Each person who has ever been born and lived—does every person even know?
A tiny tot to full-grown span
Increases not just in physical stature and might,
But mentally and spiritually as well….

Steps turning into markers
Markers turning into miles
Seeing and reflecting through wisdom’s eyes
Watching youthful hair turn white
And crawling babies walk
Run
Grow!

Woohoo! We are so excited to be celebrating our oldest son, Jordan, as he graduates from Texas Tech University and starts moving into working and fulfilling a Master’s degree and internship. As I was reflecting on this new season, the Lord reminded me of my own milestones—where I will be going and what it might look like with expectancy and His good plans.

New Goals — New Milestones!

In the ancient world, milestones were commonly referred to as roadside markers indicating distance. They were first used around the time of the Romans. They built more than 53,000 miles of roads throughout their empire. Stone markers were placed every 1,000 paces (or 4,800 feet) as journey indicators. Nowadays, the word is more commonly used to describe important events, turning points, breakthroughs, and achievements.

These beautiful markers also offer us the chance to reflect and let go—usually joyful, sometimes not—as we say goodbye to the past and turn a fresh, crisp page in our “God and Me” books.

My stones — Your stones
Weaved with His amazing plans
Forming unseen bridges
Filling in unwanted gaps…..

Gaps of depletion — hurts
Even heavy hearts as weariness cries,
“I don’t know if I can keep going, and I know I can’t run this race alone!”

Life can certainly get busy and hectic. Sometimes we fall short or feel that we are about to completely lose the race. I am so glad Jesus walks with us and knows the way! He reminds us to slow down, and it’s okay. Maybe we need a Sabbath rest…. It could be for a day, a week, or even longer as we reconnect with our Creator, loved ones, or just special alone time to simply be still and know. The Lord orders it all!

Isaiah 43:19

“Behold, I do a new thing; it is springing forth, do you not perceive it?”

He so gently — carefully
Lifts up my head…. steadies me
As He whispers along the way

With rivers of mercy and scoops of hope
Sprinkling refractive-filled raindrops
Full of cascading Holy Spirit grace!
Filling up my cup
As I simply have no choice
But to be still and know,
Knowing that His plans for me are good and more than I could ask for or imagine,
As He exclaims with excitement,
“Come on, Tina, let’s go!”

Shifting loose, unwanted layers of sand
Exchanging them for solid rock and ground
Where He picks me up and plants me
Just like the steady feet of the hind!

Wearing shoes of unsurpassed peace that I need so very much,
But don’t always completely understand.

Milestones are important to God no matter how big or small. We are to honor these markers and even celebrate them, thanking Him for providing them throughout our life journey.

May our milestones always lead us to greater compassion and service as we spend more time growing with Jesus, practicing unconditional love and forgiveness for others as well as ourselves. Remembering how important it is to
Rest
Reflect
and SING!

Philippians 3:14

“I race toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

HAPPY TRAVELING!!

The post Milestones by Tina Gonzalez first appeared on Prize 31.

Let’s face it. Even as followers of Christ, we have had to face some tough times. Times when we were abused, abandoned, betrayed, treated unfairly, or suffered loss.

Often, we look back on those times, and they become a filter through which we see the present. We see ourselves as weak, victims, or crippled in some way as we try to move forward in life. It can often be debilitating as it continues to become part of our identity.

Let me ask this—did you survive? What character qualities did you develop that carried you through? Did you become a fighter, a peacemaker, a negotiator, someone who hides, or someone who leans on the Lord? While the incident has stayed with you, so have the character qualities you used to survive.

Being a Christ-follower allows us to filter those survival qualities and allows them to be tempered, transformed, or empowered through God’s love and mercy.

Take Saul, for example. To survive or thrive in his life, he became a strong advocate. But unfortunately, his character quality was directed against Christ’s followers. Through one encounter with the True God, Paul’s strength was transformed into that of a crusader for Christ.

Paul could have easily allowed the memories of his past mistakes to debilitate what God did for him. Instead, he chose to leave that behind and boldly move forward in his new identity. It was his choice.

You and I have been offered that very same choice. Are we going to allow the negatives of our past to own real estate in our brains—becoming the filter through which we see life—or are we going to allow God to give us a new perspective? Are we going to allow the character traits we developed to survive to be transformed by God into the new identity that can propel us into His plans and purpose for us?

