Hey Ladies!
My verse this week is one that I found while praying for a family battling a tragedy. Then I also prayed it for the bereaved later this past week. So I think I need to commit to memory and use it as often as possible!
Psalm 29:11 (NIV)
" The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace".
Peace...do you have it? When life is flipped upside down, do you still have peace? Peace is not necessarily tranquil or quiet. To me peace is knowing that someone else is in control (God), and that all things are worked for the good of those who believe in Jesus. Peace is responding in love regardless of the circumstance. Peace is not letting circumstances define you, but instead rising above them...and shining the light of Christ in the dark. Peace is knowing how the story ends and Praising Jesus until it arrves! Granted...it's also nice when life is quiet and tranquil...hehehe
Let's hear your verses!
In Him,
Kristy
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Praise Jesus!
I was visiting Ms Shelby in ICU this morning...she is not expected to be in this world much longer. Even at this moment in her life...she is teaching. Fulfilling Matthew 28:19-20, she said the MOST amazing thing and teachable thing...in between moans and semi-consciousness she uttered many times..."Praise Jesus". It was more than I could take. To see her lifelessly praise our Saviour. I was so convicted. Y'all know it takes nothing more than a song or a simple precious baby to make me squall like one...well hospitals and funeral homes are no exception they get me at the doorway! In fact, one of my BFF's joke that I could be a paid parishioner at Parrish's cause you are guaranteed I will cry a river of tears for complete strangers! It has become almost funny at how predictable I am...to fall apart at nothing. And this moment was so much more than nothing!
In 3 minutes I evaluated my entire life...how many times have I looked at my current circumstances without uttering "Praise Jesus"? The 2x4 of Jesus whopping me up side the head was telling me that we should utter it continuously in health and happiness so that even in our sadness and despair and pain we will subconsciously instruct our mouth to praise Him. When we have nothing left in this world...we need our mind to continually say "Praise Jesus".
How many times do we only praise Him in good times, when we have an abundance, times of great harvest? But what do we say when times are tough, during the seed planting cycle, or when we come up short? Do we praise Him? The Bible tells us if we don't...the rocks will (Luke 19:40). It made me wonder...what will judgement be like for us when we stand before God and he reminds us that many times the rocks had to Praise Him because we did not? Suddenly, praising Him...even in the storm...took on new meaning...standing right there in Room 11 of JMC's ICU. I gave Him praise. And prayed He would continuously convict me!
Ms Shelby is such an awesome example of being so close to Jesus that even in our subconscious...He is all we think about!!!
Praise Him ladies...all the time...no matter the circumstances!
In Him,
Kristy
In 3 minutes I evaluated my entire life...how many times have I looked at my current circumstances without uttering "Praise Jesus"? The 2x4 of Jesus whopping me up side the head was telling me that we should utter it continuously in health and happiness so that even in our sadness and despair and pain we will subconsciously instruct our mouth to praise Him. When we have nothing left in this world...we need our mind to continually say "Praise Jesus".
How many times do we only praise Him in good times, when we have an abundance, times of great harvest? But what do we say when times are tough, during the seed planting cycle, or when we come up short? Do we praise Him? The Bible tells us if we don't...the rocks will (Luke 19:40). It made me wonder...what will judgement be like for us when we stand before God and he reminds us that many times the rocks had to Praise Him because we did not? Suddenly, praising Him...even in the storm...took on new meaning...standing right there in Room 11 of JMC's ICU. I gave Him praise. And prayed He would continuously convict me!
Ms Shelby is such an awesome example of being so close to Jesus that even in our subconscious...He is all we think about!!!
Praise Him ladies...all the time...no matter the circumstances!
In Him,
Kristy
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
A fresh OT Word
I am reading the Bible chronologically this year. I read it the last two years using a reading guide that I highly recommend! You alternate between an OT book and a NT book so you do not burn out in the OT laws! If you need a copy...let me know!
The chronological has been a tad challenging because obviously it is all OT until the last portion of the year!!! I am so ready for the glorious birth of Jesus my Savior! But the OT speaks volumes to me...when I listen! Last night I was in Jeremiah...and I had a "ah ha moment" when I read Jeremiah 17:7-8. It's a common promise throughout the Bible, but something last night made it come alive once more!!! "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Maybe it was the HEAT! I had done my 5k training just before reading...and it was 90 degrees with no wind! (In fact when I came in Caleb said "Oh no Momma...your face is bright red! Are you ok?" thanks dude! haha) Or maybe it was because I had spent the evening earlier working in my neglected garden...and I was seeing first hand what happens when drought and heat combine! Regardless I wanted to share it with y'all and hope that it blessed you the way it did me!
