Grief - Let's talk about it

Grief.  What a topic first thing in the morning, right?  Not many people like to talk about it... but I want to.  It looks different for everybody (this isn't a post about how you should feel or affirmation of how the world thinks we should respond to it).  As I sit here this morning, I am admiring the calm glassiness of the lake while most of the campground has yet to emerge from their campers.  I am listening to the birds and the bugs chirp and buzz as the sun comes up and my dogs oddly quiet so far this morning.  I think about the plans we did have for the weekend.  We planned to camp with friends who are family this weekend.  Those plans changed as those friends needed to head south to celebrate the life of a little old lady who went to be with Jesus earlier this week, who I had the pleasure of knowing and loving for a short time.  Her family is grieving right now and while we are sad she is gone, she was welcomed into Heaven by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I think about a man we dearly care about, fighting the cancer battle, his wife by his side the whole time.  I think about the many messages my mom has sent me this week about people we were around our whole lives passing away or others fighting yet another cancer battle and trying to make decisions nobody ever wants to make.  I think of the women who chose Jesus over again or maybe for the first time a couple short weeks ago at Women's Encounter, how they chose to lay their grief at the feet of Jesus.  Grief is heavy.  It is all around us.

I think about the past month for my husband and me and what we've been walking through and what grief has looked like to us.  On June 22nd, 2025, Baby Richardson was welcomed into the arms of Jesus.  It's not something we have shared about a lot but when asked we don't hesitate to share and point people to Jesus.  Why?  Because Jesus was there both ultrasounds when we didn't see a heartbeat.  I know He is present in our lives because there is peace in our hearts and a soundness in our minds that can't be explained any other way except Jesus.  It's a peace that looks weird to the world around us.  It is a peace that surpasses all understanding.  Philippians 4:6-7 says "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  He truly is the only way to explain how we have walked through our grief and the hurt in our hearts.  Psalm 147:3-5 says "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  He counts the number of the stars; He calls them by name.  Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite."  That is found in the middle of a chapter of Psalms titled "PRAISE to God for His Word and Providence".

And I'm grateful.  I'm grateful for the people the Lord has surrounded us with; who have shared hugs and shed tears; who will drop anything and pray when asked; who pray for miracles we don't ask about in the midst of a request for a different miracle.  I'm grateful for a coworker and his wife sharing their heart and their faith in Jesus as they walked through losing a child the week before ours joined theirs in the arms of Jesus.  I'm grateful we conceived in the first place after four years of trying with no success.  I'm grateful for a husband who stands firmly on Jesus and the truth of His Word because that is the rock where we have to plant our feet.  And I'm grateful for my Father in Heaven.  For the reminders He gives daily as we continue to walk through uncharted territory for us.  I'm grateful I can crawl up in His lap, the only place of true comfort and peace for me; where I can come as I am, mess or no mess, and just be.

Grief looks different for everybody.  Every day it looks different for every single person.  Some days are messy.  Some days grief shows up like the unannounced guest.  It lets itself in without knocking and waits for you to turn on the light in the living room before you can see it sitting on your couch waiting for you.  Today as I type this, I won't stop the tears from coming.  They don't come often, but when they do, I know I need to let them.  Other days it looks like one step at a time.  Doing the things that maybe I don't want to do or don't "feel" like doing.  It's continuing to go to work every day when getting out of bed may difficult in the first place.  It's worshipping Him alone or in church even if I don’t feel like it because praise is a weapon that is POWERFUL.  It's standing on a stage at Women's Encounter sharing this very story with 300 women, knowing darn well emotions will come before, during, and after, but knowing more so that Jesus is right beside me and that it is for God's glory… and then watching how it is used right before my very eyes.  It's stopping to ground myself when panic appears for the first time in many years.  It's reminding myself that God, my Father in Heaven, has good plans; that He is faithful; that He is still good.

My circumstances don't define the character of God.  His promises are still true.  His attributes don't change.  His plans are still good.  He has good plans for me (there is a song that comes to mind:  Good Plans - Red Rocks Worship).  Jeremiah 29:11-14a says "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity."

The other thing about grief is that we can be held captive by it.  It can become a stronghold for some people and they never move on.  They stay stuck.  Friend, that is not where the Lord wants you to be.  You have permission to grieve when it shows up because it will.  But you also have permission to move on afterwards.  You won’t forget about the one you are grieving by doing so.  You have permission to walk in the HIS peace.  There is nothing wrong with you.  Grief is not a bad.  It is actually an expression of losing someone or something you loved and held dearly.  You have permission to grieve.  I believe even Jesus grieved (we will talk about that here in a minute).  But don't get stuck there.  I challenge you:  Don't make grief an idol.  It doesn't have to steal your joy (that is exactly what the devil would love to have happen).  Your peace and joy is found in Jesus (John 14 and 15 both touch on that as do many other verses in the Bible; Nehemiah 8:10 talks about the joy of the Lord being strength).  I have a friend who likes to challenge people (in a loving way) to get off of their mat (your reference is John 5:1-15).  Grief doesn't have to dictate your every day (that is exactly what the devil would love to have happen).  Where you fix your eyes matters.  Philippians 4:8 tells you where to fix your focus.  Colossians 3:2 points you in the right direction as well.  Colossians 3:14-17 is an excellent guide as well.  

In your grief, do you fix your eyes on what you lost or the feelings that you are feeling, and wonder if it will ever end?  Or do you fix your eyes on Jesus KNOWING that HE understands EXACTLY how you feel (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)?  Knowing that you can find comfort and peace in Him and in the lap of your Father in Heaven?  He doesn't care how messy you are.  He isn't intimidated by your neediness.  You don't have to "get it together" before you go to Him (I am guilty of using this phrase waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much).  He invites you to come to Him.  Matthew 11:28 says "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  Grief is heavy.  Once I gave myself permission to grieve, a weight was lifted.  Having shared my teaching and this testimony from a stage, I allowed the grief to come afterwards.  Surrounded by many women who love and care about me, in their arms, in front of 300 women, I let the tears flow knowing that I was being held up by the faith of others and the strength of the Lord.  And it felt like I came up for air for the first time in WEEKS.  

