Hard Praise

“When praise is the last thing that comes naturally to us and we choose to worship Him anyway, we’ve had the privilege of offering a genuine sacrifice of praise.” ~ Beth Moore

I was reading about Paul and Silas in a study and then picked up a book I’m reading and it again talked about Paul and Silas. Sometimes that scares me because I know that means God wants me to learn something and that will require change. Who likes change?? Change that usually requires me to do something that isn’t easy. Obviously, God wanted me to learn from their example. 

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." Acts 16:25

Instead of Paul and Silas being angry about being beaten and imprisoned they chose to pray and sing songs of praise. Go ahead, read that again...Instead of being enraged they had been beaten and imprisoned unjustly they chose to pray and sing songs of praise to the Lord! Can you imagine? I mean, I have had my fair share of spankings and groundings when I was a kid that felt like beatings and imprisonments, and I deserved them, but I wasn’t crying out to God in songs of praise. I was shaking my fist and complaining of my consequences.  Paul and Silas didn’t deserve the punishment they were enduring but they chose to praise despite their circumstances. Ouch! That’s pretty convicting! They chose the suffering. They chose the sacrifice. They chose knowing there may be repercussions for the path they were taking. They chose the hard and the painful. They chose to give up their desires for His. They chose to be set apart. 

“Self-help pursues happiness above all else. Sanctification is a process and pursuit with pit stops in cross-bearing and sacrifice. Holiness is the endgame. That’s why it’s helpful to debunk the idea that the Christ-filled life is filled with worldly peace and ease... unfortunately, if we pursue pleasure and avoid pain, we will miss most of the processes the Holy Spirit intends to use to make us act, think, and live more like Jesus...God calls His people to be separate. Separate is hard. Hard is good. God is best... To be set apart is to sacrifice what we want. We are called to give up what we have known and cherished. We are invited to crucify our selfish plans and dreams for the better pursuit of what God has planned for us.~ Whitney Capps

I’m positive Paul and Silas completely understood this concept. They knew it wouldn’t be easy yet they willing gave up their desires for His and praised Him for what He was doing. From the worlds point of view it looked grim. I’m sure not one person desired to be in their shoes. The jailer who witnessed the earth shaking, the prison doors flinging open, and the shackles fall to the ground didn’t know any better way but to take his own life. He knew death was inevitable by the prisoners escape. But Paul and Silas nor the others had left. They again chose to stay. Stay in the incredibly crazy situation. They knew God was at work and His work wasn’t over. Despite the chance for them to flee they chose to continue to follow after God. They chose the hard. They chose the separate. And oh thank goodness they did. The jailer and his entire family came to know the Lord because of their faithfulness to God’s plan. I have to wonder how history would have changed if they had not done His will and chose their own. Generations could have been affected by their decision to flee instead of speaking life into that jailer. It was a ripple effect of His goodness that was shown.  I’m gonna be honest and say if I was beaten and put in jail I most likely wouldn’t be singing praises. And if my chains fell off and the prison doors opened I would be Dash from the Incredibles. (Yes, I have kids and have watched this movie more times than I can count.  Don’t judge.) But I would have missed the blessing. I would have missed my purpose. I would have missed seeing God do some incredibly great things. 

Sometimes life is so hard that praying and singing praises is definitely the last thing our flesh wants to even consider. But what if that praise is what God uses to shake the earth for His Glory? What if the sacrifices we make to trudge through the hard is the miracle God intends to use for someone else to see and know Him,or maybe for us to see and know Him on an even more intimate level? 

Oh Lord, let me praise You through every hard storm and not run from the pain. Let me have eyes to see where I need to sacrifice my will for Yours. Use it all for Your Glory Lord! 

Glory to Him

November 17, 2010

Romans 8:28,35,37-39

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble of hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us form the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Halleluiah AMEN!!!  That is enough to make you want to get up and shout!  WHOOOHOO!!!  I am so thankful for God's amazing love and that NOTHING can separate me from His love. 

