The way you are.

The way you can light up a dark room with your joy.

The way you make others feel soooo loved and special when you speak to them.

The way your eyes look deep into the heart of others, past the walls they have attempted to put up.

The way your laughter stirs the room.

The way your smile touches our hearts.

The way you choose to sit close when others are far.

The way you can speak simple, yet profound truth.

The way you give hope when all appears hopeless.

The way you show strength and courage. 

The way your hug melts the heart of stone.

The way your presence ushers grace and confidence.

The way you share, have compassion, seek out the lonely, share your heart, look into the heart of everyone, find the sweetness in every situation….it's the details of you that make you special.

God created each of us equally by flesh and bones, but it is the uniqueness in the details of you that God gave you to make you a special you! You cannot compare because you do not compare to any other! You are fearfully and wonderfully made!!! I am soooo glad you are you!!!!!

*Inspired by the love and uniqueness of my children who are all so very different! I love each of you so much and am grateful to get to be your Mom!!! Blessings on and thru each of you! With great love, Your Mama

Feeling weak, weary and worried?

Ever have those days or sometimes months where you feel attacked and overwhelmed. The little things in life seem so much bigger and you feel the weight crushing you? I'd like to share a prayer woven through the scripture with you that I am praying in my own life. It is the protection instructed to be worn in Ephesians. The actual scripture in ESV is in italics and my words are the rest.
I pray you will find strength and a renewed hope as you remember Who Your victory and Strength are in. It is not within you to overcome. It is Christ in you that gives you the victory.Trust Him. Prepare yourself for battle and pray endurance till the end!!  Gird up your faith and hang on! Saturate yourself with His Word and hide it in your heart!! It's a crucial weapon you must have with you!!!
If this isn't you and you know someone who needs to be encouraged today, please pray this over them. Jesus is our healing, our victory and our hope. He is the answer! Blessings in His name, Michele


Father God, today I lay my broken and weary soul at the crown of Your Holy and Healing feet. My spirit cries out to You Lord God that I Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Help me Father God, Warrior King Jesus to Put on the whole armor of Yours God, that I may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore help me Lord to take up the whole armor of God, that those of us who serve You may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Lord Jesus, as both a witness to Satan and his evil destroyers and as a witness testifying to Your Conquering Victory, I Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth,  refusing and rebuking all the lies he tells me that I am weak and defeated, worthy of death, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, that in my anguish I will choose good over evil, guarding and protecting my heart in Jesus' Name that my heart will remain fully and completely consumed by the Love of my Savior. Steady my feet Lord to walk  and witness to Your Love in a manner worthy to honor You above all others, wearing as shoes for my feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
In all circumstances, especially those that are difficult, leaving me to feel exhausted and weary, help me Holy Spirit take up the shield of faith, with which I can extinguish all the  flaming darts of¹the evil one as he seeks to devour me day and night; and take my permanent helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is Your word God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. Recall to me Your Word hidden in my heart that I may not sin against You and encourage and strengthen me with fervor in your Word each morning and throughout the day.  
To that end it is my deep desire to keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, getting outside of my own troubles and intercede for those God has placed in my world to stand alongside, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Lord open my eyes to see what You see before and around me and grant me strength and endurance to persevere through each and every circumstance, escaping the schemes and traps of the enemy laid out to destroy me. I am Yours Lord God and I trust in Your strength. Guard me in Your Name King Jesus. May my courage be a bold witness to the enemy and rebuke him to his crushed place under my feet and lift my eyes to where You are so my heart and mind may be restored. Cleanse me and revive me Lord for You are my God! I worship and adore You alone. It is with eager anticipation and holy determination that I count it all joy today as I stand on the battlefield. No weapon of the enemy shall proper where You are so Lord today, keep watch over me that I may not give the enemy a foothold! I stand in You! Thank you and Bless you Faithful God. AMEN!

Ephesians 6:13-43

They Attacked my Joy!

They were out for my JOY!!!! Yes they were!! I was walking with a friend and after we had been walking for an hour (insect free I might add), we walked through a wooded area and all of a sudden mosquitos from the entire neighborhood flocked onto me!! Where in the world did they come from?! They ambushed me!! I noticed a few landing on my arm but she could see the whole family clan all over my arms, back and face. She said, "What oil are you wearing because they sure want it!!" At first I said I wasn't wearing any because that morning I didn't remember putting any one, and then it came to me. I did. 
There is an essential oil called Joy which is made from rose and I had placed it in my diffuser necklace which I was wearing! Normally, I can have Peppermint or Purification mixed with some lotion on me and I am not bothered once from outdoor insects. But, this morning it was just my Joy I had on and they wanted to suck it right out of me!! Some of the mosquitos I could feel biting me but apparently the other 199 I could not feel or see around me. Needless to say, I came back through a different way.
What a reminder of how Satan can blindside us sometimes and ambush us, sucking out our Joy. God is never caught off guard but we can be. Trials may come and go, gradually building or appearing in our life but there are times when - BAM!, you turn a corner and there it is! What Satan wants is our Joy. If he can get us to loose our Joy, we loose the center of our Hope and our Peace. The Joy of the Lord is my strength. Joy in the Lord is how I have hope, peace and comfort. When my joy depletes, I find my days weary, dreary, lonely and hopeless. The Joy of the Lord is my strength. He is my strength to face my trial because I know He is with me and that gives me hope. He is my strength to face hardships because I know He is for me and will fight victoriously for me and that gives me peace. I need my Joy to keep awake in my spirit, heart, soul and mind so that my steps will keep moving forward and not grow weary and loose all direction and motivation. 
I did not return to that same area where I had been ambushed by those blood thirsty suckers. Wisdom says be cautious and prepared and find another way if necessary. It is crucial to arm ourself with Joy, The Word and Prayer. And if you don't, don't be surprised when you are met with pesky little suckers who are there to deplete your Joy! Be alert, Be prepared. I promise you that next time I walk, I will be wearing my other oils to deflect the blood thirsty insects!!
How grateful I was to have someone walking beside me that noticed the ambush which I could not see on my own and helped me fight them off! That's exactly why God says for us to love your neighbor. Living life together (should) reflect God's love for us. We ought to walk alongside and stand firm with one another in love, to encourage, to intercede, to lift up and to forgive one another…and fight a clan blood thirsty suckers when they attack! Oh the blessing where "two or more are gathered!" 
Friend, are you feeling ambushed today? Are trials mounting up in your life? Do you feel like you can't get a handle on your heart and mind? Do you feel weary, tired, at a lose? Then, may I remind you to get out of the woods and walk on the clear path beside you. Gather up your Joy and move forward!! Get up off the floor, or out of bed for some of us, and life up your eyes. If you lay down and crater under the trial, you will become a greater victim. You must keep walking! You must guard your Joy with The Word of God (like my Purification oil that heals and protects) and by prayer with thanksgiving (like my Peppermint oil that invigorates, gives clarity and settles my tenseness). And if you still find it difficult and overwhelming, then find someone who can help you see what you cannot see and ask them to help you walk out of the woods!!! Be joy-full, hope-full and peace-full in Jesus' Name knowing He is your Defender and Strength!! He is King of kings and Lord of lords, The God of gods. He holds the whole world in His hands!!! He is a banner over me and I am His!! Praise His holy and redeeming name!!! Amen!!!

"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:9-10

"Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you." As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16

For those who are interested and will ask: you can purchase oils or sign up at www.youngliving.org/1003168. You can find TONS of information on Google and YouTube or email me and I will answer what I can:) They have helped me with my anxiety, stress, aches, insects and general first aid. I am thankful for the natural remedies God has given me!!!!