The meaning of a challenge to confront or defy boldly: dare.

I challenge you to reach further within yourself than you have ever been!! Is there something you would love to do in your life but have held back? 

Our days are filled with challenges. Some large, some small, and some may even be transparent…. 

When we take the first step towards our goal, emotions surface, including fear of failure and what others may think. Is this the fear the Bible speaks of? Is fear holding us back? Are we paralyzed?  

With gratitude, I reflect on my spiritual journey, where I once hesitated, afraid of not being good enough. But now, I stand in awe of my magnificent Elohim, who embraced me with unwavering love and tenderly set free the inner child within me. In His grace, we can experience life unencumbered and free….

He gives us the courage to step out of our comfort zones. He has taken me on an amazing journey of self-discovery. He has placed many new adventures in my path, including writing, podcasting, art, and music, inspiring me to embrace life's endless possibilities.

Two years ago, I began painting, with a primary focus on the face of Jesus. Despite the challenge of transferring what my soulful eye sees to canvas, my artful spiritual journey has been heartfelt. 

Today, this challenge made its way into my mind…

Paint a female ... 

I wrestled with this thought and could not decide how or who to paint… As I stared at the blank canvas… I picked my brush and began the heartfelt struggle because my soul wanted to paint Him… But my hands stayed on the given task… Unhappy with the result, I put my brush down, turned off the light, and went to bed… Only to wake up to this botched attempt on my easel.  I studied this face while I sipped a cup of tea and listened to beautiful music. I spoke to my Elohim within my mind as I do each given morning… 

I picked up my brush and began to add more paint to the dry existing image… and as I painted, He began to speak to my soul softly… 

“This is my bride… do you see her? Paint with your heart and let the colors flow…  feel her with your soul” … as I continued to add color, she began to appear… 

The Bride of Christ…

Our Heavenly Father places challenges in front of us to help us grow into what He knows we can be…

Let's courageously embrace the empowering tools He graciously provides us and never give up until He sees His Bride’s reflection in our eyes. 

He will always be our guiding inspiration. 

It’s Him; it’s always Him. 

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9. 

“It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.” – Psalm 18:32. 

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:57

Art & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull

Click on the link below for Inspiring Music posted on (SoundCloud) 

Day of love in bloom 

The meaning of fascinating, extremely interesting, or charming: captivating. 

I am so fascinated with the man who left His home to roam on the soil of this forsaken, turbulent land… Was He, in turn, fascinated with the gift of human life? Does fascination go hand in hand with love? Was His fascination extreme? Or was His capacity to love more profound than any superficial fascination? 

I can only share from my heart my fascination with this amazing love story that took place so long ago… This beautiful story has kept generations in awe for centuries… 

In this case, I believe my fascination goes hand in hand with a love so difficult to put into words…He is charming and kind. And loves me with no pretense or boastfulness. He charmed me with His soft, subtle touch and unwavering love. He ignited a fascination within my soul to discover more about the man who left all His Kingly possessions just for me… 

He came to teach all of us about His life, His home, and how to gain the beauty and richness of life while walking on this turbulent soil…He endured a torturous death as a sacrificial gift to give us everlasting life and love… 

Somewhere in my fascination, I wanted more. It has been told that I fell in love, not with the story of His life… but I fell in love with the man who has been so fascinated with me that He fell in love with my soul even before I was born. 

He is my hope for the future… He is the most fascinating love I have ever had the experience of discovering.  He has captivated my heart.  He has shared with me that I have only begun to find the clues He left for His children to find. I believe He did this so we would never lose interest and find our way home to see His love light forever burning. Like my love, my fascination will carry me closer to Him each God-given day… Where He awaits with bated breath for my return… 

Its Him. It will always be Him…

He fascinates me!!  

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Art & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull

Inspiring Music by (YouTube)

Allie Crummy - Fascinated by You (Official Lyric Video)

Its Him. It's always Him!!!!

Sitting in the warm summer sun, I feel the gentle breeze gliding effortlessly across my face. I close my eyes and drift into a place of peace and relaxation. My soul is drawn to a sanctuary of epic beauty and love, a place where time knows no boundaries.

“It really matters what you listen to. . . . Select music that will strengthen your spirit.” —Russell M. Nelson... 

O, the sweet blend of old hymns and new songs.  They met two thousand years ago to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. 

The sound of His voice is sweet to us as He sings over us in the quiet times we spend with Him.  

The very rocks cry out, and the trees clap their hands in praise to Him.  And so should we. 

