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 keep 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.
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.

Kings and Queens, why do you flap your wings?
Butterflies in droves, following a beat coming straight from the Mercy Seat.
It is true, we have lost a few of you.
With the highest honor, you are a martyr.
Still, we must move on giving Him Glory.
Murmurers abound wondering where you are going.
Whisperers say you've got to do it their way.
But a Royal Monarch knows to follow the Way that leads to Home.
Lapping up what some call weeds, the Milk is the source of their strength.
If one of these butterflies land in your land to rest a few and freely flies away unscathed after a day or two you will know your land is full of peace.
When it gets to the Living Tree, it will be sure to remember you.
Butterfly, His Great Glory!
What a journey! Time to hang out and rest until the King of Kings pays you your due.
Flap your wings and sing the New Song He put inside of you with the rest of the Royal Family,
​Revelations 14 explains it much better than me.

Can we sway from the parables for the day? This story must be told in a straight way. This message is for the fans of the underdogs. How nice would it be to believe Jesus only rooted for the underdog, too? I can assure you, this way of thinking is not entirely true, at least, not based on a human’s understandable underdog view.
Low-life and low brows, it appeared Christ had a great love for those with open sores and every single one of the town whores. Even the disciples questioned the discretion of their Rabbi’s intimacy with those who were poor. How rattled the disciples must have felt when Jesus took a moment to patiently speak with Nicodemus (as told in John 3), a man stationed smack dab in high society’s core. Can you hardly blame the attitudes of the original Big 12 towards those who were known for oppressing the underdogs at the temple door? I am sure it went against the visions they imagined on how the Messiah would settle the score. The Bible leaves us hanging when it comes to the final state of just how Old Nic’s heart swore. Who knows, maybe Jesus used Nicodemus to teach any and all of the disciples a new policy on how to keep an Open Door.
The point is Christ did not abandon Nicodemus in his quest to find the answers that came straight from his heart. Doing His Father’s business was the only thing Jesus firmly stood behind. He showed us by this passage God shows no favoritism when it comes to speaking the Truth and being kind. It is human nature to pick a side and organize rules to place on our heart’s bind. This goes here, that goes there is an easier method than following a narrow road that could wind away from our own mind.
“She saves puppies, there’s no way her heart is cruel.”
“He was at a disadvantage, and that earns my praise.”
“He is a pastor who leads all astray with his positive ways, let’s give him some negative publicity.”
“She was born to luxury; she doesn’t need anything from me.”
“He was born to poverty; he must be poor in spirit too.”
“He fought for our country; he must care about our country’s view.”
“She is married to a wonderful man, what does she know about a lonely heart?”
“He has great faith; why should we waste our prayers on him when others have so few?”
“Once a cheater, always a cheater there is no hope for him.”
“He is being bullied; he deserves a chance to punch back too.”
Don’t you see? Jesus keeps none of us this on you or me. He never said some of the things we think He did. People with access to great wealth are not banned from Heaven and the poor don’t get an automatic pass through. The Door is wide open for all who will lay down their life and enter through faith in Him. What sets Jesus apart from flesh is how He uses the temporary things to speak to our eternal being.  If you want to root for the underdog than you gotta root for all of humanity too. We are all at a disadvantage because we each were born seeped in sin.
It does not matter your skills, it does not matter your laws, it does not matter your rules, it does not matter your status, it does not matter your opinions, it does not matter your morals, it does not matter your thoughts on the war between Arabs and Jews, it does not matter your political stance, it does not matter which doctrine you follow, it does not matter your peaceful coexisting views…if Jesus is left out of the equation as the Way, the Truth and the Life, nothing else matters.  The only Way to restore every bit of the Father’s intention and plan for you is to be reborn of the Lamb. With faith firmly in Him, we can walk through. Repent and turn from sin by following Him. He has given us His Spirit to comfort and guide us all the way through. Just don’t set your path of following Him in prefabricated stones or you can be sure He will chisel and chew through all of your plans when you pull away from Him.  The stone that the builders have rejected is now the Cornerstone ordained by God. He is so good, there is nothing on this path to fear but Him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
Gentle streams flowing in your mind.
Moving waters hugging your soul.
Heavy eyes entering quiet rest.
Mind to spirit becoming whole.

His Peace found nowhere else.
Billowing clouds soft and white.
Reach into the calling sky.
Entering His presence warm and bright.
 
There is no other Peace,
Found amongst the royal trees.
God of wonders, Creation lives,
Simply by His royal decrees.
 
Hearts ablaze in quiet fury.
Peace floods the innermost.
Lost in the wonderous skies,
Gazing at the glory of the Starry Host.
 
Resting softly in His grasp.
Holding you in a gentle breeze.
The God of everlasting love,
Placing you in an unshakable ease.
 
The time is now God's friend.
Rest day by day by day.
Enter His perfect love and refuge.
Leading you in love, His perfect Way.

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and Yellow
Black and White
We are ALL precious in His Sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world
Little children are God’s children, no matter the age or color, who willfully become little so He can be BIG. (John 3:30, Matthew 8:11, James 4:10)
The humble will give Him their world to share in His. (Matthew 16:25)
Go through the Door. Jesus is waiting for you to give Him His Kingdom back. (John 10:6-10)
It is in you. Render to God what is God’s. (Luke 17:21, Ephesians 1, Matthew 22:21)
There you will find your unspeakable joy. (Psalm 16:11)
There you will find your beautiful and creative order. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
There you will find your delightful purpose. (Proverbs 20:5, John 14:26)
There you will find your dream home. (Hebrews 11:16)
 

The Artist did not jump into His painting with no thought or no clue as to what His Art would do.
He thought and He thought and He thought it all the Way through.
In the beginning, He began with a garden colored hue.
He loved the painting His Mouth Spewed.
Filled with love for His Magnificent Creation, He admired His Work for a few.  He said with a smile; My Painting is good and now I will step in and rest with you.
A counterfeiter who cared nothing for Truth, stepped in to manipulate and told the art it held no value.
The scammer divided the Original Design into billions of pieces with a slick woo.
A bidding war broke out and how high the value flew!  
The Designer paid the cost for art that would stay true.