“Not what I have, but what I have not, is the first point of contact between my soul and God.”―Charles Haddon Spurgeon...
This word fell into my heart today… and honestly, I had no clue what it even meant.
But as I began to search, what I discovered brought me to tears.
The Beatitudes, found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–12), are introduced by the Hebrew word “Ashrei” (אַשְׁרֵי)—a word typically translated as blessed,fortunate, or happy. Yet it carries a deeper meaning: a state of blessedness, prosperity, and God’s favor—especially for those who walk in righteousness and faithfulness. It is more than a feeling; it’s a public declaration of a life connected to God’s blessing.
Each Beatitude begins with “Blessed are” and reveals a virtue or condition that draws us nearer to His heart:
• The poor in spirit who know their need for Him.
• Those who mourn and find comfort in His presence.
• The meek who walk humbly.
• Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
• The merciful who extend grace.
• The pure in heart who will see God.
• The peacemakers called children of God.
• The persecuted who cling to righteousness and inherit the kingdom of heaven.
When I look at the word itself, I see BE–attitude.
Could it be that simple? That our attitude—the way we live, love, and surrender—shapes who we are becoming in Him?
I can only pray that pieces of my life are found within each Beatitude… and if not, may I have the courage to ask why not? and invite His Spirit to shape me into one who truly lives His words.
The Sermon on the Mount is primarily found inMatthew 5-7
Become the person you were meant to be, light your inner fire and follow your heart’s desire. Leon Brown…
Meaning of stoke .. add coal or other solid fuel to (a fire, furnace, boiler, etc.).
The word stoke is only used one time in the Bible.
It's 3 am and I can not sleep… as I close my eyes and begin to pray the word stoke nudged my mind and stirred the smoldering fire within…
What sets our souls on fire? What is this pull God has placed within my soul to chase this greater existence? This greater peace? This greater LOVE…
Has this kindling been placed in our souls before birth… Does it sit dormant just waiting for that golden opportunity? That date with destiny, when our Heavenly Father has preordained the exact moment-in-time of when He will remind us of who we are… and how our story began… ??
We are all His children … When He created us He placed His seal of ownership on our heads. And sprinkled His love into our hearts. He lovingly kissed our tender souls…And then gently placed us in our mother's womb…
I believe this precious kindling sits waiting in silence… Waiting like combustible atoms of light! All waiting for God to unlock and ignite the fire of heaven's light.
This is what I consider the rebirth of the soul. Many call it an awakening… However, I find it odd that there are those that claim an awakening of the spirit … and they may find many gifts!! However, they miss the most important ingredient, the reason, the main event… and our true purpose...
Even when it's our Heavenly Father’s very breath that has stirred up that primal craving to search for more… Some still do not get it ...It is sad that many do not cherish this gift or for that matter even acknowledge where it came from.
He gently blows His heavenly breath into our smoldering souls… the fire within our hearts begins to spark and the flutter of new life can be felt. He lovingly stokes the coals with such care and He sings a love song that resonates with the most intimate places in our souls. His love is the purest love that we could ever be blessed to feel.
The coals react with the oxygen in the air and the glowing red heat turns into a flame. This fire can be equated to birth and resurrection…
This portion of His heavenly love has had our name on it since the beginning of time.
The power of this love is beyond our human understanding. It is a beautiful process of reconnecting with our Creator… Our mission in this life is to find our way Home so we can reunite with our first love.
It is our destiny to fall madly in love with the greatest soul that I have ever grown to know…
It's Him, it will always be Him.
Breathe on me… your sweet breath of LOVE🔥it contains enough octane to blow the human mind… He is the eternal breath of life…
The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Job 33:4 KJV
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God John 3:5
The moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever. Psalm 136:9
In the King James version, the word - commit - appears 75 times the word - committed - appears 92 times the word - committest - appears once.
Meaning of commit. pledge or bind (a person or an organization) to a certain course or policy:
The word commit touches all our lives in some way. Some people, when they give you their word and possibly their heart, will go the distance and keep the commitment made until death if necessary. They are true and genuine souls ... I have been blessed to know a few of these beautiful, rare gems. I love them for who they are and how they touch my soul.
