Category: Thoughts

“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young – a place near your altar, Lord almighty my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.” Psalm 84:3-4 NIV

We noticed that a chickadee was starting to make a nest on the beam of our front porch. I lit up at the idea. How special! Then I immediately worried. It is right near our front door. The ins and outs when babies are present may distress this little mommy. I prayed that she would rest if it turned out she decided it was the right home for her. May it be their sanctuary.

In turn, I was thinking of Psalm 84 yesterday it is such a great expression of affection and praise that David wrote to God. Are those birds, an angel reference? This thought stayed with me. So close to God. Wings needed to fly there. Angels, the heavenly hosts in God’s sanctuary. Isn’t that a captivating thought? Kept my heart wanting to have a soaring song of praise and be part of the angel choir. Spiritual flight above the tree line and see, into the wilderness, higher, highest ever to heaven, just for a glimpse. Glorious Wonder.

With all my mental and emotional jumps. I decided to do something special for my husband so I set to baking a chocolate heart shaped cake. Something sweet. As I whipped up the mystery frosting I saw something else formed from the elements of my dessert. Just like my new house guest I look for sanctuary. Safe, cozy and most precious friendship with the Lord. Singing praise like the sparrows and swallows near the altar. May we see it as sweet, soaring and perhaps as a delicious as a wing shaped cake. I sent a text picture to Louisa when the cake was done. Do you see it? an angel wing she replied.

Just two girls in the woods for ONE, pulling heaven down around us!

Visit Heart Uplifted for special gift ideas

“Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 AMP

For the past few days an incoming call has started my day and I have noticed that I answered each time as if I was awake already and waiting for the call. (what is up with that? bright before the coffee) This is not the usual at all, I generally ease into my day taking some time before the brain can function and get out of the fog. This morning I pondered the message on my mug while I waited for my coffee. Yes! I am so excited right now. So what if it is raining, so what that we need to remain at home today, so what that the world is focused on what has been taken. I see, I see, I see you Lord. And it is my choice. I choose to expect something good to happen today.

This verse in the amplified version as cited above has no expectation of fear. I stopped watching the news it is literally killing my spirit. My vital necessity is to be with you Lord. What you require of me is to pray. It is what you are requiring of all of us. I know Your Mercy and it is coming toward us.
You are a Good, Good Father!

Father God give us a deeper longing for you. Let me see you as my vital necessity. Thank you for all that is good. I choose YOU! I am expecting YOU! Something always happens whenever we are together……

Just two girls in the woods for ONE, Come on Get Happy!

If you clicked the link you make think the song odd but there is a story for another day. He speaks through the most random and unexpected. 💕💕
Heart Uplifted!

“that is that I may be encouraged together with you while among you each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Romans 1:12

To start this morning I had to reconnect to the internet. I saw “connected, secured” after my click thru but I stopped for a second or two. Sure, Ha! Temporarily? Our day yesterday started out with a “session timed out” which left Louisa completely unnerved. News Flash, her creative and enterprising mind would just assume ignore and avoid all of “that stuff.” Me on the other hand I am rather immune to the snares of our technological imbalance.  Experience there has taught me to persist. The connection needed could not be made in order to accomplish this particular task. This happens more than we realize. Are we realizing now, the value of our secured connection with God. It is not temporary.

Things can indeed be upside down but more often than not this alters how we are thinking. Let’s be honest. Frustration, avoidance and procrastination eek in. Do not live in a spirit of defeat. I want to implore you to connect but be willing to allow those connections to be secured ones. See each other’s faith, whether emerging or radical. Does it matter where a person is so to speak in attending to faith? Not to me, what matters is the person. And today I can be the one cheering you on but it very well can be tomorrow I may need your faith to help move me along. (or it can be an hour from now)

I want simplicity. Why do I add that statement in now? Ok, let me say it another way. If I am not feeling well I do not want to express a laundry list of symptoms or as an extreme, have to be convincing in my tone. I just want to say, “not good today” and have real understanding in that momentary connection. Done, move on. Exercise your faith, encourage each other, bring comfort with you and be present for one another.  Don’t allow what is temporary stop you. God is forever faithful. Be authentically you. You are an original and very much wanted. Just because the “session timed out” do not stop trying to connect.

Just two girls in the woods for ONE!

