The Narrow Gate~

 alexuslmartin1

The wide road isn’t called “destruction” because it looks dangerous. It’s called destruction because of where it ends.

Jesus said: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Matthew 7:13-14

The broad road is attractive. It’s comfortable. It asks for very little. You can blend in with the crowd and never question where you’re headed. The narrow road is different. It requires surrender, repentance, obedience, and following Christ even when it’s unpopular.

The destination is determined by the path you choose today. Don’t choose the road that is easiest. Choose the One who leads to life.

“Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Take The Time

 elliemontt

Jesus is with you, and more than anything, He desires a real and personal relationship with you. He is not distant or unreachable. He sees you, knows you, and loves you more deeply than you can imagine. No matter where you have been, what mistakes you have made, or what struggles you are carrying, His invitation remains the same: come to Him.

One of the best ways to know Jesus is through His Word. The Bible is not just a collection of stories or rules; it is God’s way of revealing His heart to us. When you open Scripture, you are learning who Jesus is, how He loves, how He lived, and what He desires for your life. If you are unsure where to begin, start with the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These books tell the story of Jesus’ life, His teachings, His miracles, His sacrifice, and His victory over death.

As you read, don’t rush. Take your time and allow the words to sink into your heart. Ask God to help you understand what you are reading and to show you more of who He is. Even a few verses a day can make a difference. The more time you spend in His Word, the more you will recognize His voice, His character, and His faithfulness.

A relationship with Jesus is not about being perfect. It is not about having all the answers or never making mistakes. It is about walking with Him day by day, trusting Him, talking to Him in prayer, and allowing Him to transform your heart. He meets us where we are and lovingly leads us forward.

If you are seeking peace, hope, purpose, or truth, turn to Jesus. Open the Gospels and get to know Him for yourself. He is still changing lives today, still offering grace, and still calling people to follow Him. His arms are open, and His invitation is for you. Take a step toward Him, and you will discover that He has been pursuing your heart all along. #Jesus

Thank You Lord~

 elliemontt 

Before Jesus returned to heaven, He gave His followers a wonderful promise: the Holy Spirit would come to be their Helper, Comforter, and constant Companion. This promise reminds us of a beautiful truth about God’s character, He desires to be close to His people. Although God has always been present and active throughout history, Jesus’ words emphasize the personal way God continues to dwell with those who trust in Him.

There are many times in life when we may feel alone, uncertain, or distant from God. During difficult seasons, it can be hard to recognize His presence. Yet Scripture continually reassures us that God has not left us to navigate life on our own. The Holy Spirit is with us, guiding us, encouraging us, and helping us grow in our relationship with the Lord. Even when we cannot sense Him, He remains faithfully at work in our hearts and lives.

One of the most comforting roles of the Holy Spirit is His ministry of intercession. Romans 8:26–27 teaches that the Spirit helps us in our weakness and prays for us when we do not know what to say. There are moments when grief, confusion, fear, or exhaustion leave us without words. In those times, the Spirit understands our deepest needs and brings them before God according to His perfect will. What a comforting reminder that we are never left to carry our burdens alone.

Scripture also tells us that Jesus continues to advocate for us before the Father (1 John 2:1). Together, these truths reveal the incredible love and care God has for His children. He is not distant, detached, or unaware of our struggles. Instead, He is actively involved in our lives, providing comfort, strength, wisdom, and grace for each day.

Knowing that both the Holy Spirit and Christ intercede for us should fill our hearts with peace and confidence. God sees us, hears us, and understands us completely. Even when we feel weak or uncertain, He remains near. His presence is a constant source of hope, reminding us that we are deeply loved and never alone. As Romans 8:34 assures us, our Savior continues to stand on our behalf, demonstrating that God is closer than we often realize.

Verses in Comments. #Bible #Jesus #Christian

Love Them Anyway~

 elliemontt

Luke 23:34 reminds us of a powerful truth: love them anyway. As Jesus hung on the cross, suffering because of the very people He came to save, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” In one of the most painful moments of His life, Jesus chose forgiveness over bitterness and love over resentment. His example challenges us to do the same.

Not everyone who enters our lives is meant to stay forever. Some people are only with us for a season. Sometimes they bring joy, encouragement, and growth. Other times they bring disappointment, heartbreak, or pain. When relationships end or people hurt us, it can be tempting to close off our hearts and stop loving altogether. We may feel justified in holding onto anger or resentment. Yet Jesus shows us a different way.

