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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 7/24/2008 7:54:45 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1523
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From: IL (NW Central)
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today's devotion.....
Running By Faith
2 Cor 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
It was finally here. My favorite time of year, and my favorite place to be. I hopped out of bed with an unusually eager attitude to do my morning exercise. I stepped out the door into the crisp morning, and inhaled a deep breath of salty beach air. I headed for the soft white sand, and began jogging briskly at the edge of the surf, admiring the vastness of one of God’s most amazing creations. After a short while, the morning sun became exceptionally bright, causing me to squint. It was then that I realized that in my haste to experience the beautiful Carolina surf, I had left my sunglasses behind. I tried to keep my eyes open, but it was just too bright. I thought to myself about the open area around me, and decided it would be safe to go a short distance with my eyes closed completely. Knowing that miles of empty beach lay ahead of me, and that there were very few people, if any, at the beach this early in the morning, I confidently ran forward with both eyes closed tightly shut.
As I continued running blindly, and spending time with God in prayer, a startling thought leapt into my mind - “is this what God means when He tells us to walk by faith and not by sight?”. I allowed my mind to drift away from my surroundings and focus on this concept. In the case of my morning run, I already knew that there was nothing in my path to bump into. There were no people, dogs, umbrellas or flying frisbees yet, so I felt completely confident running with my eyes closed. However, life does not always have a bump-free pathway for us to run on, but rather is packed full of obstacles, big and small. During this prayer time, I felt God nudging me to recognize whether or not I would be willing to run with my eyes closed through the bumpy patches of life, and solely rely on Him for my confidence, even when I did not know what lay in front of me.
I found myself asking God, “Lord, what things do I need to walk by faith in, and not by sight?”. For the next several minutes, with each exhale of breath, God brought something to mind that I needed to have a stronger faith about. A family member’s chronic illness. A friend’s job search. A damaged relationship. Someone whom I needed to forgive. Raising my children. Marriage. Health concerns. The war. Who would lead our country. The future.
It became crystal clear to me in that moment, that I rarely walk by faith regarding issues of great concern. It seems that when the burdens get heavy, I try to carry them on my own. I fret and worry. I imagine the worst case scenario. I try to determine what I can do to remedy the problem. I waste time wishing things were different. When what I should be doing is giving God the opportunity to do His work. Worrying will not change a thing, but faith can change everything.
Walking by faith and not by sight, does not mean we need to walk around with our physical eyes closed, but that we need to live with the eyes of our heart open. God wants us to put our faith in Him, believing with full confidence that He will take care of the obstacles, guide us around the problems, and carry us through to the end. The NIV version of 2 Corinthians 5:7 puts it this way, “We live by faith, not by sight.” We are not commanded to merely walk by faith, but live by faith, each and every day.
If you are like me, I want to not only walk by faith, but run by faith. I want to have the type of faith in Christ that will allow me to close my physical eyes, and see through the eyes of my heart instead, while running full force ahead with no fear.
Matt 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Lord....I love this verse. Just when I think I've got a handle on the whole 'worrying' thing...You remind me that I really don't. Thank You for patiently waiting for me to realize how closely I've been holding onto something...with my eyes wide open...trying to forsee all the bad things that could come. (lol) That's just pointless, huh? When all I have to do is close my eyes and have faith to walk down the path that YOU have laid out before me. Whatever that path may be...You will see me through...and surely steer me around any number of messes I'd get into if I were going it alone!
Lord, I just praise You for never leaving me. Fill me with Your Spirit today...and help me to walk just one step at a time in faith. I surrender my worries, fears, and confusion to You this morning. For I trust Your will...may Your will be done. All these things I pray...in Jesus’ name.....amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
Matt 11:29 "...for I am gentle & humble in heart, & you will find rest for your souls."
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 7/24/2008 7:41:31 PM
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utilityfielder
Posts: 13029
Joined: 6/19/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: iwillfearnoevil
thank you so much for posting these kimberly!
Ditto
And Hi
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It is time for the tournament
National Baseball Congrees
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 7/25/2008 8:01:52 PM
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AngelInWaiting1983
Posts: 5317
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From: South Carolina
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Kimberly i'm here for ya! Prayers are said and thoughts are thunk.