“The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:25-27

Yesterday we headed out to Buttermilk Falls.  It is a short drive for us and no need to worry about crowds. One of us in need of air and the other longing for sunshine. It was an opportunity for communion with God. The sound of the rushing water exemplifies power and while  mostly a cloud cover overhead, the light still could not be made invisible.  Some breaks in the clouds showed a piercing spot of blue and the light shine filled us. It completely cheers you on in your spirit.  I thought of this verse and am reminded that He is for us! We may be cut off from our daily activity but in the quietness and trust know you are never cut off from God.

Our walk today was a needed escape. Always in a step away there is treasured discovery. The moss is turning to a delightful new spring green, a few buds on a maple moved in the wind and a fallen birch tree inspired creativity. Our voices were cutoff by the sound of the spring thaw as the water rushed past and then after proceeding further to a quieter spot, only a tiny stream heard as musical as birds in the distance. A moment to BE, brought a soul smile to each of us. How very beautiful!

Is He waiting for you to seek His face, or today did you need a reminder of His friendship? Each time we stop to discover we can and will find more depth in His Love. So as He allows our readership to grow I pray this verse for each of you and for the next who finds us. May you each understand more of His Grace and be led to the abundance in the knowledge of Truth. A discovery, an adventure, a journey of blessed assurance. Breathe in!

Just two girls in the woods for ONE, who loved being in the woods yesterday!

www.heartuplifted.com

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10

I once heard this verse referred to as architectural. Strong beams, placed to support the structure. (Just a quick summary.) When I am passenger on one of our long drives I like to look at all of the houses we pass, structures that present so different one from the next. Upkeep varies in presentation and some are sadly abandoned. I wonder who lives here? What is their life like? How do they spend their time? I’d like to stop and see but we are en-route wanting to arrive at our destination, no time. I think maybe someday we can travel through with no particular timeline and see what we find and whom we meet. Maybe buy an old house and restore it to it’s original glory. So intriguing a thought. I am sure I’m not alone in this thinking and many do that for a living.

Symbolic, isn’t that? All of what God says. In the garden Adam and Eve had it all and yet a fall from glory. And now, isn’t all our effort to be restored. I pray for restoration. Not for something pretty that  may mislead there is a solid foundation, or the opposite where visual wear and tear assumes that the structure is weakened. But restoration in full reliance on God. Gone through the rework, made clean, found missing pieces to be whole and ultimately restored to original glory.

Metaphorically, too many hide in their pretty houses while others are dismissed because they do not fit an agenda.  We can each rest on the surest foundation and be of mutual support to one another. Why pass by or overlook someone who is or was in your life? If you only view problems perhaps you need to look only to yourself. All can be restored by the God of Grace. We ALL fit with Jesus and have great value. He paid it all for you and for me. No rushing to build on our own terms when He is the Restorer, no danger there just firmly founded.

Just two girls in the woods for ONE!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13




I have always loved this verse. And it remained on a sticky note on my desk for a few years. Probably only due to wear and tear did it get taken down. Today it was part of my devotions. And like meeting up with an old friend I had an enthusiastic “Yes!” in my spirit.


ALL. That is the pivot point in this verse when I read it. God has infinite supply to us. There can be overflow.  We ourselves are the limiting factor. Trust. Believe. These words are actionable. And quite frankly spoken in a shallow context far too often. Perhaps in our interactions with each other one can champion us to trust or believe. But are we trusting in ourselves? Do we believe as we should? I am questioning this before you today as I search myself.  I want to truly encourage others so I myself have to go deeper. But it seems we all could stand to go deeper, why do we avoid this in our day to day. I am even thinking of the words “How are you?” We ask but do we really take the time with each other to fully know or be known. Trust.


We certainly can not get there by ourselves but it holds a promise of overflow. Run your cup under the faucet. Look at the overflow. That thought amazes me. Our focus can not be on ourselves. No matter the trial or pain, continually be filled so we can have overflow. There is more. Believe.


So what if we thought of sunbeams as laughter, a soft breeze as an eraser, spring dirt smell as a jump start and our first step into today as the best beginning. It undoubtedly would change our thoughts. A moment of peace perhaps an opportunity of being poised for receiving joy. But moreover, we can embrace hope in that place. Just let it be a moment when nothing is wrong between you and God. Come to a right relationship with yourself. Start with a moment to exercise an act of trust and find joy and peace. Move toward an attitude to trusting God. We can get it ALL!

