“There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made know through Jesus Christ.”― Pascal 

The meaning of the Hebrew word (tohu) translated as “formless” is nothingness and the Hebrew word (bohu) translated as “void” means emptiness. 

The word void is in the Bible approximately 68 times. 

When I began to think of this word. I had to go to a place to feel this word... It was a lonely place... It was a sad place, a dark place.. a place with no color... no sound.. no love... 

I ask you, are you void? And if I can be so bold I would ask you, void of what? Do you even know? Maybe you are void in your soul? The void can invade our hearts and play havoc with our minds. 

In my life, I have witnessed people, so beautiful to look at but so void of substance? I wonder do they feel that void? Or do they hide it well behind that smile?  

I do think we must think of this word as an artist.. creatives see the void as an opportunity for expression. They can see, hear and feel the beauty in the darkness. They can imagine what it can become. And with great care, and careful precision they can begin to add color ... yellow, blue, red and suddenly the magic starts to surface. You can begin to see love pour out with each stroke of their hand.  The once void canvas begins to have a purpose, it begins to feel life.. it begins to reflect their passion and love. 

When our soul feels that void we must go back to the beginning. The beginning of time. Because the artist that created you and me started with a void... But His love poured out. It poured out across heaven and earth. I personally would have loved to watch Him work. But when I think those thoughts, I am reminded that I have been given the gift of seeing His artistry everywhere. My sight is His gift.  I feel Him in my soul, and I hear His beautiful sound in the warm subtle breeze or the ocean tide as it caresses the shore... I feel to be void is an opportunity for His love to pour out over your life. It’s an opportunity for His imagination to work wonders. It’s an opportunity for His masterpiece to be completed one gentle stroke at a time. 

And one day, like every great artist the time will come when He will sign His name across your heart...stand back and say.. look at you. You are my creation... With you, I am well pleased. It’s you!! It’s always been you! 

Somewhere between the void and His creation. He fell in love with His masterpiece. He is such an affair of the Heart...❤

It’s Him, It’s always Him. 

He WOWs me!

In the beginning, God created heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1: 27

 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”
Isaiah 55:8 KJV

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Isaiah 55:11 KJV

Photography & Written by Lori Garner 

Bible Verses from KJV, ESV / Sinner's Prayer

Inspiring music from YouTube 

Danny Gokey - Masterpiece (Live)

“Your greatest self has been waiting your whole life; don’t make it wait any longer.” – 

Dr. Steve Maraboli 

Meaning of self: The Christian “self” is real in the sense that he or she exists through God's grace; he or she expresses himself or herself in the created world of common experience in psychological terms and moral behavior. A person's essential being that distinguishes them from others, especially considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action.

When I researched how many times the word “self” appeared in the Bible. I discovered that the word seemed to attach itself to other words. Like, self-examine, self-love, self-control, self-esteem, self-care, and I am sure there are many more. So for this word we will not share how many times the word self appears. But we are praying that if one of the subsets of the word “self” hits home that you will chase it down and study it for yourself. 

I also made an interesting discovery when I put the word self in the search bar for this blog.. It made me reflect with a smile on my face. 

Here are the words in order. Journey, Genuine, Character, True, Exposed, Righteousness, Commit, Scars, Unquenchable thirst, The Masters's hands… These words have all touched my soul. And they all have a piece of me within each page, I can be found in each word, and each thought…. But they do not point me to self… They all point me to Him.. to His Love.. and to His guidance. So, I must go to Him to understand this word self. 

Hello, it’s me again, You have taught me many things…You have taught me the importance of life and love.  You have taught me that we can not be brave enough to truly see ourselves…We can only see the mirror image of who we think we are?? 

How can I truly see myself? Humans have a tendency to hide behind a façad. Where is that true genuine self? The one that you so tenderly made? I can not do this without your help… It is a scary thing to be stripped bare, and look onto our own hearts? I can only hold my breath when I look into my soul… Can our minds even handle what our eyes must-see? What I must understand ?? Will you help me? Will you hold my hand? Will you carry me when the view is not what I want to see?

“Do not be afraid … It’s the light you reflect from your heart and soul into the world. That is the most genuine most truthful look at self.” 

So then, I ask you to search me, find me, and help me refine the light that shines from within…It’s not what I think of myself that matters most. It’s what you think of me that is the most important factor of living a life that will be remembered by the light that is shared... 

