Thank You!

Dear Friends,


The procedure went well!  Stitches will be removed in 11 days.  I'm not allowed to run for a week, BUT I am allowed to take walks.  :)


Thanks for praying.  :)


Love Always...
Beautiful Grace

Numbers 7: What's in a Name?

In reading Numbers 7, I think it’s interesting to replace the name of the ancestral leader with the blessing bestowed upon them by their father, Jacob (Israel). The progression is an interesting one when considering the sequence of offerings according to the houses’ blessings.

1st Judah = Praise

2nd Issachar = Prophetic Servant

3rd Zeblulan = Haven

4th Reuben = Dignity and Power

5th Simeon = Perseverance

6th Gad = Victory

7th Ephraim = Blessed One

8th Manasseh = Great People

9th Benjamin= Hungry Warrior

10th Dan = Judge

11th Asher = Richness

12th Naphtali = Lovliness

You may notice Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, is missing. Joseph’s two sons are present in his absence, because Jacob had adopted them as his own sons, thus giving Joseph a double portion through them.

Also, Levi is missing from the list, because the Levites ministry is to God; He is their portion.

Lord, grant me all the above characteristics as I bring my offering to You, which is the whole of my life! In the name of Jesus, AMEN!!!

Last Procedure Prayer

Dear Friends,


Tomorrow  morning, I will have the final reconstructive procedure completed in my plastic surgeon's office.  I am thankful that this season of tests, procedures, surgeries, and hospitalizations is coming to a close, and  I am looking forward to the next season the Lord has planned for me.  Although, I obviously didn't enjoy the physical trials of the last season, I do look back on it with gratitude.  The Lord, once again, proved Himself as my Protector, Shepherd, Prince of Peace, Empowerer, and Provider.  My resolve to cling to the Lord in all circumstances has only deepened because of this previous season!


Please Pray:

• Although this procedure is done within the office without general anesthesia, there still remains the possibility of infection, therefore please pray for protection against it.

• Please pray for continued wisdom regarding future testing.  I am walking outside of the box as I feel the Lord leading.  I need to hear Him clearly always. 

• That my physical body would continue to prosper as He is prospering my soul.

• That love would be the base of all that I do, continually.

Many of you already know this, but I ran my 2nd 5K race on March 4th and ran faster than my 1st race. :)  Christian has been encouraging me for years to compete in a sprint triathlon with him.  I now believe I may have a chance to go for it.  I am still in the process of deciding, but am making headway.  I tell you this, because of your prayers.  Of all the physical adjustments the Lord has done in me last year, empowering me to become an "athlete" is the most amazing to me.  I feel His pleasure when I run, and I actually look forword to it now. 


You are valuable, and I count it an honor to know every one of you!!!

With Much Love Always...
Beautiful Grace :)

Numbers 5 & 6: Trust, Without Understanding

Numbers 5:11-31

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹¹And the Lord said to Moses,¹²Say to the Israelites, If any man's wife goes astray and commits an offense of guilt against him,
¹³And a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and it is kept secret though she is defiled, and there is no witness against her nor was she taken in the act,
¹⁴And if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he is jealous and suspicious of his wife who has defiled herself--or if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he is jealous and suspicious of his wife though she has not defiled herself--
¹⁵Then shall the man bring his wife to the priest, and he shall bring the offering required of her, a tenth of an ephah of barley meal; but he shall pour no oil upon it nor put frankincense on it [symbols of favor and joy], for it is a cereal offering of jealousy and suspicion, a memorial offering bringing iniquity to remembrance.
¹⁶And the priest shall bring her near and set her before the Lord.
¹⁷And the priest shall take holy water [probably from the sacred laver] in an earthen vessel and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it in the water.
¹⁸And the priest shall set the woman before the Lord, and let the hair of the woman's head hang loose, and put the meal offering of remembrance in her hands, which is the jealousy and suspicion offering. And the priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that brings the curse.
¹⁹Then the priest shall make her take an oath, and say to the woman, If no man has lain with you and if you have not gone astray to uncleanness with another instead of your husband, then be free from any effect of this water of bitterness which brings the curse.
²⁰But if you have gone astray and you are defiled, some man having lain with you beside your husband,
²¹Then the priest shall make the woman take the oath of the curse, and say to the woman, The Lord make you a curse and an oath among your people when the Lord makes your thigh fall away and your body swell.
²²May this water that brings the curse go into your bowels and make your body swell and your thigh fall away. And the woman shall say, So let it be, so let it be.
²³The priest shall then write these curses in a book and shall wash them off into the water of bitterness;
²⁴And he shall cause the woman to drink the water of bitterness that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter into her [to try her] bitterly.
²⁵Then the priest shall take the cereal offering of jealousy and suspicion out of the woman's hand and shall wave the offering before the Lord and offer it upon the altar.
²⁶And the priest shall take a handful of the cereal offering as the memorial portion of it and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.
²⁷And when he has made her drink the water, then if she is defiled and has committed a trespass against her husband, the curse water which she drank shall be bitterness and cause her body to swell and her thigh to fall away, and the woman shall be a curse among her people.
²⁸But if the woman is not defiled and is clean, then she shall be free [from the curse] and be able to have children.
²⁹This is the law of jealousy and suspicion when a wife goes aside to another instead of her husband and is defiled,
³⁰Or when the spirit of jealousy and suspicion comes upon a man and he is jealous and suspicious of his wife; then shall he set the woman before the Lord, and the priest shall execute on her all this law.
³¹The [husband] shall be free from iniquity and guilt, and that woman [if guilty] shall bear her iniquity.

