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Merry Christmas ❤️ I love the time I get to spend with my family this time of year. The awkward photos [give me allllll the eating shots 😂]. The games we finish early because some people are super competitive [not me though 😉]. Getting to wear my fave sweater for the 15th time 😁. It’s a joy filled time. Although I wasn’t always this joyful 😐. [I was a mess y’all 😬] The blessing of family is something I won’t take for granted. I love my people, the ones God chose to be connected to me for life. #family It’s in these Christmas memories that I can see how God is truly with us. His love fills the room and is represented through each hug, smile, and kind word. God with us. It’s the joy and love of these moments that helps me to imagine the excitement that Mary & Joseph felt. Our messiah! Fully God. Fully man. All wrapped tightly in cloth lying in a manger. 🥰 #Godwithus Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 (at Rancho Cucamonga, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6go6mBnfVQ/?igshid=q1klbz9sx14d

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I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but around this time of year I like to reflect on the current year while asking God about the year ahead. I’ve been waiting, thinking, anticipating as I prep for vision board day (yay! 🥳). Then, As I was waiting I had a dream. In the dream I was in my bedroom. It was a new room with a high vaulted ceiling that was blue. The color was so deep and vivid. During a conversation with a wise friend she mentions that blue often represents the Holy Spirit in dreams. So, keeping that in mind I’ve been thinking about this dream. You see when I was younger blue was my favorite color. It’s only until the last few years I’ve really been into bright pink. I could’ve totally dismissed this aspect of the dream. But it was so vivid. So memorable. When I heard blue was Holy Spirit I had to stop and ask God again “what are you telling me?” Today, I woke up to two things: the Pantone color of the year and this tweet by Apostle Eckhardt. I felt so inspired and so encouraged. My 2020 is going to be painted blue. Not just 2020, but my heart too! 💙💙 I get the sense that 2020 is going to be such an incredible year of experiencing the Holy Spirit in a fresh way. That His presence will be inescapable and undeniable. Just as His spirit hovered over the deep we will sense His presence wherever we are. In the little things and big things we will find Him. The Holy Spirit will flow into the most intimate places and breathe life, brightening what was once dull. It will be a time of transformation and intimacy. It’ll be a time of refreshing, and greater outpouring. We’ll see Him move in unimaginable ways unlike before. Can you see it? Do you sense it? How beautiful of a year 2020 is going to be. 💙💙💙 I look forward to hearing more on God’s vision for my 2020. Have you been seeking Him about yours? Feel free to share what you see. Let’s run with vision together! https://www.instagram.com/p/B6EdlA6nAlT/?igshid=18j09h925qwl4

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The beauty of nature can be found in the smallest of reminders for why we are created. We are created to worship. We are created for relationship. Today’s reminder: Pray without ceasing. Prayer is your landline connection to God. #momentsinnature #prayingmantis #pray https://www.instagram.com/p/B48UUbRgQl8/?igshid=kol399nttyo1

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Sometimes you need a little comfort food. #cauliflowerfriedrice #ketomeals #ketocomfortfood https://www.instagram.com/p/B41Pht0ABBr/?igshid=1jupeqwzwyoi4

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Fall + sunsets + fave sweaters =💕💕 A friend reminded me today that I am to shine everywhere I go. I thought it was a funny coinky-dink since that’s exactly what my shirt says. I am a city set on a hill. Not easily hidden and bright for the world to see. Here’s to shining more and worrying even less. Happy Thursday friends ✌🏼💋 https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ld5qTAs5A/?igshid=1k1nsq59mkytb

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A beautiful mess... I made this Keto-butter Chicken thanks to @pinterest & @perfectketo Used a slow cooker and it just fell right off the bone. 😋 Added Cauliflower Risotto (@greengiant ) because, well, time. Definitely a great choice 🤩 #ketomeals #eatup #curryisyum #risottomylove https://www.instagram.com/p/B3kpzrLgqCd/?igshid=do2z6kp0bjfn

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🍵"Speak the truth even if your voice shakes." Maggie Kuhn #teatalk #qotd #quote #talk #whatmatters #findyourvoice

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"But let's be clear that what George Washington chose to do became the model for all who followed." This sentence (the whole paragraph really) just speaks to me. There is a lurking fear that will try to creep in when you're on a new path, headed in a new direction. An overwhelming feeling about doing something you haven't seen done or modeled. But when you realize that someone has to be 1st & its ok if it's you.... 👀👀 You may not have a model, but keep your eyes set above for what the standard should be....👀👀 Recognize the responsibility that comes with your decisions.... and just keep pressing! I think I just encouraged myself! LOL

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"Be up & awake!" Sometimes you have to read it in plain English... #romans #bible #vod #wakeup #message

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Proverbs 24:3-6 #message #bible #proverbs #wisdom #understanding

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On the drive home tonight I had a childhood song in my head. It says: Jesus is the rock of my salvation. His banner over me is love. He lifts me up to heavenly places. His banner over me is love. There's only one way to peace through the power of the cross. His banner over me is love. As a kid I wasnt quite sure what a banner over me really was. As an adult I once attended a church that made & displayed banners so I have a better idea. Banners... If you were to look up banner you would find that banners were used to raise a standard. They would bear symbols or signs, or other insignia like the shield from a coat of arms. Banners are used as a form of proclamation. Banners... In January 2010 I wrote out a lengthy mission to a project I hold dearly. At the end I said: "character, conduct, commitment - set a standard & bring order to the chaotic world we live in." With that in mind... what is the standard? What is the banner by which you live by? What is the banner being raised over you?

