Walk in Love ~

Do you have relationships that have been severed? It is a painful thing.  What can make it more painful is when you've tried to reconcile the relationships and are only rejected further.   When your attempts are not only rejected, but also ignored, it hurts and it causes deep pain.  But that pain isn't something that needs to continue to hurt you.
You can pray for the person, you can pray for the situation, but you can never make someone love you. Remember that your attempt is seen by a Holy God, and that their rejection is not a reflection of you, but it is a reflection of their heart.
Though we tend to mourn what we have lost in a relationship, focus on what you have in your other relationships.  Put your love and energy into building on those relationships. We can mourn to a point where we are not nurturing what we have in the here and now.
Often people who are bitter want to hurt other people.  It may be that they are not content in their own lives, and they do not like seeing someone else who has what they want.  It is a sad state of their heart and their mind.  The Word says that we are to not be envious.  It says it is "the rottenness of the bones".  That is a very strong statement.  It speaks of having a sound heart over envy.  Contentment does come from a heart that longs for Him and the things of Him.  Those things that moth and rust cannot destroy.   When people envy, they have not received the contentment that comes from the simple things in life and in a true relationship with a loving Father. 
People will envy, they will judge, they will hold past mistakes against you, they will hold grudges.  All we can do is try to make things right and then continue pray for their hearts.  After that we cannot force them to love us or even like us.  Do  not harden your own heart and become bitter because of their situation.  If you have done what you can, and what the Word instructs, you need to move on in prayer.  Bitterness will only rob you of your own joy, it will allow satan to control you and there can be no true Biblical love when we are harboring bitterness in our hearts.
I read this quote today . . . "It does not take a rifle-bullet to destroy a life. Men have died from little scratch-wounds." (by J.R. Miller)

Do not let the wounds of bitterness, the wounds of people who cast stones, the wounds from a relationship that you cannot restore due to someone with a bitter heart continue to destroy your or your life. 

In Christ we have the power to overcome the hurt of a broken relationship.  The Word tells us that He heals the broken-hearted and He binds up our wounds.  If you have done what you can, move forward in those truths.  Seek shelter in the shadow of His wings.  Remember that your most important relationship is the one you have with the Lord.  He loves you and is there for you and He seeks a relationship with you.  He is always with us. 

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2).

Seek Him for he his always gracious, and then walk in the Love that can only come from Him.  

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Corinthians 13

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup" 

Heart of Stone?

~ "Create in me a clean heart" ........... ~ Heart feeling heavy? So much to weigh down and harden our hearts. Surrender your despair for joy, your anxiety for peace, your fear for love, your envy for kindness, your hypocrisy for integrity, your bitterness for contentment. Seek a tender heart.  "I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh."

The most dangerous heart condition that we can have is a heart of stone. Hardened, cold, uncaring hearts. God can change that heart of stone to one that yields to Him.  We need a heart that longs to serve Him, that feels the burdens of those around us.  A soft heart that is pliable and teachable, that is repentant and loving.  Only God can give us a new heart, and when this happens, it is obvious in our fruit.   Seek God if you feel you are struggling with a heart issue and earnestly pray for Him to give you a heart of flesh. 

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup" 

Watching the Storm Pass

We sat yesterday, and watched the storm roll away from the west.  What an awesome view we had and such a beautiful visual.  Made me think again, of the storms of life.  "Praise You In This Storm" was a song that came to mind.  This is how the storms of life are . . . . like ocean waves that come and hit and then recede.  We can all count on storms in our lives, but we also can count on a strong God who is there with us, in the midst of the storm, seeing us through. 

The storm was a very quick storm, and the skies brightened again quickly.  A few hours later, the skies were aglow with the setting sun.  My daughter came running to find me ~ "Quick we need to take pictures of the sunset".  It was beautiful and there was a warm glow on everything around us.  Another reminder of what is waiting on the other side of the storm when we cling to Him.  There is something beautiful after the darkness.  

Remember the disciples in the angry storm?   Their boat was tossed and turned about, and they were afraid they would soon drown.   They were also angry, as Jesus was with them, quietly sleeping in the boat!  I can picture the scene, the little fishing boat being tossed to and fro in the wind and the waves. Just like we feel in our storms of life.  The waves seem to sometimes overpower us.  The wind seems to knock us down.  When they awakened our Lord,  what did he ask? He asked where their faith was, and why they were so afraid.  Then he rebuked the wind and the waves, and everything was calm.   The disciples were so amazed and wondered who this man was, that even the wind and the waves listened to his voice and obeyed.   Let us remember, that he is ALWAYS there in the midst of the storm, and we need to trust in Him and in His power to see us through.   And after the storm, we will see the beautiful picture. 

"He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still." Psalm 107:29

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup" 

In the Shadow of His Wings ~

The swamp across town is absolutely stunning again this year, but seems to be filled with more flowers than I've ever seen. I have noticed that when I drive by and the sun is not shining, the little flowers close up and you cannot even tell that they are there.  It just looks like a regular summer swamp with lily pads. 

