Life changes

Crazy how suddenly life changes. Our God works that way. A week ago one phone call changed ours. A year in the waiting and a year of God orchestrating all the details of this journey. We are beyond grateful and praising Him with our whole hearts. We have been trudging in this economy. Putting our faith in Jesus knowing His plan is perfect and if that's true then we are in the place where He wants us. A year ago my husband lost his job. And since that day God has been proving over and over that He is enough. My faith is unshakable. My children's faith is unshakeable. My marriage is rock solid anchored in Jesus. I'm so grateful to have stepped into His blessings and out of the desert for a season. More to come. Love to all and grace is enough.
Kim

A day full of gratitude

If you wonder why my posts are about gratitude lately it's because I feel like if I'm not grateful for all things then I'm playing God choosing what I think is best for my life. I've really been challenged lately to look up to Heaven and trust His Hand is always working my life events for what's best and what will serve His purpose and bring mor to Him. Isn't that what it's about? Bringing people to Jesus. My life has been so much about me. And not so much about taking this cross and following Him. This cross this life. The good. The hard financial crisis and the unknown in the future. Today I have what I need and for today. There's a lot I need to get for my oldest to go to ministry school and I really could use prayer. She's twenty and has no car. She's going to be living in apartment with roommates. I have nothing for this fall except the promise that He will and can move mountains. Do I believe He can and will? Yes.

The desert

And in the desert, there you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place. Deut. 1:31.

Yes all the way. To me this says that all that's happened in my life the good and the not so good God has been here. The way that my daddy carried me to bed or the way he carried me up the steps of a stadium football game and when he picked me up as he walked through the door home from work. I remember how excited dad was when I wanted to be with him and spend time with him as we had many special times. Dinners that we couldn't afford to go he would take me on a date. In elementary school he would take me to lunch at the place of my choice and we would go get me some white boots that zipped up the back. I felt so special.

God who loves me even more than my daddy probably feels the same way when I spend time with Him one on one time. Just He and I. Its amazing that the creator of all this wants me. To spend time with me and sing and dance over me. To see past the flaws because he sees me as forgiven. So today I recommit to Him. My all.

Gratitude

I'm right in the middle of finishing my letter to my mom and I will finish it but I really feel led to talk about being grateful. Because lately I haven't been. I've not liked my life lately. It's not what I would've picked but that's the beauty of being His child I don't have to pick my life. I'm letting Him take the wheel ! I am human and I have been a complainer lately. It all has to do with worldly possessions and money. I find myself saying no God you don't know what's best for us. I over analyze what I'm doing wrong. Am I being punished am I not righteous enough. Of course I'm not righteous enough. Of course I'm doing things wrong. I'm a sinner. But I've been forgiven. Redeemed. Lived by the King. He's my groom. He dances and sings over me. He pulls me out of the pit of despair. He can take my yuck and make it beautiful. So take all my thoughts captive. Replace them with your truth. May You be my first thought and last thought of the day and May I sing for joy just because I'm yours!

Dear mom. (part two)

You were the wife of a insurance salesman. A commission only kind of business and remember the paycheck that was 8$? But your God was and is much bigger than banks and underwriters. And your husband? He got the glory while you waited in the background and you were ok and preferred it that way. And he never hung up his coat. And there were bills and mortgages and private school and gymnastics and piano and you never missed anything. I didn't ever like being away from you. Because no matter what you made me feel important. "But a wise woman knows what powerful men can forget that the way to move Heaven and earth isn't with a strong arm but with a bowed head " I'm sure your head was bowed when we were 5 minutes later than curfew and when the cheer bus was hours late and for who I would marry and my salvation. You lived bowed. First to your God them your husband then your children. And you still had time to be a daughter yourself to the best grandparents ever. How I loved them. Your mom and dad. But you had to learn to parent on your own for your childhood was full of reprimands rather than praises. Yet you praised. Your childhood was not full of hugs and kisses yet you always had open arms and a lap for me to sit on. And could family vacations be anymore fun and full of humor? When I brought all dirty clothes?

1000 moms project and sdg

Ann Voskamp has a challenge on her blog called the 1000 moms project. You write a lettter to your mom on your blog, link with her and money is donated to the project that helps moms and babies in Haiti. So what more of a way to honor all my mom has done and is doing than by typing her a simple letter to tell her just how important she is. I am not an eloquent writer but mama doesnt care. She loves a homemade project and gift.
Dear Mom,
Where do I begin. You gave up your life for me, September 25, 1967 a really long hard labor in a airforce hospital in columbus ,ms. yielded a baby girl around 6 lbs, 6 ounces. I came out screaming and screamed and screamed. I was an attention hog from that day on. You were so young, a mere 22 year old child yourself, in a city away from family and friends, you chose to be a mother and a wife first. (actually you were a daughter of the King first)And I didnt make it easy and we had mny long days and nights together as we became aquainted with one another. God was developing patience in you for sure,"Everything beautiful always begins with a willingness to suffer" (thanks Ann Voskamp)and as a mother there is much suffering and it begins with labor, then you become last on a long list to get your needs taken care of.

somehow you managed to make hot chocoloate chip cookies, applesasuce muffins,warm chocolate pie, one with the topping and one without, we just couldnt be easy, right? Homecooked meals began and ended our days. I knew how important i was to you and still do. My favorite time of day was coming in the house after school and seeing you in the kitchen chair with a yummy snack that you hand made. I was the most important person in the room,you wanted every detail of my day, and i never asked about yours and that was ok with you. i guess i was an attention hog all along. You laughed at my jokes even though they werent funny and answered my ridiculous questions with a straight face like was i going to jail for throwing a banana peel out the window on the highway? and was a truck going to slip on it and wreck? i just knew they would find me.You were the audience for ou plays and dances and cheers etc. part one

Recipes and life.

When my grandmother died a few years ago she left me her recipes. Along with many memories and love and a relationship with Jesus Christ. I pulled the brown wooden boxes out today and realized they were completely out of order. Appetizers and chicken and vegetable dishes all in random places and really hard to put my finger on when needed. Kind of how life can be. Completely out of order. Chaos. No flow whatsoever. As i I began placing the right ones behind the right label I realized that it's just that simple to get my life in order. That I just need to place Jesus in front of all the rest and it will all fall into place and chaos becomes order and life flows again with a rhythm that only He can orchestrate. Praise always precedes the miracle. So I praise Him and ask Him to step in first and I go along the rest of today knowing He's got this.