Bald tires and Pot holes!

It is easier trust in the Lord when things are going smooth and there seem to be no trials but, when the trials come and times get harder this is when we slip and the flesh cries out to be heard louder and louder.

They say this is where the rubber meets the road. What if your tires are bald and the road is all pot holes? This is when we need to more than ever examine where our faith is at! If we whine about the road and the tires then that is where we are looking, our trust is in the road and the tires and not in the Lord who is so much bigger than that and can keep us in the way we should go.

Maybe sometimes instead of driving we just need to pull over, pray and trust in the one who should be driving in the first place. It is so evident to me that I am given opportunities on a daily basis to trust in the Lord and do not always take the way I should but it is such a glorious thing to follow in his way and I am so blessed to have the church family and the sisters in Christ that I have to keep me grounded in God's direction and help me to deny the Flesh that Satan tugs at.

Love and Prayers,
Kim

Smoothies on my computer and roast beef in the phone?

No this is not a test and I do not not really cook this way. I have just become so aware of what a perspective can do to ones day and life for that matter.

If I view my computer any different than one of my appliances I am in trouble. It is no more important than my toaster, blender or washing machine. I use it as a tool to run my house as efficiently as possible and minister by God's grace.

When I begin to view it as a toy or form of recreation I am in trouble because that is how Satan would have me to look at it.

The same is true for the phone, as much as I love to talk and yes I love to talk, I can not afford to waste my whole day on the phone and fool myself into thinking that I can multi task and be on guard against Satan and his buddies. I can not stretch my attention that far and it is not fair to the ones God has blessed me with. Prov 14:23 In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty. nkjv

I am finally a true homeschooling mom this year. I say that because I was wasting precious time on the phone last year fooling myself pridefully thinking I could multi task and gab the hours away, but I hurt my home and family by not giving them the full attention they deserved and even more I hurt the Lord because my testimony was not showing his glory to my children in any way at all. I take full responsibility for what I was and was not doing but, I now know that taking responsibility does not equal self pity.

So as ridiculous as the title sounds that is how ridiculous it is to think that my phone and computer can ever be perceived as anything more important than my blender or my oven. My walk and testimony depend upon it. Prov 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish woman pulls it down with her hands. nkjv. I would much rather build my house.

Love and Prayers,
Kim

Broken hearted goodbye

We had an extremely eventful day today. Not just because we had to put our hamster to sleep but because two of us had to grow up. I have been through the loss of a pet more times than I care to remember and although it never gets easy this one was the hardest yet.

We stood in the vets office with the same feeling or thought in the back of our minds that we knew he would not make it but, when the words actually came out of his mouth and my little girl's heart was broken she went from 11 year old little girl to 11 year old big girl. My heart sank and broke right along with hers but not because of the hamster directly , because this was one of those hurts I could not kiss away.

This was a big girl hurt that was as bad as it could get at that moment. When he said there was no hope but what did we want to do? I could not imagine putting that decision into her sweet little hands as she cried over her best little buddy. I asked her if she wanted me to decide so she would not have to. She gave me such a relieved look and yet so much sadness. We both grew up a bit more today, and Lord willing I believe this was in a way the glue we needed.

She will experience more hurt in her life and I know it is part of growing up, I just need to make certain she is always pointed to the Lord for the only comfort that will truly heal the broken heart and make goodbye not sting so bad.

It may have only been a hamster to many but the situation was an opportunity to gain some more ground in my big girl's heart. Praise God for every teaching moment large and small, happy and sad.

Love and Prayers,
Kim

Nothing Between

I am so struck by the fact that I wasted so much time with bitterness and anger. I missed so much joy, peace, and contentment. Joy in the simple things peace with the crazy times and contentment in just having a small still voice to listen to.

Today was our 17th wedding anniversary and we spent the day going to a farmers market, a vegetable stand and picking apples with the kids at an orchard. We were walking along at the orchard with the kids in front of us talking about the fact that we never dreamed we would be so very blessed. Blessed with three amazing kids, a strong church, a strong marriage and above all a much stronger relationship with the Lord than we ever had.

These blessings would have gone unnoticed and unappreciated without one simple act of surrender. I had to get something right recently and when the channel opened up and there was nothing between my soul and the savior blessings poured out from every direction. True blessings not materialistic temporary false nonsense but true blessings, like being able to be a blessing to others, being able to be used of the Lord in different situations with other church family, and other mom's.

Now that I have experienced this type of reality in Christ my on going prayer is for others to experience it and for me to have nothing between. May you always strive for this with me.

Love and Prayers,
Kim

Bitterness like a wild fire

I am so amazed these days at just how many people are bitter and do not even realize it. I was not so long ago and can be again not so very far into the future if I choose not to stay in the word and not have connected time with the Lord. Yes I said choose because it is a choice to stay in the word and to keep that most important relationship alive. God never turned his back on me I was the one who stopped listening.

I have been so awakened to the fact that just one bitter comment to the right person can spread like a wild fire through a community of believers and we women are wonderful kindling for those fires if we do not mind our testimonies. Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the Lord. And your thoughts will be established. Not one word in that verse says anything about complaining to friends and you will feel better, just vent it out or anything even similar yet, It has been recent that I have heard several sisters in Christ complaining.

I understand that sometimes things need to be resolved but the Lord is clear that is supposed to be done with the parties directly involved not anyone in the hall or anyone we can call. I am sad for these ladies because they have given into the anger of the situations and stirred the coals of bitterness with a result of a constant burning. The true joy comes when we realize not everything has to be an argument and we submit to authority. It is not easy but it is a sweet gift we can give to those in leadership. Until next time.

Thoughts and Prayers,
Kim

Don't panic!! God already has it handled!!

Have you ever been on a roller coaster and the moments leading up to the long climb when everyone is handing over tickets, loading up and securing belongings? The anticipation of the fear and thrill and fear then thrill. Well that is where I am at these days.

We got the official word that hubby has no more job and now we start the long climb to where ever the Lord has for us to go and how ever he would have us to get there. I will attempt to share my heart any wisdom, tears and gut level honest experiences that I can. It is my intention to be a blessing and share my heart with you along the way.

I almost feel flippant when friends say I am so sorry because I am so focused on all of our recent blessings and how the Lord is growing us as a family that I forget about the job situation. My usual response is "oh the Lord has that handled already", and he does I know it in my soul but I still need to be on guard always and prayed up in a constant state of seeking him. There can be "nothing between my soul and the savior" I

I am very excited to see what the Lord has in store for us. What a wonderful journey. Until the next episode sweet dreams.

Thoughts and Prayers,

Kim

Demons

First - final root canal went great!!!

Thank you!!! Next to all of us with demons of any sort they can be kicked to the curb but, it takes a lot more work than we realize and know that in my heart of hearts I am on your side and you have a friend, a fellow soldier as it were in the trenches with you. So if you ever think your alone, guess again, remember just communicating with each other and sharing your heart is something you did today to make yourself proud and I am proud of you for that. Kim