Normally, "Give Up" is not apart of my vocabulary.
I've have spent many hours in sports training and competition, and those words weren't  allowed to be spoken.
"Give Up"... NEVER!!!
And yet this summer, I had to give up to be free.

You see, as a Christian, we are called to "Give Up" or rather "Give too" the Lord all the things of our heart and life and surrender them into His hands. Now from a sports stand point it doesn't make that much sense but in the Spirit it does. (However, there is still plenty of spiritual places that we never give up: faith, our love, our walk with God and more.)
Yet, as we surrender our lives to Christ, He is the Master Potter and we are the clay. He only knows what He really intends for our lives and we merely just walk daily with Him as He unveils His plan to us.
So by surrendering to Him, we essential give to Him all things in our lives and turn our hearts over to His will and His plan. HE IS THE BOSS.
That's where I found it hard this summer.
It was hard to put all that sports mindset aside to finally reach my goal: Peace
For years, there has been a particular dream and wish and pray and desire that I've had. After 2 years of searching, I nearly got to see it happen in June. Until, once again, it did't work out.
I remember thinking,"I've prayed so hard, so long, so much."
Yet,  My heart has been crushed time after time in this area. What is going on?
I got to a point that I was mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted.
I tried to figure out why things consistently didn't  work out?
Why the door keeps closing after it seemed to be open?
So many thoughts were swimming around and around in my head. Frankly, I was undone.
Then it hit me.
GIVE IT UP.
NO, NO, NO- I held on tighter. BUT then, my peace left, my joy left, my anxieties started to swallow me up. 
Until, I GAVE UP.
I literally waved an invisible white flag to the Lord, and said, "I am done with this dream. I surrender."
Upon doing that two things happened,
I felt hurt and I felt relief.
I was hurt that all this time I thought I was going to finally have a dream come true and it didn't happen.
On the other hand, I was relieved to know that God, the maker of all things, had my heart and dreams in His hand.
Joy came back to me. Peace was inside of me. And my anxieties disappeared.
It wasn't what I GIVE UP,
It was to WHOM I GAVE IT TOO.
God Almighty has my heart. He has my desires. He knows me and He knows what's best for me.
By Giving it up to God, I know that "He will not withhold any good thing" from me, and for that if I am to have it, HE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN.
REST-Breath-Rest
He's got this.
Sometimes the place to find peace, is Surrender. Is Giving it up to God and watching Him figure it all out.
Who knows if my dream will come true, it's just up to God now and His timing.
He makes all things beautiful in His timing.

​Blessings.

It's so important to Forgive. Forgiveness keeps the soil of your heart ready for good things to grow. If bitterness is allowed to grow, it can really impact the rest of your life. Don't let bitterness take any roots.
We are working our backyard and it took days for us to uproot this bush.
The root is about 200lbs and it took a lot a man power to get it out.
Even though I really think this root is quite artistically beautiful, I could only think of the roots of bitterness and how deep and strong they can become.
The Good News is that Jesus can instantly take these out of our hearts. All way have to do is ask Him and confess to Him. Then, He'll not only forgive us but cleanse us from all of that too. (I John 4:8)
Get those seeds out of your heart today.
God is Able
​Blessings. 

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
​Hebrews 12:1-2

Look at those colors. Wow
Anyone who knows me by now, knows I love fresh flowers.
They just speak to my heart. Lift up my soul as they illumiate
their grandeur in my eyes.
I would buy the entire lot of them if I could.
But I couldn't. 
Why?
Not because the lack of money, not for the lack of desire, but purely on the
lack of their availability to me.
You see these flowers,
Are in Africa.
My friend was thinking of me in Africa as she was on her way to a birthday party. She stopped to buy flowers and couldn't resist the beauty.
I am So Glad She Sent This Picture to me. I was exactly the pick me up I needed.
The Bible says, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."Proverbs 25:11
Today, I like to think of it as flowers in the market in setting of my friend's heart. 
Today, my friend and I got to encourage each other in our friendship, Our God and His creation.
Such a beautiful moment that helped me finish my day, as she began hers. (they are 11 hours ahead)
So today,
Why not take a picture and send it to someone. Be creative to reach out, for who knows that those words might just be settings of silver for someone.
The Bible also says, "Anxieties in the heart of a man causes depression but a good word makes in glad." Prov 12:25

