Category: Uncategorized

Reflections of Honduras

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Uncategorized

When I was praying over my new year and setting goals, little did I know that God had His own planned detour. I know that what I am doing right now is something God wants me to do, but what I wasn’t expecting was that going to Honduras was a part of that plan! However, God had His hand working in it and I was given an opportunity to go with my airfare and room and board paid for. What a blessing that was! I could never have gone otherwise at this time. As I contemplated and prayed about the trip, I felt I was to say yes. As soon as I said yes, God provided a gift from a friend that confirmed I was to go. So, I called the person that asked me, and accepted their invitation.

Now, to make things a bit more clear for you, I don’t like the heat. I swell up from the heat. It makes me grumpy to be in the heat. I don’t have a very good attitude in the heat. And on top of that, mosquitoes love me! And where I was going had ALL of these conditions. So, it would not have been my CHOICE to go. So given all that, I KNEW God had something spectacular in mind for me to be a part of.

Indeed He did. I think we in America miss out so much on what God has for us because we don’t necessarily believe that the God of the Old and New Testament is still doing the same things today that He did then. He is the same yesterday, today and forever! Right?So what is it about our faith, that lacks in this area? Do we not trust Him? Do we not take Him at His Word? Do we believe it can happen to others but not to ourselves? Do we think it’s weird to receive healing or sign and wonders? What keeps us from receiving the power that is ours for the acceptance of it? I ACCEPTED!!

When He First Stood To Walk

I saw a wheelchair bound boy get up and walk the field; first with help around him if he needed it. They would ask him if he wanted to rest and his response was, “No keep walking!” He would walk more and they would ask him again. He would reply, “No keep walking.” HE experienced the healing power of Jesus and by the end he was walking without much assistance at all! That was just the beginning of his healing! I saw people set free from years of bondage. There was a woman who received healing from boils on her legs. Another received her sight back. It goes on and on. God worked through my hands as I prayed over a man’s back and legs and saw God bring this man’s spine into alignment so his legs were of equal length. You see, God’s power is for anyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and has the Holy Spirit living inside of him/her.

God shook up my faith. He gave me signs and wonders the whole time I was there. I won’t ever be the same, and I don’t ever WANT to be the same. As I went the first day to teach a class for pastor’s wives, I stood before the crowd of women and looked into their eyes. Tears welled up in mine as I realized, THIS was why I had come. In the middle of all the things that are going on there, these women had come to know Jesus more. To be encouraged in their walk of faith so that they could in turn, share that love of Jesus with someone else. That’s the blessing. If I had gone and saw nothing else but this, it would have been worth it. But God in His mercy and power, showed me so much more.

I don’t complain about my house anymore because I saw how others MUST live without the choice of living different. I am now even more thankful for what I HAVE. We complain of weather when it hits, or a bad day, a bad perm (I did that), or any number of trivial things every day. I saw people who would gladly have traded any of those problems for their lack of food, a job, clothes, or not being able to care for their children. Many of the children in the orphanage are there because their parents had no way of caring for them. Yes, it opened the eyes of THIS heart!

One of the activities I did with the women was to have them trace their hand, and put their name at the top right of the sheet. Then they passed it in their row to the next person who then added her name to it, until they had the five or six names in their row with each name on a finger or the palm of the hand. I asked them to take it home and lay their hand over it and pray for everyone on their hand during the days of the conference. Each day, I had them add something about their gifts, challenges or where they think God may be taking them, to their signature on that hand. So each day, they had prayer coverage over those things. The day I left, one of the women came to me and wanted to give me her paper with her hand on it. She asked if I would pray over her hand and for her church. Now THAT’S connection! I accepted it and came home and put it in a frame above my desk. Everyday I touch that hand and pray over it. What a blessing!

