Everything to me... choose life.

Mark Shultz is one of the many great Christian artist who delivers a great messages. I never knew he was adopted. What a great touching song of a choice that makes our loving God smile. We were given everything, (Life) when Jesus died for us. I pray we follow His example.

Marks birth mom did the most unselfish thing, and carried him for 9 months, and then gave him up for adoption, to give him a better life than what she can give him. What a beautiful, emotional song (and great choice).

Situations we allow ourselves to get into can cause circumstances where we need to choose what would please God, rather than what is easier for us. I believe if life was put in the womb, God has a purpose, and good will come from the mistake we got our self into. God gives life, and He takes it away. It is not our choice. Psalm 139:13-16, verse 16 says “your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

"I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come." (Isaiah 46: 10).  God can do wonderful things with our mistakes if we would just turn to Jesus, ask for forgiveness, and direction.

Even the evil choice someone makes, like rape, can end up in a pregnancy. God doesn’t make mistakes, people make evil choices because their "father is the father of lies," (John 8: 42-44). They do as the flesh feels. God even turns that to beauty. Ronny Hill is a youth speaker, and came to our church to speak. I will NEVER forget it. His mom gave birth to him, and gave him life, even though he was a product of a rape. Genesis 50:20, “You attended to harm me, but God intended it for the good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” He goes all over sharing the word of God, and his testimony. WOW!! Isn’t God Great.

We will never understand Gods ways, and why some things happen. Our minds are too small to conceive just HOW BIG HE IS! But one thing I know for sure, the Lord, "makes alive," (1 Samuel 2:6).

Grace and peace to you

Kim

First song that I sing... be praises to my God and King

In the morning when you wake, and even before your feet hit the floor... Praise Him!

Mark 1: 35  “And rising very early in the morning…. He prayed.” This is the example Jesus gave us to follow, knowing that the enemy is always ready to destroy us on a  daily basis that will eventually affect our health. John 10: 10, But Jesus is our joy, and He wants it to be complete in us, John 15: 10-11.

2 Corinthians 12: 9, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Psalm 43: 5, “ Why are you so downcast, o my soul?…..Put your hope in God,”….. IN ALL THINGS ! And PRESS ON towards the goal !! Philippians 3: 14.

What are you struggling in? What are you weak in? Who’s life are YOU trying to change? What are you ready to give up on? What are the things you are focusing on? Where is your mind taking you? The list can go on, and on.

God is in control of everything, and everyone, he knows everything about you, and everyone else, loves you, and cares for you. Put everything about you into His hands, and what you’re praying for. He’ll take care of everything because, “Nothing is impossible for Him.” He wants us to Press on, with Him, never giving up hope and keeping the faith.

If you start to worry about that loved one that you want to change, that is the devil's way of stealing your joy. Worry about yourself and keep praying. He hears you. And he also hears your complaining instead of words of Life coming from your mouth. Let His Grace BE SUFFICIENT! I know it’s hard, because of the buttons the devil knows to push. Don’t let him steal your joy. God’s Grace is for you, enjoy it.  Your loved one has to make a choice that you can do NOTHING about. You can only take care of you. If you don’t it WILL affect your health in the long run. Press on...

If you think you want to quit on your diet and exercise, DON’T! Give yourself time. The weight didn’t come on overnight. You know the old saying, “How do you eat an elephant? One spoonful at a time.” As you can see, the devil is really defeating a lot of people in this area. Look how cheap all the BAD meals are for you. Just watch the tempting commercials on TV. What are you choosing to eat, and what are you doing for your health. Don’t let your appetite control you, give God control. If you don’t give God control, it becomes sin. The devil is winning over you falling into temptation. If you give up, and lose hope, you let the enemy win, and it WILL affect your health! Press on...

If you don’t know God's word, and promises for you, the enemy will destroy you. Hosea 4: 6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Unfortunately if we reject the knowledge God wants to give us from His word, and HIS WORD ALONE, (from the bible) He will reject us. I guarantee you, that will affect your life now, and for eternity

Grace, peace, and God be your strength, Get behind me Satan.

Kim

Been through the water... congrats on your new Birthday, Ruth!

“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ.” (Galatians 3: 26-29).  

You have new cloths to cover you Ruth. So proud your moving forward with Christ.

