Life's Storm Have a Purpose

November 2, 2010

A week or so ago we had a thunderstorm roll through about 1AM. My husband and I both woke and couldn't go back to sleep. The thunder shook our house and the lightening crackled. Our box fan was no match for this noise maker. Needless to say we didn't get much sleep at all...REM was out of the question! Since my husband was wide awake he was at his office by 3AM. When my alarm went off I was somewhat of a grouch..ok a BIG GROUCH because I had not gotten what I thought I deserved....SLEEP!!!

Yesterday, I was on FB and reading peoples post and came across this one..."If through a broken heart God can bring His purpose to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart." Oswald Chambers

I read that and read it again and again and again. I even copy and pasted it and sent it to a friend. I just couldn't stop thinking about being broken to the point where it hurts ever fiber of our being. I thought of the simple (but LOUD and OBNOXIOUIS) storm that had interrupted my sleep and deprived me of what I wanted and thought I needed. I thought of past times in my life that I have been so down that I couldn't see a light at the end of the tunnel. I thought of the brokenness I have felt when I have lost a loved one, the depression I have felt when I couldn't do anything about my circumstances. I thought of the deep pits I have been in when there was NO ladder to get out. I thought of the anxiety that has robbed me of life when things around me were overwhelming. Oh, the brokenness!

And then I thought of HIS purpose!! HE ALWAYS HAS A PURPOSE!! I am sure when Jonah was in the belly of the whale he was probably NOT thinking of God's purpose. He was thinking, "Why the heck am I in the belly of a whale? And why are you doing this God?" We don't think of purpose in the middle of our storms. We think of our circumstances. But we KNOW in the midst of our trials HE is working! His Word has given us example after example! PTL!!

Although I was pretty ticked off about the storm keeping me from what I wanted most, there was a purpose. When my life has seemed to be turned upside down and my heart has been shattered there has ALWAYS been a purpose. It is during those times we should look for HIS purpose and be THANKFUL! I know that is a mouth full. It hurts to even say the word, thankful, in the middle of a crisis much less act on the word. But when we can learn this simple truth, His blessings will follow and His promises will be revealed.

Samuel Chadwick said, "It is amazing what God can do with a broken heart, if you give Him all the pieces."

We must have FAITH in our maker! HE is more powerful than our storm! HE is faithful!

Ephesians 1:19-20 "God's power is very great for those who believe, that power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead."

When our eyes see the prowling lion, faith sees Daniels angel. When our eyes see storms, faith sees Noah's rainbow. When our eyes see giants, faith sees Canaan. When our eyes see our faults, faith sees our Savior. When our eyes see our guilt, faith sees His blood. When our eyes see our grave, faith sees a city whose builder and maker is God!! ~Max Lucado

To all my friends and family that are struggling with life’s storms, hang on to the promise of His purpose and have faith!! I love you all!

Girlie Girl or Divine Intervention

February 14, 2011

I always dreamed of being married and having a little girl to share all the "girlie" stuff with. I did get married, I did have a sweet precious little girl but.....I didn't get the sharing the "girlie" stuff part.

My daughter is now twelve years old and I am so proud of the young lady God is molding her to be. Being able to be apart of that has truly been an incredible blessing. We recently had a mother/daughter tea at our church with the GA program. It was a very sweet time of honoring our daughters and our lady missionaries in the church. We wrote letters to our daughters and they were read aloud for the entire audience. I was like a baby; it doesn't take much for me to cry so I did just that...cried like a baby. Each letter admired the character traits and good qualities of their daughters and encouraged them on to live a life for the Lord. When it came time for Madison's letter to be read I couldn't even look her in the eye without tears falling. Oh, how thankful I am for that precious girl!! 

You see, my plans were very different from God's. I wanted a baby girl but not at the time we found out we were pregnant. My husband and I had been married for a couple years and both of us were full time college students and working part time jobs. Having a child at that moment was not part of our plans. We had goals and a time frame to meet them and a child was not something that really fit into our agenda. Please don't misunderstand me, we were grateful to be having a child and very quickly got excited but also were frustrated that OUR plans were not going according to our schedule. You with me?? 

And then there was the next thing....my daughter has never been a girlie girl!! What?? If you know me then you completely understand what I am talking about! How can this be??? Lord this was not what I asked for!! How come you keep interrupting my plans??? Madison has NEVER played with baby dolls or Barbies! She NEVER liked to dress up and still doesn't like to shop!! How could this be I have one girl and she is NOT a girl!! Something must be wrong Lord!! Playing with stuffed animals was her love and quickly she found out what a horse was and has had a passion for them since she was two!! How did that happen, neither my husband nor I have ever dealt with horses...we are NOT farm people!!! Did you hear me???? I don't like to be dirty and my daughter would live in the barn if I would let her; she would sleep with the horses on hay if I would allow it! 