There is so much that was poured INTO my heart that it is hard to share just a few. But I want to encourage you to think about your days in the light of what Jesus wants to do THROUGH you. He may not ask you to travel to Central America, but He might! When we need to learn things we might not learn where we are, then He will send you where you need to go. That applies to a different neighborhood, church, community, state, or wherever. Would you go? Would you be obedient even if you knew you would have some discomforts? I hope you will, because you will miss the blessings of a lifetime if you don’t be obedient to what He is calling you to. ASK Him! He loves to dream with you!

Did I survive the heat? I swelled up like a balloon! My feet were like clubs. But did I make it? Yes. God graciously allowed me to work through the discomfort every day, for the blessings He gave me, everyday. Will you step out into the deep with Him? I hope so. Maybe you can dip your swollen toes into the Caribbean as I did and enjoy the views that only He can give you! This is YOUR YEAR! Move forward. May God help you to that end!

Walking the journey with you…

2012 ~ My Year of Jubilee

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Uncategorized

Here we are at the end of another year. To some of us, this is exciting! We look back on our year and see all the things that God has done for us, accomplishments we have made, and it helps us decide what we might want to change in our new year. We might be thinking of areas of our life that might need “adjustments”, or just plain need to be changed. Whatever it is for you, there is a way to make it fun and exciting. Don’t entertain the thought that you don’t need them. You do! Don’t think of them as resolutions. If you don’t make them, you just made a resolution anyway; that is, to no do anything for fear it might not happen.

So how do we handle them?

1. I have always been a BIG proponent of setting goals each year. Every December, and sometimes even earlier, I begin to ask God to shed some light on things for next year. I never get picky about what I write down. I write down EVERYTHING big or small. I allow God the opportunity to choose what He will bring about in my life.

2. Over the last several years, God has given me a word for my year. It is something that I pray for Him to give me. I research it, and because I am a visual person, I look for pictures that will represent that word for me. I purchase a few items of visual reminders. I put the picture on my office, iPad, my desktop, my iPhone and anywhere else I may need to put it so that it is in front of my eyes. I explore. I dream. I envision. ~~> I. Get. Excited!

2012? Wow! Let me share what God has laid upon my heart. This year, God gave me the word…wait for it……..JUBILEE!!! I’m so excited about it. I think of the Biblical times regarding the Year of Jubilee and it is a time of celebration; shouts of joy! Reflections on what God has done and then listening to what He wants you to do next. The idea of Jubilee comes into our current times too with celebrations of 25, 50 and 60 year anniversaries. But I like to think of it in more biblical terms and that it is a year of forgiveness of debt, the ground is left alone to replenish itself for future crops and then during that time, it is a time of reflection and trust. You see, in those times, they wouldn’t have the crops they would normally depend on either. So they had to trust that other items would be enough to sustain them until they planted once again. I like to think that as God gives me this word, He is asking me to trust Him deeper, be a noticer of His work in my life, supernaturally work in my finances, and give me direction where He wants me to work with Him. But I am open to His leading this next year.

God has given me a word for the year for about the last 5 years or more. Last year it was Celebrate and this year Jubilee. But He added another this year and that word is, relentless. Just a few days after that word came to me, I ran across John Bevere’s book CALLED Relentless. I purchased the book! I believe He has something to tell me about being relentless, not giving up, seeking, learning, and listening. So I will be relentless in my pursuit of my year of Jubilee.  It is like a well-spring stirring up inside ready to spill out!

So, as I was looking for something to represent my year of Jubilee I came across something that I really liked.  I am a gal that loves red. Why? About 13 years ago, God began speaking to me about the color red and the cross. I came to see it as a reminder of what Christ did for me on the cross and His blood that was shed so that I might be given salvation. And in the years following, I started adding that color to my home. I haven’t stopped. It is the primary color of my kitchen, master bedroom and I have a little of the red color in each room. Red is a color that is action oriented, deep need for physical fulfillment, compassionate, and likes to experience life through five senses. That is SO me.  However, I’m also a blue person. Blue people have an inner need to find peace and truth. They like to live their life according to their ideals and beliefs. Color is important. With the right color you can change how a room looks, how you look with the right color of clothing, and also what it does for your skin tone and eyes. That’s not to mention what it can do for your overall well-being to have colors you love around you! So I am concentrating on bringing those colors into my world in 2012!

