Love Well

Romans 12:9 (VOICE) Love others well, and don’t hide behind a mask; love authentically. Despise evil; pursue what is good as if your life depends on it.

Beloved, resist the urge to hide who you are for you have been fearfully and wonderfully made, and you are worth knowing. The real you. Be genuine. Do not fear rejection or those who may misunderstand you, they reject and misunderstand Me as well. I know you and I accept you, may that be sufficient. May My love be sufficient. And may you reflect that love – loving like you’ll never get hurt – trusting that when you do, I will heal your heart and comfort you.

Hate that which I hate. Evil. The works of the enemy. Not people, beloved, but their unrighteous actions and sin. Love the people. Reflect My heart of grace, righteousness, and mercy. Pursue that which is good and upright. Lead by example. Let your actions speak volumes, and allow your tongue to rest. Love well.

Bring Forth Joy

Galatians 5:22 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is…joy,

Beloved, let joy spring from deep within you, like waters bubbling up from the deep. Joy is not dependent on circumstance (“happenings” as happiness is), but rather comes from a heart rooted in Me, watered by My Spirit, one that knows the love of their Creator and the grace they’ve been extended.

Allow joy to be your perfume, exuding from you as people bask in your presence. May it reflect the difference in you, and cause others to see Me in you – to recognize Me in your countenance. Rest in that joy, and hold to it in all circumstances remembering the joy that comes from Me brings strength. So be strengthened and strengthen others by carrying My joy because it is contagious. Let joy arise!

Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV) …the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Set Apart

1 Peter 2:9 (VOICE) But you are a chosen people, set aside to be a royal order of priests, a holy nation, God’s own; so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering light.

Beloved, you are set apart. Chosen. If you feel like you’re different and you don’t fit in, that’s a good thing because I’ve called you out and made you holy. You are sanctified and whole. A new creation for My pleasure and My glory. Shine brightly, beloved. Make My glory known.

You’ve been set apart to be with Me, and to minister to Me. Sit at My feet as   Mary did. Lie against My chest as John did. Hover close, beloved, that we might whisper and dream together.  You are My own – My child, My precious one. Resist the temptation to sully yourself or get sucked into habitual sin. Be holy, beloved. Walk differently. You’ve been washed clean. Sparkle and shine for all to see.

Sober Responsibility

Romans 8:5-8 (MSG) Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God!…

Beloved, I have placed a power in you – My Spirit – that cannot be contained or controlled. And you are a vessel that I AM moving through mightily. My authority rests upon you. Move in it unapologetically. I have called you to touch My people and to bring My healing and restoration. You are My hands and feet, reflecting My heart, so that others may know Me and know Me more deeply. This is a weighty responsibility, to demonstrate My heart to those who need Me so desperately, but it is not a burden for you, it is simply a sober responsibility. But beloved, you wear it lightly, allowing Me to share that weight, and simply flowing in My spirit and it is beautiful. Thank you for allowing Me to move through you in such mighty and powerful ways.

I love you so deeply. But My love for you is not because of your yieldedness and willingness to move on My behalf, but rather simply because you are My precious child. And yet I love partnering with you to change lives. Thank you for being willing to lay yourself bare for the good of others. Walk in the fullness of all I have called you to, My blessing and My hand rest upon you.

Blaze Forth

Matthew 5:14-15 (VOICE) And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. Similarly it would be silly to light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. When someone lights a lamp, she puts it on a table or a desk or a chair, and the light illumines the entire house.

Beloved, let your fervor and your zeal pour forth like a rising flood. Refining, bringing life, bringing refreshing, bringing healing. Resist the temptation to diminish who you are to make others more comfortable. For I have created you perfectly, exactly how I have intended you to be, and it is good. Blaze forth! Shining in all your glory. Reflecting Me. Let your passion fire ignite those around you. Spark them into roaring flames.

Your light overtakes the darkness, not the reverse. The darkness cannot overtake you for the radiance of My glory shines forth and nothing can make it dim. So burn brightly and in doing so give others permission to do the same.

Shift Your Understanding of Who You Are

Ephesians 1:6 (KJV) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Beloved, you are no longer alone. You are grafted in, a part of My family – a part of Me. Adopted. Accepted. Beloved. Your DNA has changed – your fundamental makeup. See what I see. See rightly. Align your sense of self with how I see you. My Spirit dwells in you, and as you abide in My presence My glory reflects in your countenance.

Do not grow weary of My presence or allow it to become commonplace or valueless. My presence is a gift, a blessing, a resting place for your heart. In My presence you are healed, refreshed, restored, made whole. As you dwell with Me a deep sense of belonging takes root in your heart as My thoughts and actions  repeatedly demonstrate who you are – that you are precious and prized. Allow My heart towards you to shift your own understanding of who you are. Align your view with Mine. You are safe with Me.

Worth the Price 

1 Peter 1:18-19 (VOICE) You know that a price was paid to redeem you from following the empty ways handed on to you by your ancestors; it was not paid with things that perish (like silver and gold), but with the precious blood of the Anointed, who was like a perfect and unblemished sacrificial lamb.

Beloved, you were worth the price – though it was steep – you are that precious to Me. I want you to understand the depths of My love for you. I want you to understand your value. At the same time, I want you to understand what your sin cost because I want to see you choose wisely going forward. Though My grace is freely given, it isn’t free. It has a cost, a great one, you are simply worth it.

But do not fall prey to the enemy’s lies that a “small sin” here or a “little lie” there makes no difference. Beloved, you have been washed clean – don’t be coerced back into the muck and the mire – walk in integrity and righteousness. Choose wisely and exercise discernment. Do not trample the gift you’ve been given by treating it as though it has no value. Walk rightly and let your walk challenge others to do the same. Encourage one another in uprightness and love. Boldly be different from the world and do so unapologetically for this is not your home, don’t try to fit in. You belong with Me and you are Mine.  Continue reading “Worth the Price “

Beauty in Motion

Today a customer and friend shared a picture of a boo-boo on her silk that happened as she was warring with them. I responded that one of the things I appreciated about silk is that you can’t see their flaws when they’re in motion, and laughingly added that there was probably a whole message in that. But as I pondered that, I realized it really was true. Continue reading “Beauty in Motion”