God has countless times told me that His ways are not my ways and I have tried to argue with Him several times over it! These lessons have been life altering! When you finally realize that what you want may not line up with what He wants, it is very freeing. 

I am doing a study over Jonah right now and basically it is about his interrupted life. He didn't want to go to Ninevah, it wasn't a part of his plan, he didn't like the people there, and he high-tailed it the opposite direction when he heard God calling him there. 

Numerous times I have done the same thing. God has interrupted my life and my plans and I had a choice to whine and fight for what I wanted or submit to His authority! I can't say that I always have chosen His path! I have been a whinner, I have thrown fits, I have tried to conform my circumstances to what I wanted, and I have gone the opposite direction despite what God has laid before me and let me say there has been consequences for my actions. 

I love the story of Jonah, maybe because I can relate to him so well. He loved the Lord and knew Him well, but when asked to step out and go against the current he resisted! That wasn't what Jonah had in mind. He didn't want to go to Ninevah to share the gospel with people that have hated his kind for generations. Being with enemies and evil was NOT on his to do list! His plans were interrupted. Priscilla Shirer the author of the study I am doing put it very well....a life interrupted should be considered God's divine intervention!! WOW!! 

How many times have you had a plan and things didn't go as planned? How many times has God called you elsewhere when according to your map you were on the right route? What about now as God is calling you into a deeper walk with Him but it is requiring you to spend more time in His Word and time with Him in prayer? Interruption or intervention? What about last night when you had this perfect night with your husband planned in your mind and it didn't go that way at all? Or maybe you thought you would have a child by now and it hasn't happened? How about when you have spent all day cleaning the house from top to bottom and the family comes and messes it up in two minutes? Or maybe you have lost someone in your life very dear to you? These were not your plans, they were not according to the map you had set before you. You were content with your plan. There are a thousands of options to explore on this subject but the fact of the matter is....is it our plans or God's plans? And when our plans don't pan out, how do we respond? Do we look at our interruptions as His divine interventions? 

I am sure I sound selfish when I have whined about having an unplanned child and that child not being a girlie girl. And yes that is exactly what I have learned. Realizing my ways are not His can be heart breaking for dreams. But on the other hand, submitting to His authority and realizing his divine interventions are much better than my dreams could ever be are what makes my relationship with my Father that much sweeter! Try God out on that...you will NOT be disappointed!!! 

Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Be encouraged that even when your life seems to be interrupted, it may just be God's divine intervention. We may not see it at first but when we saddle up His horse we will be in for a ride much more adventurous and grand than we ever dreamed of! Yee-haw!! Let's find some dirt!!  

Encouraging you,

Kim Bobo

For Such A Time As This...It Is Possible

I’m not sure if y’all ever have those days where God repeats Himself. Most of the time it is my lack of faith, to tell my fault, and for some reason it isn't sinking in so God repeats Himself ever so patiently. Today was one of those days. From different studies and different sources that I read today, these three verses were apart of them and they ALL said the same thing...🤦🏻‍♀️

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.””

Mark 10:27 NIV

““I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

Jeremiah 32:27 NIV

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.””

Matthew 19:26 NIV

IT IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD!

So I asked God what in the world it is that I’m not believing to be possible??  I wanted to claim them possible through Him. Sooo, I made a list in my journal after writing each verse. The list kept going. 😔 And going. I didn’t realize I had so many things I thought were impossible. My impossibles were things I guess I thought God must not care too much about because I had not seen much change in any of the situations. 

I looked to the previous page in my journal and I realized the last time I journaled, my thoughts had been wrapped in my own personal "blah" that I was missing assignments God had for me, Esther 4:14 “for such a time as this”. (Which is another verse God keeps repeating to me 🤦🏻‍♀️ why can’t I get it already?) And today, reading an Ann Voskamp quote, “You are where you are FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS - to not make an impression but to make a difference.” 

Ouch!!! How can I make a difference if I don’t believe God can do the impossible? How can I make a difference if I’m too worried with how others perceive me instead of seeing the opportunities before me? How can I make a difference if I only believe God works for others and doesn't for me? What's the real Truth, Kim? The rest is fake news!

It IS NOT my job to make things happen.  It IS NOT my job to worry why.  It IS my job to make a difference.  It IS my job to use the opportunities before me to make a difference.  It IS my job to believe my Maker when He says it is possible.  It IS my job to have faith.