If you visit my Facebook page, you can see my picture for My Year of Jubilee. The diamonds representing the Jubilee or celebration and the color red because that is my main color. I will also be adding from the blue category, some blue/turquoise into my vision. I will be on the hunt for good finds to include that in my home, which I found just today for my toast this evening for New Years!

What about my goals? I write those goals of mine down in a little book. I have it right by me to read through. When God meets a need on that list, answers the desires on that list, I highlight it. At the end of the year, I have a wonderful “altar of remembrance” for that year. It brings me joy and gratitude to see what He has done for me. He cares about everything on your list. Don’t limit Him! Go get out that tablet or journal and begin dream with God! See what He will do! He is faithful and wants you to trust Him. Dream big and watch Him be faithful to answer! I would love to hear what you have planned for the new year. Leave a comment! ♥

Walking the journey with you…

A Special Cup

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Uncategorized

This morning while I was making my mocha in my favorite Christmas cup, I wondered what is it about me that I get such a thrill and enjoyment from drinking from a special glass or special cup or eating on a special plate? Why does that make me feel so special?

What came to mind is when I was a child, my grandma had a plate that was different from all the rest. Most likely it was one from a set that she no longer had, but it was useable, so when extra company like us came for dinner, she used it because she needed more plates. This plate had roses on it. I loved that plate for some reason. Maybe because it was different then the rest or maybe just because I loved the flowers. But for me, it was special and I always wanted to eat off that plate.

I still have some of that little girl in me today, for which I’m glad. I like that in myself. It takes the everyday and makes it special. It ushers in joy, gratitude, and legacy into my life. So this year, this mug came home to live with me. I will use this everyday this month of Christmas. We all have a desire to feel special. Somehow, even though my brothers wanted the plate too, probably just because they knew I wanted it, my grandmas always seemed to manage to set the plate in front of me. I often wish she was around now so that I could express to her some of my feelings that I have grown into. But I will always remember those special, key moments. I have a glass that was from my grandma’s set and there is only one. But a couple of years ago, I was given a mandate to look for the joy in every day. So, out came the glass and my years motto was, “Drink from the good glass.” I did and still do everyday. It reminds me of the things that I am thankful for and there are many if we will think on those things.

But, what is even more special to me is that we can drink from another very special cup everyday and we don’t have to purchase it. This cup can bring joy into our day and its free of charge! The only thing we have to do is surrender ourselves and there it is. Right at our table setting. We have only to accept it. We can drink from it and it can be filled again at our request. What is this cup? It is Jesus. He wants to be in that special place at your table, office, or where ever you are. He wants to fill your cup with all the joy you can contain. One of my traditions when my kids were young was to set a table setting for Jesus at our table. I wanted them to see with their eyes that Jesus was present. They may not see Him with their eyes, but He was invited to come and He would take His place where He is invited in. I loved it when the kids would ask Jesus if He wanted some mashed potatoes or ham! Great times!

As this season continues, I hope you will ask for Joy to come to your house. I hope you will ask Jesus to take a seat at your table. But most of all, I hope you will drink from that special cup, remember what He has done for you, and that your cup will overflow and make you smile all the while!

Walking the journey with you…

Learning Is The Key!

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Uncategorized

This may be a controversial subject I am approaching today, but I am a bit troubled over it, so I thought I would share it with you and see what you think. Over the last few weeks, I have been contemplating worship. Since I have been hearing about worship culture in our sermons of late, I have been really thinking over my own ideas and expressions of worship. What do I think about it? Where did some of my ideas or forms of worship come from? Why do I feel the way I do? And, are my ideas wrong? What is behind some of the comments that one hears quite often regarding this subject?