However, unfortunately, I have had the misfortune of knowing a few who do not take those commitments seriously. They callously leave scars on the hearts of others. They live a fearful, shallow existence. They cannot even be true to themselves. Sadly, because they don’t know how to give that level of commitment. They are self-centered and lack substance. They are so focused on self, they cannot see that keeping their commitments can only enrich their own life...
I have found that there are levels of commitment. We commit our time, our love, and our lives to something every day. Do you ever stop the think? Where do we commit our energy? Family? Friends? Work? Sports? Trinity? In this life, we should commit to giving our very best to every relationship. So I ask you, is that even possible? Well, I will share my thoughts.
A few years ago, I cracked open the Bible. A book I never managed to take the time to read, nor did I want to. But it was then that I made the commitment to learn as much as possible about this amazing book and the beautiful story of the Trinity. The melodic words written contain a love story like no other. This exercise has opened my heart to a new understanding of the word commitment. It’s teaching me so much about life, love, and the ultimate sacrifice. It has everlasting results.
What I discovered is that Jesus has been a part of my life for a long time. Actually, since birth, but I was too busy with life to even realize it was His presence that I felt. I am sad to say it was me who let Him down. I did not make the time. But I am happy to report all of this has changed... However, I must share with you that I will not make shallow statements. Nor will I commit my heart. Nor will I commit my soul to Jesus. Unless I am ready to take it seriously and not waver. I am sure you think this is impossible. How could this be? She loves Jesus! How could she not commit her heart and soul to Him?
You see, that is not that difficult. When He already owns them both!!
I can commit to always learn more every day and to loving him beyond my own understanding. It is a commitment that yields many great rewards. I am a work in progress! And I thank him for His grace!
It’s Him! It’s always Him!
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
For this reason, I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12
Photography, Design & Written by Lori Garner Bible Collaboration - Joann Turnbul Bible Verses From KJV, / Sinner's Prayer
Inspiring Music: YouTube
ED SHEERAN'S 'PERFECT' AS A WORSHIP SONG!! Philippa Hanna
“The fears we don’t face become our limits.” – Amy Elizabeth
Meaning of lost: unable to find one's way; not knowing one's whereabouts.
The word lost is in the Bible forty-nine times.
Lost, have you ever felt lost? Have you ever witnessed a child when they have lost sight of their parent and panic sets in… They are afraid, tears stream… cries can be heard!! I do believe we still can feel that panic and anxiety as adults. However, as adults, we learn to internalize those emotions or choose to suffer in silence.
The lost feeling can manifest within for many reasons. This life can be unpredictable and difficult at best. Each day is a difficult hill to climb. But how do we cope? How do we hold on to a rope that seems to be unraveling? Darkness and doubt can overcome our very existence.
Where do we turn when our hearts are longing for relief? Where do we go when our souls are aching for answers? It sometimes seems to hurt so bad that we bleed.
I am not a doctor or even qualified to give medical or clinical advice. But I can share my heart. I have found a healer, a therapist, a friend and a lover of our souls. That if you will open your heart and let His light in He will heal every scar. He will fill every void. He will bring peace to your soul that you will have difficulty in understanding. Where there was once darkness, you will feel a warmth from the love that will glow from within.
There is no medical insurance needed, no copay. His heart is open 365 days a year, rain or shine… I can’t recommend Him enough.
So, how do you contact His office? Go to a quiet place. Close your eyes and call His name and wait on Him… Open the life manual He provided. It’s a best seller and holds a wealth of information…It’s called the Bible. Meditate on the words between the pages day and night. The most important action is to chase Him with all you are worth. Never give up, the rewards are endless…
The only true cost is to LOVE Him… He will return love to you, far greater than you ever knew could exist. So, now I will ask you who in our troubled world could not use this type of LOVE.
It’s Him, It's Always Him!!