Perhaps God placed you in someone’s life because they needed the kindness, compassion, and love that He had given you to share. Maybe you were meant to be a reflection of His grace, even if that person never fully appreciated it. Loving others does not always guarantee that they will love us in return. Sometimes the seeds we plant will bear fruit long after we are gone. Our responsibility is not to control the outcome but to remain faithful in showing Christlike love.

Love has the power to heal wounds, restore hope, and point people toward God. When we allow hurt to harden our hearts, we risk becoming less like the One we follow. Choosing to love does not mean ignoring wrongdoing or pretending pain does not exist. It means refusing to let bitterness take root. It means trusting God with the hurt while continuing to walk in grace.

Jesus loved first. He loved when it was easy, and He loved when it cost Him everything. His love was not based on how others treated Him but on who He was. As followers of Christ, we are called to love in the same way. So when people disappoint you, misunderstand you, or walk away, remember the example of Jesus. Love them anyway. Not because they deserve it, but because Christ loved you first, and His love is greater than any hurt you may carry. #Jesus

Our Journey~

 

Thank You Lord~ For Bringing Him~

 

Shine Your Light~Anyway

 tsliorawildhart

It is okay to admire someone.

It is okay to learn from people who inspire you.

It is okay to follow what is right, study excellence, and grow from the wisdom of others.

What I struggle to understand is this:

How can someone study every move you make,
take notes,
observe your journey,
borrow your ideas,
imitate your mannerisms,
follow your path—

yet at the same time try to sideline you,
underestimate you,
erase you,
or push you out?

If someone has helped shape your growth,
wouldn’t gratitude come before competition?

Some people take and take and take.

Not to learn.
Not to honor.

But to consume.

Like leeches feeding on what they did not build.
Like crocodiles waiting for the right moment to strike.

Yet no one can steal the soul behind the work.
No one can duplicate the spirit behind the vision.
No one can become what God uniquely created another person to be.

May we be people who honor, not exploit.
Who build, not consume.
Who appreciate, not diminish.

And may God protect every person whose kindness, gifts, and light have been taken for granted.

Amen.
— 💫 Liora Wildhart

NEVER Give Up~

 elliemontt

Even when it feels like you are at the end of your rope, don’t give up. I know how easy it is to become tired of trying. Tired of praying the same prayers. Tired of hoping things will change while everything around you feels painfully still. Some seasons make you question if anything is growing at all. But just because you cannot see growth does not mean God is absent.

A seed buried in the ground looks hidden before it ever blooms. In the same way, there are parts of your life God is developing in secret. Strength is being built in places that nobody else can see. Character is being formed through the pressure. Wisdom is being born through the pain. What feels like delay may actually be preparation.

Sometimes the hardest moments become the turning points of our lives. The nights filled with tears, confusion, and disappointment often shape us more deeply than the easy seasons ever could. God has a way of taking what feels broken and using it for something meaningful. Even your struggles are not wasted in His hands.

Keep going, even if your steps feel small. Keep praying, even if the words come out shaky. Keep believing, even when doubt tries to speak louder than faith. God is still working behind the scenes, even when heaven feels quiet. His plans for your life are still good, even if you cannot fully understand them right now.

Scripture reminds us that God will never leave us or forsake us. That means you are not walking through this alone. In moments of fear and exhaustion, lean into His presence instead of running from it. Let your weakness become the place where His strength meets you.

One day you may look back and realize this season did not destroy you. It grew you. It deepened your faith, softened your heart, and taught you to depend on God in ways comfort never could. So breathe again. Rest if you need to. Cry if you have to. But don’t give up. God is not finished with your story yet. #Jesus

God Values Your Honesty~

 elliemontt

Job’s prayers were not polished, structured, or emotionally controlled. They were expressions from a man who had lost almost everything and was trying to understand God in the middle of unbearable pain. What makes Job so striking in Scripture is not that he always spoke correctly, but that he kept speaking to God at all.

At the beginning of his suffering, Job worships even through grief, saying, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). But as the pain deepens, his prayers become more unfiltered. He cries out, “Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul?” (Job 3:20). He speaks honestly about despair, saying, “I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint” (Job 10:1). These are not neat prayers, they are the cries of someone overwhelmed by suffering.

