We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining- they just shine.- Dwight L. Moody

The meaning of obvious is easily perceived or understood; clear, self-evident, or apparent.

The word obvious can be found in twenty-one places in the Bible. 

As I look back on my journey I found so many wonderful signs from God. Some were so obvious even a blind man could see them!!!! If this is true why did it take an encounter with the Holy Spirit to see them!!! Are we so busy that we miss the obvious signs, messages, and wonders of God??   

I must admit, I too am guilty!!! Until my encounter, I skipped through life missing all the important clues... I ask myself why? Why didn't anyone tell me of His undying love and affection? Why did I not know that you had a "personal relationship" with God?  Was it so personal you could not share Him?? Why didn't anyone share their personal story? Perhaps they did and I missed all the clues... It was my fault I was not listening with my soulful ears. I was blinded by our world!!! I was spiritually clueless?? I was not ready to open my heart to His spiritual presences? I was too busy... 

When we finally start to see Him do we become closet lovers of Christ?? Do we stay there afraid of what others may think?? Will we be labeled as strange, perhaps a little eccentric, or even crazy... 

Can people who do not understand our walk ever know that sharing God and His love is the greatest gift we can ever feel and share?  I think I would be safe in saying many shun believers for lack of knowledge? Or walk away from a soul on fire for Christ... Because of fearing the unknown!!

The best example I have heard, I heard from my mother. If I teach you about childbirth from a textbook and I tell you of my experience you would have a clinical understanding of the process. But until you feel that tiny life growing inside you. Until you feel the pain associated with the miracle of birth. Until you lay your eyes on this miracle's tiny face... You will not fully understand.  

When we have been touched by God’s love it should be obvious... 

It's not a label we wear on our clothes. It's not the act of carrying a Bible to church on Sunday mornings. It's not a bumper sticker on our car!! 

It should be obvious that He has written His name across our hearts.  Because His love is so sweet it is beyond our world and it's so difficult to contain. It should show on our faces... It is heard in the loving words spoken from our lips ...it should show in our kindness and compassionate actions... 

It should be so obvious that you have been set apart.  Chosen... Chosen to carry His name boldly!! Carry Him with pride!!! Valor!!! And Honor!!! Shout it from the mountain tops... For the world to witness. 

In our quest to seek approval from others do we miss God’s clues?? Do we hide our love? 

I believe when we come in contact with other souls they should walkway knowing without a doubt that we have been kissed by God... 

Be Bold. Be loved. Be obvious... Do not be a closet lover of Christ!!! Let Him set you Free!!! 

To go boldly where others before you have traveled...

It's Him. He is the one who frees our souls!!  ❤❤❤ and opens our fearful hearts!! And yes gives us the words and boldness to share His love. 

“Lord God, unlock my heart, unlock my lips, and I will overcome with my joyous praise! The fountain of your pleasure is found in the sacrifice of my shattered heart before you.... Psalms 51:15, 17 TPT

 Everyone who heard about it kept thinking about what had happened and asked, "What will this child become?" because it was obvious that the hand of the Lord was with him. Like 1:66

You show that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

2 Corinthians 3:3

Look at what is obvious. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself of this: Just as he belongs to Christ, so do we. 2 Corinthians 10:7

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Bible collaboration - Joann Turnbull 

Be A Light (Lyric Video)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=oaU5h9FTcfc&feature=share9

Whether we are filled with joy or grief, our angels are close to us, speaking to our hearts of God's love. - Eileen Elias Freeman

Meaning of angel, a spiritual being superior to humans in power and intelligence especially,one in the lowest rank in the celestial hierarchy. 

The word angel is in the Bible (108 times in the Old Testament and 177 times in the New Testament).

Angel is such a spiritual word. Just to utter the angelic word brings beauty and comfort to our souls… But who, and what is this celestial being.  What makes them so uniquely special? Is our view of them correct? Through the ages, many artists, prophets, and scholars have given us their thoughts and views of who they are and what they look like.  Many movies depict these amazing celestial beings as intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity... They possess God-given supernatural abilities.  

