Saturday, November 29, 2008

Who He Is

Sometimes I just need to be quiet and remember WHO HE IS!



I pray that as you watch this video you are blessed and drawn into His presence as you worship Him.

Be blessed,
Kim

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Thanksgiving Days

How glorious is our God! My husband and I have both been on vacation this week and have had a blast just enjoying each other and our time off. Sunday was his birthday, but I get the gift. God has blessed me with the most amazing, godly husband. If there were ever a picture of Christ in a husband - I am married to him. Kenny shows me the love and attitude of Christ in so many ways every single day.

Yesterday we spent the day running errands and catching up on household stuff. But today . . . we decorated for Christmas!!! I know that it is not even Thanksgiving, but we could not help ourselves. It was snowing outside and it will be our first Christmas in our new home. We haven't finished decorating and we won't put the tree up for a couple weeks, but we have a good start. Wanna see?




Our women's bible study was supposed to meet tonight, but between the non-stop snow and the potential for ice on the roads, I canceled for the evening. And so - I will be spending this evening with my amazing husband, a good book, and some of my favorite coffee. I am not a big fan of peppermint, but Millstone's Peppermint coffee is totally incredible and only available at Christmas. Oh the choices - Starbucks Sumatra or Millstone Peppermint . . .




Lord, I thank you for the many gifts in our lives. I thank you for the gift of my husband and my children. I thank you for the gift of a home and for the holidays. I thank you for the gifts of Christmas and salvation. I thank you for the small things like coffee, Christmas decorations and snow. I thank you for time off work to be with my husband. I thank you that you alone are Lord and that you love me. Father - I love you too. Amen.

Humbly His Daughter,
Kim

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Thanksgiving Countdown - Day 1

In six days it will be Thanksgiving and I have been thinking a lot about the many things and people that I am thankful for. Last night our small group met for bible study. We have been meeting for 4 - 5 years on an almost weekly basis. We have had some times when busy schedules interrupted us, but we continue to journey on through life together in pursuit of Christ. I am immensely thankful for each of the people in our group. I praise God for Clay and Kevin and the godly friends that they are for my husband.

But my personal praise and thanks today is for the amazing girlfriends God has given me in Allison and Leslie. Leslie and I went to school together and have vowed we will see each other through menopause someday. Allison came into my life only a few years ago, but what a blessing that has been. Allison can decorate a house like nobody's business and Lord knows I need her help from time to time. They both make me laugh and they make me love life more because they are in mine. Each one of them brings something different to our mix. We have gone through seasons of spending lots of time together and seasons that seemed a little more lonely. But one thing has remained and that is the love we have for one another and the bonds of friendship.

Last night during our prayer time, a few tears were shed and then I had the nerve to tell them I wanted to take their picture. So I ask for forgiveness from them in advance - as I post that picture to this blog because I know they will be thinking that their mascara ran off and their eyes are puffy from crying even though they aren't. Seriously though they are beautiful - inside and out - and they are two of my dearest friends.



Allison and Leslie

Father, thank you for Allison and Leslie. Thank you for girlfriends who love me and hold me accountable; for friends who make me laugh and make me cry. Thank you for friends who understand me and give me space, but are always only a phone call away. Today Lord and in the days and years to come, I pray for your blessing of good health, peace, prosperity and life abundant upon them. Protect them and guide them. They are seeking you and choose to follow you, so may they clearly see the light you have placed on the path they are to follow. Be glorified in our friendships and thank you for the laughter - what a ride this is and what great friends I have. In the precious name of Jesus - Amen.

Humbly His Child,
Kim

Friday, November 14, 2008

Coccia House Pizza over Pride

I have the most wonderful hairdresser. She is the only person I have been able to find that knows how to cut my naturally curly, naturally thick hair and not make me look like a poodle! (My last wonderful hairdresser had to quit due to health reasons - she was amazing too). Since we have moved it now takes me about 40 minutes to get home from the beauty shop. I am determined to look good for my sweet husband and so the 40 minute drive is worth it.

So last night, I get my hair cut and tell her not to bother styling or drying it because I want to head home. No sooner get in the car, than I get a text message from my husband wanting to know if I want to pick up a pizza from one of our very favorite family owned restaurants that just happens to only be about 10 minutes from where I am. Now the dilemma, as I sit in my car with wet, freshly cut, unstyled hair and a small dog's worth of hair clippings on my sweater and face, is whether I am willing to risk my pride and go inside to get the pizza or drive home for leftovers. It was a no brainer. This pizza is good stuff and we don't get to have it very often. So I called the pizza place, ordered the large sausage, mushroom and hot pepper pizza and waited for it to be done.

Then leaving all my pride in the car, I walked into this very nice and very busy restaurant with my wet, freshly cut, unstyled hair and hair clippings gently scattered upon my face and picked up my pizza. After all - there is more than one way to my husband's heart. I figured if I didn't look so good when I got home the pizza would make up for it and it did!

His Thankful Child,
Kim

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Do they know Jesus?

"Live Girls" is the advertising line on the sign outside a strip club I drive past on my way to and from work every day. I find the sign ironic. I have to wonder how 'alive' many of these women/girls feel on the inside or is there a part of their heart and being that has died. Please know that I am not judging them in any way. I pray for them. While I don't think I know any of them personally, I would guess that some are mothers trying to make ends meet. Others are just trying to get by and pay this month's rent. Maybe some are putting themselves through college. Maybe they are trying to keep the bills paid and find a way to get ahead. Maybe some were lured in by the promise of easy money. The reason doesn't really matter, but their lives do.

I don't know what first led them to this place. But I have to wonder if they ever look in the mirror and feel like something inside of them has died. You can only find your value and worth in dollar bill tips and cheap flattery for so long. At some point, the little girl inside of them has to cry out and say "this isn't what I wanted to be when I grew up."

Is there a part of their heart that has died to the longing to be beautiful to just one man? Have they ever thought that after all that has gone on in their lives that just one man could ever love them? Or could ever forgive them? Do they ever cry into their pillows wanting to know if life has more to offer? Were they ever abused as a woman or as a child and as a result have a distorted view of men? Do they ever have a desire for someone to help them out of the pit they find themselves in? Do they know Jesus?

Do they know that Jesus died for them? (1 Cor. 15:2-4) Do they know that he loves them exactly as they are and that His grace is more than enough? (2 Corinthians 12:9) Do they know that this One man, named Jesus, thinks they are beautiful and that He is enthralled with their beauty? (Psalm 45:11) Do they know that God thinks of them more often than the grains of sand and that He knit them together in their mother's womb? (Psalm 139) Do they know that if they cry out to the Lord in their distress that He will answer them? (Psalm 120:1) Or that He wants to bestow upon them a crown of beauty instead of ashes? (Isaiah 61:3) Do they know Jesus?

As I drive by, day after day, my prayer is that they will know Jesus Christ as their Savior. I pray that they will know how beautiful they are to the Lord. He loves them just the way they are and there is nothing he can't forgive or that his grace won't cover. These women weren't born into this world to live a life that cheapens their value and demeans their self-worth. God has a plan for each of their lives of good and not of evil. (Jeremiah 29:11-12) Oh, how I pray that they know Jesus.

Humbly His,
Kim