My youngest son gets bored easily. I can remember the first time I found this out. He was tired of womb living at 30 weeks and decided to try for new surroundings in the NICU for two months. He got tired of it there too, but they would only let him go with a promise of keeping scheduled appointments at a research hospital in Portland, OR. As you can imagine, these were tough times in our life.
We walked into our last appointment at the hospital with the sun shining. We decided upon leaving for the last time to celebrate that our newborn was given a clean bill of health by taking a drive in the hills before he got bored of his nap. Somewhere along the way, the sun went down, and the darkness started to settle in. I do not know if you know what it is like driving through towering pines in the forest but light fades fast and darkness can catch you off guard quick. Apparently, unbeknownst to us, our automatic headlight feature did not get turned back on the last time we went in for an oil change and we just assumed it was especially dark that evening. Thankfully, a kind and sweet woman passed us as she screamed and cursed at us to let us know how stupid we were for driving with no lights on in the dark night.
“TURN YOUR LIGHTS ON!!” (slightly paraphrased by me for our more sensitive viewers).
I honestly thanked God for sending someone who we would not miss to help us see that we were driving with no lights on in the dark.
Just in case you have not noticed, gross darkness has come. And just in case you forgot or have been distracted with other things trying to demand your attention, you have a Great Light rising on you too.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” Isaiah 60:1-3
Just in case you had been on a good run with walking in your personal ministry from Jesus (everyone has one) and just in case you have been distracted with the cares of this world, I would like to sweetly and kindly tell you: “…see to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” Colossians 4:17
May God bless the work of your hands and cover you in His favor as you keep on keeping on. His Grace is sufficient for me and you.

Joy unthinkable
Joy unspeakable
Joy unimaginable
Joyful expression
Joyful exaltation
Joyful sound
Joyous days
Joyous nights
Joyous weekdays
Joyous weekends
Joy in the morning
Joy in the evening
Joy in the dead of night
Joy in heart
Joy in mind
Joy in soul
Joy in the Father
Joy in the Son
Joy in the Spirit
Joy after mourning
Joy after falling
Joy, after all
In His Presence, be overcome with joy, joy, JOY!!!
May 2021 bring each who will dare to receive it that special kinda JOY of the Lord!
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Jesus has got the joy, joy, joy joy down in His heart for each and everyone of us too.
"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
How WONDERFUL is the Joy of the Lord!
​May it be our strength!

Look at all the scared people.
Look at all the scary things.
Look at all the scared people.
Hide your face.
Sanitize every space.
What to do when even your sanitizer leaves you carrying a toxic overload.
Stand far away from me.
Look at all the scared people.
Look at all the scary things.
6 feet away or 6 feet under, one of those will never be in your control so long as you live in the flesh instead of through the Living eternal soul.
Scary as can be.
Look at all the scared people.
Look at all the scary things.
Scared to die alone.
Scared to live together.
Look at all the scary people.
Look at all the scary things.
Killing themselves before they kill you.
Killing you before you kill them.
Look at all the scary people.
Look at all the scared things.
Maybe the real scary thing is the fear inside of you.
God has not given us a spirit of fear but a Spirit of Love, a Spirit of Power and a Sound Mind.
Which spirit will you believe?
Death oh death, where is your sting? Jesus paid the price for your eternal being. Are you willing to live dying to everything?

If your father let you down...
If your mother let you down...
If your husband let you down...
If your wife let you down...
If your kids let you down...
If your brother let you down...
If your sister let you down...
If your dog let you down...
If your pets let you down...
​If your family let you down...
If your friends let you down...
If your government let you down...
If your medicine let you down...
If your money let you down...
If your fix let you down...
If your work let you down...
If your body let you down...
If your strength let you down...
If your stock market let you down...
If your vehicle let you down...
If your vacation let you down...
If strangers let you down...
If your community let you down...
If your clubhouse let you down...
If your neighbor let you down...
If your employer let you down...
If your employees let you down...
If your organization let you down...
If your pope let you down...
If your pastor let you down...
If your education let you down...
If your age let you down...
If your home let you down...
If your "trust game" partner let you (fall) down...
If your hobbies let you down...
If your stockpile let you down...
If your ideology let you down...
If your religion let you down...
If you let yourself down...
Be still and know that I Am God.
I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be exalted above the earth.
Be seated in heavenly places.
Ride on Eagle wings.
Lift up the Son.
King of kings.
Lord of lords.
God of gods.
Therefore let us be GRATEFUL for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