I guess to start with, one of the most important things to me is music. I LOVE music. Always have! I love to sing, make harmony, and move to the beat. It reaches places inside of me that nothing else can touch. God clearly speaks to me through music. Sometimes it makes me want to bust a move, sometimes it makes me cry, sometimes it makes me want to sing it to the top of my lungs, and it’s my way of telling the devil to bug off! I also enjoy all types of music. I love the old, I love choruses, I love contemporary, and I enjoy rhythm. So for me, it’s the whole of music that speaks to me. I grew up on hymns, and then ushered in the choruses and folk music, and then contemporary music. I changed with it and still sang all. It worked because we didn’t leave one for the other. We sang all forms of music, that way it reached all members.

Now I know I will date myself here, but I LOVE the hymns, gospel and scriptures put to a chorus. I enjoy them just as much as I do contemporary. I don’t feel that my worship is any less spiritual when I am singing those songs than if I sing a contemporary song with the radio. But I know that this very idea brings tension to any worship team and church that I have been a part of or worked with. I have a few thoughts about that.

First of all, that age group GREW UP with those songs. They know them, came to love them and appreciate what those songs say about God and His love for them. The songs have meaning to them when they hear them. They associated things to those songs as they sing them. Memories are powerful to speak to us! They can sing a lot of them by heart.

Second, they obviously have lyrics that surpass the generations because they are still very much a part of present day if we really look at the words. Try reading some hymns sometime. You will gain some awesome insight! Bill Gaither has proven how much people enjoy that music! It isn’t age discriminatory because there are just as many young as old singing those songs from various artists. These lyrics also tell a story and that’s why many contemporary artists are once again singing some of those greats.

Thirdly, if we are expecting our churches to meet the needs of ALL members, then we need to remember that just like we expect the “older” generation, for lack of better word and I don’t even like to use it, to learn to sing contempary music, we also need to remember that doing a song here and there for that genreation to sing because they KNOW it, is important to make them feel APART of a time of worship also. They can join in and sing along because it is familiar to them. It touches their hearts and it is what has ushered in the presence of God for them most of their lives.

Fourthly, as the older generation struggles to learn new songs, rhythms, lyrics and melody lines WITHOUT the music before them,  I think we can sometimes share in the joy of a song they DO know so that they can take part in the corporate worship of their church. Just as those who haven’t been brought up on hymns, choruses and gospel, there are others that haven’t been brought up on contemporary. So when you don’t know it and can’t follow it, you may see that person sitting or standing and not taking part. Even I, who read music and usually follow a melody line, have difficulty following the music I don’t know. I don’t want to make a mistake so often I don’t sing until I know the music better. BUT that doesn’t mean that I’m not worshiping. I was never one to stand still in church. I always moved even singing hymns. The music is in me. My feet move a bit less now because of bad knees, but I will always be a mover, finger snapper, and a hand clapper with music, and sometimes a bit of sign language as a way to express myself.

Fifthly, those who are, let’s say the baby boomer age, don’t want to feel outdated or be labeled critical every time they express their desire for some of the music they are familiar with. They begin to feel forced into what IS and then tend to not take part as much. If they are not taking part as much here, what will that eventually look like in their participation in the overall activities of the church? We WANT them to continue to engage in all areas. That is also a sign of a healthy church.

I will sing any music that can bring me into the presence of God. But even I have to say that I would love to hear a church fellowship singing “Holy Spirit, What A Wonder You Are” or “It Is Well With My Soul” in beautiful harmony. Or now in this season, to sing Christmas music. It isn’t outdated. I don’t think there is going to be just contemporary music in heaven, so we better prepare ourselves a bit down here. I think God would like that. After all, those songs you call old, were Holy Spirit written also and our Bible mentors will be singing things you aren’t going to be familiar with most likely when you get to heaven.

