I know, cheesy title. But this time of year is simply wonderful! Especially for southern gals.
Bright yellow mums, cotton fields, cooler temps, less humidity, pumpkins, football games, and our favorite cozy sweaters beckon us to jump into the new season with joy.
Perhaps my favorite thing about autumn is the explosion of color. God paints the earth with myriad hues of red, orange, yellow, brown, and gold. Enough to make us breathless with wonder. Continue reading
Father God, once again we are reminded of the fallen state of our country. Our hearts ache for the terror experienced by our leaders. I pray for the families of those involved, that they will know Your presence and will seek the peace You provide. Oh Father, heal our land. Convict Your people to continue in prayer for our country—today and always. And please use this experience to draw our leaders closer to You and to each other. Thank you, Jesus, for what You are going to do. In Your precious, Holy Name.
Praying for our beloved country,
Leigh Ann
The last days and weeks in the good ‘ole USA have been, um…unusual. Unsettling. Worthy of serious hand-wringing.
Many Christians have soul-sighed, “Oh, for cryin’ out loud. Why don’t those sinners just stop, you know, sinning? Come on, Lord…repair those reprobates and all will be right with the world.”
Which leads us to the first myth or falsehood we as Christians sometimes believe: Continue reading
I hope you had a blessed Easter in worship of our Risen Savior!
Heart Undivided will be taking a break for a few weeks of study, renewal, and prayer. YOU will be on my heart.
My prayer is that every burst of spring will remind you of the crazy-love and faithfulness of our Creator God.
See you soon!
Joyfully,
Leigh Ann 🙂
Hi, Sweetheart. Mom here.
It’s that time of year and I’m feeling it—that uncomfortable heart-squeeze from the effort of letting you go. Again.
You would think it gets easier, but um…it doesn’t. So with that in mind, there are a few things I would like to say. None of this is new to you—but humor me. Sometimes a mom needs to “put it all out there.” (We tend to worry about gaps in your life-education.)
So, here goes…
It’s that time of year for our family—a time to step away from regular responsibilities and to seek rest and renewal.
Heart Undivided will take a brief hiatus as well. I already look forward to returning in a few weeks with (hopefully) new perspective and fresh creativity!
Thank you for traveling with me these past months—what an adventure! Let’s continue to pray for each other in the coming weeks—for strength and courage to keep a Jesus heart each day. 🙂
You are loved,
Leigh Ann
I should have been excited about the evening. I wanted to be. But I had a sense of heaviness—and to be honest, I felt a little betrayed.
It was a Monday night, and my family had just returned home from serving in a Kids’ Club sponsored by our church. We were blessed to be part of a great team of youth and adults willing to jump in and use their gifts to share the Gospel with unchurched children in our community.
But my uneasiness lingered through the night and into the morning. Frustrated, I went outside, sat on our front porch swing, and started talking…
“Okay, Lord. What’s going on? Is it my attitude? What is…wrong?”
For a while, there was silence. Then…
Say it, child.
“I don’t know what you mean, Lord.”
Say it.
I sighed. There was no use trying to hide it. Frustration spilled from my heart…
As I prayed about this week’s post, I couldn’t stop thinking about current events in our community, our nation, and the world.
For many, 2015 has been steeped in sorrow.
“Lone-wolf” shootings, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and government scandals rock the nightly newscasts. Human life is discarded like so much trash. Those who mock God’s laws are lauded as “heroes” while those who stand for righteousness are called “bigots.”
Not to mention Satan’s use of our political and justice systems to wage war against Christ-centered laws and precepts.
We do live in an upside-down world and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and to wonder if God is still in control. But we have to remind ourselves…
He is.
Once upon a time, I let my armor get dusty.
It was a familiar scene—a busy morning on the verge of chaos as our family prepared for a day of work and school. In the midst of dashing out the door it was discovered that someone forgot something. Our fast-forward lives came to a screeching halt with a muttered, what did we forget this time? And as we scrambled back into the house for books, a lunch box, keys or sunglasses, I too often missed what was leaning right by the door: my suit of armor.
Without fail, when faced with a stressful situation without my “suit”, my self would jump in and react before the mind and heart of my Lord could respond.
Never a good thing.
How awesome to worship an Unseen God.
How beautiful You are!
Who am I, that You would allow me
To even think of You?
Much less, become filled with You?
How utterly satisfying are Your words…
They minister to the very depths of who I am.
They calm these inner storms
That threaten the peace and joy of my life.
So long, Lord, I was silent. Too long, Father, I stilled my pen.
My sighs were deep with unfulfilled longing.
But You, my Lord, patiently waited…
You quieted my soul
With Your beauty,
Your words,
Your voice.
You gave me, infused me
With new hope, life, and joy.
I love You, Jesus.
I love You, my Lord and my Savior.
O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You. Psalm 63: 1-5
Leigh Ann Thomas 