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. Psalm 62:5-6 ESV
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV
Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. Luke 12:3 ESV
Love leaves legacy. How you treated other people, not your wealth or accomplishments, is the most enduring impact you can leave on earth.
- Rick Warren
The meaning of wealth is an abundance of valuable possessions or money.
We have located eighteen verses in the Bible that touch on the word wealth...
As I sit in a darkened room at 1:34 am and contemplate on the word wealth, my heart and mind began the struggle... What is wealth? Is it a beautiful house on a hill? Is it a new flashy car?? Is it fancy designer clothes?? Is it a successful job? Many of us are so label-driven. We are sucked up into the world's definition of wealth... We seem to be a restless unsatisfied bunch...
But what if I tell you I have found the most amazing treasure on earth??? It’s not made of gold... It’s not a tangible item. I can not wrap it in beautiful shiny paper. It’s beyond our world...It is the most beautiful soul you will ever encounter... He can not even be adequately described .. He possesses the most powerful presence. His beauty has made the strongest of men quiver and fall to their knees... He has romanced hearts from the beginning of time... His heart is so big it can not be contained...
He restores weary souls. He loves without boundaries!!! He engulfs lost souls with a peace that surpasses human understanding. He is not of our world... But He is the creator of all things... His artistic talent can be witnessed with each new miracle of birth.
He came from humble beginnings and is now a loving King... He measures the wealth of His Children by how they share and love others... You see wealth is not measured by possessions ... You may collect items in your journey of life. But, there will be the day you will leave this earthly existence and your possessions will be left behind. Your life will be measured by the hearts you have touched and the love you have shared ...
He is the greatest teacher of life and love. He has promised His children that they will live with Him in paradise... Many think of paradise and feel they will finally hit the jackpot!! They envision a room in His mansion, streets of gold, inlaid with precious stones...
But my friends, I believe that the most precious gift we will receive is Him... There is nothing in heaven or on earth to compare... You may ask where can I buy this priceless gift.. How can I give Him to my friends and family?
He is here waiting with open arms.. He has already paid for your portion of this gift... You just need to open your heart to His Love and Love Him back with the same vigor that He loves you!!!
It’s Him! It’s always been Him...
Knowing Him.. Loving Him ... makes His children possess the riches souls.. Because they have found a treasure that can not be measured! It can not be contained..
His love is mind blowing.. Yes He is my heart! My treasure! My perfect love from Heaven above ... I call Him by many names... God, My Heavenly Father, Jesus, Yeshua, the Holy Spirit...
Elohim my three in one...
He has touched my soul and my life will never be the same...
It is rich with His love ...and I am sharing His wealth of love with you... I pray you open your heart !!! Find Him and fall in love!!! It will be the best investment you will ever make!!! And I hear the dividends are endless...
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Proverbs 23:4-5
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:3
"The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass." – Revelation 21:19 -21
“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.” –Og Mandino
The meaning of encourage: to give support, confidence, or hope to (someone):
There are 74 verses in the Bible that reflect the word encourage...
Hold me close and whisper into my doubtful heart? What am I doing? Am I doing it right? Why do others seem to have it all together?? Have you ever felt that you were singled out for some reason but you feel that you are not prepared ?? Are you doubtful? unconfident? stagnant? or just plain scared?
Our mind can play tricks on us as we try to rationalize why we should try to tackle things that come up in our life... Will we look silly? What will people think? Will we be embarrassed? Or maybe worse, we could be afraid to try at all. Thoughts of failure dance through our heads .... Which is sad...
These thoughts cripple our hearts and hinder our souls. They stop us from stretching and becoming everything God intended His beautiful children to be...
I encourage you.... to take a deep breath .... close your eyes and think of a hurdle, or mountain you are facing... and talk to our Creator ... Let His words penetrate into your heart. Feel the peace that only He can give... He is our best cheerleader, He wants us to succeed He wants us to find our true purpose...
He is traveling with us every step of the way. He knows that one day we will be that perfect masterpiece that He molding with each new day... . He made us in His image and He is heavenly perfection... He never stops working to improve His creations.. Just think we are one of His famous works of art...