1 Kings 20:26-30 is a good read, even better if you read it first.
God is the god of the mountains.
God is the god of the valleys.
Riding high and all is swell.
Wearing righteousness like a ringing and dinging neck bell.
God is the god of the mountains.
Uh, oh! Look how far the oak fell.
Oh, no! The wind is gone from the sail.
God is the god of the valleys.
Wow, look at all the good deeds on this trail!
Watering the seeds like a farmer with a good water well!
God is the god of the mountains.
Pulling up weeds in the fields of the farmer in the dell.
So much work left to be finished in what feels like a personal hell.
God is the god of the valleys.
Look at all the worshipers singing in unity!
Together forever is what we will always be.
God is the god of the mountains.
The sin rages within every male.
Their sin enrages every female.
The sin rages within every female.
Their sin enrages every male.
The sin rages in every male.
Their sin enrages every male.
The sin rages in every female.
Their sin enrages every female.
God is the god of the valleys.
"God's grace is sufficient for you and God's grace is sufficient for me" is a Gospel that's a hard sell when you feel like the Christian life is either won with a pass or a fail. Whether it flows from a Holy Grail or a nasty garbage pail, drink until you're out of the belly of the whale. When you've had your fill then drink until your neighbor is out the belly of his whale. Rinse. Repeat.
God is the god of the mountains.
​God is the god of the valleys.
His Grace will suffice the mountain highs and in the valley flails. The Blood of the Lamb truly does cleanse you from all of your mountain wins or valley sins.
God is the god of the mountains.
God is the god of the valleys.
1 Kings 20:26-30

Deep in the mountains of the Oregon Trail lies (lays? Sheesh..who knows? not me) an unmarked grave. The woman within? The one I want to thank. Sick and tired from the trials of life and a life lived hard on the Oregon trail, she died just short of the end of Barlow Road. She left behind a husband and two young children under five. Rumors have circulated that she may have been pregnant, at least as I have recalled hearing but can't be verified. One more mountain pass and she would have made it to her promise land. I can only imagine the excitement and dread of taking off from her parents' land with her husband to a promise of land. Who knows, maybe she was an orphan? Either way, this immigrant woman left one land for another with the promise that it would be GRAND. It appears she fell just short of it.
No joke, I sobbed for this unmarked grave. I'm sure I looked insane for mourning a stranger whose name I didn't even know with such intensity. I insisted on having my photo taken next to her pile of rocks and a government issued dedication plaque about her life's hard knocks. Give honor where honor is due.
Lady, I honor you. Had you known without the shadow of a doubt that the land you desired to be free in was over the ridge, I know you would not of fainted on your death bridge. You would have finished the course, I believe this with such force. I wish you could know how much your life has not been in vain and how much I think of you when the storms in my life bring down a torrential rain. You see, I've been tired and sickly too. I've been sick and tired too. Not only 2 kids under five but a son who is 20 who also came from my womb and a husband who would not have left me buried there but taken me to a family tomb, I mean no harm when I compare me to you. In fact, there have been times of doubt and uncertainty that I thanked God and felt I owed my very life to you. So what I'm saying here is with no disrespect. I will pay tribute to you when I reach my promise land with praise so loud you'll think I am a full brass band. For Jesus first and then to you, a woman I will be, entering my land while standing as tall as an heirloom oak tree. You see, I have named you. With the greatest respect and the greatest honor, your new name to me is "Does Not Have To Be You".

Your Grace is sufficing me.
Can you shine Your Light all through this seed?
Your Grace is sufficing me.
Can you pull away one more weed?
Wait, not one but three?
I may have heard a rooster crow.
Your Grace is sufficing me.
I stare at the Mercy Seat.
Do you think it could hold up someone like me?
Your Mercy in me will only grow.
Your Grace is my beat.
The Lamb paid the price.
I know Your Blood will suffice.
I need only a dab.
It is not my intention to be a friend to sin.
It is never my plan to stay in dark’s den.
I did not want to keep a tab.
Thank you, Lord, for pulling one more.
I know I have been chosen to show off Your Great Glory!
In Your Great Light, I am free!
Yes, Your Glory is what all will see!
Begrudgingly? No.
Willingly will be the only Way I will let it be.
Thank you, Lord, for Your Covering on my door.
Thank you, Lord, for Your Banner of Love over me.
Thank you, Lord, for Your Grace is the key!

