“When we leave the pen in His hands we will never be disappointed with the story of our lives.” 
― Eric Ludy,

Meaning of story a report about incidents or events: account Let's hear your story of what happened. 

“The Bible is often thought of as one book. However, it is actually a compilation of 66 different books written by 40 different authors. These authors were not all connected to each other, most did not even know each other because these books were written over a period of approximately 1500 years. “ 

How did the writers create such a masterpiece of factual wonder we know as the Bible? How many stories are stored within its pages??? Let’s think about that. Hmm, No Computers, No digital assistance? No spell checks. What! no technology? How did He do it ??

Most likely all the writers wrote each story by dim candlelight... with a rudimentary tool similar to what we know as a quill pen and ink ... They each poured out their heart and soul .... While God guided their thoughts and their hands... They were not in the physical presence of each other... They had no team meetings. No zoom calls... How did they organize their work to produce this amazing story? It’s the greatest literary phenomenon of all times... 

So many stories ... So many lessons... So much love poured into each chapter of the book ... But wait ... I ask you was the love poured into each page? ... or is it poured from the pages into the reader's hearts all over the world??? These chapters, these verses, these words ... are alive... 

I am sure the writers did not even know the magnitude of their work. They were not made rich and/or famous by earthly standards... But they are rich in our Fathers Love...  You ask how do I know this??? I can only relate with them on a very tiny scale... 

I had no interest in writing... But one day I had a Holy Spirit Encounter and my Heavenly Father opened my heart and soul. I began to listen to His melodic voice and words began to flow... and without hesitation, I began to document my thoughts, my experiences, and my love for my loving Triune. 

I do not write to compare my journey to any literary work... It is just happening... normally it’s in the very early morning hours. I sit quietly with my thoughts, and my mind drifts to a love that I felt on that beautiful day in May... and as I began to feel His beautiful presence my heart leaps with excitement.. and my soul stirs with great anticipation... and I surrender.

He is the author of my life... And the lover of my soul... I am but a quill in His loving hands... And as He pours His love into the pages of my amazing journey... I can only pray that my sharing Him with you touches your soul. 

And that the one heart He is trying so desperately to reach is yours... If it’s you, the day will come that you too will be swept away in the early morning hours. It’s then and there you will feel Him stirring in your soul and with the excitement and anticipation of a Child on Christmas Day you whisper it's Him ... 

It has always been Him...

He is the most amazing love story ever written... And the greatest gift to all mankind...

Oh, my goodness how He wows me... I will never be the same!!

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13 

In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. John 1:1-3 ESV

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull 

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

Write Your Story by Francesca Battistelli Lyrics

“If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will, in the end, make no difference what you have chosen instead.”  William Law

Meaning of first In a general sense, “the first” are the privileged, prestigious, and selfish who get ahead in this life while defying God's commandments. But they will receive condemnation in the life to come. “The last,” though rejected by the world, will receive a great reward in heaven.

Run Forest Run... How many of us desire the thrill of winning the race? Is it that victory moment that speaks to our soul ... Or is it that superficial hidden desire to show the world we are first. 

I can not help seeing those moments in sports when another athlete gave up the victory of being first to help another struggling soul...  Here is a link to just one of the many examples.  

Rivals Help Injured Runner Across Finish Line

I believe we are in the greatest race of our lives... Back to our Creator's arms... What is the mission of each believer?  Is it to follow Jesus? Is it to feed the hungry? Is it to ______ ? There are so many things we could busy our Christian lives with? So many,  that we would have no trouble filling in the blank!! Do we call them works?  Are we busy filling our bag of good deeds to impress others or maybe to impress God? 

Or are we unselfishly filling our heart, soul, and mind with Him... 

Are we working on understanding His rules of engagement? He calls them commandments... Are we living within His guidelines? Are these commandments becoming a part of who we are? Are we getting ourselves ready for the race of a lifetime... 

Are we locking elbows with others to help them get in the race? Are we putting our own selfish desires to be first aside to help another soul across the finish line? 

It is a human desire to be first. But it’s a soul desire that we wake up soon and get in this Heavenly race ... 

Our soul craves to hear our Heavenly Father voice say .. 

You made it back!!  Thank you for bringing others with you !! Well done my child...  And as you fall into His powerful arms you realize we are all first in His heart... How does He do it !!! So many children and we are all first ??? 

It's Him, It’s always Him!!! 

His capacity of Love is more than our human mind can even begin to understand... 

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8–9

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull 

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

Lauren Daigle - First (Lyric Video)

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)

The word tower is used thirty-six times in the Bible.  

The Tower of the Flock was no ordinary place. 

