distance makes the heart grow fonder, but a steady relationship grows.

Have you ever had those days ( weeks or even months sometimes) that you feel like there is a huge black rain cloud over your head not only putting a damper on everything you do but blocking you from the Lord? That's been me.... I haven't been able to figure out why things have been so dreary and sluggish lately. I've had so many great things happen in my life lately, all to the Glory of God, and yet my heart feels hindered in praise to the One who set it all into motion. My lips give praise and every now and then my hand through journaling or encouragement for a fellow brother or sister in Christ but my heart is lacking.

I read a sign on our church marquee a while back that has stuck with me "If you find yourself far from God, guess who moved....". Piercing truth. So often we go on giving lip service to the Lord and all he has done for us lately but is our heart behind it? Is our heart in the praise that the King of Glory is so worthy of? 

When we find ourselves distant from the Lord the reunion is so powerful and refreshing. Reminded of the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15, the father is so enthused at his sons return that a huge party is thrown. The Lord loves us unconditionally wanting to be near to us at all times. It is our flesh that allows things between us and our Father. Distance makes the heart grow fonder but a daily relationship allows the heart to grow steadily, strengthening the bond between father and daughter. 

Let us maintain a daily walk and fellowship with our father rather than a reunion, drawing closer to the Lord daily and growing under His mighty hand. 

I find myself running to the feet of my Maker and repenting of my lukewarm heart, singing his praises and letting him love on his wayward daughter. May I continue a daily, hourly walk with my Savior and grow steadily.

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. -1 Peter 2:2-3

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. -1 Peter 2:9

the heart of the broken.

We all tip-toe along in life hoping and praying for the best, praying that the trials of life will somehow escape our door and we can call it a blessing. I won't lie and pretend I was never one of those people, honestly I kind of just never even imagined my life would or could be so violently shaken, but today I have a different view. Today I believe in the blessing that comes through devastation.

The heart of the broken is unique. The miriad of emotions that surge through your body over the course of the first two to three months after a tragedy is something I find science and psychology unable to define or describe. Each human handles a trial differently -all a part of the Lord's Plan in my opinion. Tears, humor, anger, numbness are all ways we try to cope with trials and in no way am I discrediting them as helpful (trust me, I've done my share of all) but I've found the heart of the broken is best placed in the hands of the Lord.  A few of my favorite versus that are testimonies to the Lord's help during these times are below:

Psalm 73:23-26
 Yet I am always with you;
   you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
   and afterward you will take me into glory.
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 34:18
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The Lord has taken me through the alot since my freshman year of college and taught me so much through loosing my best friend. My journey with the Lord has brought healing, resotration, growth, strengthening of faith and peace that surpassess all understanding. I believe the Lord chooses certain people to endure these tragedies for reasons only He knows but through a blessing small pieces of purpose are reveled to us. Tonight my heart is heavy with the news of a local family hit for the second time with a tragedy but my prayer is that they allow the Lord to be their strength and Healer and recieve the blessing that comes from this devastation.


Laura Story came out with a song recently that I find sheds a light on these hearts of the broken. Many times we question God's plan or even our faith when bad things happen but the opportunity is to have faith and believe....here.




God certainly had a plan for you....