Leah Richardson

Complete awe. Watching God move in the cool, quiet breezes blowing through The Farm.

Women coming to be REPLENISHED, refilled. To receive from God. Permission to live a new way. Differently from the world’s ways.

In considering a new way of living, desires are quieted with satisfaction.

Grasping, needing, wanting gives way to rest and peace…trust.

Undisturbed confidence that He, God, will lead us beside still waters and restore our souls.

The Lord is my Shepherd.

Because the Lord is my Shepherd. He will lead, feed, keep and protect this week if we will follow.

Follow him into an even leaner life, one of simplicity. Simplicity scrutinizes want, brings true need into focus and chooses less. Less holding on, more letting go.

Let go. Release. Summer season is fast approaching. Summer is a season of harvest. Harvesting all the seed planted and watered. Harvesting that which was toiled for and prayed over.

But, is the harvest given so we build a bigger barn? Does that bigger barn secure you from life’s next storm? For Summer brings the storms too.

The Lord is my Shepherd.

Simplify. Simplify now. Find misplaced loyalty, true security. King David counted the harvest, what he thought were “his”. We easily forget we are simply the vessel. A vessel pours out after graciously receiving. Waters after being filled.

Simplify. Let go. Let “it” go. God’s faithfulness reaches to the Heavens and stretches a canopy of love and provision over your life…beginning to end, the harvest.

Simplify. Intentionally simplify. Move closer to God’s agenda this week.

Lord, we seek you. as the rain falls from Heaven and you water the earth causing it to flourish and grow, please pour yourself, living water, on our lives bringing beauty and holiness in simple ways. The simple satisfaction and undisturbed joy of knowing we are yours. Teach us, empower us, to live a new way- open, slow, simple and generous…closer to you, closer to Heaven.

Intentional design-intentionally letting go…

xo

leah

Last weekend I enjoyed a beautiful Saturday with the women of the First United Methodist Church of Winter Park at their retreat in Howey-in-the-Hills. Tucked into the landscape of Central Florida is this beautiful old Spanish-style mission redesigned into a first-class resort and spa. Not your typical venue for a women’s retreat, which was quite a beautiful treat!

My friend Hattie, from New Orleans, and my new friend Marilyn, from Denver, were visiting The Farm for the weekend and helped me with the book signing table. Hattie and I had been working through Jennie Allen’s Bible study CHASE, by telephone, but during her visit, we finished up the last chapter and I have been reviewing my notes.

In my journal, I write, “Teach me what ‘truly beautiful’ means to you God.”

I don’t want to stand one day before the living God who created me only to realize I had wandered off-path in my sincere pursuit to please Him. I don’t want God to say that I missed the point! Which means I must wake every morning and remember that all the invisible stuff is very real. God is invisible, but very, very real.

As an interior designer, I design because I desire to impact the interior of your home. Like God, the grand designer, who desires to impact our interior, our heart life. In thinking through this, I am reminded of the rich, young ruler in the Bible. He followed all the 10 commandments and lived an honorable life, but when Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor, the Bible states “he went away very sorrowful for he had many possessions.” Please Lord don’t let that be me! That’s all we know of the young ruler. His legacy ended there. Unlike the disciples who chose to obey and follow God, giving it all away for the Kingdom. They turned the world upside down and we, today, right now, are still talking about their beautiful legacy.

“Teach me what truly beautiful means to you God.”

When God fills the interior, when God is our interior designer and we allow Him to edit, rearrange our heart, our priorities, our life, our day, something very beautiful happens. An earthbound caterpillar is transformed into a free flying butterfly. I clearly remember closing the door and walking away from my first completed interior, the one in which I asked God to be the lead designer and me the assistant. Walking to my car I cried like a baby. Of course I was exhausted, but it was more than that. It was such a beautiful, finished interior and I knew deep within that I had not designed it…alone. God used me in a way that forever rocked my world and the ripple effect has been tremendous.

We can choose to build our design, our life on the things that are temporary, the fleeting things that move and change like our address, bank account, accomplishments, social status or appearance. Or, we can build our lives, our true identity, on God. A beautiful God whose beautiful character does not change. A God, who is unconditional love and has designed a floor plan that beautifully fits our lives.