So what is the bottom line? If we expect the “old” to conform to the “new” and learn it all, why can’t we expect the “new” to reach out to the “old” and pull them in with something they can really sing to once in a while, just because they KNOW it! I feel bad that anyone coming to church at any age would feel like they’re not a part of what is going on in worship. I have seen some pretty awesome worship times with those baby boomers. And I mean some great worship! Why? Because they KNEW it. They sang, they raised hands, they clapped, and they smiled as they enjoyed singing in the presence of God with music they knew. What are we afraid of? That we might have to learn a song we don’t know? They are learning new songs all the time! We can ALL do it. If you could see a room full of people and they were ALL participating instead of only a portion, what could happen then?! We would all have to move to the middle to be in a mode of learning at some point, but having a happy, thriving church would be a totally awesome way to go! The Holy Spirit will move regardless of songs, that much is true. But, when we can include more of all the worshipers at various times, that means ALL are content and that leads to contentment in the church, which leads to successful church culture overall. After all, that is what we want, right?

I hope you will still read my blog after this post! : ) But more then that, I hope that you will think on these things and ask the right questions. Walking the journey with you…

Light A Candle

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Uncategorized

This morning as I peeked out the windows of my home in the great Northwest, it was a cool, crisp and foggy morning. I look over at my little stove burning so warmly, and I decided to set my own ambiance. So for breakfast, I lit a yummy smelling candle to enjoy while I ate breakfast. It tickles my fancy to use candle light in my home. It lifts my spirits, gives a warmth to my home, and delights my senses with its smells. I love it!

When I hear others complain of rain, or cold weather, I want to shout, “Change the atmosphere! Bring the warmth and fun into your home! It only takes one small action to change the whole day. My candle did that for me today! Heat up water for hot apple cider, hot cocoa, invite someone for tea, or bake some bread. It changes how you think of winter. Winter is one of my favorite times of year. I love warm clothes, fires, candle light, hats and mittens. It makes us sink into our homes and do things we wouldn’t otherwise do…spend time together. Add some music to the mix, and you have something going on!

I’m reminded of the song I learned when I was a child:

It is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark. Better far that you light just one little candle, all you need is a tiny spark. If we all said a prayer that the would be free, what a wonderful dawn of a new day we’d see. And if everyone lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be.

Yes. I’m lighting a candle today for you. It takes only a small action to change a lot of things, including our actions, thoughts and attitudes. If it changes us, then it changes those around us. Make it fun and enjoyable; something to celebrate. It changed my day!

Walking the journey with you…

What’s Your Aperture?

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Uncategorized

What do you allow to pass through your eye gates on a daily basis? Do you remember the scripture that talks about the eyes being the window to the soul? I was thinking about this again as our pastor made mention of the aperture of a camera in last Sunday’s sermon. I think it’s worth further thought.

Here is the definition of aperture:   aperture |ˈapərˌ ch ər| noun chiefly technical; an opening, hole, or gap : the bell ropes passed through apertures in the ceiling.• a space through which light passes in an optical or photographic instrument, esp. the variable opening by which light enters a camera.

Aperture allows you to specify how the camera chooses its settings when making an exposure, to give great creative control.  It controls sharpness or how much of your image is in focus. A photographer needs to adjust the amount of light that is allowed through the lens in order to get proper exposure and clarity. When a photographer is taking a picture that is in bright light, they will adjust the lens to a smaller opening so a diminished about of light is let in through the lens of the camera. If they need more light, then they will open up the setting of the lens to allow more light to come in to get the shot.

It’s a little different for us in our relationship with the Lord. The way a photographer adjusts the aperture for a picture, is not the same way we want to adjust the amount of God’s light we let in to our lives. The photographer is always in control of the outcome of the picture, depending on their artistic view and outcome they want. We also have control over how much of Him we let into our lives on a daily basis. We need to have an open aperture for the Lord, letting in as much of Him in as possible. The Holy Spirit needs a fully open lens also. Where we need to have the smallest lens opening is when we are among worldly things where the enemy will try to work. We do not want so much of the world in our view that it blinds our eyes to the things of God. We have to use a filter on our lens. That way, we can see more clearly, and the haze that the enemy wants to use, will be made clearer through our view finder.