If you are wanting to be baptized, and are not moving forward because you feel you aren’t good enough, or someone is making you feel that way, remember you could NEVER be good enough, Jesus became good enough for you. It’s already been done, in the book of John when He was dying on the cross and said, “It is finished.” (John 19:30).

Baptism is an outward symbol, of an inner change. It is done by complete submersion like Jesus did, following His example in all we do. How we live our life to glorify Him, is how we show our thankfulness for all He’s done.

The best meaning to me about baptism, is found in Romans 6:1-13, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound? Certainly not!” 

(verse 1).

Down with your old life, and up in a new. To walk, as it says in verse 4, “in the newness of life,” we can only do this through the power, and strength of Jesus Christ working in us. This doesn’t mean that we’ll never sin again, because sin has a way of creeping its way back into our life. It does mean “we should no longer be slaves to sin.” (verse 6).

I believe that is why a lot of people who are Christians, do not take a step forward to be baptized because they are not ready to die to self.  Or just don’t understand it’s meaning.  I believe those who choose to take this step of baptism, understand and have searched God’s word for its meaning, and have their minds made up to “die to self”, and what breaks God's heart, should break ours.

Baptism is not the ticket into heaven. Remember the thief on the cross had no time to be good, or turn his life around, he just acknowledged Jesus for who He is. Baptism is a meaningless ceremony, unless true conversion comes first. Confessing we are sinners, and knowing the only way to be forgiven is acknowledging that nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash our sins away. Because of our love for Christ, we should want to take the steps forward that pleases God as Jesus did.

There is probably many people in heaven who haven’t been baptized because they didn’t have the opportunity, or they didn’t understand it.

If you are walking with God, and seeking to do His will, why wouldn’t you want to be baptized? Is it because you are not ready to die to self? Really think about it. Is it you who lives, or Christ who lives in you? 

"I have been crucified with Christ... The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galations2:20).

Grace and peace to you

Kim

I will not be moved

Matthew 7:25-26, “...yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

  

I just wanted to thank you all for praying for my dad and I have something to share with all of you.  He left me a message on my phone, and did I hear a change in his character. My dad, and I’m sure a lot of us, have had our share of doubts, questioned sovereignty, acted out in times of anger, but “the hand that holds, won’t let you go, and is the reason why” You will stumble, You will fall down, but don’t be moved.  “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8).

   With all that my dad was dealing with the past few days,  it would have kept him depressed, and probably in bed for a week. Plus, we all would have felt how mad he was. I’m so thankful to have been able to hear this change for myself, and know that God NEVER gives up on us. We just have to open up and believe... Then we can rest in Him, no matter what comes at us.

Well here’s how the message went: 

“Hello Kim, this is pop. I’m just sitting outside waiting for the 

 garage door man to come, and the car man. The car broke down 

yesterday too, and the television doesn’t work right, but 

everything is alright, because I looked up in the sky, and guess what? 

Bright as heck, bright, bright, Jesus loves you. Right in front of my 

garage. Oh my God, bye, bye.” 

In case you don’t know this, we have a skywriter hear in Florida, and he writes in the sky about how Jesus loves us all the time, but this was God’s perfect timing for my dad.

How precious this was to me, I can only imagine how Jesus felt to hear that come from my dad.  God is so faithful, and true to His word, “that I shall lose none of all that He has given me...” (John 6: 39).

So if you are praying for someone, NEVER lose hope.  Colossians 1:9 tells us, “...we have not stopped praying for you, and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will...”  Take Him at His word, and believe. My dad is 79 years old, it’s never too late for God, it’s us who wait too long to open up.

Don’t wait too long before you can experience a little heaven right here on earth, open up your heart to Jesus.

Grace and peace to you

Kim

Cathedral made of people

Lord I pray your Kingdom shine through us.

We just got back from a family vacation in Hilton head island. One day we took a ride into Savannah Georgia to sight see. I really wanted to see one of the cathedrals there. I was amazed from seeing the outside, but was even more amazed of the inside. After seeing it, it made me think even more about how God's work begins on the inside of us. That’s where the beauty really is. To be called a Christian, is not the same as being a Christian. Being born again is known and felt. Not a name change, but a change in nature.  I also thought more about this song by Downhere. This song has been playing in my head for weeks. Here are some of the lyrics…

“If they shut down the churches, where would you go? 

If they burned every bible, what would you know? 

If they declared our devotion to be criminal, what would we know? 

