Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

Psalms 51:10

 

The meaning of Circumcision: The action or practice of circumcising a young boy or man. It’s a procedure that has been used for centuries. Many view this subject as one that requires special care to discuss and execute.

 

Circumcisions are normally done for medical or religious reasons. And this type of circumcision can be studied by individuals at another time and place.

 

As my curiosity wanted to know more about this word and why, in the early part of my journey, I prayed multiple times and stated that God circumcised my heart. But why would I use this word to describe this light-hearted feeling? As many of you know, I journal my prayers so I can revisit them and know where this incredible walk with God has taken me. So, I will share a peek into my heart where I actually used this curious word.

 

“Teach me how to touch hearts in my world. Help me understand my past hurts. I know they have helped You mold my heart. You have circumcised the layers of my heart and made me truly FEEL… The rawness is beautifully painful but necessary for growth. I understand this, but it does not diminish the pain that I have felt. But on the flip side, I have also felt Your great LOVE. It’s like no other.

 

You are an amazing teacher of LOVE and LIFE. I am grateful for You!!!”

 

A circumcised heart is an amazing cleansing and freedom of the heart! Many of you have witnessed these changes in me over the years. Now you know what you were seeing was an outward view of God’s beautiful work from within. I won’t lie—it has had some low, sad times, but it has had some of the most amazing high times of my life. I am a work in progress, and I feel He is not finished with me yet. Every day is quite a spiritual adventure.

 

To further help me understand the meaning of a circumcised heart, I will share the scripture I found in the Bible:

 

“Also, because you are united with Christ, you truly belong to God’s people. No person has circumcised you to show this. It is like Christ himself has circumcised you, to show that you belong to God. It is like he has cut off your old nature, which made you do bad things.”

—Colossians 2:11 EASY

 

Are you surprised that this is in the Bible? I am not. It’s been an amazing eye- and heart-opening experience.

 

It’s His Fault!!! And I love Him for it!

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 KJV

“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 in Matthew 5-7

Photography, Art & Written by Lori Garner  

Bible Collaboration - Joann Turnbull

Sinner's Prayer 

Inspiring Music: YouTube

Love Sublime – Triune Loves me| Lori Garner 

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 

I love how He inspires my soul… 

Photography, Art & Written by Lori Garner  

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 

Photography, Design & Written by Lori Garner   

Bible Verses From KJV  / Sinner's Prayer

Inspiring Music Freya Ridings - Lost Without You

Love leaves legacy. How you treated other people, not your wealth or accomplishments, is the most enduring impact you can leave on earth.

“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

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 

Photography & written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (YouTube) 

Cleanse You by Calee Reed - Lyric Video

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 

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinner's Prayer

Inspiring Music by (YouTube)

Annie’s Song with Lyrics John Denver 3d BEAUTIFUL :

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