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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/2/2009 12:40:43 PM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
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Please pray for me. I am so angry and depressed.    
A portion of what I just posted in Tink's PFY:
By this past weekend, I have been almost incapacitated with hopelessness.
I start to pray...and then think "I'm not praying with any real faith that it will be answered...so why am I even praying?" I know it's not the right attitude...doubting before I even start praying...so I just give up. I'm so confused. A few of my questions are:
* What lesson am I not learning (like the Israelites), that God is making me 'go around the desert ONE more time'? What am I missing? How am I failing?
* Why am i competely broke again? I don't spend extravegantly. I don't buy new clothes, or shoes, or make up. I don't eat out (except McD's dollar menu). If I want to buy wine, I don't buy some other groceries to allow for that expenditure. I plan my errands so I use the least amount of gas possibe (for the environment...and for financial reasons). I AM CAREFUL!! And I tithe. I try to do the right thing...yet I have $15 cash to my name.
* I think I'm doing well at first. I don't worry and fret. I pray and trust God will bring me through each new struggle. I thought I'd made big gains in my personal faith last year, after getting hurt, losing my truck-driving job (which was my first real financial security ever!). I had a lot of recovery time to dig into my Bible, to get back into the habit of daily devotions, to meet wonderul, supportive friends here on CW. But I'm worse off now than I was then!
* Is God just testing me? Or does God just allow Satan to strip me of every dollar I have...to see how I'll react, how faithful I will be? And either way...what do I have to do to pass the test? I just moved into this apartment in November. I can't pay rent this for January. I can't pay my gas/electric bill. I had to borrow money from my folks to make my car payment. Do I need to start selling my furniture this week? Am I going to have to move back in with my folk? I'm 42 stinkin years old!!!! What does He want?????????????????????????????????????
I haven't been angry with God since my first divorce...and I was angry for years then. I was bitter and hateful and thumbed my nose at God. I never thought I'd be that way again...but I'm fighting those same feelings now. I hate feeling this way...but I am spiralling out of control quickly. I HATE MY LIFE. THERE IS NO POINT TO THIS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S EVEN WORTH IT.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/2/2009 1:08:38 PM
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saraimay75
Posts: 8764
Joined: 5/11/2005
From: Wherever God plants me.
Status: online
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Heavenly Father
I am sending this Prayer out to Kimberly. She is fighting the feelings of anger that lead her away from you before. Oh, Lord Your Word says when a person give generously and with blessing that they will reap generously and with blessing. Kimberly has given with her heart. So now Lord Kimberly needs You to fulfill the rest of your promise Lord. Bless her O Lord with Your Blessings. Kimberly is carrying a weight that she cannot bear remove this weight and replace it Lord withe Your Hope, Your Peace, and Your Comfort that You have promised to Kimberly.
In Jesus Name we Pray
Amen
(((((((Kimberly)))))))
_____________________________
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
~Dr. Seuss
http://forums.crosswalk.com/Saraimay75_Cruising_Around
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/5/2009 8:57:20 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
Orange and White Barrels
Isa 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths… I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Last spring I monotonously approached my neighborhood exit where a newly posted sign announced that I could not make my normal left turn. Lined up on the road as far as I could see around the bend was a neatly-laid row of orange and white barrels. Road construction had interrupted my usual routine.
My daily plans would now be detoured due to the construction. Faced with this disruption that would surely put a kink in my life, I felt agitated and even hit the steering wheel with my fist. I would have to design new ways to reach my destinations and I wasn't happy about it.
One day when construction was completed enough to allow some through traffic, I turned left and surveyed the sights. I couldn't believe what I saw. No more lovely forest. Gone were the inviting trails into the woods. Decades-old wooden fences and bridges had disappeared. Honestly, the place resembled the combined affects of earthquake and fire. That whole summer I rolled up to the intersection with its orange and white barrels, and it triggered in me negative thoughts and feelings.
Soon after, my life was more seriously interrupted. A disturbing phone call forced me to drop everything. The bad news exploded like a bomb - my heart and mind quaked with emotion. Spiritual frustration filled my soul in the following months. I can't remember how many times my fist hit hard places. I screamed at God when life carried me away from the direction I wanted to take.
"How long will You take me out of my way?" I questioned God. I longed for my life before the interruption. Managing my days on autopilot was no longer an option as I faced my new circumstances. Slowly I began to see that this spiritual reconstruction paralleled the roadwork outside my neighborhood.
Once all the orange and white barrels were gone and I was free to turn left at that intersection, I appreciated the results. Smooth asphalt spread out before me. Two lanes of traffic moved steadily. The "earthquake zone" had been transformed into a park-like setting. A tree-lined sidewalk encouraged pedestrians to walk toward the ballpark and the neighborhood church. Admiring the new landscape, I realized I'd been inconvenienced, but now I could see that the long delays were worthwhile.
Today, although my life continues to zigzag through various "construction sites," I realize God allowed me to experience the orange and white-barreled roads to illustrate a truth. He is at work up ahead rearranging the landscape of my life. Psalm 37:34 says, "Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land." (NLT)
I may not be able to see what that land looks like, but I believe His Word. So, with His help, I put my hope in Him, traveling the paths He lays out for me, even though they are not the familiar roads I would normally take.
Ps 25:4 Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.
Father God, once again...You brought me a devotion that speaks right to my heart! You know how difficult my life is right now. My interrupted life and the difficult roads You have me traveling feel like they'll break me. Give me the capacity to graciously travel the paths You lay out before me. Help me trust You...for I know You are all-powerful, and all--sufficient. And I know I can trust You. Give me patience and faith, Father, to see what it is You have in store for me. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/7/2009 10:24:34 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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back again...after fighting more headaches. 
today's devotion...
You Are Not Alone
Ex 14:21 All that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it to dry land.
Do you feel alone?
Does God feel far away?
Does life seem dark - are you afraid?
At one point in my life, I answered "yes" to each of these questions. Following a tragic incident in my life, fear filled my heart. God seemed so distant. I felt completely alone.
It was then that God placed a familiar story before me from Exodus chapter 14. It tells the story of the Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt. Initially, Pharaoh agreed to let God's people go, but soon after they left, he changed his mind. He began to pursue them with 600 of his best chariots. The approaching army terrified the Israelites. T hey cried out to Moses. Moses reminded the people of God's promise that He would deliver them. But their circumstances told them otherwise. They heard the rumbling of the chariots charging toward them. They saw the huge body of water blocking their only escape.
Can you imagine their fear? The reality they knew was that Pharaoh's finest soldiers were pursuing them, and there was a huge obstacle, the Red Sea, preventing their escape. God's people had no idea the miracle awaiting them.
When Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, Scripture says, "All that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it to dry land" (Exodus 14:21). Because it was dark, the Israelites could not quite see what God was doing. In the dark of night, God tirelessly worked on behalf of His children to deliver them, just as He had promised.
It's as if the words of this story leapt off the pages of Scripture and into my dark, desolate heart. Although the Israelites could not see or hear God, He was working in the midst of their darkness. I, too, could not "see" or "feel" God, but He was at work around me in invisible ways – present and active, working on my behalf to carry me through my dark place.
In the dark, we have two choices. We can take matters into our own hands, turning to drugs or alcohol to numb our pain, seeking out friends' advice, or the latest self-help book, never really knowing if any of them is the way to healing and wholeness. Or we can look to God. We can open His Word and know that He guarantees healing and wholeness.
Would you like the Truth of God's Word to come alive for you? Would you like Him to come along side of you? You need only ask. The Lord promises, "When you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me." (Jer 29:13). You don't have to feel alone - seek God today!
Heavenly Father, it is so difficult to walk through darkness. You feel so far away . I feel so alone. Thank You for the promise that You will never leave me or forsake me, and that there is nothing in all creation that will ever separate me from the love I have in You and in Your Son. Walk ever so closely with me during this darkness, Lord. Speak to me. Give me hope. Show me the treasures in my darkness. I trust Your will...may Your will be done. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/7/2009 10:26:24 AM
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JustJeannie
Posts: 4691
Joined: 6/14/2007
From: the state of confusion
Status: offline
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Good morning, Sunshine!!!
_____________________________
Jeannie
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/9/2009 9:18:29 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
Risky Behavior (The Good Kind)
Matt 14:28-29 Peter said to Jesus, 'If it is You, Lord, tell me to come to You on the water.' Jesus said, 'Come!' Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus.
A long time ago I took a risk with God. Opening my heart to Him meant that I would be vulnerable. I had learned that if I stepped outside my carefully constructed walls, I could be hurt. Was I willing to let God past those barriers? Letting Him in became a first step in a life of risky behavior - the good kind! My mantra – the beat to which I marched – became "Do it afraid."
God had plans for me that I could never imagine. If I could go back in time, I would find a young girl sitting outside on a curb, afraid to go back into her home because of the chaos. She was hurting. She was angry. She wanted to run away and never come back. I'd wrap my arms around her and tell her that God loves her. That He had plans for her life that she couldn't even imagine. I'd tell her to take risks.
It was a risk to become an author. It was a risk to become a speaker. But there were other, more personal, risks that came first. It was a risk to believe that I could have a loving, safe and fun family. It was a risk to break free from the entanglements of my past and embrace who God intended me to be. It was a risk to take the mask off and be myself with others.
Every time I took a step outside my comfort zone, I grew spiritually. I discovered God's destiny rather than operating within the limitations of my own experiences. I discovered a powerful truth along the way: When we take calculated risks, we discover talents and facets of our personality waiting to be developed.
"But Suzie, what if I put myself out there, make myself vulnerable, and wind up getting hurt?" Fear can be our largest obstacle to stepping-out in courage. A step of faith might not look like success to others, but every risk can ignite more courage. "But still, what if I fail?" Take time to consider the other "What if's?":
-What if you live in authenticity and discover new and lasting relationships (even with those in your own home)?
-What if you face your fears and overcome them?
-What if you unmask your emotions and actually deal with them?
-What if you tell your secrets and they no longer suffocate you in the hidden places of your heart?
Step out of your boat, as Peter did, and discover who you are and what you can do as a child of an amazing God. It's a calculated risk, and it's worth it.
Father, I am climbing out of the boat today just like Peter did. I'm listening to Your truth, instead of the enemy's voice of doubt and fear. I trust that You know me as my Creator. Help me to take a baby step toward You and my destiny today. Thank You for reaching out and helping me walk on unfamiliar and exciting waters. For I trust Your will...may Your will be done. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/10/2009 9:41:14 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
Hand-Made Heart
Ps 33:15 He made their hearts, so He understands everything they do.
I love hand-made gifts. Just knowing that someone loves me enough to take the time to create something just for me touches my "I feel loved" button!
Personally, I can't sew, paint, or do anything remotely crafty. In fact, when I was a high school summer missionary working with underprivileged children in Houston, Texas, I wore a pin every day that said, "I Don't Do Crafts."
One Christmas, as a money-deprived newlywed, I decided I would take on the creative gift-giving task of decoupaging glass platters with decorative tissue paper. The craft show that inspired me turned out these gorgeous serving platters resembling stained glass. Well, mine looked like crumbled up tissue paper glued to the bottom of a glass platter. I can still remember the shame I felt after giving one of those ugly platters to my creative mother-in-law.
My lack of talent in the crafts department gives me a deep appreciation for the skills of others. I love admiring hand-made scrapbooks, cross-stitched wall hangings, hand-painted pottery, and all kinds of other crafty things. The scrapbooks my mother-in-law have given me over the years are some of my most prized possessions. (Glad she didn't hold the ugly platter against me!)
Did you know that our Heavenly Father is a crafter? Psalm 33:15 says that God, "made [our] hearts, so He understands everything [we] do."
How does it make you feel to know that the Ultimate Crafter--Almighty God--fashioned your heart individually?! You have a hand-made heart! God is such an amazing crafter that He doesn't even have to spend countless hours toiling over the task. Psalm 33:9 tells us, "For He spoke, and i t was done; He commanded, and it stood fast."
I can just picture my loving Lord almost four decades ago thinking to Himself, "Hmmm...the 1970's are quickly approaching. It's time to create Lee. I'm going to make her tender-hearted and full of compassion. I know she'll have a leaning toward laziness and inconsistency, but I'll give her victory over that when she's ready. I want to use her to point people to Me and to the power of prayer. I want her to be there to lift up the downcast and point the defeated to triumph through My power!"
If you are feeling less-than-precious today, pray these words based on Psalm 139:13-14 out loud, and take comfort as you take their truth into your heart and soul: God, You created my innermost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I'll praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. The works of Your hands – including me – are wonderful, help me know that full well.
Lord, we can be very critical of Your one-of-a-kind creations called "us." Please forgive my lack of thanksgiving for all the beautiful things You hand-fashioned in me. You and I both know I have flaws that need work, but nevertheless, I am fearfully and wonderfully made by the Master Crafter - You. Polish and shape me into exactly who You had in mind when you knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank You, Father, for everything You made me...and everything You're going to make me into! These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/11/2009 11:06:47 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
Rest
Ps 62:5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.