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Reflecting with Terri "I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being." Psalm 104:33
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 7/26/2008 12:31:34 PM
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humbleinspirit
Posts: 15110
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From: Just Outside of Boston
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Hi Kimberly, I hope you are having a happy Saturday!
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 7/30/2008 7:54:27 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1523
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From: IL (NW Central)
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today's devotion.... (it's a good one!)
Bearers of Light
Ps 89:15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O LORD.
As a lover of history, I was fascinated by a story that I heard about Benjamin Franklin recently. Franklin had decided that lighting the streets of Philadelphia at night would add both beauty and increased safety to his city. Instead of embarking on a campaign of speeches and writing to persuade the other citizens, Franklin himself bought a large and beautiful lantern and mounted it on a long bracket in front of his home. He kept the glass clean and sparkling, and each evening at dusk he faithfully lit the lantern.
Soon his neighbors began to take notice, and they began maintaining their own lanterns at their residence. Like wildfire, the trend spread throughout the city, and it eventually became a city-wide, city-sponsored program. As the story is told, Benjamin Franklin influenced the entire city of Philadelphia without a word. He simply began to enact change in his own sphere and spread light to all those around him.
As a Christian, I sometimes look around my world and feel horror at the darkness around me. One hour of the evening news is enough to leave the bravest heart running for cover. Stories of child abuse, murder, the spread of deadly disease, starvation, extreme poverty, the heart-break of war and the evil of man swirl around me on the airwaves and churn daily from the printing press. The truth is that we live in a hard world where bad things happen to good people and bad people alike. It’s often a frightening and confusing place.
But there’s another truth that we must not overlook. God is sovereign. Those three words bring hope and comfort to my soul. God is sovereign, and He calls His people to bring His light into the world. I may not be able to change tomorrow’s newscast, but I can be a bearer of God’s light to those around me. I can make sure that my family’s Bible is well used and that my children know about His love for them. I can share His hope and pray with neighbors that are hurting. I can behave ethically in the workplace. I can serve in my church and community and share my time with others.
I John 1:5b says, “...God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” If we are walking with Him, He fills our lives with light that shines on those around us. By our words and actions, we are called to bring Light into a very dark world. Let’s resolve to be Light-bearers to those in our sphere this week and pray that the Light will continue to spread in our community.
Oh, Lord......thank You for these words this morning....for the reminder that I don't have to shout it to the world to be a Godly influence. Even the little things I do speak volumes to those around me. Help me to be mindful today...and every day...of my own little 'light.' Remind me to keep myself clean and transparent so that Your light can best shine through me. I praise You, for being the one and only sovereign God. I submit myself to you today...that Your light may radiate through me to a dark world. All these things I pray...in Jesus' name....amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
Matt 11:29 "...for I am gentle & humble in heart, & you will find rest for your souls."
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 8/1/2008 1:54:08 AM
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AngelInWaiting1983
Posts: 5317
Joined: 6/8/2007
From: South Carolina
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Thanks for the prayers and concern. Love ya girl!
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Reflecting with Terri "I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being." Psalm 104:33
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 8/1/2008 7:59:00 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1523
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion..... (another good one!!)
My Thoughts vs. God's Word
Do you ever question if you are good enough? I do.
Do you dwell more on what's wrong with you than what's right with you? I do that a lot too.
One day, I realized my thoughts were being provoked by the enemy. For a long time, I didn't even recognize Satan for who he was. My negative thoughts just sounded like my own voice.
The Bible warns us of a slithering serpent who deceived Adam and Eve filling their heads with lies that separated them from God’s truths. They chose to believe the lies. Jesus, too, was tempted by this liar. He was ready though. He knew the Word of God and that was the only weapon He needed to defeat the evil one.
I find great comfort knowing I have the same weapon Jesus had. I have God's Word available to me. When I compared my negative thoughts to God's Word, I was amazed at the differences:
My thoughts tell me to give up.
God's Word tells me to be committed. Matthew 5:33-37
My thoughts tell me “I need it now!”
God's Word tells me to exercise self-control. Galatians 5:23
My thoughts tell me I deserve to come first, be selfish.
God's Word tells me to have humility and put others first. Philippians 2:3-4
My thoughts tell to get mad and hold a grudge.
God's Word says forgive as many times as it takes. Matthew 18:21-22
My thoughts tell me to seek revenge.
God's Word tells me to be a peacemaker. Romans 12:18-19
My thoughts tell me to take all the credit.
