Take Time to Breathe

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Too often I make hasty decisions I later regret. Like this morning. I got up from bed, tired from the events of the weekend, yet anxious to get to my writing. After quickly reading my bible and praying, I felt I was ready.

Several frustrating, failed attempts later, I got up from the computer—Put on my shoes and took a walk. The blog would have to wait. It was the best decision I could have made!

I took time to breathe in the beautiful fragrance of the rose. I took time to breathe in the beauty of the changing sky on the mountaintop.

Later I sat on the porch with my husband and we enjoyed a cup of chai together,feasting our eyes on mourning doves and songbirds at our feeder.

Ah—This is just what I needed! Was it co-incidence when our chimes played
a beautiful melody as we joined hands in prayer? I think not! Once again, I was reminded—All I can bring to Jesus are my needs.

My priorities now in order, I came back to my writing—renewed, encouraged, and energized. I was ready to write.

I love to take time to smell the roses—Yet without the fragrance of the Rose of Sharon in my life, I just don’t function well!

How about you?

Let’s go off by our-selves to a quiet place and rest awhile.  Mark 6:31

You Are Loved

Had I placed you in a beautiful
garden of perfection and beauty,
would you know you are loved? 
If the One who made the earth,
heavens, moon and stars,
humbled himself and entered
the garden with you, would you
know you are loved? 

Would you grasp my great love if I took your hand and walked with you in the garden of life? Imagine if I shared the purpose and plans I have for your life.  Could you dare believe how much I love you.

Do you struggle at times to believe God loves you? There was a time I did. Head knowledge of the Bible was not enough. The Love of God had to become personal and real. Up close.

He did, the day I opened the door of my heart and invited Jesus in.

There was another who needed the reminder of God’s love. Proud and presumptuous Peter, swore to the Lord he would never deny him. Yet to
the disciples shame, he did deny Jesus just as the Savior had warned.

Peter didn’t know the depravity of his own heart until the night of his failure. He had loved and walked closely with Jesus for three years. But that night he followed from a distance. Fearful, guilty and ashamed.

Fast forward to the trials, scourging, mocking and the cruelty of the Cross as the Lamb of God suffered for all mankind. Finally, the amazing declaration of Jesus: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Jesus died, was buried and rose again on the third day….And before ascending back to his Father, he reinstated Peter with these words, “If you love me, feed my sheep”.

Knowing Jesus compassion and forgiveness for Peter, should encourage us to keep walking with the Shepherd of Love….Believing nothing can separate us from the love of God—not even our fears, feelings, or failures.

We will know we are loved, when we by faith walk with Jesus and believe He loves us.

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow…not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8: 38,39 NLT