When they hate you for the things you know are true, what will you do? 

We are a cathedral made of people, in a Kingdom that the eye can’t see.”

The church is not a building or a meeting place, Ephesians 2:19-22, “And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” We are the church. The nature of God’s presence lives in us, and he shows Himself to a watching world through us. Acts 17:24, “The God who made the world... does not live in temples built by hands.” He dwells in us. We are children of God’s kingdom on earth.

The bible also tells us in Colossians 3:16, “Let the world of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with His wisdom..."

The early Christians didn’t have the new testament, or any other Christian book to study. Their stories and teachings about Christ were memorized and passed on from person to person. "For just as each of us has one body with many members... in Christ we, though many, form one body," (Romans 12: 4-5).  The body of believers is the church of Christ.

I thank God we have our bibles, and our churches to go to on Sunday and fellowship with one another. We are blessed to live in this country and worship our God. We should never take this for granted. They can take everything from us one day too - the bible, the churches, even our life.  But they can’t shake God’s love, or take His Spirit from within you.  Everything we are, and know, is inside of us. 

“They can tear down the temple, but they can’t touch you.” (Matthew 10:28),

Grace and peace to you

Kim

My Redeemer LIVES!!!

All of creation testifies to a creator.

Did you ever really think about the ocean, and how God told it how far it could come? Or how He distanced the sun far enough away from the earth so we don’t burn up? Everything orbits so perfectly. So many things about creation, and it’s beauty and perfection of it all.

I know my redeemer lives. I speak to Him every morning, and I can testify that when you speak to your creator, and if your weary, worn, weak, confused, call on Him, and He runs to you. His arms will hold you when you’re broken. He will guide you by Spirit, and truth. He will NEVER leave you or forsake you.

What does redeemer mean to you? Redeem means to buy back, repurchase, to rescue with a ransom. Jesus, our Redeemer conquered death to bring us victory.  Look at Exodus 6:6, “I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you...” When the Hebrews were rescued from slavery, it portrayed the drama of salvation for all of us. When God redeems us from sin, He delivers us, accepts us, and becomes our God. Then He leads us by Spirit, and truth, to a new life as we follow Him.

The precious life Jesus gave, was payment for our sins. Don’t go on being a slave to sin that He gave His life for. Don’t take the mercy, and grace of God lightly. He’s alive, and there’s an empty grave. Our Redeemer lives, and set you free. Are you part of this family? 

"Everyone who sins is a slave to sin... a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8: 34-36).

Grace and peace to you

Kim

Love this song, but it is so much more than a song… IT’S TRUE !!!

Mercy said, No.

When we don’t understand something, why do some of us give up, instead of being drawn to gain more knowledge, to go even deeper?

I’ve always had a weak side. I didn’t have much self confidence. Thanks to my Jesus, that’s all in my past, as I’ve gone from baby steps, to GIANT steps, to the Greatest Love of my life. Everything I am, and who I’ve become, is all that He’s wanted me to be. But he not finished with His children yet.  Sometimes the lessons are hard because God will always be perfecting the image of Christ in us, until we are, "the same image, from glory to glory..." (2 Corinthians 3: 18).   

Grace… is a gift of God….Grace is getting what we don’t deserve.

Mercy…. is withheld punishment,…. not getting what we deserve.

Ephesians 2:5, “We were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ... it is by grace you have been saved.”

John 3: 16, “For God so loved the world, He gave His One and Only Son”

Yet, deep within our hearts there is still a war that rages, and makes the sacrifice so hard to see.

This amazing love for us, and the grace by which we are saved, should have, and get, our all!!!  Think of how much mercy God has given us. Most of us have never contracted herpes, aids, or gotten pregnant out of wedlock.  We should seek the Knowledge of God’s word daily. It’s for our own protection, and guidance, because He loves us, and wants to keep us from harm. "[God's] people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." (Hosea 4: 6).  Parents, we should be more like God in guiding our children, rather than trying to be their friends. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  (Proverbs 22: 6).

I know in my growing years, God must have been working overtime, extending His mercy, until I got to know Him more, and tried to be the reflection He calls me to be. The discipline got quicker, and hurt my heart so much.

We should realize that God, "leadeth [us] to repentance..." (Romans 2:4). 

It seems more, and more today, mankind has taken the gift of God for granted, and we keep trampling on it.

