OK, it's been too long! Getting into the swing and trying to find my groove with my new normal - a husband, 2 boys and work. Did everything get more demanding while I wasn't looking? It's all good though!
I must say that right now my walk with God mirrors my kids. Ian is learning who is the boss and how to be a good listener and follow through with obedience. Ryan is starting to teeth, so full of pain and wanting to cry and scream. But then a moment later he is so full of pure joy and he gives you a big coo and the biggest smile ever. I'm amazed at the parallels our sweet Daddy gives us in life!
Speaking of parallels, last week's Bible study was on Hannah (quite appropriate for Mother's Day). While teaching, Scott asked, "What is your heart sorrowful about?" Then he talked about handing it over to God, just like Hannah did. I was struck with the hurt of my heart with missing my boys and just where life has us right now. It is good, it just hurts. There is such freedom when we hand our hurts over to our Daddy King. He's the only one that turns mourning to gladness and makes things new each morning.
Then my sweet sister, Traci, bought Ian a new movie and it has quicly become one of my favorites ever! The Tale of Despereaux tells the story about a brave mouse. http://www.thetaleofdespereauxmovie.com/splash/ He has been made for nobleness and is honorable, but everyone around him lives in fear. He's the one who breaks out and rescues the princess. It's awesome! So here's to freedom, boldness and fun in Jesus!
Be blessed!
Love & Prayers,
Kim
Friday, May 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Picture This...
Over the weekend our sweet Father gave me a vision. So, I'm being obedient and putting the plans into place! I'll be adding a blog in the next few weeks titled: Picture This. It will be a series of topical blogs that will encourage journaling and asking God the hard question of "what does it look like" - hence the Picture This title.
Again, the timing of this makes no sense! I start back to work next week. What is He up to?
I have no idea what God will do with this or how it will bless and impact your walk, but I'm sure we'll all find out his plan together. I appreciate your prayers with this new adventure.
Love & Prayers,
Kim
Romans 15:13
Again, the timing of this makes no sense! I start back to work next week. What is He up to?
I have no idea what God will do with this or how it will bless and impact your walk, but I'm sure we'll all find out his plan together. I appreciate your prayers with this new adventure.
Love & Prayers,
Kim
Romans 15:13
Friday, April 3, 2009
Extravagant Love
Matthew 28: 20 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
My little Ian is having a hard time putting himself to sleep. Now I take my part of the responsibility for some bad habits at bed time. You see I lay in bed with him until he falls asleep. I’m the “sleep prop”. I was working on breaking this for a long time before Ryan was born. It all went out the window, when Ryan arrived. So now, we’re adjusting.
It appears that Wednesday morning Ian took comfort in knowing that I checked on him several times throughout the night (before I went to bed at 10:30, when I got up to feed Ryan at 3 and when I got up again at 5). When Scott woke up he asked Ian how he slept. Ian replied that he slept well and that his mommy checked on him a lot. When I was talking it over with Scott, I was almost brought to tears with the spiritual example.
You see I am only human and can only check on my son in his sleep physically when I can get to his room, one moment at a time. It is an intentional choice. God is omnipresent. He is present everywhere all the time intentionally. He purposely watches over me all the time everywhere I go. I am humbled. It’s hard to imagine or understand being loved that much, but we are. Father, thank you for loving me and all your daughters and sons so extravagantly. WOW!
When thinking of Abba Father’s extravagance, I’m reminded of an occasion that I was speaking with a small group of women. I had asked them to close their eyes and imagine themselves at the wedding feast celebration. I asked the question, “What are you wearing?” Unfortunately, a woman in the group answered that she was wearing rags. Her answer made me very sad. I understand where she was coming from. Maybe she thought she was being super-spiritual by seeing herself as unworthy of anything but rags. Here's the truth: Yes, we are deserving of rags, but our sweet Father chooses to give us so much more -- grace. Here's what it looks like: You see in Isaiah 61:1-4 and 10 is a promise to make our garments new. This is how I interpret the scripture. Once we become a daughter of the king, we are a princess. He adorns us with a gown made especially for us. Unfortunately, we will make bad choices (sin) which will result in stains or rips in our dress. We must go to God, who gave us the dress and made us and the dress, and confess our bad choice(s). When our Abba Father forgives us, he either cleans the dress, patches the dress or gives us a whole new one.
