“Never judge a book by its cover. At first glance, even Jesus appeared unimpressive.” - Andrena Sawyer…

Meaning of superficial existing or occurring at or on the surface.  

The word superficial is only in the Bible approximately six times. 

Hi, how are you?  We all have answered fine thank you. Even before giving it any thought. 

I do believe we all are guilty to some degree of superficially skimming across life like a rock, jumping and skipping across the surface just before it sinks into the deep abyss.  

How many of us just go through the motions? It's easy to fall into the “grownup trap” of doing life.. work, family, and friends in such a superficial fashion. 

How can we dig a little deeper? How can we truly say, stop the world I want to get off... 

How do we go to church every week ... greet everyone.. saying our good mornings, how are you, and give our hugs, handshakes, and smiles.  And as our time together ends we say God Bless you and depart... But what happens in between? I believe many can say nothing.. nothing, happens in between. 

It makes us question how deep is caring? How deep is the love? During this troubling time how many of us cared enough to call and check in with just one person? Just one person per day? Or even a quick text or email? 

Are we a superficial society? Are we that distracted? Are we that self-absorbed? 

But then I will ask, how deep can we go before we get hit in the face with the word boundaries. There is a delicate dance that we must maintain. 

I do believe life is chalked up with risk? Are you a risk-taker? Do you care deeply or are you that rock skimming through life on the surface? Maybe you have commitment issues.. Or perhaps you are distracted by life? Or maybe you just forgot the beautiful art of loving. Possibly due to what others may say or think? 

Then this word superficial hit a cord deep within my soul. What would we do if Jesus was a superficial soul? His life actually points us to a risk-taker. He went far beyond any man to show love to anyone that thirsted. He had no boundaries. He went as deep as our Heavenly Father allowed. He risked everything for all of mankind. Do you think He was a superficial soul or is He a deeply caring soul? Is He a risk taker? 

Does He love you so deeply, you yourself do not understand it? Do you think He sees the optical illusion of a boundary? Or does He risk loving our troubled souls? From my experience, I believe He never gives up... 

Armed with, His gentleness, and His Love. He has the ability to go deep within our hearts, our mind, and souls. He is a wondrous phenomenon. He invades our soul, to reveal our 

deepest thoughts, and to deposit a love that will change the very essence of who we are. 

I ask you are you a risk-taker? Or are you that superficial soul? Do you want to experience the true gift of life and love?  Ask Him to cross the boundary to your heart and invade your soul... The changes you will feel will take your breath away. Some may be painful. But as you travel through life with Him you will fall in love. And you will experience the greatest human achievement you could ever encounter. 

It’s Him, It’s always Him... 

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:” Psalms 139:23 KJV

And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. Romans 12:2

"God provides the wind; Man must raise the sail." - St. Augustine... 

When I close my eyes and feel the softness of the wind, I find His embrace. It's where I connect with His divine presence. His gentleness caresses my soul as the breeze sweeps across my parched skin. The fragrance of flowers fills the air as I allow myself to be swept away by His wonderous beauty… The wind carries the essence of creation, spreading His magnificence and wonder wherever it travels. May I forever embrace the romanticism of the wind, allowing Him to guide me home

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull

Inspiring Music by (YouTube)

Wind of Love | Elevation Rhythm (Lyrics)

There are approximately thirty-three verses about legacy in the Bible...

Legacy is a word typically discussed when the inevitable happens. It is mainly thought of when someone we love transitions from one dimension of time and space to another. We like to think that they made it to Heaven. 

The word legacy brought me to these questions. What am I leaving behind? How will I be remembered? Will my life make a mark on this planet? What do my family and friends honestly think of me? Is our legacy a tangible object? Does it come down to our "possessions”? Is that how we value life?

Possessions are fleeting. Our character and loving memories are the most valuable assets we can leave with the souls we leave behind. 

In my lifetime, I have witnessed that some people consider "possessions " essential. Some feel they cannot live without the “things” they have collected. It seems many gain perspective when they are facing their mortality.

