Love is a choice to reach beyond myself not once, but twice. First, I reach out to God to grant me the love that I don’t possess, and then I reach out to others to give them that love. And to be a conduit of this sort is to take love beyond the thin romantic notions of men and set it ablaze within me so that it might consume the world around me.

Craig D. Lounsbrough

The Meaning of reach - To extend; to stretch; in a general sense; sometimes followed by out and forth; as, to reach out the arm.

The word reach is used approximately 104 times in the Bible. 

When I reach for you will you be there? I run to you each day but you are always just beyond my reach. I feel you in my soul, I hear your gentle whisper. However, I yearn so to touch your beautiful face. 

What is this race we call life? What is this drive to love you, that lives in my heart? What is our purpose… 

I find this journey so simple yet so complex. 

It’s the midnight hour when I seem to reach for Him the most. I want to share my thoughts, my desires, my love with the one that holds my heart. The one who keeps the chaos from knocking at my door. The daily noise of life becomes a distant memory in His presence. … He is my fortress, my high tower, my protector, my escape to a spiritual existence. 

In Him I found life. He is such a gentle and kind spirit. I found a beauty that I never knew existed in this world. He fills our souls with an unexplainable love. It is so difficult to put it into words. His dream is for His children to share this great love! So, I ask you, how do we share this kind of heavenly LOVE ?? I can only pray that He opens your heart and that He gives me the words. 

He has given us this promise of this kind of love for eternity.  Once you have felt God’s Love there is no turning back…. I can only pray, that if we began to slip from His grasp. That He will reach for our hand and pull us lovingly into arms. I personally do not ever want to fall far from His reach.. 

It’s Him.  It has always been Him.

He breathed life into my soul. How did I not reach out sooner? How did I not respond ?? He tried to reach me so, many times…But I never stopped long enough to hear His melodic voice. 
He had to pour out His heart from heaven and touch my soul so deep, so profound that there was no doubt ... I knew in my heart it was Him. 

And life will never be the same. 

Thank you, my LOVEs my 3N1for never giving up…  

Psalms 139:7-11, 17-18, 23-24 TPT

“Every single moment you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought! O God, your desires toward me are more than the grains of sand on every shore! When I awake each morning, you’re still with me. Where could I go from your Spirit? Where could I run and hide from your face? If I go up to heaven, you’re there! If I go down to the realm of the dead, you’re there too! If I fly with wings into the shining dawn, you’re there! If I fly into the radiant sunset, you’re there waiting! Wherever I go, your hand will guide me; your strength will empower me. It’s impossible to disappear from you or to ask the darkness to hide me, for your presence is everywhere, bringing light into my night.

God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way— the path that brings me back to you.” 

Photo Design & Written by Lori Garner

 / Sinner's Prayer

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

John Barry - Somewhere In Time (Original)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:8-10)

Meaning of - Unequipped: not furnished with the necessary supplies, abilities, etc 

I searched and searched the pages of this ancient book we know as the Bible and could not find the word unequipped. 

I guess I am unequipped to understand why He loves us ?? Why He even takes the time. Why are we so important to Him?

When we humbly stand before our King, our Savior, Heavenly Father we feel so small ... so unequipped, so fragile...so small... But So .... So in awe !!’ 

What is it that He sees? Why does He feel the need to chase us, to love us, and to teach us His ways? It is part of His mystery. It’s part of His power and grace... and 

His insatiable need to LOVE. 

When we reflect on the ones that came before us... There is a common thread that we can see. 

They were not the biggest the most powerful .. or even the most popular among others... 

Many may have seen them as small like David? Crazy like Noah .. or struggle with words like Moses.

If we examine all the characters within the Bible we may see a little bit of ourselves in each of them. 

I am sure they felt inadequate and unequipped to accomplish what God asked of them. They had doubts.. but they trusted Him. 

There will be times in our lives that we feel unequipped. Much Like Mary... We may feel small in the vastness of our world. 

God placed a monumental task upon her heart. She may have been afraid of what others would think. But she trusted Him with all of her heart. 

How did they find that inner strength, that peace? 

How did they find the confidence that they forged ahead without validation from others? What set them apart? 

It's Him!!! It's trusting Him!! It's loving Him.

It’s His insatiable desire to love His children. It's His passionate dream to see them grow into everything He knows they can be. He knows our deepest thoughts, strengths, and our weaknesses. 

He knows how to touch us in the deepest part of our hearts and soul. He knows how to lead us through every life experience from the simplest to the most difficult.  He knows that each experience holds a life lesson that will become a part of who we are.

He has promised to never leave us to face those hurdles alone...

We must learn to wait and trust Him with our mind, our heart, and all of our soul.

He knows when to hold us close.. and when to open His arms and whisper fly my beloved I am here.  

He is the foundation beneath our feet and our safety net if we fall. 

It's Him, It always points me to Him...

God doesn’t, however, save us by His grace and power and then intend for us to go off in our own wisdom and strength, to figure it out on our own. Rather, “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6)

Photography, Design & Written by Lori Garner  

Inspiring Music: YouTube

Ben Platt - 'Grow As We Go' Lyrics

Photography, design & Written by Lori Garner

Bible Verses From KJV, Easy  /  Sinners prayer 

Inspiring Music: PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM + spontaneous worship // one-take cover

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