So what is their role? Do we pray to them? Do they interact with souls on earth? Have we seen them? Have we felt their presence? Have they helped us in times of need? Do they help souls transition from earth to Heaven? 

So many questions? Will we ever truly know all the answers? I don’t believe it is humanly possible to know the answers to many of our questions. 

The Bible is a written masterpiece and a wealth of information. And we can study every word, every book, every passage. But there will always be a mystery of the unknown. The unknown is God's beauty. It’s His attraction. It's His magnetic pull on our curious souls. 

As this pull begins to open our hearts and our thoughts to the possibilities of a greater existence our Faith begins to strengthen. We begin to read between the lines and with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, our spiritual mind is open to see with a greater understanding. 

God’s word teaches us of an army of angels. They worship their Creator. They sing His praises. They take on many forms from angelic to human and possibly more? Their purpose is to intercede when God needs a message not only to be heard but to be taken seriously. 

In my spiritual journey, I had an event that I say, it was a message from an angel. I will attempt to summarize the event. 

I had a car accident. I ran into the back of a vehicle. As we stood waiting for the police. I shared my story about my Holy Spirit encounter and the LOVE I felt on that day with the gentleman that was driving the car that I had damaged. And there in the middle of traffic, the gentleman hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear to never stop telling my story we have to get the non-believers. 

It’s a moment in time that I felt it in my soul that it was a message from God. It's one I will always remember with a warm heart, that subtle whisper in my ear from God’s special messenger.  I do believe he was my angel that cold winter night and God knew I would listen. 

It's Him, It's always Him. 

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. Proverbs 25:13

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:10 KJV

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, Revelation 1:1

Photography, Design & Written by Lori Garner  

Bible Verses From KJV  / Sinner's Prayer

Music from Youtube  

Angels Singing In Heaven!!! Heaven Is Real!!!

- David Jeremiah

Todays Word SINNER - 

Podcast SINNER

You clicked on this blog for a good reason. And if you want to know Jesus, I invite you to say these words with me. I know I am a sinner. I believe in my heart. You are the son of God who died on the cross from my sins, and you were resurrected from the dead. Thank you for paying the price for my sins. Forgive me and make me a new person Cleanse me of my sins with your blood and wash me in the water of your words and coming to my heart. I commit my life to you today, and I receive you as my Lord, my savior, and my king. I pray this to God, my heavenly father, and your precious name, Yeshua. Amen.

In you I found paradise.

Paradise is there such a place? How do we find it? Can we find this destination on our faithful GPS?? I believe a paradise is a place that begs our imagination to get in touch with our hearts and soul…

There are many earthly locations that boast they are paradise found… and yes there are many wonders that God Himself has created in our world…Are they just a glimpse of what is to come? In the beginning, He created a place called Paradise for man… Unfortunately, man did not heed the importance of His words... and they fell from Grace. 

However, our loving Father never gave up. He created beauty worldwide for His future children to experience that touch of Heaven giving us that yearning in our hearts for more… 

I have traveled to many of His wonders but the paradise I am chasing is not of this world… It is far beyond all the stars in Heaven… It has been described in the Bible, and such beauty is beyond our human understanding… 

It states this in Revelation 21:21 “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 

Even given this description, I believe this heavenly paradise is not seen with our eyes … it’s felt with our hearts and soul… 

Jesus spoke of its existence many times… He has promised us that we will be with Him in this beautiful place for Eternity.  

I do believe that this physical location will not be as important as we think. 

I believe that being in Elohim’s presence… is better than any paradise that we could ever envision… because when we feel His overwhelming presence our surroundings will not matter... 

To be in communion with Elohim is a Heavenly experience… 

Six years ago I felt a love that has left me forever changed… I believe that what I felt that day was only a fragment of what will come… To be Engulfed in His love, His peace, and His beauty is indeed Paradise found!! 

It's Him, It will always be HIM!!!

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43 

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” John 14:2 -3

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

Song For His Presence - Hillsong Worship

"Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.  Zechariah 1:3
 

Meaning of drought, a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water. 

We located approximately 41 verses the refers to the word drought.