Who knew that rest was something to seek after like one would pursue a virtuous quality? After all, aren't virtues supposed to be difficult and even require heroic action? I consider rest to be passive, a do-nothing kind of thing. What is the value of that in our daily lives, especially in the life of a busy woman?
Rest, like all things, is only good if it is taken in the right measure and at the right time. When I was a singer (in my former years), I learned that a properly placed rest is as effective as any note. By putting rest into practice in our lives, we reap the benefit and value it brings. As women, many of us have forgotten the importance of rest and how to employ the proper placing of the pause.
When people ask how things are going, more often than not the response is, "Busy as usual," or "There aren't enough hours in the day to get it all done."
Why are we so busy and why do many of us feel this way?
I think one reason may be that our society has sold women a false sense of self-worth by connecting our value to our level of busyness. We should ask ourselves the important question found in Galatians 1:10, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or God? Or am I still trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Now please don't think I am suggesting all women go on permanent rest and take to our beds leaving our responsibilities and families to suffer. Heaven forbid! What I am suggesting is this: When faced with another opportunity to "do" one more thing, "go" to one more event or "host" one more party, resist the urge to immediately throw up your hand and volunteer. Pause and pray, asking the Lord's direction regarding each matter. Perhaps the Lord has someone else in mind to "fill" the position.
Some women have discovered the secret to living a full yet balanced life. Their busy life is punctuated with periods of rest, and that rest consists of a time of prayer. When I see women who rest in the midst of their busy lives I do not see them frantic and harried like myself. Their spiritual balance allows them to accomplish more with less stress.
Perhaps they have learned to employ the truths found in Matthew 11:29, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (NIV). Just like farmers hand-crafted a yoke for every work-animal to help and assist them in their work, these women have learned that the Lord's yoke is perfectly-fitted to us in order to assist us in the work He has ordained. And resting is one component of that work. When we are obedient to do the work God has called us to we can experience the joy and benefit of a balanced spiritual life as we utilize the proper place of rest.
Lord, Thank You for reminding me that rest is an important part of spiritual balance. Teach me to seek Your direction as I prioritize my life's busyness. I want to experience and enjoy the balance of work and rest. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/12/2009 8:56:15 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
What Has God Done For Me Lately?
Phil 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
Is the glass half full or half empty? Is it partly sunny or partly cloudy? Perspective makes all the difference.
Even for strong Christians who are grounded in their faith, discouragement can easily sneak its way into hearts and minds as life deals us chaos. As we struggle with the challenges and difficulties of everyday life, or things that happened to us that were unfair or unwarranted, it is easy to get pulled into a habitual mindset of negativity. Just like that old song from the '80s says, we may find ourselves asking God, "What have you done for me lately?"
Our answer to that question will depend entirely upon our perspective. God does more for us each and every day than we deserve, but it 's so easy to lose sight of the good, because we are caught up in the reality of the bad. How do we combat this perfectly human attitude?
Prayer.
Resolve to have an attitude like Christ.
Take inventory of our every blessing.
Life. Your every breath. Your every heart beat. A spouse or loved one. Children. Clothes that need to be washed because God gave you clothes to wear, and a way to wash those clothes. Good health to help those whose health is failing. Trusted and educated doctors to treat you when you are facing health challenges. A house that needs cleaning. A car to drive. The ability to purchase gas for the car. A job to go to. The ability to be a stay-at-home mom or -wife. Healthy kids who can play music or sports. Friends. Family. Freedom. Jesus. Eternal life.
What is on your inventory list today? If you were honest with yourself, would you say you have been looking for the positive aspects of the situations in your life? Are you considering how God could be using those things to draw you closer to Him? Or have you been primarily focused on the negative?
During times of negativity, we actually become our own enemy. We wage a battle in our mind because we look at our situation from our own perspective, instead of what God may be doing through our situation. So in order to change our minds, we have to choose to change the way we think – our perspective. Attitude is a choice.
Winston Churchill once said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." What do you usually see?
To quote an old cliche, today is the first day of the rest of your life, and it is never too late to become an optimist! I have heard it takes 21 days of doing something for it to become a new habit. The more you practice challenging your thought patterns, the more automatic it will become. Changes may not take place immediately, but over time, the challenge gets easier, and optimism becomes the norm, instead of the exception.
Are you willing to take the challenge to become an optimist today? The rewards of looking for God's goodness in every situation will be a healthier and happier heart.
Lord, help me with my human tendency to be critical or look for the negative in situations. Forgive me for a lack of gratitude for all You have given me. Thank You for Your patience with me as I strive to be a Godly example. Guide my heart to recognize You at work, instead of seeing things from an earthly perspective. Lead me into a closer relationship with You by helping me remember to count my blessings every day. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/16/2009 9:54:11 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
Unexpected Treasure
2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
"Where is that goat?" the young Bedouin shepherd muttered under his breath in frustration. He clambered over the rocks as he moved up the cliff on his search. It was hot, and he was impatient. Rather than going into the darkness of the cave near him to look, the shepherd tossed a rock into the opening and listened for a protesting "Bahhhh!" Instead, he heard the breaking of a pot. Suddenly the goat was forgotten, and the shepherd's curiosity prevailed. He entered the cave to find one of the greatest archeological and religious treasures ever discovered—the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Visiting an exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls recently captured my imagination, and my mind pictured the story above. The tale continues that this nomadic shepherd took the scraps of paper rolled in a cloth and stored in the pot to a merchant in Bethlehem. From there, the treasure passed from hand to hand, until they came to rest in a special museum at Hebrew University named the Shrine of the Book. The fact that these ancient documents of God's own Word lay moldering, unfound in a cave for over a thousand years before being found in the search for a wandering goat seized my heart and mind.
Paul tells us that each believer is a jar of clay that contains treasure. When we look through scripture, we can see that we contain peace (Philippians 4:7), the forgiveness of sins, redemption, the riches of God's grace (Ephesians 1:7), joy (John 15:11) and the resurrection power of Christ (Philippians 3:10).
The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls provides a powerful and Biblical picture of how a broken vessel can release the power of God into our lives and those around us. Brokenness, although painful, is one of God's means of showing His all-surpassing power in our lives. Even when the cause of our brokenness is the result of living in a fallen and sin-filled world, God is able to show Himself as the Redeemer by pouring out His treasures through us.
