Watermark News Story!

Every week at my church Watermark Community Church, they have a different story of something that God has done in the life of a Christ follower in our bulletin which we call the Watermark News. It's such a blessing to get to read it each week. We have a lot of talented authors that write the stories!

I got to be in the Watermark News a few weeks back about my trip to Africa. They are now posting the stories online on a blog as well!!

Click the link below to read my story, but grab a cup of coffee and sit down for some good reading as you enjoy the other stories as well!

http://watermarkblogs.org/stories/09/51/

Pretty Fabric!

I found this fabric last weekend!! and I am in love with it! I have been trying to think of a reason to buy it . . . and I think I finally just got one. I was inspired!

I am going to choose to keep you in suspense though . . . until I post the final product. I'll be heading to Joanne's after work Friday to pick up a small piece! any guesses?

Have a great day and I will keep you posted!

Spoon Rest!

This is something I made awhile back! I friend and I went to one of those awesome pottery place where you can pick out what you want to paint, paint it, and then they fire it for you! We went to celebrate her birthday! I chose this little trivet b/c I decided I would use it as a spoon rest on my stove. My new dishes are that dark blue color that the "S" is.

I also trimmed it in yellow to give it a punch!

Mainly it is just fun to sit and and talk and paint with a friend; but is also nice to have something useful for your kitchen!

I'm kinda love making things with "S"'s right now to enjoy my new last name!

:)

I love my Green Chair!

Friends, here is my latest creation. Last week I finished my last chair and this frame. I painted this chair much like the two with the brown cushions. I sanded the chair, put wax on it and painted with paint/primer. Then I sanded of the areas that I waxed. this leaves some of the wood exposed on the chair and makes it look old and extra loved! :) Then I sealed the chair with a polyurethane like finish. I coved the chair cushion with this pretty green fabric made by waverly. If you look closely you can see there is this beautiful swirly texture to the fabric. Sorry the picture is so bad. I took the same fabric and put it in the black frame that is next to the chair. Both are in our bedroom. I'm adding this green color in our mostly blue bedroom. The thrird picture is a Benjamin Moore Paint Color that depicts the color of the fabric so you can see it better.

The last pic is a close up of just the chair cushion so you can see the pretty fabric!!

That's what I've been up too! I'm determind to finish my painting that I've been working on for quite some time now! It's just a bunch of color blocks. I was bored of it for awhile, but feel inspired again!

I guess when you are planning a wedding it kinda takes all your creative energy and I am starting to get some of it back again!

Interested in Do You want to Get into the Fair for Free or Cheap?? See these Deals!!!

Participating North Texas KROGER stores
Advance purchase General Admission tickets are $13.50. A Season Pass is $29.95. They may be purchased at the check-out counter or at the service desk.

Opening Day-Sept. 25--Bring a full 20 oz. Coca-Cola product for donation to the North Texas Food Bank containers at Fair admission gates and enter the State Fair for $4 per donation per person.

DART Combo Ticket – Available at Kroger Food Stores. $16 buys one general admission t o the 2009 State Fair of Texas and round-trip transportation on DART the day of your visit. The Green Line drops off at the front gate and a second station is located within easy walking distance to the MLK entrance.

Dr Pepper $3 Tuesdays--Every Tuesday, bring an empty Dr Pepper can and enter for $3. Most rides (excluding the Thrillway, Texas Star and selected other attractions) are 5 coupons.

Dr Pepper $5 after 5 p.m. – Bring an empty Dr Pepper can to any State Fair admission gate after 5 p.m. and enter for $5.

Kroger "Three for $1" each Wednesday--Admission is $1 for each visitor bringing 3 cans of food for area food banks.

Coke $4 Thursday--Bring an empty 20 oz. bottle of a Coca-Cola product and enter the Fair for $4 admission.

HealthSpring and Mature Texan Magazine sponsor of Seniors Day. FREE Thursdays--Senior Citizens 60 years and older get in to the State Fair FREE each Thursday.

FREE Thursday admission with a Cinemark Theater ticket stub.