Have you ever been so thirsty that nothing seems to satisfy your thirst?? I cannot fathom the thought of how some countries suffer for lack of water...  We are a spoiled lot... Many take this gift of water for granted... 

When we examine a drought, we can see the life being drained. Our earth will become so dry it will literally crack open... and life will wither away... Layers of dirt can be carried away with the wind... 

There are many droughts we could study in the Bible. But my heart landed on spiritual drought.  What is the cause? How do we quench our thirst? If we do not find that pure water source, can we shrivel up and spiritual die?? 

I can only speak from my heart. The cause of a spiritual drought is LIFE.  Life happens ... There are many things in this life that will distract us and pull us away from what should really matter... 

I have found that we can quench our thirst by immersing ourselves in the living water Himself... Never stop loving Him. Speaking to Him and worshiping His very existence. Fill yourself with His word... It will wash your soul... and yes our soul can get parched and shrivel up. It will lay dormant and not be able to breathe... and sadly their light source will become dim.

I know this firsthand. I was going through the motions of living a busy life. I was outwardly happy... But even without my realizing it... 

My soul had become dormant and unresponsive. I could not feel her presence.  And without my calling out or even knowing Him. The Holy Spirit sensed that my soul had lost her way. But then one unexplainable day in May of 2017 without warning He doused me with a healthy dose of living water 💦...  My thirsty soul became fully immersed in this amazing beautiful sparkling water...It took my breath away.  And for a moment my soul became bewildered and confused...But as she felt this warm and gentle love.The fog began to lift..

It was at that moment she realized that it was Him... She had forgotten her first LOVE.. And how He made her feel.  As He whispered gentle words of love.. She began to hear the rhythmic beating of her own heart.  She was excited about the newfound freedom they shared. With each new passing day He began to teach her about His love and life... and the wonders that He created. She listened with an open heart and her spirit became stronger and she felt more alive than she had felt in a very long time. Joy filled her heart.  Peace and tranquily engulfed her very senses whenever He was near... She felt safe in the shadow of His wings. I will admit.... 

Somewhere during this journey of recovery... This once dormant soul fell in love with her rescuer!  I loving call Him My Savior. 

It’s Him, It’s always Him

I wish I could bottle this living water and give it away to every living soul...But this water can not be contained... It runs free and My Savior holds the key... 

One who lives in the shelter of the Most High will stay in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalms 91

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” All of us go through times of spiritual drought. Psalm 40:1-2 

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube)

Lauren Daigle - Rescue (Official Music Video)

The importance of what we leave behind is truly not the tangible objects, but what is woven into the hearts of others. ❤️

Legacy in its basic meaning, a legacy is a gift, money, or other personal property that's granted by the terms of a will-often a substantial gift that needs to be properly managed.

There are approximately 33 Verses about legacy in the Bible.....

Legacy is a word that I feel is not discussed until the inevitable happens... It is mostly thought of when someone we love transitions to another dimension of time and space we know as heaven. 

Let’s ask ourselves today? What are we leaving behind? How will I be remembered? Will I make a mark on this planet? What do my family and friends truly think of me?  Is our legacy a tangible object? Are our "things" truly that important? Or is our personal character and loving memories the most valuable asset we can leave? 

I have witnessed in my lifetime that "things" become important to some people, some may have not truly even cared while you were here on earth... However, there are those with a sentimental heart that love deeply and want that item to feel a closeness to the person they can no longer touch... 

Have we thought this through on a larger scale? Or on a spiritual scale? We have been gifted a legacy of magnificent proportions! It’s a legacy of royalty... It’s a legacy of riches beyond physical "things" it’s a legacy of love that runs through our lives like a scarlet thread... This beautiful scarlet thread runs through our life’s tapestry deeper than we even realize. Jesus is our legacy! He has given us a promise of eternal life!! His love is a love that will leave you speechless!!! 

With Him as a beautiful guide, I ask myself... How do I want to be remembered? What am I leaving behind? Will I leave a mark on anyone’s heart? 