I believe Jesus experienced grief.  This morning I sat and pondered what that looked like for Him.  And then I googled it 😁  Fun fact for you:  the shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35.  And you want to know what it is?  (Hope so because I'm gonna share it with you regardless).  Jesus WEPT.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Jesus wept.  John chapter 11 is the story about Lazarus.  You might know this one.  And this chapter is LOADED.  But what I noticed was how Jesus wept.  He loved Lazarus.  He loved Mary.  He loved Martha.  He KNEW Lazarus would rise from the dead.  But still, He wept.  What did Jesus do though?  After He had the stone moved away, He turned to His Father in Heaven and He thanked Him.  What stone do you need Him to move?  Ask Him!  Let Him move it!  And then turn to your Father in Heaven and THANK HIM.  Thanksgiving changes your heart posture.  It doesn't matter what you are walking through, You can find Him in every situation, wherever you look.  

After Baby Richardson's entrance into Heaven, I asked Jesus to show me where He was: where was He when we had 2 ultrasounds with no heartbeat?  Where was He when I miscarried our baby?  Where was He when we had an ultrasound that showed Baby Richardson was no longer in my womb?  And every time, He showed me.  He was holding the monitor that showed us our child.  He was catching the tears as they fell from my face while I sat in the bathroom in agony (Psalm 56:8).  He was holding our baby that was no longer visible on the monitor.  And for those things, I thank Him.  And when I decide to thank Him, I walk in His peace.  And when I walk in His peace, I do the things that may be difficult to do.  But my eyes are fixed on HIM.  Not what was "lost" (Baby Richardson isn't "lost".  My baby is cradled in the arms of Jesus and there is no safer place for that baby to be!).  Not focused on the grief as it comes and then goes.  On HIM.  When Jesus wept or He felt grief, He turned to His Father in Heaven.  In the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus was in agony to the point of sweating blood (Luke 22:44) and sorrowful to the point of death (Matthew 26:38), He talked to His Father in Heaven.  He wept over the state of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44).  But He knew the Father had a plan.

Know your Father has a plan.  We don't have to ask why (you can, but I would encourage you not to dwell on it).  We don't have to know how He is going to use it (sometimes that might happen after you are long gone.  Other times you get a glimpse of His work in progress... I praise Him I got a glimpse of Him using our story to bring others to their knees before His throne).  But we can trust He has good plans because He says so.  His promises are yes and amen.  And if you don't know what to do?  Pray.  Stand on the truth of who He is.  But stand.  Ephesians 6:13 says "Therefore take up the whole armor of God (versus 14-18), that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."  His truth, His armor, it is so much lighter than carrying the weight of grief.  It is infinitely more powerful as well.  The enemy would love to use grief against you.  Don't allow him to do so.  He isn't so powerful that he can do it without your permission.  But you are powerful to stand against him because YOU stand with Jesus.  And there is nothing more powerful than 3 plus me; The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit, and me.  The enemy loves to sneak in the lies and the guilt that you could have done something different to prevent it or that you did something wrong in the first place.  You didn't.  I couldn't have stopped what happened.  I didn't do anything wrong.  You're not guilty and neither am I.  Don't let Satan plant the lies in the first place.  Friend, take up His armor.  Stand in His strength.  And keep walking on, taking one step at a time, knowing He has good plans.  If grief shows up like the unannounced guest who let's itself in and hangs out on your couch waiting for you, let it.  Sit down on the couch beside it and introduce it to Jesus.  He knows how to handle grief.  He knows how to handle pain.  Trust Him.

Every day is a new day.  Every day comes with new blessings.  Every day comes with opportunities to glorify Him, even in grief and hard times.  Even in the valleys.  Glorify Him.  I love you sweet friends and would love to pray with you if you would like.  Leave a comment or shoot me a message!  And thank you for reading.   (here is my view this morning.  Enjoy it with me!!)

I have included a few links as well:

Women’s Encounter - You should join us!  It doesn’t matter where you are at in your walk or if you’re walking at all. I promise He has something for you and will meet you there!  Our next Encounter weekend is October 10-12:   https://women.encounterthecross.com/

Men there is an Encounter waiting for you too!! August 21-23: https://encounterthecross.com/men/

Good Plans - He has them for You!!: https://youtu.be/wKgrtb2GcnU?si=H136GgYHLjYjwYmR

2020 Vision - Where did our focus go?

2020... a year of vision and focus, right?  Pretty catchy coming into the new year. It worked well for New Years resolutions. New year. New goals. New you. (By the way, it doesn’t have to be January 1 for you to start. You can start right now if you want to). 2020 vision. A year to refocus. YEAH!!!  Until it wasn’t. Because of a pandemic known as coronavirus... COVID-19. Then it seems we lost focus. Vision disappeared. The world went crazy. Chaos hit. Society panicked. All the toilet paper disappeared too. We went on lockdown. And now I can’t find real Lysol cleaner anywhere!!!  2020 vision magically disappeared?

But it didn’t have to. The circumstances of the world changed.  They did it dramatically without asking our opinion or permission. And that some how stole vision and focus and goals and dreams from people. But it really, honestly, truthfully, did not have to. Vision and focus can still exist, but it matters where those are fixed. 