Think of it like your eye. In a dark room your pupils are bigger, letting in more light so you can see better in the dark. In a bright area, the pupil is smaller and let’s less light in so you don’t get blinded by the light. With God, it is different. We want our God Lens to be open as wide as possible. If our lens is wide open to the Lord, He will help us see clearer, even in the dark. We want our Prayer Lens to be wide open to what God wants to place in our hearts. He wants us to focus like a telephoto lens on the future. That way, you don’t get distracted with your view of the situations up close to you. We have a tendency to look at things through a Macro Lens where we see every fault and wrong we or others, have ever done. But God wants to give you a different focus; one you can enjoy. How? Look through His lens. We need to have a wide open lens to see His beauty and His work, but focus on Him like the telephoto lens does for distance.

Several years ago, I felt like I was supposed to pick up my hobby of photography once again. In that process, God gave me a project a couple of years ago. I was to take a photo every day for a year and to share a thought about that picture on Facebook. I can’t begin to tell you the change that took place in me through that daily photo. I began to see things differently, I noticed things I hadn’t noticed before. He showed me things close up and far away. But, I began to see Life Through A Different Lens. His lens. That is the name He gave me to call the Project.

Today I am enjoy sharing the joy of photography with others as a source of encouragement. I want to have an aperture setting in my life that is wide open to God and the workings of the Holy Spirit. Full light, full sound, full relationship, and full vision. Go ahead. Get your eye gates open, or your camera out, get creative, look for the moment, and press the shutter button. Make a notation of the moments God shows you. You will be amazed, as I have been, how different you will begin to look at your life and what is going on around you. The camera will focus on what you aim it at. Aim for Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Watch your aperture settings. You will never be the same!

White or Chocolate?

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Uncategorized

Do you like chocolate, white, or yellow cake? Or maybe strawberry? There are so many different kinds now that you can have just about anything you want. So today as I was editing some pictures, I came across this photo and it caused me to pause for a moment as I let the message of this photo sink in.

As I looked, all the cupcakes looked like the same kind. We would like the world to look like this pan of cupcakes sometimes wouldn’t we? We think if everyone looked at life the way we do, it would make it SO much easier! If that other person wasn’t so this, or so like that, we might be able to get along! But in reality, it wouldn’t be at all good if we were just like each other. I think we would get bored and we certainly wouldn’t grow. Scripture tells us, “…iron sharpens iron”, and we know that the process doesn’t feel too good. However, when some of those rough edges fall off, we can begin to live in more and more freedom. More of our unique design begins to show itself. Have you ever made a cake or cupcakes that come out of the oven a little less even? The cakes came out thicker on one side than the other? What do we do? We put a little extra frosting on that side to cover it up! But in our life, that isn’t such a good idea. We don’t want to cover up our differences or even our short comings. Those cupcakes or cakes that are thinner on one side don’t taste any different. They are just as delicious! So it is with what God has put inside of each of us. He designed us to be unique.

Don’t live like this pan of cupcakes where you have unreal expectations of yourself and others to be more alike. In the case of the photo, they aren’t all chocolate cupcakes. Some were yellow and some were chocolate. But you can’t really see it looking at it. So we can all be one in the body of Christ, as in the unity of the picture here, but deep down we are different. We are purposed to be. So, what should we do? Look for those ways you can be yourself. Add some sprinkles to your cupcake of life so that it is colored with thankfulness for how you ARE different in the ways God has designed you. It will slowly begin to change how you look at everything.

Isn’t it fun that God can take such simple thing as a picture of cupcakes and give such a profound message? DO it! We all have something to share. The joy that comes from the simple things you CAN do, will go far beyond the things you feel you can’t do. You know it’s true!

So now, you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to go and make some cupcakes and share them with the neighbor next door! That is sharing a little of my gift…that of giving. Blessings to you as you share your “uniqueness” on your own journey.

Walking the journey with you… ~JoAnn

Chains and Change

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Uncategorized

Have you ever had an experience where something you heard, watched or experienced had such an impact on you that you knew you couldn’t do anything else but to change some things in your life? I have recently changed churches at God’s leading, and I attended a class on “Belonging” to this particular church and family. However, as I listened to the pastor share his heart about what belonging to this church means, I knew immediately that I would be challenged in a BIG way!  What is it that really reached down into my heart and stirred me up? Let me share some thoughts with you.