I have a note in my Bible regarding Numbers 5:11-31, “Seems so unfair, Lord.” There are many things in the Bible, that seem that way. But, could it be I just don’t understand it? It’s one of the many heaven questions I have for Jesus.


I trust You, Lord, even if I don't understand Your ways!

Numbers 3 & 4: Ministry to the Lord First, Then...

These chapters reflect the temple duties of the various families within the tribe of Levites. It's wonderful to serve in our churches, community and families, but these obligations should never supersede our personal ministry to the Lord!

I believe my first ministry is to my God, which empowers me to minister to anyone else the Lord my places before me. I never want to take for granted the beauty of His holiness. I don’t want to squelch tears of appreciation for Jesus’ touch.

Holy Spirit, never allow me to treat You as a common thing. I don’t want a relationship born out of duty and not love. Stir me up in the depths of my soul for You alone!!! AMEN!!!!

Numbers 1 & 2: Judah and the Eastern Side

Numbers 1:26-27
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“Of the sons of Judah, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all able to go to war: Those of the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600.”

Many years ago, Jacob (Israel) blessed his sons. His blessing upon Judah was that he would be praised by his brothers. (Genesis 49:8)

The Tribe of Judah also has the greatest number of males twenty years of age and upward, all able to go to war. God desires us to war with praise!

Also, the placement of the Tribe of Judah within the camp of the Israelites is on the east side toward the sunrise. Judah is blessed to positioned to see the sunrise (son rise). Also, think about the star announcing the birth of Jesus.

Matthew 2:2

“Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east at its rising and have come to worship Him.”

The most awesome aspect about the eastern direction is that’s where Jesus will be when He returns.

Matthew 24:27

"For just as the lightning flashes from the east and shines and is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be."

I love it when His Spirit takes one part of one verses and ties it into various parts of the Bible!

BTW. I live on the eastern side of the Susquehanna River. 

Leviticus 26 & 27: Thankful for Mercy and Grace

Leviticus 26:8
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.”

This well-known warrior verse only applies if a person has obeyed the voice of the Lord. I find Chapter 26 to be sobering. I know I love God, and He knows I love Him. Yet, I still choose wrongly at times. I’m not perfected, yet. There will come a day, when I meet Jesus face to face. In that day, He will give me an incorruptible body- one impervious to disease, to temptation, to imperfection. In the meantime, I place myself at the feet of Jesus, knowing that He alone makes me acceptable (mercy). His Spirit poured out in me and through me strengthens me to make the right choice the next time (grace).

Leviticus 24 & 25: Keep Me Burning

My friend, Classic Mamma wrote, “Worship is anything that reminds the flesh that the spirit is in control.” Great truth!!!!

I was drawn to Leviticus 24: 2, specifically the second part of it, “…to make a lamp burn continually.”

I am remembering a song I sang as a child.  I referenced it in the previous post, "Shine in the Night," but I feel the lyrics and song are worth repeating as a reminder for us all to burn continually!

Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning.
Give me oil in my lamp I pray.
Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning.
Keep me burning till the break of day.

Sing, Hosanna.
Sing, Hosanna.
Sing, Hosanna to the King of Kings.

Sing, Hosanna.
Sing, Hosanna.
Sing, Hosanna to the King.

I didn’t have a clue how powerful these declarative lyrics were at the time I sang them. Could it be that years later as I seek after the filling of His Oil (Holy Spirit) for my lamp (my being) that I am seeing the power of my childhood words fulfilled?

Give me oil in my lamp, Lord. I want to shine brightly for You through the night and day for all of my days!!!! AMEN!!!

Leviticus 22 & 23: Conform Your Life to Me

This song touches my heart in a very personal way. Several years ago during a conference at CCC while kneeling at the altar, Jesus was ministering deeply to me. The morning session had ended and all were dismissed for lunch, but I heard Jesus ask me to stay and have a wine lunch with Him. The lunch break became an intimate time between Jesus and me. I had a visual experience of Jesus on the floor with me offering a cup of wine to me, and as He held it up to my lips, I drank. Words can’t describe the beauty of the experience. Needless to say, I was a little drunk after the encounter. If you know what I mean.
Leviticus 22:31
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“So shall you heartily accept My commandments and conform your life and conduct to them. I am the Lord."