Always with us. Intentionally watching over us and caring for us. Making us more beautiful, like Him every day.
If you have a moment, listen to Casting Crowns' "Your Love is Extravagant" or Michael W. Smith's "Deep in Love with You" and dance with Jesus, the Lover of your soul.
WOW!
Love & Prayers,
Kim
My little Ian is having a hard time putting himself to sleep. Now I take my part of the responsibility for some bad habits at bed time. You see I lay in bed with him until he falls asleep. I’m the “sleep prop”. I was working on breaking this for a long time before Ryan was born. It all went out the window, when Ryan arrived. So now, we’re adjusting.
It appears that Wednesday morning Ian took comfort in knowing that I checked on him several times throughout the night (before I went to bed at 10:30, when I got up to feed Ryan at 3 and when I got up again at 5). When Scott woke up he asked Ian how he slept. Ian replied that he slept well and that his mommy checked on him a lot. When I was talking it over with Scott, I was almost brought to tears with the spiritual example.
You see I am only human and can only check on my son in his sleep physically when I can get to his room, one moment at a time. It is an intentional choice. God is omnipresent. He is present everywhere all the time intentionally. He purposely watches over me all the time everywhere I go. I am humbled. It’s hard to imagine or understand being loved that much, but we are. Father, thank you for loving me and all your daughters and sons so extravagantly. WOW!
When thinking of Abba Father’s extravagance, I’m reminded of an occasion that I was speaking with a small group of women. I had asked them to close their eyes and imagine themselves at the wedding feast celebration. I asked the question, “What are you wearing?” Unfortunately, a woman in the group answered that she was wearing rags. Her answer made me very sad. I understand where she was coming from. Maybe she thought she was being super-spiritual by seeing herself as unworthy of anything but rags. Here's the truth: Yes, we are deserving of rags, but our sweet Father chooses to give us so much more -- grace. Here's what it looks like: You see in Isaiah 61:1-4 and 10 is a promise to make our garments new. This is how I interpret the scripture. Once we become a daughter of the king, we are a princess. He adorns us with a gown made especially for us. Unfortunately, we will make bad choices (sin) which will result in stains or rips in our dress. We must go to God, who gave us the dress and made us and the dress, and confess our bad choice(s). When our Abba Father forgives us, he either cleans the dress, patches the dress or gives us a whole new one.
Always with us. Intentionally watching over us and caring for us. Making us more beautiful, like Him every day.
If you have a moment, listen to Casting Crowns' "Your Love is Extravagant" or Michael W. Smith's "Deep in Love with You" and dance with Jesus, the Lover of your soul.
WOW!
Love & Prayers,
Kim
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Mourning and Joy through the fear
Psalm 23:4 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Warning – I don’t want this message to be a downer – so work with me!
Mourning is part of life, just as death is. I’m struck today by the tragic story of actress Natasha Richardson. She was learning to ski on the bunny slope with her family in Canada. She fell, got up and was laughing about it and called it a day. About an hour later, she complained of a headache and now she’s braindead. No warning. No signs. Just like that. There are many others I’m sure that you know personally that are nearing the end of physical life here. I can think of two right now: Scott’s grandmother and a young woman, Jennifer, with 2 children and brain cancer.
We also mourn things in life: dreams, experiences, expectations and more. While I was pregnant with Ryan I remember telling Scott how bittersweet the last month of pregnancy is. It’s filled with anticipation of meeting this child and sadness because you’ve had this blessing all to yourself (I knew when he moved, kicked, punched, had the hiccups). I also knew that this would probably be the last time I’d experience it (I’m no spring chicken, you know!). Scott wisely shared, “Isn’t that the way it is with Heaven? Kind of bittersweet.” We long to be there to be in the presence of God, our Father and others who have gone on before us. But yet we don’t really want to leave this life either because we have family and friends to care for and share things with and dreams to dream and new adventures to experience.