Over the past few weeks I have watched so many going through such hard times and Satan has tried his very best to suck the breathe right out of me over it.  I am the type of person, when you hurt, I hurt.  But on the flip side I am a very optimistic person.  Even though there is difficulty I am always trying to look for the good in it.  When I feel myself getting pulled in by Satan’s lies I will look for 5 positive things.  Trust me sometimes it is hard to do but it sure helps me get my focus back on what really matters.  I have probably said it before but my mom will accuse me of "living in the clouds".  I can honestly say....what better place to live?  Who wants to live in the deep dark dungeons of life?  I don't!!  While living in the clouds can sometimes catch you off guard (since I have a tendency to be on the naive side), being positive and realizing you are a conqueror in Christ is worth shouting AMEN over!  And worth living victoriously!

I can't say that I have always been super optimistic but God is teaching me how to redirect my focus when things get tough.  We as Christians must learn to NOT live a defeated life.  WE are a walking Bible for others to see.  And who wants to join any one in a "whoa is me" state?  Our feelings at times can be a poor reflection of His Truth.  If we will focus on His love, His provision, His plan, His future, His power, His purpose, His everything, then I believe our feelings will change.  I know you’re saying "but Kim, you have NO idea what I am going through."  And you are right, I do not, but HE DOES and His Word says because He loves us and we are in Him then we are MORE than CONQUERORS! WHOOOHOOO...shouting again, I can't help myself!!  We can beat whatever is out there before us or in the midst of us.  WE have victory in Him!!  If God allowed you to be thrown in to a dungeon, you were not picked on; your were picked out!  God has entrusted you with that suffering because He has faith in you!  He knows the future and it is bright!  So live it up!  All the way out of that cold, dark and muddy pit!   Find five great things about your life or circumstances, focus on someone else's needs and meet them, and keep remembering His love for you!!  The suffering will soon just be a past hardship that God brought you through that can be shared to glorify Him!!  WHOOOHOOO!!!  Shouting again!!   PTL He loves us so much!!

Seek Him First

November 30, 2010

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom”

I knew going into December was going to be extremely busy and time management would definitely be a task to give to the Lord. Yesterday was a rush day. You know what I am talking about….one of those days when you rush here and do this and then rush there and do that, and then along the way a few things pop up that you have to rush and take care of as well. Then its rush to car pool and rush home to prepare a rush dinner and then rush back out the door to take a child to practice and rush to the grocery store because you didn’t have time to do that yet either. Then rush back to pick up a child and rush by to pick up something you left at a location then rush home to find….YOUR SON HAS LOST HIS NEW PAIR OF GLASSES IN THE YARD AND YOUR HUSBAND HAS ALREADY HANDED OUT SPANKINGS TO ALL KIDS!!! Ohhhh, the joys of being a parent and mother.

That was not at all how I intended for my day to go. In my mind it had played out much differently! I am sure my husband and kids would say the same thing. But that is usually how life goes, right? We have such big plans and then BAMM! Life happens! But what do we do when life happens? I believe that I failed the test. Sitting this morning, reading God’s Word, searching for Him, recalling yesterday’s happenings and having to repent and ask for forgiveness, and realizing in all the hustle and bustle I did not call upon my Lord yesterday.

Thinking of my son’s glasses and how they spent hours in the cold, wet, and dark night looking for a needle in a hay stack and not once did any of us think to call upon the name of the Lord. Well, let me back up, because unbeknownst to me my son was probably praying to find his glasses. The rest of us were all too angry to think of anything different. And why is that when we need God the most we take refuge in our anger or in our own strength?

