Supermoon 2016

"Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies.” Selah

I'm just learning a little bit about night time photography, so I am not very good at it yet, but here are a few shots that I got.  I love that the reflection on the ocean looks like liquid gold  So beautiful.

I love the birds flying around in the second picture and the third is the moon as it rose over the fishing pier.

My hubby and I were able to get away for awhile and are spending our time in Florida.  I'm so blessed to have watched the moon rising about the ocean the last few nights. Thankful for time away after a very busy year, and time alone with my hubby.  Most of all thankful that the Word of God still stands and always will.

In His Love ~ Kim

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

Get Out and Vote ~

I've been earnestly praying for our country and the direction it will go. Don't give up your right to vote ~ it is your voice!  It is a right, but to me it is a privilege. 

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

In His Love ~ Kim

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

He Will Make a Way ~

My neighbor snapped this picture the other morning.  The sky was so bright it was waking people and drawing them to the windows to see ~ the sunrise was glowing like never before, and when they turned, this was the sight they saw opposite of the sun.  What a glorious way to wake up. 

Reminded me of the sermon series we've been hearing at church.  Pastor has been speaking on the topic of worship.  Worship is the call of the Christian.  We were made to give thanks to a mighty God.  

"Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks, for that they name is near thy wondrous works declare."

If you are struggling today, remember your purpose ~ that we should worship our King.  When you struggle with the thoughts in your mind, look around you and remember the works of His hands. Remember His grace and his mercy that endures forever.  Remember that he will never steer you in the wrong direction.  Trust in Him.

Have you experienced the power of His word? His word is a living word.  Remember what He has done for you in your life and think on those things and have faith. No matter what we are going through, He is still on the throne and He is still opening doors and making ways where there seems to be no way.  Start with a heart of worship.

In His Love ~ Kim

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

Stand Firm ~

Have you had to face the sadness of having someone who turns away from Christ? It is very sad, as a believer to see this happen.  Sometimes I think deep down in your heart, you knew where they stood and part of you isn't surprised.  By our fruits we are known, therefore we should always see those fruits in other believers.  Believers are not perfect, and never will be, but there is something that sets them apart.

I was reading about apostates. It is a difficult topic. Falling away from the truth.  Apostates are those who knew the full gospel and turned from it.  Judas spent three years in the ministry. He was with Jesus and the other disciples and he knew the wonders of this Christ we serve, and had witnessed them with his own eyes.  Jesus never spoke of him as a believer, and he called him a son of perdition.  We know that one of the motivations of Judas was greed.  Many think they can play the part and pretend to follow the "steps", hoping for the blessings that come from an open window of Christ to believers. God knows all and knows the heart.

We can say that of those that turn away, they were never believers in the first place.  There was not that heart condition, that change of the heart of stone to one of flesh.  When this person turns away, it is not a loss of salvation, it shows that they never had it to begin with.
This grieves the heart of so many believers who see people around them in this position, those that reject truth with open eyes!  We aren't surprised as Christians, when we have those among us who turn out to be in the position of an apostate, but we can continue to pray for them.  Pray that they have not taken the last step and totally rejected the gospel.

Guard your hearts, dear ones.   Seek Christ in every moment of your life, read His word, believe on it, place it in your heart. Pray for those around you. Lift up your fellow believers ~ if you see them getting weary, pray for them, reach out to them, and remind them of this great race we partake in.  It is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay strong in the day we are in.  Set yourselves apart and live in a way that honors God.
"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

 "If you believe in your heart God raised Christ from the dead and you confess Him as Lord, you'll be saved."

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek," 

Update ~ Just spoke with my pastor on the topic.  My heart has so much hope.  He reminded me that if you have never truly tasted the grace of God, you cannot fall away from something you did not enter. ~ 

In His Love ~ Kim

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

Autumn in New England ~

The artistry of God in the New England landscape has begun to show its display. The colors are turning, the air is crisp and it's time for comfort food. I love to cook and bake with apples and pumpkins and squash ~ I think they make the most delicious comfort foods of all! The orchards are open for picking, the cider is ready for mulling and the fields are full of pumpkins ready for your doorstep.  Such a beautiful time to take a quiet drive through the countryside. 