I’m very thankful, that Jesus paid the price for me! I don’t need to go through all the ritual sacrifices mentioned in this book. But, I do believe there is one sacrifice that I am continually commanded to offer the Lord…my flesh. As the fire of His Spirit descends upon this offering it is burned up, a sweet smell for the Lord. This isn’t a way to attain salvation (Jesus did that), but a way to demonstrate my love for Him, my devotion to Him.

Leviticus 19-21: Curses and Stumbling Blocks

Leviticus 19:14
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall [reverently] fear your God. I am the Lord.”

This verse popped out at me. I thought, wow, that really would be a mean thing to do. Can you imagine cursing a person who can’t hear and therefore, can’t protect himself or purposely placing an object before a blind person causing him to trip?

But rarely does the Word of God just speak of surface level concepts. Going deeper on a spiritual level look at this verse. All of us Christians, even though saved an set free, have areas of spiritual deafness and blind spots.

Could it be that the Lord is commanding us not to “curse” a brother or sister in Christ who isn’t hearing Him well on a particular subject or “test” the spiritual vision of another in Christ in an area where maturity has not blossomed, therefore causing that person to stumble?

I think our Father desires that we always speak blessing and remove any obstacles in the path of our brothers and sisters.  Don't you?

Leviticus 16-18: Azazel

Leviticus 16:8-10

Amplified Bible (AMP)


⁸Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats--one lot for the Lord, the other lot for Azazel or removal.


⁹And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell and offer him as a sin offering.


¹⁰But the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel or removal shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over him, that he may be let go into the wilderness for Azazel (for dismissal).

Azazel, the goat that “carries away” the sins of the Israelites into the wilderness never to be seen again; their sins are dismissed. I heard a teaching on Azazel years ago and was interested, not only because of the parallel to Jesus, but because our modern term “scapegoat” derives from it.

As Christians, we should never place blame on others for our sin. We shouldn’t even blame the evil one. We need to “man up” (sorry ladies) and take responsibility for our own sins and not blame shift, in effect, making another person our scapegoat.

Jesus, is the only One worthy to carry our sins away into the wilderness of forgetfulness, to make atonement for us. Jesus is our Holy Scapegoat, and I love Him for it.

Leviticus 14 &15: Treat All With Love and Respect

There is no doubt that disease often is caused by direct or indirect sin, in the example cited *leprosy being one as a punishment for sin. However, think about AIDS transmission and consider the innocent unborn who contracted the disease from their mother who was infected with HIV unknowingly by her unfaithful husband. Each of these people have been exposed to the disease, but not all have sin in their lives. Whether directly or indirectly, sin is to blame and the author of sin is satan.

Then consider the environmental causes of disease. **Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. ***Pesticides and hormones in our food stimulate the formation of breast and other cancers. Radiation and drug exposure can cause genetic damage causing the formation of cancer in the exposed person or their progeny.

However, the Bible is filled with examples of disease caused by sin and God using sin as a punishment. Think about King Saul who was tormented by an evil spirit sent by God (1 Samuel 16:14) or Ananias with his wife Sapphira, who lied about their monetary gain and were struck dead on the spot (Acts 5:1-11).

Years ago, I remember having a conversation with a dear friend about cancer. We both agreed that God is more interested in our eternal life then our temporal life, and if contracting cancer would save one’s soul for eternity, God would allow cancer in that person.

But as Christians, we need to be careful about our attitude towards a person who has a disease, assuming it means the person is in sin. We need to remember each of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:22-24). All of us have the potential to develop a disease as a result of sin. It is why Jesus came to rescue us, and why I love Him so much. And why we need to treat others with love and respect whether or not sin is involved.

Matthew 22

37And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).

38This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.

39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

40These two commandments [f]sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.

*http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002323/

**http://www.mesothelioma.com/

***http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes

Leviticus 11-13: My Vessel For You

Leviticus 11:33

Amplified Bible (AMP)

33 “And every earthen vessel into which any of these [creeping things] falls, whatever may be in it shall be unclean, and you shall break the vessel.”

Creeping things represent sin and our hearts are like the vessel. If a creeping thing (sin) contaminates the vessel (our hearts), the vessel must be broken. I think about how affiliation with sin damages us and eventually ends up breaking our souls.  

BUT, even if we fall to sin and end up with a broken heart, Jesus is right there ready and very willing to pick up the shattered pieces and reform it.  He is the Master Potter!

My Heart Beats For You

My heart beats for You, my Jesus!

You have poured out Your love into the depths of my soul!

Fractured into thousands of pieces was how You found it.

Pain held there by the shattering consequences of sin.