Isaiah 61:1 says that Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted, but part of that is our job—allowing Him to do so.

Jeremiah 29:11 says that His plans for us are good, not evil, and to give us a hope and a future. But part of that is also our job. We must believe it and cooperate as we allow God the time to work these things out in His way and in His timing. (His part—our part.)

God wants to change our perspective on the negatives of our past, heal us, and empower us to transform those survival character strengths into productive tools for His Kingdom and our good. We can begin this process by asking for His help. Pray with me:

“Lord Jesus, I confess that I have allowed the negative things of my past to become filters, limiting the way I see my present and my future. Forgive me, Lord. I receive Your forgiveness, and I want to change my perspective. I want to begin to see things through Your eyes. I want to come into agreement with Your power to transform and see my past challenges as stepping stones into the good plans and purposes You have for my future. I give You my frustrations, hurts, self-imposed limitations, and regrets. I embrace Your power to work all things together for good. Thank You for Your unending patience with me. In Jesus’ name, I pray.”

The post Survival by Nita Kuehn first appeared on Prize 31.

I recently had a long-awaited surgery but then developed an infection. I was discouraged, as I had already been through numerous medical procedures for over a year just to get to the surgery, and now I faced this setback.

I got home after my doctor’s visit and collapsed into a chair with a big sigh, ready for a talk with the Lord. I was feeling sorry for myself, so I looked up a biblical definition for “pity,” which described it as “a destructive, self-absorbed attitude that distracts from faith, gratitude, and trust in God’s sovereignty.” What an alarming definition. I knew I needed to get back in alignment with the Lord quickly.

He gently reminded me that I was fortunate to be able to have the surgery and that it would be just a little longer—that I needed to press forward and continue to walk by faith.

At the time, I was having a snack of Dove dark chocolates and reading the inside wrapper as I opened each one, looking for the words of encouragement. I opened two in a row that said, “You can do hard things!” Then I opened a third with the same message. I have eaten many of these chocolates, and this is not normal—rarely do I get two in a row with the same message. Then I opened chocolates four, five, and six… all with the same message. I would have opened more, but that was all I had in my snack bowl at the time. Yes, I ate a lot of chocolate that night!

I then realized that these words were the Lord’s words for me.

Do you have hard things you are navigating right now? The Lord reminded me to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9) and to forget what is behind and press forward (Philippians 3:13). He wants us to lean into Him, pray, and trust Him to provide and help us. He sings songs of deliverance over us (Psalm 32:7).

Several weeks later, I learned that a second surgery was needed, and I realized the Lord had truly been preparing me for this news. He had reminded me that I could do hard things because He was with me. Psalm 147:3 tells us that He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

I was so thankful that the Lord had prepared me for hard news and had given me peace about what was to come. What do you need peace over today? Talk to the Lord and give Him your burdens. He wants to carry them for you (Matthew 11:28–30).

In case you are wondering, I have eaten many more chocolates from that Dove bag and have only had one with the “You can do hard things” message . I don’t know that the Lord will choose to speak to you through chocolates, but it never hurts to have some on hand!

The post You Can Do Hard Things! By Tammy Barber first appeared on Prize 31.

Totally unanticipated—I walked into my husband’s office and saw him slumped over in his chair. We had run multiple errands and just finished lunch less than a half-hour earlier. I assumed he had fallen asleep and went to awaken him, but he did not respond. Assuming he didn’t hear me, I took hold of his face to get his attention and found it to be cold and sweaty. John was totally unresponsive. “Dear Jesus!” is all I can remember saying, and then I called 911. I am sharing this with you to make you aware of the steps that follow a 911 call. Unfortunately, that was not the only call I had to make.

In just a few minutes, the firemen arrived. They also determined John to be totally unresponsive and could find no pulse. Then came the next call: “Ma’am, do you have an advance directive?” (I suddenly realized the gravity of what was happening.) “Yes,” I replied, and then explained how it read. Our DNR was written in a way that left the decision up to me and the doctor as to whether or not there was a possibility for a good quality of life beyond resuscitation. They did not begin CPR. When the ambulance arrived, John was still unresponsive.

They placed John on a gurney and moved him into the ambulance. As strange as it may seem, I was at peace. John and I had discussed our wishes many times and had included our children in the conversation. The team asked me to follow the ambulance to the hospital with all the documents.