Job also brings his confusion directly to God. He asks, “Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?” (Job 13:24). He does not hide his emotions or try to sound strong. Instead, he wrestles openly with what he cannot understand. Yet even in that wrestling, Job does not walk away from God. He says, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15). That line reveals something deep: faith that survives even when understanding disappears.

He longs for God’s presence, saying, “Oh, that I knew where I might find him” (Job 23:3). Even in silence, he is still reaching. Even in confusion, he is still praying. Job is not perfect in expression, but he is persistent in relationship.

What is powerful is God’s response. After all the dialogue, God says to Job’s friends, “You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has” (Job 42:7). God values Job’s honest struggle more than their polished but shallow explanations.

In the end, Scripture says, “The Lord restored Job’s fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10). His restoration shows that closeness to God is not about perfect prayers, but about refusing to let go of Him, even in pain.

#Jesus

Always~

 

Simple Days

 

Faith~

 

Because You Believed

 

Gentle Statements

 

Simplicity

 

God Almighty~

 El Shaddai (Hebrew: אֵל שַׁדַּי) is a prominent biblical name for God, most commonly translated into English as "God Almighty". The compound name combines El, the ancient Semitic word for God, with Shaddai, a term whose precise root meaning remains a subject of rich scholarly debate. [1, 2]

The exact linguistic origins and various theological meanings of the name include:

1. God Almighty (Power & Strength)

Historically and most widely in modern translations, Shaddai is linked to the Hebrew root shadad, meaning "to overpower" or "to be mighty." Under this interpretation, El Shaddai emphasizes God's absolute, supreme power and His ability to overcome any obstacle to accomplish His purposes. [1, 2]

2. The All-Sufficient One (Provision)

Many scholars and theologians translate Shaddai to mean "sufficient" or "all-sufficient". In this context, the name represents God as the ultimate provider who has enough resources, grace, and power to sustain His people through any situation. This meaning is closely tied to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) stepping out in faith. [1, 2]

3. The God of the Mountains

Another prominent academic theory suggests Shaddai derives from the ancient Akkadian word shadû, which means "mountain". This paints a picture of God as unmovable, majestic, and a high tower of refuge, or it may harken back to divine epiphanies on mountain peaks (such as Mount Sinai). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

4. The Nurturer or Life-Giver

A more intimate, poetic interpretation links Shaddai to the Hebrew word shad, which means "breast". This gives the name the connotation of a mother nursing her child. Rather than emphasizing might alone, this view of El Shaddai highlights God's tender, nourishing, and life-sustaining nature. [1, 2, 3]

Biblical Significance

• Early Revelation: In the Old Testament, God frequently introduces Himself by this name (notably to Abraham in Genesis 17:1) before fully revealing His covenant name, Yahweh, to Moses in Exodus.
• Blessings: The name El Shaddai is heavily connected to themes of fruitfulness, multiplying descendants, and receiving divine promises

God Spoke The Light Into Existence

 elliemontt

Even when you do not feel strong, even when doubt tries to cloud your mind, God’s hand is still on you. The enemy does not waste time attacking something that has no purpose. If you feel like you have been under pressure, constantly discouraged, or spiritually exhausted, it may be because there is something inside of you that hell is afraid of.

There is glory inside of you.

There is purpose in your life. There is healing in your story. There is power in the testimony God is writing through your pain. The enemy wanted you ashamed of your scars, but God is about to use them as proof that grace still heals, restores, and redeems.

And it is not because of your own strength. It is because of your Savior.

God has a way of bringing life into places that once looked hopeless. God makes roads in wildernesses and rivers in deserts. God steps into broken situations and speaks restoration where people expected ruin. The same God who spoke light into existence is still speaking today. And maybe right now, God is speaking directly to your weary heart, saying, “Let there be healing. Let there be peace. Let there be hope again.”

Do not let disappointment convince you that God has forgotten you. Do not let fear keep you from stepping into what God has called you to do. Some of you have spent so much time doubting yourselves that you cannot even recognize the strength God has already placed within you.

But God sees it clearly.

God sees the calling. God sees the compassion. God sees the gifts, the creativity, the leadership, the heart that continues to love even after being hurt.

So lift your head again. Open your eyes again. Pray again. Dream again. Trust again.

The new thing is already beginning, even if you cannot fully see it yet. God is still moving behind the scenes, still opening doors, still healing wounds, and still calling you forward into purpose.