So when I look into the mirror I pray that others see you within me and not that inward word.. of self. But that outward word of LOVE. 

It's Him, It's always Him.

Photography & Written by Lori Garner 

Bible Verses from KJV, ESV / Sinner's Prayer 

Inspiring music from YouTube 

Reflection of Your Love

“Life is playfulness…We need to play so that we can rediscover the magic all around us.” ~ Flora Colao

Meaning of true: Genuine; pure; real; not counterfeit, adulterated or false; as true balsam; the true bark; true love of country; a true Christian.

There are approximately 24 verses about truth in the Bible. 

This four-letter word possesses such power, such depth, such internal growth that it may lead to a transformation in your near future. 

During my journey of discovering God. There were many things that transpired and many left me with a desire burning in my soul to chase God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. 

It gave me an insatiable appetite to learn something new about them every day. They revealed to my heart that they collectively are one. He taught me the importance of sharing life and love... He revealed His true heart and shared many things with me... His whispers spoke so lovingly to my soul. He made me dig deep within myself, and own my strengths and face my weaknesses... He made my emotions rush to the surface for the world to see.   He made my vulnerability peek out time and time again. 

He reached a place so deep within my soul, it was a place that no one has ever been. He held me so tenderly.  He never gave up. Until one day He rescued the child within. 

I did not realize, that this child had become comfortable and laid dormant for so long that it seemed to be lost. But with His loving kindness, He opened the doors to my heart and placed the wonderment back into my soul. That now because of Him I sing a new song. He knew that with Him it would be easier for me to share my true heart openly with the world. He is such a loving forgiving source of light that only He and He alone feeds my soul... 

He made me face that I had been hiding behind a wall that I had built to keep my true genuine self from harm. Because I have witnessed just how harsh our world can be. It can be cruel, it can be unforgiving... It teaches us if we are different if we do not follow the world's standards, that we will be subject to misguided judgment, or ridicule. 

He has freed the child within... He has shared His love with my soul. It’s an amazingly beautiful gift that is at its best when shared. It’s a gift greater than I have ever known ....He possesses the WOW factor. His love is like nothing you have ever seen, felt, or heard. He is different. I love to think how unique He is? It makes me smile. 

He gives us the power to build a firm foundation and to stand tall and say to the world. I am here count me in!!!!! Embrace your uniqueness and shine the gifts He has given you !!. Because when you share your true-genuine self as a child of God.  His smile radiants with a brilliant light that illuminates all the Heavens. And you can stand firmly and look up and proudly say... 

 It’s Him. It’s Him ...He made me do it. And I love him for it !!

Photography & Written by Lori Garner 

Bible Verses from KJV, ESV / Sinner's Prayer

Inspiring music from YouTube  

Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick - True Colors (Lyric)

Contradictions are the impossible chasms that create forever separations. God is the forever bridge that creates impossible reunions.      Craig D. Lounsbrough

Meaning of reconcile: To reestablish a close relationship harmonious, or consistent. To compare (one financial account) so that it is consistent or compatible with another. 

I was given the word reconcile as a word challenge for today’s word study...And if the truth be known after many years of working in finance I could see a balance sheet in my mind... 

But how do we study this word? With who do we balance and reconcile our thoughts, our actions, and our relationships? 

Where has our harmony gone? Where has our freedom gone? Where has our hope gone? Where has our love for our Creator gone? Our world seems to be out of balance? Don’t you agree? But how do we reconcile and bring our world back to a world of LOVE, of Hope, of Harmony? 

I must admit I do not have the answers from a global perspective... But I do know if each one of us takes the necessary steps to make a positive effect on others one day, one person, and one heart at a time. We will be able to bring our world out of the red and back into the black where it should always remain. I also know that we cannot do it alone... The magnitude of this project is too vast, too daunting, and too overwhelming. There is only one Soul that has the credentials, the power, and the heart to successfully bring the world and its people to a status of peace, love, and joy!!! 

 I did further research and found this the formula for change. Change equals Dissatisfaction X Vision X First Steps that is greater than the Resistance. The idea is that if you are seeking some significant, system-wide change there are several core elements that need attention. But when I see this formula there is a key element that is missing...  

To orchestrate this globally it will take a great leader... One with a heart for all humanity.. one that loves deeper than we can even begin to understand... 

It only takes One ... to affect all mankind and bring all its people, and all the nations back .. back to our purpose. Back to our first love!!!