Within minutes of loading John into the ambulance, one of the young men stuck his head out and gave me a thumbs up. Then one of the firemen came to me and said that John had “awakened” and was talking to them. You see, God had made the final call and decided that John’s work on this earth was not yet over.

After multiple tests and doctors’ evaluations, it was determined that John needed a pacemaker. That call was easy for me. God had spared his life; now we wanted to make it a quality one. Yes, once again, I did have to answer the DNR question.

God’s favor was with us throughout the entire process, and he was dismissed from the hospital the next day. There is more, but it is unimportant at this time. John is recovering rapidly… and after his mandated rest time, is out mowing the lawn.

I wanted to share this story because the reality is that someday you may need to make “the call.” Have you and your family discussed your wishes? Do you have the necessary paperwork completed? I want to encourage you, regardless of your age, taking care of this is critically important. Many simple forms are available online or through professionals: wills, advance directives, medical power of attorney, power of attorney, and Do Not Resuscitate orders. We cannot take tomorrow for granted.

Please understand, the final decision is always in the hands of the Lord unless we take that decision away from Him. Passing on is only a necessary part of our life on earth. The next part is so much more exciting than we could begin to imagine! But let’s live every day we do have to the fullest—honoring Him with each and every breath.

The post Making the Call by Nita Kuehn first appeared on Prize 31.

Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

Did you know that heartstrings isn’t just a term associated with emotions but is an actual part of our physical body? Physical heartstrings are fibrous tendons in our heart that function as structural supports. They prevent blood from flowing backward during each heartbeat. As amazing as God’s physical design for our bodies is, the area of emotions is as well! In fact, the heart is such an important topic to God that the Bible references this word over 750–1000 times.

I myself am very much a heart person. There is a good portion of the head and logic side to me… but my heart tends to overrule. It seems in today’s world my heartstrings tend to be pulling left and right, even backward, instead of beating and moving forward.

“Heartstrings”

One string pulling here

Another string over there

One pulls from the inside

As the outside retreats…

Slowly moves…

And then runs, plunging headfirst!

Not even waiting for a sign

A stop sign!

To wait… breathe deep… and just pray!

Praying first, then stepping into what He is saying

Into what He thinks

And where all wisdom flows

Holy Spirit thoughts — right decisions

Not wearing what the world is saying

Not joining with what the world is doing

But checking in with ultimate Truth!

Where my true identity syncs

Hearing my DNA sing

Watching my spirit glow

Plugged in… tuned in

To the One who knows me inside and out

Not carrying the weight of the world

But only what He has for me!

Heartstrings is usually referenced as expressing that inward pull or tug causing feelings of strong emotions, sympathy, or compassion for someone or something. Unfortunately, the toxicity in our world can leave our emotions in a tailspin, filling us with unwanted junk and leading us in the wrong direction. It can get us off task from God’s good plans and assignments that He has for us.

Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

About a week ago I had the privilege of having a sit-down session with my mentor. I shared that lately I felt like a fire truck trying to put out multiple fires. I felt pulled every which way but loose, but the truth is some of the fires I encountered were not meant for me to put out and needed to be harnessed and checked in. I also shared with her there seem to be so many distractions and heartstring pulls, and they somehow have multiplied. She said, “It’s so important to stop first… and then pray, asking the Lord, is this just a distraction or a God interruption?”

Big difference! Not the world’s direction but His direction. Not the world’s distractions but His interruptions and divine appointments!

Now more than ever we need the Holy Spirit to be the one pulling our heartstrings, multiplying those beautiful God tugs and heart hugs as we abide closer with Him.

I pray Christ will rule our days as His precious blood flows through us and just like our physical heartstrings, may it move us forward, not backward, with every heartbeat and His good plans.

The post Heartstrings By Tina Gonzalez first appeared on Prize 31.

What am I doing?

These were daily questions I asked myself as I sat with books spread across the bed, spirals in my lap, and a pen in my hand. I was in graduate school to obtain my nurse practitioner degree. I was an older student—37, divorced, and a mom to one daughter. Being a mom, a full-time student, and working full time took strategic planning and daily discipline.

In all we do, whether it is working, cleaning, shopping, working out, attending church, or obtaining a degree, we must have discipline.

The same goes for our walk with the Lord and our continued spiritual growth—we must have spiritual discipline.

So, what is spiritual discipline?