“We like finding refuge in what we already have rather than in what we hope God will provide.” Francis Chan

It saddens me to know I took refuge in my anger instead of the Lord. I jumped on the bandwagon with everyone else in the house that was mad and got mad too. I chose NOT to seek Him in a situation that could have played out much differently. Choosing to seek Him, I could have been the calm in the storm but I was just fuel to the fire. It also saddens me to know I missed the opportunity to pray with my boys and to teach them to seek the Lord even over something as small as lost glasses. (But lost glasses…I mean seriously!! How do you NOT know they aren’t on your face anymore? And WE JUST GOT THIS PAIR TWO MONTHS AGO! I mean really??? THEY JUST FALL OFF AND YOU DON’T KNOW???? And why were you fighting with your brother anyway?? REALLY?? UUGGGGHHHH!!!)

Although there were many lessons for them to learn; don’t pester your brother; don’t hit your brother; don’t fight with your brother; don’t go outside with out permission; if glasses fall off, IMMEDIATELY look for them…and the list goes on. But the important lesson here I believe is seeking God on ALL accounts, even when we are angry, even when people pester us, even when we think we can handle it, even when life is too busy, even when our day is rush rush, even when we don’t feel like it.

Whether the lost glasses will be found that is still the question but learning to seek the Lord first is the real truth. I praise Him that as I was once LOST He FOUND me and has not stopped SEEKING after me. Seek Him First!!

Three Gifts

December 13, 2010

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given" Isaiah 9:6

Christmas is coming!! Christmas is coming!!! Christmas cheer has been lacking on my part this season, although I LOVE this time of year. I love the yummy goodies, the parties, programs, and celebrations, I love shopping for just the right gift for my loved ones, I love the much needed family time that last for days, and most importantly I love celebrating His birth. It seems each and every year I try to reduce the amount of "things" i am involved in or reduce the craziness so that i can focus more on His coming and somehow the insanity is all still there. It blinds me so easily and quickly steals my joy of the season. Can I get an Amen?? I would venture to say that our society has Xmas down to an art! Notice I took Christ out.....it seems that this world is ok with that, taking Christ out. And I believe if we were all honest we would all say that we are guilty! We tend to focus on the "I wants" and the "I have to get this for" and the "I have to get this done for this party or event" instead of setting our minds on what the season is really about. We are never satisfied with just Him! Oh Lord forgive me!! 

A few years ago we started a new tradition in our family. Actually it stemmed from a picture of my daughter and all her presents at Christmas. I remember taking the picture and working hard to make sure all her gifts would fit in the lens. Backing up and moving my camera just right in order to see everything just perfect. Wow!! I remembered saying and feeling a sense of pride because we were able to provide so many gifts for her. Then like I said, a few years ago, I was looking through pictures and came across that particular one. I didn't feel that same sense of pride any more but a sense of shame instead. What was I really teaching my children by giving them a bunch of "things"?? I was just teaching them to want more and wanting more just teaches them less. Dissatisfaction! So we decided to change that. For the past three years my children have received 3 gifts. Yes only three gifts! We had to sit them down and have a little talk as to why they could only choose three gifts since they were use to getting a mound of gifts.

"When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." Matthew 2:10-11

You see the true meaning of Christmas is not about all the gifts we can receive but about our Saviors birth. The thing that spurred the gift giving was the wise men. So we decided since, Jesus received three gifts, one from each of the wise men, that our children were NOT more precious than Jesus! If you are a parent that statement can be a tough one to swallow because we put our children above all else. And it has been super hard to not want to give them more. (I actually had to take presents back this past week, conviction.......ugghhh!! I had gotten carried away.) But I would much rather give them more of Jesus than a bunch of stuff that won't matter for eternity!! Even more breathtaking is to see them learn from this and to share this tradition with others. So many have asked my kids what they are getting for Christmas and they will say their three items and people will respond with well what else....and my kids will say "we get three gifts because we aren't more special than Jesus". Talk about warming your heart!! 

We haven't mastered all the lessons to be learned from this experience since this year when I asked my kids to make out their list, my middle child decided to make out everyone's list for them. When I spoke to them all about their 3 items my oldest and youngest didn't have a clue as to what they wanted or what was even on their list. So you see my middle child had a plan, he figured if he made the list for everyone with his likes then he would be good to go, getting more for himself! Lol!!! Pretty smart but not what we had in mind. Although, he tried to convince his brother of the things that he had put on the list. Little stinker!! 

