I <3...
finding money in a pocket of a jacket I haven't worn for a long time.
hearing someone use my name when they are talking to me.
spooning with my cat.
getting a card in the mail. not email...snail mail. It seems to mean more now a days.
tulips in full bloom.
surprises!
people watching. Its even more fun with a friend.
blue nail polish.
the feel of walking barefoot on a warm sidewalk.
mint chocolate chip ice cream. the green kind. in a sugar cone.
cool pens. you know, the ones the drug reps always have. they're the best.
seeing an unexpected butterfly flutter by.
fun sticky notes. the yellow ones are so boring.
riding a carousel. hurrying to find the biggest horse you can before the ride starts.

God = Love

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious (boastful), does not display itself haughtily.
It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fade less under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

God and love are interchangeable.
God = Love 
Love = God

So, if God is love then we can replace God for love in this scripture.
I think its worth reading again in this way...

God endures long and is patient and kind; God never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, God is not boastful or vainglorious (boastful), God does not display Himself haughtily.

God is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); God is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. God does not insist on His own rights or His own way, for God is not self-seeking; God is not touchy or fretful or resentful; God takes no account of the evil done to Him [God pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
God does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but God rejoices when right and truth prevail.
God bears up under anything and everything that comes, God is ever ready to believe the best of every person, God's hopes are fade less under all circumstances, and God endures everything [without weakening].

Wow. THAT is powerful. Selah. Think on this....

I've read this, heard it, and quoted it many, many times in my walk with the Lord, but today, when I read it something shifted in me. Something happened in my heart.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
There is a transfer from head knowledge to heart revelation happening in me. Praise the Lord!

God loves me. God loves me the way this scripture says...I cannot grasp this overwhelming love. I cannot wrap my mind around it. I cannot believe I am loved in this way. Can you? Have you really ever pondered on it? Deeply? I know I haven't. Not until today.

I have a sticky note on my bathroom mirror that says,
"I'm God's special favorite."
I declare everyday,
"I am a child of God and He loves me."
My favorite saying is...."If God had a refrigerator, you're picture would be on it."

My mouth confesses these things, but, truly, I struggle to REALLY  believe it.

I feel I don't deserve it. I mess up way too much. I stray off God's path. I am rebellious. I am disobedient much, much too frequently. I am not worthy of such unconditional love.

And I say, "BUT GOD..."

My FEELINGS don't make something true. What I FEEL can be a lie. Whether I FEEL I am loved this way or not doesn't make it untrue. My feelings are fickle. My feelings change from moment to moment. God does not change. God's word is truth. God's word says He loves me. Unconditionally.

God endures my shortcomings. He is ever so patient and kind in teaching me His ways. He does not look down His nose at me wagging His finger at me when I mess up...again and again. He wants me to obey for my benefit. When I ask for forgiveness God does not keep a record of my wrongs. God rejoices in me! God always believes the best in me. He always hopes for me in everything I do...He never tires of me.
This is how God loves me.
Wow.
This is how God loves you too.
Selah. Think on this...

More on Passion

I have been thinking much on what my passion may be...I know God has ginen me many talents but what is my true passion? What makes me feel as though I am flowing in the purpose God has for me?

I love to teach people about the things of God. I love to study the bible. I crave understanding, knowledge and wisdom about the word of the Lord. I hunger after these things. I can spend hours, with different bible translations spread out around me, digging into the word. Seeking to hear a revelation from the Lord about what I am curious...I have a need to understand so I can share it with others.

I believe I am gifted in teaching. It comes very easy and natural to me. I believe I have a gift of being able to present the things of God in a way that can turn on the "lightbulb" for others. I can sense from the, Holy Spirit, how someone grasps concepts and reach them in their need. There is ease, relief, and a comfortableness on those I talk to about God. Whenever I began to talk, the word of God becomes less complicated, overwhelming and doors of undertanding open. It is a true gift from God. I give Him all the glory for this gift He has bestowed uopn me. I am merely a willing vessel for Him to work through.

I am starting to think my passion is teaching the word of God.

When I begin to explain the bible, something so wonderful happens...to me and to others. Within myself, I feel as though every cell in my being comes alive! Something rises up in me and my words flow so easily. I know this flow is the Holy Spirit working through me and the "aliveness" is God's annointing. Its an incedible feeling inside of me when these two things are in perfect sinc. Its as if I'm doing the thing I was born to do. It feels that right. I am on point. I am smack dab in the middle of God's will. Its an indescribable feeing to be right on the mark with the Lord.
And, I see reflected before me, the faces of those I am teaching...I witness walls of resistance crumbling, an openness to revelation, and a hunger for understanding. It can be qiute an amazing experience.

A very Godly woman once told me, as I was telling her about a revelation God ahd shown me in His word,
"You have a gift for teaching. You do. You wait and see..."

I do a small bible study in my home right now. I ponder whether God is telling me to open myself up for more...I have thought of inviting others, but I'm not sure if I'm ready for that yet. Honestly, I am afraid. I'm not dismissing it....only praying for direction.

Passion & Purpose

I watched Oprah's Lifeclass yesterday. Bishop T.D. Jakes was her guest. Wow. He is an amazing man of God. I saw him preach once and I stood up the whole time...he stirred my spirit so deeply. Well, once again God used him to stir me up.

The subject of discussion was "Living Life on Purpose." The concentration was on finding your purpose through your passion. So, my heart was stirred as I asked myself,

"What was my passion?"

Synonyms of passion are fervor and zeal. Your passion gives you fulfillment and gratification. You know in your "knower" that THIS is exactly what I'm suppose to be doing. You know you're on point.When you step into that thing you light up and your passion is evident, maybe not to you right away, to those around you that this is your "thing." Even if you're not wonderful at it in the beginning, you know its right where you're meant to be...and what I found the most important thing about your passion...you must be authentically drawn to your passion. It might  not be what you've been told you're suppose to do by family and friends. you have to listen to your inner voice and trust it. Our purpose is found in our true passion.

I think the most profound words Bishop Jakes spoke, that penetrated my heart, were that our talent may not be our passion. It can be, but it also can be a way to lead us to our purpose. Sometimes we, and others, mistake our talents for our passion. We need to examine our talents and see if it is where our passion lies.

I'm examining my own heart to discover where my true passion lies. I want to step into my purpose in this life.

I would love to hear some input from you, my readers, as to what you think is my passion...

Maybe I'm getting it...

So, this thing called life, I think I may be figuring out some things...

I AM beautiful....even with gray hair, a few extra pounds, and wrinkles around my eyes because whats inside IS really what makes you beautiful.

Life is hard, unfair, painful, and confusing, but with God, joy comes in the morning.

My cat truly loves me unconditionally.

You will get back what you give out. Good and bad. It may take a while but it will happen.

Obedience to God brings true peace.

If you have a job that you look forward to going to everyday you're exceptionally blessed by God.

The spoken word is extremely powerful...the power of life and death is in the tongue.

My smile has more power than I ever imagined.

My mom is still my biggest fan. :)

Hope can carry you through the depths of despair and disappointment.

This, too, will pass....

God DOES show up.

A need and a want are two TOTALLY different things.

No matter how much I want to, because the pie smells sooo good,  I will never like cooked apples...even with vanilla ice cream.

A true, committed friend is a rare gift. If you have one you're in the minority. One day I would like to be one.

The storms of life can be God's mercy in disguise.

We all are doing the best we can.

The Bible is the manual to life.

Whatever comes my way, I'm going to be okay.