There is a strange beauty about the desert that is foreign to our eyes.

image via danielim.com

Our eyes are not accustomed to its beauty so we easily dimiss it.

And yet the desert is a place of discovery.

We begin a journey now into the desert as we prepare our hearts for Easter.

No need to pack anything for this trip…we bring with us our own baggage of false self and strongholds.

image via globaltravelinsurance.com

The Spirit drives us into the desert through the restlessness of our hearts…

and gives us two questions that quicken our steps…

What keeps me from giving everything to Jesus?

What am I going to get out of the way that blocks Jesus’ merciful love in my life?

These two questions are our entrance tickets into the desert.

Here we will come face to face with our false self and our strongholds…

And we will wrestle…yes we will wrestle.

image via fatherjudge.com

But in the wrestling there is a letting go…

And in the letting go we will discover the beauty of the desert…

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and in the discovery of the beauty we will be filled with the LOVE that molds us into our true selves.

“Streams will burst forth in the desert.” Is 35:6b

image via amazingdata.com

Like your mother? Like your father? Like your Great Aunt Bessie or your Uncle Troy?

Genesis 1:27 says, ” God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.”

We favor our Heavenly Father.

image via inheaven.name

In the depths of who we are…Yes we favor our Heavenly Father.

For we are stamped with His Divine image.

Gaze deeply into the mirror…Ponder the whole of you…

image via invitinghome.com

Know that YOU are a reflection of Him, your Heavenly Father.

Now live your life in confidence of this truth…

You are a Son or Daughter of GOD!

Filed under: Christianity, God, Religion and Spirituality Tagged: christianity, God, Heavenly Father, Religion and Spirituality ]]> http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/2012/02/19/a-reflection/feed/ 5 fromtheheartofj familypicture Godthefather mirror2 http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/2012/02/18/a-silly-for-saturday-4/ http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/2012/02/18/a-silly-for-saturday-4/#comments Sat, 18 Feb 2012 19:02:14 +0000 fromtheheartofj http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/?p=1547 ]]>

image via insanasylumblog.com

In the great state of Alabama in which I live…I recently came across some laws that really made me chuckle.

Enjoy this “Silly for Sturday”!

image via the-people-forum.com

Crazy Laws in Alabama:

image via worldofjasoncraft.com

Bear wrestling matches are illegal.

image via stupidlaws.com

Elephants must not be placed in electric ovens.

image via visualphotos.com

It is against the law to have an ice cream cone in your back pocket.

image via itthing.com

It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a motor vehicle.

image via sodahead.com

It is illegal to flick boogers into the wind.

image via kontain.com

It is illegal to spit orange peels out on to the sidewalk.

It is illegal to wear a fake  moustache that causes laughter in church.

Stay tuned on news about a bill recently introduced that deals with a pressing problem in Alabama…not crime, taxes, unemployment, or foreclosures. The legislature of Alabama is close to passing a statewide ban on saggy pants!

Remember, “Mirth is God’s medicine. Bathe in it regularly.”

Blessings on your weekend!

Filed under: Humor Tagged: Alabama, Humor, Laugh, Silly for Saturday ]]> http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/2012/02/18/a-silly-for-saturday-4/feed/ 9 fromtheheartofj crazy alabamamap bearwrestling elephantinoven icecreamconeinpocket drivingblindfolded boogersinwind orangepeel fakemustache http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/your-proud-papa/ http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/your-proud-papa/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:25:54 +0000 fromtheheartofj http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/?p=1536 ]]> Think of all the ways you profess your faith….

openly whenever necessary…sometimes in words, mostly in actions.

image via delmelinscott.blogspot.com

Think of all the ways you confidently bear witness to your faith…

spreading it to those who cross your path.

Think of all the ways daily you acknowledge Jesus before others.

“Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.” ( Matt 10:32)

Therefore you, who acknowledge Jesus before others, know that the Father acknowledges you!

Your heavenly Father, your Abba, sees you not just as part of a crowd…

image via biometricsyou.com

He knows you intmately, individually, uniquely.

As children often seek attention from their earthly fathers…

how glorious to think that Jesus speaks of you to the Father.

(Yes, we know the Father knows all, but sometimes to cultivate joy and gratitude from the heart, we need to become that little child again).

Jesus at the right hand of the Father speaks to Him of you!

You are a topic of their conversation.

Receive this joy deeply of how proud your Heavenly Papa is of you…

Let it sink within adding fire to your steps of charity.

Yes, you have acknowledged Jesus before others…and He has acknowledged you before the Father.

