The Struggle - Tenth Ave. North

Before you continue to read this, and I hope you do, I want to ask you something, and I want you to really think about it!

If you had a choice of inviting a family into your house, and their names were, Fear, Worry, and anxiety - and  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which would you open the door for? I am sure you are acquainted with fear, worry, and anxiety, but have you gotten to know the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

In Genesis 1:26, God say’s “Let us make man in our image...”  What does that image look like to you? It’s everything I want, because I got to know Them, and they are WELCOME TO STAY !!!!

But fear say’s the same thing : What does that look like, and feel to you? I know I might crack the door open for them sometimes, but I kick them back to hell where they came from, when I realize they are extending their stay, (Selah).

 

So what is your struggle? Remember Jesus already won the battle. Your free to struggle if you want to, for as long as you want to, or you can sing HALLELUJAH chains have been undone!!!!

It’s hard to believe that when you are going through this darkness that fear causes, that something beautiful can come from something so ugly. God sees something being done in us, persevere, "so that you may be mature and complete [and] not lacking anything." (James 1:4). 

Fear is something that God wants us to be delivered from. It just causes more anxious thoughts, and more worry, and it all becomes a viscous cycle that will dig a hole and bury us deeper, and deeper, until that one last ray of light is gone. We lose sight of God’s promises, forgetting that His promises never fail us.

Satan  wants to keep us buried in our uncontrollable thoughts, and he invites himself and his friends anytime we let him in. God's "love drives out fear..." before it destroys us physically and mentally. (John 4:18).

1 Peter 3:15 tells us to, "always be prepared to give an answer... for the hope we have." A lot of times when I do this, people laugh at me and say, “Jesus is your answer for everything.” I say, “Yes, He is.  How are your answers doing for you?" There is medication for a lot of things, but NO PILL is going to FIX YOUR THOUGHTS! So I take a double dose of Jesus every day. Yes you can even say I overdose!

I am 53 years old, and I wish I knew long ago what I know now. So I want to help others who struggle with these uninvited guest. You can overcome, because Jesus overcame. Invite Him in so He can kick those other guest out!! Their ugly heads will always show up, but like what he said to the snake in Eden, Jesus will bring the final blow! Genesis 3:15 “He will crush your head and you will strike His heal.” Strike or CRUSH, which one do you think won? God already revealed His plan to defeat Satan.

So let’s drop our chains and sing. Hallelujah we are free!!!

May the God of peace bless you,

Kim

One Thing Remains - Jesus Culture

Going to switch things up a little... I'll put the song first, and put another video at the end.  Please check out both!

"I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion...' " (Lamentations 3: 22-26).

Only His love is CONSTANT through trial and change. We are all subject to the circumstances of life. Death of a loved one, sickness, heartache, falling into temptation... But, "One thing remains," when all else fails.  His love.  It never gives up, it never runs out on me.

Because God's love and compassion for us all never fails, He is quick to respond to us when we cry for help. No matter where you've been, or what you’re doing right now at this very moment, His love and mercy is there for you. Forgiveness is waiting with nail pierced hands and open arms.

I work at yacht and Beach convention center, and we just had another great year of Christian artists, and Christian radio stations from all over. Our place is where a lot of the bands playing for the Night of Joy, and Rock the Universe, come and practice in an intimate concert setting.

I love this event so much because you could really see God moving, especially in our back halls at work where He is so needed. There are some who make sly comments, but with the proper response you can see they are interested. Remember, we're called to be, "fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19).  And trust me, they will bite at you, and some teeth are sharper than others.  God is fishing for souls through us, so we are the bait whether you like being bit or not, that is our purpose here.

The best way I have found to be the bait, is remembering where I was at before my relationship with Jesus. Someone was the bait for me too. Even the disciples, before they became great men of faith, they had to go through trial and change to grow in faith. So love on them, the unbelievers. You will draw more that way. Love and compassion flowing from yourself, can attract them to Jesus. The disciples did it, they were told to, "love your enemies..." (Matt. 5:44).  

The biggest thing that helped me, helps Jesus, especially this weekend, He is pointing them to God and Not Religion! Many were willing to watch this video I shared with them, and were affected in a major way. 