Its story told to You.

Each piece crying, longing for comfort, healing and wholeness.

Heaviness, heaviness, heaviness blanketing soul's shattering.

Bowing down a head, looking to earth's ground in shame.

Yet, You lovingly handled each piece, fractured.

Your touch smoothed and soothed rough edges.

As a Master Craftsman,
You fitted and formed each one together.

Repairing and restoring them into
A beautiful piece of fine china,

You left nothing similar to the vessel found before.

Each piece shining,

No seams, no scars to mar the beauty of
The Potter's workmanship.

The completed work still to be unfolded for all to see,

Yet, the glory of the Master Potter
Shining brightly in the forming,

Each day brighter, reflecting His glory,

A testimony to His miraculous repair.

Oh, soul's Lover, You my Master shine!

The fire bursting forth from those beautiful eyes,

Burns away each impurity embedded in the porcelain white.

Each day purer, whiter, cleaner,

The piece cleansed by the Master's lifeblood.

Shining, shining, shining with His glory.

Oh, how I love You, My soul's Delight.

You have healed me
And caused me to be filled with the joy of Your love.

How I adore You, my Master, my Lover!

Praise, praise, praise You all of my life.
All will hear praises from my lips,

My voice singing into the heavenlies.

All creation hears my praise...

Freedom has been purchased.

Freedom has been given.

Freedom birthed.

Dancing, dancing, dancing for You, my Jesus!

Your pleasure empowers me.

All of my being will praise You.

You deserve nothing less than All I have!

I give You- me, the china piece forming brighter every day.

Head lifted to You, eyes gazing heavenward,
Seeking for the One I love.

My heart beats for You, my Jesus!

You have poured out Your love into the depths of my soul!

Beautiful Grace 7/1/2004

Fortieth Birthday

Levticus 8-10: SOBERING

Leviticus 10:1 “AND NADAB and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and offered strange and unholy fire before the Lord, as He had not commanded them.”

2 “And there came forth fire from before the Lord and killed them, and they died before the Lord.”

3 “Then Moses said to Aaron, This is what the Lord meant when He said, I [a][and My will, not their own] will be acknowledged as hallowed by those who come near Me, and before all the people I will be honored. And Aaron said nothing.”

SOBERING! Makes me wonder exactly what they were doing (or not doing).

Lord, please teach me how to acknowledge and hallow You as You desire.  In Jesus name, AMEN!!!

Leviticus 5-7: Love IS More Powerful than Evil

Leviticus 5:3
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“Or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever kind the uncleanness may be with which he becomes defiled, and he is unaware of it, when he does know it, then he shall be guilty.”

God provided Moses with the “does and don’ts" of sacrifice, and I believe most of the commands given by God were given for health and sanitation purposes. The Israelites didn’t have penicillin laying around to treat infections that could develop from unsanitary living.

Jesus came, in part, to do away with these necessary ritual laws, but today, do we still hold fast to the things Jesus has abolished by His own perfect sacrifice, like not touching a person we deem as unclean?

I have seen this Old Testament command twisted and played out before my eyes. Christians, empowered by God’s Spirit, fear that somehow the uncleanness (sin) of another person will contaminate them. I used to be one of those Christians who was deceived in to thinking that way.

Until one day, the Holy Spirit showed me how a lady (who most probably had schizophrenia), was treated by other Christians. Don’t get me wrong, there was an evil spirit involved…any disease whether psychological or physical comes from satan. But then I thought about the compassion of Jesus. He wasn’t afraid to touch those afflicted with His loving hand. In that moment, compassion welled up inside of me for this poor woman and instead of fear’s voice whispering, “If you touch her, you’ll get her demon,” I heard, “Love is more powerful than evil.” I put my arm around this lady to comfort her. She needed someone to show her the love of God, and I needed to break the power of fear in my life! I took a step in the path of my destiny that day. Little did I know that my future employment would be in a psychiatric hospital. 

No matter how great the evil, LOVE is more powerful!!!!

Leviticus 1-4: The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me

Leviticus 2:14 

“If you offer a cereal offering of your firstfruits to the Lord, you shall offer for it of your firstfruits grain in the ear parched with fire, bruised and crushed grain out of the fresh and fruitful ear.”


“Bruised and crushed,” I thought about Jesus with those two words. Jesus, by His own bruising (Isaiah 53:5) and crushing has come to save those who are bruised and crushed.


Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],…”


Isaiah 61:1 “THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,…”


Even as a little girl, my heart was drawn towards those bruised and crushed. As an adult, I am blessed to be able to speak into young lives that are broken. God's Spirit is upon me!

God's Spirit is upon us in order to preach, bind up, heal, and deliver. The world will know Jesus because we follow His command to release the captives!

More of Your Spirit upon us, Lord. For the glory of One. AMEN!!!