Long ago on a cold winter night, shepherds were huddled together watching their flocks in the fields near Bethlehem.  Suddenly the sky lit up brighter than anything they had ever seen.  They were terrified.  But an angel appeared and said, “Don’t be afraid, I have come to you with good news.  Today a Savior has been born, Christ the Lord.  You will find Him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”  At this saying, the skies were filled with angels praising God.  

When the angels had left, the shepherds were all talking at once saying, let’s go see this Child Who will be our Savior”.  So, with haste, they left the fields and found the Child lying in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes just as the angel had said. They told His parents all they had seen and heard.  Mary wondered at their story.   The shepherds went back to their fields full of amazement and praise telling this news to everyone.

Why is this story in the Bible?  Why were the shepherds the first to hear of this little Lamb of God?  How did they know where to find Him??? 

These shepherds were not ordinary shepherds.  They were hired by the Temple priests to raise perfect, unblemished lambs for sacrifice on the altar for man’s sin.  They would take the mother sheep ready to birth to a place called the Tower of the flock.  There they would check the lamb as it was born to see if it was perfect. If so, they would wrap it in swaddling clothes and lay it in a manger. 

Here less than six miles from Jerusalem on a hill in the Tower of the flock lay the promised Christ child, the Messiah, the Lamb of God.  One day He would become the final perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind.

The plans and purposes of God are so amazing.  He has plans and purposes for each of us.   He knows us and has loved us since the beginning of time.  

Let us love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind.

Below are two verses that were written by the prophet Micah some 700 years before the birth of the beloved Lamb of God.  Micah 5:2  

Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be the ruler over Israel for Me.  His origin is from ancient days, from eternity. 

Micah 4:8

As for you, tower of the flock, the hill of the daughter of Zion, to you it will come...

Digital Art by Lori Garner

Written by: Joann Turnbull 

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

Dolly Parton - The Lord is My Shepherd (Audio)

“From Mary, we learn to surrender to God’s will in things. From Mary, we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary, we learn to love Christ, her Son, and the Son of God…Learn from her to be always faithful, to trust that God’s Word to you will be fulfilled and that nothing is impossible with God.”- St. John Paul II

Meaning of Mary mother of Jesus. 

The name Mary is in 46 verses... 

As we approach one of the most important and widely celebrated holidays, known as "Christmas". 

I would like to ask you to indulge me for a moment as we stop and give thanks to a woman who gave the world such a monumental gift...I say woman but she was only a child, maybe in her early teens...Who was she? Why did God favor her so? He trusted her to fulfill a prophecy that had already been put into motion since the beginning of time... 

I struggle with trying to understand her unwavering commitment, her faith, and her love.. at such an early age. 

Would we have the strength to say yes Father your will not mine... I will carry the shame when others do not understand, I will be your living vessel. I will deliver forgiveness and a love that goes deeper than most people can even comprehend. I will do my part to save all of mankind. 

Was she even aware of the magnitude of this moment when she became God’s own chosen mother on earth...

Let’s travel back in time... Let me set the scene. God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee. To deliver a message of the highest importance... This message can be found in Luke 1:26-38. 

The angel told her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor  with God. You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus. He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High. 

How many of us would have been so unafraid? How many of us would have only asked one question? Mary asked the angel, “How can this be? I’m a virgin.” The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God. 

Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.”

UNWAVERING FAITH...  such responsibility... such Love and commitment at such a young age. 

How could she share this news with her parents? Imagine a young unmarried girl telling her parents, family, and her fiancé I am pregnant... With God's child... ??? 

How many of us would believe such an unbelievable story?? 

While trying to understand this moment my mind traveled to Him... This beautiful innocent baby had been placed in her womb for the most incredible mission that man could even begin to understand. What did she feel? Did her emotions run away with her? 

I have been blessed with children and I know the feeling of a tiny life growing within... What an amazing God-given miracle... What excitement and joy when you feel the baby move for the first time... But what do you feel when you know you are carrying the Son of God??? Are these feelings magnified? Or are they what every new mother has felt. Excitement, Love, Apprehension maybe fear? 

Will the delivery be painful, Will my baby be healthy? Will I be a good mother?? Every child born is a miracle from God but to be singled out to carry God's own Son... What a larger-than-life, heaven-sent responsibility!!!! 

Have you ever witnessed childbirth? I have had the amazing privilege of photographing such a miracle... The love that filled the room that day could only be from God... 

I wish I could have captured this beautiful moment that happened so long ago... I can only close my eyes and envision this moment in time... Childbirth is a painful bodily experience...But soon,  birthing pains are all forgotten, all the questions disappear and you are caught up in the beautiful moment of seeing the angelic face before you... all activity around you seems to fade into the distance ... You hear, see and touch nothing but this precious new life... and time seems to stand still for just a few moments... 