Made me think about our walk with the Lord. We won't live in the sunshine all the time.  When darkness comes, cling to Jesus.  He is always there for us. Even when the shadows want to overtake us, continue to trust in Him. After all, without sun, shadows would not exist. Makes you look at the shadows in a little bit of a different light.  There He is, above the shadows and in the midst of them.  He is with you and will never leave you.  Be hidden in the shadow of His wings!  There is comfort and safety there.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty."

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup" 

Healthy Summer Treat

A yummy little healthy breakfast on a hot summer day. No added sugars whatsoever.  All fruit! I think I'm hooked!

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup" 

A Cheerful Heart ~

Do you feel like sometimes you're too serious? Don't let your marriage become one of the everyday formalities like chores and work and bills and schedules. We often can get so deep into the trap of busyness that everything seems to be routine. My hubby has always been a funny guy. I think that's one of the things that drew me to him! I tend to get so stiff and serious about what needs to be done and what needs to be checked off the list of to-do's, that I can't loosen up and have fun as easily as he does. And sometimes I'm too busy to join him and cheerfully share those moments. I've learned (and I'm still a work in progress) not to take myself too seriously! Life is full of heavy stuff. We need to be real and admit that there are often hardships and pain that we deal with. But there are times we just need to loosen up and have a good belly laugh and enjoy each other in the midst of chaos.
The Word tells us that "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."
Other places in The Word show us that we can actually have a broken spirit when we have no joy.  "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."
When we look aside from Biblical principles (there are many scriptures on laughter if you have the time to look them up!) we can look to the physical. Laughing lowers our blood pressure, reduces stress, stimulates the immune system, and increases natural pain killers into our bloodstream.
Laughter increases oxytocin, which is a hormone that is often called a bonding chemical.
People with a sense of humor get burnout and depression at a lower rate.
Seems like a lot of good reasons to laugh your way through life!
One quote I read says ~ "A marriage without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs – jolted by every pebble in the road.”
If laughter can be so great for us in the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of life, think of what it can do in your relationship with your husband!
Reading a report on people struggling in marriage, one of the common threads I saw repeated was that they don't have fun and laugh together anymore.  And they wonder where that has gone and why.
What a shame that we often overlook this simple pleasure! Let it be said that your marriage consisted of lots of laughter ~ be found guilty of having too much fun together, as opposed to a union of boring days strung  together by by a loose thread of melancholy.
As I grow older, and often find Eric and I alone together in the home we built, may it be a life and a home that attests to not only the reality of the tough stuff we have endured together as we walk this road to our eternal homes. Let it be that house on a hill that has a Godly beacon in the window for those we meet upon the way. Let us do His work together joyfully. Let us teach our children and grand-babies and anyone we meet, where their true joy comes from, as it is only from Jesus Christ that we can be filled with that. But please, let it be a reminder to us  as we sit together through the years, of the laughter and joys we've shared. Let the very walls and floor boards of our home soak in the sounds of laughter and joy, that in years to come we may sit together and listen to the harmony of joyful memories created together. Let us thankfully worship at His feet as laughter echoes from each corner and each wall!
That all being said, to say this ~ create some laughter in the walls and floor boards of your home tonight. Enjoy life and laugh with your husband. Show him that you can lighten up and have some fun, and I can guarantee you ~ it's something you will never regret.

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup" 

July 4th Sunset ~ You're a Good, Good Father

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Two of the many pictures I took of the sunset tonight.  It was amazing.  As  I watched the streaks in the sky, and the colors change, I couldn't stop thinking about how God's "fireworks" outshine all that man can try to duplicate.  We all look for beauty and man is always trying to re-create it.  As beautiful as our fireworks displays are, they can't begin to compare.  As I sat and watched, I almost left.  The sky was getting darker, I had lots of pictures.  Then I happened to catch a couple with fireworks in them.  Someone many miles in the distance was testing the light for their show. How excited everyone must have been, waiting for the show to begin! The beauty of their test shots, and the anticipation of a great display ~ the oohs and ahhs in the crowd.  But look at the show that our magnificent Father had on display for us.
Think of the beauty that Heaven has in store for us.  When you're feeling like you are losing hope, look to the One that gives us Hope.
Feeling defeated? Lonely? Bitter? Sad? Feeling like you've lost your way? Tired of the daily grind? He wants to fill you with His Hope, His Joy, His Peace.  When you feel like you can't take another step, kneel. Kneel at His feet. Find Him in the midst of your pain.  He is there, at the end of your rope, waiting for you to cry out to Him.
And when you feel like you can't go on, like He isn't there ~ look up! Look at the beauty around us that He has created.  Call upon His name and be set free.  Call out to Jesus!   The name that is a strong tower,  the name that has the power to heal the sick and make the lame to walk again, make the blind to see.  The name that can bring you joy, bring you hope, fill you with peace that passes all understanding.  The name that can release you from the weight and guilt of sin.  And most importantly, the name that is above all others, the one that died for us so that we may have life and have life everlasting!

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup" 

It's In the Details

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin."

"If all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wildflowers. "

I was dreaming of finding a field of lupines on our getaway last weekend. Driving along, there it was, on a little back road in the mountains. God does take care of the smallest details.  

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup"