I am learning to live rooted.
Like a tree reaching deep into the earth, I draw near to God, who is the source of my strength. There is something sacred about standing outside, feeling the sun on my skin, hearing the trees move in the wind, and remembering, that I am here, I am alive and God’s presence is with me. – denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
The Gift of Time
I was recently in the Pacific Northwest, and visited Carkeek Park. As I stood there amongst the trees, with the ocean stretching out before me, I stood there in awe…and just breathed.
I am so grateful for the life I have, for the people I love and those who love me back.
Maybe the gift of time isn’t about having more of it, maybe it is about being present for the time we’ve been given.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
Today, I stood near the water and watched it move, steady, unhurried, and carrying the quiet rhythm God placed within it. The light rested on its surface, and each small ripple seemed to whisper peace to my soul. As I listened to the water meeting the shore, I felt at home.
I’m learning to notice these moments, the ones in which creation becomes a gentle reminder of God’s presence.
In the beauty that surrounds me, in the rhythm of the water, in the breath moving through my body and in the stillness opening within me,
I am right where I need to be.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
Tonight, as the sun went down, I watched the sky turn a beautiful orange. I stood there for a moment, taking in the beauty, and felt something in me soften.
I thought about how often God meets me in these simple moments, His presence surrounding me and reminding me that He is with me.
That sunset felt like hope as He spoke to my heart, I heard Him say, “You are worthy of everything good, YOU are God’s beloved”.
I know Father God loves me unconditionally. His love is not something I have to chase, prove, or hold onto tightly, it is already mine.
There is deep freedom in this truth, “I am defined by the One who created me and calls me His own”. And while He loves me exactly as I am, He also gently leads me into the fullness of who I am created to be.
I’m letting this truth settle deeper than my thoughts. I’m letting it into my heart, my identity, and my daily life. There is freedom in knowing I am loved exactly where I am, while still becoming all that God created me to be.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
The Posture of My Heart
I’ve learned that what matters most isn’t just what I do, it’s the posture of my heart while I’m doing it.
I can say the right words, but God is always looking deeper, He gently shapes the place where my motives are formed, where compassion grows, and where love begins.
So today, my prayer is to have a heart that is open, humble, and willing. A heart that listens before it speaks, forgives before resentment takes root, and chooses love.
When the posture of my heart is turned toward God, everything else begins to fall into its proper place. Peace becomes my response, kindness becomes my language, love becomes my way of living, and that is the kind of heart I want to carry into every moment.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
“There is a kind of joy that doesn’t wait for sorrow to leave before it arrives”.
I’ve been learning that lament and joy can exist in the same breath. One carries the weight of what has been lost, the other gently reminds me that not everything has been lost.
Lament gives me permission to tell God the truth and joy reminds me that He is still with me in that truth.
Some days, my prayers are filled with tears. Other days, I catch myself smiling at the way the morning light moves through the trees, the sound of birds singing, or the quiet rhythm of my own breath. Neither moment cancels the other, they belong together.
This is the gift of God’s presence, He meets us in our grief without leaving us there. He plants small reminders of His goodness along the path, enough to keep our hearts open, and enough to keep us moving forward.
Today, I choose to notice both. I honor my sorrow, and I welcome the joy that is quietly growing beside it.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
You don’t have to look for His presence. He is already surrounding you, in the warmth of the sun, the sway of the trees, the song of the birds, and the quiet places within your own soul.
Stay here for a while.
Life is a sacred gift, it was never meant to be lived disconnected from the One who created it.
This moment is enough.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
I’m learning that, I don’t need to figure out the whole path. I only need to take the next step right in front of me.
So I pause, take a deep breath and notice the breeze moving through the trees, the warmth of the sun, the birds singing, and know that creation trusts our Creator; and I believe that I too, can trust God with my life. So I let go of the pressure to have it all figured out, and I stand here. I breathe here, I meet God here, and from this place of presence, I take the next faithful step.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
I imagine the first moments of hearing freedom spoken aloud after waiting generations for it, was like breath loosening in the chest after being held for way too long, that first exhale brought a feeling of sudden, overwhelming physical relief.
Juneteenth calls me to dwell in that sacred moment of liberation and to honor the courage, resilience and faith of those who held onto hope. It reminds me that freedom is not only a historical proclamation or a date remembered each year, it is a living inheritance, felt in the body and carried through generations.
That remembrance leads me to consider what freedom asks of us now, and how the meaning of Juneteenth continues beyond the moment freedom is declared.
Liberation is not complete simply because it is spoken, it must be practiced, defended, and embodied. It is both memory and movement, honoring those who endured, while continuing to create a world where freedom can be fully lived.
Freedom is breathing deeply and remembering I belong to God, its releasing what no longer holds life and making room for what restores it, and it’s knowing that our “worth” was woven into the soul from the very beginning.
May we remember, may we honor, and may we continue becoming people who choose truth, justice, compassion, and wholeness.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
Today, I place my hand over my heart and remember that God is here. I notice my breath moving in and out. I feel my feet connected to the ground beneath me. I pay attention to the places that feel tight, weary, or guarded, and instead of fighting them, I offer them compassion.
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10.
As I breathe deeply and turn my attention toward God’s presence, my body receives a message of peace. I am safe in this moment. I am held in this moment. I am loved in this moment.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