We can so easily get seduced into thinking that what we are doing and the way we are living is “ok” with God. God knows my circumstance and He will understand why I do what I do, say what I say, get mad over anything, call someone a name, say words I shouldn’t say or any number of things we justify. The fact IS? He does care. He asks us to follow Him and leave that all behind us when we accept Him as our personal Savior. I can’t look like the world and live my life for Jesus. I have to do life differently.

So as I listened, God began an excavating process and exposed things for me to change. I have lived all my life for God, but there are areas of my life I don’t like much. My challenge? How am I going to change and adjust my life so I live more fully for Him?

You see, we can get caught up on all kinds of moves and activities; so much so, that we get desensitized to our busyness and begin to justify it to ourselves. We ignore that voice that says, “That isn’t going to take you where I want you to go.” And, let’s face it, change is HARD! It’s so much easier to just ignore it. Shoot, we are so busy doing OUR thing, we don’t even hear that voice trying to encourage us to move toward HIS thing.

So what will I be working on? I will be transparent with you for a minute because I know that is the first step to changing what God wants to change in me. Here I go:

▪                I love to serve, help and encourage people. I love being involved in my church. But in my involvement, I have to be under the authority of the pastor who has a God-given vision and leave my agenda behind. I don’t think that my ideas are the only ideas. I just get excited about what could be! It’s hard for me to keep a lid on it because I’m a visionary! I get all excited about what could be done to help others in their walk with the Lord. But I’m going to work on that submission area.

▪                I’m asking God for control over my mouth, where it can be easy for things to come out that aren’t edifying to anyone.

▪                I’m putting my message that God gave me three years ago and is on my wall, back to work in my life. It says, ” To JoAnn…praying without ceasing. ~God”  Oh, I pray all the time. But I have had a season of time where I have not been as consistent as I was.

▪                I’m expecting that because God is asking me to change these areas, that He will give me the grace to do it; expecting answers to prayers and needs.

▪                I am watching my associations and situations which would get me agitated or riled up. I want the things that stir me up to be God’s agenda.

▪                I will learn with God’s help to be consistently content with what He gives me and also the home where I live. Sometimes, I can get off track when I see others who have more or seem to always have “it”, as my pastor shared last Sunday. I want to be consistent in the area of “living satisfied”.

  • I am creating an environment in my home that says, God lives here, and what I have, I owe to Him. So my husband and I are working on areas that will improve our home to make the atmosphere cozy and inviting. We want our life to me just like a door header I saw that said, “We live to make God famous.”

I’m excited! It’s not going to be easy. But I know God spoke, and He asked me to step up to this challenge from Him and see what He will do! I talk about the journey of my heart on this blog; this is my heart. I’m hopeful that my journey will inspire you to take up the mantle and ask God for the changes that YOU may need in your life, SO THAT, you will have both feet on the side of Jesus! Get your expectation motor started! He will take you to places you never dreamed of! I would love to hear from you! Let me know what God is working on in you! Blessings on your journey!


Rains of Change

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Uncategorized

This is a post that I had written quite some time ago, actually in September of 2011 and never posted it. So as I was reviewing it, I realized it started that day! I now see the pieces coming together.

In Washington, we have a lot of experience with rain. However, we also enjoy the beautiful lush green color that goes with it! We know a refreshing rain is good for many things. One of those things is the freshness to the air we breathe. So, as I sat yesterday inside my cozy office, I was thinking about that. I decided to take a moment and I went outside to listen and to watch as the rains came down.

As I watched the rain and saw this little plant, I realized, or God chose to remind me, “so it is with our lives”. We need times of refreshing so that we can continue to grow and revive our weary souls. New beginnings so to speak; renewed every morning. We may decide on a different direction for our lives, a move, re-arrange our home or decor, or maybe even our change our schedules so that we CAN have more times for the soft rain of change to happen. It brings peace and calmness to our souls. You may be in a torrent of rain right now, but all the more important for you to really pray over these words for your life circumstances. Ask God to reveal Himself in the circumstances.