God's Word tells me to glorify Jesus Christ. John 17:5
My thoughts tell me I need to look good on the outside and no one will notice the ugly inside.
God's Word tells me to be pure on the inside and the outside won't even matter. Proverbs 31:30
My thoughts tell me I'm ugly.
God's Word tells me I'm wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
My thoughts tell me I'm all alone and no one understands me.
God's Word tells me He will never leave me He knows the plans and He has for me. Deuteronomy 31:6, Jeremiah 29:11
My thoughts tell me that I'm just not good enough.
God's Word tells me that I'm His gift to the world and that I was created in His image. Psalm 127:3, Genesis 1:26
I’ve learned that lies must be replaced with Words that are true. That way, when Satan’s lies slither back into my head, I can defeat the enemy.
I don't want to waste time believing lies about myself that aren't true. That only keeps me from fulfilling my God-given purpose. I challenge you to evaluate your thoughts. Renew your mind with the Word of God. Do not allow the enemy to separate you from the love of God and the life that was meant for you.
Oh, Lord.... Again, You gave me just what I needed today. I have been struggling with my self-worth again (as if you didn't know). Lord, I just ask that You fill me with Your Word so I can live in freedom. Help me to cling to Your thoughts about me...not worry about anyone elses. Thank You for loving me...even when I don't love myself. I give this day to You, Lord. May Your will be done. All these things I ask...in Jesus' name....amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
Matt 11:29 "...for I am gentle & humble in heart, & you will find rest for your souls."
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 8/4/2008 7:59:57 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1523
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
My Nameplate
Ex 28:36 Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: holy to the LORD.
Recently I received a license plate with my company’s logo on it. They strongly encouraged us to place it on the front of our car so that everyone can see who I work with at a glance. I was pretty excited and proud to do it - at first. However, when someone cut me off in traffic and heat rushed up my spine, sending my morning smile into a scowl, I remembered the plate that identified me! I forced the grimmace to leave my face and replaced it with numbness. Arghh! The realization hit me, I can’t just react now without thinking of the impression it will leave on others. I must admit at times I’ve wanted to intentionally drive through a mud hole to mask the name on that plate.
My girlfriend won’t let her husband put a fish symbol on their car, a symbol of their faith, because she knows that car can sometime reflect a little “road rage”. She is afraid it might reflect poorly on her Savior. What if we had to wear the seal of God on our forehead for everyone to see? Would we act any differently? Would we be nicer to the store clerk, the grumpy boss or the bratty child? If at a glance the world could see who we were with, would it alter our behavior?
In Ephesians 1:13 it says, “… Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” So we ARE marked with a seal, and it is not just on our foreheads, it should be oozing from every part of our being! When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, it is as powerfully evident to others as an engraved nameplate welded to our face that we belong to Christ. How? Matthew 5:16 tells us, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Surprisingly, I have become accustom to to the nameplate on my car. I think now before I react. I consider the consequences of my driving. It has seriously made me a better driver and less stressed. Isn’t that amazing? It no longer makes me anxious or afraid that I will discredit my company. People recognize me coming now and wave.
So who is reading your nameplate? Do they recognize the light of Christ in your actions?
Lord...the way I'm feeling...if anyone sees me today...well....they won't be seeing the joy of Christ on my face. I prayed last night. I prayed this morning. And I'll pray on the way to work and throughout the day. Lord, please fill these holes in my heart! I feel as if everything just seeped out over the weekend. And I'm so depressed about my bday coming up. Ps 13:2 seems to be my ever-repeating cry, "How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?"
Lord, I know I'm not the 'face' You want to present to the world. Not today. I just don't have the strength. So I surrender this day to You. Whatever You can and want to make of me today...whatever You want me to represent to my little corner of the world....well, You're gonna have to provide it. And I know You can. I know You can heal my heart...I'm just wondering if You want to. Maybe it's not Your will that I be happy today....or tomorrow....or ever. It's so beyond my understanding today!! Just get me through this day without reflecting poorly on You. Ps 46: 10 says, "Be still and know that I am God." Lord...I'm waiting quietly...and patiently. "Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer." (Ps 4: 1). All these things I ask in Jesus' name....amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
Matt 11:29 "...for I am gentle & humble in heart, & you will find rest for your souls."