It’s Him It has always been  Him! 

All I can say to Him is I am here count me in!!!  Let's do this together.. start today,  start small, start with one person, and one heart... Let’s make a ripple that can be heard and felt around our world... 

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord. Hebrew's 12:14

“So if while we were still enemies, God fully reconciled us to himself through the death of his Son, then something greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, and because we share in his resurrection life, how much more we will be rescued from sin’s dominion!”

Romans 5:10 TPT

Photography & Written by Lori Garner 

Bible Verses from KJV, ESV / Sinner's Prayer

Inspiring music from YouTube 

Heart of God [Audio] - Hillsong Young & Free

Meaning of regret a feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened or been done:

Regret is discussed approximately 28 times in the Bible. 

I regret to inform you that this word may tug at your heartstrings. It may cause deep thought and possibly anguish. 

Do we cause our own pain? Do we dismiss our actions because we do not want to pay the price or face possible failure? Or do we justify our behavior by labeling it that we are only human and the temptation was far too great!  

If I ask you to share the biggest regret in your life what would it be? Possibly education, Possibly relationships, Possibly life choices?? I do believe we all have regret in our life to some degree...  I will share my biggest regret... But I want you to do the same... Get out a piece of paper and write these words... I regret... And finish the sentence... Here are my thoughts on the word regret... 

I regret that I did not face them sooner... 

I regret... That I wasted time... I wasted love... I wasted getting to truly know my Creator. I wasted the opportunity of growing my knowledge of Him... 

Now that I recognized and faced my regret. The question becomes what can be done to reverse or to change the outcome of my regretful heart??

I could say I don't need to do much because the Holy Spirit touched my soul and that is enough. But something changed and my regret changed to desire... Desire to know more about my Creator... But in order to do this, I need to invest time. I need to invest in love.  And as I study Him my knowledge will grow... 

So I can say if we can clear our hearts of regret we can be feel accomplished even if it is only slightly each day. Our life can be richer.. My only regret is that I did not recognize this regret sooner... But I am grateful to Him for capturing my heart and for allowing me the time to love Him and change this regret from regret to a love that I admittedly do not fully l understand.  But I do know that my life will never be the same. 

Because I am on a quest. And each day is an opportunity to grow from regret to a beautiful relationship... not only with my Creator. But a relationship with myself.  Getting to know yourself a little better can be a daunting but amazing experience. You may find that you are indeed a beautiful soul... Because God made you that way... ... So I say look at your regret as an opportunity to grow into everything He knows you can be... For me, I feel blessed to grow in Him, His Word, and His beautiful 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)

 “Outer beauty pleases the EYE. Inner beauty captivates the HEART.” – Mandy Hale,

Meaning of garment: an item of clothing.

There are 29 verses in the bible that mention the word garment. 

The clothing of the people in Biblical times seems to have been made from wool, linen, animal skins, and perhaps silk. The fabrics are not very much different from the ones we use today… 

When studying the word garment. I could not help remembering a quote. "The clothes make the man" is from the Shakespearean play called Hamlet. The line that has been translated from is "apparel oft proclaims the man" It based on the thought that in our world, people form judgments about others based upon the clothes that they wear.

What is it that sets us apart just by the way we dress? I do believe most of us enjoy the finer things in life.  Or at least, we as a society have grown comfortable with “things”. It is apparent that many dress to impress. I do believe Covid has made many of us sit up and take notice, of what we truly should value. 

How many of us have attended zoom meetings? 

To be honest, were you only dressed from the waist up? From the waist down perhaps you wore your PJ’s and slippers? Or perhaps you arrived at your online meeting in your bare feet ready to impress. I do believe when we feel good about how we look. It is not really the clothes, its the confidence and beauty that glows from within because the outer package looks good.  But then again, I have witnessed many beautiful packages that are void of substance. We should not judge the outer garments, but we should train ourselves to seek the beauty of the heart. 

So as we unravel this puzzle. Have you ever wondered why Jesus did not come dressed to impress? He had the credentials to dress like a King. But His garments were plain, they were simple and modest. He addressed many important scholars in simple sandals. But He had the

X- factor as they call it… I like to call it the God-Factor… He blows so many holes in the quote "The clothes make the man"… And I must agree. It was not the garment. It was the Man that filled the garment. The Man that changed the world because of LOVE. The Man of simple humble beginnings… The Man with the beautiful heart. The Man that is now My King, My Savoir My Lord. 

