BFF (Best Friend Forever)

All little girls travel in packs at one time or another. And they organize their friendships into several groups...friends (those who are in and out on a daily basis)...good friends (those brought together by situations which may or may not last)...best friends (those who are with you in good and bad experiences for a length of time)...and Best Friends Forever (those whose existence is so wrapped into yours that the two of you are a trapestry that has no beginning and no end). While we want our BFF's to last forever, life has a way of severing these relationships often breaking our hearts and making us sad. Prehaps they weren't really BBFs or prehaps we grew up and out of the relationship. Either way there is a hole in our hearts where there was once love and acceptance...a sense of belonging...a completeness.
Well..cheer up...there is great news!!!! There is One who is truely your Best Friend Forever...He will never leave...never disappoint...never betray...never die...never critisize. Jesus is the best friend you will ever have!! Scripture even tells us..."He calls us FRIEND". Jesus is the one who fills the hole left by life. Jesus is the identity we should strive to emulate. Jesus is the one who "gets" you. And that is a God-given promise.
Need that kind of friend? Look no further. You will not out-grow Jesus and He will not forsake you. What a friend we have in Jesus!!!!

Live Free

Ahhh...feeling the wind in my hair and the warm breeze on my face as I ride top down in my convertible on the open road!

Oh... to feel the cool water tickle my toes as I wander the forest streams!

Just to hear the mighty ocean as the breakers crash into the shore!

Mmmm... the sweet smell of the earth after the rain!

Whoa... the thrill of the twists and turns on a mountain road!!!

Oh... blessed silence after a day well spent!
Whatever your personal choice for enjoying freedom from the routine...imagine that 100 times greater and you can begin to understand what God has in mind for those who love and serve Him. Freedom, according to God's word, is abundant living...no regrets, no shame, no worries!! Who wouldn't want that! But it is not a blind walk..it is a forward movement under God's grace and by His leadership. And it is a ride we are all to experience. It is our Heavenly Father's design for each of us....to live free!
Gardenfire reminds us that it is our faith that activates God's design...so, to all my fellow brothers ans sisters in Christ...ride on!!!!

Every Creature Sings

Some might think that to love nature is new age. Some might be offended by those who find awesome beauty in creation. Some might confuse loving creation as a substitute for loving the Creator. But if you listen closely you will hear God's heart in all He has made. The wind carries His voice in secret and quiet ways. The rocks and hills declare His majesty and the oceans show His power as it covers the earth. Every creature is a testimony to God's incredible imagination and design. Yet it is us that God has chosen as His best work. It is us with whom God desires to have relationship. It is for us that Jesus died and rose again thus buying our reconciliation back into the Heavenly family. So do not dismiss the world and its wonder. All creation is an expression from a Mighty God who takes delight in all He has made. We, too, do honor to God when we give thanks for all He has created. Enjoy the beauty and awesomeness of this world and thank our heavenly Father for your life and for loving you beyond measure. He created this world for us and lovingly gave us dominion over it to guard and preserve this earthly garden. Rejoice, for One so Great loves you. Sing His praise in everything you do!

Made To Praise

We sing about it...we talk about it...we go to conferences, practices, and tweet about it....we wear shirts declaring it! Yes, we were made to worship and praise our Most High God! I often wonder what the outcome would be if I asked 100 people "What does Praise God mean? I would probably get 100 different answers all variations of the same concept. Scripture tells us that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our mind, all our strength. That's a lot of loving to do! So I would guess that Praising Him would involve ALL of us in every way possible. Ever loved something or someone with complete abandonment? Gardenfire uses the image of a wild, free horse to illustrate our complete abandonment to the concept of loving God totally. We were made to give our selves totally to God in gratitude and service for our salvation, the sacrifice of Jesus. Often we look at this as a chore or payment. NO way!! There is nothing that we can do to repay our Heavenly Father. He only wants our love...all of it.