If focus is fixed on the ever changing and never ending chaos (wind and the waves) then it is no wonder the world is in a panic!!  It is no wonder why we feel like we are sinking and need to be pulled above the water  (check out Matthew 14:22-33)!!  I can tell you, though, that even in ever changing circumstances and never ending chaos... there is a Constant. There is Consistent.  There is a never changing Presence.  And a focus fixed on Him is peace even when surrounded by the crazy.  His name?  Jesus. He is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow, and all of the tomorrows after that (Hebrews 13:8). 

His grace doesn’t change.  His mercy doesn’t change.  He doesn’t lie (Numbers 23:19). He keeps His promises (Deuteronomy 7:9; 1 Corinthians 1:9). His love for us does not change. There is NOTHING that will change His finished work on the cross (John 19:30). That death and resurrection does not, can not, and will not change!!! It is FINISHED!!!  The end!!  It’s BIGGER than anything we are and will ever face.  He is BIGGER. 

2020 can still be a year of vision and focus. But where you fix your focus matters. Where you fix your focus will bring life or death (Romans 8:6 in the Amplified Classic is pretty explanatory).  Wherever you fix I focus, those things will grow.  Focus on circumstances? The circumstances will be the only thing I see and they will appear bigger than Jesus and what He has done.  Focus on Jesus?  Guess what?!?!  HE appears BIGGER!!!  Circumstances still exist but they lose their power to control how I feel and act and react to the things going on around me. Which means I don’t have to react from a feeling. I think we have witnessed the fear and panic in our world when people react out of how they feel thanks to current circumstances. 

Focus on Him brings a reaction out of faith. And faith (sorry to break it to ya) isn’t a feeling. I might have times when I FEEL anxious.  I might have times when I FEEL afraid. But sometimes feelings lie. If I react out of those feelings versus the Truth?  There is panic.  But if I feel those feelings and choose to react out of faith?  I stand firm in what I KNOW to be true in spite of how I feel. I stand firm knowing Jesus is BIGGER.  I stand firm knowing I serve an infinite and almighty God who is sovereign and provides, above and beyond, everything I need (Philippians 4:19)!  He does exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever even imagine (Ephesians 3:20).  Because that is who He is. He provides in abundance (John 10:10).

When He is the rock on which I stand, there is a foundation that is simply unshakeable (Matthew 7:24-27). But... let me tell you a not so secret secret... I have a choice (so do you)!  It is my choice to stand there. It is my choice to choose Him. It is my choice to act in faith instead of feelings. It is my choice.  And He gives you that same opportunity!!  It’s available. HE is available. You have a choice too!!  To choose Him or the world. To stand on a foundation of the One who is BIGGER... or the shifting sands of circumstances. 

It’s my choice to have vision. Focus. Maybe 2020 is still a year of vision and focus.  Maybe it has given us a chance to go deeper.  To see Who is constant. To refocus our vision on the One that truly matters. Him. Jesus. He isn’t through. It’s not over yet. And despite the happenings around us, He is still BIGGER. None of this surprise Him (I can’t imagine Him sitting on the throne going “well I sent expecting that!!”). I know I have had PLENTY of time to spend with Him (newsflash: you’ve got the same amount of time each day too). 

That is where to fix focus. Let Him be Vision.

Dance

Dance...... that word.  Something about it feels like freedom.  The freedom to let loose and be who you are.  Freedom to express yourself.  Freedom to be who God made you to be.  Life can be that way.  Walking in the freedom that the Lord gives can be that way.  No worries about the opinions of others.  Just worship.  Music to my soul... worship to me... music and voices and heck no I don't hold still when I am worshiping the Lord!!  Now, I don't bust a move or anything but you better believe my hands are up and I'm swaying back and forth as if in time with my Heavenly Father.  But there is freedom in that kind of worship..... to know that you stand before the throne of God, worshiping Him with your whole heart and not a care in the world!!  Earlier this evening I kept playing the song "I Hope You Dance" over and over again in my head.  So what did I do?  I picked up my guitar, strummed out the song and started singing along!  Not exactly a worship song but as I think about it the words still hold true to freedom.

Never lose your awe and wonder for the journey the Lord is taking you on, that He has adventure planned and there is joy in walking in the Spirit.
No matter how much of the Lord's love we digest, we should continue to want Him more and more, to keep learning about Him, diving into His Word, and loving Him.
Life isn't a guarantee but He created us on purpose for purpose.
His love will NEVER leave us empty handed
Compared to the beauty and majesty of the ocean, we are small and life is a vapor... but He hears and LISTENS TO our every word and cry and prayer.  His thoughts about us out number the sands on the seashore.
Whenever one door closes, the Lord has something better that awaits each and every person, whether we see it in that moment or not.
Give the Lord a chance to do something radical in your heart, change you, and continue to mold you into His image.
Instead of sitting on the sideline fearful of what is going to happen next, you choose to be free in who He has called you to be and dance with Him.
We don't have to fear the trials to come, no mountain in life is too big for our God.
That, while there is an "easy way", His way is narrow but is the path to eternal life and when we are walking with Him we can experience peace and freedom.
Take a chance for Him.  Live life risky, doing whatever it is you are called to do in this life, with the Creator of the Universe!!
His love... is risky.  He died on a cross... that is His love for EVERYONE.  And it wasn't a mistake by any means at all!
Don't let what somebody did to you become bigger than what Jesus did for you.  Don't let the negativity or somebody else's bad day ruin you and who you are.  You can't control them but you can control how you react and what you hold on to.
Don't compromise who He created you to be.  Keep on keepin on.
Acknowledge Him in every way, in every thing, every single day.
And dance!!!

It took me back to something I had read many years ago by somebody I don't know but the word guidance includes the word dance and this is what it is about.... dancing with the Lord!!

When I meditated on the word GUIDANCE, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.  I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.  When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.  The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.  When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.  It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and
attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word GUIDANCE.

When I saw "G," I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i." "God, "u" and "i" dance.  God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life. This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. If God has done anything for you in your life, please share this message with someone else, for prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards; so let's continue to pray for one another.