It's Him, It's Always Him

Photography & Written by Lori Garner 

Bible Verses from KJV, ESV / Sinner's Prayer

Inspiring music from YouTube 

No Other God - (Lyric Video) - Steph Macleod [OFFICIAL]

Does our soul thirst for more? Do you ever feel there's something missing from your life?  But we are not quite sure what that might be? Do we long for a love that seems to be just beyond our reach?

Join me as I travel back in time. And I share a word from our Bible word study and meditation. I have fused them together to create a self-narrated story called "Unquenchable thirst" 

Deuteronomy 32:2 “Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.”

Meaning of travel: to go from one place to another, typically over a distance of some length.

There are approximately 42 verses about the word travel in the Bible. 

As we travel on this word adventure together let’s unpack this word “travel” and see where it might take us... 

Have you ever wished time travel was possible?  Have you ever wished you could relive a special moment in time? Have you ever wished you could be whisked away into the future to go see that special someone? Perhaps they hold the answers to many mysterious questions that we are on a quest to discover? 

If I only had one wish, would I choose to go forward? Or would I choose to go back in time? Such a difficult question? We have all been pretty confined… Travel has been difficult.. so many restrictions.. so many guidelines. 

So let's do it … come on run away with me... 

Closes your eyes, and let’s escape. There is a freedom that comes when we can tap into our imaginations. There is an excitement that can be felt… We are not restricted, we are free spirits, our hearts began to feel the rush.

Buckle up… If you are riding shotgun with me… You must know where I am headed… I have been chasing the greatest love I have ever known,  but gravity has kept me earthbound…. and NOW I am free to catch HIM. 

I know it will be the most amazing ride of our lives… We will travel to a destination that is beyond our wildest dreams... I have personally met the Creator of this magnificent paradise. And if it is even a fraction of what He represents… My heart will not be able to be contained... 

I have it from an amazing source it will be heavenly...

Heaven has Mansions where we wIll dwell with Jesus - John 14:2-3

Heaven will be a city built for worship - Hebrews 12:22-23

All nations and people will worship Jesus - Revelation 7:9-10

Heaven will be filled with Peace, Joy, and Praise - Revelation 7:15-17A 

Precious gemstones will adorn Heaven - Revelation 21:9-11

Heaven will have Pearl Gates & Streets of Gold - Revelation 21:21

The Tree of Life in Heaven - Revelation 22:2

The Light of God in Heaven - Revelation 22:4-5

But even with all its beauty, all its glory, and all its treasures... 

It can not compare to the beauty, the glory, and the …..

I am speechless… Be still my heart…. 

It's Him. It's always Him!

Photography & Written by Lori Garner 

Bible Verses from KJV, ESV / Sinner's Prayer

Inspiring music from YouTube 

Heaven bound (Original song by Rev. Ruel Buyacao)

 
Click on the link below to listen to our chat.  

The meaning of language: a system of communication used by a particular country or community:

The Bible had been translated into 3,324 languages. And the word language is in 53 verses. 

It is amazing to me that this book we call the Bible is cherished by only a few and not the masses. The story within its pages holds such beauty, such grace, such passion, such love, such kindness, such forgiveness! So much so that through the ages that many have felt the needed to share it with others in their own native tongue.  

But are they just sharing the words? Is this native language only spoken? Are these words void of action? I find the spoken words can be shallow and void of substance! If the deliverer does not feel them deeply with the heart. It’s always the actions of the heart that makes the most impact !!

Our role model came. He spoke the native language... But beyond that, He lives the story! His loving heart can be seen... It can be felt ... It could be witnessed by the ones who loved Him... But He also left His mark of love on ones that have tried to destroy His legacy of love... He fulfilled His mission to love with a love that has transcended all time and space !! His love is the language of Love ...

No matter what your native tongue may be... If you look for Him you will begin to feel it. It’s a language that many have written about, but until you feel it you will not truly understand it ... It can be difficult to describe... 

I wonder, what language should I translate this love story?  It is a monumental task... The day will come when every nation, tribe, people, and language, will stand in front of our Savior our King, and the only language that will be felt is His language of LOVE... 

It’s Him, It’s always Him! 

After this, I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Revelations 7:9 

Photography & Written by Lori Garner 

Bible Verses from KJV, ESV / Sinner's Prayer

Inspiring music from YouTube 

The Love of Jesus | Live | Elevation Worship