Can you hear the noise???

Life is a jungle out there. Just listen. Can you hear the chatter of the animals? Lion, tigers, and bears?  Oh my. Fear and uncertainty of life seem to grip my soul…But as I hide beneath the weight of the heavy foliage, I realize that to survive, I must slowly make my way through the thick, dense, scary forest of life …

Then, suddenly, I hear a beautiful melodic sound in the distance. I seem to be magically drawn to His sound. This intoxicating rhythm spins around my head…and engulfs my senses.  My fears seem to vanish like a vapor in the wind.  A peaceful forest of love can now be felt deep in my soul…I can once again breathe… 

Life tries so hard to rob me of my peace. But the minstrel of my soul once again tames the wicked jungle of my mind… can you hear His intoxicating song calling? 🎶😀🕊 

 “If you cannot find a good companion to walk with, walk alone, like an elephant roaming in the jungle. It is better to be alone than to be with those who will hinder your progress.” — Gautama Buddha.

But then again, we are never alone... He is always with us. 

It's Him! It's always Him!! 

The lion, the king of the jungle, who is afraid of no one.

Proverbs 30:30 TPT

Photography, Art & Written by Lori Garner

Sinner's prayer 

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull 

Inspiring Music by (YouTube)

This symbolism is used in the bible over 150 times. 

Am I in too deep to fully understand? Where is this land so dark and cold?  I have tried to escape this oppressive darkness that lives just beyond the perimeter of my mind… But the enemy has discovered my location. They seek to destroy my peace and erode my confidence! My heart is pounding, my mind racing as beads of sweat slowly drip from my brow… Am I defeated? Am I a lost soul? Doubt is swirling throughout my ravished existence… Will I lose my will to survive? Am I slowly losing my grip… How will I find the strength to endure?? 

As I rest in this negative moment, I can hear your soothing voice say lean into me, my child. 

We’ve got this!! 

And as those words become alive in my mind … I feel your presence so strong as you press your soul against mine… It is there we become the power of one! It's there; I have found a strength that I did not know existed!!! Your courage and heart are the reason I will not be defeated!! I will stand! I will draw my sword! And I will fight until I draw my last breath. Your love has become my shield and my purpose. Your forgiveness has become my peace. 

Teach me your ways… You are my gentle giant!  You have brought me from the pit of darkness into God’s heavenly light…  I will only surrender to you! I will only bow to you, my King!! It’s you! It's always been you!!! 

Thank you for showing me your power and grace… and for loving me far more than I deserve!!!

It's Him. It will always be HIM !!!

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll. Revelation 5:5 

Photography, Art & Written by Lori Garner

Sinner's prayer 

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull 

Inspiring Music by (YouTube)

Never Walk Alone (Live at Team Night) - Hillsong Worship

“I'm glad to be alive in a world where his gently awakening eyes nourish the morning sun.” - Sanober Khan...

The meaning of dawn is the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise.

We located 24 verses that speak to the word dawn.

As the time of peaceful slumber fades, I can hear a whisper in my soul: awake, my love, awake… The darkness of night will slowly dissipate as the beauty of the sun’s new light breaks the horizon…

The room is quiet; there is a strange silence in my mind… my eyes are closed as I linger in the moment… It's a time of waiting, a time of yearning, a time of searching my heart, and of deep reflection. 

I so long to hear His voice … I long to feel His peace. I long to feel His presence. He speaks of forgiveness… He speaks to my heart of supernatural love; He speaks of a joy that surpasses understanding. 

He sees through me like a glass pane. He sees my strengths, weakness, and all my flaws… He holds my vulnerable heart and soothes my aching soul… 

I will crave His spiritual presence until the end of time… Who is this marvel that comes to me so softly in the morning light... who has such power over my life? Who has willingly shared Himself with me? Who is this incredible soul that has found me when I did even know I was lost?

It's Him. It has always been Him. 

It has been quite a journey, but I will admit it has finally dawned on me that my life will never be the same.  

I have fallen in love, Dawn.   And the stillness of His presence!!!

Photography, Art & Written by Lori Garner

Sinner's prayer 

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull 

Inspiring Music by (YouTube)

Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour (Lyrics)

Life Is Short. Eternity Is Long. Live Like It.

The meaning of vapor is a quantity of visible matter, such as gaseous water, diffused through or suspended in the air. 

