A pleasing Aroma

Sacrifice often has fragrant incessense for the Lord's prescense 

It's all so specific. 


So fascinating. 

Leviticus 2 says, to present grain, choice flour (im assuming good flour), pour olive oil over it, sprinkle with francinsence and bring it to the the priests.

The priest will burn the representation on the altar.  The part that really grabs my heart is

"It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord" - Leviticus 2:2

It is so special for me right now especially because Jesus has been talking to my about the sweet aroma for him is my tears, my mess, my surrender, it's just incredible that this all is a pleasing aroma to him.  So good. 

The guilt offering then doesn't have frankincense.  I really wonder what that is about. 
"
"A sin offering, a guilt offering - it is most holy!"


WHAT??!?!?

I also love how in Lev 6 it talks about a list of sins, then you must go that day.  Oh the heart behind taht is so beautiful.  For us to repent that same day, to not let sin sit on us.  To not carry it but give the sin offering to the Lord. 

It's truly a beautiful sacrement that our temples and hearts need to be practicing ever day, so then we get to experience perfect communion and unity with the Lord.

But so often we let sin hang on us, we let it but a wedge inbetween the Lord.  When really he wants it.  He doesnt want us to carry it. 

Wow - so frankinsense is put in the sin offering.  and frankensince was brought to Jesus.  That's something. 

Genesis is really good

Like many of you January 1st, I started the word of God from, "in the beginning...".

Chapter after chapter after chapter, I am continually astonished how many times the word says, "God heard his cry" or "God heard her cry" and RESPONDED, rescued, forgave, redeemed.

How many times over and over, men out of fear traded the safety of the women they vowed to protect...out of fear...godly man, and how many times GOD INTERVENES and defends these women. That is who God is.

I hear so often people talk about the God of the old testament and how harsh or mean he was. To me, the God of the old testament (the same God of the new testament) has always reminded me how insanely, ravishly, unfailingly he loves his people, his children, his daughters, the oppressed, the betrayed.

Wherever you are today in your faith, in your deconstruction, in your current circumstances, in your religious striving, in your adiction, or in your sweet time of worship. Weather you have been on a binger for 3 months or purchased a human life to have sex with. Or maybe you already failed your new years resolution and internally you keep hearing that you are a failure and will never get it right. God loves the depth of who you are, more than you can even comprehend.

Maybe you ARE the person who has been purchased, maybe you are being oppressed, you don't see a way out.

I can tell you with my entire being that you were created, carefully knitted together to be apart of this world at this time. You HAVE a purpose. God has NOT forgotten you. You have not gone to far from his love.

My God, the God that created you, he moved mountains for you, and he will again. Simply just ask.

I raise a hallelujah

Declaring my weapon of praise over sickness and disease in my family.

Louder and louder, because death is defeated and HOPE IS ALIVE!

I remember praying for Jackson, as I worship in my room along with this youtube video, seeing Jackson on his daddy's shoulders, seeing how much FAITH arose in God's people, seeing how our Heavenly Father loves this little boy so much he saved his life, seeing how death thought he had won. But no, Jesus brought so much worship, so much faith, so much hope and LIFE out of what was tried to be stolen.

My goodness we have a good Father.

Wherever you are at tonight. Raise your halelujah. Raise in in the storm, Let the rain drops fall, feel the waves crash, but do not fear, hold tight to you Father. He's got you. He's got you.

I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me

[Chorus: Melissa Helser]
I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!

[Verse 2: Jonathan David Helser]
I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!


I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!


Sing a little louder (Sing a little louder)
Sing a little louder (Sing a little louder)
Sing a little louder (Sing a little louder)
Let's sing a little louder (Let's sing a little louder)
Sing a little louder (In the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (Louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (My weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (Heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder (In the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (Louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (My weapon is a melody)
Let's sing a little louder (Heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder!!

I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
Oh, I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!

I raise a hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah!

Roar

There is a roar inside of all of us. 

There is a part of all of us that wants to stand up and fight for what is right, for what we love, for what is ours.

When I was going through my counseling a year ago,  

Here Again

I for sure feel in the middle.  Are we always in the middle?  I guess there are those mountain top seasons (or days)....

The valley has changed for me.  I don't see the valley as "the bad place" anymore.  All the valleys I have been in are actually quite pleasant. 

Can't go back to the beginning
Can't control what tomorrow will bring
But I know here in the middle
Is the place where you promise to be

I'm not enough unless you come
Will you meet me here again
Cause all I want is all you are
Will you meet me here again


As I walk now through the valley
Let your love rise above every fear
Like the sun shaping the shadow
In my weakness your glory appears

I'm not enough unless you come
Will you meet me here again
Cause all I want is all you are
Will you meet me here again

Not for a minute
Was I forsaken
The Lord is in this place
The Lord is in this place

Come Holy Spirit
Dry bones awaken
The Lord is in this place
The Lord is in this place

i am with you

My Shadow

Do you have a dog?  I do.  Kind of two.  I live with two.  Often wake up to two snuggled up with me in bed.

But my baby, Princeton Munroe Leppard the Third, he's mine. Some might even sing, the best thing that has ever been mine=)


Today as I worshipped, meditated, and talked with God around the my roomm, the living room, the yard, the patio.  As I talked with God he showed me something.

I have a terrier lapse mix.  He is basically my shadow.  He can be in a deep sleep but if I get up and leave the room, he is following me...even to the bathroom and just sits close by, resting.  NO. MATTER. WHERE. I. AM.

When he goes on drives with me, because he ALWAYS wants to come, he wants to be in my lap.  Chillen, looking out the windows, giving me kisses from time to time.

But, back to this morning.  I was in the patio watching the storm brew as I worshipped and worked.  Then my Good Father, urged me to go worship in the storm.  So I got up to go put my armor on (my iPhone in plastic and a hoodie on).  Princeton immediately got up and followed me inside.

Internally I think he said something like, "Alright momma do this".  His whole LIFE is "where you go I go, where you rest,  I rest, where you are I AM."

Immediately, my Father is like Ruth, learn from Prince.  Prince follows out of a place of love, dedication, not obligation.  When I stop, he stops, no questions asked, and what does he do, HE RESTS!

Yah, he for sure loves to play and gets excited when everyone gets home.  Which i just love.

Alright to finish this jumbled thought.  Princeton follows me like a shadow.  I want to follow my Father like that.  He doesn't wonder if he will be provided for.  He wants in ANTICIPATION for me.  He knows how to rest in my precense, no matter how often I do or don't move.  He learns and anticipates my moves, and if he gets to much ahead of me, he will stop and look back to make sure we are still going together.  He disobeys from time to time,  but i truly believe is immediately resentful.

I want to be a daughter who is so intimate with her Father that WHEREVER he moves, she moves to, and is completely comfortable always resting in his presence.  A daughter who loves to be on the move, going on adventures with her Good Father, sitting on his lap, enjoying the view.

Look around. God is speaking to you, ALL OF THE TIME, through all the craziest (well not so crazy) but maybe random ways.  Scripture says that creation groans for Him.  So ya, God likes to use all of his creation to speak to us.

Ask him today, to show you something in your life that he's speaking to you through.

Jesus, thank you for the gift of my Prince.  For the beautiful love this puppy has given me, the way he teaches me about your love and loves me so unconditionally.  For a warm heart beat to snuggle with.  Thank you for my shadow and side kick and for his contagious friendly personality...

May my heart continually learn to follow after you, where you go I go, just like my name sake.


Your Kids,

Ruth + Prince