They kissed twice!........

Those are the words that a little boy said to me yesterday at our local grocery store when we saw the their picture on the front page of the Newspaper.

Yesterday was a special day for the people of England, and for my daughter and I.. It was the day of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Bekah and I got up at 4:00 am to begin watching it.

There was so much excitement! So much joy! So much hope for the future! So many glowing smiles and sure signs of love!

What is it about this wedding that gets so many excited? What about any wedding does the same thing?

I think there are several reasons:

• The expectation of what the bride will be wearing, the colors, the flowers, etc....
• It's a wonderful chance to dress up, celebrate, eat at good meal, and CAKE!!!!
• The promise of true love.
• But most of all the people who watched William & Kate's wedding or any wedding for that matter are hopeful that these two will be the odds. That they will understand the beauty in marriage, and truly live until death do us part.

It was evident (at least to me) that William and Kate love each other. I have also seen this evidence in many weddings I have gone too. So what goes wrong? Why do so many people stand in a church before God and pledge to love one another til death do us part, and then divorce?

• Could it be that they don't really realize what it is they are doing?
  
• Could it be that even though they say the words, they are not hearing or believing them?
• Are they truly ready to put the other persons needs above their own?
  
• Are they aligned with God and allowing him to be the head of their lives in ALL things?
• Do they truly understand that marriage is a covenant (not a legal contract) that they are entering into with God as a witness (Malachi 2:14).

At the wedding yesterday the Bishop of Canterbury did (what I believe) was a great job of instructing this young couple in what marriage is:

• Marriage is a covenant created & ordained by the Creator of the universe and He is a witness to it.
• It was meant for procreation.
  
• It was meant for the support and help of the couple.
• It was mean to be Until death do us part.
• It was meant to show the Mystery of Christ and His Church(Ephesians 5:31-33).
  

Are we (The Church) adorning ourselves for our Bridegroom as a bride does for her groom? Where is our excitement for His return?

Oh the beauty and promise of a wedding! Oh the mystery of the relationship between husband & wife; and Christ and His Church.

My heart calls out to all who are married & struggling; looking to get married in the future, or don't even want to have a thing to do with marriage. Look at the Author or marriage and trust him with your life & marriage.

I pray William and Kate have a long and blessed life together! I pray that for everyone that enters the marriage covenant.

Call me Hephzibah

There are times in our lives when we are a new creation. The first being when we are conceived(Psalm 139:13-16). The second when we accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ(2 Corinthians 5:17), and the third when God does a trans formative work in your life.
Today in our study of Isaiah in Bible Study Fellowship, we studied Isaiah 62. In this chapter Isaiah is prophesying about the transformation of Zion from a Forsaken and Desolate place to a place called Hephzibah (My Delight is in her) and Beulah (your land shall be married). God has shown them who they are (rebellious children); and what they've done (continually sinned against God, worshiped idols, and denied God's control). He reminds them to look back and see what God has done for them and now hear what God will do in the future. God was going to make Zion beautiful again! He was not only going to restore Israel, but give a double portion (Isaiah 61:7) of grace to them.
We discussed in small group the other times when names were changed: Abram to Abraham; Sarai to Sarah; Jacob to Israel; Simeon to Peter; Saul to Paul. When each of these people were given a new name God did an amazing work in them. Abram was a pagan; Abraham a God follower and a man of faith; Sarai was barren; Sarah fruitful and a mother of many nations; Jacob wrestled with God; Israel rendered himself to God; Simeon was weak; Peter became a rock; Saul was a murderer of Christians; Paul was a messenger of the Good News to Christians.
When a name was changed it signified a person transformed by God.
This touched me in a profound way. I desire to be used of God for his glory. I believe he is doing a trans formative work in my life as well. This year in BSF God has shown me again and again His Sovereignty, and how all things (good and bad) work together for the good of those who love Him. There have been many lessons, but in those lessons, best of all has been a transformation of my heart!
I am blessed beyond measure and now more then ever I desire to do God's will, whatever that may be. He has redeemed me and called me by name, I am His (Isaiah 43:1). I am precious in His eyes and honored, and He loves me (Isaiah 43:4)!! So that being said:

Call me Hephzibah!

For I am a life that was changed and His delight is in me!!!!!

What would your name be?

Marriage Monday -Beauty as seen through the eyes of my husband

You are altogether beautiful, my darling;
there is no flaw in you.
Song of Solomon 4:7

I am one of those women who struggles with weight and acceptance. This is not a new thing, I think I've dealt with it on many levels for many years. I know there are many women who face the same struggles I do and very often feel discouraged and defeated because of it. I come from a family of 10 kids and we come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes I compare myself to the taller, thinner ones, and say "why me".

Steve and I have been married now for almost 16 years. He has seen me through several diets, and encouraged me various ways as I struggled to lose the weight and then eventually gain it back. He has never made any kind of statement that has made me feel bad about my appearance. I do find at that all by myself. He has always just listened and tried to help me. But there is one thing he said to me a couple of years ago that has stuck with me and always makes me smile, and thank God for Steve.