Spiritual discipline is a tool that helps us form a deeper connection with God and opens our hearts to spiritual formation. The practices of spiritual discipline include prayer, Bible study, worship, solitude, and service. The prayers Jesus prayed are recorded at least twenty-five times in the Gospels. We also see His example through fasting for 40 days in the wilderness, public worship, Bible reading, solitude and silence, service, and meditation.

Sitting here at the computer writing this blog takes discipline. I could find a million other things to do instead of this. But I have goals, and goals require discipline.

The same goes for my relationship with the Lord. I have desires in my heart for things I want to do in His Kingdom, but it will take discipline.

What areas of your life do you need to be more disciplined in? Are you wanting to work out more, eat less, watch less television, or spend less time on social media? Or does your discipline with the Lord need to be fine-tuned?

The more we practice discipline, the stronger we become and the easier it gets.

How frequently do people become injured or ill, making them unable to exercise? The longer one goes without working out, the easier it becomes not to work out.

In 1 Timothy 4:7, the Apostle Paul teaches that while physical discipline is good, it is even more important to train for godliness. In other words, train in spiritual discipline.

When we quit attending church, reading Scripture, and praying, it becomes harder to maintain those habits. If we spend five to ten minutes practicing spiritual discipline every day, staying consistent becomes easier. It is a daily process. A.W. Tozer once said, “We should discipline ourselves to read the Word until it comes alive… until we can almost feel the breath of God.”

As Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”

Seek those who actively pursue God, engage with Him, and serve others. You are set apart for God, but you will need other people to help you. Most importantly, you must ask God to empower you. As the Holy Spirit continues to guide you, your discipline will strengthen over time.

The post Cultivating Spiritual Discipline by Heather Sullivan first appeared on Prize 31.

I have been writing for the Prize31 blog for over a decade and have rarely, if ever, stood up on a soapbox. Today, however, I will because I believe in you.

So many times I see lives, families, and marriages destroyed because of slanted mindsets which we could easily call excuses. We think that there must be someone to blame for our problems or our lack. Perhaps, you had abusive parents or were bullied in school. Maybe my spouse or boss was unfair, or my co-workers were totally off base. I get it.  Those issues leave emotional scars and sometimes physical scars that the blood has the power to help erase the sting.

I could list a million reasons to substantiate my behavior, choices, personality, or failures, but the bottom line is that God has given me free will. And with that free will comes responsibility to act. I can choose to break unhealthy or ungodly life patterns. I can choose to be a light in the darkness, no matter how dark it is—rather than to get in a rut of complaining and/or rehearsing it.

God created you and me to take dominion. He created us to thrive, not just survive. And He has offered all of us incredible tools to overcome and to be healed from the negative impact of the history of my life. Rather than using that history as an excuse for failure, I can use it as a springboard for success. That is not Pollyanna thinking—it is Biblical!

What are some of those tools? So glad you asked!

Forgiveness would be at the top of the list. Very little healing can occur if we are filled with bitterness. Forgiveness is not something that is earned or deserved, but rather something freely given, just as God freely forgives us, as undeserving as we are. Forgiveness does not mean that we ever have to trust or be friends with the person who brought us harm. It simply means we agree that the price Jesus paid on the cross was enough for my sin and for theirs—we have to trust that He has the ability to see that justice is served. I obey Him when I forgive others as He has forgiven me (Eph. 4:32). The healing this brings is beyond human understanding. It’s a glorious mystery.

Another really helpful tool found in Scripture is from Phil 3:13: “Forgetting that which is behind, I press on toward the goal….” It is very hard to move forward in life while looking in the rearview mirror. Truly, all of us have things from the past we wish had not happened, but if that is what we focus on, it is like a rope keeping us tied to the dock. Honestly, living in regret is denying God’s power to work all things together for good—as impossible as it may seem.

There are so many more tools found in God’s Word, but for now, this is plenty to begin practicing.

Regardless of my past—what I have or haven’t done; regardless of what others have or haven’t done to me or for me—God’s promises are “Yes” and “Amen.” When He says that His plans are to give me a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11) and that He has good works planned in advance for me to accomplish (Eph. 2:10), it will never happen if I refuse to BELIEVE HIM and insist on staying stuck in the “blame” lane.  When we take the time to look back, let’s focus on Christ, rather than the injustice or pain in our souls.

Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for limiting YOU by making excuses and living in my own understanding. Forgive me for holding on to offenses and staying tied to the dock. Today, I choose to cut that rope; help me learn how to forgive others and myself; to let go of regrets; and to move forward into Your plans and purposes for your Honor and Glory. Help me believe that my next right step  is a choice.  I thank You for the power of Your Spirit, dwelling in me—I welcome the plans you have for me!

The post Soap Box by Nita Kuehn first appeared on Prize 31.

Every year we camp in a state park. Truthfully, my husband does more of the camping, and I enjoy the great outdoors while “glamping” at night in a space with more amenities. I always feel closer to God during these times because life is quieter, and I walk peaceful trails with beautiful scenery, including deer and other wildlife. Everything is so still and unhurried. I feel I can easily abide and dwell with the Lord in this setting. I want to abide with the Lord like this at work, at home, and in all settings. How about you?

The word “abide” is derived from the Greek meno, meaning to remain, stay, or dwell. The word “abide” appears approximately 118 times in the New Testament, mostly in the book of John. To “abide in the Lord” means to live in a continual, intimate, and dependent relationship with Him. This involves trusting His Word, obeying His commands, and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our lives so we bear spiritual fruit. Christ lives in you and me, and we live in Him. How wonderful is that! This is not just a superficial relationship but a deep, daily reliance expressed through faith, obedience, and communion with God, making Him the source of our value (our identity) and direction.

In John 15:5, Jesus revealed the most important process for living the best life possible. It is life at the very highest level. Jesus called it “abundant life,” and that is an extension of the eternal life that we receive the instant we put our faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

God wants us to experience elevated levels of love, joy, peace, and the other “fruits” of the Spirit—kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He wants us to be fruitful in knowing Him, growing in Him, and living out His purposes and plans. I want more of this every day, so I looked at ways to deepen my relationship with the Lord. I really like the list below. It is simple but so good.

Ways to Abide in Christ:

1. Daily abiding in God’s Word. It is not the quantity of what we read as much as the quality—what we get out of it. Pray, seek to understand it, and apply it accordingly.
2. Daily abiding in prayer.
3. Daily abiding in silence. Be still and listen to God’s still, small voice.
4. Daily abiding in meditation. Think about God’s Word—chew on it.
5. Daily abiding in faith. Believe God’s Word. Trust in Him.

I plan to “glamp” more with Jesus at home, at work, when I am stuck in traffic, wherever I am. How can you abide more in Christ? Peace and hope await!

The post Camping With Jesus By Tammy Barber first appeared on Prize 31.

Last week, my dad had an incident.

The Mr. gives it a bit more emphasis as he says  “Last week John died.”  He then pauses for a dramatic moment before adding, ”but he came back.”

The truth was mom found dad, slumped in a chair and completely non-responsive.  He was ice cold to the touch and when emergency services arrived, they could not find a pulse.

It was a replay of an incident from a few seeks prior,  but this one did not resolve itself quite as quickly.  What it did do, paired with results from a Holter Monitor worn the week before, was tell the doctors one thing—dad’s heart needed support.

He needed a pacemaker.

A pacemaker

Pacemakers are pretty nifty devices.  They sit right below your collarbone and are hardwired into your heart.  They continuously monitor the heart and sends it support signals, when needed, to make the heart beat at a safe, healthy rate.

When I got the text from mom asking us to meet her at the hospital, I was thankful for my own pacemaker.

What?  I have a pacemaker?  Absolutely, and I hope you too have one.

The Holy Spirit.

In the Old Testament, The Holy Spirit empowered people to do God’s Will.  It gave them strength and peace.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.  1 Samuel 16:13

Samson’s feats of strength are all credited to the Spirit of the Lord.

Gideon, Micah, Joshua, Elisha, Zechariah…the list goes on an on with one common phrase, “the Spirit of the Lord came upon.”

In the OT, the empowerment was temporary, but that changed when Jesus died for the redemption of all our sins and grafted us into the Kingdom of God.

 And I (Jesus speaking) will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16

Some translations use the word “Counselor” instead of advocate.  The Greek word behind each version means “one who is called alongside.”  I envision a big, strong helper who literally holds me up.  A helper who is there to listen and give advice that I could never come up with on my own.  A cheerleader, a GPS and so much more.

And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you. Rom 8:11

A helper with POWER. (More here.)