KISS-FM “Fridays at the Fair”- Half-price admission and half-price rides after 5 p.m. on any Friday. Must present coupon printed from KISS-FM website for admission offer. Half-price ride wristbands will be distributed from KISS booth outside Midway Arch from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Fridays only.

Dickies – Friday, October 16, wear and show your Dickies logo clothing item at the staffed tent outside the gate and receive a voucher. The voucher is for FREE admission on Friday, October 16 only.

Any Day--McDonald's offers $4 off General Admission with one of their State Fair coupons (available on tray liner or bag stuffer) any day of the Fair. A free child ticket (with purchase of general admission) coupon is also distributed by McDonald’s. Offer may not be combined with any other offer.

Ethiopia Trip Update!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support as I went to Ethiopia. I wanted to take some time to just update you on some of the amazing things God did while we were there. It was such an amazing trip and I am still processing each day all that happened. I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have gone.

I want to share with you two amazing stories (read one or read both!!) of what God allowed me to be a part of while I was there and also share some continued prayer requests for Ethiopia!


Story One

Each day that we were in Ethiopia we took a van out to the village that we were going to. Our team broke up into little sub-teams and paired up with in-country translators and disciple-makers who live in the villages that we worked in. Disciple makers are locals that we partnered with that follow up with those that decide to begin a relationship with Christ. They also begin planning churches.

On our second day with our team we headed to a small village directly where our disciple maker Solomon was from. Right when we got there, we began playing soccer and painting the woman and girls (and boys!!) finger nails! Soon after Tesime, a translator, and I gathered a group of woman and children together to begin sharing the story of the Paralyzed man which demonstrates just one of the many miracles that Jesus Christ performed. Directly after the story, we shared the Gospel and began asking if anyone wanted to make today the day that they would place their hope and faith in Jesus Christ. A woman from the back raised her hand. The translator and I thought she was ready to make a decision, but in reality she was already a Christian. She wanted us to go back to her home where her mother had just gone back to b/c she had been sitting in the crowd, heard the Gospel, and wanted to make a decision to trust in Christ in her own home!

We followed her back to her home, a beautiful clay hut with straw. As we were on our way there she shared that she was Solomon’s, the disciple maker, sister, and her mom was Solomon’s mom. Solomon had been praying for his mom for many years and today was the day!! As we got to her lawn, she greeted us with much kindness. We explained the Gospel again and she placed her faith in Jesus Christ. As soon as she did, she decided that we needed to go inside her home and tell many more of her family members the good news of the Gospel. We then shared the Gospel with one of her daughter who also placed her faith in Jesus—as soon as she did--- she told me that her husband would be home soon and that we should share with her husband and her dad. As we awaited their arrival they prepared coffee by fire in tiny china cups. They treated me with such love and compassion. As soon as the husband we shared Christ with them as well. The husband had many questions, but he also trusted in Christ that day. The father was not yet ready, but we are praying for him.

After the day was over, Solomon’s smile was so big b/c so many from his family came to faith that day and so many from his village also came to faith as others from my team were sharing the Gospel as well. I think the village went from 8 believers to 32 in 1 day!! We left that day praising God and still are!

Story Two

On our very last day in Ethiopia our entire team of 16 went to the same village b/c we only worked a half day b/c we began our travel home that day. We did not have as many translators with us that day and I think I went into that day with the thought that much was not going to happen. As we got to the village though, there were so many that came around us and that were ready to hear and I began praying and asking God to help us make an eternal impact with the rest of our time.

The very last person that I shared with that day was a young man who just finished serving in the military. He has been in service for 5 years. He is married and lives an hour’s walk from where we were that day, but somehow ended up with us that day.

Five years ago, right before he went into the military, he heard of Jesus but he was going into the military so he pushed away any desire he had to pursue a relationship with Christ and just decided to follow his time in the military thinking it wasn’t possible to be in the military and follow Jesus as well.