Trusting in the Lord is not easy all the time. Sometimes it is down right hard. But the reward of trust and obedience is always so sweet and restful. That is the best way I can describe it. Restful. Unfortunately...I have a lot of experience on the matter! When I try on my own accord to do things my way instead of obeying God's commands...my life is turmoil, aggravating, and usually hard. And even when His path is less travelled and not exactly "easy"...it is restful and blessed! Sometimes it just takes looking back to see the full scope and then to stop and Praise Him!
Have a restful day in Him!
Come for ice cream tonight!
His Servant,
Kristy =)
The chronological has been a tad challenging because obviously it is all OT until the last portion of the year!!! I am so ready for the glorious birth of Jesus my Savior! But the OT speaks volumes to me...when I listen! Last night I was in Jeremiah...and I had a "ah ha moment" when I read Jeremiah 17:7-8. It's a common promise throughout the Bible, but something last night made it come alive once more!!! "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Maybe it was the HEAT! I had done my 5k training just before reading...and it was 90 degrees with no wind! (In fact when I came in Caleb said "Oh no Momma...your face is bright red! Are you ok?" thanks dude! haha) Or maybe it was because I had spent the evening earlier working in my neglected garden...and I was seeing first hand what happens when drought and heat combine! Regardless I wanted to share it with y'all and hope that it blessed you the way it did me!
Trusting in the Lord is not easy all the time. Sometimes it is down right hard. But the reward of trust and obedience is always so sweet and restful. That is the best way I can describe it. Restful. Unfortunately...I have a lot of experience on the matter! When I try on my own accord to do things my way instead of obeying God's commands...my life is turmoil, aggravating, and usually hard. And even when His path is less travelled and not exactly "easy"...it is restful and blessed! Sometimes it just takes looking back to see the full scope and then to stop and Praise Him!
Have a restful day in Him!
Come for ice cream tonight!
His Servant,
Kristy =)
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Where is your center?
I am reading an interesting book. I know you are surprised...haha It is called "No Other Gods". And it has opened my eyes to some interesting things in my life. When I heard the word 'idols' the only thing that came to mind was ancient times...golden calves or voodoo dolls. Not once did I think of tv, radio, work, family, etc. The point of the book is that an idol is anything you cherish above the Lord. Well, initially I even thought that was absurd...I am a good Christian and I know scripture says "Love the Lord your God with all you heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and ith all your strength (Mark 12:30 - scripture memory comes in so handy!!!!) And I do love the Lord! But then I started evaluating my life...and specifically my priorities. I came to realize that when my world "centers" around something...in essence it is an idol. If that thing/person is not Jesus...then I have an idol problem.
So many times my world has centered around ME...therefore I am my own idol. When I value my own thoughts, desires, dreams above the Lord's plan...I have a problem. When my world centers around my husband or my children...they are my idols. When my world centers around work...it is my idol. Anything I choose above Jesus becomes my idol...tv, radio, money, rest, etc.
I challenge you to look at your center of your world....is it Jesus? If not, you need to pray for guidance from the Holy One to help you re-center your world. And if you have nothing to pray for...pray for me...pray for Jesus to open my eyes to see as He sees...and make choices that He would make in everyday living so that I do not have an idol problem! I want to shine His light in this grim world while I am living and I realize that if my center is not Him...the light will be overshadowed by my idols...and my witness will be ineffective and weak! And I want to finish STRONG!!!!
Love ya!
Kristy =)
So many times my world has centered around ME...therefore I am my own idol. When I value my own thoughts, desires, dreams above the Lord's plan...I have a problem. When my world centers around my husband or my children...they are my idols. When my world centers around work...it is my idol. Anything I choose above Jesus becomes my idol...tv, radio, money, rest, etc.
I challenge you to look at your center of your world....is it Jesus? If not, you need to pray for guidance from the Holy One to help you re-center your world. And if you have nothing to pray for...pray for me...pray for Jesus to open my eyes to see as He sees...and make choices that He would make in everyday living so that I do not have an idol problem! I want to shine His light in this grim world while I am living and I realize that if my center is not Him...the light will be overshadowed by my idols...and my witness will be ineffective and weak! And I want to finish STRONG!!!!
Love ya!
Kristy =)
Monday, July 19, 2010
Scripture Memory - July 15th (a little late)
I am sticking with my last verse because I do not quite have it yet!
Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us RUN with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let's hear yours!
=)
Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us RUN with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let's hear yours!
=)
Monday, July 12, 2010
It's the MOST wonderful time of year...
VBS Season!!!
I love VBS. I mean I really love it. Which is quite funny considering children are not "my thing". In fact in general they drive me crazy the entire year...EXCEPT VBS season!!! I think it is because I did not grow up in church and never attended VBS as a child. So every year...my children go to as many as possible so that I can live vicariously through them. This week they are at Micro FWB with Aunt Kelly. It is an Underwater Adventure. Caleb did not want to go when it came time, but Travis told him to try last night and he did not have to go back. Well...the boy cannot wait for tonight! I was shocked. He had so much fun and made a new buddy.