"I hate Religion, but Love Jesus." Here's the link.. PLEASE WATCH and pass it on. (Link) - http://bit.ly/yPHiPC

"Very Powerful" were the words that some unbelievers told me, and sparked up even more conversation. I thank God for His Son, and how Jesus never gave up on me, and His love that is constant. It truly is, and always will be, the "One thing that Remains!"

Grace and peace to you

Kim

The Proof of Your Love - For King and Country

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pIqE-Mxx1g


Love never grows tired of showing itself to you. It's so much more than just a word or a feeling, it truly is an action that never gives up. Love keeps giving with no conditions attached. 1 John 4:8 tells us that God is love, "Whoever does not love does not know God..."

God didn't just say it, He didn't just feel it, "For God so loved the world..." He showed it. John 3:16

God has shown us through Jesus and His time on earth, that love is more than just a word or a feeling. Love, "always perseveres," (1 Cor. 13:1-6) It never expects anything in return.

I believe society confuses love and lust. Love doesn't say things like, "If you treat me right, than I'll treat you right..." or, "we love each other now, so let's have sex, Now." There's not dissipation of feelings, no infidelity. God's love is patient, kind, and it always protects. It is not rude and it is not self seeking!

I don't know if you're in a relationship, or in and out of one, but don't be fooled by feelings that can fade, or words said by people who don't really know the meaning of them. If love will wait, forgive and understand, without condition, then true love will remain. It's the greatest of all human qualities, but if it doesn't look like Jesus than it's not love.

The outward appearance of someone wouldn't be the only thing that attracts you. Look how Jesus came into, and then left this world. Neither one was attractive. Only how He loved and treated people, even His enemies, is what was, and still is so attractive. A love like this is what this world is in such need of.

We need to pray and ask God everyday to show us how to be the proof of His love. If we claim, "to live in Him," we must walk as Jesus did, (1 John 2:6). All of us, and every relationship we have is bankrupt without this kind of love.

"Let my love look like You and what Your made of. How You lived, how You died, LOVE IS SACRIFICE," not just a word. John 15:13.

Let us be His hands and feet,

Kim

When Love Sees You - Mac Powell

Love sees us all the same.  Jesus sees why He had to come, I hope you do too...

Nady, who is a dear friend of mine, now and for all eternity, shared a story with me that inspired me to write this to all who think, that just because you don't have a title, or a major career, or drive a fancy car and have alot of money, that you don't matter as much as them, you are so wrong. We are all bankrupt, and nothing without Jesus. It just amazes me, what it takes for us to notice what it is we all really need, and it usually takes some kind of tragedy for some of us to look up. The ones with titles, nice cars, and more money than probably some of us will ever see, were all running for somewhere safe, just like everyone else. No car to get into, no money to take with them, not even knowing what the end was going to be for them.

Look up now, before it's too late, because it's not the money, it's not the title, it's not your career, it's not how good a person you are. At the end, everyone will see it's always been about Jesus.  We all have a story, here's Nady's...

Hey there Kimmy,
Hope all is well and you and the family are doing OK... I was talking to Denise yesterday about my 9/11 experience, how I had to evacuate from the building that I worked in and got practically all covered in debris when the second tower fell.  At that moment, we had no idea what had happened, we knew we left the job site because of the smoke that rushed past our window but we were not aware that the first tower had even fallen...we just knew that staying put was not an option and made our way down the 7 flights of stairs (packed with everyone else) and try to make it out...When we opened the back doors it looked like snow in September, the streets were white powdered covered and people were just running in all directions...I froze, I had no idea where to go or what to do...My coworker Jimmy Cimento with his bible under one arm, grabbed my arm and said come on, I will walk with you, you don't look too  oriented...he was my guardian angel...He helped me, when the second tower fell we were almost by the Fulton Fish market, we saw people run and scream but he held on to me tight and we stopped for a second to figure out what was going on...At that point the smoke cloud had reached us and debris was everywhere..One woman just screamed others fell down crying, I was in total shock, WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING...At that moment the workers at the Fulton Fish market brought out hoses for people to hose their faces and put out cups of water for people to take a drink...As we rinsed our faces off, a woman walked up to Jimmy and touched his bible and said "please I beg you pray for my husband, he works at the world trade center and I don't know if hes OK"...Jimmy stopped and said "of course lets all take a second to pray"...I was amazed, we prayed, I felt calm amongst the chaos but I knew that with Jimmy I would be OK, he kept my faith strong...as we kept on walking, another man in a suit and brief case walked up to us and asked him "Are you a man of God?" Jimmy said "YES" and the man asked him to pray for the lives of everyone, for we need Godly people right now...Once again we stopped and prayed...As we kept walking we saw the president of our company walking amongst everyone else and at that moment Jimmy turned to me and said "You see that Nady, NO ONE HAS A TITLE WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES, when the day comes to meet our maker we will all be the same, titles, money all gone, just US, the way we came in is the way we will go out, BY HIS WILL"...Years later I think of those words every single time someone tries to pull authority or tank on me...We are all children of God and at the end of the day he sees us as his children not our work/ career titles.