AND I HOPE YOU DANCE !

Trust Him in this dance of life!!  Dance....... don't sideline yourself.  He has purpose and it is good and joy filled and a journey!!

Learning Presence

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Revelationary thought of the day: Jesus preached about being present. It’s not a brand new concept by any means.  Some days verses come alive more than others (thank you Holy Spirit 🙌).  While I don’t always do it perfectly, it’s because on those “some days” I choose to spend time with Him. I choose to take my requests to Him. And then I choose... to be still and listen.  When we sit and only ask questions, we don’t give Him room to respond.  We don’t stop talking long enough for Him to reveal Himself to us.  God is a gentleman so He won’t yell at us to shut up so He can get a word in. We have to choose to be still.  When we are still we can listen to Him... we can know He is God (Psalm 46:10).

Over the past year and a half a word that’s been spoken to me by a close friend (often) is contentment. I think that peace comes with contentment. (Peace, for those who don’t know, is the second candle on the advent wreath... and just so happened to be the topic of our Sunday school yesterday). I was hanging out in Philippians 4 today (shocker) and stressing out about my finances: what if I can’t give somebody the best Christmas present ever? What if I can’t pay for this in January or that I’m March or this in a year?  (a year Sharina? Really?!) Reading through verses 11-12 my mind jumped to having “not enough”. Not enough compared to who?!  Fast forward to verses 18-19, I have all that I need!! I have everything I need for TODAY and then some. And He will take care of tomorrow.  He’s already in our tomorrow.  He IS out tomorrow.  Not enough compared to who?!  Did you know that comparison is the thief of joy? And come the holiday season it is pretty easy to compare oneself by possessions and money.  Do you know how rich we are as Americans? The fact that I’m posting this on Facebook using a cell phone with unlimited data to do so? Hmmm... (sorry for the side note... little bit of self preaching going on here)

Comparison is the thief of joy... I’d also say that what if’s are the thief of peace.  What if’s take you out of the present and put you in the future... a future that is in the hands of the richest, mightiest Father we could have. A future that holds things we have no control over.  A Father who supplies all that we NEED according to those riches!!!  Notice the word NEED.  Our WANTS aren’t always (really usually) what we NEED.  (Please note you still have to choose to be responsible with what He’s given... another preaching at myself moment).

Here is my podcast moment:

“Once he’s set free from what he has expected he will be free to receive what he needs.

When we get too married to our plans we can miss God’s purpose.

You can’t really know what God is doing until He’s done it. And you don’t really know what you need until you get what you want and find out it isn’t even really what you thought it was.”

This could also take me into a big(ger) post on expectations but I will save that for another day.  The point for today is that Jesus called us to be present. We can rest assured that all we need for today will be supplied. In that knowing, we find peace. Because in that knowing, we focus on God and allow Him to meet our needs in ways that very well may surprise us.  Don’t allow the what if’s to steal your peace. Somebody pointed out that our level of peace (or lack there of) could be an indicator of where we are fixing our minds and hearts.  Don’t let comparison steal your joy.  Focus on what He has given to you, not what you think you should have or what somebody else has that you don’t have. Focus on the needs He has met today and will continue to meet in the future.  Allow yourself to be present with those around you because that might be the greatest present of all.

#preachintomyself

Why worry? Give thanks!

We are currently in the “season” of Thanksgiving.  This time of year usually tends to bring many things to be thankful for.  There is the Holiday of Thanksgiving… mostly spent with family and a lot of food.  And the Holiday of Christmas… commercialized with gifts and trees and lights.  And then the Holiday of New Years… filled with resolutions that probably won’t last past a few months, and words for the year to live by and Bible verses for the year to define the year.

I really hope you read most of that first paragraph in the sarcastic character that I am. But really...

What are we truly thankful for?  And are we thankful in all circumstances?  It can be pretty easy to be thankful on the mountain top, when all of the pieces of life seem to be falling into place and fitting together nicely.  But will we lift His name in the lowest valley?  Will we sing for joy when our hearts are heavy?  When one thing after another happens that seems to be out of our control, will we praise His name?  We can!  Because we serve a Creator who is in control of everything.

A friend of mine has had a lot going on in life… But I am continually amazed at how she just rolls with it.  I remember saying to her “you really do just roll with the punches, don’t you?”  And her response holds so much truth.  She said that there really is no point in sitting at home and worrying about life.  1.)  It happens and you can’t do anything about some of it.  And 2.) Life goes on.  It doesn’t stop moving just because something unexpected happened.

If we sat at home worrying about the things that happen, we are never going to walk in the direction that the Lord wants us to move in.  We will stay where we are at and we won’t move forward.  Worry does no good.  It doesn’t add seconds to our lives…

Matthew 6:27 (NLT) “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”

Worrying steals seconds from our lives.  And the devil loves that because he is a thief and he wants to steal our joy and our life from us.

Have you ever looked up at the starry sky and thought “He not only made all of those stars… and the stars unseen… He also NAMED THEM ALL!?!?!?!  And the same God that did all of that wants a relationship with me?”  I returned recently from Hawaii.  And I just can’t stand by the ocean without some Holy Spirit leaking from my eyes.  Think about the grains of sand along the shore.  God has more thoughts about us than there are grains of sand!

Psalm 139:17-18
“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.  They cannot be numbered!  I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!”

Don’t try to comprehend that amount.  It’s impossible.  At one particular moment, however, a group of us gals meandered over to some big old rocks along the shore.  I turned one way and saw the beauty and majesty of the mountains.  I turned the other way to witness the power of the waves crashing against the rocks we were standing on.  In that moment my heart became a little weepy.  Because that is how amazing He is.  He is more majestic and more powerful than anything I experienced in that moment.  He is that beautiful and on Christ the solid Rock I stand!!!

