Meaning of shaking: To cause to move with quick vibrations; to move rapidly one way and the other; to agitate; as the wind shakes a tree; an earthquake shakes the hills or the earth.

There are approximately 18 verses about shaking. 

Shaking can take me in many directions... Our body trembles when we are cold or sick... The earth trembles with what we have identified as earthquakes... They can happen at any time, anywhere, even under the sea... 

Approximately 2 years ago as I sat in my favorite chair I felt this strange sensation of trembling... And my 4-year granddaughter came running out of her room. She was scared and felt the tremor as well... I thought no it can not be? An earthquake in Tennessee?  Little did I know they happen all the time. 

Here is a snapshot of today activity (March 4, 2021);  Tennessee, United States has had: (M1.5 or greater) 1 earthquake in the past 24 hours 7 earthquakes in the past 7 days; 29 earthquakes in the past 30 days;

That blows my mind... is it a warning of what’s to come??  

The Bible speaks of shakings. Does God allow the shaking of His children so they will wake up and take notice that there is a bigger beautiful picture ahead? 

I do believe many are hiding their heads in the sand, in hopes this day will never come...There are some that do not believe in our Creator's teaching... ? And claim it is nonsense!! And then there are some who know this day will come... because they know our Creator. And they trust our God, our Savior, and our King with all their heart, all their soul, and all of their mind... 

It is written in Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows.”. 

Some feel that God allowed Covid 19 to shake the men and women of our world. Was this disease like the earthquake?  Was it meant to shake souls? Was this another warning to wake up?? With each past day, the time of God's only begotten Son's victory is becoming more and more evident.  How much can we abuse our world? How much can we show hate and discord? 

Are we sick with fear? Do our bodies tremble?? Do we run like little children into His arms for peace, protection, and His mighty promise to love us through this earthly life and beyond !! He has given us a glimpse that there is a bigger picture !!! Heaven awaits for His chosen few. 

It’s Him, It has always been Him. He is the alpha and the omega. The beginning and the end... This life on earth begins and ends with Him.  But our spiritual life begins and never ends with Him!! He wows me!!! 

I pray you are shaken and not stirred. 

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2:6-7)

(Jesus speaking) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. (Matthew 24:29)

Photo design & Written by Lori Garner

"What gives me the most hope every day is God’s grace; knowing that His grace is going to give me the strength for whatever I face, knowing that nothing is a surprise to God." -Rick Warren

Meaning of hold: "to hold," "contain," having the sense of containing or restraining "I am weary with holding in" Jeremiah 6:11

There are approximately 8 verses in the Bible that refer to the word holding. 

When letting go becomes an emotional struggle? How do we know when to let go ??? Or what is it or to whom do we hold and for how long??? How do we come to grips and move our hearts into our safe zone? The timing of this word can affect our peace our health and our mental state... If not properly executed it can crush our heart... Darkness can invade our mental attitude towards life... 

These are life trials that can rob us of so many people, so many hopes, so many precious moments ... Fear is not our friend... it's only a tool to help teach us how to maneuver in our world. 

So, Where do we go? Do we stay stagnant, or does our soul search for answers? We were given the gift of life ... and a hidden drive and will to survive... 

Who is this that planted that deep desire to find a love that will heal my heart and love me through any pain or trial that may come? Survival is a gift... 

When we are given obstacles in our life.  There is a beautiful soul that has the answers! He has never wavered! He has never left my side... When I felt the most vulnerable and that no one understood my journey...  I felt alone.. but when the darkness seemed to creep into my soul... is when I felt His presence the strongest. He has held my heart and spoken soothing words to my soul... There were many that did not understand who I might become.. and faded into a nonexistent place in my world. 

But He came and filled the void. He gently held my hand. He wiped my tears... And He has cloaked me in the most amazing spiritual gift of Love. It's a love like I have never known... He asked me to follow Him...  He promised He would hold me and love me through each day... And He would teach me and give me the freedom to fly...  

My trust and love grows with each passing day... I do not have enough words to describe Him!!!  Just WOW ... I just wish I could love Him as much as He loves me... 

Oh my God ... 

It’s Him, It’s always been Him !!  

“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says GOD, “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care if you’ll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I’ll answer. 

Psalm 91:14

And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together. [He is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.] amplified 

“I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into His abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me his own.

And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion.”

Philippians 3:12, 16 TPT

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Inspiring Music: 

Shane & Shane: He Will Hold Me Fast

Meaning of walk: Walking with God means you are in agreement with Him and His ways (Amos 3:3). No one is perfect, but when you are walking with God your desire should be to see your own selfish desires die for the sake of seeing God transform you more and more into the image of His Son:

In the King James version the word - walk - appears 212 times the word - walked - appears 122 times the word. 

