my surprise I found that He is my constant, He is my rock at the foothills and the wind beneath my wings at the mountain peaks. 

So grateful that He plans on never letting me go...I have been on a spiritual climb each and every day...So much to see, So much to hear, So much life to live... With Him, mountains are a beautiful path to the heavens gate.   Where we can feel Him in the wind... See Him in the beauty of the open sky ... and hear Him whisper to our soul.

It’s Him, it’s always Him 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1-2 NIV

 Photo design & Written by Lori Garner

Bible Verses From KJV, Easy  /  Sinners prayer                                                                                       

Inspiring Music by Jaci Velasquez - Imagine Me Without You (with Lyrics)

“Outer beauty pleases the EYE. Inner beauty captivates the HEART.” – Mandy Hale

The meaning of others one (such as another person) that is psychologically differentiated from the self

Oh my goodness!  Google can not find this word in the Bible word count search.  We may have to find another way to find a word count on the word "other."

I am a firm believer that how we treat others is a direct reflection of who we truly are... Do we love enough? Do we show kindness enough? Do we forgive enough? Do we take a moment to truly understand? Or do we rush by without a second thought? 

History has proven that when life gets hard people show their true colors!! Do we silently hold the troubled hand of another wounded heart? Do we wipe the tears of a troubled soul? Or do we callously turn and RUN ... ??? I do believe Covid has brought out the best and yes the worst in people!! 

I say it’s time to search our hearts and look in the mirror. Who is it that you see?  If you have not taken the time to help others. To love others to forgive others ... Then most likely your reflection will only reflect the shell of the darkness you hide deep inside. 

To live life so consumed with self is a path of self-destruction. You may think not !! But have you thought beyond this life? 

Be kind, Be thoughtful of others, love beyond measure!! Forgive others... He will fill you with abundance! He will fill you with peace! He will fill you with love.. and as you look in the mirror you will see change, you will see growth, you will see the beauty that lies deep within. 

FIND HIM. LOVE HIM. AND BE EVERYTHING HE KNOWS ARE MEANT TO BE.  It’s Him !!! 

It’s Him! It’s always Him 

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. JOHN 13:34

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Bible Verses From KJV, Easy  /  Sinners prayer 

Inspiring Music: 

Eren AB - Beauty Lies With You (Lyrics)

Meaning of decide - come to a resolution in the mind as a result of consideration:

The word decide is in the Bible approximately 59 times.

Did you know that some sources suggest that the average person makes approx 35,000 choices per day? 

Today I have a decision to make, what word should we study today? So many words so little time? Have you ever in your lifetime stood at the crossroad to indecision?? So many decisions to make? how do we even cope??? 

Are you the one that cast caution to the wind?? Or do you methodically study all the pieces to the puzzle and then make your move? I wonder hmm do we dare see what the Bible has to say?? 

Well, I decided to start here 1 Samuel 14:7 ”His armor-bearer responded, “Do what is in your heart. You choose. I’m right here with you whatever you decide.”

I have found that our Father gives us the choice to believe in Him.. He gives us the choice to follow His Son, Jesus. And He gives us the choice to embrace the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Hmm, decisions, decisions. Some dance around Him but can not decide to love Him with all their heart and soul. Some only give Him a fragment of their heart but keep a stronghold in it, so they can quickly rip it back if the fire gets a little hot. A few jump in with vigor, and fall in love. They fall so hard that it affects change, it affects the very nature of the person. It opens their soul to a beauty and a love beyond our world. And they embark on an amazing journey of discovery. 

And as this beautiful love story unfolds you began to find your way and the beauty within will began to show. A softer more caring heart will be merge. But it's you that has to decide. Personally, the decision to follow Him should be a no-brainer.. But He wants us to willingly come... To willingly follow Him. And to be willing to love Him with of your heart and soul!! 

Its Him. It's always Him.

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27:14

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Bible Verses From KJV, Easy  /  Sinners prayer 

Inspiring Music: You Know Me - Steffany Gretzinger | Bethel Music Worship

Jesus, when you tell us to pray and be patient.  I ask, How do you measure time?  Time to you is eternity?  I still think of time by earth standards. I can not wrap my head around eternity.

Are we patient enough to wait for Jesus? Or do we give up too soon? 

“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Romans 8:25 KJV

“This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44).

Meaning of yoke -  A harness used by oxen and other animals to ease the work of hauling a load. It was also meant as a designation of servitude and carrying the burden of a task or mission. The Yoke of Jesus When Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you" (Matthew 11:29), He meant that we are to submit ourselves to Him every day in every way. 

There are approximately 49 verses in the Bible that refer to the word yoke. 