So why worry?  If He created all of these amazing things… If He tells the wind where to blows… if He tells the waves where to stop and start… if He has placed every star in the sky perfectly and named every single one of them… why do we worry?  Believe it or not…. Worry is a choice.  And Satan doesn’t make that choice for us.  Satan ALSO doesn’t FORCE us to worry.  Sorry.  Bummer I know.  WE... YOU make that choice.  Satan is a bandwagon fan though.  He is quick to jump on the worry bandwagon.  When we choose to think on the things that are not from God… or we act on things to satisfy our flesh… you better believe that Satan is our biggest fan.  But he will quickly become an enemy when we start choosing the things we know are from God.  When we walk in the light of who God made us to be, Satan is no longer a fan.  He fights with everything he can against us.  Because he knows who we can become if we walk out the destiny the Lord has placed before us… even if we don’t know who that person is just yet!!

I believe that the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God is our weapon as stated in Ephesians 6:17.  I believe that praise and worship are weapons.  Because when we know who God says He is… and we know who He says we are… and we know what He has done and will do for us… all of which we glean from the Word… how in the world can we not worship?  Spending time in His word is worship!!  Spending time with Him is worship!  And we fight back.  We aren’t just on the defensive.

It makes me think of something I hear when I’m watching basketball and that is, “They aren’t playing to win.  They are playing to not lose.”  Satan wants us to play to not lose.  Because when we play that way the game tends to be much closer than it should be.  We tighten up.  We focus on the things that we shouldn't be doing more than we focus on the things the Lord is doing.  We might still win (Spoiler alert:  Jesus done won) but we allowed the game to be closer than it should have been.  Play from the victory.  Walk in the victory the Lord has already won for you.

Psalm 103:2
"Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me."

We can acknowledge the things in life that happened.  We can acknowledge who we once were.  But we can CHOOSE to live in the present in who God says we are and in the things that He has done for us.
What has He done?

Psalm 103:3 – He’s forgiven.  He heals
Psalm 103:4 – He redeems.  He crowns with love and tender mercies.
Psalm 103:5 – He fills life with good things and renews strength.

I am no longer a slave to things that I’ve done.  I am no longer a slave to the things done to me.  I am no longer a slave to addictions.  That’s not who I am!  My life is no longer defined or controlled by anxiety and worry.  It’s just not!  Because the Lord has done great things for me.  When we choose to focus on the past or how we aren’t perfect or who we once were or what people think about us, we allow worry to creep in.

Worship is worry in reverse.  I can’t take credit for that as I heard it on a podcast recently.  Worship is worry in reverse.  When we focus on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable… worry has no place.  A friend pointed out that that verse, Philippians 4:8, those are all part of who our Lord is.  So, when we focus on the Lord, and we know who He says He is because we’ve spent time with Him, worshipping Him, worry has no place.  Peace replaces worry when we give Him our worries and we thank Him for all He has done.

Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

If we want to know peace, don’t focus on the things of the flesh and this world!  If we want to know peace, know the Lord!  Romans 8:6 says that if we are controlled by the flesh and we focus on the flesh, we will die.  But if we are controlled by the Spirit and we think about the things of the Lord, we will have life and peace.  If we stay in who we once were and we keep looking back at who we once were and that is our focus, instead of focusing on where the Lord is taking us, we will stay where we are and will die there.  But if we look at what the Lord has done, where He has brought us, and where He wants to take us… if we keep moving forward… we will walk in that direction.  Where we fix our eyes matters.  Where we fix our thoughts matters… because wherever our thoughts are, our eyes will more than likely follow, and that is the direction we will walk.  Another podcast quote, “Your life moves in the direction of your strongest thought.”

Who we think we are matters.  If we allow ourselves to be defined by the people in our lives… or material wealth… or status… or whatever… we will be sorely disappointed.  If we allow ourselves to be defined by who HE says we are then we will walk out a destiny far greater than we can imagine and what others say about us won’t matter so much to us.  I will say that it does matter who we surround ourselves with.  However, the truth that should truly define us is the Word of God.  If we get into the Word, we find out that God is who He says He is.  Which in turn means we can believe who He says we are.

In just Psalm 103 we find:
Verse 8 – He is compassionate and merciful.  Slow to anger and ever loving.
Verse 9 – There is no condemnation in Him and He doesn’t stay angry with us.
Verse 10 – We don’t, nor have we ever gotten what we deserve.
Verse 11 – His love is higher than Heaven is above the Earth.
Verse 12 – Our sins are washed away.  He gets rid of them as far as East is from the West.
Verse 13 – He loves us and is tender and compassionate toward us.
Verse 14 – He knows us better than we know us because He created every intimate detail of our very being.

If we want just a snapshot of who He is, look at Psalm 103.  The Bible is a who conglomerate of those snapshots.  Don’t waste your time worrying.  Don’t live in who the world says you are.  Time is short so I would encourage you to live for the Lord.  And live knowing that His love will follow you all the days of your life.

Psalm 103:15-18
"Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.  The wind blows, and we are gone —  as though we had never been here.  But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him.  His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!"

Beauty From Ashes - Burning Life's Pastures

"So do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transcient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." - 2 Corithians 4:16-18

For anybody living in the Flint Hills, it is burning season.  The purpose of burning pastures is "grass management".  The old grass of the pastures is burned away so that new life can grow.  It is used to rid the land of unwanted plants and weeds that have grown there so that the grass we want to grow can grow.  It rids the land of unwanted growth.  The burning of pastures releases nutrients in the soil to promote that growth.

Now, I quite enjoy burning season.  The fires at night are beautiful and memorizing.  I even enjoy the smell of burning. What gets me is the new growth.  I enjoy it every morning on my way to work. Witnessing the progression from old to burned and from burned to new life.  It amazes me how green and luscious the new life is.  After the recent rains the green almost looks fake it is so green.  Just absolutely beautiful.  And part of the journey to this beautiful green growth?  Burning. 