Psalm 24:3-4 is the scripture that inspired my book, INTERIOR WISDOM. It continually reminds me of the truly beautiful. GOD.

By wisdom a house is built.

By understanding it is established;

and through knowledge it’s rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

 

Have a beautiful weekend and ask God what a truly beautiful interior looks like for you!

xo

leah

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,

that brings forth its fruit in its season,

whose leaf also shall not wither;

and whatever he does shall prosper.

Psalm 1:2-3

 

When we

remain

abide

live in God’s Presence

and

ponder His truths,

God

reveals

Himself.

He becomes

very real

and

very personal

in our lives.

We become living stones, living truth because we really believe in a living God.

How we live flows out of what we believe about God.

And as we ponder and meditate: think deeply and continuously about Him, He says we become like a tree.

A tree with a continuous flow of living water running through our deep roots of belief.

A tree that produces beautiful fruit of the Spirit to bless all who cross our path today, and tomorrow.

A tree that prospers and flourishes season after season of sunshine or storm.

A tree of strength, poise, beauty and grace.

A tree that points to a Heaven who is coming.

I want to be a tree.

 

MEDITATION: careful thought and consideration creates a desire for truth. Meditation on God and his Word stirs obedience. Obedience to an unseen but very real God draws us close, so very close to truth. And truth bears witness to God’s design for our lives.

MEDITATION: Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin again you {Psalm 119:11} for you ARE GOD, MY GOD.

Be still for just a moment. MEDITATE on God, the God who just caused your lungs to take another breath.

 

desiring to be a tree…

xo

leah

Have you been watching the BIBLE series on television? Jim and I have really enjoyed seeing the Scripture come to life! Well, all but the really bloody…gory…barbaric scenes!

This week we celebrate Passover and Easter. And I have been thinking about Moses’ obedience of returning to Egypt.

Now when forty years had passed, and angel appeared to Moses in the wilderness of Mount Sinai…I am the God of your fathers…I have surely seen the affliction of my people…heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. {Acts 7:30,32,34}

AND NOW COME, I WILL SEND YOU BACK TO EGYPT.’

{Acts 7:34b emphasis mine}

Has God ever sent you back to Egypt? It had been 40 years since Moses fled Egypt, and now God says it’s time to go back. Go back to those you abandoned. Go back to a people who think God doesn’t hear their pleas. Go back, after 40 years, go back, although they rejected you, go back and deliver my people.

Me Lord?

Yes.

And Moses obeyed God, for Moses knew in his heart God could be trusted.

It’s a scary thing to go back to Egypt and face brothers turned enemies. For God’s ways and plans make no room for our pride or ego. He sends us back for His cause. He sends us back for there is something back there that needs reconciling, and if we disobey…what might be lost? 

Will you go?

God provided all Moses needed to carry out His plans for His people. And through Moses, God set his people free. Free.

Death did not claim one of God’s people, for lamb’s blood protected each house. Death was forced to passover, for that was God’s good design.

This week, Jesus followers celebrate Easter. Death is forced to passover once and for all who believe. Believe in Jesus’ sacrifice. Believe in God’s new covenant design… Jesus’ blood shed, which is greater than lamb’s blood.

No fear in returning to Egypt, to obey God. Arise and shine for our Savior has come. He’s resurrected your life and only Heaven awaits. Until then, if He calls,

go back to Egypt and proclaim the Good News…the Messiah has come…you are free!

Happy Easter!

We have this treasure in earthen vessels,

that the excellency of the power may be of God,

and not of us.

2 Corinthians 4:7

 xo

leah

We are excited to announce the Spring  REPLENISH dates! Come join us at The Farm on April 26-27. 

Want to know more about REPLENISH? click HERE. There are 32 spots available, so check your calendar and pull away from the busyness of life to be REPLENISHED!

blessings of a life filled with beauty and holiness!

Leah

p.s….a little shout-out to the women of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in J’vill, FL…I look forward to being with you this weekend to share some Interior Wisdom!