Are you a broken or crushed pot today? Are you suffering because of the loss of a job or the current financial crisis? Are your emotions broken and bruised because of the rejection of a friend or husband? Are you experiencing crushing loneliness because of the loss of someone dearly loved? Is your heart torn and bleeding for a wayward child? If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, He says even in catastrophic times He is not only with you, but longing to pour out through you. God's Word that you have been storing away in the quiet times with Him can be revealed through your brokenness. He sees your pain, and His heart breaks with your every hurt. You are dearly loved. Hold on to His promise that your brokenness is not wasted, but releases His Spirit to do works of perseverance, power, character and hope.
At times, I've been a very intact pot, moldering and hidden in a cave while the world around me sinks into the abyss of the absence of His Word. I pray with my broken sisters today that God would use the broken places in each of us for His great glory and our ultimate good. I pray even as He walks with us through the broken places of our lives that His Word would be exposed and powerful in a lost and dying world.
Phil 3:10-11 I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Rom 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Lord, I come to you in brokenness today. I give myself over to you, even in my weakness and frailness. No matter if I've been broken by sin or circumstances, I ask you to fill my broken pot and pour out through me. Restore my hope, Father...for I trust Your will...may Your will be done. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/17/2009 10:09:56 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
Joyful Humility
Prov 15:33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.
I am passionate about football! When our favorite college team beat a nationally-ranked opponent, my husband and I cheered all the way home. Their preparations on the practice field had brought victory in the game. In a post-game interview the player who scored the winning touchdown made a comment that caught our attention. He said, "Our coach always encourages us to remain humble in victory." Wow! Joyful humility; how refreshing!
His comment reminded me of Moses, who was "educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action" (Acts 7:22, NIV). After killing an Egyptian and fleeing for his life, Moses spent the next forty years in a hot, dry, forsaken place of anonymity. Talk about humbling circumstances … Moses, a prominent member of the royal family spent his days on the parched sands of the desert. Though he had been sidelined, God used that time to prepare him for great things to come. When God called Moses back into the game, Moses obeyed with joyful humility. Humility comes before honor in God's Kingdom.
Likewise, David grew up away from the spotlight of public glamour, tending animals in the fields. As he lived a life of solitude and faith, God prepared him for great things. Just like Moses, David stepped into the spotlight with an attitude of joyful humility.
If you look at the life of John the Baptist, you will find large crowds came to hear his sermons and to be baptized. Eventually that stopped when the crowds turned their attention toward Jesus. Others expected John to be jealous, but John's reaction was one of joyful humility: "He must become greater; I must become less" (Joh n 3:30, NIV).
While many clamor for honor, prestige and the spotlight, God calls us to cultivate joyful humility and service. So like that football coach and his star player, like Moses, David and John the Baptist before us, let's live the powerful truth that humility can be joyous and it comes before honor.
Is 66:2 Has not My hand made all these things, and so they came into being?' declares the Lord. 'This is the one I esteem: He who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.'
Phil 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!
Lord, I thank You for humbling Yourself and dying on the cross so that I could know the joy of eternal life with You. I bow before You in joyful humility as I seek to make Your glory known today. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/18/2009 11:19:26 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
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today's devotion...
A Brownie Knife
I Cor 12:18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose.
Oddly enough, I'm thinking about plastic knives today. You know, the kind you get with your to-go meal at restaurants, packaged with a plastic fork, spoon, and napkin?
For years I ditched the plastic knife, thinking they are a waste of energy and not very useful at cutting my food. Steak, chicken, pot roast …metal knives slice right through these, but not plastic knives. Hard foods are not their forte. Where plastic knives do excel, however, is in cutting fresh from the oven, piping hot brownies!
Have you ever cut brownies with a table knife and made a ragged mess out of them? Well, I've discovered a way to enjoy them, and keep the m in tact, while they're still warm. I've used this trick successfully for years, as my hips will attest. Nice squares of warm, gooey chocolate goodness with smooth edges can be yours when cut with a plastic knife.
Knowing plastic knives' special knack for cutting brownies, I use them specifically for that purpose. I don't try to cut cardboard, steak or wood with them. That would be a senseless misuse of their gifts.
Oh, but how often have I misused my gifts or stepped away from my natural talents, attempting something I am not really cut out to do? This usually leads to frustration and a mess.
The point is this: God designed each one of us with certain abilities, but we tend to look at the abilities of the other women and we get caught in the comparison trap. We try to emulate her gifts and her talents when God has called us to something totally different.
Some of my friends have better culinary skills. Some of my friends train their children better than I. Some of my friends are well organized. Some of my friends...well, it really doesn't matter. What does matter is this: What am I going to do with what I am?
Paul puts it this way in I Corinthians 12.17-19: "If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?" (ESV)
In what way has God gifted you? Have you yet to use that talent for His glory? Are you a wonderful hostess? Then don't compare yourself to the woman who is a teacher. Are you an organizer? Then don't compare yourself to the woman who is creative. Are you great with children? Then don't compare yourself to the woman who writes the newsletter.
After many years of anguish over my place in this world, or in my church, or in a women's group, I've come to embrace that which God has blessed me with. And I've decided I love being a plastic brownie knife!
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Matthew 25:22-23 The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' This reminds me that even now...when I don't feel like I have much of anything...when I'm down to my last dollars and don't have a job or any prospects, I still have something I can give back to God...something He entrusted just to me. And it's wrong for me to not use it to His glory.
Lord, thank You for the gifts and talents You've given me. I don't fee especially talented or gifted...or even needed right now. But deep down, I know You made me just like this for a reason. And I know You're going to make me MORE! Please show me where I am most useful for Your kingdom and Your purposes. Give me a boldness to carry out Your will, especially when it might be an unexpected task. For I trust Your will, Father...may Your will be done. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/19/2009 11:09:43 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
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today's devotion...
A Pause Before Reacting
Prov 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
A few years ago, Art and I hit a rough place financially. Some investments we'd made went bad and we lost nearly our entire life savings. I was knee deep in 3 small children at the time and hadn't a clue that financial danger was looming on the horizon.
That is until Art came home one day and the look on his face spoke of utter defeat. How could we have lost so much? He'd been wise with our finances. He'd done his research. He was a faithful saver. I stood stunned in our foyer that day, as Art told me the news.
There were many different directions my reaction could have gone in the minutes that followed. I was upset. When Art first talked of mak ing these particular investments, I shared with him that I didn't have a good feeling about it. But, in the end, I let him make the final decision.
So many times in my marriage, I've chosen the wrong words - words that were tainted with bitterness, words that were emotionally toxic. But I'm so thankful the Lord had been working on preparing my heart for this moment and instead of reacting immediately with what would have been a disastrous response, I paused. I allowed the Holy Spirit a few seconds to interrupt my natural flesh feelings.