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 8/5/2008 7:54:40 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1523
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion:
Faith You Can Take to the Grave
Rom 6:4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
Do you avoid stinky things? Me too, but reading the story of Lazarus in John 11:1-46, changed my mind.
Lazarus became very sick. So his sister Martha sent for Jesus to come heal him. Jesus sent word back promising Lazarus’ illness would not end in death, and God would be glorified. A couple of days later, Jesus had not shown up and Lazarus died.
After the funeral, Martha goes out to meet Jesus, leaving her sister Mary and the other mourners behind. When she sees Him, Martha exclaims, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”
Her statement sounds like a complaint about Jesus running late or not answering her request for healing. Perhaps it was, but it was also a statement of faith. Her next statement was too. She said, “But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” Before Martha said another thing, Jesus assured her brother will rise again.
Martha remembered Jesus saying Lazarus wouldn’t die from this illness. But Lazarus did die, so she figured Jesus must be talking about the future resurrection day of all souls. She mentions that. Jesus explained that HE IS the RESURRECTION LIFE and anyone who believes this will receive eternal life on that coming resurrection day. He asks Martha if she believes that through Him a person can live eternally even though they die physically.
Martha – who today is known for being too busy in the kitchen to sit with Jesus when He visited – responded, “Yes, Lord, I have always believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” Martha may have taken some heat for fussing over dinner on that day, but on this day she takes the cake for having great belief in Jesus.
Martha left and told Mary Jesus wanted to see her. Mary had been inconsolable over Lazarus’ death. The Bible says, “When the people who were trying to console Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to weep at Lazarus’s grave and followed her.” Instead, Mary went to Jesus.
Jesus felt for Mary as she wept there at His feet over her brother. Jesus loved Lazarus, and cried along with her. Our Lord can feel our pain. I am so thankful for a Savior who has walked this dusty earth, feeling the emotions and dealing with the complexities of human life as we know it.
At Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus called for the stone to be rolled away and Martha panics over what it will smell like. To keep it real, I don’t care much for the smell of a dirty, sweaty man. So I’m with Martha here; I wouldn’t want to smell a 4-days-dead one. But Jesus responded to her, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”
Pause here and consider, are there areas of your life you have thought “dead?” Maybe your finances stink, or your career? Maybe your marriage, or your sex-life with your spouse? Maybe a relationship with a parent, husband, or child?
Once the tomb was opened, Jesus said: “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so they will believe you sent me." Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And Lazarus came out, bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!" (John 11:42-43, NLT). Many witnesses to this then believed in Jesus.
Notice that we may not always get to hear Jesus when He commands the resurrection in own our circumstances. Sometimes we just have to take it on faith. Furthermore, at first, it may not look or smell much like resurrected life – even though Jesus has summonsed it. In fact, it might continue looking like a smelly corpse in graveclothes! But, if we trust and persevere, unwrapping those graveclothes, we will find the miracle of resurrection life has gone forth.
Jesus holds resurrection power – do we hold belief? If so, we will get to see God and His glory displayed. If so, we will get to remove the graveclothes from the dead areas of our hearts and lives. And, if so, we too will one day rise from our graves.
Col 3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Lord, this is where You get me. Didn't I just say...as I was putting on my make up, "I give up. I guess I should just let it die." I mean seriously....I used those exact words!! My heart just continues to break over this relationship...and today...when I'm ready to quit AGAIN...I get this message. Father, I can only trust You want me to be happy...to be loved. And for some reason, just when I think I can't (and shouldn't) wait any longer for this relationship to move forward...I feel You quietly urging me to be patient. All I can do is surrender this to You...AGAIN. For I trust Your will. And I praise You for Your resurrection power. May Your will be done. In Jesus' name I pray....amen.
_____________________________
Kimberly
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
Matt 11:29 "...for I am gentle & humble in heart, & you will find rest for your souls."
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 8/5/2008 8:51:30 AM
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ShallbeRebuilt
Posts: 1671
Joined: 11/8/2007
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No doubt whatsoever that God is speaking, Kimberly.
My caution is to be very careful that you do not assume He means something more specific than what He's actually said. He's said "be patient". He's said "You will see the glory of God".
These are things that are always true. You can bank on them. It is foolish and dangerous, however, to decide what the result of those things will be and interpret them in light of the result. That is a path toward sure disappointment, because God's thoughts are higher than ours, and He has a plan you haven't even begun to imagine. It's better than yours, but if you hold too tightly to your interpretation, you will only be disappointed in His plan.