It’s amazing to me how a simple wooden ox harness could teach a lesson that could save us so much confusion unrest and indecision. To be yoked metaphorically to a like-minded person is a blessing... but to be yoked to a person or thing or vice that pulls us into an undesirable direction can be extremely dangerous. And cause our equilibrium to go into tilt mode. When this word tried to attach itself to my mind I resisted... But as things became heavy I decided to move on with my heart. 

When we strive for peace in our crazy world.. We began to search for what can we do to regain love, harmony, and balance in our unsettled lives. 

And then the word yoke appeared what a strange word? What a strange example for the human mind to understand. To be yoked like an animal.. our freedom removed?? Say what? 

I found that there is such beautiful wisdom in the simplicity of our Superior Trinity’s teachings. But do we truly dig deeper into the words or do we just skim the surface? 

To be yoked brought these words to mind.. together, team, united, joined, support, like-minded,  ONE... 

I can only speak from my experience.  As we travel closer and closer to Jesus we begin to experience His support. We begin to feel united in His thoughts for us. Our problems seem less intense. Our stride and our pace seem to settle into a truly comfortable gait. 

Jesus traveled this road before us just to experience life to understand how life can be a beautiful gift. But it also has its challenges and its difficult moments. He knows from experience when to slow us down.. and He knows when we should pick up our pace. If we allow Him to walk beside us, we can adorn this beautiful invisible harness of His LOVE.  We can be yoked to the Master of everything including our life.  What an amazing place to be. 

Just think He already knows the path we will take even before we get to the crossroad. Letting Him be the captain of our team can help us avoid unnecessary bumps in the road of life...  He is the only ONE ... that never wavers! He is the only one that can make such a commitment. He is the only one that will take on any burden that you may face... I have found that He will not only share and comfort you in times of life’s trials. He will pick you up and carry you when you are too weary to stand.. so where do we find this invisible harness of His LOVE. It’s been with you all along.. It’s time to recognize that He has been carrying you. 

But NOW is the time to walk beside Him. Now Is the time to gain your strength in His name ... NOW Is time that you love Him as much as He loves you... NOW time to feel that beautiful oneness, that completeness, ... He is waiting for you to pick up the pace !!! 

Come on you can do this !!! Now is the time that you can be victorious!!! Because of. Him all things are possible!!  

It’s Him, It’s always Him. 

Deuteronomy 31:8, The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Matthew 11:29-30 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.

Photography, design & Written by Lori Garner

Bible Verses From KJV, Easy  /  Sinners prayer 

Inspiring Music:

Make You Feel My Love

 “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” - C.S. Lewis

To be set apart means = to keep or save (something) for a particular purpose and to be a quality that makes (someone or something) better than or different from other people or things.

We located 25 verses that point to the word "apart"...

I feel this word is like a two-edged sword... And it depends on which side of the sword you fall and how you perceive the meaning. I want to be "a part" of this world.  I want to belong to a particular group... But as we look back on being “a part” of .. These desires change as swiftly as the people that reside within the man-made circles..and boundaries we create in this world. 

There are times we are set apart for bigger and better things. By a power greater than anything this world could even begin to offer. 

Many of us miss the mark and misunderstand the difference between being a part vs apart. We get confused because of our human frailties and we want to be excepted by others. We have a deep desire to feel loved... We seem to crave validation from others... 

Many will try so hard to be "a part" of something that they will go as far as losing themselves in the process...  

But to be set apart for a reason larger than we can even understand. Has monumental "Forever" implications. 

Being set apart is a unique and powerful experience. What does this mean? How does this happen? What is the cost? What do we gain? 

I do believe being a part of, something of this world is fleeting much like grains of sand slipping through your delicate fingers.  

Being set apart takes those loose grains of sand and gently begins to build a foundation of LOVE greater than you have ever known..  

Yes, both have a cost.. being a part of something worldly could cost you your soul, could bring heart-felt pain. And could result in feeling empty and alone. People are human and not all have caring hearts.. many are too ready to reward themselves before others. 

There are times being set apart can make you feel alone. It’s when we forget the promise  "Be strong. Be brave. Be fearless. You are never alone." - Joshua 1:9. 

God set His children apart to draw them close to Him. To belong to a family. His family. Although imperfect we are all a work in progress. With one common desire... To love and to be loved by Him. We crave to belong to His supernatural circle of LOVE, it's one that defies all time and space. 

Once we make that commitment to be set apart for God we are filled with a burning desire to color inside His lines. And refine who we truly are.  There maybe be times we fall short. But He will be there to lovingly guide us through to the next page, the next chapter and He will help us write our book, a beautiful legacy to share. 

He will guide our lives and together we will craft a beautiful LOVE story. 