But very truly I (Jesus) tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.John 16:7

A helper who is focused on my own good.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.John 16:13

A helper who guides me in this confusing world.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Gal 5:22-23

A helper who give me the tools to calm a confused, fearful mind.

Here is the bottom line, when our heart and mind is aligned with God’s Word, it makes us more sensitive to hearing the Holy Spirit that dwells in us.  It makes it easier to tap into His power and gives us the peace and strength to walk through anything.

After dad got his medical pacemaker, we all breathed a sigh of relief.

All would be well.

Until mom called 911 for an ambulance four hours after they were discharged from the hospital.

When we accept Christ and the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we are not promised a life free of pain.  Our inside changes, but the world around us does not.  We still have to navigate a world filled with sin, but the difference is that we have a helper.

The post-pacemaker incident did not happen because the pacemaker failed. 

How often in life do we see one problem/wound/trauma, focus on it and not realize it is masking another problem/wound/trauma?  The beauty of a life with Christ is that there is support to heal from wound after wound.  In the case of dad, the pacemaker kept his heart beating while another issue was revealed.

Medical professionals can debate if the second issue was the primary one all along, but the reality is the pacemaker did its job.

All during this journey, mom, dad and the family spoke life.  There was peace, even laughter.  Hospital staff were prayed for.  Ministry occurred.  Thanksgiving was offered for all things—especially warmer temperatures in the ER as we got to spend 24 hours there.  Twice.

Your pacemaker

Are you allowing your pacemaker to do its job?  When faced with adventures, what is your first response?  If it is not love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control, you might want to talk with the Lord about building faith and getting in tune with your pacemaker.

As we learned with dad, it takes the body a bit of time to adjust to listening to your pacemaker.  The best part is that this is something you don’t have to do alone.

At Prize 31, we are here for you.

The post Is your Pacemaker Working by Deanna Duncan first appeared on Prize 31.

God has given us the most precious little people to nurture, love, and teach. It is for all of the things He has for them, but also for ourselves, as we learn and grow as well—watching tiny seeds become hardy plants that so quickly blossom and unfold.

What a beautiful Heavenly partnership, and what a special reminder as we welcome February, ushering in Valentine’s Day!

Jeremiah 1:5 says,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.”

Psalms 139:15–16 tells us that our frame was not hidden from God when we were being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. His eyes saw our unformed substance; in His book they were written, every one of them—the days that were formed for you and me……

Little Feet
Little Feet
Where have you been?

“In my Father’s lap,
in the shadow of His wings,
laughing—giggling—dancing around His throne!”

“I sing!
I sing!
As pure Love, like sunshine, washes over me—
my heart filling every fiber, every atom,
every fearfully made piece,
and every delicate part
of intricacies, multiplications,
and thoughts of who I would be!

As Eternity thinks,
    speaks,
      creates,
as He breathtakingly whispers my name!”

Perfect timing.
Perfectly ordained.

While He sings and wraps
His beauty—His majesty—His thoughts of pure love
over who I am, my assignments,
   our story,
    His-story!

Little One
Little One

I pray you might see
how immeasurable is your worth
and how valuable is your name.

For nothing slips by Him—no!
Not even one single breath!
Everything so perfectly woven,
framework beyond and surpassed!

“I sing!
I sing!
Filled with unmatched love, wonder, and might,
as I am enveloped in His shelter,
the shadow of His mighty wings.”

This is who I am.
This is how He sees me…

His warrior,
 His child,
  His beloved,
   His bride!

Psalms 144:12 says,
“Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.”

Precious Feet
Mighty Feet

My, how you have grown!

And here now stands a mighty warrior—
valorous, medaled, armed—
doing Kingdom business and right on time…

Ushering others to the Cross,
into His Kingdom,
helping others to the threshold of Heaven’s
  mighty
   gates!

Wow—the Master Gardener Himself…
Pure Love…
thought of you, planted you, and is growing you,
and will continue to do so until completion!

The seeds of today are the flowers of tomorrow…
the most fragrant and beautiful bouquet 
touching our lives and filling our hearts 
hand-picked and watered by the Master’s hands—
a Heavenly ordering of precious Little Feet 
tiny but mighty!

As we watch baby grow
and the glorious unfolding of
God’s amazing plans.

The post God’s Garden By Tina Gonzalez first appeared on Prize 31.