Give a Good Word Today
​Blessings 

The other day I was in prayer and was really wanting to see the Lord.
This walk on Earth is definitely a faith walk, not what we see.
Yet there are times, when the heart just longs to see Jesus.
So I asked, "Lord I just want to know you are here."
The Vision I had was Jesus with His two hands stretched out with His beaming white robe draping from His wrists.
It was so brief but the impact so deep.
It reminded me of the Scripture, 
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
So I tried to draw what I saw, but it was not at all doing it justice.
Then I stumbled on this picture.
My daughter edited to show two hands reaching out as what I saw in my vision. 
This is really close to what I saw

Go to Jesus. His arms are open wide for you and for me.
What a wonderful Savior we have.
​Blessings. 

Because it had been raining and the sun was peeking out it's face, I thought for sure there is a rainbow somewhere out there. So I walked outside, to find nothing.  Hummm I really thought I would see a rainbow. So I looked in the backyard:nothing. Then I just couldn't resist to check again in the front yard. Then I saw it, a fuzzy little color hanging on a cloud.
That's it. I ran back inside of the house and grabbed my phone.
What was once was a fuzzy speck turned into a great big rainbow in just a few seconds.
I took the video. I watched it grow and then dissipate. 
Wow. 
God's Promise to Noah and to us. He keeps His Word.
We can trust in it, hold on to it, and have faith that all that God has said will come to pass.
As quickly as it came and as quickly as it went, this life is but a vapor. 
Keep the Faith
​Blessings. 

Because I am amazed at the songs and words proclaimed in Revelation, I thought I would list them and be able to look at them from that vantage point.
I started looking at the Songs that are sung and then I realized there are specific songs for specific peoples, then there are sayings, and then proclamations. I didn't write all the sayings, which are of the judgments, but rather the saying in heaven that Glorified God. 
So pick out what groups are saying what in these next verses.
It might feel a bit of homework, but I think it will be so rewarding.
I even started putting music to some of these.
​Enjoy

Revelation Sounds
Revelation 4:8
The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.
And they do not rest day or night, saying:

“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”


Revelation 4:10-11
the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne
and worship Him who lives forever and ever,
and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:


“You are worthy, O Lord,[fn]
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist[fn] and were created.”

Revelation 5:8-10
Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and
the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp,
and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us[fn] kings[fn] and priests to our God;
And we[fn] shall reign on the earth.”


Rev 5:11-12
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne,
the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was
ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”


Rev 5:13
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth
and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:


“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”


Rev 5:15
Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!”
And the twenty-four[fn] elders fell down
and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever


Rev 6:9-10
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those
who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony
which they held.And they cried with a loud voice, saying,

“How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and
avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”


Rev 7:9-10
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number,
of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues,standing before the throne
and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
and crying out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”


Rev 7:11-12
All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures,
and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.”

Rev 11:15-18
Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying,
“The kingdoms[fn] of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ,
and He shall reign forever and ever!”


And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones
fell on their faces and worshiped God,
saying:
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,[fn]
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”


Rev 12:10-12
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,
“Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God,
and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren,
who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,
and they did not love their lives to the death.“Therefore rejoice, O heavens,
and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”


Rev 14:1-3
Then I looked, and behold, a[fn] Lamb standing on Mount Zion,
and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having[fn]
His Father’s name written on their foreheads.And I heard a voice from heaven,
like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder.
And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.
They sang as it were a new song before the throne,
before the four living creatures,and the elders; and no one
could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand
who were redeemed from the earth.