Then when he got back from the Military he did not understand or know what it looked like to follow Jesus or how to gain access to him. The translator and I got to share the Gospel with him and answer all his questions about what the difference between religion and a relationship with Jesus Christ looks like. He prayed that day to trust in Christ, then he immediately began the walk home to his home to share the good news of the Gospel with his wife so she too could have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

How to Pray!
· Pray for those that make decisions to trust in Christ while we are there, that they will grow strong in their faith and share their faith
·Pray for the disciple makers as they build up these new believers and start new churches (home churches)
·Pray that the message of the Gospel would grow strong in Ethiopia. Many there have heard of Jesus- but grew up in a religion called Ethiopian Orthodox which is based on tradition and earning your salvation – and not a loving grace filled relationship with Jesus Christ. Also many are Muslim.

A little something I have been up to!

Lately, I have been fixing up some chairs! It has been so much fun! I took some old brown chairs that I basically got for free. They were not so cute so I decided to work on them. I found an article

in Cottage Living that had these chairs that were painted ivory so I decided to follow suit! I usually go for a collor or a brown tone, but this article gave me a new idea-- that I probably wouldn't have thought of.

I also decided to attempt to cover some chairs for the very first time. It went very well. I loved using the staple g

un. I found this great brown fabric that looks kinda suede

The chairs are comfortable and they are a lot cuter to look at. Here are a few pics . . . taken by i-phone so they aren't amazing-- but at least you can get a glimpse!

Enjoy!

Heading Out On A Plane to Africa on Friday!

Hello Friends and Family

On Friday, I will head out with the rest of my team to Ethiopia! I am so excited to see what is in store for this trip! We will spend our time in Asela ministering to the Arsi Oromo people there. This part of the country is about 90 percent Muslim.

You can visit this blog: http://watermarkinafrica.blogspot.com where you can read updates every few days about how our ministry is going and what we are doing while we are there. Team 1 is already (I am on Team 2) there and you can read updates about how the first few days of the trip have been for them.

We have several little sub-teams on our team including: a children?s ministry team, a men?s ministry team, and a women?s ministry team. I will be working with the women?s ministry team where we will teach on health related issues like AIDS, washing hands, and potentially infant care. We also want to encourage them through fun things like painting their nails, braiding their hair, and making jewelry with them. Pray for us as we do this and remain flexible to what is appropriate to their culture. Ultimately, we will share stories about who God is from the Word and our own personal Testimonies.

Personally, you can pray for continued focus for me this week as I prepare to head out on this mission. Please pray 2 Timothy 1:7 for me, ?For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.?

Please also pray for the people in the villages that we are going to meet, that we can share the Truth with them. Psalm 33:8 ?Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.?

Looking forward to sharing with you the Lord?s faithfulness when I return. I?ll post photos and stories!

Africa Update!

Africa is less than three months away. Please continue to pray for me as I prepare to go on trip.

I was reading Psalm 43 today and wanted to share this . . .

Psalm 43:3

O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your dwelling places.

Continuing to pray that the Lord will send out his light and his truth and prepare the way to Ethiopia as our teams prepare to head over there.

Please pray that I can continue to allow the Lord and his truths to lead this time and I won't try and do things on my own effort . . .which is fruitless.

Please also continue to pray for my financial support for the trip. Through many friends and family . . . . the Lord has provided about half of what I need. I am so grateful for that support. It means so much to have people behind me and supporting me on this mission. Please pray for the rest of the support and that I can be creative in how to continue to reach my goal for the trip.

As many know, I am getting married just about a month before going on this trip. I am so excited and cannot wait for that day. Please pray that I can continue to pray for the trip and the Ethiopians during these next few months and I don't only focus on wedding stuff and preparation for that trip.

Thank you so much for your prayers!

March Scripture Memory

I know I know,l it's mid march and I haven't posted my March scripture memory! I have been working on it, but haven't placed it here!

Here it is: Galatian 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing."

Mission Trip to Africa!

I am going to Ethiopia this summer! July 24th- August 3rd on a Mission trip!

I am going to beging posting regular prayer request on my blog for this trip and pictures when I regurn! Here are my first three prayer request!

1. For me: Pray that I will be bold and not fearful on the trip. Deuteronomy 31:5 ?Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

2. For the Ethiopians: Pray for opportunities to share Christ with the Ethiopians. Psalm 33:8 ?Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.?

3. For the team/leaders: Pray that we will build unity. Ephesians 4:2-4 ?Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit . . .?