Truly I didn’t know what to expect for I had never been on a mission trip outside of the U.S.  God took my hand and I walked in awe as He poured out His all surpassing power, beauty and love, like kisses from Heaven, on the precious Mayan people. Here are some of my photos, along with a few some team members took, and the field report Gail asked me to write, which tells more about the trip.

My first photo as the bus drove up to our hotel in Valladolid.

Gail getting our room key while I oogle the architecture!

Precious Mayan women who helped us throughout our trip.

Many trees were painted white around the base of the trunk. I asked why and was given 2 reasons: It helps keep insects out and THEY LIKE IT!  Me too! It has a cool contemporary look…I wonder if Jim will let me paint the trunks in the orange grove…hummmm  (:

All ages came to the see the premier of Magdalena: Released from Shame recently translated into Maya.

 

We walked the streets in teams handing out invitations to the showing.

Our hotel was lovely!

Fresh fruit every morning- loved the papaya!

 

So wanted to take this stone column home!

Gail in the main square in Valladolid.

 

Fresh tortillas with EVERY meal.

It was so dark at night and I loved the basket lanterns hanging in the trees.

Wonderful details

When our bus arrived in villages, all the children would rush to greet “the Americans”!

Precious sisters prepared us Sunday lunch after the church service.

The concrete structure was so simple, beautiful and colorful.

 

Martha, LuAnne, Gail and Ally

Bougainvillea in bloom everywhere

Organic little one room homes in these remote villages

We washed the head of the household’s feet and gave each family a pair of new shoes.

This colorful green concrete house stood out in the night.

The film shown for the villagers was The Story of Jesus for Children, in their native tongue.

Young and old saying yes to the call of Jesus!

The 22 year old young man that started Feet That Move! Amazing Dustin Sandoval.

One morning of sightseeing.

interesting designs everywhere that could be incorporated into fabrics and wallcoverings.

In this village we gave out toothbrushes, toothpaste and coloring books.

I took my Jesus bookmarks with John 14:6 on the back, in Spanish. They were a hit!

This woman knew everyone in her small village and took me to meet all her relatives and invite them to the showing that evening.

I couldn’t help but ask this dear Mayan woman to show me how to shuck corn…as you can see they got a kick out of me trying! She filled this basket quickly!

Four and five generations would live in these simple 1-room homes. Many sleep in hammocks. One woman, through the translator, asked one of our team members if she had a place to spend the night…because if she didn’t, she offered to put up another hammock. Such hospitality!

We can find beauty, if we will just look for it.

 

 

 

for the love of Jesus,

leah

Today I received my renewal for House Beautiful magazine. Tucked in the bill was a bookmark…Everyone has a beautiful house in them!

It’s true and I just love this thought. Everyone has a beautiful house in them! You never know where you will find inspiration. This morning in prayer I asked the Holy Spirit to give me the theme for a women’s retreat next month on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, where I will be speaking. And out fell this bookmark a couple of hours later!

HOUSE BEAUTIFUL…everyone has a beautiful house in them

Once we believe this, God starts rearranging our interiors to reflect His design.

The Lord promises

I will beautiful my beautiful house. {Isaiah 60:7}

I will beautify the place of my sanctuary. {Isaiah 60:13}

And our heart is that house, his sanctuary. I encourage you to consider that

everyone {that’s you} has a beautiful house in them!

And creating that beauty starts with the powerful presence of God in our homes and lives. When God moves in, everything changes. Beauty is no longer beautiful for the sake of beauty, but beauty has meaning and purpose. Our lives become living pinterest boards for all who are searching. And believe me, people are watching and listening to you my friend, for we all crave authenticity. Something real and something of real beauty, which overflows from the heart, the heart occupied by Jesus.

Everyone has a beautiful house in them!

A dear friend of mine shared a way God is creating a beautiful house within her. In the past, she would write her prayers in a journal to help keep her mind from wandering, but recently she framed a bulletin board she covered in linen and fills it with pictures of her family and friends. Her coffee pot is in her laundry room and each morning she walks in with a beautiful reminder to pray. She places her hands on the pictures and she prays…creating a beautiful house within.