Rev 14:6-7
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth
—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice,
“Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come;
and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”


Rev 15:2-4
And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have
the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark[fn]
and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:

“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!

Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.”


Rev 16:4-7
Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water,
and they became blood.And I heard the angel of the waters saying:

“You are righteous, O Lord,[fn]
The One who is and who was and who is to be,[fn]
Because You have judged these things.
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
And You have given them blood to drink.
For[fn] it is their just due.”
And I heard another from[fn] the altar saying,
“Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”


Rev 16:14-15
For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth
and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches,
and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”


Rev 19:1-9
After these things I heard[fn] a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,
“Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord[fn] our God!
“For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged
the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication;
and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”
Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!”

And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down
and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying,
“Amen! Alleluia!”

Then a voice came from the throne, saying,
“Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him,
both[fn] small and great!”

And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters
and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying,
“Alleluia! For the[fn] Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and His wife has made herself ready.”

Rev 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!”
And let him who thirsts come.
Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is
the righteous acts of the saints.Then he said to me,
“Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ”
​ And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

 Today the wind is blowing hard. The waves are gaining strength, and it reminded me of the testimony in Mark 4:37 Windstorm and the Disciples.
Jesus was sleeping on a pillow in the midst of the craziest storm in the stern of the boat. 
How would you respond in that situation?
The disciples woke Him and said, "don't you care that we are perishing?"
Then  Jesus rebuked the sea and the wind and all went calm.
Then Jesus said, Why are you so fearful? How is that you have no faith?
The disciples were amazed and said, "Who could this be that even the wind and sea obey Him."
Do you find yourself fearful?
Do you find yourself lacking faith?
Cry out to Jesus. He is completely in control of all things.
The wind and the seas have too obey Him. Call out to Him.
No matter the storm, no matter the wind, No matter the waves Nothing is too hard for the Lord.
HE DOES CARE.
Call out to Jesus
So who is this?
THE KING OF KING
He's waiting to hear from you.
​Blessings 

There is something so special about the writings of our loved ones to us. 
When my Grandpa Chuck Smith died, I was searching all over for his handwriting to me. I finally found it in a Bible he gave me. It's so precious to me to find his heart written in a gift He gave me. 
Plus, I love this saying so much. This saying was in my Grandma Kay's Adopted daddy's Bible, and I am passing it on to you. 
"This book will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from this book."
He would know. My grandma talks about a time when her parents slight straying from the Lord. It wasn't a huge detour, but just enough to understand, "sin will keep you from the Book": Bible. 

God has given us the Bible as a written letter from His heart. I so wish to see His hand writing one day. Could you even imagine? For now, God has written them down in His Word and has written them in our hearts. 
2 Corn 3:3
You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

It's that wonderful.
Well, I pass down this saying to you all. 
Remember
"This book will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from this book."
Blessings. 

There is nothing like opening up the Bible with a warm cup of tea and really sitting before the King of King.
This month has been especially hard for us here in the Berry household and truth be told, I wasn't taking time to spend the God like I should. Of course I prayed, boy I prayed, and I talked to Him, but I wasn't really sitting down to be still.  My friend once said, "Yes God says to Be Still And... get on iphone, and get on internet, and do dishes and read a book, watch a movie." There are so many things we can do, instead of doing what the verse says, "Be Still and Know that I am God."  
Are we really being still? Are we really Knowing He is God over ALL circumstances?
Well, It's when we be still and let our God be God in our life that we find Peace for our souls, hearts, and minds.
So this morning, when all was quiet, I sat before the King of Kings. I poured out my heart before Him and He spoke to me through His Word.
You know what He said to me?  He said, "He loves me"
Wow. 
Believe in God's Love for you Today. He loves you so much. He is love and created love and He loves you and me all the same.
Take your time with God, it really does make a difference.
​Blessings.