Lord, thank you for new perspective. Thank you for shifting my mind and heart from the impossibilities to the possibilities you have before me. Bind fear and doubt and let faith in You, Your possibilities, and Your opportunities be all that I see. 

Football Games, Veterans, Basic Training, 

And A Kid Who Sees

A few Fridays ago we sat in the rain at a football game. There was a gentlemen sitting in the row in front of us.  Maylee noticed right away he was wearing a veterans hat.  She mentioned it to me and  said, "look mom, he is wearing a veterans hat." I smiled and nodded my head and we continued to watch the game.  Later, she tried to get his attention.  "Excuse me sir." I quickly looked at her and shook my head no, as Marc was having a conversation with someone else and she is notorious for interrupting.  She looked at me with a puzzled face. A few minutes later she leaned close and said "mom, I just wanted to ask him where he served our country." I sank a little in my seat. Sadly it had not even crossed my mind. I was too worried about watching the game that I messed up that moment.  All I could see was a little girl that had to get a word in causing me to miss out on the play her brother made a tackle on.  How special and appreciated that veteran might have felt for a child to take notice of his service.

Maylee has asked me several times over the last week or so if I knew a veteran because she wanted to write them a letter to tell them "thank you".  I suggested to her that we write my cousin's son who had recently left for basic training for the army.  She thought that was a splendid idea and couldn't wait to get started.

She knew what she wanted to say but wanted me to tell her a verse that talked about the army. Ha! In BSF right now we are reading through the book of Joshua and I couldn't help but think of chapter 1 verse 9 as the Lord was preparing Joshua for battle and to take the land that was promised. She thought it was the perfect verse to encourage Kolten in his journey through basic training for the army.

I'm always amazed at her thoughtfulness.  Conviction may be a better word for me.  She is always thinking of ways she can be kind to someone else. I so miss the mark on that countless times. She sees people so differently than most of the world does.  So when I say I want to be like her, I truly do. I want to see ways to encourage others or make them feel special.  I want to show others I care not just by words but by actions.  I want to see people and their needs like she does.  Maylee is always proving her love for people in the things she does for them.  What an example she has been for me.

Oh Lord, that a young girl could teach me so much about the eyes of Jesus, I am so thankful.  Lord, thank you for showing me to love and encourage through a precious soul you have blessed us with.  We are so rich!

Taken In

“When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.”

Acts 9:26-27 NIV

“But Barnabas took him.” I just could not get past those four words. Barnabas took a risk in trusting, believing, and helping Saul. I mean I’m sure the last thing he had heard about Saul was that he was killing Christians, and now he is preaching the gospel?!? In my fleshly thoughts I’m saying, How? Why? What in the world?? Are you crazy? Do you want to get yourself killed Barnabas? God didn’t give you a brain for nothing! Then my heart hurts for that one everyone has run from and pushed away because of their past. He is a person too. One that desires just like everyone else to be accepted and loved, regardless of their sin. And Barnabas does that. He didn’t think twice. He encouraged the disciples to also love and trust. He encouraged Saul to keep on keeping on and he encouraged the church to do the same. Am I a Barnabas in others lives? Or do I turn away from encouraging others because of their past? Do I “take” them in as Barnabas did and help them on their way? 

In this move of towns and schools I have witnessed many Barnabas’ in my life. Not that I was Saul and slaughtering Christians and came to a conversion but I will say we are in a foreign land, foreign territory just as Saul was, a new unexpected journey. I have experienced the “taking” in and the encouragement of several to keep on keeping on. Can you imagine what Saul felt having someone take him in and help him along the way? 

Oh Lord, that I may be a Barnabas to all I come in contact with. Let me not look at past hurts, reputations, or brand them as outsiders but help me to only see the life you created that should be taken in and loved along their way. 

Pinky Promise Reminder

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.’ ” (‭Numbers‬ ‭15‬:‭37-41‬ NIV)

God calls. God equips and provides. God sustains.  Living a life of Faith isn't pretty. It doesn't matter what angle you look at it from it is ugly, hard, and doesn't look or seem possible.  It can lead you down a path that absolutely and fully takes your breath away and knocks you to the ground, face first. So what do you do?