Angel choirs sing to those who cannot remember where or who their family is.  But when you let them listen to hymns from long ago, suddenly, they begin to sing every word!  It is amazing. 

From my youth, I sang many old hymns to music that allowed me to memorize the words.   So often, these hymns and songs come to mind.  A melody can evoke many emotions.  The melody touches the deep places in our souls. 

We could name many in the Bible that sang songs to Him.  Miriam, Moses, David, Paul, and Silas.  Some were in sorrow, the enemy surrounded some, some were in prison, and many were victorious.   

The priests at the temple's dedication that Solomon built fell on their faces, and they could do no work as he overcame them.  Let us cease from our works for a moment and sing praises unto Him, our Creator, our Savior, and our Lover.  Often, I desire to have a thousand tongues to sing His praises. 

So, let the notes of hymns and songs refresh us and prepare us to wield the sword of His word wherever we go. 

“I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.”

Psalm 104:33 KJV

Photography Lori Garner 

Written by Joann Turnbull

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (YouTube)

How Great Thou Art | Elvis Presley 4K (Live Music Video) | Outtake - Elvis 

The meaning of behind at or to the far side of (something), typically to be hidden by it.

We located 102 verses in the Bible that refer to the word behind...

Who are we really?? I do believe we all hide behind a mask at some time in this crazy thing we call life. We seem to have a tendency to hide the rawness of what is truly happening in our lives. We have all been guilty of only showing the world what we would like them to see ... Many of our social media accounts reflect our dreams, our hopes, and a life that we have fabricated for others to LIKE and or possibly envy.

We hide our vulnerability and show that beautiful hardcover we have painted of ourselves. I find that many are overly concerned with what others may think... 

What are we afraid of? Why is it so important to fit in? I sometimes feel like a round peg trying to fit in a square hole... 

But the questions that spoke to my heart brought me here.. Are we willing to risk being different? Are we willing to walk alone? Are we willing to be set apart? Are we willing to bring the walls down that we hide behind... Are we willing to show the world our true colors? 

But then I asked,” What is the price??”  It's a heartfelt moment in time... And many times our insecurities will get the best of us and the loneliness will creep in and it may even wound our hearts. 

But what does the Bible reveal? I found myself asking ”What have I learned throughout my journey that I can share? Can I step out from behind the walls I have built ?” Can I be raw? Can I stand alone? Can I risk being different?

I have been taught that we must share the rawness of life it frees our souls. I have come to grips with being vulnerable and found it shows we are all human and wrestle with the same fears, dreams, and hopes. 

I have grown to love God beyond my own understanding. I have been taught that I am never alone... My savior is always with me. He is my mentor, my love, and my forever friend.

I have been enlightened and I have readjusted my value system. 

Life is a gift. Relationships are precious... Memories will be our legacy... Don't hide behind a mask, be the most authentic soul you can be... Make a difference in this world. Love our sovereign God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 

Because one day He may ask you  ”Do you want ordinary or do you want me?? ” and our answer should always be YOU!!! 

It's Him, It's always Him!  

Step out and let your light shine for Christ so others can find their way... 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:17 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

Lauren Daigle - Rescue (Official Music Video)

“The Divine is revealing itself to us every day. All we have to do is pay attention.” - Andrew Pacholyk...

Motivated by a whisper that echoed in my mind, I embarked on a new sculpting journey. My experience with clay has been limited to playdough with the kids… Lol. So, this could be a challenging afternoon. 

I found myself with a childlike curiosity in Hobby Lobby, standing in the clay aisle, shifting through the choices. Suddenly, a young woman appeared before me, and we exchanged words. I asked her if she had ever created a sculpture, and she replied that she had, but it had been a while since she last sculpted in college. She shared that she is a photographer. 

That day, we discovered many things in common, including our love for Jesus. Our conversation flowed effortlessly as we stood in the aisle, sharing stories about God and life. 

She hugged me and said that in Hebrew, the word 'coincidence' does not appear and that moments like this are considered God's intervention. She smiled, said we met for a reason and introduced herself as Ruby. I smiled back, told her my name, and gave her the bracelet I wear with the inscription 'One great love, Elohim333'. We hugged and said our goodbyes….

I left with renewed inspiration to sculpt a 10-pound block of clay into a memory, proving that His great love is never a coincidence.

Wishing you a day filled with His Great LOVE!!

When YAHWEH delights in how you live your life, he establishes your every step. Psalms 37:23 TPT

"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

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)