Thank you so much for your support in prayer!

February Scripture Memory

Hey gang I'm memorizing a new scripture every month. I know that seems minimal- but I am really committed to this and this is a good place for me to start! I am goign to eventually memorize all the navigator verses!

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the New Creation Has Come: The old has gone, The new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Oscar Henry Harms!!

Oscar Henry Harms, my new adorable nephew (he is the handsome little man above) was born on Thursday, January 22nd at approx. 4:15 pm!


We found out two day's before that Becky was going to be induced, so I was able to ask off work and plan on being at the hospital all day for the birth!


On my way to the hospital my eye started hurting and kinda watering just a bit! (The hospital is in Mansfield). I just kept driving hoping that it would get better. Well, it did not get better, IN FACT it got worse! I pulled over at one point to put drops in it, but that just made my mascara run all over my face and didn't seemingly help my eye one bit!



As I got closer to the hospital (well I think I am . . . b/c I've never been there before!) I stop at a Super Target (I was so excited to see this shopping Mecca in the middle of no where) I pull over and run to the contact aisle. I bought a bottle solution and a contact lens case . . . the case was actually really cute too. Anyways I ran in the bathroom and took out my contact. No relief. My eye still hurt and was watering like Niagara.


Next, I attempted to drive to the hospital minus one contact and hope that my google directions were spot on. Thankfully they were!


As I got up to the room to see Josh, Mom, Becky and Becky's mom in the delivery room . . . pre-delivery . . . it was worth it all! So glad to get to spend the day there!


Just a bit later, Mom, Don and I went to grab some lunch and Devon came along for the fun of it. We went to the hospital cafeteria which was surprisingly-good! mmm sweet potato fries. We also had fun conversations with Devon about what mom and Josh should name the baby!


After lunch it became apparent that my eye was getting worse and not better . . . so after my being reluctant for quite some time, I decided to head down to the ER and get it looked at! I've never been to ER in my life (okay once when I put a bead up my nose when I was a kid), but not since then!!


Mom came with me and we waited and waited and waited. After awhile she went back up and the doctor eventually let me know I had a scratch on my cornea! wahoo! I was thankful though b/c I was able to get med and get on the road to recovery.

Then right when I went upstairs from the ER to Labor and Delivery everyone was all excited and announced that the time was close for the baby to come! So thankful that I made it up before the baby came. After a little bit of excited chit chat Becky's mom came to announce that the baby was born!! yeah!! She already had pics on her camera too so we go to "see" him right away. Love the digital age! Then just a bit later we all got to go back.

Yeah! I got to hold that precious little baby boy! Lord thank you for bringing him safely into this world! Josh and Becky deliberated on names for a few days so we didn't quite have the name until a Saturday (he was born on Thursday!!) but regardless it it great to be able to call him by name!

That's the story of the day of sweet Oscar's Birth!

Looking forward to seeing him again soon!!

Mosiac!

Hi, I wanted to post a picture of the Mosiac I created this christmas! If I get a better picture, than I will go ahead and post that! Below is an e-mail that I sent to the THE VIEW! I entered a contest for the ways that we are saving money this Christmas! The e-mail will give you more detail about the mosiac!

Hi View!

My name is Kim Harms and I live in Dallas, TX. I am 28 years old and love Christmas!I wanted to find a way to not only save money this Christmas, but also give a meaningful gift to my mom and step-dad. I love them both very much and they have done so much for me over the years. I love crafting things and making old things into new! Over the years my family has recieved many greeting cards from me called "Kim Kards", but I wanted to do something even more meaningful this year.

My mom and my step dad received some dishes from my step-dad's side of the family several years ago. We use them at special occasions and they love them very much. They are beautiful gold and white china. They also have some accent pices with rose color. Unfortunatley, some of the dishes got broken a couple of years ago. My mom held on to them for a little while with hopes of them being repaired, but she never got them fixed.

She decided to give the broken dishes to me because I am always crafting something. This year as I was thinking of how I could bless them, I decied to take broken dishes and make them into a keepsake mosiac. I stained a wooden serving tray and added the china pieces on the surface of the tray. Finally I grouted it and it is ready to give!

