Category Archives: restoration

“It’s okay”

Freedom, Healing, Journey, Protection, redemption, Rest, restoration

If today looks nothing like you had imagined

If today goes way different then you thought

If your plans get shattered in a million pieces

If there’s empty places at the table today.

If your emotions are all over the place

If you can’t answer one more question

I want you to know.

It’s okay to stop and take some deep breaths.

It’s okay to take a moment and just rest

It’s okay to grieve what should have been

It’s okay to grieve what could have been

It’s okay to grieve the losses that are big

It’s okay to grieve the possibilities of what if

It’s okay. Again I tell you. It’s okay.

It’s okay to acknowledge you’re not okay.

It’s okay to admit that you’re struggling

It’s okay to give yourself grace for the moment

It’s okay to take a moment and weep if needed

It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay.

Grief is crazy odd, showing up

At the most in opportune time possible.

It manifests itself in unique ways.

It’s okay to grieve. It takes time and space.

It’s okay to acknowledge that not every time and space is safe to grieve. It’s okay.

It’s okay to acknowledge you don’t

Always want it to be this way.

Acknowledge that as you heal

The journey will be hard and long.

But remember you Are Not alone.

It’s okay to wonder where God is.

But also know He is always with you.

It’s okay this Thanksgiving Day

To grieve the “could and should have”s

It’s okay to acknowledge those things.

But also remember you are Loved.

You are treasured and always will be.

By the Almighty God in Heaven

The One who knew you before time began.

It’s okay to not always be okay.

Grieving is hard, emotionally draining work

And you are Not alone on this journey

Lift your head and eyes toward heaven.

I wonder if you would allow yourself

To bask in the Goodness of God

For even just a moment or two.

He’s good. So so very good, He is.

He’s so kind. So gracious and loving.

He understands and He cares.

Even if it doesn’t feel that way.

He grieves with you and if you ask Him,

I know He will hold you close.

It’s Okay. Because God is our Healer.

In Honor of Father’s Day

Freedom, Healing, Journey, Love, Peace, Protection, redemption, Rest, restoration

I have sat down numerous times in years past, intending to transcribe my thoughts on fathers and Father’s Day, as it is one that is very close to my heart and seems almost to sacred for me to share my heart on.

Why? Maybe it could be because, this will not be your normal Father’s Day post as you will, that you generally see at this season but it’s what the Lord is giving so I want to be faithful and share what He gives.

The term father, what does it mean? Protector, advocate, provider, leader, strong, courageous are a few that come to mind. These are mere words I know, but they describe our Heavenly Father so well. Along with words like omnipotent, amazing, loving, holy, understanding, and this list scarcely scratches the surface when it comes to describing our amazing God.

Truly we have a gift, a tremendous gift with our Heavenly Father.

The Word of God reminds us in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” There is one who is out to destroy and kill.

Today, we too often see/hear the term father/dad so misrepresented and along with that, our Heavenly Father is so misrepresented and how it must hurt the heart of God to something He ordained to be so beautiful and sacred to be destroyed and misrepresented.

If I may just share a short excerpt from my own journey and life. If 5 years ago and prior I was asked, what is a dad? I would have stated it like this, “unloving, negligent, uncaring, harsh” You may question why I would specifically use those terms, but that’s what I knew, and that’s also how I perceived my Heavenly Father to be.

Because as the saying goes, “as you view your dad, so you will view God”. I found this to be so very true in my own life. But let me also say this, there is again, a Heavenly Father who delights in healing and restoring what is broken and torn. He is Truly, “Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our Healer”

You see, God created fathers and dads to be a direct representation of Him, the Heavenly Father. To show His heart for wives, families, churches, and the world, they are all watching and God knew that it would be that way.

Now if you will allow me, let me take this another step further. When Jesus was on the cross, where were His disciples, the ones closest to Jesus? We find that they all fled like cowards, leaving Jesus all alone. Jesus, however; did not waver, He stood faithful, depending on The Lord for strength.

When Jesus was beaten and hung on the cross, He also felt, what it feels like to be rejected by everyone in the world, including His own Father. “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭15:34‬ ‭

I believe what Jesus felt, that rejection from His Father, was for you and I. We all face rejection and it hurts so bad. Some of you have experienced tremendous rejection from your dads and I want to speak ever so gently to your hurting and wounded heart regarding it.