I can only wonder, As she gently kissed His beautiful face... Did she think I am kissing the face of God... or at that tender moment was the newborn baby her precious beautiful baby boy and her gift from God?  

All believers are given the miracle of God's own Son... to dwell within...  He is our gift from God ... Do we cherish Him? Or do we feel shame and apprehension when we share His message with friends and family? Do we feel excited and overjoyed when we feel Him within our very soul?  Are we set apart for a purpose? Do we have faith enough to be His willing vessel! Will we care for Him as He grows in our hearts and becomes a part of our very existence?

There is a miracle of new life that happens within each believer. As you feel His presence in your daily life things of this world will fade into the distance ...You see His  Face and He will become as precious to you as a newborn babe... 

And your heart will whisper ... 

It’s Him, It has always been Him. My precious one...My gift from God... 

He WOWs me!

So when that day comes, you will know that I am living in the Father and that you are one with me, for I will be living in you. Those who truly love me are those who obey my commands. Whoever passionately loves me will be passionately loved by my Father. And I will passionately love him in return and will reveal myself to him.” 

John 14:20-22 TPT

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Model Megan Mahoney

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull 

Amy Grant - Mary's Song (Breath Of Heaven) [HD] (lyrics in comments)

Great leaders instill a sense of meaning and belonging in their followers by putting the personal imprint of who they are and what they stand for on their people.” Kevin Leman... 

Meaning of Shepherd, A person who tends sheep. Someone who watches over, and looks after, or guides somebody.

There are approximately 40 verses in the King James Bible that refer to the word Shepherd. 

The most famous Shepherd in history did not lead animals but lead souls... His earthly occupation was a carpenter?? Say what? Wait. A carpenter, not a Shepherd? A carpenter is someone that has a keen eye for detail and can create something from nothing...

Doesn’t it seem odd? That we think of Christ as a Shepherd instead of a carpenter? 

Why did He choose the Shepherd as the image for us to grasp the hidden meaning behind His teachings...? He is such an amazing mastermind!!! There is no one greater!!! I love how He has intricately tied all the details of this amazing LOVE story together. His mystery has kept His Children interested since the beginning of time!!!  He has yearned for our love and has been guiding our hearts home since Adam’s creation on earth. 

The human mind is so weak in comparison to His vast and beautiful mind. We seem much like sheep, limited in our thinking and we need more... We need His Guidance...

We need a role model!!! One that we could relate to on a human level... We need someone that has felt the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat... 

So, in His usual way we needed and He came... He offered His own life to teach man how to live and love from birth to death...

I wonder would we have followed God without question?? Would God’s presence be too powerful for the human mind to comprehend? Or would our human weaknesses lead us astray like Eve? 

I am sure Elohim gave this master plan a great deal of thought and consideration!! 

But why a Shepherd?? Let’s start by looking at a Job description of a Shepherd. 

Job description: 

1.        Day-to-Day Care of the Flock. 

2.        Dealings with the Outside World on Behalf of the Flock 

3.        Foresees Danger

4.        Leads and Guides the Flock 

5.        He learns the strengths, weaknesses, and personality of each one.

6.        The Shepherd trains the sheep to hear only his voice.

It does seem the Shepherd 

makes perfect sense.

The Shepherd had such an important role since the Old Testament.  They cared for, protected, and guided the spotless lamb for the altar sacrifice to God... 

Hmm God knew "the shepherd's" capacity of love, care, and guidance. And He also knew He would become "the shepherd’s" prize, Lamb. The ultimate sacrifice to God... 

As He stepped into His earthly skin to save mankind... He came with the inherited skills of the creator. (i.e., carpenter) But His mission was to intricately lay out all the pieces of His life, to save all His children. He gave us that tangible role model ... a visual... a love offering that goes beyond anything of this world.  We lovingly call Him Jesus. 

This Heaven-sent Shepherd has been whispering words of love to His soul-filled sheep, since the beginning of time. He has been guiding their hearts home ever since Eve fell from grace.  

His masterful plan has been playing out since these words were spoken: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The question becomes ... Do we know our Master's voice? Do we appreciate the artistic merit of our Creator? Do we love Him for sacrificing His royal life in Heaven to become a Shepherd of souls? Do we love Him enough to follow Him??? 

I will share with you... 

He has captured my heart...

I have heard His alluring voice whispering a love song to my soul .. He has shared with me that this Love Story has no end!! 

It’s Him, It’s always Him 

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake. Psalms 23

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull 

Good Shepherd | Mercy Hill Worship