Learning to be satisfied with what God has given or not given is sometimes a hard task. Teaching my children to be satisfied with only three gifts has not been easy either. Even as an adult I believe we struggle with this. We are no different from my child. We bargain with God in the same way. Begging in prayer as we borrow, scheme, take out a loan, seek after, and plan without consenting God on the matter. All for what??? Just so that we can have more. And have more of what??? Most of the time more of what we don't need. Ouch!! Very convicting!! 

This Christmas season I pray that through all the craziness and mad dashes from here to there you will put on the forefront of your mind the true meaning of Christmas! I pray that you will remember HIS BIRTH and be SATISFIED!!! JESUS is the reason for the season!!! Nothing more nothing less!!! 

"And He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Out of the boat water walking

December 27, 2010

God has been amazing! HE IS AMAZING!! I sometimes wonder why we are slow to respond to Him. I wonder why sometimes it takes me sooo long to learn the lesson. I wonder why I procrastinate to be busy about His commands. I wonder how I could not be obedient the first time I am told, for some reason I wait for that "sign" or that one more time of telling. I wait to hear the word audibly or for that extra reassurance that "this" is what He is telling me to do. Is it fear? Is it questions of the unknown? Is it lack of faith? What is it that holds us back from immediately taking a step in faith after Him that calls us.

Seven years ago we built our home and had just moved in. I remember very vividly sitting at our round breakfast table staring out the tall window on a cold January morning crying out to God for answers and for direction. He spoke and I looked all around for an audible voice; I looked for a sign, for something besides what He was speaking to my heart. I questioned his calling and wasn't ready to be obedient to what He was calling me to do. Reckless abandon, taking up my cross, stepping outside my comfort zone, what Lord?? Why me? Why now? I can't do it! I am scared! I don't have what it takes! I am too young! I have small kids and I am just too busy! I have to take care of my husband! I am afraid what everyone will think! I don't have the skills Lord! Lord you must be thinking about someone else!

You are probably thinking WOW, He must have asked you to sell everything and move to Africa to be a missionary. Not exactly, but it sure felt like He was requiring too much from me. Oh the lies from Satan!

I read a book during that time titled "If You Want To Walk On Water You've Got To Get Out Of The Boat" By John Ortberg. Incredible words from God to me at that time, regarding Peter and when God called Him to walk on the water. You see God calls us all! We each have a different calling but He does call each of us. It is what we do with that calling that will impact our world positively for Him or negatively!

In the book there was a story that still speaks to my heart that I would like to share with you......

"Sometime after Florence, my paternal grandmother, died, my grandfather called my mother with an unusual offer.

"Kathy," he said, in his heavy Swedish accent. "I was going through some of Florence's things in the attic when I came across a box of old dishes. I was going to get rid of them, but I noticed that they're blue--your favorite color. Why don't you take a look at them, if you want them, they're yours; otherwise, I'll give them to the Salvation Army.

So my mother went through the attic, expecting to find some run-of-the-mill dinnerware. Instead, when she opened the box, she was looking at some of the most exquisite china she had ever seen. Each plate had been individually painted with a pattern of forget-me-nots. The cups were inlaid mother-of-pearl. The dishes and cups were rimmed with gold. The plates had been handcrafted in a Bavarian factory that was destroyed during the Second World War, so they were literally irreplaceable.

Yet my mother had been in the family for twenty years, and she had never seen this china before. She asked my father about it. He had grown up in the family--and he had never seen it, either.

Eventually they found out from some older family members the story of the china. When Florence was very young, she was given china over a period of years. They were not a wealthy family, and the china was quite valuable, so she only got a piece at a time for gifts--confirmation, graduation, or a birthday.