When we think of walking many of us think of exercise? How many miles do you finish daily? Some of us love how it makes us feel! Perhaps our bodies even began to feel healthier? Our endurance increases! Our breathing less labored! We began to feel stronger and stronger ... 

But when we decide to walk through the pages of the Bible what happens.  Our spiritual walk becomes such a beautiful eternal race... We find that our Creator (The Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit) such an amazing team! 

We know for a fact that they have mentored and trained many hearts... They teach us by example the importance of living and loving. And as we grow closer to each of them. We began to feel healthier. Our soul's endurance increases!  Our breathing becomes less labored! We find a peace that most will not understand. We began to feel stronger and stronger in Him...  The love they freely give is the key to running and winning the race.

Have you ever walked with each of them? Have you ever had that intimate conversation?  Have you ever loved Them beyond our own understanding??? 

Ok, I must apologize...as I am writing about this word I began to lace up my shoes .... and I do not plan on taking them off until I see them waiting for me at the finish line !! Come, sign-ups are today and every day until He returns... the entry fee has already been paid... by His life... 

It’s Him, It’s always him. 

Walking with Him is a precious love story and a match made in Heaven... 

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you. But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. Leviticus 26:12

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Inspiring Music: It's Him

Elvis Presley - You'll Never Walk Alone

In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. 

The phrase 'In Him' appears 118 times in the King James Version (KJV).

In Him... what does this truly mean? Today we say I am into him? Or maybe I am not really into him??? It is an interesting concept ... When we roll back the clock perhaps to a simpler time ... And try to understand these words from a Biblical position? It is my understanding that in the different translations the word "in Him" has been omitted because many thought this was redundant ... But after further investigation, I found Paul repeated these words because the idea of being united with Christ is so significant to him.

How do we feel today? Is it important enough to not only repeat these words but do we understand them? Do we own them? One of the most thought-provoking scriptures about these words can be found in Ephesians 1:4 “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” 

Let’s try to understand this scripture “He chose us in Him...Before the foundation of the world??  Our lineage and our very DNA comes from our Heavenly Father. He chose us in Him !! We have been chosen! We have been set apart! Our very existence comes directly from God... Not just in a Creation sense, but from Him... 

He holds us... We are fragile... We are perfect in His eyes ... And with great care, He begins with a small pinch of His heart and begins to mold His Child into a beautiful wonderous soul... Our connection to Him goes back before the foundation of the world? What a mind-blowing thought!!  It happened such a long time ago!! 

So as I try to wrap my head around that statement... I can only say WOW! Not only does the Holy Spirit live within us. We carry a part of His beauty, His Kindness, and His Love within every molecule of our existence... And then there is Jesus the one who came to show us how to relate, and how to communicate with Him on a personal intimate level.  But mostly He taught us How to love Him... 

I can only say My God, My God thank you for sharing All of you with me !!! No wonder when I close my eyes I can feel Him ... He is a very intricate and beautiful part of me...  and yes I am forever His Child... 

I challenge you to close your eyes.. take a deep breath ... and let your imagination be free... Can’t you feel Him ??? He is there.. we are

 “in Him” 

It’s Him, It’s always Him 

He blows my mind!! 

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, Ephesians 1:4

For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children. Acts 17:28

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Inspiring Music: It's Him

“The destiny of man is in his own soul.” – Herodotus...

Meaning of Destiny: Destiny is the events that necessarily happen to a specific person or thing in the future. Fate and destiny are not biblical ideas because the Bible's description of future events is much more complicated than either of these.

There are at least 20 verses about the word Destiny in the Bible. 

Did we meet for a reason? Was it written in the stars long before we were even born??? Did I know you in our spiritual state? Or is our life full of chance meetings?  Destiny? Can we change the outcome? Are we truly in control? Or does God have a plan ??  What is it and how does this “free will” really work? God knows the beginning and the end? So is “free will” truly free? 

Wow, such a deep subject ... I can only share my heart and my thoughts... I thought I had my life on track... I thought I was following my dreams.  I could see my life unfolding before my eyes...Many people came into my life... Some are still here playing their very important role... Some stayed for just a short time... Some maybe only for moments... And some could not find it in their hearts to stay. 

But it was Destiny that my life touched yours! I do believe it is all part of our Heavenly Father's plan... Because I now know there is a bigger picture... Each one we meet has a part in teaching us something about life and love... Destiny! 

