Tag: nature

Eshet Chayil…A woman of valor, a warrior.

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On my morning walk in Kauai. Hawaii

Eshet Chayil…אֵשֶׁת חַיִל
a woman of valor, a warrior.

These words are more than a title, they are a truth etched into the soul of every woman who has walked through fire and still stands.

Valor is not only strength in battle, it is the courage to keep living with an open heart. It is the quiet resilience of rising after heartbreak, the sacred power of choosing love when bitterness could have taken root.

I see myself in these words, a woman carried by God’s grace, a warrior not because I am strong but because I rise, again and again, trusting the One who heals, who restores and who calls me beloved.
Eshet Chayil…this is who I am becoming.

– denise marie

“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

    The vine….

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    In Scripture, the vine is a picture of deep connection and life-giving dependence on God. In John 15, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” A branch can’t bear fruit on its own, it needs the life flowing from the vine.

    This means we’re not meant to strive in our own strength. Our growth, our purpose, our very life come from staying connected to Christ. When we remain in Him, His life flows through us, producing fruit, of love, peace, kindness and faith.

    The vine reminds us that true strength isn’t in self-reliance, but in abiding in Him. 

    – denise marie 

      “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

      Life is a gift…

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      When I open my eyes to the beauty around me, I find my heart opening to gratitude. And in that stillness, I see it clearly, the gift was never just the scenery, it was the chance to be here for it. – denise marie 

      “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

      God meets me in the garden…

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      Healing asks me to slow down, to notice where my feet are planted, to feel the air on my skin and the rise and fall of my breath. It invites me out of the past and away from the anxious thoughts about the future, and into this sacred space where God meets me, right here.

      It’s in the present, where I can hear His whispers, where I can see His fingerprints in the smallest details, and where I can trust that the same God holding me now, will hold me all the days of my life. 

      – denise marie 

        “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

        Courage doesn’t mean, at times I don’t feel afraid…

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        Some days, strength doesn’t look strong, it looks like getting up again. Taking the next breath, showing up with a trembling heart and steady faith.

        Joshua 1:9 reminds me that I’m not walking alone, even when the path feels uncertain. God isn’t asking me to be fearless by my own power, He’s promising His presence in the middle of it. And courage doesn’t mean I don’t feel afraid, it means I trust I’m being held while I take the next step.

        Wherever I go, He is already there, and that is enough. – denise marie

        “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

        “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

        The gift of the hummingbird…

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        A hummingbird danced near my window, so quick, so delicate, yet full of boldness.
        It felt like God was reminding me, that even the smallest ones carry light, beauty, and purpose. – denise marie

          “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

            New life from barren branches…

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            Today I stood next this tree in my backyard that had once looked lifeless, its branches bare, weathered by seasons that stripped it of everything. But now, tiny green buds and leaves are reaching out like whispers of hope, life is returning. Isn’t that just like God?

            He brings new life from places we thought were done. Where there was loss, He plants promise. Where we felt barren, emotionally, spiritually, even physically, He breathes life again. Slowly, gently, faithfully.

            I’m learning not to rush the blooming, just to be still and notice. To trust that the same God who renews the trees is tending to the garden of my own soul, bringing new life.

            – denise marie

              “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

              Each day, brings new hope…

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              There is a quiet comfort in knowing we are held, gently and securely by God. In the chaos of life, in the middle of questions, fears, and uncertainty, His presence comforts us and His peace surrounds us.

              – denise marie

              “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

              Still healing…still here.

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              Kauai, Hawaii

              Childhood trauma doesn’t stay in childhood, it lingers, in the body, in the mind, in the way we trust, how we love, how we see ourself, how we protect ourselves, and it follows you quietly, into relationships. For a long time, I lived disconnected from my body, and it didn’t feel like home.

              Healing began when I started letting myself feel, and when I started naming what happened and letting it move through me, sitting in the stillness, feeling the discomfort, no longer numbing the pain, but learning to be present with it.

              Therapy has helped me find language for my pain and trauma recovery work has taught me how to stay present, how to breathe again, how to come home to myself and by doing so, I am learning to trust myself again, to listen to the signals in my body, and to believe my own voice.

              I’m learning to trust God more deeply, not just as a rescuer, but as a trusted friend, who sits with me, not just in the light, but in the darkest places of depression and anxiety. God never left me there, He’s walking with me through it, step by shaky step.

              I’m present, I’m breathing,
              I’m becoming, and everyday that I choose not to give up, that is healing.
              -denise marie

              “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

              The gift of breath…

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              I stepped outside and took a deep breath, not just air, but presence. The trees stood still, the sky wide and soft, and I felt God near.

              Sometimes I forget how close He really is. But out here, in the quiet, with the earth under my feet and the wind brushing past, I remember.

              Every breath is a reminder that,
              I am alive, I am held, and I am not alone.

              I’m grateful that His presence meets me in the stillness, with just my breath and belonging. – denise marie

              “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36