Saturday, January 28, 2017

Mine ~

Mine ~

Deuteronomy 10:21  He is the one you praise; He is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.  
My blog entries have gotten fewer because I have let my boat get overloaded with other stuff.  Did you watch the movie,  Finding Nemo?  Do you remember the seagulls whose one line was “mine”?  The fish landed in front of a flock of seagulls, and all of the birds started grabbing at the fish and started chanting  “mine”.  That’s how I feel sometimes.  Everybody wants something from me…..I’m so thankful for my circle of friends who see when I’m drowning and swim out to help me swim back to shore.  They keep me balanced.  They show me mercy and grace and love me when I’m just a mess.  

A few entries back, I shared with you the story of my brother-in-law; about the raging fevers and the prayers that would calm the storms during his battle with leukemia.  On August 26th, 2016, this man was given maybe 10 days to live.  This morning, they received the news that there is no detectable trace of the mutation for leukemia in his bone marrow and he has a “most favorable prognosis”.  I cannot wait to see what God has in store for my brother-in-law and my sister.  

Hey God, You showed out in a big way with this miracle You gave to our family.  My little problems sure seem silly compared to the storms that You brought my brother-in-law through.  You had Your plan in place this whole time.  You wrapped him in Your arms and said, “Mine”.  Help me to remember that I am Yours.  Sometimes You give us storms. You also give us friends to help us through.  But, most importantly, you keep us in your arms, and whisper, “Mine”.  Thank You for putting things into perspective for me this morning.  Thank You for your continued mercy….and miracles.

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Nothing Changes ~

Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes ~

Matthew 7:8  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  NIV

January is always my month of wishing things were different in my life.   It’s winter and dreary.  I’m usually about 10 pounds heavier than any other time of the year.  It’s my off season for photography and while I love the break because I’m usually so burned out, I struggle to make ends meet. That’s mainly because I don’t manage my money very well over the Christmas holidays.  Happens every year.  

I’ve spent the last two weeks thinking about this blog post.  I’ve come up with lots of excuses not to write it.  I grumbled to my friend about being unhappy with where I am with my business.  “I really want my book series to take off and support me.”  “I’d love for this blog to pay my bills.”  “I wish” and “I want” just kept pouring out of my mouth.  She said, “Change isn’t going to come to you at your door while you’re just sitting there.”  Then she posted something to my Facebook wall.  It said, “Nothing changes if nothing changes.”  I’m telling you, those 5 words have haunted me this week.  I’m not sure I like it, either, because I have had to realize that I am standing in my own way of getting the things I want in my life.  In order to have what I want, I have to get off my procrastinating, insecure butt and make it happen.  Nothing will change until I make it change.

God, I wonder how many other women struggle with where they are in their lives.  Certainly, I’m not the only one who prays for things to be different but puts forth little or no effort to do my part and make things different.  Tonight my prayer is that You will remind me that we are a team in change. You guide when I pray.  You give when I ask.  You will open the door for what I need in my life.  Nowhere in that verse does it say, “Hey, Kim.  Here you go...wait, don’t get up.  Sit right there.  I’ll bring it to you and everything will be fine.”  It says, “the door will be open”.  Nothing changes unless I get up and go through that door.  Thank You for my friends, God.  Thank You for these lessons that keep me balanced.