Now, burning has its unpleasantries.  It's messy.  It's hot.  And coming just after the flames it is kind of ugly.  The blackness of destruction.  Smoldering from the flames.  The smell gets old after a while and tends to stick round for a bit after the burning.  It's painful sometimes.  I can't help but think of wildfires out of control.  The destruction that those bring when the fires are unexpected.  The lifestyles and living that is affected in those instances.  Those happen.  Prescribed burns and uncontrolled burns.  Recently there was an unexpected burn nearby.  It may have been small but it was unexpected.  However, when I see that spot along the interstate the aftermath is the same.  Beautiful green life growing through the ashes.

Life...... trials....... these can be similar.  Maybe a lot more unexpected fires than the prescribed burns.  But both happen.  And in both cases God can work through those fires.  Several times in Scripture we are told trials will come.  We shouldn't be surprised by those.  We witness it in the lives of followers of Christ in the Bible.  We see it in the deaths of martyrs who died for the purpose of others knowing Christ.  Trials will come.  

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefined, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you rejoice though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith -- more precious than gold that perished though it is tested by fire -- may be found to result in praise and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." - 1 Peter 1:3-9

You could go a lot of places with this comparing our faith to the process of purifying silver or gold.  It takes lot of heat.  It takes a lot of time.  It takes perfection.  And the perfector of our faith... is our Father in heaven.  He is the best artist.  We are his masterpiece.  In his eyes we are perfect because He created us.  When He sees us, he doesn't see the flaws that were burned away.  He sees the beautiful green grass that is growing through the ashes that resulted in a trial.  He sees beauty.  He created it.

 A lot of people know the recent stretch of my journey.  Last October, after  lot of prayers with a lot of people, we started the adventure of working off of depression and anxiety medication.  In January, we moved me off completely.  And it was painful to say the least.  Physically.  Mentally. Emotionally.  Yet God has remained faithful.  His work has remained good.  His love for me still remains.  

I would refer to this as a prescribed burn.  We knew it would be hard.  We knew there would be all kinds of withdrawal, mental, emotional, and physical.  We expected those things. We also expected the unexpected flare ups.  We also knew there would be new growth.  We didn't know exactly how it would look..... The trials.... The growing.... but we knew it would be.  And we knew God would use it and He continues to use it.

Recently we had a few unexpected flare ups.  Panic and anxiety were the spark of the flame.  And they burned.  They were ugly.  They were hot and messy. I was a hot mess.  And I thought it would never end even if I knew in reality it would.  And each time He saw me through. He provided the faith and people and prayers to keep me standing.  And through those wildfires and flare ups He continues to grow me.  And as much as I don't want to endure or go through them or share those experiences with anybody, He uses them.  My trial could be the key to unlocking somebody else's prick. 

God does that through our trials and fires.  Through the prescribed burns and the unexpected wildfires.  And even though the trial may be unexpected we can expect the trials.  Fire doesn't pick and choose patches to burn.  When it burns, it burns whatever is in its path.... The top of then hills and the valleys.  And the rebirth of life happens wherever there were flames.  On the hill tops.  In the crevasses carved out in the hills.  In the lowest point in the valleys.  Growth happens everywhere.  The trials are fire.  God brings the rains.  And we grow.

I wish I would have taken a picture of it, the day these thoughts popped into my head.  Driving into work on 177.  One side of the road had just been burned.  It was charred and black and not all that pretty.  The other side had been burned  while before.  It was beautiful and green.   Little ways down the road there had been no burn.  It was brown and tall and overgrown. Life.... before.... during.... And after God's work in our lives.  Perspective. Beauty from ashes. He makes all things beautiful in His time.  The lollies of the fields.  The green grass after the pasture has been burned.  Budding trees.  You.  Me.  Everything.

The challenge: embracing the burn. This is a hard one.  Rejoicing in the pain and the burn.  Because it hurts.  It isn't enjoyable.  And it is really easy to ask why is this happening.  Maybe the question we should ask is: what are you showing me in this Father? When we ask, where are you God... We must then open our eyes and LOOK for Him.

Because He is there.  Every step of the way.  And He is growing us in every trial and burn... prescribed and unexpected.  He is our help and our strength... our hope in times of struggle.  Because He is who He says He is and we are who He says we are and that is loved and protected and whole in Him. His plans for us are good.  And He will see us through everything that comes our way.

"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." -- Joshua 1:9

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you whill eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." - Matthew 6:25-33

A Sinner’s Death

A Sinner’s Death

By Sharina Marie Schaller

You died a sinner’s death for me

Nailed to that rugged tree

I fall down on vended knee

You died a sinner’s death for me

Bruised and broken, beaten and scorned

A crown of thorns so boldly worn

You died a sinner’s death for me

Hanging on that blood stained tree

All sin of the world you carried

For freedom you died and was buried

You died a sinner’s death for me

Pierced and broken on that tree

You rose again on day three

Bright and whole, victoriously

In you I rest and can be free

Thanks to a sinner’s death for me

Death has no power, hell has no sting

Christ died to save and rose again

He paid it all for every sin

He died and rose so live in him

He is life

He is Love

Stepped down from His throne

In Heaven above

He died a sinner’s death for me

Because He lives I am now free

He rose again for you, for me

All praise and honor shall rise to thee

Inked: My Story

Long story short: we are all affected by mental illness is some way, shape, or form. It may be a sibling, a lover, a friend, you.  This person may have made their struggle known. Maybe they have not.  Be a safe place. 

Too often people feel as though they are alone.  They feel judged and criticized.  Society has placed this stigma on mental illness that I think, thankfully, is being broken a little.  I am thankful because in the dark is no place to be.  

