Drink and eat for free!

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Isaiah 55:1

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How am I to "buy" when I don't have have any money???

How do I "drink" when my cup is empty?
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Are you feeling empty today?

Are you longing for something that you do not have?

Are you weary from dreaming dreams without seeing them come to pass?

Are you tired of groaning prayers that seem to remain unanswered?

Are you discouraged from trying with all your effort and seem to be getting nowhere?

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Jesus declared in John 6:35...

"I am the bread of life.
He who comes to me
will never go hungry,
and he who believes in me
will never be thirsty.

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Sometimes we get so busy "trying" to be the person we "think" we are SUPPOSED TO BE or "doing" the things we "think" we are SUPPOSED TO DO that we forget
to draw from the well of life- Jesus Christ.

If you are hungry, thirsty, cold, and weary from your journey, snuggle up with Jesus, and draw from the well of water that He offers. RESTING means to lean on...BE STILL means don't move...

Some of us are too busy "DOING" that we forget to just "BE"... We get too busy "DOING" the "Martha" role... that we need to be reminded to simply "BE" in the "Mary" role... sitting at the feet of Jesus and enjoying the presence of Jesus... instead of preparing for the arrival of Jesus... who is already there... next to you... as you read these words... simply waiting for you to be "un-busy" enough to enjoy His presence...

He's there... sitting next to you... wanting to tell you wonderful things... and waiting for you to put down the "broom" of "doing" & "BE" the heavenly "dustpan" that He desires to fill with refreshment, good things, and every good and perfect gift.

...for he satisfies the thirsty and
fills the hungry with good things.
Psalm 107:9

Feeling alone in the desert???

EVER FEEL LIKE THIS?????


(Image from web)
So alone?

Like you simply may fall at any moment?

Like you may lose your foothold with one step?

Like every dream you desired...is blowing away?


There are different things people are going through right now, but I am finding that people are lonely...for different reasons. Maybe you have lost someone dear to you, either in death or separation. Maybe you are in ministry and you are dealing with something that you can only go to God with. Maybe you have broken-up with someone you love. Maybe you are just-plain-lonely...even in a room full of people.

In my journey, I am lonely for a different reason. All of my life, I have run to people with every problem and every circumstance BEFORE and (in some cases) INSTEAD of God. I have found my comfort in people...in people's words and encouragement...in their embrace...in just simply "talking" about it...

This has left me listening to the advice of other people...
often leading me to follow their well-meaning advice...
Which has caused me to seek people rather than God...

I'm not saying it's good to isolate yourself, trust me, I've been there enough too, but for me, right now, I am on a journey of hearing God's voice. Because He is my Shepherd, and I am His sheep, I hear His voice. I used to run to the "wise" people or people with a prophetic gifting for the answer...not the confirmation! There is a huge difference!

I NEEDED them to tell me what to do, because I was sooooooooo convinced if they told me what to do, then all would be good. Many times, I went with their voice rather than the soft, still nudging of the Spirit of God within me, because "they" could hear God better than I!!! What I am finding to be truth is this: "The same Spirit that lives inside of them...lives inside of me!"

Again, I'm not saying that confirmation isn't needed, but if you constantly run to other people for the ANSWER, you may miss out on what GOD wants to tell you!!! True story:) So, if you need confirmation, go AFTER you have spoken to God...

What I am also finding in this lonely new journey is that by the time I've poured my heart out to God, either in prayer or in my journal, I don't need to run to people, because He's either already answered me or comforted me. I still occasionally go to people, but not with EVERYthing that I used to. I know some of the closest people to me feel "left out of the loop" right now, because I'm not calling them every 5 minutes everyday with my concerns, complaints, and moaning and groaning. I'm sorry for that...but I'm not sorry for the journey I am on with God...

In the desert, I find my God...
walking hand in hand with me...
He hears my every cry and plea...
Oh, what a wonderful place to be...

I run to the cross
and there I find...
Him waiting for me...
wanting to touch my heart and mind.

He holds me tight...
He takes my load...
He restores my hope...
on this long and winding road...

I'm not afraid...
to walk alone...
as long as HE'S there...
to meet me at the throne!!!

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If you are feeling lonely, call out to Jesus! He truly does satisfy your deepest longings and desires, but most of all, His Spirit comforts more than anything OR ANYONE here on earth ever can. He has created, in us, a place where only He can fill, and that's why we are left feeling lonely when we try to fill that place in our heart with anything other than HIM!

Jesus~Please be near to all who read this today! Meet them right where they are at as they cry out to you. You hold every one of our tears...You can take every one of our fears...and give us YOUR comfort and peace in return. I thank YOU for YOUR amazing love that You cover us in, especially when we don't feel like we deserve it. Thank You, Lord, for hearing the cries of those reaching out to You right now. Show them Your tangible love as You have shown me...Amen~

I will NEVER leave you, nor forsake you!
Hebrews 13:5

My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
Psalm 62:1

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him
Psalm 62:5

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

I still believe...

What do you do when you grow
weary or faint from waiting?

Do you cave or do you despair?
Do you begin to question?

Does your faith waver?
Do you begin to blame?

Do you seek Jesus and desire His arms?
Do you run to His embrace?

Will you still believe even though you don't see?
Will you still hope even though you have none?

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is being SURE of what we hope for
and CERTAIN of what we do not see!