Ten or so years ago was a pretty big spiritual marker in my life.  God called me to speak.  That in and of it self pretty much scared the crap out of me because if y'all know me at all, speaking is NOT something I do well or enjoy, like, or think is any part of pleasurable.  I DON'T want eyes on me.  I NEVER know what to say.  And I surely am not confident enough to think I know more or have it all together enough to share, even if it is something God has put on my heart.  Good gracious, I know all you grammatically correct people cringe when you read my blog and think I need to go back to school, I'm with ya! (Now, don't start counting all my errors!) Well....God always proves me wrong.  I have learned that in our greatest weaknesses that is where God desires to work His greatest miracles.  This way ALL glory goes to Him and not us! So speaking is what I have done.  When ever His still small voice whispers to my heart, I answer, "yes Lord." I will say that YES has come often times very hesitantly and with much doubting that "I" can do the task or that any one wants to hear what I have to say.  Nevertheless, God's grace washes over me and gives me strength to follow through.  Have I missed the mark more times than one? Of course. But He is faithful.

About six years ago God began to work on my heart concerning loving others. He began to stir a passion in me to love those that were not like everyone else.  Actually that passion was stirred in me as a teen but at this point God was making evident that He wanted to add to our family one that didn't fit into the stereotypical mold of the cookie cutter child.  I have watched my own children struggle with this, not fitting where the world thinks they should. I have listened to hurtful comments of others that we must not be parenting right or our child wouldn't act that way. Not enough spankings, too many privileges, or the real kicker being "if I had him for a week I'm sure he would act different".  Color changes at school, principal visits, church members telling me "wow, you have your hands full" as if I didn't know that already and as they were excited to see me pick my child up after the service was over. Coercing of testing and medications from school staff, and feeling like a complete failure of a parent. Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt and never wanted to be there again.  But you see...that was all in preparation for now.  It was for the calling God has on our family now.  That passion to love, God instilled as a teen has not left. God used ever moment of every one of those days to teach me, and our family to love a little deeper, to see people a little differently. It has continued on and God is still working.  Today it is a picture of a little girl that has been added to our home through foster care.  Through every ugly day.  Through every overwhelming situation.  Through every "you're crazy" look I receive.  Through ever word that is muttered behind our backs.  God isn't finished.

We all have great adversity.  None of us are immune.  I love my children but I'm thankful for school days.  Can I get an AMEN???  It gives me sanity.  I'm thankful God hasn't called me to homeschooling. (Please Lord, don't see that as my weakness and want to shine through that! Pretty please!) I might just pull every hair out on my head as having all four kids home last week with a few extras just about sent me over the edge.  Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the snow days of sleeping in and spending good quality time with everyone but this momma thrives on a schedule and so do my children.  No organization means chaos and crazy!! And my OCD self needs calming.  Not to mention all the other things we had going on that put me into a tail spin. But like I said we all have adversity. We all have challenges.

Can I just say that until you learn a little psychology of children, especially a foster child you are missing out?  Trauma runs DEEP!  And list upon list of disorders can not begin to describe what these children, that are NOT cookie cutter, have to endure and overcome. those no schedule no school days that some think are a gift from heaven can be a straight gift from Hell for a foster.  I know there are those of you that believe parenting is black and white.  And I am not casting stones.  I'm simply informing you that not all children can handle the same methods.  Not all children respond the same.  We as adults don't respond the same, how can we expect children to?  That said our newest little had come home with a not so great report from the bus driver, a white slip. Our oldest two have struggled with their grades this nine weeks and now we are down to the final few days and nerves are high.  Adversity.  The little miss's misbehaving didn't end there.  It didn't stop with one minor hiccup it just kept going.  I will let your imagination go on that one and spare you the details.  Then it's bed time.  And as I come to the little's room to check, after being in bed for ten minutes, I see her still in the state of rebellion.  It had been a long evening and this momma did not feel well to top it off.  I felt the temperature of my body literally rise. Literally. It started mid body and spread like wild fire in about ten seconds.  "Lord help me," I cried as I stepped in to her room. God was in that room.  He gave peace, and patience, and a calm word.  We talked about her fears and behaviors.  We talked about satan wanting her to do things that were not right.  We also talked about God's promise of always providing a way out and that He always gives us a choice.  We prayed and asked for forgiveness and for help to conquer sin the next time.  Explaining sin to a five your old with about a three year old mentality isn't easy.  Especially when parenting her isn't black and white.  It isn't cookie cutter by any means.  I fail miserably so many times.  But in all God's Glory He gave me hope last night.  This little girl wanted to make a pinky promise.  She said mom, let's "pinky promise that I won't do these things any more." Then she said and "can you hang a picture on the wall so I can remember?"  As I'm studying Moses right now in BSF, God told the Israelites to wear tassels on their garments as a reminder of His promises, His commands and plans, and His faithfulness.  My heart sang as this precious child of God needed that reminder as well.  She needed to know that He always gives her a choice away from sin, a way out, and He promises that He will never leave her. Praise God we to have that promise!