I've been there.  I've heard the possible diagnoses of bipolar, panic disorder, anxiety, clinical depression.  I've spent time sorting through medications with doctors to try and find the ones that work best with each other and did not cause issues with other medical problems.  I've experienced the uncontrollable anxiety.... the kind that restricts breathing.  I've walked through the darkness of depression... the kind that makes you lay in bed and not want to move... longing for a light at the end of the tunnel.  I've crept through the thoughts of suicide... when Satan whispers in one ear to do it.  I've experienced the power of the Holy Spirit closing my ears to those whispers and moving me to dispose of anything that could be harmful... and to reach out. 

I've done this as a Christian who has faith in God and believes in what Christ did for me on the cross. I was not experiencing these things because I didn't have enough faith. I wasn't experiencing these things because I wasn't eating healthy or exercising appropriately. I was experiencing these things because there was something physically wrong and out of balance in my body.  Just like with my diabetes I needed medical attention.  I need a doctor to walk me through it. I need medications to keep my body balanced.  And I needed love and support. And I'm blessed to have a loving family, to have friends I can confide in, and a Father in Heaven who loves me more than any of these people could ever love me COMBINED. 

Faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is Love. 

Love covers a multitude of sin. 

Love is patient and kind. 

God loves us SO MUCH that Christ, his only son, died on a cross. Not just for me. But for you. He loves you too!!!  I am a much healthier person today than I was two years ago because I had faith and even though it was shaky I was loved and given hope by those surrounding me.  From a mother who spent days with me after a hospital release (not to mention birthing me and raising me) to a friend who willingly met with me to talk through life and give me hope that God still loved me even in the midst of the struggles.  And other friends who would stay up in conversation and prayer with me, reiterating how much Jesus loves me. 

Friends, He never stops loving us. He is the same today as He was yesterday and will be tomorrow.  Love. It's a strong word.  Make it a movement. Be hope and love for somebody. Listen to their story. Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to be angry.  Walk with them. Do life with them. Be hope for them.  

My tattoo is a reminder that I am loved.  The non-profit organization "To Write Love On Her Arm" is one that gives hope. It is a place to talk your story. It is a movement.  The stories are true to the heart. The struggles expressed are real struggles. Don't ignore them. It's time to speak out.  If you need help it is time to get help.  Speak out!!! You are not alone. 

The story behind To Write Love On Her Arm is a good one. I'd recommend the reading of the original story. The story is posted below.  Write love on their arm.  Be a voice for those who have no voice or may be too scared to speak.  This is the story behind my ink.  I can look down and see a beautiful reminder of love. And see infinity knowing that God is the only infinite and that He is pure, unadulterated love.

https://twloha.com/learn/story/

Discipline - 2016

“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”  Hebrews 12:11 NLT

Each year I choose a word to define the year... Something to strive for. 2015 was Focus - and I struggled mightily and failed often to stay focused on the present. 2015 was a rough year. Something I lacked was discipline. Life needs it. God approves of it. It is necessary to live fully and be disciplined. Being disciplined with something small, like making my bed each day or doing the dishes often, can carry over into the bigger things in life, like finances and health.  Maybe the biggest discipline of all that takes a small amount of time each day: being disciplined spiritually. Being in the Word (even if it is listening to the Word) and hearing what God is saying. Being disciplined and understanding that we don't have to KNOW what is going to happen but learning to KNOW God and that ultimately He is in control of what is happening in my life and trusting His ways. So as far as a New Years resolution: learn discipline. Discipline around the house. Discipline in what I eat and how often I exercise. Discipline financially.  Discipline at and in my work.  Discipline spiritually.  Discipline takes patience and work. In the end, discipline is worth it. 

Crafty

The hobbies and gifts that I discovered in 2015. 

Identity

We are... God's children, joined with the Spirit, adopted sons and daughters of the King.
We are... followers, driven by His Spirit, heirs of the Kingdom and His glory with Jesus His Son.
We are... ransomed and paid for by the blood of the most precious and perfect sacrifice.
We are loved.  We are saved.  We are forgiven.  We are free.

Lonely Spaces

Lonely Spaces
By:  Sharina Schaller
05/30/2015

There are lonely spaces
I've filled with things and faces
Still lonely
And still weak
Exist these lonely places

Void, bitter, and empty
Describe the feeling within me
Not happy
Never full
Within these ugly places

Lord fill these lonely spaces
Joy is where your face is
Not things
Nor places
Can fill these empty spaces

The gap is far too wide
Too enormous to hide
From my mind
To my heart
You connect the pieces

Lonely yet not alone
Through cheers and painful groans
A cry for help
Or glorious praise
You fill the empty spaces

Have mercy on me Lord
A call to your reward
Not man
Nor Material
You be in their places

Fill the lonely spaces
With your mercies and your graces
When happy
Or discontent
Please fill my lonely spaces

In the Midst

My friend and I talked Wednesday on our way to my appointment in Topeka about how God made us in His image and how we are supposed to strive to be LIKE Christ... Not BE Him but to be like Him. We will never BE Him.  We will never know what it feels like to be God in the form of man. We will never know the feeling of taking on the sin of the world. We will never know the feeling of God turning away from is in a moment of despair. But Christ does. He knows more pain than we will ever know even in our darkest hour. We disussed how God works everything for our good and how He had plans to prosper us but how at times we overlook the other part of that. Yes Christ accomplished what He was sent to accomplish and in that He was successful and through that we are blessed to experience Love. But how much verbal, emotional, mental, and physical pain did He experience? To be like Him we will go through that to some extent not as close to as great as His experience. We have to experience that to some extent in order to be like Him. We may not realize it or know what that will look like but in some our many ways we will experience and persevere through some or many types of pain. Good perspective to think on for sure.