Then, because of God's Spirit working in me, I was able to wrap my arms around my husband and speak life-giving words into his weary heart. "I love you Art. I loved you yesterday when we had everything. I love you today when we have nothing. I love you for who you are, not what you have."
A few years later, Art and I were on Dr. Dobson's Focus on the Family radio program. On the show Art was asked, "I know you and Lysa had a r ough start to your marriage. But what happened that made you know you'd stick by her forever, no matter what?"
Without hesitation, Art recounted my reaction over the lost investments.
I cried.
Had I been left to my own flesh reaction that day, it could have set us on the road to marital disaster. But, because of God's response being stored up in me, this situation wound up bringing us closer together than we'd ever been.
I realized how crucial it is to always be aware of God's preparation in our lives. Because He stands in our yesterday, today and tomorrow, He sees all. And He knows the perfect way to prepare our hearts for every situation.
When we embrace His preparations, even a girl with firecrackers in her blood like me can have reactions that honor God and breathe life into relationships.
Lord, remind me to pause before I react. Sometimes the stresses of life pull at my emotions, which cause me to have reactions that tear at my relationships. Please forgive me for poor reactions in my past. Thank You for second chances. Thank You for the way You prepare my heart for everything You see that I'll be facing today, tomorrow, and in all my tomorrows to come. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/20/2009 11:34:57 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
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today's devotion...
Just Desperate Enough
Luke 8:44 She came up behind him and touched his cloak and immediately the bleeding stopped.
Having three little boys in five years just about did me in. There was no such thing as a routine, as much as I tried to implement one. Just when I thought I had one behavior issue figured out, another one popped up. Parenting books were somewhat helpful, but they didn't address how to manage three kids, with three unique personalities, at once. What worked for one didn't work for another. I was drowning and desperate.
My husband and I signed up for a parenting class at church, and received a glimpse of hope. We wanted more than one class, but there was no one to head up a parenting ministry. Our pastoral team was overwhelmed with existing responsibilities. Even though their hearts wanted to offer more, their time was limited. So when one of the pastors asked us to help out with the parenting ministry, we were desperate enough to say "yes."
As we stepped into a leadership role, we discovered most people declined to help, saying they didn't feel qualified. "Neither do we," we replied. But we were ready to try anything to get support, even revealing to everyone that we weren't perfect parents. For the few years we led the parenting ministry we had to step far out of our comfort zone and risk much in order to get help. But it worked. As we shared our problems with other parents, we received wise counsel and practical suggestions that made a big difference.
Thousands of years ago there was another woman who was just desperate enough to get help. She had been bleeding for 12 years and no one could help her. But when Jesus came to her neighborhood, she was ready to try anything. I imagine she was embarrassed, and weakened because of her bleeding. She must have gathered every ounce of energy and courage to get to Jesus.
The Bible tells us there were crowds following Jesus that day. Yet somehow, this determined woman navigated her way through the rush of humanity to touch the cloak of Jesus, and the Bible tells us she was healed immediately. In spite of the people pressing around Jesus, He knew someone had touched Him. As He stopped, the people stumbled into each other, turning their heads to determine what happened. In a gentle voice, Jesus asked, "Who touched me?"
After everyone denied they had touched Jesus, the woman came trembling before Him. She told Jesus and the assembled crowd why she had touched Jesus and how He had healed her. Jesus then said to the women, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
Desperation causes people to do different things. Some people make wrong choices, believing their backs are against a wall. Some people go into hiding, hoping a problem will go away. Yet others are desperate enough to do something risky and full of humility to get help. Sometimes God uses other people to help us, and sometime He is the only One who has the answers.
In the difficult times we face, many of us have problems that push us to the point of desperation. It is my prayer that instead of desperation defeating you, it motivates you to seek help. Whether God Himself provides your deliverance, or He uses someone else, trust He already has a plan to help.
Ps 142:6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Heavenly Father, Only You know the desperation I feel right now. Only You see the troubles that weigh me down. I confess that I don't have the strength or wisdom to find an answer. Each day this week has been harder than the previous...it was all I could do just to get out of bed yesterday and today. And every time I think I know what I'm supposed to do...I wake up the next day filled with doubts. Is that Your Holy Spirit telling me I'm grasping at the wrong option...or the enemy trying to prevent me from getting out of this rut?
Deep in my heart, I trust Your timing is perfect...and I trust that You are already planning my deliverance. I'm just so lost and confused! Please show me what to do next, and direct me to the source of help. For I trust Your will, Lord...may Your will be done. All these things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/23/2009 8:45:29 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
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today's devotion...it's a good one!!
The Whitening Process
Ps 51:7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow.
When my dental hygienist of a Mom gave me a free whitening kit from her dentist's office, I was elated. The cost of the whitening treatment had been far too expensive for me in the past, so I had never pursued it. But free I could do! Unfortunately, I quickly discovered this whole teeth whitening thing wasn't the blissful experience I had anticipated. It was far more painful and complicated than I understood when I began. As I thought about this, I realized it was a parallel to the Christian life.
Whitening is painful. The chemicals they use in the bleaching process can cause pain. The nerves under the gum-line that are exposed to these chemicals can really hurt, making things you used to do without thinking—like eating, for example—impossible. I thought about how this applies to God's process of making us white as snow, as today's verse says. We want that process to be quick and easy. We don't want Him to make things we used to do to become painful or unpleasant. And yet, by exposing those nerves—the stuff we keep hidden under the surface—we are forced to change things about ourselves. We don't want the pain, and yet sometimes pain is the only thing that will cause the change God wants to bring about in us.
Whitening takes a long time. I was asking my mom why they don't just make a product that works in one application. Why does this process have to be so drawn out? "Because," she answered, "The chemicals are so harsh you couldn't take it all in one application, so they break it up a little at a time." I thought about how gentle and loving our Heavenly F ather is, allowing us to go through a process of refinement, instead of being exposed to more than we can take all at once. He leads us along the path of righteousness – a journey. He never gives us more than we can take, balancing just the right amount of pain mixed with just the right amount of perfectly timed relief. It might take longer than we want, but we can find peace in knowing that the end-result will be worth waiting for.
Whitening isn't convenient. I couldn't find an ideal time to submit myself to this process. Finding three hours to wear a tray full of chemicals in my mouth just wasn't happening. The refiner's fire is like this. It is never convenient and it certainly won't fit into your neatly ordered life to develop the character of Christ. And if you wait until you are "ready" to submit to it with your whole heart, well, it likely will never get done. God wants us to come before Him and say, "I will make the time to undergo what You have for me, because I want to be all I can for You, Lord." When He hears this from us, He moves within our lives to bring about dazzling change.