One day I was complaining (again) about my weight and the struggle that it is to constantly be thinking about it, and what I should and shouldn't be eating. Saying that I was tried of the way I look, and just feeling down. Steve looked at me and said the most beautiful words that he ever could. He said "Kim, God made me addicted to you". WOW, God gave my husband eyes that even though physically I may not consider myself beautiful, he sees me as beautiful! I am continually amazed at the true gift that marriage can be. When two people become one, God gives them each a gift. One of my gifts and one of my husbands gifts is that "God made him addicted to me". He (Steve) loves me with a Godly passion. He sees me the way God wants him to see me!

So many women struggle with what I struggle with. It is one of those battles that I think about often and pray about. Wondering as Paul sometimes may have, why God doesn't take this thorn away. But what I have that many women sadly don't have is a husband that sees me as God sees me! Oh how I wish more men recognized how they would encourage and lift up their wives if only they opened their eyes to see what God sees!

Thank you Chrysalis for allowing me to join you and the other ladies in speaking of one aspect of Marriage that I treasure!

Reflecting the Word...droW eht gnitcelfeR

A few years ago someone (I think it was Jennifer Hill) told me about putting verses on the mirror of our bathroom for the kids (and us, who am I kidding). I started putting one on everyday, then went to one a week, hoping that reading the verse everyday would get it into the kids heads. When we remodeled our bathroom I stopped doing it.

On Valentines Day I decided to write "Happy Valentines Day" on the mirror. This prompted both kids to ask why I don't put verses on there any more. I asked them, "Do you want me to put verses on there?" and they both said "YES"! So I have been putting one or two up a week since them.

Here is a picture of my verse:

Isaiah 49:23b Those who hope in Me (God) will not be disappointed.

and this is what I found on my daughters mirror the other night:

Proverbs 1:10 My child if sinners entice you, turn your back on them.

Needless to say it made me SMILE BIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Pillar of Cloud

Today started out no so good. Whether because of lack of sleep; a conversation I had last night that is weighing on my mind; the fact that so many parents today seem clueless to what culture is teaching their children through smutty shows (insert any show you can think of here, I am); the issues I still am working through after stepping down from my position as Director of Children's Ministries, or the fact that I am in "waiting" mode, but I was melancholy to say the least.

Fast forward to me taking the kids to school early because Jeremiah "forgot" until 9:30 last night that he had Social Studies homework. We turned unto Lake Michigan Dr. (for those familiar with the area) and BOOM - God showed himself! The sky was the most beautiful pink color. Jeremiah said "you can thank me now" (those that know him insert sarcasm here). So we travel down the road and I make another Michigan U-turn (gotta love um', not), and there in that most beautiful pink sky was a beam of pink shooting straight up! Just like a Pillar.

BOOM! God tells me "I am with you, I go before you, trust Me". WOW! I love when he does that! I wish I were like Mari and always keep a camera in my car (which I did actually say to my kids btw Mari), but alas I have no picture of the actual beam. This picture is the closest I could come.

Here is some of what the Bible says about the Pillar of Smoke:

Exodus 13:21-22

By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

Exodus 14:13-14, 19-20, 24
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (A verse I memorized, not a biggy, but a biggy!)

Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.

The Pillar of Cloud was a sign of God's presence with His people. It was a reminder that he was going to take care of them and fight for them. It was a comfort and a shield to them. It was a guide to them by day, and a light to them at night. A constant presence and a constant guard.

He is that for me (and you) as well! Praise be to God we are not alone!!! He is going before me and He is going to be the one fighting the battle. I just need to be still and then remember to follow Him!

THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS REMINDER!!!!!!!!

To flee or not to flee - Living in community

Getting along is hard, or is it just me? I find myself in a constant struggle with my inner feelings towards some, who I have been called to walk with. I think I am the only one who struggles with this issue. I see others who are so skilled at letting go and moving on. I also see others who say that they let go, but don't and carry anger, and resentment towards me or someone else that clouds their relationship with God. This is an issue that I struggle with daily. I want to be genuine. I want to be honest ALWAYS! It's hard though, because for whatever reason there is a lot of silence in community. People are afraid (myself included) to speak to someone about an issue, even when scripture says we should.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought 1 Corinthians 1:10

This is only a couple of examples of how we are to live with each other. I'm also reminded of the verses in Acts:

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47

Unbelievers saw the love these people had for each other and wanted that. Sadly today there is not always much love shown in community. There is anger, resentment, frustration, manipulation, but mostly SILENCE.

This post was prompted by a quote in an article I'm reading that states:
"Running away from conflict is never the answer. "growth is dependent on staying and DEALING with stuff, not fleeing. There's a lot of infidelity in society that's rooted in our lack of commitment to particular people in particular places. And stability is a call to learn how to STAY in ways that are healthy."

As I read this quote I thought about what people flee from: Relationships, Marriage, Churches, Jobs, etc....
And also staying does not mean putting up with, but (did you see it) DEALING with stuff. Don't put on a happy face like everything is honkey dorey when things aren't. That is not truth and that is not dealing with stuff. Working through issues takes guts and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. But God wants us to live together in harmony, that means that it can happen if we focus on him and come together in humility.

Finally Ephesians 4:25-27, 29-32 says:
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold....Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

With man this is not possible, but with God ALL things are possible, so I continue to lay my struggle at his feet, hoping not to pick it up again.

A Lump of Clay - Who's in control here anyway?

You turn things upside down,
as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,
“You did not make me”?
Can the pot say to the potter,
“You know nothing”?
Isaiah 29:16


But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?

“Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,

‘Why did you make me like this?’”

Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay

some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?
Romans 9:20-21