I can only pray that I will be remembered... As someone that found the love of God and that He lovingly changed my heart and showed the world my vulnerability.  He taught me the importance of relationships and the importance of loving beyond my own understanding!!! I hope when people talk about my legacy they only need 2 words to describe it  “Gods LOVE” because I know in my heart He is teaching me every day about a greater LOVE. 

He is my legacy!! But the good news, He is also yours... His legacy is an amazing LOVE Story !! Don’t miss it for the world!

Its Him. It’s always Him! 

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

Just a simple gift from Him.. That He made with His loving hands ❤️ Do we stop to appreciate the smallest of gifts or are they overlooked? 🤔

The meaning of constant - a situation or state of affairs that does not change...  

The word constant is in the Bible approximately 38 times.  

If we can count on anything in our world we can count on that things are going to change... In the last year, we have definitely experienced a world of constant change... Some exciting and new... some scary... some have left us feeling that heartfelt pain... 

If I have learned anything during my journey.  I have learned, that although I have had to endure many changes ... I have been blessed with heavenly peace. I have felt a love that has never wavered... And I have learned to deeply trust my Creator... 

He has laughed with me not at me as I stumbled through life... He picked me up when I have fallen on my face... He has wiped away my tears... He stood by me when no one else was available... He has held my heart in His loving hands... Especially when other humans have wounded my soul with their doubt and cruel behavior... Even when they did not take the time to understand my journey... many ran ... and many new faces came... 

Changes in me and my surroundings were happening faster than my mind could even understand ... But as I drew closer to Him I found solace, I discovered a love like no other... I found the most amazing soul!!!  He has been my constant !! My shining star in my darkest hour... 

I found my first love... 

Somewhere during this amazing adventure of finding myself, I fell in love with all the facets of Him... He is my constant, my heart, and my soul!!! It's because of Him my life will never be the same...

So while we experience life and all the wonderful things we encounter and the pain we must endure. Please know that we have a beautiful gift of that constant shining star by our side... He will never, never waiver... His love is a beyond words gift for eternity.

He is the constant of my heart and the lover of my soul... for this life and beyond...

It’s Him! It's always Him!!! 

I can not express my gratitude for Him enough... He is as important as the very air I breathe!!  My 3N1... are constantly on my mind ... and forever in my heart.. the beauty and secret of Him is .... that He is not mine alone. His heart belongs to whoever makes the time to search for Him. ❤ 

Psalm 40:11

Lord, do not withhold Your compassion from me; Your constant love and truth will always guard me.

Isaiah 26:3

“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character],Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]

1 Peter 4:8

Above all, keep your love for one another constant, because love covers a large number of sins.

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube)  

And I Love You So ... Helen Reddy

“Heaven’s kingdom realm is also like a jewel merchant in search of rare pearls. When he discovered one very precious and exquisite pearl, he immediately gave up all he had in exchange for it.” Matthew 13:44 TPT...

Meaning of closet: tall recess or wardrobe with a door, used for storage:  used to refer to a state of secrecy or concealment,l
shut (someone) away, especially in private conference 

The word closet is in the Bible approximately 6 times. 

Closet is such an obscure word to study in the Bible. It is not a word that is considered a normal word for a Bible word study... But what is normal?? 

I have found that when God is involved nothing is normal each one of us has a unique experience with Him... 

But as I studied this word,  I immediately thought of my own newly cleaned-out closet... All the things that did not matter are no longer hidden in the darkness they have found new homes... But my closet still seemed dark. I could barely see what treasures I had kept? So we installed lights that turn on automatically ... I stood at the door like a wide-eyed child... And opened the door slowly ... and with great anticipation, I peeked in and watched the light spill in, and with extreme delight, I could see... Colors, treasures, everything I had collected was no longer in the dark. I was filled with excitement when I realized the solution was so simple.

But what does this illustration have to do with this Bible word study... 

How many of us hide in our closets ??? Many of these closets are physical some are only in our minds... How many of us feel we have been consumed in this darkness? How many of us are so scared that we don’t know how to live??? Do we hide in this darkness we have created? Is life passing us by... So many beautiful moments were lost. Are you frozen due to fear... This darkness can cripple the heart and choke out the soul...