And remember: Lazarus had to die. Dead. In today's America, he'd have probably still been on life-support after 4 days. But Mary and Martha had to BURY him before Jesus showed up.
It may be profitable for you to ask yourself if you are holding on to an old plan that needs to die and be buried. It's not a lack of faith to do that...Jesus didn't scold Mary and Martha for not having enough faith to keep Lazarus' body in their own home until He arrived. No...they did what was necessary while still believing that Jesus cared and would do something without trying to second-guess what that would be, though of course they desired Lazarus to live again.
It's always fascinated me that neither Martha or Mary asked Jesus to raise Lazarus. They made statements that indicated that they were perfectly willing for Him to do whatever was best. They stated facts. You weren't here. Lazarus is dead. You are the Christ. You can do whatever you want.
They left it up to him what to do.
I also think it's awesome to note that they did not deny their pain. They didn't piously hide their grief over their brother's death. They didn't go around with some fake smile on their face and repeat scripture or "faith statements" about Lazarus coming back. They admitted and validated the pain of losing their brother.
Jesus did not chastise them for this, either.
In short, they did all they knew to do, then left the results with God. Their hope was in HIM, not in an event or result.
Hope in Him, Kimberly. You'll never go wrong that way.
besiderself
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Many wise words are spoken in jest, but they don’t compare with the number of stupid words spoken in earnest.
Shallbe's Batty Belfry
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 8/5/2008 10:32:40 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1523
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: besiderself
No doubt whatsoever that God is speaking, Kimberly.
thanks...i think so too. but sometimes i wonder if i'm not reading too much into things. lol
My caution is to be very careful that you do not assume He means something more specific than what He's actually said. He's said "be patient". He's said "You will see the glory of God".
so you're saying He may not be telling me to be patient with my ex...but to be patient in general?
These are things that are always true. You can bank on them. It is foolish and dangerous, however, to decide what the result of those things will be and interpret them in light of the result. That is a path toward sure disappointment, because God's thoughts are higher than ours, and He has a plan you haven't even begun to imagine. It's better than yours, but if you hold too tightly to your interpretation, you will only be disappointed in His plan.
i have DEFINITELY not decided on what the result will be!! i know better than that!!
It may be profitable for you to ask yourself if you are holding on to an old plan that needs to die and be buried. It's not a lack of faith to do that...Jesus didn't scold Mary and Martha for not having enough faith to keep Lazarus' body in their own home until He arrived. No...they did what was necessary while still believing that Jesus cared and would do something without trying to second-guess what that would be, though of course they desired Lazarus to live again.
that's EXACTLY what i had said last night & this morning!! i have 'cut my losses,' 'quit,' 'given up,' and 'walked away' so many times from this relationship in the past 4 yrs. i have made many, many conscious decision to NOT hold onto this. we have had periods of not even communicating. i've been out with other men. and yet....we still are drawn back together. i have invested so many hours in prayer. and cried buckets and buckets of tears. and STILL my life is in limbo.
In short, they did all they knew to do, then left the results with God. Their hope was in HIM, not in an event or result.
i honestly don't know WHAT ELSE i can do.
besiderself
thanks for taking the time to reply, esther. i really appreciate it.
_____________________________
Kimberly
Shifing Gears w/ Kimberly
Matt 11:29 "...for I am gentle & humble in heart, & you will find rest for your souls."
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RE: Shifting Gears with Kimberly - 8/6/2008 7:50:13 AM
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kj88il
Posts: 1523
Joined: 3/3/2008
From: IL (NW Central)
Status: offline
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today's devotion...
You Get What You Pay For
I Cor 6:20 You were bought at a price.
Crocs: now those are some ugly shoes in my opinion! I am not always on the cutting edge of fashion but Crocs are foot fashion that I can not embrace. The colors are loud, the shape is bulky, and did I mention the cost can bust a budget? I typically like to invest my money in knock-offs rather than name brands, especially when it comes to my children because not too long after a purchase they either out grow or destroy the item. Therefore, with a knock-off, I typically get my money's worth. Except when I bought "Crocs."
My children wanted Crocs and kept asking for them. I gave in to the asking but committed not to buy the "real" thing. We went to one of the higher priced stores | | |
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