Barren Beauty

What happens when you awaken to the fact that life is not quite what you imagined it to be? When hopes and dreams are not coming to fruition and you can see no way clear that they ever will? What happens when you wake up to a tantrum and it’s your own?

Read the rest here.

Blessings to you and yours, 

Jess

There is a place that I love to be. 

This place is my hiding place. 

It is the palm of One who loves deep and wide. 

At first thought, a hiding place is dark and quiet and small. 

But if God is light. 

And He is. 

Then His hiding place must be light filled. 

It must be spacious. 

It is a safe place filled with the light of His presence. 

Hiding from something is a fear filled response, but when we hide in the One who is creator and a star breather we are surrounded by His songs of joy and deliverance. 

My hiding place. 

It's not a secret. 

Jesus. 

The name above every name. 

My light-filled, 

God-breathed,

protected place. 

His palm. 

There I rest, not cowering in the darkness, but rejoicing in 

His Light. 

Bravo, God!

You're Already Amazing Review

 Words.

Words can change a life. 

Words can impact a society. 

Words can bind up heart wounds. 

The Word of Life is, of course, whose words are most powerful, but amazingly He will use frail human hearts to bend minds and heal hearts and this is the case with this amazing book, You're Already Amazing, by Holley Gerth. 

This book is like sitting down with a close friend over a cup of smooth coffee and peeling back layers of lies that surround this heart. At times the words slice, but not in a painful sort of way, but in a freeing sort of way. At times the words inspire--inspire me to courage to finally embrace the Truth. But always, the words point me to the one who is the Giver of Truth. 

You're Already Amazing's focus is about embracing who I am and becoming all God created me to be and instead of listing things I should change and do more or be more, I am presented with tools to help understand and make me more aware of how God created me so that I can fulfill His purpose for me. 

There is chapter that deals with common lies women believe, and the truths that set us free. This chapter is so appropriate because before I can live the out God's purposes for me fully, I must relinquish my belief in lies that prevent me from walking in freely in God's truth. The challenge posed is to continue to believe the truth when emotions are screaming otherwise.  

Another favorite section of the book talks about possessing the Promise, guarding the Promise and celebrating the Promise. I believe God leads us to the promised land and then he waits for us to embrace the promise. it's a wonderful dance between me and the Father. 

He leads, I choose, He enables.

It's a beautiful dance and You're Already Amazing by Holley Gerth helps make the steps a little more clearer. This is one book every woman who has ever looked in the mirror and frowned at herself needs to read and let the truth that you are amazing sink deep within the secret places of the heart. 

I highly recommend this book and want to thank (in)courage and Revell publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book and for Holley Gerth, who is a woman  I want to know and call friend!

Bravo, God! for words that heal and inspire and call me to courage!

Bravo, for words that enable me to see through a glass dimly to the truth of light on the other side!

'He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.'

Psalm 18: 16-19

He rescues, not because he feels sorry for me, but because he 

delights. in. me. 

Let that sink in. He longs to give us victory, not because he has to because he created us and died for us. 

His motive in it all is this:

He delights in you!

Bravo, God, Bravo!

 

'You, O Lord keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into

light.'

Psalm 18:28

Sometimes the messiness of my life can cloud the light beyond. 

But knowing that God himself is the light in my darkness causes me to see the messiness 

as a work of 

art. 

Bravo! 

'In my distress, I called to the Lord, I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. 

The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. 

Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. 

Psalm 18: 6-8

To know this truth: 

That my cry is heard. 

that my God acts upon my cry. 

That his consuming fire burns forth--for my heart to be his and for my enemies to be consumed. 

These grasses lit with the fire of the setting sun remind me of my God, who loves and acts with an 

Consuming Fire. 

Bravo!

God is my ever present help. 

'I lift my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.'

Psalm 121:1-2

Praise God! I simply need to look up. I lift my eyes, my hands, my heart and when I do, I see my Help coming. 

He rides on the clouds and his voice is the wind and I am helped. 

Bravo!