Your Heavenly Papa is proud of you.

He sees you. You are not just hidden in a crowd.

image via prariedaze.com

You are His child – a son or daughter of God.

May this day you know the powerful embrace of love that comes from your proud heavenly Father.

image via grahamtomlin.blogspot.com

image via achildofgod2010.blogspot.com

Oh God you are my PROTECTOR.

“Behind and before You encircle me and rest Your hand upon me.”

image via marklabutis.wordpress.com

Oh God you are my STABILITY.

“Behind and before You encircle me and rest Your hand upon me.”

image via raftertales.com

Oh God you are my FOUNDATION.

“Behind and before You encircle me and rest Your hand upon me.”

image via trainer.kim.com

Oh God you are my SUPPORT.

“Behind and before You encircle me and rest Your hand upon me.”

Like the seamless garment Jesus wore upon the earth…

I am encircled in Your love. Clothed in Your presence.

“Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach.” (Ps 139:6)

Filed under: Christianity, Encouragement, faith, God, Religion and Spirituality Tagged: christianity, Encouragement, God, prayer, psalms, Religion and Spirituality ]]> http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/encircled/feed/ 4 fromtheheartofj protector stability foundation support http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/2012/02/14/will-you-be-my-valentine/ http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/2012/02/14/will-you-be-my-valentine/#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:44:39 +0000 fromtheheartofj http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/?p=1509 ]]>

image via onehearthomes.com

Will you be my Valentine? Will you be my friend?….which is to say…

Will you let me give you my unconditional Love? Will you accept my peace for your tired and worn self?

Will you receive my mercy and forgiveness? Will you believe in my Love when everyone else has gone away or given up on you?

Will you be generous enough to take my love to others when they need you?

Will you be bread to the hungry, love to my needy, hope to my desolate?

Will you trust me to always companion you? Will you lay down your life for me?

image via willysamson.blogspot.com

Will you be my Valentine? Will you be my friend?

I listen to the invitation…I look within and find “yes” answers in my own February heart.

image via christart.co.uk

“Yes” because of dear friends who have graced my days with love.

Their hearts are plainly flesh and earthen, yet they touch me to Your goodness.

Their hearts are weak and wounded, yet they mend the torn in me.

Their hearts are tired and troubled, yet they’ve time to give me rest.

My friends are loving pathways leading home.

Home to where You are. Oh Lover of all hearts.

And so, I respond humbly, gratefully,

“You know everything.  You know I want to be Your Valentine.”

(Joyce Rupp)

“He said to him a third time, “Simon, son of  John do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” John 21:17

Chocolate covered twinkies and strawberry fudge from the kitchen of fromtheheartofj

 Happy Valentine’s Day!

image via fromtheheartofj

 There are so many ways to RECEIVE God’s LOVE…

Divine love notes fill our days.

Do we notice them?

image via fromtheheartofj

Do we ponder all those seemingly coincidences that catch our attention?…

Coincidences that really are “God-incidences”?…

Glimpses of God peeking through our everyday.

RECEIVE His LOVE and be transformed.

“Your love is before my eyes; I walk guided by your faithfulness.” Ps 26:3

funny dance1.png

Dancing with the feet is one thing…

but dancing with the HEART is another!

(a really fun video I’ve came across on a fellow blogger’s site…I wasn’t able to go back and find out which one…so you who shared this thank you!

http://youtu.be/Np3u-kZ2UF8

What if we all began the day with such “spring in our step”? This video made me want to go skip down the street.

Would you join in the dance?

May it bring a smile into your Saturday.

Blessings.

Filed under: Humor, inspiration, Joy, Life Tagged: Dance, Humor, Inspiration, Joy, Life ]]> http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/a-silly-for-saturday-3/feed/ 6 fromtheheartofj funnydancing http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/caught-in-a-trap/ http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/caught-in-a-trap/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:40:27 +0000 fromtheheartofj http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/?p=1485 ]]> God doesn’t PROTECT you…

From that which He can use to PERFECT you.

image via flickriver.com

“Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.” Rom 12:12

The darkness of a night wrestling with God?

image via wrestling-with-god.blogspot.com

Prideful, false self grapples with God…

as He forms us into our real identity…

Rescuing and reclaiming us as His child.

The night…the wrestling…and with the new dawn of light…

image via incourage.me

The Blessing.

In the wrestling…is the Becoming.

In the becoming…is the blessing.

Blessing given to then go forth and bless.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord.” Jer 17:7