When Easter is over and you're still hurting ( and tomorrow is Monday)

The service was amazing and the beautiful plastic eggs have all been found and you're not feeling anything but ugly inside. There's such an excitement and fun tradition in dying eggs and making baskets and talking about the cross and His death. The tomb is empty and so are you. Maybe it's finances and you've been able to forget for just today. Maybe it's your marriage or depression or illness. How can we stay grateful for His sacrifice? A friend has just started Chemo and she's young 30 something. Her son is young too. Why does this world take mothers from their children. Why do fathers who taught you everything have to start forgetting everything. And why do marriages end and first wives are left suffering. Of friends, Jesus came and lived here through all of this. He suffered and died and stays with us today. He is walking through all you're walking through and He's never going to leave you.

The enemy came to steal and kill and destroy and Jesus came so that we may have life. Abundant life.

So I pray this week as you trudge dear friend, know that there are more broken people than put together ones. Jesus came for the broken and you don't have to clean up to meet Him. He meets you where you are.

This life feels unfair. It is. Women who stick with husbands through the hard only to have him turn to another. And she has it hard and she trudged thru the hard financial times of young marriage and now he's has it all without her. Jesus knows and He weeps with you. God bottles your tears. Please cry out to the one Who loves you and is your bridegroom forever. He will NEVER leave you or forsake you.

Tomorrows a new day. He lives so you can face it. Because He lives!!!

Girls with swords. Choose to be .....

I've felt like I've had a target on my back for a while now. And in my opinion it wasn't a good thing. I had it all wrong and I blamed the wrong source. I blamed God. The Lover of my soul. My Creator. My Beloved. It's not that way today. I'm a target but its because I'm a threat to the enemy, the father of lies. It all makes sense now and I've allowed satan to have some victories in my life. He succeeded in getting me off course. Sometimes I still allow him to get me off course. Like when I'm ungrateful for what God gives or the life He's provided. I'm not useful that way. I'm exactly where the enemy wants me. But what if I choose to be a hero? A victor in this battle for my life? After all The Bible says there's a battle for my life but the battle is not mine. It's Gods! I'm His creation. He loved me before He created the world. I'm a royal daughter of the King.

As a woman in this world I will be and have been attacked from every angle. My marriage. My children. Our finances. Oh how we have struggled and I've handled it so wrong. Instead of claiming what's mine, standing in agreement with my God I allowed myself to doubt. To be defeated. I sunk into a hole or pit and became of no use. Never again. I will always have my sword ready. I will see these attacks for what they are. Not on my past but on my future. To mess me up. But His word arms me with all I need. And I will never be alone. My Prince of Heaven will always love me and stand with me. I'm not settling for normal. I'm a Christian made for great things. So I'm resting in Him and staying armed. Helmet head and all.

The choice is black and white. No grey area. You either jump in to His army or the enemy will get a toehold. And he won't stop until he's really messed your life up. Tomorrow I will talk more about this battle and dig into some CS Lewis. Until them sharpen up your swords and stay alert. I'm praying for you all!
In Him
Kim

A Letter to My Dad on His Bday!

Dearest daddy,
How do I begin? First, I want to wish you the happiest birthday ever! I enjoyed being home every minute and I so love our outings! The grocery store runs etc. I treasure our time together. I love being your daughter. I've never once doubted your love for me. And it's unconditional and safe. I remember as a child how safe I felt being with you. How I loved doing things with you. How I would choose to stay home and play electronic football with you over spending the night out. And trains, so much fun. Shipley donuts every Saturday and cinnamon rolls on Sunday. Sunday was a day of worship and church and family. I loved watching you in the choir. I was so proud. You radiated the love of Christ to all who knew you. You shared your faith with all who listened. ( and some who didn't ) you wanted all to know your Savior. Your Lord. You love Him so much and you passed that on to us. What a legacy. You influenced so many.

You're proud of me. You inspire me to be the best I can be. I know how much you love me. I see how you smile when I or kelly walk in the room. Your hugs are one if a kind. You provided for us. We wanted for nothing. The vacations and the memories are priceless. I wouldn't trade any of it. I loved when you drove carpool in elementary and when you took me to school at ja. You sang even though you didn't know the words. All my friends wanted a dad like you and you were mine.

Even in my darkest times and yes they were dark, you still supported me. Prayed me through it. It got ugly but you never bring up the past. Only how far I've come. Thank you dad. Thank you for loving me. For praying for me. For laughing with me. For crying with me. For the talks we had for the bedtime prayers and for always cheering me on. I couldn't love you more. Or respect you more. May you have many more birthdays. And thank you for being the greatest grandfather. My children are blessed beyond measure. My son has been influenced by the godliest man I know. He clings to your every word. Kyleemckell just sings your praises. She's so proud of you. She tells all her friends about you. She wishes they could all know you. And Jordan and Tristan were practically raised by you. You were the best babysitter. When mom and I and kelly wanted a day, you picked all of then up and got McDonald or pizza and made those days special. They'll never forget. Neither will I. I wish you lived with me. My goal and prayer is to have you and mom live with me. Don't cry! It will be fun.

Remember you and gage running the dunes? Y'all had to have your water bottles!! And dancing with Jordan and ann Layton. Watching swan princess over and over. Remember my boyfriend problems in elementary school? I talked to you about them too. Oh dad. You're truly a huge blessing in my life. Please stay around for a long time. Take care of my precious mom! Love you so much!

In Him
Kim

When God blows you away!

I've been full of doubt. How can I be when He's with me and promises to always take care of me. Oh ye of little faith. He has mercy and proves Himself. I receive a gift today. Provision to keep the lights on and communications to the outside world. I believed He could. I praised Him ahead of time and thanked Him for taking care of us. Then a peace fell over and I knew He would I just didn't know how. I'm amazed and humbled and in awe. I'm ready to spread the word of His amazing love. I have a story and I'm bursting. I cannot keep this to myself. It's too good right? Our Creator loves us. He sings over us and showers us with grace and mercy. His artwork wakes us and lulls us to sleep. Blessed be the Name of The Lord.

If you're in a place of needing a miracle, claim it and praise Him for it. Ask boldly. We have not because we ask not. May you feel His love and SEE His handiwork s and thank Him for what will be. I'm praying for you dear friend! God bless you.
In Him
Kim

Bible study and more

Have you ever read The Circle Maker? I'm reading it now and loving the prayer challenges in it. I have a new prayer journal for a 21 day prayer fast, I name a few Jerichos and I circle them in prayer, daily, consistently and faithfully. The bolder the better to our Father, anything less is an insult. See, God doesn;t answer vague prayers, and He wants us to know what it is we are praying for. Jesus was on the road one day and two blind men stopped Him and asked Him to have mercy on them. Jesus asked what it is that they needed from Him, and don't you think Jesus already knew? Of course He did. He wanted to make sure they knew what they wanted from Him.

God doesn't answer vague prayers and why you ask? Because He doesn't get the glory. He loves your impossibles. Your "no ways" your dreams. He has so much for us. We just need to ask. Our biggest dreams we bring Him and He receives the greatest glory for His answers. Waiting for answers can be tough and we assume its a no when it's not in our time frame. We don't know what is best for us and we cannot see our future. He sees all and knows how all these things work together for the greater purpose which is to bring all to the Kingdom of Heaven. God always has a plan B. replacing our plan A. So don't give up. Keep circling your dreams. Your prayers. And your Jericho. The walls will come tumbling down and your God will answer. He promises. And can't we trust Him?
If you don't know what you want then be in fervent prayer because you were made for greatness my friend!!
Ask. Pray, circle. Praise.
In Him
Kim