I remember being a young, single woman living alone in my apartment. Sometimes I would get fearful of what could happen. Maybe I’d be raped and murdered (you know your imagination runs rampant with stuff like this). Then I’d snap back into reality and tell myself, “What’s the worse that could happen? I’d go to Heaven.” Although I understand that thought, it now makes me sad. Heaven is God’s answer to death and mourning. Heaven is joy, new adventure – it’s God! I now long for Heaven. Not in a way that I’m going to do something tragic to myself so I can go now, but just yearning to be in God’s presence with no distractions, total peace continuously – WOW!
The funny thing about mourning is that it proves we’re alive. When we mourn a dream, experience, job or expectations or whatever it may be, we have to own all the emotions involved in that situation and hand them over to God and say, “here they are. I don’t know what to do with them. Please take them and show me what things look like now.” We must feel them. We must go through those feelings and sort them out. Then our sweet Father delivers a new adventure. It’s an adventure that can generate new life and joy if we let God do what he wants to do.
Some things I’m mourning and the new adventures that go with them:
Date night with the love of my life, Scott = It will return shortly. It’s only gone for a short season.
More time with my little man, Ian = Intentionally dedicating time and planning activities with Ian
More time with my little man, Ryan = intentionally dedicating time and planning activities with Ryan
Being a stay-at-home mom = I get to live vicariously through Scott who will be a stay-at-home dad for a while.
The luxury of being a 2-income household = tightening our belt and trusting God a whole lot more!
Maternity leave = Returning to work and learning a new balancing act
Sleeping through the night = it’s only for a season (hopefully shorter than longer!)
The verse says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” If He makes me do it, it sounds like I’m not so willing to do it sometimes. I think we only become obedient through mourning our loss and then letting ourselves receive the joy that comes with the new life he gives.
I guess you could say it’s kind of like coming to know Jesus or really any transformation. The process is hard, scary and sometimes demanding. But at the end of the day, He does make things new every morning and joy is part of it.
What are you mourning today?
How do you feel about it? What are you feeling?
How is God bringing joy through it? (and it’s ok if you don’t know yet, just be anticipating the joy because he promised it.)
Warning – I don’t want this message to be a downer – so work with me!
Mourning is part of life, just as death is. I’m struck today by the tragic story of actress Natasha Richardson. She was learning to ski on the bunny slope with her family in Canada. She fell, got up and was laughing about it and called it a day. About an hour later, she complained of a headache and now she’s braindead. No warning. No signs. Just like that. There are many others I’m sure that you know personally that are nearing the end of physical life here. I can think of two right now: Scott’s grandmother and a young woman, Jennifer, with 2 children and brain cancer.
We also mourn things in life: dreams, experiences, expectations and more. While I was pregnant with Ryan I remember telling Scott how bittersweet the last month of pregnancy is. It’s filled with anticipation of meeting this child and sadness because you’ve had this blessing all to yourself (I knew when he moved, kicked, punched, had the hiccups). I also knew that this would probably be the last time I’d experience it (I’m no spring chicken, you know!). Scott wisely shared, “Isn’t that the way it is with Heaven? Kind of bittersweet.” We long to be there to be in the presence of God, our Father and others who have gone on before us. But yet we don’t really want to leave this life either because we have family and friends to care for and share things with and dreams to dream and new adventures to experience.
I remember being a young, single woman living alone in my apartment. Sometimes I would get fearful of what could happen. Maybe I’d be raped and murdered (you know your imagination runs rampant with stuff like this). Then I’d snap back into reality and tell myself, “What’s the worse that could happen? I’d go to Heaven.” Although I understand that thought, it now makes me sad. Heaven is God’s answer to death and mourning. Heaven is joy, new adventure – it’s God! I now long for Heaven. Not in a way that I’m going to do something tragic to myself so I can go now, but just yearning to be in God’s presence with no distractions, total peace continuously – WOW!
The funny thing about mourning is that it proves we’re alive. When we mourn a dream, experience, job or expectations or whatever it may be, we have to own all the emotions involved in that situation and hand them over to God and say, “here they are. I don’t know what to do with them. Please take them and show me what things look like now.” We must feel them. We must go through those feelings and sort them out. Then our sweet Father delivers a new adventure. It’s an adventure that can generate new life and joy if we let God do what he wants to do.