With all this said: EVERY WHERE I GO, GOD PUTS A GUARDIAN ANGEL IN MY PATH...I HAD JIMMY WHEN I WORKED ON WALL STREET, I MOVED TO FLORIDA AND FOUND YOU, I MOVE BACK TO NEW YORK AND FIND DENISE...THANK YOU LORD FOR BLESSING ME WITH GUARDIAN ANGELS THAT STEER ME IN TEH RIGHT DIRECTION, KEEP ME STRONG IN MY FAITH AND DO NOT LOOK AT MY TITLE BUT AT THE FACT THAT I AM LIKE THEM, A CHILD OF THE GOD!


I LOVE YOU KIMBERLY ANN :_) (tears of joy)

Nady

Fall Apart - Josh Wilson

It’s easy to give God thanks and praise when everything in life is going just perfect, falling right into place. But what happens when things start to fall apart, one thing after another? Where does our words of praise and thanks go then, when our focus is on everything that's going wrong?

I think first we have to search deep in our hearts, because that’s what God is doing anyway. How are we viewing God through it all?

Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Not for what God can do for us, but what we can do for Him. To be set apart for His use, not look to God like He is Santa Clause. That we could give Him a list of all our wants and needs, and as long as everything is going right than He is a good God. That is so wrong, and we have to come to the end of that way of thinking, and God will help us do just that.

I believe if we want to even get a glimpse of God, and even try to understand Him and the things that are happening, it starts in the heart. 1 Chronicles 28:9, “for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought.”

We were created to live a life pleasing to God. If we think anything different He will help us come to the end of this way of thinking. He starts very gently, and then it starts to feel like, little by little everything is falling apart.

Some people come to know God early in life, yet others, (like me) are spinning a lot longer than we would have liked to on His potter’s wheel. Isaiah 64:8, “Yet You Lord are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are the work of Your hand.” We pray for the pain to pass, but He sees more work needs to be done to purify our hearts.

So how can we come to the end of ourselves and somehow still have all we need? I believe when our way of thinking starts to change, and we come to realize that joy is not based on material things, people, circumstance, or life events, but that true joy is in the “One” who never changes when everything else does.

Yes, it will feel like your whole world is caving in, and everything is falling apart, but this is how it starts, because God wants us to feel Him more than we ever did before.

May you feel His peace in troubled times, because God is good all the time.

Kim

I am nothing - Jeremy Camp

 “The deep says, ‘It is not in me'; the sea says ‘It is not with me.’ It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver.” (Job 28:14-15). 

In this verse Job stated that wisdom cannot be found among the living. Jesus Christ is wisdom, and He is our deepest need. We all have an inner restlessness that can never be satisfied. We search for contentment and peace in nice vacations, long weekend getaways, a new car or house, a new relationship, and so on. These are all just pacifiers. Not lasting satisfaction. Even the Rolling Stones couldn’t find it, as Mick Jagger said, “I can’t get no satisfaction, cause I try, and I try, and I try...”

What we are missing is a deep relationship with Jesus Christ. Without this love and wisdom from Christ, I wouldn’t even be able to face all the troubles of the day. Jeremiah 33:3 “Call on me and I will answer you and tell you great unsearchable things you do not know.” God wants us to call on Him, and what great things He will show us if we do.