Some may not have cared about your well-being while you were here, but they will selfishly look to gain something valuable from what you've left behind. 

Some possess an unselfish heart and love you deeply. Your relationship will leave a lasting imprint on their hearts. They will carry you with them wherever life takes them. They may want a precious item with little to no earthly value to feel close to the one who made them feel wanted and loved. 

Have we thought about this word on a larger scale? Do we understand the spiritual potential that awaits? We have been gifted a legacy of magnificent proportions! It’s a legacy of royalty... It’s a legacy of riches beyond physical “possessions." It’s a legacy of love that runs through our lives like a scarlet thread.  It's woven into our life’s tapestry deeper than we realize.

Jesus is that scarlet thread. He is our legacy. He has promised us eternal life, and His love will travel with us from this world to the next. 

With Him as our precious guide, we should ask ourselves: 

How do I want to be remembered? What am I leaving behind? Will I lovingly leave my imprint on anyone’s heart? 

I pray that when people talk about my legacy, they speak of “God’s Love” and how His love changed my life. He has taught me the importance of all relationships and introduced me to love beyond my earthly understanding! He gave me the boldness to show my vulnerability to the world.

He is my legacy!! 

It’s Him. It’s always Him! 

His legacy is an amazing love story for all of His children!! 

I beg you, don’t miss Him or His legacy of love for this world!

 If children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:17

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Inspiring Music: 

Legacy by Ben LeBrun

“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit remind us that there is always more of God than we know, always more of God than we can explain, always more of God than we can show. The Trinity says God is not in a box but is bigger, much bigger than we imagine. God is more powerful than we sometimes want to believe or remember, but there is great comfort in remembering.” ― Thomas R. Steagald.

The meaning of 1 - The number 1 represents newness, movement, and the possibilities that await us. In spiritual symbolism, it is the number of creation and the birth of all things -- the divine origin of the universe.

Number one appears significantly, but I was unsuccessful in getting a word count for this word... 

One of the most mind-boggling concepts for many who study the Bible is the Trinity Himself. 

On this amazing journey, which I have been blessed to travel, I have grown to know Elohim, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in this order. Just who are they? And what is this oneness that they possess?

Initially, it was so confusing to me that I asked who we should pray to. Some say I pray to my Heavenly Father; some say they have an intimate relationship with Jesus; therefore, they pray to Jesus. A few stated they pray to our Heavenly Father in Jesus' name. The Holy Spirit seemed to be mentioned the least—or not at all—when speaking of prayer. 

I am not here to disprove any of the above ways to pray... I can only share how my journey unfolded and how I understood my Triune, or LOVEs, as I lovingly call my 3n1.

Each one of them plays a significant role in our lives... Each is just as important as the other...  They are all part of one deity, mind, heart, and spiritual being. 

I started by asking many questions, and a family member who has studied the Bible almost her entire life said these words... You are Lori, you are a wife, you are a mother, you have many jobs, but you are one... Armed with this simplistic logic, the pieces began to come together... 

Let me preface by saying my journey started with a Holy Spirit Encounter (at the time, I did not know It was Him). 

As my journey began to take flight, I began communicating with my amazing Heavenly Father.  I called Him Elohim... It was that name that spoke to my Heart... It was Elohim who taught me about Jesus.  He showed me His compassion, His depth of love for all mankind... and He taught me that Jesus was indeed a beautiful human facet of God the Father, my Elohim... And then, as I traveled deeper into my understanding, He seemed to hold my hand and disclosed things one beautiful piece at a time... I spent hours just loving and communicating with Him... I still look back and have trouble understanding how this happened. But feel so blessed that I have had the privilege of knowing Him.  

At the beginning of this amazing walk, I asked. I hear many people say they love God the Father, and many love Jesus, but I never heard anyone say they love the Holy Spirit. Why? And then, like always, I started my search... He pointed me to an article that said many love the Holy Spirit, but I was too new at this to know this fact. However, I was surprised when I read this article at the bottom of the page. It said another word for the Trinity is Triune... 