I located forty-eight verses that speak to the word vapor. 

I played music, settled in, and began to pray… because I needed God's help in understanding where this white smoky substance would lead me… My mind drifted to a place where my God seems to appear in my mind… But as soon as I saw Him, He disappeared, and I heard in my soul the word vapor. And just like that, He vanished. 

I did not understand. So, I sat up and went to where He has taught me so many things…. “His Word” … He delivers them to me with such mystery that my curiosity to discover more becomes overwhelming… 

He began to speak softly to my heart.  “I am yours for eternity... This life that so many desperately try to hold is truly just a vapor in the wind."

It’s not often I think of my life disappearing from this old crusty world…But today, He brought me here… Time is fleeting… Days are getting shorter …  Are we fulfilling our destiny to love and be loved? Or are we so busy that we are missing our true purpose??? Love is a beautiful gift from our Creator that will stand the test of time!!

He is the Rauch of my life… He is the very air I breathe... He is the vapor that intertwines with my soul…  His Holy Spirit dwells deep within the very essence of this borrowed life.  His spirit of love is the gift for all souls for eternity!! 

Do not let Him disappear like a vapor in the wind…Feel Him in your soul… Cling to Him… Tell Him you are His forever more. 

It's Him!!! It's always Him!! 

Ruach (pronounced roo-akh) is the Hebrew word for spirit, breath, or wind. When spoken, the word engages one's breath and lungs.

Psalm 39:5

You, indeed, have made my days short in length and my life span as nothing in Your sight. Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor. SelahPsalm 39:5

You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” James 4:14.

Photography, Art & Written by Lori Garner

Sinner's prayer 

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull 

Inspiring Music by (YouTube)

Casting Crowns - Who Am I (Official Lyric Video)

"God is Great'' means God is the greatest of all, and nothing is Greater than God because He is the Creator of everything, so he is above everything and, therefore, Greatest.

Meaning of great: an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above the normal or average.

We located 66 verses in the Bible that refer to the word great.

Oh great…. How have I been given this word to explain where my heart has traveled… 

When we think of the word great, do we place the word in the same sentence when we speak of God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit!! 

Or do we let Him stand-alone… 

Do we speak of His greatness? Or do we take Him and His amazing love for granted??  

Many only call His name when they need something. Do we understand the magnitude of His heart… I cannot even begin to wrap my head around someone so great… I do not understand how He has loved and protected me since birth… He has never left my side… it was me who did not acknowledge His beautiful existence!!! 

I will admit since I have felt Him in my soul, my life will never be the same.  How does He do His work??  How does He have the power to sustain His presence in our world for so many decades? How has He had such an impact on humanity??  How has He created our world and the beauty of this vast universe??? How does everything point us to His beautiful Son… Jesus??? How does He send His Holy Spirit to live within each of His Children??? How did I fall in love with Him??? Is this even possible?? I say… without hesitation … yes!!! 

It’s Him! It will always be Him. 

It will not matter how “He” touches our lives… There will be a day when we will all fall to our knees and acknowledge Him, for He is the Greatest lover of souls…  and I love Him more each given day!!

He still WOWs me!!!

For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; Psalm 95:3-7

Photography, Art & Written by Lori Garner

Sinner's prayer

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull 

Inspiring Music by (YouTube)

How Great Thou Art w/ lyrics - Anne Murray

  “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Darkness to light? 

How?? 

Do things happen by chance, or is there a lesson in everything we see, hear, and touch? Do we experience the moment, or are we so busy we dismiss things without thinking deeply??  

I thought I had come close to finishing this painting. I put my brushes down on my color-filled palette. The room had become dim as the sun had begun to set… I sat across the room in my comfortable chair. There, I started to listen to a song that lured me into the moment. I studied the painting as one would to see what I needed to do to improve the image… My hands can never seem to convey what my heart sees and feels… 

And as that thought darted across my mind… I looked out the window to see the sun moving towards the earth's horizon in a slow, deliberate descent… As I brought my eyes back to my canvas, I witnessed Her illuminating light kissing the face that rested so peacefully on my easel … The light started at the edge of the canvas and began to dance slowly across His face!! I was so moved by the moment. 