Isn’t this a wonderfully creative and beautiful way to remind yourself to pray! I truly love this idea and plan to incorporate it into my beautiful house within.

Speaking of praying, please keep me and my dear friend Gail in your prayers as we venture to Mexico Friday on a mission trip to minister to the Mayan people. We are both very excited for the opportunity to share with the women of that culture that they, too,

have a beautiful house in them when Jesus moves in!

If you are reading this, know that I have put my petite hand on my computer and asked the Lord to bless you, for He hears every prayer…from the faintest whisper to the most desperate cry. I pray for you with confidence remembering that God takes all the broken things in our lives, including the clutter, mess and the chaos, and makes it all new and beautiful.

everyone has a beautiful house in them!

xo

leah

 

 

 

Monday, Jim and I hosted Edie and Linda’s bridge group at The Farm for a Mini-Replenish. Winter is a time of rest and reflection, in nature and our spirit, so I took the opportunity of this quiet season to share some Interior Wisdom for the home and heart…anticipating a beautiful new Spring!

 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven.  Ecc 3:1

 

The women drove in from the city around 10:00 and enjoyed coffee and a snack as they toured the Farmhouse. I shared a teaching and sent them off to do a Prayer Walk around The Farm before Jim served lunch. REPLENISH is all about taking time to pull away from the busyness of life to reconnect with close friend and an even closer God.

God has clearly shown me that a healing begins for all who come. God has anointed The Farm in this generation for such a time as this…and Jim and I both relish being a steward, servant and heir. 

I encourage you to go outside, into nature, and do a Prayer Walk of your own. Consider these notes as a spring board to reconnect you with God this weekend. Let this season of Winter quiet your soul.

REPLENISH Prayer Walk

As you walk about The Farm, get honest with God and let the natural and spiritual hold hands…for all is of God. The season is Winter. A time of REST and REFLECTION before the INVIGORATING NEWNESS of Spring. Remember, regardless of what Winter holds, we can always count of the perpetual fresh start of Spring!

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven.  

Ecc 3:1

———————

What has cluttered your home and heart that needs clearing out, editing? Why do you hold onto the broken things in your life? Let go of the stuff that so easily encumbers and entangles you. Consider simplicity and learning to live with less.

——————–

What is the focal point of your life? Your home? Is it clearly discernible to family and friends? God desires to be that focal point, that anchor and refuge. Release those little idols, for your security and identity are in God alone.

———————-

Maybe you have been running hard after everything else but God. Life happens fast and we find we have wandered down the wrong path…again! Jesus said for us to Come to him if we are weary and burdened and He will give us rest. Commit your schedule to God, again, and ask him to create margin, breathing room, in your life. Margin in your home, your schedule, your finances. What needs to happen for you to live a life of devotion and rest in this season of your life?

————————

Jesus promises us His yoke is easy and His burden is light. How do you feel when you read what God has to offer you is a time of rest, days that are easy and light? Let go of those weighty burdens for God is faithful.

—————————

What is that ONE THING you want to change in your home? In your heart? God knows us completely. He knows our heart’s desire. Name that one thing?

—————————-

Finally, reflect on those things that add beauty and dimension, texture, to your life. What makes you smile, truly happy? Those are blessings God has generously poured out on your life! Spend some time in thanksgiving…thank him for everything!

God has made everything beautiful (beautifully appropriate/ a beautiful fit) in His time.  

Ecc 3:11 (added)

I am praying you will choose to create margin in your life to enjoy God this weekend.

xo

leah

Last Sunday, Jim and I enjoyed driving over to New Smyrna Beach, to glean some New-Year knowledge from our dear friend Jim Spencer, Rector of St. Peter the Fisherman. For years I sat in a pew in Ft. Walton Beach listening to life-changing words spill from Jim Spencer’s mouth. His passion for Jesus is contagious! He is “real” and we just love that he wears docksiders with no socks under that robe!!