And at that moment, I was so surprised that I was speechless. I had my spiritual encounter on a country road in Triune, TN, which happened to be a pivotal moment in my life. It was a beautiful revelation; the word Triune spoke to my soul. All I could say was wow. 

My journey unwrapped each one of the facets of God—the facets we all love and admire. 

Elohim showed me that each facet of Him is equally important. They are all God. But each one has a different job. Each one relates to us differently... When we need a Father figure, most relate to God the Father... when we need to be held, or we need to relate to someone who has walked through what we are experiencing, or we need to be loved for who we are, we look to His human side Jesus ... And one of the most amazing spiritual experiences is the very breath of God we know this facet as the “Holy Spirit” it How God communicates with His Children... I envision the Holy Spirit as an eternal hotline directly connected to God our Father...  It is the most intimate call you can ever make ...

My journey has been amazing, and I do not take credit for what and how He taught me. I can only thank Him and love Him for who He is.

I stand in awe and see Him as one... But I love and relate to each beautiful facet of Him... 

It depends on what I need in that given moment who comes... I call them LOVEs because they are one in my heart and soul.  I love each precious facet of Him...and He knows better than me which facet of Him I need to relate to at any given moment... 

To add one more mind-blowing thing, the week of my encounter, I started addressing this presence I knew was God as “Elohim.” At this time, I had little to no religious background, and this was a Hebrew word. I am not of Jewish descent. So why this name? How did this happen? Later in my search, I found out this. 

Elohim is God in plural? One God that wears many hats ... 

It's Him. It’s always been Him...

The one I love, the one who rescued me. The one who taught me to love Him beyond what my mind can comprehend... He is my 3N1. 

I am open to Him relating to me with whatever facet of Him speaks to my heart and soul... It does not matter who comes because I love surprises; deep down, I know it’s Him. 

I love Him with my heart and Soul, so my mind has no choice but to follow.  

He WOWs me 💡👑

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (YouTube)

Psalm 139 - Far Too Wonderful - by Shane & Shane (Lyric Video) | Christian Worship Music

Our spiritual journey to connect with God transcends human understanding. Our earthly existence is a brief opportunity to discover our true selves and deepen our understanding of His divine nature, strengthening our bond of love. This experience enables us to embrace our potential as spiritual beings and claim our birthright as children of God, empowering us to face life with hope and confidence, knowing that our ultimate destiny lies beyond the grave in the eternal love of our Elohim.

It's Him! It will always be Him! 

May our souls long for His presence, and as His glorious light illuminates our way, may our hearts be inflamed with an unwavering, unyielding love for His magnificent soul!

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull

Inspiring Music by (YouTube)

Emmanuel - Hillsong Worship

The child's heart is tender and easily impressed; when we become “as little children,” we learn the simplicity, gentleness, & tender love of the Savior.

In writing this word, the first thing that came to mind was: “In tenderness, He sought me.”   I think we are sought by God from a very young age. We might hear an adult talking about Jesus, but we don’t know who this is.  We all seem to find Him in different ways.  It is His goodness that brings us to Him. 

He is constantly drawing us to come near to Him.  Sometimes, that drawing begins with music, a word you read or heard, or it could be a picture of Him. 

Recently, I began painting pictures of Jesus.  Sometimes His face, or with Him gently holding a bird or a light with a young boy by Him and one with Him kneeling by a sad young boy.  

Jesus spoke strongly that He desired the young children to come to Him.  Why? 

I will share my opinion.   Little children respond to gentleness and tender love.  The earlier they know Jesus has love for them, the more they will want to give their hearts and lives to Him. 

There was something about Jesus that drew children to Him.   I have several great-grandchildren.  When they come to my house, they look at the pictures of Jesus.  One time, one looked at the painting of Jesus holding a bird for a long time.  What was he thinking?   