You Belong to Me

Are you sad???

"Come to me,

all you who are
weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest"

Matthew 11:28


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Do you ever get discouraged? I do...

Do you ever feel sad? I do...

Do you ever feel like "giving up?" I do...

Do you ever just want to sleep your life away? I do...

Do you ever lose your focus? I do.

Do you get tired of waiting for God to answer? I do.

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I used to "go" there and STAY there for long periods of time to the point that I really couldn't function. I couldn't be the mom my kids needed. I couldn't keep my house clean. I couldn't face people outside my home. I would isolate myself from the outside world; not answering the phone, not reaching out to people, etc.

All I could do was sleep...

...everyday...

...for days....

...and sometimes...

...weeks...

Even a year 1/2 ago, That is how I survived!

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Every once in awhile, I resort back to that mode of survival. This m0rning, I woke up, and felt that old aching pulling at my soul...driving me back to bed with my head buried under the covers. I lay there for awhile, staring at the clock, and rehearsing doubt in my mind...over and over...until I dozed off to "dream-land".

Before I did, however, Isaiah 35 came to my mind. Not knowing that passage off the top of my head, I grabbed the Bible sitting next to my bed, and looked it up. God spoke to my heart as He drew me to similar verses that I found in a different chapter earlier this morning...

Although I still CHOSE to succumb to a morning of despair and isolation under my covers, God still CHOSE to "show up" and speak life and hope to my heart! He sought me out...knowing I would still choose to sleep...and CHOSE to encourage me anyway!

I woke a couple hours later to my heart jumping out of my chest with the sound of the phone. I sat up...tried to collect my thoughts...and attempted to decipher the dream I woke up from...(all while ignoring the phone! Sorry Mr. Eye Dr. for not answering my phone! Thank you for letting me know my contacts were in.)

I got up, went for my coffee...still trying to process what was going through my mind. I started going through my phone to see my missed calls/texts, when suddenly, it hit me....

"I've been played!!!"

I allowed circumstances to dictate an outcome! I allowed despair to rule in my heart! I allowed myself to lose focus by focusing on that which I see instead of that which I cannot see! I allowed life to steal my joy....(and my morning!) AGAIN!!!

At this point, I was feeling MORE discouraged because I "gave in" to old behaviors and patterns. As my soul was being dragged down farther, I remembered this...

"Hey, I don't HAVE to stay here!!!"

Well, that's easy to say, but that requires work on my part. Pretending to be happy and thankful until I feel that way. Choosing to speak positively. Blah, blah, blah...

I sat down with my Bible, and re-evaluated Isaiah 35, which God gave me before I fell asleep. Ha! I looked back at my journal and the other verses He gave me earlier. Ha! I began to get excited. (Not much...but enough to decide to stay awake and out of bed!)

I kept looking and I prayed these verses back to God. Ha! My heart was feeling hope again. I put on some worship music even though I really didn't feel like it. Ha! Something lifted. I felt a little better. I re-read my journal and promises that God HAS given me. Ha! I was getting re-energized again!

I started declaring things as if they already were in existence! WOW! I was really feeling good! I started praying and praising God for what I have and for what He's already done! WooHoo! I was feeling great!

I started singing to the worship music that played (that I really didn't want to put on in the first place!) and my soul soared in the presence of God. He was filling my heart with HIS hope and joy and faith!

Within 1/2 hour, I WAS EXCITED...AND HOPEFUL...AND RENEWED...AND READY AGAIN FOR THIS THING CALLED LIFE...

ALL because I CHOSE to turn to God, instead of my feelings & circumstances. Now, nothing has changed in my circumstances, except I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I KNOW that God is working! He is working in ways that I can't even imagine or comprehend! THAT excites me!

Put on the garment of praise
(especially when you
don't FEEL like it!)
for the spirit of heaviness!!!

Isaiah 61:3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Psalm 73:25-26

“Whom have I in heaven but you?

And earth has nothing


I desire besides you.




My flesh and my heart may fail,


but God is the strength of my heart




and my portion forever.”

Psalm 73:25-26

Recapture...

Recapture~ To capture again...recover by capture...retake...to bring back by remembering...seize...take hold of...obtain...

This sounds like an action word. One which requires movement...forceful...taking of...purposeful...involves strategy...not a passive activity...

What do you need to recapture in your life today? Is it joy of the Lord? Freedom from bondage or addiction? A grateful attitude? A childlike faith? A servant's heart? Smiles and laughter? Quietness? Stillness? Quality time with your family or with your children? Your position in Christ? Lost hope or dreams? A slender figure? Finances?

Whatever it may be, God doesn't expect you to do alone.

He does, however, expect us to do our part. We are God's warriors and we are strong in and because of Christ Jesus.

Do you ever realize how fighting for justice or getting your kids to obey is not always an easy process? It takes commitment, discipline, consistency, and persistence. The same is true of life.

Joel 3:9 Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.

It is time to quit complaining and making excuses on why we are not doing the things God is asking us to do. It's time to recapture those things in your life that God has given you authority and power over. You are not helpless or weak, because HE is strong. You are not a prisoner of your situation because HE has redeemed you by the blood of the lamb. You are not a victim, but..."more than a conquerer."

Let's proclaim that we are children of God, we are going to stand, we are going to make a difference, and we are going to recapture those things in which the enemy has tried to steal from us!