Some things I’m mourning and the new adventures that go with them:
Date night with the love of my life, Scott = It will return shortly. It’s only gone for a short season.
More time with my little man, Ian = Intentionally dedicating time and planning activities with Ian
More time with my little man, Ryan = intentionally dedicating time and planning activities with Ryan
Being a stay-at-home mom = I get to live vicariously through Scott who will be a stay-at-home dad for a while.
The luxury of being a 2-income household = tightening our belt and trusting God a whole lot more!
Maternity leave = Returning to work and learning a new balancing act
Sleeping through the night = it’s only for a season (hopefully shorter than longer!)
The verse says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” If He makes me do it, it sounds like I’m not so willing to do it sometimes. I think we only become obedient through mourning our loss and then letting ourselves receive the joy that comes with the new life he gives.
I guess you could say it’s kind of like coming to know Jesus or really any transformation. The process is hard, scary and sometimes demanding. But at the end of the day, He does make things new every morning and joy is part of it.
What are you mourning today?
How do you feel about it? What are you feeling?
How is God bringing joy through it? (and it’s ok if you don’t know yet, just be anticipating the joy because he promised it.)
Friday, March 13, 2009
Resting through the fear
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
Well, we're adjusting to our "new normal" after baby Ryan arrived with a grand adventure on February 3, 2009! All is well here and I'm trying to get back in the groove of things in between naps, feedings and normal chaos.
Our sweet Father had a nice chat with me today. I use the term nice loosely... it was really one of his grace-filled, gentle scoldings. I love how you can be scolded yet encouraged at the same time. It's a God thing!
Anyway, as many of you know, our family has grown with the birth of Ryan about 5.5 weeks ago. My husband, Scott, was laid off in October and has yet to find any job that would be feasible to have 2 kids in day care. Since this journey began last fall, we've seen the hand of God deliver, provide, reassure and WOW us daily. We're keeping a long list of God moments from this season to show the boys and remind us of His power.
Speaking of that, it's funny how much like an Israelite I am. Scott and I were talking today about a situation that at this moment has no definitive solutions. Those types of situations (you know the ones that you can't develop a planned strategy to solve the problem) just make me anxious. So, I was operating in the flesh with this situation and then the enemy saw an opportunity to tack another one on. I started to fret about the pending medical bills, which we haven't even received yet. The Holy Spirit quickly brought Proverbs 3:5-6 and Philippians 4:6 to my mind. Immediately, our sweet Father questioned me, "Why don't you trust me with these things? Haven't I been faithful so far? Trust me!"
Today's verse choice is really all about trusting. It's fun to see how this blog is transorming from a focus on fear to trusting God. Hmmm... maybe that was the point! I remember really digging into this verse (1 Thess. 4:11) and not liking the idea that I had to lead a quiet life. I'm an enthusiastic talker and the thought of being quiet sounded boring to me. So I really struggled with this verse. Then I looked up the Greek word for quiet and it means peaceful or at rest. Praise Jesus! It made so much more sense. The more I trust Him, the more at peace I am which ultimately results people who don't know Him seeing Him through me. And I come to the understanding and freedom that I am dependent on no one but Jesus himself.
I'm reminded of the verses in Luke that describe the vine and branches. It's a great picture of surrender, rest and trust. I'm trying to live there more each day!
Be bold! Be brave! Be you!
Love & Prayers
Kim
Well, we're adjusting to our "new normal" after baby Ryan arrived with a grand adventure on February 3, 2009! All is well here and I'm trying to get back in the groove of things in between naps, feedings and normal chaos.
Our sweet Father had a nice chat with me today. I use the term nice loosely... it was really one of his grace-filled, gentle scoldings. I love how you can be scolded yet encouraged at the same time. It's a God thing!
Anyway, as many of you know, our family has grown with the birth of Ryan about 5.5 weeks ago. My husband, Scott, was laid off in October and has yet to find any job that would be feasible to have 2 kids in day care. Since this journey began last fall, we've seen the hand of God deliver, provide, reassure and WOW us daily. We're keeping a long list of God moments from this season to show the boys and remind us of His power.