God's whitening process—it might not be easy, or tidy, or even close to what we expected, but we can trust it will be for the best.
I Peter 4:12-13 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.
Ps 23:3 He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Zech 13:9 This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'
Lord, the cry of David's heart is the cry of my heart: I want You to cleanse me, to make me whiter than snow. I understand that pain, discomfort and inconvenience will be part of that process. Help me to submit to that process every step of the way and to trust You at all times. For I trust Your will...may Your will be done. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/24/2009 9:23:42 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
The Love of the Father
Heb 12:6 For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes.
"This hurts me more than it hurts you." These were the exact words my mother and father used before they disciplined me. Have you ever heard these words? Have you ever said these words?
As a child, it was hard to understand how my parent's correction and discipline could hurt them more than it hurt me. After all, I was the one on the receiving-end of the pain and suffering! I had many mental conversations with myself on this very subject. How can they say that when I am the one confined to my room for the week?
Growing up, I thought I would only use positive reinforcement as disciplinary tools to raise my children into civilized, well-behaved members of society. My plan worked perfectly until I actually had children. Then I begin to re-think my mindset and seek the counsel of the Word as my guide for disciplining my children, as well as for receiving my own discipline from the Lord.
As a young mother correcting her children, my heart began to understand the Father's correction. It helped that I had already made the decision to allow God to be the Lord of my life. I was surrendered to His leadership in my life. Surrender meant accepting and submitting. Accepting His unconditional love and undeserved grace for my sin and submitting to His correction and discipline in my life. Trusting Him to use His Word to shape me into the person He wanted me to be. I was - and I am today - the object of His great love.
The Lord's correction and discipline is given to everyone He loves, accepts, and cherishes in His heart. According to Ephesians 1:5, through Jesus Christ we are adopted as sons of God. Therefore, as His children we are entitled to His great love, and His loving hand of discipline.
Admittedly, it took me some time to willingly submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord. At times, the process was painful and difficult, asking me to give up things I took pleasure in. When I obeyed though, I always saw a positive result. Two truths came to life: discipline is good, and discipline is necessary to help me become like Christ.
I felt His great love as God would tell me, "No honey, don't watch that show anymore," or "Wendy, that relationship is not really beneficial to you. It would be in your best interest to break away from it." When I submitted to the discipline, I could see that He really loved me and wanted what was best for me.
As a young mother, I began to understand how giving the discipline really does hurt more than receiving the discipline. How? Because of the love. The giver loves so deep and in a way the receiver cannot understand until the discipline is accepted and applied, and the receiver matures. Eventually, the one receiving the discipline and correction realizes that discipline brings what he or she has always longed for: security, comfort, and peace.
The next time you need to accept discipline, remember the love of the Father who uses correction to shape you into the person He has designed you to be.
Job 5:17 Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
Prov 10:17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
Heb 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Lord, help me to accept and apply Your loving discipline to my life. Thank You for loving me enough not to overlook my faults. You want me to be all that You have planned. Forgive me when I stubbornly stand in the way of the work of Your great love. It warms my heart to know that You accept and cherish me in Your heart, even enough to discipline me when I need it. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/25/2009 9:33:09 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
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today's devotion...
Clean Hearts
Mark 7:15b It is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean'.
Most women dislike feeling unclean. We prefer to shower, perfume and powder! But it takes more than dirt to make a heart unclean, and it takes much more than perfume to make it pure.
Jesus told the people, "What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.'"
Whew! That is some list of issues! But why did Jesus take the time to name each one of those evils? We know that not one word in the Bible is wasted, so there is purpose behind the Savior spelling out each one to this crowd. Maybe there were folks in the crowd who looked good on the outside, but their hearts were unclean.
It is easy to understand why the Lord would mention the so-called "big sins" like murder, adultery, or theft making us unclean. But Jesus lumped in some seemingly "small sins" like arrogance, envy and greed too. Those are sins we often cover over with some perfume and powder.
The dictionary describes arrogance as "an offensive display of superiority or self-importance; or overbearing pride." At first glance, we may think that doesn't apply to us. But if we let the Holy Spirit shine His search light on our heart, we may find times when we have thought, "Well, at least I'm not THAT bad," or, "It's amazing her kids turned out as good as they did."
Envy is pretty sly at hiding in our hearts as well. It is the feeling of discontent with regards to another's advantages, success or possessions. Does your friend have a new car, a new flat screen TV, or a nicer home? And does that make you look at her or at your possessions with disdain? If so, that's envy. Ouch!
Then there is greed, the excessive desire for wealth or possessions. Maybe we don't think we are excessive in our desire for things, but how much time do we spend trying to make more money? How stingy are we with what we have? Compared to what most nations have, we live in abundance, and yet we seem to have one eye forever focused on getting more.
What would it look like to take those three definitions and clean them up?
• Un-arrogance – a gracious display of selflessness
• Un-envy – being completely content with all of my blessings
• Un-greed – an excessive desire for God and His righteousness
That sounds like a clean heart to me! So today I challenge myself with the words Jesus spoke, "It is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.'" Today, I will set my mind to being un-arrogant, un-envious and un-greedy. Yes, today I want to live with a clean heart.
Matt 15:8 These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
Luke 3:14b He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely – be content with your pay.
Matt 19:21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven."
Lord, thank You for shining Your light on my heart so I can see where it is unclean. Illuminate those sins that I dirty myself with, and cleanse me from the inside out. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/26/2009 11:02:40 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
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today's devotion...
Of Enoch and Long Walks
Gen 5:24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
Do you have a favorite Bible character? One who inspires you, challenges you or one whose story you simply love? Perhaps it is Moses and his vast leadership skills. How about Esther, the compelling queen who, being both gorgeous and smart, used her quick thinking to help God save an entire nation? Maybe Joseph is your pick, as you contemplate how someone so mistreated could continually take the high road; the road that lead him not only to political power, but also to family forgiveness. All of these are marvelous choices, but none are my pick. I like Enoch.
Since first hearing of Enoch as a young teen, that guy has fascinated me. Not a lot is written about him in the pages of scripture, but what is there sure piques my interest. He "walked with God and then he was no more because God took him away." Hmmm. My young mind pondered that strange description.
As I grew as a believer, I learned a bit more about this biblical mystery man. In Hebrews 11:5-6 we catch more of the story. "By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Ah ha! Enoch was whisked away, spared the pain of death and transported immediately to God's side all because of one simple thing. He pleased God. I say simple. But I don't say easy. It is a simple thing to please God. You just do what He says in His word. Straightforward enough, right? However, my years as a follower of Christ have taught me that simple is not always easy. Choices present themselves. The world screams. Our flesh gets in the way. We want revenge or our own glory. We lack faith and instead try to control our own destinies. We mess up the "pleasin' God" part with our very own hands.