Just two girls in the woods for ONE, saying Yes! to the God of Hope.

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18


I learned awhile back that Psalm 145 would have been said daily as a “Praise” blessing. Prayer is so powerful. It does not matter if you say a lengthy formal prayer or call out asking “Why?” Prayer changes the atmosphere and changes your perspective. Question is, how do you perceive your prayer? 


I stopped to think about my respect for the Lord when a friend quoted Frost’s poem yesterday “Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold.” later in the poem it says “Nothing gold can stay.” We can decipher these words and extract an intended meaning but I was thinking of them after this particular conversation as it relates to my prayer life. Certainly in the natural cycle there is fading that occurs. But now is not the time for any of us to fade away. And, prayer is the gold that can stay. Do I praise with reverence as expressed in Psalm 145? And more importantly, will my new level of prayer remain after we move beyond this crisis?


I need to see praising as essential and more valuable than gold. God is listening. He hears my heart cry. I encourage you to see the power we have in prayer. Change the atmosphere with good, destroy what is trying to destroy. Call out in praise as written in Psalm 145. The Message version is below.


Maybe, Frost might have been thinking of forsythia. First bloom of spring, then turning to lush green. I want to keep this imagery not as the poet intended. To remind me of the blessing I have to praise my God everyday!


Just two girls in the woods for ONE in Praise, our gold that never fades!

Prayer Sticker

Pray Psalm 91 With Us. 
We will flatten the curve!
Support our ministry. 
Buy a sticker and $1 will be donated to our local churches.
We want to do all we can to support our community. 

“A friend loves at all times but a brother is born of adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

Early February my husband and I were headed back to NJ for our best man’s 50th birthday party. I was excited to be reunited with old friends. Some of whom we had not seen in 20 years! I am sure you know the feeling. Has that much time gone by? We can not believe we are that old. Keith, that is my husband, was anxious. Stepping back in his mind meant seeing his partying days. “I am not that man anymore,” he said. I understood all he was saying but instead of thinking negatively I told him to look at it as an opportunity to speak life. God will lead the conversations. The party was fun. We had a great time up until 3 am, laughter, oh my goodness, my tummy was sore, and my cheeks hurt from smiling. One of his buddies said repeatedly, “I love love.” On the way back home we reviewed conversations and  both of us made note of that comment. Those boys who are men now are brothers. And the connections were born through each of us struggling to find love.
God does not want our connections to fade. And evidence of that was a few nights ago. Keith was awoken at 2 am, a call to pray. He told me he had been thinking of  his buddy. Prompting. So he stepped out in faith and sent him a link to his favorite sermon, the very sermon of personal revelation for Keith on the true love of Jesus. The day passed by and around dinner time Keith called me to say that his friend listened to the sermon. I could tell by the sound of his voice he was elated. He said the response was, ” I laughed, I cried, I prayed” Thank you brother.

The qualities of a true friend are best exemplified in Jesus. Keith originally ended his text with I am cheering you on! I am blessed the man I get to walk this life with loves LOVE, heart, soul, mind and strength. I am sharing this to cheer you on today the source of all encouragement is the one who paid it all for you and I, Jesus. Born of adversity He is the great I LOVE YOU.

Two girls in the woods for ONE feeling cheered on!

Doo dooot da da dooo doot, Oh wait boys?….not yesterday!  Birds! You know that moment after winter, too warm in the house, crack the window for a cooler breath and sweet singing. Yeah, a true sign of spring. And after-all, those clever winged creatures know better than the celebrity groundhog and our local meteorologist, it is time to return to the North Country.  I peered out to see what bird was here. 3 robins and by the way I have no idea if they were the ones doing the singing. They took turns on the leftover mountain ash berry clusters that never dropped in the fall and held in place this winter. I thought uh oh! We have seen this movie before, those fermented berries have left us heart broken over bird flight gone wrong crashing into our windows. During Hurricane Irene in 2011(?) we watched the well choreographed feeding rotation which picked our mountain ash clean in less than an hour. I think we lost 5 birds that day. Completely sad over that. Not the case this time, Whew!