When I look back at my life, I now see I was in the closet of my mind... I learned to hide the hidden treasures God had planned in my soul... I am not sure what happened... Did I value what others would think way too much? Society had outlined what is acceptable? But who has the right to say what's normal?  

One day I heard God call my name... It’s a voice that I had been hearing but I did not recognize it, so I did not respond. I lacked understanding... I did not know that He was trying to save me from my darkness. This darkness in my mind had become my safe zone... 

But thank God one day I decided to listen to His voice and crack open the door... I grabbed the door handle and inhaled with a deep deliberate breath... And pulled ... And there I saw it. I felt it.. it ran through every fiber of my being... And at that moment I fell in love with this beautiful light.  I was mesmerized there was no turning back ... This light began to spill in brighter and brighter each God-given day... And with its help, I started cleaning out the closet of my mind... I felt lighter, I felt a freedom that I had not felt since I was a child... I could finally breathe.  As I cleaned out this closet I made room to fill it with the love this amazing light brought to my life. This light opened my soul, my heart, and my life... The darkness had lost its home... This light contains an unexplainable love and it fills me with an excitement that I find so difficult to contain... This light seemed to spill out from me where ever I travel. 

What is this light? How did it speak to my soul? How did it save me from the darkness of my mind?? It is a beautiful and sometimes painful process but I have grown to love this light with every beat of my newfound heart !!! It warms my very existence... It has freed my mind and makes my unbound soul feel the beauty of life... 

Let me introduce Him... 

He is the most amazing soul I have ever grown to know... He is the brightest star to ever shine... He offers love, not of this world ... He is the handsome bridegroom that is waiting for His bride... Some call Him Jesus, Some call Him Yeshua, Some call Him Savior. 

I stand in His light raise my hands to the sky and call Him mine... 

It’s Him, It’s always Him...  He calls me His beloved ... can you guess who I have become ??? 

“Let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber and the bride out of her closet” Joel 2:16 

So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. John 10:7

So, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Matthew 24:33

And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut Matthew 25:10

Photography & Written by Lori Garner

Sinners Prayer 

Inspiring Music by (youtube

Out of the Darkness

)

The Word Became Flesh (John 1)

The meaning of the word “word” a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with space on either side when written or printed.

I could not find how many times the word. “word’ appeared in the Bible.  However, I found this number staggering in The King James Authorized Bible there are 783,137 words. How did they craft such a masterpiece? How has it been cherished by so many for so long?

Now many of you know in my journey I started a word study on December 14, 2019. My friend Joann and I have identified and studied one word a day since that date. We researched meaning and scriptures. And then I have written something about the word. So far, I have written what was on my heart after studying these words. To date, we have clocked in approximately 687 words.  It’s been an incredible learning experience.

Words are one of the most powerful tools we have to communicate what we feel deep in our hearts. Once they are uttered they can speak to the heart of a beautiful love ❤or they can wound the heart 💔 far beyond any apology can repair.  We must learn to choose our words wisely. 

Have you ever wondered why in the Bible in the chapter (John 1:1) John wrote these very words? “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him;’ We see Jesus clearly from the beginning of time. 

If we just interchange the word “word" with "Jesus” it would read like this.  In the beginning, was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him;” This exercise is not any way trying to change the words and how they were written. It just helps me visualize this scripture and how masterfully it was written. Without the “word” life could not exist. 

According to Matthew Henry (1662–1714) in his commentary, Jesus is called the "Word" in this opening verse because He was the Son of God sent to earth to reveal his Father's mind to the world.

Without the word, we would not be able to communicate with our Creator.. or each other.  We would live in silence…. We could not hear our children's first words. We could not hear the words I LOVE YOU. We could not hear our Heavenly Father's voice. Words are powerful. Words are life… words live in our hearts. Use them to share life and love.

It's Him, It's always Him.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

There are 8,674 different Hebrew words in the Bible, 5,624 different Greek words, and 12,143 different English words in the King James Version.

Photography, Design & Written by Lori Garner