So if you will allow me to speak the word that the Lord is giving me, for you specifically that have been hurt by your dad. First of all, it was never ever the heart of God nor His intent that His Name or the ones He created to be His representatives, should be misrepresented.

Brothers and sisters, hear these words from Him, the Heavenly Father, Himself, “My son, my daughter, it is My heart that you would know the Love I want to offer to you, it is first Pure and Holy, without blemish. May you also know you can trust Me, Your Heavenly Father. I want to heal you and allow you to experience the Love of a Father, Your Heavenly Father, maybe even for the first time in your life. Now it may seem scary and hard, but I AM here to carry you and walk with you, ALL the way. I will not let go of you ever, you can Trust me. “For I AM the Lord, that Healeth Thee” ~Exodus 15:26

To the Fathers, may you stand strong in an hour where it is popular to be passive rather then prayerful and more stylish then surrendered. And may the Words of Jesus Himself encourage and empower you to be who He created you to be.

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:16‬ ‭

“The Story”

Calling, Freedom, Healing, Journey, Love, Protection, redemption, restoration, Safety

A well known story in the Bible, the woman with the issue of blood, and what an interesting name for a lady that was very much like us, she had issues. There was something very unique about her though, her issue was very noticeable, the blood. She was literally know as the women with the issue of blood and because of it, she was considered unclean. When she came in a crowd, people scattered, they did not want to be associated with an unclean person, let alone touch them.

“And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.” ~Mark‬ ‭5:25-26‬ ‭

I, was the woman with the issue, a heart issue, a heart that was still bleeding, a spirit that was wounded. No matter how put together I tried to pretend, inside my heart was still bleeding, my wounded spirit raw, hence the blood flowing heavily just as from a fresh wound.

My heart, no matter how wounded, torn or bleeding, it still wants to trust, it still wants to be cared for, it still wants to know that it can be healed and made whole, despite things, many things/relationships having been fractured for many years.

In all honesty, I just wanted things to be normal in my life, just like the woman with the issue of blood did, she didn’t want to be known by her issue, she just wanted healing and she went to desperate measures to get it. I, too, get desperate in my own carnal way and try to find healing/fulfillment, because I just want to not have to hurt.

It’s when The Father begins to speak, and especially speaks about your heart and the condition of it, and what He wants to do in bringing healing.

But are we willing?

When we are wounded our heart hurts constantly, the pain is overwhelming, we just want the pain to leave. Then we can help but be overwhelmed by the Love of our Father and how He speaks so gently and lovingly.

“My child, your heart has been wounded, it’s been crushed, it’s been hurt, and you have searched for much fulfillment and acceptance, from people and things, all to ease the hurt within , but I, the Father, who created you and loves you, “I am simply asking you to trust me with your heart!”

The wound hurts, the blood will flow, yet as Abba Father scoops out the infection/pain in the wound in His ever Loving and Tender way, things begin to shift, now the fragments can be knitted together and begin to heal, as Abba Father now applies His tender love as a soothing salve.

The question still is, ” Are we willing to allow Him, the Ultimate Healer to heal the wound?”

Pain is inevitable in life, it really is.

We all have issues, some we can hide better then others, but it is time we stop hiding behind our excuses and walk forward boldly like the warriors God created and called us to be!

God is and Always will be available to bring healing if we just allow Him to.

“Truth over Feelings”

Journey, Love, Peace, Protection, redemption, Rest, restoration, Safety


Overwhelmed.
Panicky.
Anxious.
Those were just a few of the feelings that flooded me constantly in the new season I was entering into.

What was I to do?
How do I step into this role?
Could I really be a mother and a wife?
And did God really know what He was calling me to?

We all have days and seasons where we face questions similar to those above.
We really do.

It does not matter how perfect our little squares on social media look, we all have those days and seasons we don’t necessarily care to repeat.

Some days we get up and feel like we can conquer any and every thing that comes at us. We hear from God, we feel close, we feel heard, and we believe that God is ALL He says He is.