I absolutely love what King Solomon prayed for in 1 Kings 3:5, when God tells him to, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” And in verse 9, King Solomon says, “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” O my sweet Jesus, could you imagine if we had a president who prayed like that on public T.V. instead of all these promises they babble about?

Solomon asked for wisdom (discernment) not wealth. Setting our sights and desires on material things will only leave us dissatisfied, we will always want something more. We have to apply wisdom to all areas of our life. So ask God for it, and then put it into action in your life.  Because, “To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Psalm 111:10). 

Today it seems like most people have no fear. They do things their way and leave God out of the equation. We have to acknowledge God as the source of guidance in all our decisions, or we are bound to make mistakes and foolish choices without Him.

We are like clay in the potters hand, and the pieces that are being shaped will be the beauty He creates. I’ve come to realize, that within my heart is where my treasure is, and it is in Jesus Christ alone. I am nothing, without the understanding that, “the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE." (Colossians 2:2- 3).

We should ask ourselves, How can we lead our families to what’s right for us, or how can a president even know how to lead our nation correctly without asking God, the creator of heaven and earth, for the wisdom to do it?

Selah,

Kim ….  

What do I know of Holy - Addison Road

“But just as He who called you is Holy, so be holy in all you do.” (1 Peter 1:15).  

Are you just standing along the shore of His great ocean? Maybe your paddling in the shallow waters. You’ll never really know how BIG God is, unless you dive in. Our understanding of what holiness is, can only increase as we get to know Him more. Even just to catch a glimpse of who He is, will bring you to your knees.  Can you imagine looking at the sun for more than a second? You can’t, it will consume your vision. That’s how I describe Holy. He is an all consuming fire that I want to melt me away till only He remains. “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place... That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...” (Phil. 2:9-10).  Why not do it now?

What do you know of Him who spoke you into motion, the God who gave life it’s name? What do you know of this love; What do you know of holy; How can we ever be holy as He is Holy?

First step, in my opinion, is to realize, “...in Him we live, move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28).   Second, we have COMPLETE reverence (respect) for who He is. To sit in quietness with Him and listen more than talk. To meditate on His Holy Word.  Don’t allow the Word of God to be just words on a paper. Allow it to change you, so God can use you for His purposes in this world.

To be holy means to be set apart for God’s special purpose. It is God’s presence, through His Spirit, that makes anything holy.  Like Jesus said in John 8:28-29, “I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me... For I always do what pleases Him.” That’s what holy means, to please God. We can’t do anything to make ourselves holy. We can only overcome the wrong pulls of the world by allowing Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to come into our lives.

“But you are chosen people... A people belonging to God...” (1 Peter 2:9 ).  As children of God we are expected to be a reflection of Jesus, a light into a dark world.  I don’t want to stand along the shore of His ocean, or paddle in shallow water, victory takes place in the deep where there’s more room for God to work. I want to go in deep and know Him who is Holy. 

Psalm 107: 24, “They saw the works of the Lord, His wonderful deeds in the deep.”

Grace and peace to you

Kim

Eternal - Sanctus Real

The other day someone asked me if I had any pictures, or a trophy of when I competed in natural body building. Well I went to look and couldn’t find my trophy or my video that they made of the whole competition show. But under my bed, where I keep all my tupperware tubs filled with pictures and albums, I found one picture, and I’ll tell you, there was a lot of dust on that container. I worked so hard to win that competition, and I have nothing to show for it but one picture.

It made me think, what is really lasting? Nothing on this side of heaven. “This life we lead will pass away, along with every other earthly thing,”

Jesus is calling us to change our minds from things that are temporary, to eternal. Heavenly values instead of earthly values.  "...store up for yourself treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20).  

I could NEVER lose what God has given me. “I can’t lose His love to sickness, I can’t lose it to divorce, there’s no concept of abandonment, I am safe within His arms.” It is a marriage of our 2 hearts. There is no, 'till death do us part.  He is eternal, and I am eternally His.

“In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade.” (1 Peter 1:3-4).  That’s what I call a valuable treasure!