Speaking of that, it's funny how much like an Israelite I am. Scott and I were talking today about a situation that at this moment has no definitive solutions. Those types of situations (you know the ones that you can't develop a planned strategy to solve the problem) just make me anxious. So, I was operating in the flesh with this situation and then the enemy saw an opportunity to tack another one on. I started to fret about the pending medical bills, which we haven't even received yet. The Holy Spirit quickly brought Proverbs 3:5-6 and Philippians 4:6 to my mind. Immediately, our sweet Father questioned me, "Why don't you trust me with these things? Haven't I been faithful so far? Trust me!"
Today's verse choice is really all about trusting. It's fun to see how this blog is transorming from a focus on fear to trusting God. Hmmm... maybe that was the point! I remember really digging into this verse (1 Thess. 4:11) and not liking the idea that I had to lead a quiet life. I'm an enthusiastic talker and the thought of being quiet sounded boring to me. So I really struggled with this verse. Then I looked up the Greek word for quiet and it means peaceful or at rest. Praise Jesus! It made so much more sense. The more I trust Him, the more at peace I am which ultimately results people who don't know Him seeing Him through me. And I come to the understanding and freedom that I am dependent on no one but Jesus himself.
I'm reminded of the verses in Luke that describe the vine and branches. It's a great picture of surrender, rest and trust. I'm trying to live there more each day!
Be bold! Be brave! Be you!
Love & Prayers
Kim
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Great message about fear
Can't believe I forgot to share this. Our Pastor delivered a great sermon on fear. You can download it for free from here: http://www.davidtarkington.com/
The message is called "Spectrum: Yellow". It's a must!
Kim
The message is called "Spectrum: Yellow". It's a must!
Kim
Delight through the Fear
Zephaniah 3: 17 - For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears.[a] He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (NLT)
This is one of my favorite verses and until I read this translation I never related it to my fears. I read this verse for the first time proabably about 5 years ago when I was deep in John and Stasi Eldredge's "Captivating" study. The thought that the God of the universe delights in me was and still is an amazing thought and reality. His love is what calms me.
It's so important for us to remember that God delights in us - just because. It's not about what we've done, or how we did it, what we said or didn't say. It's just because He's God and He chooses to.
I was continuing to read in Jeremiah and ran across this treasure: Jeremiah 9:23-24: This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.
Something our Pastor said has stuck with me. He explained that all too often people know what we're against, but not what we're for or what we support. I think God often gets categorized like that too. Throughout His word he tells us little nuggets of what He delights in, what pleases him. All too often we focus on the things he doesn't like instead of what he does. So take a few minutes and really think about how God delights in you. Then take another few minutes to think about what Jeremiah 9:24 says - He delights in being understood and known; that He exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth.
If He is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) What did this do to your fears today? Rest in Him, in who He is. Long to know Him more. He always comes through.
Be bold! Be brave! Be you!
Love & Prayers,
Kim
Romans 15:13
This is one of my favorite verses and until I read this translation I never related it to my fears. I read this verse for the first time proabably about 5 years ago when I was deep in John and Stasi Eldredge's "Captivating" study. The thought that the God of the universe delights in me was and still is an amazing thought and reality. His love is what calms me.
It's so important for us to remember that God delights in us - just because. It's not about what we've done, or how we did it, what we said or didn't say. It's just because He's God and He chooses to.
I was continuing to read in Jeremiah and ran across this treasure: Jeremiah 9:23-24: This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.
Something our Pastor said has stuck with me. He explained that all too often people know what we're against, but not what we're for or what we support. I think God often gets categorized like that too. Throughout His word he tells us little nuggets of what He delights in, what pleases him. All too often we focus on the things he doesn't like instead of what he does. So take a few minutes and really think about how God delights in you. Then take another few minutes to think about what Jeremiah 9:24 says - He delights in being understood and known; that He exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth.
If He is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) What did this do to your fears today? Rest in Him, in who He is. Long to know Him more. He always comes through.
Be bold! Be brave! Be you!
Love & Prayers,
Kim
Romans 15:13
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