God is a pursuer of His children.  He tenderly draws hearts and minds to Him.   Recently, my great-grandson came to me wanting to be saved.  As we talked, he affirmed his desire for Jesus to be his Savior.  After prayer, he pointed to his heart and said, “I feel Him in my heart.”  It was such a tender moment. 

Others I have heard say I am no longer alone or love Him so!!  What a glorious change when we say YES to the One who loves us.  We can be nine or fifty-nine or older!

He comes to our heart’s door and knocks.  He says, “May I come in”? 

Open your heart’s door to Him.  You will never be the same again.

Photography by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Written by - Joann Turnbull

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

Softly and Tenderly - Anne Murray (worship video with lyrics)

In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying,“This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”1 Corinthians 11:25

The meaning of betrayal is to give over to an enemy by treachery.: to be unfaithful. betrayed our trust.

We located fifty-four verses in the Bible that speak of this heartfelt word… 

When we turn back the hands of time to an event that changed the world.  So many thoughts flood my mind… Why God, why did you send us such a beautiful soul to only have Him ripped from our lives in such a horrific way. Are we worth even an ounce of His precious blood?? In my mind, I say NO we are not worth it?  But in my bleeding heart, I am so grateful for Him. He has been such a monumental gift for all generations. 

Though tear-filled eyes I try to understand the lesson you have tried to teach us in this ultimate display of sacrificial LOVE… Why the betrayal? Why thirty pieces of silver? Why Judas? Your plan of salvation for mankind has so many clues? Do these details parallel our lives today??? We tend to see the past as history… But can we relate it to the present??? Have we betrayed Him? Many do not even know His name until it’s their back that is against the wall!! I see money, greed, and power rampant in our world… Have we sold our souls for things of this world??  I see many gathering riches just by exploiting His image, His name, and even the very gifts He has given us…

Are we wearing the Judus cloak ??? 

These are difficult questions to ask ourselves … I have not been given the task of judging.

Thank God! 

I can say let our conscience and the Holy Spirit be our guide… It’s a personal resolve between our Creator and us.

I can only pray that He holds my heart in His hands… and that I can live up to His expectations for my life… 

This is a difficult time of reflection… I thank Him for loving me beyond my worth… 

I will admit I have fallen in love with the Man, that walked so humbly on this earth so many years ago… and I am grateful to my Elohim that the story does not stop here… I know in my heart that He lives and He holds the keys to my future. 

It’s Him, it will always be Him…

The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born. Matthew 26: 24

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

Josh Groban - To Where You Are

It's a sad day for me when God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit are shunned in any circle. 

I must say I don't consider myself a religious person.  I don't even call myself a Christian, even though many might label me as such. 

I try to share His message of love; it’s not religion. After my life-altering spiritual experience, I chased my Creator and embraced all facets of Him. I am a work in progress and still have so much to learn! He is so incredibly vast! It will take me a lifetime to discover more, and I will still not know everything about Him. 

But His message is clear: hope, love, unity, compassion, and forgiveness. 

In this world of exclusion, segregation, and hate… We all still have a common bond of seeking acceptance and love. 

If this is true, “Why do we exclude and/or shun the greatest love of all? “  

It is Him! 

Please wake up… let’s put our differences aside!!!! Let Him teach us how to love beyond our world!!! It’s up to us to make a difference.

He is ready to lead us to a brighter tomorrow, but we must accept, love, and follow Him… 

You could search for a lifetime and never find anyone Greater! 

It’s Him! 

“Seek me” Jeremiah 29:13

“Love me” Matthew 22:37

“Obey Me” John 14:21 

Art, Design & Written by Lori Garner  

Bible Collaboration - Joann Turnbull
Sinner's Prayer 
Inspiring Music; YouTube 

Colton Dixon - No Greater Love (Lyric Video)

Redeem, Redeemer, Redemption is used 167 times in the Bible.  