Thankful

Thankful for the ability to feel pain... A humble reminder that I am a mere mortal.  A grateful reminder of the pain endured on the Cross. For experiencing healing... A gentle reminder I am only human.  A beneficial reminder that, in order to take each breath, every step, and live a single moment of a given day, I have to lean on He who has been there, He who has made me. Thankful for the gift of living

Thankful for Hope... For Him to lead me through... For He never lets go of my hand regardless of the circumstances. Thankful for that small thread of Hope that keeps me hanging on to Him.  Hope for healing... Even if that healing may not find me physically, that it would find me mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Thankful for the Hope that is Jesus.

Thankful for family... I am blessed.  For the peace and comfort of being a DAUGHTER of the ONE TRUE KING... His PRINCESS... a CHILD of the CREATOR OF LIFE, of all things above, below, and in the ENTIRE UNIVERSE.  For the family He has blessed me with... The support, care, love, and prayers of my brothers and sisters around the globe... From Kansas to Washington to Indiana... From Africa to Japan and back again. Thankful for healing hands and shared wisdom... For provided knowledge, sought out life, and support.  Thankful for who He has blessed me with and the incredible and eternal family I am a part of.

Thankful for the little things... Quiet. Rest. Stillness. Peace. Solitude. Coffee. Comfort. Writing. Relationships. Fellowship. Laughter. Rain. Green plants. Blue skies. White clouds.  The calm in the small raindrops during a summer rain shower. Hearing the rain and seeing it fall. The miracle of life.  The miracles in life. A trusting friend.  Thoughtfulness. A mini-vacation. Rolling hills. Rumbling thunder.  Sun showers.  Peaceful bliss.

Thankful for a Loving Father... Beautiful Creator... Infinite Being... Holy Redeemer... Wonderful Savior.  Kindness. Mercy. Gentleness. Humility. Peace. Love. Servanthood. Sacrifice. Rest. Calm. Graciousness.  For His Cross and Salvation that comes from it.  An ETERNITY spent with the One who gave it ALL so that I might run to Him, know Him, love Him, and follow Him.  Thankful for the One who picks me up and dusts me off when I fall... And NEVER stops loving me.  For His Path, Guidance, and Love.  Thankful for hills and valleys, the heights of the mountains and the depths of the seas.

Thankful that my King lives and loves and never lets go of me.

Jesus Calling -- June 17th

I totally needed to read this today... and definitely wanted to share what I read =)
------------------------------------------
Jesus Calling
June 17th
By Sarah Young

Learn to laugh at yourself more freely.  Don't take yourself or your circumstances so seriously.  Relax and know that I am God with you.  When you desire My will above all else, life becomes much less threatening.  Stop trying to monitor My responsibilities -- Things that are beyond your control.  Find freedom by accepting the boundaries of your domain.

Laughter lightens your load and lifts your heart into heavenly places.  Your laughter rises to heaven and blends with angelic melodies of praise.  Just as parents delight in the laughter of their children, so I delight in hearing My children laugh.  I rejoice when you trust Me enough to enjoy your life lightheartedly.

Do not miss the Joy of My Presence by carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.  Rather, take My yoke upon you and learn from Me.  My yoke is comfortable and pleasant; My burden is light and easily borne.

Proverbs 17:22

"A cheerful heart is good medicine,

    but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength."

Proverbs 31:25

"She is clothed with strength and dignity,

    and she laughs without fear of the future."

Matthew 1:23

"Look! The virgin will conceive a child!

    She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,

    which means ‘God is with us.’"

Matthew 11:28-30

"Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”"

My Child

I received this from my Aunt today and it was incredibly encouraging to me so I thought I would share it.  Recently there have been quite a bit of stress in my life... and pain... whether it be financially or physically.  I know in the end that all of it will work out.  There is a Will... and it is God  =)

------------------------------

My Child ~
You may not know me, but I know everything about you ~ Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up ~ Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways ~ Psalm 139:3 
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered ~ Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image ~ Genesis 1:27 
In me you live and move and have your being ~ Acts 17:28 
For you are my offspring ~ Acts 17:28 
I knew you even before you were conceived ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5 
I chose you when I planned creation ~ Ephesians 1:11-12 
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book ~ Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live ~ Acts 17:26 
You are fearfully and wonderfully made ~ Psalm 139:14 
I knit you together in your mother's womb ~ Psalm 139:13 
And brought you forth on the day you were born ~ Psalm 71:6 
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me ~ John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love ~ 1 John 4:16 
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you ~ 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your father ~ 1 John 3:1 
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could ~ Matthew 7:11 
For I am the perfect father ~ Matthew 5:48 
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand ~ James 1:17 
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs ~ Matthew 6:31-33 
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope ~ Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love ~ Jeremiah 31:3 
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ~ Psalm 139:17-18 
And I rejoice over you with singing ~ Zephaniah 3:17 
I will never stop doing good to you ~ Jeremiah 32:40 
For you are my treasured possession ~ Exodus 19:5 
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul ~ Jeremiah 32:41 
And I want to show you great and marvelous things ~ Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me ~ Deuteronomy 4:29 
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart ~ Psalm 37:4 
For it is I who gave you those desires ~ Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine ~ Ephesians 3:20 
For I am your greatest encourager ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you ~ Psalm 34:18 
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart ~ Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes ~ Revelation 21:3-4 
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth ~ Revelation 21:3-4 
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus ~ John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed ~ John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being ~ Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you ~ Romans 8:31 
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you ~ 1 John 4:10 
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love ~ Romans 8:31-32 
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me ~ 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again ~ Romans 8:38-39 
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen ~ Luke 15:7 
I have always been Father, and will always be Father ~ Ephesians 3:14-15 
My question is ~ Will you be my child? ~ John 1:12-13 
I am waiting for you ~ Luke 15:11-32
                                                                                                  Love, Your Dad, Almighty God