This week I’ve been preparing for a special worship service we have scheduled for tonight. Sitting here now, attempting to build a difficult puzzle, I’m realizing my thoughts and my heart are kind of all over the place, like my puzzle pieces. Absolutely not the “attitude of worship” I feel I need to be in […]
My Testimony
I’m stepping out of my comfort zone to share my story of what God has done, and is still accomplishing in me. I’ll be honest— I’m recognizing a deep, breath-constricting anxiety as I set out to share this here. I have family that won’t want me to talk about it, some who still don’t even […]
How God Changed Paul
Convinced. Paul— then called Saul— was convinced. He was right. He was righteous. I can’t help but notice the word “con” in “convinced”. It took God setting then Saul aside, taking him away from his circle of influence, blinding him, opening his true sight— and then He reopened his physical eyes. Paul was conned by […]
My Year Evaluation
Happy New Year— 2022!!! This past year has been a year of lots of t-words for me— transcendence, transition, transformation, timing, and now here is my testimony. There were so many difficulties last year, and I had moments of overwhelming stress. There are things I and others have been seeking God for, on my behalf, […]
Confidence in Christ
In America, our culture is saturated in self-confidence. It’s embedded in every aspect of our society, to have faith in our own abilities, to live with a measure of success because of some wisdom, knowledge or ability we possess. I have slowly begun to realize that this whole doctrine for American life is contrary to […]
Grace and Forgiveness— My Expectations of ALL Christians
The two defining trademarks of Christianity are Grace and Forgiveness.
Believers Meetings
What is the purpose of “church”? I’ve heard church described as a group of sinners. Saved by grace, yes, but emphasis on sinners. If we are people who claim to follow after Jesus, shouldn’t we instead refer to ourselves as repentant sinners saved by grace? Repentant. Having turned away from the sin that has affected […]
Simple Gospel VS Layered Expectations
God made Salvation as easy as possible for us. Mankind adds twists, turns and an abundance of complicated expectations. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one, and only, Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV Then mankind adds their own “twist”— you’re […]
The Blood of Jesus
Who can understand how the blood of Jesus can wipe away the sins of the world? Only God. The same God Who created time itself, created a way where He could come onto Earth, and prepare the only way to eternal Salvation for a fallen, disgraced, despicable humanity. The only way. Blood is not a […]
Managed
My eyes are opening. At least, they are trying to open. They’ve started to open before, but then I shut them. Again. Everything on the surface looks fine, looks good even. But then something happens, and they start to open again. In the past, just as they are beginning to focus, to recognize… I am […]
You Saw Me First
If I could describe my life as a mash-up with how God has always been there, it would go something like the following: Accidents, mishaps and hospital ER trips— Your protective Hand was covering me, keeping me safe from far worse. Deepest loneliness, hurts and deep-seated rejections— You’ve always accepted me, held me close to […]
He’s With Me Through It All
Imagine this is a picture of God’s hand— catching all of our tears (Psalm 56:8), Holding our hand (Isaiah 41:13), pouring His grace, His mercy out over us (1 Timothy 1:12-17)— within our reach, in His grasp (Acts 17:27). Imagine His hand designing every part of us, every cell’s information center, every detail from the […]
I Remember Who I Was
My life was the messiest of messes. I was being crushed against my rock-bottom. He saw me. He reached into my soul, He called my name. My name. He knew my name.
Paul Versus Hollywood
I enjoy watching classics. In many ways, tv, movies— Hollywood really— played a role in “raising” me. I learned more from seeing actors pretend in relationships than I did from my own day-to-day experiences. I assumed I was watching how people actually interacted in their own families. I’ve learned since that I wasn’t. The reason […]
The End Of The World
Chaos. This is the idea being pushed all around us. Urgency. Fear. We are surrounded by this, wherever we look. The news. Family and friends. The medical community. We can’t escape the chaos. Or— can we? There’s a newer song with a verse that says, “The atmosphere is all around. The Spirit of The Lord […]
Puppet Strings— Opinions Of Others
We are all His creation, made carefully, delicately, lovingly— by His hand, nurtured and protected by His hand, watered by His Spirit, cleansed by the blood of Jesus that sin can never corrupt. Ever.
One-Anothering
Scripture tells us, several times, to love one another. Forgive one another. Be gracious and kind to one another. In this current American political climate, that seems to be farthest from anyone’s mind. But, this blog isn’t about politics. It’s not about America. It’s about our heart conditions. Are we allowing an environment for our […]
Giving God What’s Broken
In our culture of Christianity, it’s become easy to sing our promises and confessions of faith. Do we follow through? When the service is over, do we reflect on the weighty words we’ve sung in praise, adoration and promise to our God? I can’t say, with a clear conscience, that I have. When I sing […]
Back To My First Love
Lately my time, one-on-one with God has been a spontaneous thing, which becomes steered by intention. Something within me has changed. My perspective, or I guess my realization of the reliability— the consistent stability— of God with me. I never question His willingness to make sure I am taken care of. He has never wavered— […]
Inward Brokenness
“…that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Eph 4:22-24 NASB
Disadvantaged And Broken
The shock is wearing off now. The sting of the jolt that rocked me is beginning to fade. Numbness that covered me fully, almost like a protective layer of clothing from the elements of harsh weather, is beginning to peel away now. Ow! It’s tempting to pull back from some of the most intense, penetrating […]
Christian Music VS All Music
There is this notion embedded in our society that Christian music isn’t really good unless it fits in perfectly with what is currently popular. If you can tell it’s Christian then it’s cheesy, it’s less valued than anything not Christian. What?? I have given in to this in the past, believing I should be embarrassed […]
Vlogging- Venting Blog
So– I know this will be shocking, but– I have a pet peeve. Actually, I have a few. But the one I am being pounced on by right now is– well– I’ll call it flabbergasted. I am biting my proverbial tongue pretty hard right now, in all honesty. The ignorant gall of some people brings […]
Heart Strings
I love rainbows. Besides being beautiful, they fascinate me. The origin and history are intriguing. Besides the colorful streams that invoke a feeling of warmth, to me they are one of the many wonders of our world. Rainbows and I also have a history. My very first memory in our shared history is seeing one […]
Words Matter– Spoken and Unspoken
Tearing down is for strongholds, not for people. Not ever for people.
Jemtree's Heart 