The reading that morning was the story of the Three Kings venturing out to follow the star. Highlights and points I remember about “Following our passion and growing in wisdom” are this-

The three wise men followed their passion, and went out not knowing where they were going or what they were going to find, exactly. They went with joy and great expectation taking costly gifts out of their own treasure. They listened to that still small inner voice, whether giving direction or warning. Wisdom quite often means pausing to ask for directions. They arrived in Jerusalem and asked for directions, yet in wisdom, they went home by another route. Wisdom, if we will listen to her, imparts direction, guidance and discernment.

God used the wise men. Mary and Joseph were Jewish, and would not normally accept gifts from a foreigner. But they did, and the gold given most likely financed the couple’s trip to Egypt. The provision came from an unexpected source! Joseph was warned in a dream that Herod was planning harm. Now, Joseph had the means to pack up his family and move them out of harm’s way. God can use anyone in our lives. That is worth repeating, God can, will and does use any and everyone in our lives. Are we listening? If it’s God’s plan, let’s wisely receive from that unexpected source, that someone different from ourselves? I had never really thought about this aspect of Mary and Joseph’s story. But we see throughout the Bible God using unlikely candidates like King Cyrus, Pharaoh and Rahab, to accomplish his plans and purposes.

Notes to self:

1. God can use “wise men” in my life to bring provision, even to finance my passion. To move me in the direction He has planned.

2. Listen with my heart, ask God for wisdom when an unlikely opportunity presents itself. And heed any warnings too. God may have planned from the foundation of the earth to use this or that to bring His plans to fruition.

3. Don’t travel this journey of life alone. Seek out others with a similar passion, for each gift is needed and important. Then be generous with my gifts, for the provision comes from God alone.

 

Lord God, please lavish your wisdom on us! Forgive us when we have made poor decisions and jumped ahead without inquiring or listening. Help us to listen to the Holy Spirit and seek your wisdom. Show us the “wise men” in our lives so we don’t travel alone. And above all, teach us to be like you, generous!

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives it generously without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

Lord teach me your ways, show me your paths and guide me in your faithfulness… Psalm 25:4

 

What’s your passion?  Couple it with God’s wisdom, and expect great things bringing great joy!

xo

leah

 

 

Happy New Year Friends! Unplugging for a couple of weeks gave me time to listen more intently to that still small voice and start my journal for 2013. I just love spending extended times alone with God. During this time, the Holy Spirit placed a beautiful word in my heart and mind, along with allowing it to pop off the pages of my Bible at every turn…

ABIDING- living, dwelling closely, settling down, being vitally united to…

In the midst of a full life, even a life full of God…ABIDING.

ABIDING, fully aware of God’s presence throughout my day.

Completely dependent on being connected to, attached to the Source…ABIDING in God’s Word.

ABIDING in complete confidence, no fear, for my life and times are securely in the Savior’s hands.

A fruit of ABIDING, the second word I repetitively heard, is the fruit of being RESILIENT!

RESILIENT means we are able to spring back into shape after bending, stretching or being compressed…being flexible.

2012 held some challenges for me, maybe for you? And I anticipate that 2013 will offer up a few too. So developing RESILIENCY, recovering quickly from difficult conditions, is a good thing. Life’s challenges may cause us to bend, but they will not break us! They will not keep us down, depressed, worried or discouraged!

For me, ABIDING means I plan to continue to stick close to God and trust Him, regardless. Out of that ABIDING, flows RESILIENCY.

God already knows the challenges we will face this year. Let’s stick close to, ABIDE in, the One who holds our peace and provision. Regardless, we choose to be RESILIENT! RESILIENT!

What does it mean to you to ABIDE?

Would RESILIENCY be a pattern of life worthy of adoption in 2013?

Oh Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory abides-dwells! Let your glory abide-dwell with us, over us and around us in 2013. Cover us and overwhelm us with your abiding glory. So close, so close that the scent of your glory, the joy of your glory shines through us all as we ABIDE, causing us to bask in the sunshine of your love. Build RESILIENCY into our lives, bouncing back even stronger and surer after every challenge. Trouble is eminent in this world, but we “take heart”, for you, Lord Jesus, overcame this world.

If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain [abide] in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.  John 15:7 amplified version

 

xo

leah