Why had my parents never seen it? To know that, you have to know something about the character of the Swedes. We are a cautious kind of people. We don't roll the dice easily. For instance, my two great aunts lived for eighty years in a beautiful Victorian home built by my great-grandfather in the 1800's. The most beautiful room in the house was a parlor. It was generally reserved for very special guests. No guest that special ever came to the house, so the parlor didn't get used much.

When Florence received a piece of china---because it was so valuable, because it was used it might get broken--she would wrap it very carefully in tissue, put it in a box, and store it in the attic for a very special occasion. No occasion that special ever came along. So my grandmother went to her grave with the greatest gift of her life unopened and unused.

Then my mother was given the dishes. She uses them promiscuously---every chance she has. They have finally made it out of box."

With Christmas past and the new year on the brink, I pray that you have accepted the greatest gift known to man...Jesus. I pray that you aren't afraid to take Him out of the box. He is calling us to live in full obedience to Him. Reckless abandon, taking up our cross daily, stepping out on the water with Him. You have not experienced the fullness of anything until you have experienced the fullness of living obedient to Him! Your calling will most likely be different from mine but what I do know is that fear shouldn't be in the equation. When He calls you, He will equip you! Our job is to be obedient with the gift!! Don't leave Him in the box!!! The ride of your life awaits you in Him!! It's time for some water walking!!

Matthew 14:29 "So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus"

Blessed to Give

January 17, 2011

 I am sitting here in Sports Clip waiting for my boys to get their hair cut pondering over all that is on my mind.  I have had odd things happen in the last week.  From reading a book that has literally challenged my every belief and made me question the lifestyle that we live, to being offered a trip to LA, to learning of my cousin's sudden death and living in depression, to having to give up hosting a Disciple Now weekend to attend a funeral, to subbing in Kindergarten classes where soooo many need God's love, and then to using my Christmas gift of being pampered in a spa. As I am shaking my head, I am thinking none of these seem to even go together!!  Happy, sad, happy, sad, happy, sad, blessed, cursed, blessed, cursed....wow!!!  All the while talking to God and asking Him what it is that I should be taking from all these things and how do they all fit together?  What does all of this mean? Why do bad things happen?  Why do some people suffer so much?  What should I do different in my life as a result of all of this?  So many questions and why don't I have answers, Lord? 

We know the church answer, which is all things happen for a reason and everyone has a choice in life.  But what about the starving kid in Africa, or the child born to a family of chaos, dysfunction, and drugs?  Why do they have to pay for the sins of their parents? They did not choose that life.  Why are some people more blessed than others?  Why do some have more resources and support than others?  Lord, why have you blessed me beyond measure yet so many others know you not and have NEVER heard your name?

My mind was still running with all these happenings while I should have been relaxing and enjoying my spa day but there was NOT a lot of relaxing.  You have heard it a thousand times....the answers are in His Word!!  With blessings comes responsibilities....."we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said:  'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"   Acts 20:35b.  That's it!   

If you are reading this then you have been blessed; far more than you realize.  You are able to read and obviously have Internet access.  Not only do you live in a country that gives you freedom, but you have more options than you can fathom.  I am sure this morning we all woke from comfortable sleeping arrangements, we most likely had a warm bath, we were able to brush our teeth in clean drinking water, we got to choose what we were going to wear from our mass wardrobe in comparison to the millions that have no roof over their heads, sleep on dirt and don't even know what a toothbrush looks like, much less clean water.  We are spoiled with options of what our favorite pair of shoes are and what favorite restaurant that we love to eat at. We have the option to send our kids to a private school or a public school or whether to enroll them in soccer or dance and then saving for them to attend the college of their choice.  Not all people in this world have what we have.  Not all have been blessed in the ways that we have been.  If we were all honest we would confess to the fact of being blessed beyond our wildest dreams.  We are given far more than what we deserve.  And what we deserve is nothing!  So what do we do with what we have been given?  Do we waist it on what we want or think we deserve because we have worked hard for it or do we use our blessings for His glory and think unselfishly?