The dimly lit face soon showed light where darkness once stood… but the shadows still remained… And this thought-filled moment brought me here… We are all made up of light and darkness.  However, I am confident in saying it’s where we position ourselves in the Son that matters most… Be the light… do not hide in the shadows, or the darkness will consume you… 

He is the light source that draws our souls… He is our only choice!! 

It’s Him! It is always Him!   

This Image and I are a work in progress.

Photography, Art & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Meaning of snow in the Bible It is a symbol of purity and cleanness but more importantly an example of transformation so we might reflect God in our lives. Scripture referencing snow is found in some of the most beautiful passages of the Bible. And the message it brings should amaze us.

The word "snow" is in the King James Version of the Bible 24 times. It is in 24 verses. 

I awoke to it’s dazzling beauty. It’s marvel. It’s purity ... Snow so white, so fresh and new... Each beautiful snowflake carved so detailed. So uniquely different... No two are alike.

How does our Creator do it? I am amazed at His artistry.  His vision.. Nothing is left to chance.. Every molecule on this earth has a delicate purpose.

The Bible uses the word snow as a descriptive word to point us to our Creator, His Son, and His very breath..

As I turn the pages of the Bible. My mind drifted to this very popular nursery rhyme. And I had an oh my goodness moment.. A light went off in my head, and made me smile.. “Mary had a little lamb His fleece was white as SNOW.”

He was blameless. Spotless and pure .. A beautiful gift from His Mother Mary and God to all mankind.. I will now recite that nursery rhyme to my grandchildren with a fresh new perspective. 

As those nursery rhyme words rolled off my tongue. I could see Him.  I see His beauty.. His brightness.  His purity. His wonder nothing else compares. He is uniquely different from all the Gifts from heaven.. 

I will never see a snowflake without seeing Him in my mind.. And as I see Him and this beautiful white wonder, I have the urge to fall into that beautiful soft place He created just to remind me. “He is my soft place to fall in the midst of any challenge. “ 

And as I fall into the snow I will  began to move my arms and legs back and forth ... Just like a bird that has found a new found freedom...Saying I am here! I am here! Count me in !!  This is my gift to you ! This my snow angel, and it is calling you ! I am excited to feel you so close ... and if I close my eyes I can see your beautiful face!!! 

Snow it’s a beautiful gift to connect us to heaven with love and purity. It even reminds us of His very breath as we can now see the cold air as it escapes from our own lips. We can see and feel His very presence as His breath kisses our soul..

It’s you LOVEs!! It’s always been you!!! 

“Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?”Job 38:22-23 KJV

Photography & Written by Lori Garner 

Bible Verses from KJV, ESV / Sinner's Prayer

Inspiring music from YouTube

Got My Love - Jonathan McReynolds

“But by my love and hope, I beseech you: do not throw away the hero in your soul! Hold holy your highest hope!”-  Friedrich Hietzsche

We located 36 verses in the Bible that use the word beseech... 

What a difficult word to wrap my head around!! This word originated from Middle English... I am so puzzled where are these words coming from??? Is He trying to be funny? Is He trying to make me stretch my vocabulary? Did I use these words long ago?  I must seek His help to gain a better understanding of what He wants of me.

Please, Elohim, I beseech your help in understanding why you dropped this curious word into my mind this evening. 

I did discover that out of thirty-six times, the word beseech is used in the Old Testament, but all but six are used to address God. This beseeching is an urgent request and a call for action on His part. A prayer is spoken in the inhalation of Oh, dear God. A prayer of longing and desperation.

I now have a better understanding... Because I have been in that very state of mind... I desperately long for His beautiful presence. There have been times that I have felt His presence so strong that I felt Him within the depths of my soul... I will confess it’s so easy to get deeply lost within Him... He is all-consuming!!  

I have been so lost and consumed that I found myself engulfed in a state of His heavenly bliss… It’s the most incredible, heartfelt moment when our soul can speak to Him without uttering a single word... His love is not of this world and is so difficult to explain.  I just know when I am in His presence, I am whisked away to a spiritual place of complete surrender!!   It’s there I find myself humbly begging Him to stay!!! 

Elohim, I beseech you to just linger here with me for a while… Open my heart and never stop whispering your love song to my soul!!!

It's Him! It's always Him, and I am undone!! 

Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Psalms 116:4

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (YouTube)

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull 

My Prayer For You (Official Lyric Video) - Alisa Turner