Good and evil, (life and death) stand face to face every day.  Our own choices bring on consequences that could be with us for a lifetime. God gives us a choice, and even gives us the answer, it’s up to us. Deuteronomy 30: 19, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses."  NOW CHOOSE LIFE, so that you and your children may live. Break the curse from being handed to our children. Don’t let evil stop redemption's flow.

Don’t let sin take control. Much too high a price was paid for you.

When heaven looks at you, it’s through the blood of Jesus.

Grace and peace to you

Kim

I Look to "YOU..." In memory of Whitney Houston

Maybe Whitney didn’t have any more melodies, or words to make a song, but her life and death, tells its own story.

I believe heaven heard you Whitney.

In this beautiful song, Whitney sings a verse, “Set me free, take me far away from the battle.” Another verse, “winter storms come, and they darken the Son.” All her strength to carry on was gone.

Gone too soon from the ones on earth who loved to hear her sing. But not too soon for heaven. She now has all the strength she ever needed, and the peace that will never end. She knew Jesus, and one of her last songs she sang live was, “Yes Jesus loves me.” Today, and for eternity, she is singing to Him, who created such a beautiful woman, and voice.

We all are given free will, to make our own choices. To blame her ex husband Bobby, or to say Whitney was weak, I believe is wrong. We all have demons in our life that we will fight, and if you don’t, thank God!! We will all be harassed in different ways, have conflicts, and fears to battle. “God, [who] comforts those who are cast down.”  (2 Corinthians 7: 5-6).

We are able to have as much of God as we want. Jesus puts the key to all He is in our hands, and invites us to take all we desire. After seeing her sing this song, maybe she desired to go home. Have you ever been in this place, praying for God to take you home? I have, and I know people who have. Some get answered, some don’t. I’m thankful He ignored my prayer now. But then again He’s God, He already knew I would change my mind. I’m good at doing that.

Who are any of us to judge.

No one can judge what they don’t understand. Have you been in this place of pain? Do you know how severe it was? Jesus can relate to it. Even He was at the point of death in the garden. Pain can darken so much, that all you see is Jesus, and you want to be with Him even more.

Kevin Costner spoke so beautiful at Whitney’s funeral. They both went to the same church together, and he knew a lot about her. He said, “despite all her fame, she always wondered, am I good enough, am I pretty enough, will they like me?”

For some, there is an unexplainable burden that comes with fame. Costner went on to say, Houston’s own story could help a new generation of young girls who dream big. He said, “Maybe they’re thinking they aren’t good enough. I think Whitney would tell you: guard your bodies, guard the precious miracle of your life, then…sing your hearts out!”

What really got me was near the end when he said, “off you go Whitney, off you go, and when you sing before your heavenly Father, don’t you worry, you’ll be good enough.”

Free from all her pain, and with the “ONE” who understands, and loves her.

He’s more than just shining on you Whitney, He’s holding you.

Kim

"You" move me.

For so many years I have been color blind. Stuck in black and white. Then Grace opened my eyes, now I see the light.

God’s word tells us in Hosea 4:6, “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” If we don’t know the things God tells us in His word, and believe them, and follow them, then we are walking this world in our own knowledge, and strength, instead of His. That’s the black and white where the enemy wants you to stay, so you can be defeated daily.

Proverbs 1: 7 tells us “ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom, and discipline.” (NIV) So if you don’t take the time to have a relationship with the Creator of the world, how would you know all His beautiful promises? One of my favorites, (and there are many) is Romans 8:37 “In ALL things we are more than conquerors...”  'All things.' Doesn’t that just move you to dig deeper, and soar higher, and color your world?

The same way an eagle uses the strong winds of a storm to soar up higher, God wants us to do the same. Sit perfectly still, like the eagle does on a cliff. Watching the sky fill with darkness, lightning striking all around him, yet he doesn’t move. Not until he feels the burst of the storm wind, then he dives into it to take him to higher heights of the mountain, to safety. The storms of this life are meant to harm us, but like the eagle, use them to soar higher, because God wants to take you to great heights.  "[you] thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good..." (Genesis 50:20).

Read Psalm 91 and find rest, “in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Matthew 6: 22 -  See the world from God’s point of view.

By Grace, Jesus opens our eyes so we can see the light. His love will color your world, and make a fire burn in your soul, and it will move you.

Now there’s peace running through my soul, and it moves me to share it with everyone.

Grace and peace to you

Kim