So if you feel like you never have enough, you never knew love, this life just feels like it is passing away with no purpose... Jesus would like to meet with you.

If you have put your faith hope and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and the forgiver of your sins, you will inherit eternity, and being with Christ is our GREAT reward.

Grace and peace to you

Kim

Redeemed - Big Daddy Weave

What does God say about you?  You’re not who you use to be, you’ve been redeemed. So keep your head held high, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation...” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

The words of this song are so powerful, and I pray they sink deep into your heart, mind, and soul so that you can begin to really love yourself as Christ loves you.

I thank God for Jesus. He is the lifter of my head when those voices in my head, or those around me bring me down, and I begin to question myself.  Do you have voices of shame or regret? Does what people say about you bring you down? Are you always trying to make people happy, or live up to their expectations? 

That is not living the life that Jesus died to give you. We took the life of this guiltless man, so He could walk us through this life, being who He wants us to be. He is not done with us.  He will, "carry it on to completion..." (Philippians 1:6).

I’ve always loved the serenity prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace... That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him FOREVER in the next.

I’ve come to realize I can’t make everyone happy, and not everyone is going to like me, even those closest to me. But I am always pressing forward to be who God created me to be. No one is perfect, and it seems like so many imperfect people love to point the finger at everyone else’s faults and failures, and not take a good long look in the mirror. This use to make me so angry, but I am free from this now. It is a ghost of my past that held me as a prisoner too long,  “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18-19).  I know who I am in Christ, and he looks at me and smiles. I am not perfect, but I am not going to fight a fight within myself that Jesus already won!!!!

“I am redeemed!” Bought, "through his blood," (Eph. 1:7).  I will live to bring Him all the glory as best I can, and as long as my best is good enough for Him, that’s good enough for me.

Remember God knows you, and sees you. He sees all our defects and blemishes, and still loves us with a love like NO OTHER! So keep walking with your head held high, He’s not finished with you yet. At least your allowing Him to do the work in you, and you’re not who you use to be.

God sees your value, even if no one else does.

God give you peace

Kim

Who am I - Casting Crowns

The beauty of a personal relationship with Jesus is that it's personal, your special intimate relationship with the King.

We are the Church, and the Church is explained in this verse as every one of us may be different in character, but no one is less important or greater than another: 

1 Corinthians 12:14-20  “But in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.”

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, and you have accepted Him as your Savior and forgiver of your sins, you are a part of the body, and highly valued by God. No one should ever think that their gift is more important, or that their walk with Christ should be the same road you should be on. That is an expression of Spiritual pride. We all have an important purpose in this life that God will show us personally.

God did not create any of us the same, and I thank Him for that. There has been many times I would have never wanted anything to do with the Church body, because so many of them would act like they were better than me. I may not have been a child of God yet, but I was still His creation. I came to realize and see who Jesus really was by those who were sensitive and just loved on me. I learned that love was greater, and His Grace covered all my sin. I will never forget those who led me to Jesus, and it wasn’t the finger pointing at me, it was the finger pointing me to my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Church, we have to be very careful how we show Jesus to the world... 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 “If I speak with tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” Loving someone is more important than our knowledge of the bible to the lost. Knowledge may help us feel good and look important, but we can too easily develop a know it all attitude. Love and compassion for the lost, is the greatest of all human qualities. If Jesus was a friend to sinners, I know He wants me to do the same, but NOT compromise or be ashamed to be who I am in Him, even in a crowd of unbelievers. Jesus in me is what will attract them, “For it is by grace you have been saved... not [through] yourselves, it is a gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2: 8-9).  We could never be good enough. The bible tells us our righteousness is but filthy rags.

We have to be willing as the Church body to learn from one another, our strengths and weaknesses. Never forget where we were, and the beautiful people who spent time with us, even with all our imperfections. That is the GREATEST image of Christ we can give to this lost world.  “If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7).  Let them know we are imperfect, just sinners in need of a Savior, every minute, every hour, until He takes us home.

The one thing I do know, is that love is what attracted me to Jesus, and love is what continues to drive me forward to love the sinner but hate the sin.

I pray you have the peace of our Lord

Kim