Thank you Lord that just when I think my well has run dry You spring new Living Water in my soul to give me hope.  To remind me of Your calling.  To show me suffering is NOT in vain nor is it wasted.  To keep my feet planted on Your path.  And to help me love a little more those that are harder to love.

I pinky promise to you all that when He calls, He equips and provides, and oh how He sustains us through every battle, every crisis, and every storm!!! You can count on His promises!!

PEACE!

Your best learning usually comes from your hardest times. The more years that pass the harder the times.  Can I get an Amen?? I mean, do you ever wish you were a carefree kid again? I think about my childhood and teenage years and although I can remember a few really difficult  things that I went through they just don't seem to compare to the hurt, responsibility, and difficult decisions that have to be made at this point in my life.  Thankfully through hardships we can gain wisdom if we allow God to mold and shape us.  I can't say that I have always done that.  I am stubborn (I know y'all are all shocked by that statement, haha!) and at times tend to want things to go the way I want them to go. So of course God continues to teach me certain lessons.  The Lord is patient!  Did y'all hear that?? HE IS PATIENT!!! Praise His Holy Name for that one because otherwise I know my consequences would be much more harsh!

The Lord instructed our family to love another in, so we have done just that.  Each day presents a million and one scenarios of decisions that can be difficult and overwhelming.  Not to mention parenting 3 teenagers, well 2 and half since Mason is still 12.  But goodness knows when they hit 7th grade all hell breaks loose and attitudes and smart mouths arise.  I blame my husbands sarcasm for some of those hardships as all seem to have followed in their father's footsteps of sarcasm. BLAH!! This generation doesn't have any other forum of communication, do they?  (I love you Marc, and did fall in love with a LITTLE of that sarcasm many years ago, haha! :)   So here we are sifting through each day and doing our best to teach, guide, and pray that these four hearts will mold in to the Lord's hands.

I find great comfort in walking with the Lord and just when I need his presence the most He always shows up and encourages me on.  Maybe you are a parent and you understand exactly what I am talking about.  Maybe you are not but life has thrown you more obstacles than you can bear.  My friends, the Lord is faithful!  I share with you my life stories because its real to me and God does speak to REAL people in REAL life happenings.

Peace in the storm is a term I have heard repeated over and over and I can say I have experienced it but now more than ever.  My worry can get the best of me some days and fear has a way of trickling in when bad news comes, kids seem to be haywire, and rejection is on the loose.  But each time I wonder in my dismay, the Lord brings about sweet reminders of how He has it all taken care of.

This morning it came with a simple few words.  I have mentioned before that I will sometimes holler out the window to my boys to "Be The Sunshine."  The last couple months little May will ask me, "mom, can you roll down my window," and as we let the boys out she will holler.  They of course will keep walking pretending they don't hear her, seeing as a 5 year old hollering "Be the sunshine!" is soooo not cool for 12 and 13 year old boys.  It isn't cool for mom to say it either might I add, but it sure is fun. LOL! This morning was no different as she asked me to roll the window down and said her farewell encouraging words.  Then as I pulled in to her school to let her out she looked at me with the biggest smile and said, "mom, you have to tell me to be the sunshine when I get out of the car, ok?"  If you know our May you can picture the drama filled face with excitement that she can hardly contain.  So as she opened and backed out the car door with her face gleaming she kept telling me to speak the words to her. I couldn't disappoint this 5 year old little girl and I hollered very loudly for her to "BE THE SUNSHINE!".  She wanted so desperately to feel that same love and encouragement this morning.  As she closed the door with a grin from ear to ear she literally bounced past the teachers on to the door of the school with exuding excitement.  It was as if I had just given her the BEST gift ever and there was not another care in this world!

The Lord is sweet to me just like that.  He shouts to me words of encouragement as I sit closely , eyes wide open, eagerly waiting for Him to speak His Words to get me through the day.  And with His Joy abounding I bounce when I hear His voice.  His peace comes over me and I know all is well even in the midst of pure chaos!!  And that is His promise!  He will bring that joy and peace through His Word just when I need it most!

I believe today little May needed it too!  My boys needed it as she encouraged them!  We all need it each day!

"Peace - shalom - is  more than just the absence of war.  God's peace gives the security of His blessing; God's peace promises His eye is always on you to do you good; God promises His peace to His people! God's peace sums up all God's good and perfect gifts and comes to us through Jesus Christ." ~ BSF Notes

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-25

Oh Praise Him!!  In the middle of chaos He will bring good!  His face will shine upon us and He will bring peace!!!