Have you ever given it any thought, He writes our names in His book of life... Perhaps each one of us has a chapter of blank pages.. and we are writing our story each min of every day and that is what will be cherished and shared for eternity? 

He has thought of everything! How does He do it ?? I stand in awe with my crayon in hand and ask “set me apart”.. and wait for Him to turn the page. 

It’s Him, It’s always Him.

He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments, and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Revelations 3:5 

Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names stand written in heaven. Luke 10:20 NET 

Photography, design & Written by Lori Garner

Bible Verses From KJV, Easy  /  Sinners prayer 

Inspiring Music: Tori Kelly - Colors Of The Wind (Official Video)

I may not be where I want to be, but thank God I am not where I used to be. - Joyce Meyer 

Meaning of where - in or to what place or position.

Where in the heck can I find how many times the word “where” appears in the Bible? I looked and I could not find the answer? 

In Genesis 3:9: These three words “where are you?” are written. They can bring loneliness. It can make us bewildered and confused. It can give us a feeling of being lost… 

But are we ever truly lost? Are we ever far from God's reach? Have we ever been in a place in life that we wonder where are you, God? We feel like He is distant? 

What causes us to feel this hunger for His love? His approval? His guidance?  Why do we feel this sadness when He seems distant? 

I blame my soul… I believe our soul has a deep connection to our Creator. It longs to be close to Him… And when our soul cannot feel Him it misses Him tremendously. It feels that there is an important element missing from our soul? 

When we trying to understand the spiritual world with our mind it is difficult to understand. But we live in a world where our human body and our soul must learn to travel together. But the day will come when they must go their separate ways. This day is difficult for many… But I believe when our souls are welcomed home. It’s a celebration in heaven as they communion with our creator… 

I will admit there are times when I feel a distance from our Creator. I do believe that this happens to all of us occasionally. It’s at that time we must chase Him with every ounce of strength and determination we can muster. I do not have the answers to why this happens I can only rely on Him. We must have the faith of a child. Knowing that in these quiet moments He is busy aligning things around us.  Things we do not see or for that matter understand. We are short-sighted. But He knows our future. I know firsthand, He gives us the space to think, to reason.. and to grow into the unique person He knows you can be. 

I can tell you I have felt Him stirring in my soul and I have tasted His Love, Grace, and Compassion.  And it is the most fulfilling moment that we could ever feel. I could linger a lifetime. He feeds my soul with an unexplainable feeling of love. It’s a love beyond words. 

There must be a soulful language our soul uses to communicate with Him. Have you ever wondered what that language might be?  It must be in the most beautiful language. I do not believe the words we know would need to be uttered. It would be a love language transmitted from our spiritual heart to His… amazing, wonderous heart. 

His vastness, His beauty, and His amazing love capture our mind and our body… But He has fallen in love with our soul. He WOWs me… and my soul will never be the same. 

It's Him. It's always Him. 

"But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?'’ Genesis 3:9:

Photo design & Written by Lori Garner

Bible Verses From KJV, Easy  /  Sinners prayer 

Inspiring Music: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) - 

Matt Redman (Best Worship Song Ever) (with Lyrics)

“I am captivated by you; you have stolen my heart.”  - Unknown...

Meaning of Taken - the past participle of taking (with) enthusiastically impressed (by); infatuated (with)

The word taken can be found in 1712 instances in the Bible. 

Have you ever been so engrossed or taken in by a subject that it has a pull on your very soul? Is there a mystery about it that keeps you so intrigued that you keep coming back like a bee returning to the sweet nectar of a delicate flower?  Is there an unusual unexplainable love that keeps tugging at your heart? Does this subject matter bring excitement to your very lips? 

This is such a difficult phenomenon to explain. Many have been taken and drawn into His circle of love... Many hearts have been mysteriously captured by a love greater than the human mind can understand... Many can feel this unexplainable stirring in their soul... 

How do we share this state of being “taken” to a greater existence? How do we explain this beautiful essence of a greater love that overwhelms our mind, body, and soul? It is such a beautiful feel thing... This love will take you from zero to 60 in just seconds. Your heart will be swept away like an outgoing tide, and your soul will be taken to a place of unexplainable joy and peace... 

It's a blissful state of euphoric happiness that can be difficult to contain. Many will watch with curiosity? Some will be taken into your journey in hopes that this state of being will rub off. Others will see this as possibly crazy behavior. Some perhaps will distance themselves because of fearing something they truly do not understand. 

Where do find this love? How can you be swept away? How do we find hope for a brighter tomorrow?? 

It’s Him, It's Always Him! 

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24

Photo design & Written by Lori Garner

Bible Verses From KJV, Easy  /  Sinners prayer 

Inspiring Music: Starfield - Captivate (lyrics) HD