It’s God's plan !! Many of you are probably quite tired of my story ... But it was the biggest date with Destiny I have ever felt, seen, and lived...I met Him! I met Him for a bigger reason! It was not for me alone... I was just a fragment of the much bigger picture... He came to teach me about life and love... So I could touch your life ... So perhaps my story could open your heart to see the most amazing love I have ever been blessed to chase !!! So you see no matter how long we have known each other... Destiny brought us together... 

Destiny was God's plan for our lives. I believe it has been in motion since the beginning of time... So I can only thank you for touching my life and being part of my journey ... I love God's plan, I love the One He sent to teach me. I love the One that guides me daily... Thank you if you have shared in the moments that continue to shape my destiny... I love watching it unfold... He has been my destiny.. even before I knew Him... But knowing Him is definitely the WOW factor !!! It's a love that is hard to put into words!!  So when I think of...

My purpose or my destiny?  

It’s Him, It’s always been Him!  

Lord, I have chosen you alone as my inheritance. You are my prize, my pleasure, and my portion. I leave my destiny and its timing in your hands. Psalm 31:15

Design & Written by Lori Garner

Inspiring Music: 

The Bible says that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. I believe that. Because I've seen it all work. Tyler Perry... 

The meaning of "all"  without any limitation. 

The word "all" is in the King James Version of The Bible 5621 times. It is in 4664 verses.

In our lifetime how many of us heard “I want it all!” “The one with the most toys wins!” I know I have heard these words more than a time or two.  

But when we start to look at this three-letter word that wields so much power !!! All, why do we as humans have the drive since birth to want it all?  As parents, we try to teach our children to share!! After all, sharing is caring. But let’s flip this word from self to selfless and what do you see???  

I see my beloved Christ, I see amazing unselfishness! I see someone who gave us His all! He gave us every drop of blood that fell, He gave us His very last breath, the one He struggled to take... He gave us all of Himself...Yes, He was broken for All of His Children. But when I think of this horrible action.  I take this act as a personal love story. He suffered just for me!  Because He wanted All my love, all my heart, and all of my soul... 

Yes, I must admit I want it all .... all of His Love, all of His abundant grace! And all of His beauty!!! But there is a price! Are we willing to give Him our ALL? Or do we hold on to that portion of ourselves and put on that mask so others see us as all in ??  He knows our heart! He knows our soul !!! He has proven He is All in!  The question becomes, are we ??? Each of us has a choice to make! I don’t know about you!! But I want All of Him! 

It’s Him. It’s always Him !!  

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Inspiring Music: 

Take All of Me - Recorded Live in Houston 2016 - Hillsong UNITED

Meaning of captivated: To overpower and gain with excellence or beauty; to charm; to engage the affections; to bind in love.

The word captivated is referenced only 4 times in the Bible. 

When you are captivated by a mystery, by an unexplainable LOVE, and by a force that can reach deep into your soul. This mysterious force can push you to see, feel and hear things you never knew existed in your heart and soul ??? Many people will not understand your desire to know more!! 

What is His mystery?  How do we see past the vail? How do we crack this code of love? There are so many hidden clues!!  Are they truly hidden or are they in plain sight?  Do we fly with open arms or are we frightened to discover the things He will teach us about ourselves? A relationship with our Creator It’s such a spiritual adventure! 

What took Him so long to find me? Was I lost? Or was I too busy to hear His gentle voice calling my name?  When I analyze my life I now know I missed many attempts by Him to bring me near... How could I have been so blind?  How could I miss these opportunities? He had to bring out an army to captivate my heart!  Was it an army? Or was it His Holy breath that spoke love into my soul? It still baffles me! How or why did He reveal His mystery and love to my heart?  It’s the late nights, in the dark and stillness that brings out so many questions? Some I will never understand nor will I even began to know the answers !!! I can only make a commitment to grow and share Him and His beautiful love with anyone who will listen !!! 

His beauty defies our imagination. His power, His grace, His loving heart can captivate our souls with just the touch of His hand or with His sweet whisper of our name... He wows me 

It’s Him, It’s always Him

“For you reach into my heart. With one flash of your eyes, I am undone by your love, my beloved, my equal, my bride. You leave me breathless— I am overcome by merely a glance from your worshiping eyes, for you have stolen my heart. I am held hostage by your love and by the graces of righteousness shining upon you. How satisfying to me, my equal, my bride. Your love is my finest wine—intoxicating and thrilling. And your sweet, perfumed praises—so exotic, so pleasing.” Song of Songs 4:9-10 TPT

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Inspiring Music: 

The Bible | Love Captured Me

The meaning of away: to or at a distance from a particular place, person, or thing.

Away is mentioned in the Bible 3264 times...  