We also all have the days where it would be easier to stay in bed hidden under the cozy covers, then to face the overwhelming amount of hardness coming at us. It’s real brothers and sisters.

We try to pray, yet it feels like our prayers are just evaporating into space with no one to hear them, but ourselves, as we uttered them. We try to read the Bible but it feels dry as dust and we don’t feel encouraged.

My friend, you won’t always “feel” like doing the hard things, even though that usually is the right thing to do. But here’s where it gets really good though. Even if you don’t feel like it, do it anyway. In the dryness, perhaps God will speak, even if you don’t expect Him to.

It’s the constant being, that matters! Being a daughter, a son of the King. It’s a high calling. It won’t always “feel” like we think it should, but God, always, Always, ALWAYS.
Sees us.
Hears us.
Cares for us.
Loves us.

Those are absolutes.
Feelings are real but they are not the truth.
God’s word is Truth!

“Boulder on the Journey”

Freedom, Healing, Journey, Love, Peace, Protection, redemption, Rest, restoration

So imagine with me, that you are walking along a rugged mountain path that winds ever upward and there’s rocky rough terrain you encounter as you trudge along. Suddenly you’re startled by a noise and as you glance around to see where the noise is coming from, in your peripheral vision you catch a glimpse of a giant boulder rolling down the mountain and headed straight for you. There’s absolutely nothing you can do, no where you can go, basically you’re helpless as you watch the giant boulder rapidly heading your way directly.

Bam! It hits you. Knocks you down, flat on your back and rolls on top of you, knocking you unconscious. After some time you regain consciousness and try to gather your bearings of what just happened, basically you come to the conclusion that you’re helpless, there’s nothing you can do until someone comes to your aid.

What is your “Boulder on the Journey”? I ask this because we all have one. Maybe it’s:

Death of a loved one

Pain/Heartbreak

Financial issues

Broken Dreams

Confrontation

Difficult Relationships

Loneliness

The list could go on and on, but we are getting our minds spinning in the direction of what could be our “boulder on the journey”. We all have that thing, that conversation, that relationship and etc. that we dread, it weighs heavily on our minds and hearts constantly, it affects many parts of our very being.

It is reality that stares us straight in the face, we can’t run from it, no matter where we go, it’s right there, glaringly real. We grope, hesitating as we place yet one more foot forward as an act of faith. We don’t understand, we don’t have answers, yet what is before us, requires us, maybe even forces us in sheer desperation to move onward.

Pain, loss of a loved one, broken dreams, financial issues, difficult relationships and etc. they are all a real part of life. It’s hard to process through, and if we are not aware of the “Boulder” we tend to stay under it helpless for many many days, months and even years.

Brothers. Sisters. I know the pain is real, I know it’s so hard. It’s starting to feel like no one understands or even cares. But!

There’s Hope! There’s a cross that held our beloved Jesus, so many years ago. Blood splattered and stricken was He, not an easy scene to think about, but He was wounded for our transgressions and by His wounds we are healed. This is not the end for you! In fact, it’s just the beginning of a new season, a new level of healing.

It may feel like no one cares, but your Heavenly Father cares. He loves you! He wants to heal you from the scars of the boulder, will you allow Him to?

“My Brother”

Journey, Love, Peace, restoration, safely home

At 2:40 the morning after my brother had gone to be with Jesus, the Lord woke me and gave me these words❤️ It’s fair to say I wept as I wrote, but it was such an honor to have the Lord speak to me with the words below to share with those left behind. We weep not as those without hope, but rejoice that He knew the Lord and He is safely Home with Him now❤️

My brother, I know you would tell us

Rejoice my dear loved ones left behind

I am experiencing heaven and Jesus

His love and wonderful peace sublime.

In this world we all faced hardships

Troublesome times filled with turmoil

But rejoice my loved ones, for I am

Truly standing with Jesus on heavenly soil.

My Jesus, who died and saved my soul

I am now resting in His sweet embrace,

Theres’s so much peace and joy

In my new home in this heavenly place.

My wife, I love you, and I know it’s so hard

I am sorry, I know it was such a hard blow

But weep not as one without any hope

Because straight to Jesus I did go.

