with her head held high and shoulders rolled back, an invisible crown balances perfectly on her head. sweet dignity walks in the room, clothed in strength and a perfect kind of peace. the epitome of a lady, she gracefully steps forward, careful where she walks, guarding herself. her eyes are fierce, yet her expression serene. she is blazing within by her collected exterior hides the rawness inside, revealed to a select few, oh what a beautiful mystery she is. she is now face to face with a group of familiar strangers, and in their blind brokenness they begin to sneer and jar and lash with all they can towards her, but she does not react. dignity stands with her head held high, her crown does not tip, her eyes do not waver, her tongue does not snap back. she simply sits in quiet power, in surpassing peace. she knows who she is, and to Whom she belongs.

a tight fist, clenching, fingernails digging into your own skin, shaking, tensing, fighting, exhausting.
a shaking voice, pleading, questioning, demanding.
a sense of defeat, hollow, cold, dark, helpless, draining and full of confusion.

an open hand, releasing, healing, calming, surrendering.
a silent prayer, apologizing, praising, trusting.
a sense of clarity, fulfilling, bright, secure, restoring and full of peace.

((from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.)) PSALM 113:3

have you ever seen the sky open its sleepy eyes?
have you ever watched a still gray morning fade into brilliant light?
have you you ever been awe struck by such effortless beauty?
as the soft pink light kisses the earth and clothes it with a peaceful glow.
as the fiery colors up above awaken your soul and the cup of coffee in your hand awakens your tired mind.
as you soak it all in, trying to express it all, trying to fathom it.
how something could be so expertly crafted, so miraculously made.
a good morning from God, reminding us that just like the sky is made beautiful by His breathe each morning, we are being made beautiful too.

there is someone out there that changed you.
there is someone out there that opened your eyes when you couldn’t see how wonderful you are and held your hand when you had to overcome big obstacles.
there is someone out there who gave you hope, hope that not every story has to have a sad ending and that every good thing doesn’t have to end.
there is someone out there that you love, that you have loved and will always love.
there is someone out there that has become a part of you.

whether your hand is interwoven with their’s while you’re reading this or you have not spoken to that person in years, I know you are thinking of someone right now.
there is someone right now who is flooding your brain, and it might be a beautiful or terrible thing for you, but there is someone who you are thinking of still as you read these words…
there is someone out there that you love, that you have loved and...

((the Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made.)) Psalm 145:13

((& all things are possible to him who believes.)) Mark 9:23

((give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.)) Psalm 118:29

((He will keep in perfect peace all who trust Him.)) Isaiah 26:3

((take courage. don’t let your hands be weak, because your work will be rewarded.)) 2 Chronicles 15:7

((commit your actions to the Lord & your plans will succeed.)) Proverbs 16:3

((the Lord is good to those who hope is in Him.)) Lamentations 3:25

((light is shed upon the righteous & joy on the upright in heart.)) Psalm 97:11

((Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give to you.)) John 14:27

((I am the Bread of Life, whoever comes to Me shall not hunger.)) John 6:35

((the Lord’s compassions are new every morning.)) Lamentation 3:22-23

((the earnest prayer of a righteous person has...

((love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.)) 1 Corinthians 13:4

what is love? what image does it immediately draw to our mind’s eye? flowers, chocolate, wedding bells? maybe something more unique? more romantic? more personal? whatever it brings to mind, I can tell you one thing I believe to be soberingly true, real love, the kind of love that lights up the sky has a lot less to do with an idealized fairy tale and a lot more to do with a real life, every day, brokenhearted struggle that requires gifts much more precious than any tangible thing. it requires grace, abundant grace, the kind of grace that doesn’t make sense, that isn’t deserved. it requires a two way street of acceptance, acceptance of flaws, of past mistakes and future blunders. it requires a lens of forgiveness, to see that even in the most trying of times, nothing is too far...

you’re alive, you’re here, you’re beautiful.
maybe you didn’t know it, but you’ve been out of your cocoon for a while now.
maybe you didn’t know it but your brilliant wings have been sweetly dried by the sun’s healing rays.
maybe you didn’t know, but you are ready to fly.

you’re falling, you’re peaceful, you’re powerful.
maybe you didn’t know it, but your dainty yet strong wings will carry you.
maybe you didn’t know it but you’re a graceful mystery floating by.
maybe you didn’t know you could fly until you began to fall.

you’re soaring, you’re dancing, you’re captivating.
maybe you don’t know how lovely you are.
maybe you don’t know the wonder you hold.
maybe you didn’t know the hope you inspire as you dance through the sky.
free, wild, vibrant.

my dear, did you know that you remind me of a yellow butterfly?

have you ever stopped to marvel at the beauty and power of a river’s current? have you ever stood in awe and listened to the silent rush of the rushing stream? have you ever found rest by simply watching the glassy surface tumble by?

in many ways, our life can be compared to the wonders we observe from the river. our journey begins and ends somewhere along an infinite stretch. there are serene stretches and there are rapids. at times it feels as if we are leisurely floating, soaking in all of life’s sweetness. at times it feels as if we are drowning and there is no rescue. the stream itself, never stops moving. the current continues to carry us. in many ways, our life can be compared to the wonders we observe from the river.

right now, my life has felt like I have been pulled beneath the serene surface of peace and into the turbulent rapids of desperation. suddenly being submerged...

it hurts to inhale, it’s cold, it’s icy, it’s sharp but as my thoughts race to escape the chill, i suddenly find comfort in it’s embrace. something inside me starts to once again spring to life, the goosebumps beneath my thin shirt, the dull pain in my throat, the numbness of my fingertips all remind me of how very alive i am. in a moment, i am taken from wishing for warmth to appreciating the cold, because the brief struggle of walking a quarter mile exposed, more bare than I’d wish to be, opened my eyes. whatever cold, icy, sharp circumstance you are racing to escape in order to collapse into comfort, know that it’s been give to you for a reason. to bring you to the moment of standing underneath a star strewn night that seemed uneventful and mundane and be so overwhelmed that exhausted you drop to your knees and in an attempt to find a moment of rest finally breathe in. deeply breathe...

((there are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I don’t understand. the way an eagle flies in the sky, the way a snake slithers on a rock, the way a ship sails on the high seas and the way a man loves a woman.)) PROVERBS 30:18-19

love is such a deeply profound mystery. something that can never be explained or simplified. something that you can’t set out to find, something that finds you. something that has been designed to be so perfect, so good, so beautiful. something that is such a display of the sweetness of God. something that is truly a gift.
there is someone out there right now that was made to love you, and to love you well. to love you with a self renouncing love, a love that rejoices in all of the light that is inside of you. a love that wants the best for you, a love that makes something deep inside of you come to life, a love that lasts. there is someone out...