So here is what I felt as I watched the rain. I feel change coming. Have you ever had one of those seasons where you feel like something is about to happen and you aren’t sure what? You are kind of excited but not sure what God is up to? I have been living with this feeling for a long time. I feel God calling me to rely on the Holy Spirit for direction. I am in preparation for something yet unknown, but its going to be great! Crazy, huh? But…exciting!

I think that is the whole idea, though, don’t you? He wants us to live in expectancy of His next move or work. But we have to lay a foundation for that work before hand. Think about this…satan lays his groundwork before he plays out his full hand. Have you ever thought about that? He doesn’t just hit you with an attack. He has been laying ground work by planting doubt, discouraging you with circumstances, causing insecurities, hurt in relationships and anything else he can come up with. Then, before we know it, he is inside our door! One little chink in our armor and he will use that to turn your life upside down. Spend time with the Lord and let His refreshing rain fall over you and give you what you need when you need it. Use the Word to stand against it, pray always, so you are laying a solid groundwork!

What refreshing rains are falling on you?  What will you re-arrange so that you can have times of refreshing in your life? You see, 10 months later, I am finding out that there is a move in my future to a different home, and selling the home we have lived in for over three years. He is moving me into a different season and I am moving forward TOWARDS it as each day passes!

Funny isn’t it? No…not funny, but exciting to see the hand of God move in our lives and see all the pieces of the puzzle start coming together. God bless you as you throw the umbrella away and let the soft rains of change wash over you! Walking the journey with you…in the rain!

Are You Watching The Road Signs?

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Uncategorized

Do you ever go through a period of time that has been hard, and when you look back you wonder why it happened or even how you made it through? I know this has been true for me. As I was out on a photo shoot the other day by the railroad tracks, a thought came to me, “What if you didn’t HAVE to go through it like you did? What if you were watching the road signs I put out there for you? I gave you the signs.”

As I walked along the water, I thought about that. How many times has God given me road signs to warn me and I haven’t paid attention. I went ahead on my own steam FEELING like I was doing the right thing or going the right way. I can even talk myself into believing that God told me to go that direction. Well, maybe He did. But maybe He didn’t. God gives us warnings in our spirit when things aren’t quite right. It may be that still small voice that says, “You shouldn’t be here” or “You know this isn’t right”. Or maybe you are where you are and doing what you are doing because you don’t want to hurt someone. God has been tapping on your shoulder to tell you, it still isn’t where you should be, or what you should be doing. Can you relate?

So what can you do to be more in tune with His direction? God gave me a lesson on road signs when I went to a Beth Moore conference. I have adapted what I learned into my life and here is what I have learned. Watch for the STOP in your life where God wants you to STOP doing what you are doing, acting the way you are acting, or sliding in under the radar with things you shouldn’t be a part of. The things you need to STOP are the very things that can really get in the way of a deep relationship with Him.

Maybe you need to YIELD in areas of your life in order for you to hear where God WANTS to take you. It could be warning signs like the case of the railroad tracks where I was that day. He wants to tell you to be careful before you just set off. There could be danger there!

It could also be the GREEN LIGHT that tells you to go! I have given you what you need and now you just need to move forward with Me. Go where I have told you to go and do what I have told you to do. Be bold. Step out. If you listen, you will know the signs.

So ask God today where He wants you to STOP. Where do you need to YIELD? Ask Him to help you listen to the warnings that protect you. Lastly, ask Him for the boldness to GO where He would have you go, even if it might not FEEL like you want to. He says He will never leave us, and so we need to walk with Him and be in tune with His road signs.

I hope that as you journey through these days, that you will realize that you have something to share with someone else that they need to hear. So listen intently to His voice and let Him guide you with His road signs. You will never have to be concerned about a wrong turn; His ways are perfect! But should you miss a sign like I have, He is there to lovingly bring you back to the station! God bless you as you GO!