My dear children, daddy loves you so much

I am sorry I had to leave you and mama behind

I know one day we will be reunited

O Take heart, Jesus is strong and kind.

To all my family and loved ones I left behind

Give your hearts to the Father up above

Live your lives wholly surrendered to Him

He, truly is a Father of compassionate love.

Allow the Father to redeem and restore

What’s broken and hurting within

Give Him every part of you, that’s broken

He truly will cleanse you from every sin.

So weep, not as ones with out Hope

For I am safely at rest in Jesus’ embrace

My loved ones, rejoice and be glad, for

Someday we shall meet in this heavenly place.

Safely Home with Jesus. 02.27.2020

•God is the Author•

Healing, Journey, redemption, restoration

With head bowed, tears streaming down his face he turned and walked away from the grave where he had just laid the love of his life, he thought he had prepared himself for this moment, yet when those first shovels of dirt landed in that grave, the emotions within himself were like a fresh fountain turned wide open. The physical state of his heart felt like a freshly plowed field, each furrow laying in plain sight for all the world to see, and oh the pain, it felt like an endless, lonely road to walk.

She awoke with a start in the early morning hours, unsure of what had startled her awake, but she was aware that her physical being was in tremendous levels of pain. Her heart feeling like it was ripped from her chest and shredded into millions of unrecognizable pieces. The reality was there was a painful path she needed to walk to find healing from past wounds caused by those who should have protected but had caused pain instead. Read more 👇🏾 http://southerngalwithadventures.blog 2018/03/03/596/

A few months pass by, the heartache within him was lessening, yes of course the pain and loneliness was still ever so real, but the Father in His gentle and compassionate way was healing what had been ripped wide open, was ever so gently being knit back together. The journey was hard, but the Lord was with him and gave him strength.

For her the months that had passed were somewhat of a blur, many days she barely had the strength to keep on going, but the Father In His tender compassion carried her along and she was beginning to find joy even amidst the hardest of days and she now began to understand the Father’s love in a new dimension.

In his heart he knew that the Lord was asking him to trust Him in a new depth, and to begin to seek to love again. He knew it, he felt it and he told the Lord, one day as he was seeking Him for direction, “Even though I may never see the light of day again, I will still serve You!”

The Lord spoke to her so distinctly one day as she walked to the mailbox, “My daughter, there is part of your heart you have not entrusted to me. Will you allow me to care for the part of your heart, where a man will someday care for you? I promise you, my daughter, I will take care of you!” Her answer was a barely audible yes, despite the tears, but she knew it was the Lord speaking!

Another month passes by, and now it’s obvious, the Lord has and is still speaking. A prophetic word given by the Lord is being fulfilled and while she never dreamt a story would unfold as such, the Lord orchestrated and sees a picture much bigger then we could ever lay our eyes on. What a mighty God we serve!🙌🏽💃🏽😭

“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.” Psalms‬ ‭66:10-12

Two lives, two hearts, and now He has led them together, to pursue each other, to dare to love again!

‬ ‭

“To Trust Again”

Calling, Freedom, Healing, Journey, redemption, Rest, restoration, Safety

The ground has lain dormant through the harsh cold months of winter, enduring every icy blast of cold air and freeze after freeze. Everywhere you look is brown, no sign of life seems to be in sight. But then with each passing day, the sun shines a bit longer, the air becomes a bit warmer and suddenly you notice little green shoots pushing through where everything had been brown before.

The farmer anticipates the thawing of the cold ground, daily he checks the ground in his field awaiting the time when he can work the ground in preparation for the planting season. He purchases seed, he prepares his machinery, oiling all the necessary bearings, ensuring that the moment the ground is ready he can be turning up the soil in preparation.

Fast forward a month and the day has arrived, the ground is finally ready and has been tilled to perfection and is ready to receive the seed which has been purchased to be planted. Pound after pound of seed is planted into the now warm and fertile soil, as the tractor and planter makes it continuous rounds across the field.