So if we can make it our daily goal, to listen to His teachings... And do our best to improve... Even if it's just a little each day.. And if we fall short ... Just remember that each day brings us the opportunity for growth and improvement ... Each growing pain helps build our faith and adds beauty to our relationship with God... That is all He wants for each of us... is to try to be better each God-given day...
I do believe we are all on a journey I call life... We all have a unique set of strengths and weaknesses... And we should look to our family and friends and work together... Lend a helping hand, be that shoulder to cry on. Speak love, kindness, and gratitude.
Because our day to shine is now... However, life does come with its challenges and our light may dim. It's at that moment that the tables may turn and you may need that helping hand, or that shoulder to cry on. I pray that you turn to Jesus!! His light is such a beautiful loving gift. It will help you shine brighter than you ever thought possible.
He will give us the strength and encouragement to face all our tomorrows...
He WOWs me.
It’s Him. it’s always Him.
Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction. 2 Corinthians 7:4
For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts; Colossians 4:8
Tears flow silently through the soul and cleanse the heart.
Meaning of the word cleanse: a process or period during which a person attempts to rid the body of substances regarded as toxic or unhealthy, typically by consuming only water or other liquids.
There are approximately 40 verses that mention the word cleanse.
Does life dirty our hands? Does our lack of compassion harden our hearts? Do our thoughts pollute our hearts and minds? Do we scar other hearts with callous actions or unkind words? Do we allow the pollution of our world to penetrate our very souls? Are we a sluggish society? Are we broken? Are we bruised?
How do we find the beauty our world once had? How do we find that soft place to fall? How do we change our hearts?
Many of us try to wash the wounds of life… and travel on our way without healing. We become lost or maybe distracted and continue our daily routine without much change. This action may result in a darkness that makes your soul silently grieve and your heart harden.
How do we change the heaviness we feel? How do we learn to trust again? How do we heal our scars? How do we learn to love again?
When we think of the word cleanse, perhaps we think of washing… we think of restoring… we think of the word refreshing…
I can only share what I have experienced during my journey and how I found the freedom to chase God’s love with all that I am. At the time, I did not know Him. I knew of Him… there is a beautiful difference…
I do not know why, but one day He whispered my name… and that is how this amazing journey began.
As days passed, He began to share a beautiful love that tore down my walls—walls that had been built to protect my heart. As the walls crumbled, I found myself meekly standing there alone, with only His love. I had never felt a love so pure, so warm, so heavenly… there are not enough words to describe His love.
I felt that my heart was being circumcised. I felt stripped, bewildered, and confused. I did not understand the magnitude of His love or His plan for me. I could not run… I had no place to hide… He saw the raw me, the true me… yet He lovingly held me as I faced my insecurities and fears.
And as He took my wounded heart in His loving hands, He began to shave the layers of dirt from my life. He spoke words of love to my soul. I felt a freedom that I could not contain… tears fell like rain from the deepest chambers of my heart. His love opened my soul and eased the chokehold I had placed on my life.
He taught me how to let go and breathe again.
It was at that moment in time I fell in love and surrendered my heart to the One who knows me better than I know myself.
His love runs so deep… His care is so gentle and kind… He sees us through our failures and helps us rise from the ashes. He revels in our victories. There is no one anywhere that can even compare!
I believe His love contains beautiful healing oxygen that frees our souls...
This cleansing process can be heartfelt. Facing your inner fears and yourself can be difficult at times. However, I have found that with pain comes growth… There is an inner peace that comes from traveling this road of life with Him.
There is an amazing transformation of love that occurs within our heart and soul when we begin to love without boundaries. This includes loving who you are becoming.
Over time, I have learned to just close my eyes, open my heart, and trust Him with my life… but I must say… loving Him is the best thing I have ever done.
It’s Him… It’s always Him.
P.S.… I am a work in progress… I am at the mercy of my Master’s loving hands… He WOWs me.
That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me the right path and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness. so that I can bring honor to his name. Even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. Psalm 23:3-5 TPT
Come to Your Senses!!! Your Life Will Never Be the Same.