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From "bitter" to better.... In the middle of conversation a short while ago the subject of honor came up. I would say we can definitely add this word to the top of the "trending" list, as many discuss, but very few have their own understanding of the word. Just another buzzword on the scene. While I hadn't partaken of the conversation, I had also not taken a more in depth approach in my study time either. Personally I have had many people deposit into my life, but none that held the title of mentor. So maybe this was why I avoided the conversation altogether. Yet, as I started to study it wasn't the mentee that stood out to me, but the mentor. What could one potentially gain from pouring into another. Which brings me to Naomi...@ the beginning of Ruth we see that Naomi's husband dies during a time meant to be a fresh start for their family. After a decade her sons marry moabite women instead of returning to find Israelite wives. This indicates that what began as a temporary journey became a decade of disobedience in which the family abandoned the land God gave them and settled on a new way of life. In Vs 7 when Naomi "went out from the place she was" she symbolically moved in repentance. Naomi left the place where she was to return to the place she belongs. You see Ruth's decision in all of this was one to determine her destiny. Naomi's was one to bring her to betterment. What would have happened if either woman abandoned their post in the other's life? Pain can make people bitter or better. Naomi was in pain. As she took on the name Mara, she expressed her bitterness. Yet, as she was honored by Ruth her bitterness was temporary. Ruth's unrelenting loyalty brought Naomi restoration. Not only in her family line, but in her belief in God. Naomi was better because she could see that the Lord had never left her. How integral loyalty, trust, love, and a developed relationship were in the union of these women. Bestowing honor in any relationship isn't contingent upon who the person is in the moment, but who they are really meant to be.

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Is it a mountain to climb or a mountain to move? The culture of today is fascinated by buzz words and phrases. The church is no exception to this rule. Marketers and media strategy teams bank on this because they want you to get locked into their message. It's the reason "movement" had a really good run in many circles. Having this information at our hands we still find ourselves using such words/phrases. Recently, I've heard an increase in the expression of mountains to climb. I agree with the idea that there are mountains we must climb; challenges to face, and overcome. Yet, I also believe we should be asking what type of mountain is in front of us before climbing. In the natural if you decided to trek a mountain you would research climate, conditions of terrain, and any other pertinent information necessary before taking the climb. If it's not the mountain for you, you would not do it. On the flip end, if it is, you get the necessary tools to bring you to the peak. In Mark 11 Jesus is teaching us about having faith that is big enough to move physical mountains. Yet we can use this same principle when it comes to obstacles that stand in our way as a mountain. Today as you stand at the foot of the mountain ask: "Lord, is this my mountain to climb?" If the answer is no, then declare, (Don't just pray a soft please Lord remove it prayer) really DECLARE: Mountain be lifted up and cast in the sea. Get out of my way! Then believe wholeheartedly and watch not only that mountain move but your faith grow. #Faithcanmovemountains #believe #declare #Trust

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☁☔☔ #RainyDays I remember loving the rain from a very young age. I'm not sure at what age this excitement began, but I recall hearing how this was something I had in common with my great grandmother. As I became an avid reader, books like Ramona the Pest became intertwined with the memory of the smell, & sound of water falling to the ground. Reading books by Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, and C. S. Lewis, my imagination expanded bringing characters and places to life. I didn't own a pair of red boots, but I could relate to Ramona and her experience as she was stuck in the mud. The rush of having a new pair of shoes only to have something go awry is an experience anyone can relate to really. In my case it was my new white patent leather shoes that inevitably would get scuffed before the end of the first day of wearing them. As I watch the rain today I see how my attraction to rain goes beyond these childhood memories. The rain is a physical illustration of blessing, spiritual blessing, & promises from God. We see rain from a grand scale because of the wet ground or puddles. Yet rain falls singularly droplet by droplet refreshing and restoring the land. The rain has to come this way, because it would otherwise not penetrate or feed the soil to the depths that is needed to produce. Zechariah 10:1 says: "Ask the lord for rain in the spring, for he makes the storm clouds. And he will send showers of rain so every field becomes a lush pasture." We should have such confidence to ask the Lord for rain in our lives. He wants our pasture to be lush. When we look up (to Him) we then will see the grace & goodness of His spiritual blessing. As we look out we can see the expanse of all that these blessings have touched. When stick out our hand and watch a puddle form we recognize that the constant outpouring of small drops bring the refreshment we need. #Herestoresmysoul

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This little bird was sitting outside my window. It posed as I snapped a few quick shots. I was reminded of this: "Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?" Aren't you far more valuable? When you doubt your worth God shows you you're His best. You deserve the best. You are valuable.

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At the beginning of this week I decided to join in on a 2 day fast in order to seek the father for direction of this coming year. While listening to a webinar the speaker said "Don't wait for someone to give you a word for your year. Ask God for one right now. Ask Him to give you that thing that you are going to set your goals to. He may tell you more than 1. Just be still and listen. " Intently I sat waiting. The first word to come to mind was covenant. "Really God?" I thought (Hey I'm just bring honest) I was waiting for something like "Power" or "Bold" but got covenant. This wasn't the only word, but the very first. Which to me meant it was significant. So this morning as I was exploring Isaiah I get to this verse. Right there in my face is covenant! What is more striking is that this replicates a thought expressed in regards to generational declarations. See in 2015 I added to my prayer list the breaking of generational curses. Then on Sunday I heard a pastor say make some generational declarations for 2016. "I like the idea of that" I said to myself. I had no idea how it all tied together until this moment. Keeping His spirit & words in the forefront, eyes affixed to Him, He will not depart & His words will always be on my lips, my children's, and their descendants. #covenant #transparentmoments #Hewillneverleave #Heneverforsakes #HelovesHischildren

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Soaring upward!! #Trust #TrustTheLord #GetStrong #BeStrong