My heart has been overly convicted on what I am doing with the blessings that God has given me, especially as I look at the last week of my life.  Do I give Him the glory for the things He has brought me through; do I share with others my material possessions as to show they really are not mine but His to begin with; do I give of my time to serve others so that they can see the love of God through me; do I sacrifice in giving or is it just my left overs for offering?  With the blessings God has given us all there will be great responsibility.  Responsibility of obedience.  Responsibility to use our blessings for His glory.  Responsibility to help those that are in need, those that are weak, those that know Him not.   

I still don't know all the answers to my 'why questions' but our God did not promise a life of ease for anyone or answers to all our questions.  What He does promise is salvation.  What He does promise is always a way out of temptation.  What He does promise is that He will always be there for us when we call on His name.  What He does promise is that He loves us!!!  And because we love Him we should be willing to use our blessings to honor and glorify our creator and savior!! 

Looking around the world to see how much more we are blessed than others or even looking down the street, it breaks my heart to know that I have been somewhat irresponsible with the many things I have been given.  Maybe this realization is just for me and maybe it has made you take a second glance and realize this life is not just about our own dreams and goals.  It is about sharing Christ with others and what better way to share Him than through His abundance!! As our pastor said this last Sunday....we are all on our way, we are all going, going about....are we going about our Masters work or our own?  Are we going about sharing Him or are we in the way of Him being shown? 

I pray this would not come to you as preaching or confusion as it has been a wild ride to piece together what the Lord has shown me.   But, I pray this will come to you as loving encouragement to be on your way using your blessings for Him, in His name, and for His glory!!  I pray that with your blessing you will be able to share Jesus with some one in need!  I pray we will be less full of ourselves and selfish desires and completely full of Him!  He deserves our all!!                  

They RAN out of business!

January 31, 2011

We were driving down the road and my boys see that Double Dave's is no longer open. My youngest says with excitement how much he LOVED to eat there. While my oldest says, "they RAN out of business"! I was trying to hold in my laughter and just intently listen to their conversation. I wanted to say you don't RUN out of business, you GO out of business. He then went on to say since they were running out of business they didn't have enough money to pay their bills and couldn't possibly stay open any more. And I am thinking, how do you possibly know that, you are a nine year old? Geesh! My youngest says, "well I like to eat there on Sundays and they always had a lot of people there when we went." Lol!!! Oh, how I love to listen to the conversations of kids. Quiet often I learn a few things! 

I got to thinking about "running" out of business and wondered sometimes if we are running out of God's business? Running from the purpose He has for our lives. Running from the path He has set before us. 

God is teaching me to love without contempt and with zero limitations and sometimes I feel like running. It is easier when I don't have to do for others or think of others before myself. It is easier to not let God's calling (His business or plan) interrupt my daily doings. It's easier to go about my plans than to think of what His business or plans may be. I would much rather RUN!! Less work, less hassle, and too much to have to think about!! 

Although, these thoughts of running have entered my mind, thankfully God has allowed opportunity after opportunity for me to follow after His business of loving on someone else and not just think of the way I feel or what I have planned for the day. It has been amazing to see what can unfold when we are obedient to His calling on our lives. We can go where He is at work around us and be apart of that. 

"Grow where you are planted" has been a phrase that has stuck in my heart for quiet sometime. Wherever that may be, weather in the midst of struggles, on the mountain top experiences, wading thru the muck and the mire, or just cruising along we are to grow where we are planted. And that will require saying YES to His Business, loving even the unlovables, even the ones that stab us in the back, even the ones that live in the neighborhoods we would not dare to go in, even the ones that don't think like us, or have the type of personality we mesh well with. We are to love past all indiscretions

So are you running? What are you running from? What is God calling you to do and why are you resistant? Are you ready to stop running and start GOING into the business of Lord? His plan is perfect. Stop running and start trusting God! He is waiting for you to say yes to Him!!