The word senses—a faculty by which the body perceives an external stimulus; one of the gifts of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch—is referenced approximately 21 times.
If we took the time to analyze our senses truly, we would see what an amazing gift they are. There’s no way we could deny the reality of miracles! What kind of mind could create such magnificent wonders? How do they work in such perfect unison—feeding our minds, our hearts, and our souls with precise information in split-second timing?
Sight. Smell. Hearing. Taste. Touch.
Can you imagine life without these precious gifts? Without them, the richness of life would be like a blank canvas—void of beauty and wonder, stripped of the details we so often take for granted.
As I reflected on this word, I began to wonder: do we give our Heavenly Father our all?
Do we see Him with our spiritual eyes?
Do we hear His beautiful voice?
Do we touch His gentle heart?
Do we know His fragrance?
Do we taste His words and carry them deep within our hearts?
Do we use all of our gifts—all of our senses—to thank Him for giving us the ability to paint a beautiful canvas of our individual lives?
Perhaps He created these gifts for a reason—
to see His beauty,
to hear His voice,
to worship Him with every fiber of our being.
Or do we only use a few? Are we a blank page, void of the richness He made available to us?
In this journey, I have been blessed to see Him with my soulful eyes.
I have heard His beautiful voice.
I have felt Him deep in my spirit.
I have tasted His words as they flowed from my lips.
And yes—I have smelled Him in a warm summer breeze.
Not utilizing all of our gifts robs us of knowing our Heavenly Father intimately. It limits our understanding of His power, His beauty, His amazing gift of love, and His brilliant colors. He is a beautiful wonder, and we are His miracle children.
I stand in awe. When we say we love Him—do we love Him completely? Or do we only offer Him fragments of ourselves?
He has proven, time and time again, that He gives us His all.
It’s Him. It’s always Him.
Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Psalms 115:3-8
"God's grace is greater than your biggest regret." ~ Lecrae
Regret—a feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened or been done.
The word regret appears roughly 28 times in the Bible.
I regret to inform you that this word may tug at your heartstrings. It has the power to stir deep thought and, at times, even anguish.
Do we cause our own pain? Do we dismiss our actions because we don’t want to pay the price or face possible failure? Or do we justify our choices by saying we’re “only human” and that the temptation was simply too great?
If I asked you to share the greatest regret of your life, what would it be? Education? Relationships? Life choices? I believe we all carry regret to some degree.
Here’s my challenge to you—take out a piece of paper and write these words:
I regret…
Then finish the sentence.
Here is mine:
I regret that I didn’t face it sooner.
I regret that I wasted time… wasted love… wasted opportunities to truly know my Creator. I regret the years I could have spent growing in knowledge of Him.
But once I faced my regret, the question became—what can I do to change the outcome of a regretful heart?
I could say, “I don’t need to do much; the Holy Spirit has touched my soul, and that is enough.” But something inside shifted. My regret turned into desire—desire to know my Creator more deeply.
And desire requires action. I must invest my time. I must invest my love. As I study Him, my knowledge will grow. And as knowledge grows, regret fades.
If we can clear our hearts of regret, even little by little each day, our lives will become richer. My only regret now is that I didn’t recognize it sooner. But I am profoundly grateful to Him for capturing my heart—and for giving me the time to turn that regret into a love I can’t fully comprehend, yet know will never let me go.
Now I’m on a quest. Every day is an opportunity to grow away from regret and into a beautiful relationship, not just with my Creator, but also with myself.
Getting to know yourself can be both daunting and beautiful. You may just discover that you are a beautiful soul, because God made you that way.
So look at your regret not as an ending, but as an invitation to grow into everything He already knows you can be.
I am blessed to grow in Him, in His Word, and in His unending love.
It’s Him. It’s always Him.
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Act 20:24
Photography & Written by Lori Garner
Model: Robyn Z
Bible Verses from KJV, ESV / Sinner's Prayer
Inspiring music from YouTube
Tenth Avenue North - Greater Than All My Regrets (Lyrics)