Our Superhero VBS is coming up next week! I hope you are all planning to attend or help out. I think we still need crew leaders. It is like the best vbs job ever...you only have to move the herd from station to station. No teaching, no crafting, just walking.
Pray for GA Campers...we leave on Wed morning. That means the Scripture challenge will either be early or late because I doubt they let me have a computer at camp =(
Have a blessed week...and get ready for VBS!!!!
I love VBS. I mean I really love it. Which is quite funny considering children are not "my thing". In fact in general they drive me crazy the entire year...EXCEPT VBS season!!! I think it is because I did not grow up in church and never attended VBS as a child. So every year...my children go to as many as possible so that I can live vicariously through them. This week they are at Micro FWB with Aunt Kelly. It is an Underwater Adventure. Caleb did not want to go when it came time, but Travis told him to try last night and he did not have to go back. Well...the boy cannot wait for tonight! I was shocked. He had so much fun and made a new buddy.
Our Superhero VBS is coming up next week! I hope you are all planning to attend or help out. I think we still need crew leaders. It is like the best vbs job ever...you only have to move the herd from station to station. No teaching, no crafting, just walking.
Pray for GA Campers...we leave on Wed morning. That means the Scripture challenge will either be early or late because I doubt they let me have a computer at camp =(
Have a blessed week...and get ready for VBS!!!!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Random Tuesday!
Warning...this post lost it's point after one paragraph...lol
Over the weekend I finished reading the WMU Emphasis book...Life Unhindered! It is based on Hebrews 12:1-2. It walked through various things that keep us "hindered" from becoming who Jesus wants us to become. And ways we can throw off the things that hinder us and run the race! The July 27th Ice Cream social will feature a very short devotion taken from the book so you can get a "taste" of it...with sprinkles and caramel =)
Tonight I have neighborhood Bible Study at my house. We are doing the "Ruth" study by Kelly Minter along with Beth Moore's blog community. It is really good. I highly recommend it. We are only using the workbooks, we did not buy the dvd's or anything official like that. There are 10 of us meeting on my backporch...well tonight at 98 degrees we will probably opt for the climate controlled living room! It is a fun mix...early 30's to 60ish, single agains with and without kids, married with children, married with grandchildren. We are building special bonds that are priceless.
Tell us what you are doing this summer to stay in the Word. I love hearing what other folks are using so I can add it to "the list" of reading and study material...and my list is getting sooo long!
In Him,
Kristy =)
Over the weekend I finished reading the WMU Emphasis book...Life Unhindered! It is based on Hebrews 12:1-2. It walked through various things that keep us "hindered" from becoming who Jesus wants us to become. And ways we can throw off the things that hinder us and run the race! The July 27th Ice Cream social will feature a very short devotion taken from the book so you can get a "taste" of it...with sprinkles and caramel =)
Tonight I have neighborhood Bible Study at my house. We are doing the "Ruth" study by Kelly Minter along with Beth Moore's blog community. It is really good. I highly recommend it. We are only using the workbooks, we did not buy the dvd's or anything official like that. There are 10 of us meeting on my backporch...well tonight at 98 degrees we will probably opt for the climate controlled living room! It is a fun mix...early 30's to 60ish, single agains with and without kids, married with children, married with grandchildren. We are building special bonds that are priceless.
Tell us what you are doing this summer to stay in the Word. I love hearing what other folks are using so I can add it to "the list" of reading and study material...and my list is getting sooo long!
In Him,
Kristy =)
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Scripture Memory Challenge - July 1
I can't believe the year is half over! I hope you are being blessed through this memorization process. I sure am! I am copying Amber's verse from last month. It's the WMU theme for the next two years, it is the race them for the 5K, and it speaks volumes to living for Jesus.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1
I daily have to remind myself that hinderances come in many forms...and some of them appear innocent and noble. Like people...people who seem harmless but everytime we get together I notice that our talk is not building others up. We are gossiping but coloring it so that it is not so obvious. Because we can justify...it's not gossip if it is truthful. Anybody with me??? But does it build someone up or tear them down? Not all truthful news is worth repeating. This is an area I get convicted regularly...what is coming out of my mouth???
So let's hear your verse...or use this one! =)
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1
I daily have to remind myself that hinderances come in many forms...and some of them appear innocent and noble. Like people...people who seem harmless but everytime we get together I notice that our talk is not building others up. We are gossiping but coloring it so that it is not so obvious. Because we can justify...it's not gossip if it is truthful. Anybody with me??? But does it build someone up or tear them down? Not all truthful news is worth repeating. This is an area I get convicted regularly...what is coming out of my mouth???
So let's hear your verse...or use this one! =)
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