The meaning of Redeemer is:  One who buys back that which was lost. As I was studying this word, a hymn came to mind.  “O, for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer 's praise.”  The last verse says: “Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye silent, your loosened tongues employ. Ye blind, behold your Savior come, and leap, ye lame, for joy."

The music draws us to Him, to worship Him.  We come closer to Him as we sing songs of love and joy.  We feel His love rise up in our hearts.  He deserves the honor and the glory!  

The word Redeemer encompasses many thoughts. It signifies redemption. Humanity has been lost, living apart from their Creator and the Lover of their souls.

Sacrifices and countless works by man could not restore that fellowship. After years of failures, we can see a bright glimmer of hope in numerous places in the Old Testament.

It says in Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore, the Lord HIMSELF shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name, Immanuel. (God with us)

Seven hundred years later the Son is born, and His name is Jesus.  

He paid a great price for you and me. He is that Redeemer sent from the throne above.  He bled and died to redeem us.  He gave His all.  Say, YES, I accept Him as my Savior and Redeemer. 

When we do we can rejoice in our freedom to follow Him.  And joy will fill our souls as we fellowship and walk with Him.  He will continue to tell us how much He loves us and desires us. 

Another song came to mind as I was writing this.  “Pass me not O gentle Savior, do not pass me by.”  He will not pass us by.  He has been seeking you and me all our lives.  

Surrender to Him. Feel His love and grace in your life. 

The longer you know your Redeemer the more you will love Him.  He IS our great Redeemer and Lover of our soul. 

Redeemed forever!

 “For I know that my redeemer lives….”Job 19:25

“O Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; Thou hast redeemed my life.”  Lamentations 3:58

Written by Joann Turnbull 

Sinners Prayer 

Photography by Lori Garner 

Inspiring Music: YouTube Video 

Song of the Redeemed

“God made us to crave—to desire eagerly, want greatly, and long for Him.”  ― Lysa TerKeurst... 

Meaning of desire: a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen:

We found 106 verses in the KJB that reference the word desire.

As I started to unfold this word, I tried to understand the meaning written above with what my heart was whispering...

To me, desire goes deeper than just a strong feeling or want. It appears to have a romance or passion that accompanies it. So come with me, and let's see where our desires take us.

We seem to have so many earthly wants and desires... Homes, cars, things... Many, many things... But we must ask ourselves, what do we truly desire? What is the strongest desire in our life? How many of our possessions can we take with us?

When we look to the Bible for answers, I find that people have had strong desires to know God intimately over time... And then we see and hear in His written word. His desire to love all mankind becomes evident. He desires a bond of everlasting love with all of His precious children.

But as I studied the many desires in the Bible... I wrestled with this verse for a while.

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

What does this mean? If we love Him with all our mind, body, and soul , He will grant our desires much like a genie.

I do believe many people get stuck here and only see their own desires; they want from a worldly heart… I have witnessed many believers feel that if they love, worship, and pray to Him, the new car will someday be parked in their driveway, or their heart's desire will magically appear.

However, I believe if we love Him with all of our mind, body, and soul... He will become our strongest desire. Chasing Him will become as important as the air we breathe. And we will realize that He is the biggest gift we could ever hope to receive.

It's His love and acceptance that we will desire most… We will crave in our souls to linger in His presence for one more stolen moment… He is such a beautiful gift...

If you have been blessed to feel Him stirring in your soul, you have felt His romance, His passion, and a love that only He possesses… Describing it is difficult. He leaves me speechless…

It’s Him. It’s always been Him… Our soul has been programmed since birth to love Him with every part of who we are… Our soul is free to love Him with no boundaries, with no hesitations, and no man-made rules. .. but somewhere as we travel in our life, this love seems to slip away and become distant... But I thank Him for never giving up on us!!!

I say , do not get hung up on what others may think or say. I urge you to make Him the center of your life. LOVE Him with the purest intentions and heart. Because as your love grows for Him, your desires will lose their grip on worldly things. Your heart will open and draw you closer to our Heavenly Father.