Enoch "walked with God." Oh, don't we long for that to be said of us? I'll admit I don't always walk with God. I take a stand for God; believe the right things and make it known. I may walk after God. And sadly, sometimes I run ahead of God; make my own plans and then say, "Oh yeah. By the way God, do ya mind blessin' these plans? I made them in Your name. I may have forgotten to consult You in the midst of them, but they are for You all right!" What a shame and a sham!
No two ways about it, walking with God means that we daily give up our right to navigate our own lives. We place our faith in Him, admitting He knows what is best for us and realizing He might not always reveal the hows and the whys until the very last second. Remember, God is seldom early, but never late. Only day-by-day faith-walking pleases God.
Oh, dear one, do you long to be one who pleases God this way? One who makes Him smile as He sees you daily place complete trust in Him and His infinite wisdom? Maybe then we just might be like my Bible hero Enoch; the one who walked so closely by our Creator's side that one day, during one of those long walks, God looked at him and said, "You know, we've been walking together for so long now that we are actually closer to my house than yours. Why don't you just come on home with me right now?" Glory!!!
Ps 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
II Cor 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Lord, I am ready to learn to walk with You in faith; not ahead of You or behind You, but right by Your side. Show me how...step by step. For I trust Your will...may Your will be done. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/27/2009 9:28:40 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
Courageous Living
Matt 14:33b O man of little faith,' Jesus said, 'Why did you doubt me?'
My daughter has struggled with fear her entire life. We first noticed it when she was a baby. She would hold her breath when we carried her down a flight of stairs. Then, at the age of five, she passed out while riding the Ferris wheel at the state fair. Her fears sometimes hinder her from even participating in life—from being an active contributor to society.
Over the years, my heart has broken for her as I've watched her hold back from doing the things she really wanted to do. Playing it safe only left her depressed. She lived most days looking at the world from behind a wall of safety glass, longing to be free. She'd often ask the same question, "Mom, why can't I be full of faith instead of fear?" My answer was always the same. "You are full of faith. You just let fear crowd it out."
Freedom came when Peyton decided that she didn't want to live with regrets any longer. She pushed through her fear by exercising her faith in God. In doing so, her life is now marked by joy, peace, adventure, and courage.
Let me ask you, how many times have you wanted to do something, plan something, or even dare to dream something, but were too afraid? You know deep within that your torment isn't right. You know you're missing out on life and opportunities, but you're too scared to do anything about it.
Those of us who live with anxiety are living below the mark of what we were created to be. Worry and its accompanying emotions are not - and never were - part of God's plan for His children. Yet thousands live this way each day.
I've often wondered about the eleven disciples who stayed in the boat instead of stepping out onto the water like Peter (Matthew 14:33). Did they live with regret? I don't know. They did, however, miss an amazing opportunity to walk on water with Christ! Sadly, most people stay in the safety of the boat their entire lives and then wonder why life seems so empty, miserable, and dull. They go through life missing opportunities because they're afraid to really live the way God intended. What's Christ response to all of this? He asks "Why do you doubt me?" (Matthew 14:33).
Doubt was the disciples' trouble. When Peter threw one leg over the side of the boat, nobody believed he could walk on water. I can almost hear his friends calling out, "Peter? Have you lost your mind? You can't do that!" And yet, while that thought was still fresh on the minds of his friends, Peter was already doing it. He was walking on water!
Is there someone in your life planting doubt in your heart and mind over something you're already doing? If so, don't listen. Don't look back. Keep your eyes on Jesus and your faith will enable you to walk on water. Exercising your faith is key to courageous living. Like Peter, we are then able to step out of the boat into a world of possibilities.
Ps 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid?
Ps 56:11 In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Lord, I'm ready to "get out of the boat" by trusting You with my fears. Be visible before me so that my faith will be strong and doubt will flee. For I trust Your will...may Your will be done. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 2/28/2009 10:35:57 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
Quirks and All
I John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.
We have lived in our house for just a few months, and the quirks are starting to show. One of the burners on the stove doesn't work on the low setting. A piece of tile on the counter top is not glued in all the way. Several of the outlets in the bonus room were wired wrong, which means sometimes the electricity in that room works, and sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes, if someone turns the water on in the upstairs bathroom, there is a high-pitched squealing noise in the pipes of the downstairs bathroom. This has even happened in the middle of the night, jolting me out of a deep sleep.
Before we moved, I was so ready to get out of our old house. I wanted to get into our new one so we could get away from the old house's quirks. The faucet in the kitchen sink that didn't work quite right. The place in the floor where the linoleum had buckled by the back door. The neighbors that were loud. When we first moved into this house, I thought I had escaped all of those annoying traits. And I had. I just hadn't counted on all the new ones that would pop up in the new house! I had counted on perfection on the other side of the fence, forgetting for a moment that we live in an imperfect world - a place where quirks abound.
The thing about quirks is that they usually aren't evident on the surface. You usually have to spend quite a bit of time, digging deeply, to unearth the quirkiness of a person, place or thing. I didn't see it in my brief walk-throughs of our house before we signed on the dotted line. It took living here for several weeks before they became evident.
The same is true with people. You usually have to spend day in and day out together before they let their guard down enough to show you their quirks; before they trust you enough to let you see who they really are. The trick is to keep on loving them after you get that glimpse, seeing their faults and failures, their insecurities and idiosyncrasies. Am I sticking a sign in the yard of my new house because I see some problems? Not at all. I realize that my house is bound to have quirks - ”some I can work through and some I will just have to live with.
The other night I went to the movies with an old friend who knows me, quirks and all. She and I have had moments of struggle as we have learned to accept each other's quirks. Through the years, we have learned to laugh about most of them and talk about the ones that we just don't get. As we sat together in the movies, I thought about how freeing it is to know and be known. To truly love someone is to embrace who they are, quirks and all. As we dig deeper and see what lies beneath the surface, we can choose to walk away or we can choose to stay, no matter what. While this might be hard at times, it is what God requires of us. Why? Because it is the kind of love He has showed each of us. As our verse for today says, we love because He first loved us. If He loves us, quirks and all, then He must want us to do the same, extending love in the same way we have received it.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Ps 19:12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
Ps 90:8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
Lord, Thank You for loving me and all my quirks. Please help me to love others in the same way - extending grace and compassion like You do, and seeing past their quirks. Help me to appreciate the people You have put in my life and to not look elsewhere for happiness. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 3/2/2009 8:52:41 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
Returning
Ex 5:22 Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?'