As many of you may have noticed I have been away... I have not posted many words as many days in February kept rolling by...  I became quietly aloof and went internal for a couple of weeks... The words pandemic, covid, and darkness became a significant part of my daily routine... I received results from a test that in bold red letters said the ugly word...

“Positive”. All I wanted to do is sleep... I wanted to find my solace, my peace!! And my LOVEs. 

But was I truly away? Or was it just a dream? Or was I searching for intimate time with my LOVEs... It was a time of reflection, it was a time of getting in touch with my innermost feelings, I felt a strong desire to find Him...  There were prayers and meditations, but I would soon drift off to a deep rhythmic sleep. I found it difficult to stay awake or even concentrate. Sleep became my main activity for the day's ahead. I felt peace, I felt a love and I felt an assurance that I was being carefully watched and gently cared for. 

I had family caregivers that monitored my vitals and made sure I had the necessary bodily nutrition to get me back to physical wellness... And I am blessed by their loving care. This included an infusion treatment in Nashville. 

But spiritually my life was in my Father's hands... He even provided a snowstorm where I could just sit quietly and get lost in the moments. I was given the gift of witnessing His artistry, His beauty, His wonder !!!... 

During this time I was swept away with the beauty of white snowflakes as they danced gently through the air. I stayed mesmerized watching from the comfort of my family's warm home. The fireplace was rich in color and warmed my face and hands. ... You see sometimes life trials seem to take us away from what’s we think is important. But it can turn out to be the very thing our soul needs the most... 

When the breaks, are put on our normal routine. And we find ourselves in a time when things are no longer in our control ...We find that we must blindly trust that God has a plan... Even when we can not see or hear Him, He never goes away !! He stands vigilantly by our side, He is ready for that fireside chat... And if your body must sleep to recover that is when you are held in the most amazing loving arms... 

During my recovery my heart and my soul witnessed this ... It was not fever-induced it was Him, His Love ... He is always with us... We must put our trust in Him ... He will never leave us! Even in our darkest hour. It's His light that will burn brightly in our hearts. It will shine for eternity.  Being held by Him is an amazingly safe place to curl up... I can only say with a heart of genuine gratitude, Thank You for loving me through the days of darkness... 

It’s Him, It’s always Him

And I am back❤✝

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. Micah 7:8 

“Yet look at you now! Everything is new! Although you were once distant and far away from God, now you have been brought delightfully close to him through the sacred blood of Jesus—you have actually been united to Christ!”Ephesians 2:13 TPT

Escape with me, let’s run away if only for a moment in time.

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Inspiring Music: YouTube

Thank You, Jesus (Honor Hunter) Fellowship Songs YouTube 720p

Darkness will not gain victory over the light of Christ. In faith, there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.

The meaning of dark the absence of light in a place: darkness, blackness, absence of light, gloom, gloominess. 

Dark in the Bible is referred to 225 times.

Dark or Darkness I believe touches everyone at some time in their life... I chose this word today because as I write about this word I am sitting in the darkness of my room... 

Darkness can be an overwhelming scary place. It’s where creepy things go bump in the night... It is the anticipation of things unknown. We can become paralyzed due to fear.  It can rob us of so much life. During my journey, I did experience a time of darkness. It made me feel a loss in my soul, it made me cry, it made me bewildered and sad. Looking back I found out that in my darkest hour I found out a lot about me.  I do believe there are times we are given life trials so we can grow. But I also found out that no matter how sad or difficult things might seem I was never alone. I did find out that God never left my side. His gentleness and love held me when I felt lost. He became my best friend, my confidant, my guiding light...The darkness that tried to consume my soul had no choice but to flee... 

I did learn over time to appreciate the darkness, those “stillness” moments, those quiet times when the house is void of light and family noise! This dark hour is when I find my Heavenly Father, my quiet time with Him, and His word breathes light into my soul. He fills my heart with a love that is difficult to contain. If I love Him? Is no longer a question. It becomes IF I get up a few minutes before everyone ... I will find my golden hour ...my solace, my LOVEs ... 

There is no darkness that can rob me of His eternal light.  You see this darkness is not a place, It not something we can see with our eyes. It's a place deep within our souls. And I have found when we invite God into our lives,  His light begins to shine from within.  He gives us that light that shines even in our darkest hour. Because we can be confident that we are never alone. We do not have to fight life demons by ourselves. He is victorious over all things we may encounter. He stands tall, strong, and ready. So pick up the light sword and be ready for any battle that may rage from within... Being ready is half the battle... 

The power of light that we feel is from within... 

It’s Him!!  It’s always Him.

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Inspiring Music: YouTube

God's Light Shines in the Darkness 2011