Now in faith the farmer anticipates the growing of the seeds, he knows the process and has prepared himself for the thawing of the soil, the preparation and the planting, but now comes the part where his Faith and Trust must be in the Lord!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John‬ ‭12:24‬ ‭

So how about you my friend, has there been a season that looked like winter in your life? Has your heart grown cold and it seems like you won’t see the light of day again? Has one whom you love dearly, hurt you to the point it seems you would never get over it or ever be able to trust fully again? Does your heart ache with every breath you take, and you wonder where God is?

Oh my brother, oh my sister! My hearts weeps with you, but may I challenge you, to take a look at the farmer and learn a mighty lesson. Even when you see nothing growing and all is brown and seems cold, will you take a step of faith and plant a seed of faith and walk forth? Will you keep readying the machinery ( your spiritual life) so that at the first hint of warmth and sunshine you are ready to begin the preparation process?

A seed is purchased and then the ground prepared and then it’s planted. But the next step is, the seed MUST Die to what it was so it can grow into what it was intended to be! Allow the Lord to bring healing, so that you may grow into new levels in Him!

Because of Him🙌🏽

~Vinny

“A Heart to Belong”

Calling, Freedom, Healing, Journey, redemption, Rest, restoration

Breathing a weary sigh, she stepped outside letting the door close gently behind her, thinking that maybe a breath of fresh air would help clear her mind, so that she could focus. Despite her best intention, the feelings of frustration and despair kept washing over her, why did it seem like she was all alone and none would understand the turmoil and anguish within her heart?

In her mind she replayed the all too familiar scene from the evening before when she had flung herself across her bed sobbing, it had felt like her heart would break from the pain. The fear had clenched her and gripped her like never before, the fear of not being loved was real and even now that very thought and other thoughts threatened to cripple her as she walked along.

Was there no one that cared?

Was there no one who would love her?

Was this all there was to life, a vicious cycle of tears, heartache and pain?

Was it worth it, really worth it to endure the pain and the struggles of life?

Then there was the gentlest of voices amidst all the questions and turmoil within, “my daughter, I care about you, I created you in my image and I love you, will you receive my love and allow me to care and heal the pain within your heart?”

“You may not understand this season my daughter, but I see each and every tear you cry, and I know that you question why, but I am asking you to trust me with your heart and allow me to carry you through this time? I know it seems scary, I know it seems vulnerable, but I promise I will not fail you?”

“Will you entrust me with the every area of your heart? Will you allow me to care and heal what has been broken and shattered within? I am your Father and I desire to care for you and your heart.”

With tears streaming down her face, her flesh attempting to rise up and stop her from taking action what she knew she needed to do, she spoke into the night, “Yes Father, I trust you to care for and heal my heart, it seems vulnerable but I am trusting you!”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” ~Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭

My friend, it is not easy for trust that has been broken, to be regained immediately, in fact; it often takes years to regain/restore that trust, but we serve a Father who delights in us, He rejoices over us and He wants us to be Whole and abide fully in Him! What will you trust Him with today?

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” ~Zephaniah‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭

“He Is”

Healing, redemption, Rest, restoration

It doesn’t take a lot of time to recognize that there is much pain and heartache in our world today. We, as individuals have been hurt, there’s pain deep within our hearts, but we dare not be too vulnerable, because we care about our reputation and want people to think well of us.

What if we are to be the one that is vulnerable to be an example to those around us? When people have been hurt, it’s so much harder for them to trust people and be vulnerable about life and the things they struggle with. What if you and I could be that safe place for someone today?

What about that person I met today in passing and I could tell that they were hurting? I causally asked how they were doing, secretly hoping they would say, they are doing fine, because I didn’t have time. Is my schedule that much more important, when in actual reality I am on the Lord’s time and I am His servant and am called to be His hands and feet?

The question I have felt the Lord asking me, “my daughter, why not be vulnerable? Why not, be honest about the things that are your weak areas? Do you not trust me to be enough in every situation? Don’t I promise that my Grace is sufficient? Do you not believe?”

For all pain and for every single hurt, there is One who Heals, His Name is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our Healer. Will we lead and point people to Him, knowing and believing that He will heal the pain, so they can trust again.

“If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.” ~‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15:26‬

For every need there is a provision already awaiting, He, the Alpha and the Omega has provided everything we need. Do we believe and act on it? He is enough!

An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others. A.W. Tower