Tears stung my eyes and my heart ached as I climbed into my car. My emotions swung wildly from assurance that I had said the right things, to doubt in the stance that I had taken. Was I wrong to share with the group that I feel scripturally responsible to teach my sons from II Corinthians 6 to marry a Christ-follower and be "equally yoked" in marriage? I longed to go back to the offended woman and tell her of my great compassion for my fellow sisters who are married to unbelieving husbands. Instead, I pulled out my cell phone to call a friend for some consolation and advice. It was then that the lesson I had learned from the Bible earlier that day pushed its way to the front of my anxious mind.
I'd read in Exodus that morning about Moses in the midst of a very discouraging situation. After years of mistakes, lessons in the desert, and insecurity in his speaking skills, he had finally done exactly what the Lord said. He had gone to Pharaoh and said, "Let my people go." Surely now all the pieces would fall into place. He was at the right time and place, and he had obeyed what the Lord had told him. Moses was about to learn a lesson that many of us are facing: The blessings that follow doing God's will are not always the ones we expect.
He may have expected Pharaoh to get a thoughtful look and say, "Of course you can go, Moses. I know that God is leading you, and we just need to do what He says." That's not what happened, though. Not only did Pharaoh mock God, he doled out even harsher treatment to the Israelites by forcing them to continue to make bricks without the provision of straw. The people were outraged, and they turned on Moses. How discouraging! Things weren't going at all the way Moses had imagined. Now that he was on track with God and walking in obedience, life was supposed to get easier. Right?
All the lessons Moses had learned in the desert shepherding for 40 years served him well now. We see that despite his disappointment, he turned to God in prayer. It was a distressed prayer, but it was real and heart-felt. When he faced an indignant Pharaoh and his angry people, Moses returned to God and poured out his heart. Exodus 5:22-23 tells us, "Moses returned to the Lord and said, "O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.'" (NIV)
When Moses returned to the Lord with the pain that he was feeling, the disappointment in his circumstances, and the c onfusion about his calling, God met him there. God didn't respond to Moses with anger or rebuke. He answered with a glimpse into future freedom and a rousing message for His people straight from the very heart of God. Moses' struggles didn't end there, but God had given him the encouragement that he needed to forge on toward the calling.
In the car, I set my cell phone down, closed my eyes and bowed my head. I poured out my confusion and disappointment to God, and He met me there. My emotions settled, my mind found rest and God's peace poured over me. He is good! Doing God's will is rarely easy, and the blessings of growth may come wrapped in pain. However, we will find Him to be faithful and His Word sufficient when we return to Him.
John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
I Peter 4:12-13 Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad - for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world.
Lord, doing Your will and following You is its own reward. Even though the way may get bumpy as we obey, You are always with us. You are faithful to reassure us and encourage us when we come back from the places that our own thoughts take us. Thank you for always meeting us when we return! In Jesus' name I pray...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 3/3/2009 8:40:33 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1302
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
What If I Was Broken?
Micah 7:8 Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
His question made me stop and think. It was a simple comment, said in a teasing manner, but it instantly struck a chord in my heart.
I was cleaning out a kitchen cabinet, which had become cluttered with items that I rarely used. One of those items was an old broken can opener. I handed it to my nine year-old son and asked him to throw it away, but instead of just tossing it into the trash can, he asked if he could keep it. Why in the world would a little boy want an old, dirty, useless can opener?
He continued to try to convince me that he needed to keep it, until I finally said, "Honey, it is broken, I don't want it or need it anymore, so throw it away please." Then came his question, "Well if I was broken, would you just throw me away?"
Huh? This conversation about a silly can opener had gotten way too complicated. I assured him that I would never throw him away, no matter what, because he was too valuable to me. I gave him a hug, and he skipped off into the den to watch TV, while I stood there stunned, pondering his question.
I was reminded of a time when I was so broken, and felt dirty and useless. I remembered how a bad decision I made as a young girl caused me to spend years believing that I had no redeeming value in God's eyes. I recalled the regret that suffocated my heart for years, and how I felt God could never really love a sinner like me. I vividly remembered the overwhelming pain and regret of feeling broken, and void of worth, beauty, or value.
But a smile came to my face as I remembered the day when God healed that brokenness. Sitting a lone on a pew during a worship service eight years ago, tears were pouring down my face. I begged God to forgive me for my sins, just as I had done for fourteen years, but this time it was different. This time I felt God's presence and believed in His forgiveness. For the first time, I had heard His voice ring in the ears of my heart, reassuring me that I was way too valuable to be thrown away.
The following day I realized something was different. My past was still my past, but I was no longer broken. The damaged pieces of my heart were mended, and I set out on a wonderful journey to discover my worth in Gods eyes, not my own eyes. I believed that I really was too valuable to be thrown away, and that God not only could love someone like me, but that HE DID.
Are you feeling broken today? Do you see yourself as someone who God could not possibly love? Do you spend each day condemning yourself for past sins, current habits, damaged relationships, poor choices, or even self-harming behavior?
Do you wish you could stop feeling broken, or stop continuing a pattern of sin in your life, but simply do not know how? Do you ever feel like you are just too messed up to be "fixed"?
Friend, despite what you may think, you are not beyond repair. You are nothing like that dirty, broken can opener. As a child of God, you are precious, beautiful, and yes, even more valuable than gold. Whatever your situation, God can mend that crushing feeling of hopelessness and brokenness. With faith, ask Him to.
Will you delight Him by accepting His grace, mercy and forgiveness? Will you give Him the opportunity to mend you today?
Matt 9:12-13 On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'
Ps 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Isa 54:11-12, 14 O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
Lord, forgive me and heal me. Mend my brokenness. Give me hope. Help me to see myself through Your eyes only. These things I pray...in Jesus' name...amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly (aka KJ)
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 3/3/2009 9:08:42 AM
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Tinkerbell_
Posts: 8368
Joined: 1/25/2008
From: NeverNeverLand
Status: offline
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I'm just reading yesterday's devotion, Kimberly and it really hit home.
Thanks, gf...keep praying for me; I feel like God and I need to have a nice loooong talk. I just need to get over my stoopid pride and just do it.
*huggles*
_____________________________
When I've shown you that I just don't care
When I'm throwing punches in the air
When I'm broken down and I can't stand
Will you be strong enough to be my man?
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I feel as if I fought a physical battle today...and after letting the Psalms soothe my soul, God let me sleep and woke me feeling a relieved of a lot of the baggage I'd been carrying around the past couple weeks. 
I have a huge praise to report! 