It's not what goes into a person that defiles him. It's what comes out.
Do not think defilement takes a more obvious route.
The heart is where treasures come about.
What is hidden there will come out.
Is your treasure like gold refined? Or is your treasure something that always leaves you in a bind?
The Good News is treasure can be redefined.
Don't stay blind following the blind.
Open your eyes and see that defilement can have a rewind.
Love is patient and love is kind. It's not too late to tie love to your heart's bind.
Do this and what comes out will not leave you feeling defiled or beguiled.
You will see that love truly is worth your while.

Do you cry when you remind yourself that you're the apple of His Eye?
Does your heart sting when you wonder what today will bring?
Do your feet hurt before they even hit the dirt?
Are you feeling like a skeptic when you are told He's your antiseptic?
When you lift your voice in praise are you finding it hard to raise?
Does he lose your gaze while you walk what feels like another maze?
If you answered yes to any question above, you could be suffering from weariness.
Do not grow weary in doing good for at the proper time (not too late, not too early), you will receive a harvest!
Look to Jesus all you who are weary and He will give you rest.
He refreshes those who refresh others.
We have a promise of His Sabbath rest and it's not just a once a week thing, it's a Way of Life.
His Grace is sufficient for you.
When you are weak He can be strong through you.
Set your mind determinedly to enter His gates with praise! Maybe you're bruised up, missing some teeth and limping but PRAISE WILL BE ON YOUR LIPS!
Right now, smile. Go on, smile!
Sing with me "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! And again I say rejoice!"
Are you still feeling weary?
Repeat.
​Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.
You got this! You're the apple of His Eye.

Give honor to where honor is due. I've heard it proclaimed that no one is crying out or pleading for God's grace or mercy to fall and heal this land. I disagree. As proof, I'd like to give honor to where honor is due.
I met a tree. Actually, I've met many trees; pines of many varieties, oaks, maples, birch, joy cascades (my husband and I renamed weeping willows so their joy can be complete), fruit trees, olive trees and the list goes on. I've seen great feats from these trees in spite of the volatile atmosphere we are in. Many are bearing fruit and providing shade, some are standing tall in spite of the heat that's burning their peers around them, some cause me to praise the Lord as they stand in great heights and numbers together even though the fire has licked too far up their trunks for comfort.
Today, I'd like to pay tribute and honor to the overlooked small(er) trees I see at the bottom of mountains too tall to be just a hill. Behind these trees, the land is sliding downward with such force that their tree roots have been exposed! Erosion and landslides are taking their toll as the Earth cries out for blood (justice). Under these trees, you can see the great strength of tiny roots banded together being stretched to a very uncomfortable point. In spite of the trees' exposure, they keep standing and holding the mountain back. These mountains are serious, too! They want to fall and take everything within their paths. Yet, these small exposed trees are holding tight. Others mock them in their pursuit. I needed them to know how precious they are to God and that justice is coming soon. I believe I saw them stand a little taller and hold the ground back a little tighter with each encouraging Word I gave them. Maybe you (and I) need to hear these Words too.
Vengeance is the Lord's. Keep holding tight and wait for His justice. Remain blameless. If your roots are showing and revealing your feeble attempt to hold back the land from destruction, fall on His grace. His Grace is sufficient for you. Repeat to yourself; not by MY might, not by MY strength but by HIS Spirit!
And know, there are many trees all around doing their part too (even when you can't see it). Elijah just about gave up and died until God revealed the secret remnant hidden away until such a time as that. Such a time as now. God bless everyone as you take your stand in His Body. The Bride WILL be without spot or wrinkle. Oh, what sweet justice! Oh, what sweet Glory to our God! What sweet feasting! What sweet vengeance for Jesus when He gets to keep all of His creation! No, not one gets away.
Keep holding HIS ground and bringing HIS Kingdom to earth. The land WILL be healed! The trees WILL be at peace with the land again. If faith as small as a mustard seed can bring down a mountain, surely faith in unity and love with Jesus as our Head can SAVE a mountain. God bless those precious trees. God bless the precious land. God bless you and God bless me.