The Journey

Life is simply hard sometimes. It can be messy and that is okay for out of adversity comes strength. Right? We build faith muscles along the way. Often, though, we tend to take up residence in the mess. We wallow. Or maybe, we find ourselves blindsided and disoriented and it takes time to get our bearings before we can manage to claw our way out of the mire. Then, there are times when someone comes along and throws us a rope. Don't you get tired of that feeling? I do. I have prayed for several years now that God would reveal himself to me. I want to know Him for myself. Not what I am taught in church or what others say about who He is. I want to truly walk boldly and honestly before God the way He intends and be who He created me to be. Recently, I read in the biblical book of Romans that God makes His invisible qualities visible in the things He made. If we look, we can see God everywhere! The spiritual revealed in the natural. Did you know that in the Bible, trees are often ...

Source Unknown "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then, God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light." Genesis 1:1-3 Creation was a six-day process that began and ended with the spoken word of God. He created the heavens and the earth, dry land and the seas, vegetation, seed-bearing plants, and trees on fruit-bearing land. He created seasons, living creatures, and man. Our Creator then rested on the seventh day, the day of fulfillment, the completion of His perfect plan. In one of my favorite passages in Genesis, the scripture depicts the scene of the "Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day." Can you picture it? The Creator walking through His very own creation in the early evening enjoying the brilliant, colorful flowers with their fragrance lingering in the air. The reg...

Imagine for a moment being wrapped in total darkness. The smell of smoke  from all that has been reduced to ashes  lingers in the air.  Simultaneously, you feel the heat of your surroundings and the coldness of isolation .  Everything that once was is no longer. Imagine rummaging through the darkness trying to salvage anything of value.  Frantically searching for something to cling to, anything with an inkling of security, you lose your footing as your very foundation crumbles under your feet. Life has spontaneously combusted. Suddenly, you have lost the sense of safety because everything that was secure and steady has now gone sideways.   When complete devastation has become your reality, you s it head in hands with no audible words but crying out from the depths of your inner being. "God, help me!" How can something beautiful emerge from these gray, smoldering ashes? God often gives us answers in the natural to things that occur in us either physically,...

You asked me once why I love you so much. There are so many reasons. New ones present themselves every day. So, I know I will be unable to recount them all here, but I wanted you to know how very much I love you! My single-life journey began nearly 8 years ago and it has certainly been a long one to travel alone. I am thankful for this path because it has been one of growth and maturity, strength building and spiritual awakening, faith-building, and learning to rest in God's plan, one to toughen me up in some areas and to soften me in other areas. Along this strenuous journey, I found you. You are a sturdy man with broad shoulders and macho-man muscles big enough to carry not just one, but three girls. A beautiful man with strong hands, a tender heart, and most importantly, a love for Jesus. You make me feel safe. Your love for my girls touches the depths of my soul and that quirky sense of humor keeps me laughing all the time. When I am with you, I feel like the most be...

If you had to choose one word to describe yourself, what would it be? Only a few months ago, my word would have been gray. The same word used to describe ashes or overcast skies. I woke up with the new year realizing I had taken up residence in a perpetual state of nothingness. Merely existing. Barely walking, barely talking, barely breathing, no identity. I was melting into the gray walls of life.  Going through the motions, but dying from the inside out. Two failed marriages and a brief, yet destructive relationship later, my prayer was to not become entangled in another relationship, romantic or otherwise, that was not a divine connection. I prayed,  do not let anyone cross my path lest you send them.  For years, it seemed as though that prayer had been answered until I found myself at the end of another it-wasn't-what-it-seemed and how-could-I-be-so-blind misadventure. The shiny apple with a rotten core. This time instead of shouldering all ...

Photo by: Timothy Eberly Driving down the dark streets illuminated only by the occasional house covered in Christmas glow, thoughts swirling in a merciless pattern, Christian artist wailing ballads from the radio, with silent tears, emptiness enveloped me. My children chatting amongst themselves in the backseat were oblivious to the pain that was wrenching my inner being. If I can just hold it together until the innocents go to bed, then maybe I can pour out. So, mustering all my strength, I wandered through the evening busying myself with mindless tasks. Iron clothes for school, cook dinner, clean the kitchen, walk the dog. Finally, time to gather the kids, read the Bible, tuck them in after goodnight prayers. I closed the door to the quieted bedroom. My game face begins to crack as raw emotion flooded my being. Secret misgivings brought to light. Brutal honesty erupted from my mouth, "God, why would you do this to me?" Too many anti-Christ thoughts gushed out with ...

Ashley Rae Barrington, I love you. You are the epitome of a blushing bride. I've watched you these past weeks plummet through the chaos of wedding planning with ease and gracefulness. No, it didn't always feel pretty, but you delighted in the walk of promises fulfilled! Your wait, Ashley, has been validated. Your battle has been victorious. You, my love, have not only been blessed with your soul mate but also with a loving, extended family that has welcomed you and your family into the fold. I admire the tenderness and the playfulness between you and the honesty that is palpable. True love. My prayer for you both is that as you grow your little family, the honesty remains, the ascertainable trust remains unbroken, and the passionate kisses never fade. May God ever be first. I love you both so much. Forever and always, Bert Song of Solomon 8:6-7 "...For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty f...