#Jesus

God Is Drawn to the Heart~

 elliemontt

Ruth did not go after Boaz or try to force an outcome through her own effort or pressure. She did not manipulate circumstances or seek attention in ways that would draw her into the center of the story. Instead, her life was marked by steady character, quiet humility, and faithful obedience in the place she was already in. She worked, she served, and she remained loyal even when her future felt uncertain. It was these unseen qualities that spoke louder than any strategy she could have used.

Boaz noticed her, not because she was chasing him or trying to be seen, but because there was something genuine in the way she lived. Her actions carried integrity. Her presence reflected trust in God. She carried herself with dignity that did not depend on approval from others. What stood out was not noise but depth, not performance but authenticity.

In the same way, a man of God is not ultimately drawn to surface level attraction or temporary convenience. He is drawn to a heart that reflects wisdom, patience, and a life shaped by God. He recognizes consistency over chaos and peace over pressure. He sees value in someone who does not have to strive to prove worth because her life already carries evidence of purpose.

This kind of story reminds us that what is truly meant for us is not secured by striving but revealed through faithfulness. Character becomes the quiet language that speaks before words ever do. God sees what others overlook, and He uses seasons of waiting to shape what will later be noticed at the right time.

Waiting is not wasted when it is shaping who you are becoming. God is not only preparing what is ahead, He is preparing you for what is ahead. So remain steady in what you know is right. Do not rush what God is growing slowly. What is rooted in Him will stand, and what is built on character will last far beyond momentary attention or approval. Trust that faithfulness will speak louder than striving in every season of your life eventually. #Jesus

This Is Me~

 

Life Is What You Make It~

 

I Chose Joy~

 

Thank You Lord~

 

Vintage~

 

AMEN!

 elliemontt

You are not forgotten. You are being written into a greater story. The hands that shaped the stars are shaping you. God is not waiting for your situation to make sense before He uses it. He is using it right now in the middle of your confusion in the middle of your heartbreak in the middle of your ordinary.
Sometimes the miracle is not in what changes but in who you become while you wait. You are learning trust in a deeper way. You are learning peace that is not based on outcomes. You are learning to walk by faith not sight. These lessons are treasures hidden in the soil of struggle.
God is taking what the enemy meant for harm and turning it into holy ground. The tears that fell in secret are watering your future. The doors that closed were direction not denial. The people who left were protection. You are being positioned in places you could never have reached on your own.
It might feel like you have been forgotten but heaven has not stopped moving. Every delay has purpose. Every heartbreak has meaning. Every disappointment is shaping you for the destiny ahead. God is in the waiting He is in the breaking He is in the rebuilding.
You will not stay here forever. What feels buried will rise again. Resurrection always begins in darkness. God is turning ashes into beauty and sorrow into songs. One day you will look back and see how every hard season was a seed. Every prayer you thought was unheard was answered in a better way.
You are not late. You are not lost. You are right where God wants you. This is the ground where faith grows. This is the season where roots take hold. What He started He will finish.
So lift your head. Even now God is breathing life into what feels empty. He is rewriting what was broken. He is weaving what was shattered into something whole. You are being transformed in ways you cannot yet see.
God is using this. The pain. The waiting. The tears. The quiet strength. Every part of it. He is using it all to bring you into something greater.
And when the story unfolds you will see that none of it was wasted. #Jesus

In Jesus Name~

 elliemontt

You are covered by Jesus’s grace, wrapped in His mercy, and renewed by His Spirit. Even when trials rise against you, they cannot destroy you. They are shaping you. Every challenge you face is strengthening you. Every hardship is sharpening your faith. Every setback is preparing you for an even greater comeback.
What the enemy intends for harm, God turns into a testimony that will glorify Him and remind others that His power is greater than any darkness. Your purpose is untouchable. God Himself placed His calling on your life, and no force in hell can steal it. You are walking in a destiny that Satan cannot block. He may try to discourage you, distract you, or weigh you down with lies, but the truth stands. You are chosen. You are loved. You are set apart for victory.
So keep standing firm. Do not let the weight of the battle make you forget the outcome. Victory is already yours. Jesus secured it on the cross, and nothing can undo what He finished. You are not fighting for victory. You are fighting from victory. That means you can walk in peace even in the storm, in hope even in the valley, and in strength even when you feel weak.
Lift your head. Keep your faith steady. Remind yourself daily that you belong to God and nothing can snatch you from His hand. You are His child. You are His warrior. You are His beloved. The story is already written, and it ends with triumph.
Victory is not coming. It is already yours in Christ. #Jesus