It’s there that your depth of understanding and our true purpose, why we were even born, will be made clear... Your life here on earth will take on new meaning, and your soul will fall in love with our Creator once again. Your life will never be the same...

It’s Him. It’s always been Him that our soul desires. 

“I long to drink of you, O God, to drink deeply from the streams of pleasure flowing from your presence. My longings overwhelm me for more of you! My soul thirsts, pants, and longs for the living God. I want to come and see the face of God.” Psalms 42:1-2

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

Jesus Culture - Kim Walker Smith - Only You - Nothing Else

"Our lives are but specks of dust falling through the fingers of time. Like sands of the hourglass, so are the days of our lives." ~ Socrates

Meaning of expectations a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.

I truly didn’t expect the word expectations to be in the Bible.  

So I have no set expectation on what we might discover. 

Color me surprised there are 33 verses about expectations. 

I do believe we set expectations in our own mind of things to come! Resulting in a form of future desires. Some may have beautiful results. Some may carry difficult heartfelt outcomes.  I am sure there are varying degrees of this word. 

Let me share a couple examples. A new bride plans and with great anticipation this once in a lifetime event. She sets certain expectations in her mind of how this day should unfold. 

There may be times in our lives when we must face a medical condition.  And the Dr. puts us through a battery of tests. And with anxious anticipation we are full of expectations, we then hold our breath to hear the final results? 

Not everyone that sets these type of life expectations finds that they go as planned. Our expectations may have been set too high or they may have not been set at all? 

But how do we try to understand this anxious feeling when our mind tries to set expectations. Where do we turn for answers? Let's invite King James (Bible) into the discovery of this word. 

 Psalm 39:7. King James Version ... And now, Lord, what wait for I for? My hope is in thee. 

I personally believe these feelings seem to creep into our soul as our mind tries to set our expectations for our future desires.

There are times we place our expectations on others. Some will exceed our expectations Some will not be able to accomplish the set goal because we may have placed the target too high. And this can lead to disappointment. 

The question becomes do we set expectations on God? Do we let our human expectations of God limit our reality, our growth, and the wondrous possibilities of our spiritual growth and future? 

Do we look at others as they travel towards this heavenly destination? And then place unrealistic expectations on our own spiritual walk?  I am a firm believer God has made each one uniquely His own and we all have different gifts.  Each one of us has different expectations in God's heart for our physical and spiritual growth.  

When we pray do we place expectations on God or do we pray and have faith that He is in control. We may find our expectations may not be God’s plan for our life. We may experience disappointment but we can find solace in knowing God has a bigger plan.

I do believe we are all guilty of wanting and waiting for God at some time in our life.. When we place our expectations at His feet... Are we on target? Or are we disappointed at the results?  Because we do not take the time to understand His plan for our life? 

I would like us to take a moment and let’s flip the direction of this word. 

When is the last time you asked God, what do you expect of me? What do you want my life on earth to mean? How can I grow my faith and my love for you, so I can meet or exceed your expectations for my life ??  

Only He knows our heart's desires. He knows them better than we know them ourselves.

Our expectations should be focused on Him. Our faith should be strong enough to trust Him. We should cultivate the art of waiting on Him.  Our soul should guide us to the greatest anticipation of love. Our expectations should be centered on Him and His LOVE. He will never disappoint, it's a spiritual experience... that will blow your mind... It has nothing to do with our humanistic wants. It's an expectation of the soul, It's an excitement of newfound love. It's a relationship that has no true earthly explanation. 

It’s him it’s always him. 

My soul, wait for thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. Psalms 62:5 

“And now, Lord, for what do I expectantly wait? My hope [my confident expectation] is in You. Psalms 39:7

Written by Lori Garner, Verses From KJV, Easy  /  Sinners prayer                                                                                        Inspiring Music by Carly Simon - Anticipation