In His Love ~ Kim

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

Remembering to Trust and Listen

I am a firm believer that God gives us what we need, when we need it.  The other night I was exhausted both physically and emotionally.  It had been a very exciting, yet stressful, exhausting week.   I was feeling drained.
I decided that I would take a soak in the hot tub, to try to help me relax.  It was a gorgeous, full harvest moon.  The stars were shining and there was a nice chill in the air, a sign of fall making its way to our little area.  My house was quiet. Everyone was inside, sound asleep.
I made my way outside at about midnight, all alone.  I was in the hot tub praying that God would give me grace for each moment ahead.   I was lamenting about some things and wishing I had handled them better, and prayed that I could show people the Love of Christ and the grace and mercy that He has given me.  I prayed earnestly for strength through Him, and thanked him for the blessings and things He had done through the week.  I knew he was there, I had seen Him in so many ways throughout the week, but I was feeling empty and discouraged. I was feeling like I didn't measure up and I was worrying too much about what was ahead of me instead of taking things moment by moment.
As I prayed, I put my head back to rest and looked up at the gorgeous sky.  Just then, I saw a shooting star sail across the sky.  My heart leapt, and I felt like He was showing me that He was faithful.  Being the type of person that always doubts myself,  or what I think I see.  I wondered if that was for me.  I asked Him to show me another sign that He was there with me through every step, every cry, every up and down.  In the next few moments, I saw two shooting stars.  I'm not a girl that is into the "signs and wonders" movement.  But I am a girl that tries to listen for the voice of God in my life and to pray that He shows himself strongly to me.
I guess I was feeling pretty discouraged.  THREE times I saw shooting stars.  And yet still, I could only think,  "Lord was that really for me? I mean, I don't know that I saw what I saw.  I'm in the hot tub, I am absolutely exhausted, I don't have my glasses on. Please show me one more vibrant shooting star that I cannot deny."  Yup, I guess I'm a crazy woman.
Right then, I heard the Lord speak to me in such a strong and audible way in my heart.  "I showed you that I'm here. You are loved and you are forgiven and I will give you that grace that you need.   But remember, I am the MAKER of the stars.  The stars themselves were breathed into existence by me, and that is what you need to remember.  I have you, I have your situation, I know your heart and I know the cries of it.  Trust me and just keep looking up. I am here."
People can say they hear the voice of God.  Is it an audible shout from the heavens? No! But in your deepest longing and in the quieting of your mind and your heart, if you listen, He will speak to you. I know that to be true, but sometimes I need to be given a little reminder.
Whatever you are going through today, know that He sees and knows it all.  He is there ~ He knows what you need, so seek Him and trust Him and have no doubts in His love and mercy and grace.

 "Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually."

The beautiful Harvest Moon the other night. 

Photo taken by my daughter.

In His Love ~ Kim

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

Show Mercy and Give Grace

a  :  unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctificationb  :  a virtue coming from Godc  :  a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace
a  :  approval, favor;  grace
s>b  archaic  :  mercy, pardon disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemencyc  :  a temporary exemption :  reprieve 
Grace ~ God's unmerited favor. 
Some of the definitions I found for the word GRACE.  I think often about the grace of our holy God. Love and mercy not because we deserve it or have done anything to earn it, but because God wants us to have His grace.  His love shown to the unlovely. Him reaching down to us, when we don't deserve it.
Of course the most beautiful and amazing form of grace is that given to us by Jesus Christ!  But grace is something we can also show to others.  I have seen grace and I have been given grace ~ not only by God, but from others.  Then I have seen the times when those around me are not so free with grace.  I have been hurt by believers who seem wronged by something that they can't even explain or probably don't even know themselves, and yet have shown no mercy and grace. Bitterness, jealousy, discontentment of heart ~ all things that people use to size up where someone else should stand in their lives.  Things that they use to put a wall up between them and others, and when those feelings are there, the devil uses that foothold and no grace is shown.  
Are there people in your life that you have shown little mercy or grace to? Maybe they've never even hurt you, but your own unhappiness has you comparing yourself and for that reason, you do not show that person love or mercy or grace.  Maybe you have been treated this way.  I have had relationships where I don't understand what happened, but suddenly my "Christian" friend is not longer there for me. I think one of the meanest things you can do to a brother or sister in Christ is to suddenly pull away when the person doesn't even know what offense they may have done.  We absolutely cannot offer salvation to those around us, but we can show grace to them, whether we feel they deserve it or not. Give it freely, as it has been freely given to you. It is not by your hands, but by the mercy of a loving God. 
The Lord gives us grace, though we don't deserve it at all, and as recipients of that, we should be walking in grace and be vessels of grace to others. The word says to us "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all." 
I will try to show grace and mercy to others, and I will pray for those who in their own selfishness, cannot show the Grace that our God has given to them.  Grace is a high calling.  It is something that we need to live in, most importantly when we are not feeling it from those around us. The Lord bountifully covers us in His perfect grace, even when we are most undeserving. 
To me, today I am beyond thankful for the grace of God.  I can hardly comprehend it.    What does He require of me? Of us? This scripture has always resounded in my mind and I pray that it is something that I can remember when my flesh isn't merciful and showing grace.  "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8)

What does grace look like to you? To me it is the most beautiful thing that we can show to others through our own lives and our actions. We paint a picture of Christ through the way we treat others.  Today is a new canvas and you have the beautiful gift of Grace if you are in Christ ~ show that same gift to those around you. 

In His Love ~ Kim

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