He Hears You~Everytime

 elliemontt

The darkness is not the absence of God. It may feel that way. It may seem as if the silence is proof that He has walked away. But silence is not abandonment. Stillness is not absence. Even when your heart aches with unanswered prayers and your soul wonders if He has turned His face, He is still here. He has never once left you.
God is near to the brokenhearted. He bends low to listen when you whisper your pain. He does not grow weary of your tears. He is not impatient with your questions. He is not shocked by your doubts. He gathers your cries like treasures and holds them close. When your soul feels like it is crumbling and you have no strength left, He has not turned away. He is steady when you are not.
And here is the miracle in it all. Even the smallest steps of faith matter. Do not underestimate what God can do with the little you bring to Him. Every verse you read, even when it feels like it passes over you without sinking in, is a seed. Every prayer, even the ones that feel weak and half-formed, is a seed. Every song of worship, even sung through tears, is a seed. Over time, those seeds take root. They grow into strength you did not know you had, into hope that shines in the dark, into faith that cannot be shaken.
We are limited. Our words run out. Our strength fails. But God does not stop where we stop. He takes the little we give and multiplies it. He does exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. And when you look back one day, you will see that even in the seasons of silence, even in the nights that felt endless, He was building something in you that could not be broken.
So do not give up. Do not despise the small beginnings. Do not let the darkness convince you that God has abandoned you. The truth is stronger than your feelings. He is with you. He is for you. And His light will break through.

#Jesus

Amen

 

Simplicity

 

Scars~

 themomentswestand

I used to think healing would look like perfection.

No scars.
No reminders.
No evidence of what hurt me.

Just a clean, restored, untouched version of me.

But there’s something quiet in the Easter story I almost missed…

When Jesus rose again—perfect, victorious, whole—
He still had the scars in His hands.

He could have erased them.
He could have removed every mark of the cross.

But He didn’t.

Because the scars tell the story.

So if a resurrected Savior still carries scars…
why do we expect healing to erase ours?

Maybe healing isn’t forgetting.
Maybe it’s remembering… without being owned by the pain.

Maybe it’s carrying the evidence of what you’ve walked through—
and realizing it no longer has power over you.

The wounds you wish you could erase
might actually be the places He met you the deepest.

The cross you’ve been called to carry?
He doesn’t stand far from it.

He meets you there.

And He doesn’t waste it.

Your scars are not signs of failure.
They are proof that God was present in the hardest parts of your story.

So don’t be surprised
if the healed version of you still remembers.

Because even in resurrection…
the scars remained.

And somehow—
they became beautiful.

#Easter #resurrection #overcome

Words~

 

Mindful~

 

Grateful~

 

Wait With Hope~

 elliemontt

Jesus understands your doubts and your tears. Isaiah 53:3 calls Him a Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. He knows the weight of waiting, the ache of betrayal, the tension of unanswered prayers. When you feel unseen, when your heart aches in ways words cannot capture, remember that the One who formed you willingly entered suffering so you would never walk alone.

And the story is not over.

We are a people who wait, but our waiting is alive with hope. Jesus is coming back. “Let not your heart be troubled. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again.” John 14:1 to 3. Every unanswered question, every moment of sorrow, every longing in your heart is moving toward the day He returns in glory.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 to 18 reminds us that the Lord Himself will descend from heaven, and we are called to encourage one another with these words. His return is not meant to bring fear. It is meant to anchor us. The same Jesus who walked dusty roads, healed the sick, and rose victorious from the grave will come again. Every wrong will be made right. Every tear wiped away. Every heart fully satisfied in Him.

Until that day, we are called to stand together. Hebrews 10:23 to 25 urges us to hold fast to our hope without wavering, for God is faithful. Not because we have it all together. Not because life makes sense. But because He is faithful. Always.

Body of Christ, do not grow weary. Your prayers, even the ones you think go unheard, matter. Your acts of love and mercy matter. Your courage to forgive, to worship, to obey even when it is hard, matters. You may feel small in this vast world, but you belong to an unshakable Kingdom.

Romans 8:38 to 39 assures us that nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Not doubts, delays, distance, or pain.

Even when you do not have the answers, rest in this. You have a Savior who walks beside you. You have a living hope. You have a coming King.

And that is enough to carry you through every season. #Jesus