I can't wait to give it to them and hope that it is a meaningful gift for them to unwrap!! I have attached a photos. (sorry my camera isn't so great!!) I hope others can take advantage of this idea too!

Merry Christmas!!

Kim

What is all that?

Okay so you will notice that there is a bunch of stuff posted from Today!! This is all stuff from my old blog. I am deleting all of my old blogs. I have had trouble logging in and out of them, but didn't to lose what I wrote.

Happy Reading!

Older Posts from Old Blog

Monday, May 21, 2007

Do you really believe?
"Heal me oh Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." Jeremiah 17:14.Do you really believe that God is capable of healing you? Do you really believe that God is the one to praise? I ask these questions as a means of checking my own heart. I mean really I know that I say that I believe this . . . and I would tell anyone else that, but am I really believing that at the core of my heart? Am I living my life expecting THE ONE to heal me?I put all this out there because . . . I need to tell you something. . . guess what . . .I'm broken. I have hurts and they are not fun. I believe though though that if we are all honest before the Lord that we all have hurts. They look different for each person. Some are deep-rooted while other hurts may just be surface level -- but guess what? God can heal them all and there is healing available in Him.Do you believe this verse in Jeremiah . . . "Heal me oh Lord and I will be healed." I love the word healed. There is such a permanence to it. It does not say I will feel better or that I will temporarily have relief. The Lord wants to heal the hearts of the hurting. That is beautiful.By Believing in the One True God . . .we can find healing.
Posted by Kimmy at 5:32 PM 0 comments
Labels: healing, hurts
Sunday, May 13, 2007

Resting in the Lord

Okay so finals are over . . . the semester has come to a close and I feel a weight lifted off of me. Life is still busy, but not quite so crazy. I only have a few days left at my practicum site as well.I have been thinking though that I want to rest well right now. Not just sleep more (which I do want to do) or not just develop a general attitude of laziness. I want to really rest in the Lord. I was at this worship service on Friday night and one of the girls shared that she was so physically exhausted . . . and it was hard to get there, but she knew that she needed more than sleep. She knew that she needed to sit in the Lord's presence. I feel that way right now. I feel like my time with the Lord recently has been way too much of check that box kind of thing. Just staring at the pages of a Bible does not produce heart change . . . and I've been lacking in devotion with the Lord . . . at the same time though I know that the Lord has been with me and has used even those rote times with him to encourage me. So there is value in just doing it at times.I just believe that the Lord wants more from my heart. He always does. He always wants all of our hearts. He wants all of us all of the time. Not because He is selfish or because He is jealous, but because he LOVES us dearly. Isn't that amazing?So with all of this in mind, I want to spend just this next season just really resting in the Lord. So . . . I'm searching for what that is right now. I know that it means that I'm still seeking to glorify Him with everything I do (Deut 11:13). I also know that I don't want to cease in proclaiming his TRUTH (Acts 5:52). Overall, in a period of rest . . . I'm still on mission for Him.So . . . every time though that I think rest, I think JOSHUA. This book has a theme of rest. Rest comes up over and over. In chapter 1 verse 13, Joshua said "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land." Then after the Israelites receive their land . . . in Joshua 21:44a "The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers."From these verses it seems to me that the Lord gives rest. So, I am not completely sure what this time of rest that He is giving me is going to look liked, but I know three things:1. I am still on mission2. Rest is given by Him3. I'll keep you posted
Posted by Kimmy at 4:04 PM 0 comments
Labels: rest
Friday, April 27, 2007

Counseling . . . ?@?@?@!!!!

So . . . I am just in the middle of a lot of wrestling with where in the world I want to go with counseling. Not that I have to determine my future right now (cause God's in control of that anyway), but what are my next step's . . . and what direction do I want to head????This semester I have worked in a secular enviorment and it has been HARD not to have opportunities to talk abotu Christ. To not get to share about Him unless He was spoken of first. Then this week at the very end of the semester . . . I had two opportunities back to back to talk about Him, his church, and his Word . . . Crazy!I think at the end the day, I really would love to be working in a place where the name of Jesus is often not heard. If given the opportunity, I would like to be in that kind of enviroment, but man it is hard!!! I went for months w/o the opportunity speak of Him! It is exhausting and feels hopeless . . . but at the same time I do believe that it is a part of where God has my heart. I just cannot seem to get past it.I just do not see myself working in a church. I think somedays that it would be easier . . .but the bottom line is . . . my heart is not there.I wonder what opportunities exist to work to work with the lost, but the name of Christ is allowed to be shared. I think I would fit there really well.If you have any more thoughts on this let me know. I feel like I am all over the map on this and will probably continue bloogging on the subject so Do expect to see this topic again!
Feeling a little bit like a Jacob . . .
Posted by Kimmy at 11:30 AM 2 comments
Labels: counseling
Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Numbers 8
At first glance I read Numbers 8 and all I can think of is RULES, RULES, RULES on what it looks like to be "set apart" apart as a Levite and how now it is so great b/c it doesn't work that way.Then . . . you think deeper and well here you go. Yes, God set up all of this standards initially on how to purify the Levites and how they were to live in order to "set apart", and that was under the Old Covenant and now we are under the New Covenant . . . BUT. . . but really it seems to me that God showed an AMAZING amount of grace in proving the standards in which "set apart" the Levites. He provided a way to show Himself. It may not have been easy, but it was clear.Today... things look a little different, our instructions are not so clear as to how to be "set apart" under the New Covenat in this culture. . . but God's word does remain true and should be applied to life in community so we can help each other to be SET APART. Press on!
Posted by Kimmy at 11:46 PM 1 comments

You Might Ask . . . Where Have I been?
Where have I been?So . . . it has been a long time since I have written. I’m sure sorry about that. I’ve missed posting!! I’ve had some computer problems and then just got out of the habit of it. Not to mention been pretty busy! I am back though! However. . . I’m going to start posting at this new site! I have brought all my old journals over to this new site. Why? Well . . . while writing on the Journey has been such a blessing, but there are other topics that I want to write on in the Blog world and possibly get some feed back on. In order to accomplisht this, I’m going to start a blog that is not quite so narrow. You can still expect to find some of the old journey posts intermingled throughout the blog.Also, the site that I have been using is not quite so user friendly. I’d like to add some pictures and such to my blog without having to start a new solar system in order to do so.Happy Blogging.
Posted by Kimmy at 10:09 PM 0 comments

Exodus 16
Sunday, March 18, 2007, 6:48:11 PMI'm going to warn you before you read this, I have a a lot to say . . and while it comes from my reading of Exodus 16 . . . it is a bit more personal today.Exodus 16 deal with the Lord's provision of food for the Israelites. The Israelites are commanded to rest on the 7th day to rest because God is going to provide enough Manna on the 6th day for the 6th and 7th days of each week. He wants them to take a break. He has their best interests at heart, but they do not see it. They do not trust that the Lord is going to provide for all of their needs. God's commandment for them is based out of LOVE for them, because HE knows what is best for them. This makes me think of SO many things right now, the first one being REST Literally. I'll be honest . . . I just feel tired right now. I mean . . . I am sleeping great, my morning coffee is still great (Cafe Bustello . . . AMAZING), but circumstantially, I am very tired, I just feel depleted. This isn't some long term thing . . . just over the last few days.My question is what does rest look like right now? I've tried to be VERY purposefull in spending extra time with the LORD and taking a little more down time. I LOVE being around people, but with some family circumstances that I have going on . . . I do feel like I have needed more time to myself. So you are like . . . okay . . . Kim what is the problem . . . take that REST????!?! Well, the problem is that I don't like it. I don't really like the slowing down from things. I mean I do . . . b/c I feel like I need to . . . but I DO not like missing OUT on things. Can you relate to this?? However, after reading Exodus 16, I feel like I'm a grumbling Isralite who isn't willing to rest on the 7th day!! I don't want to do that! I don't want to be a grumbler! I feel like I just need to trust that the Lord has my best interests at heart and trust His provision for me.So, for me, it is a decision by decision thing . . . there is no actual 7th day. It is more of a decision by decision thing . . . relying on God in each . . . AND DEFINITELY SPENDING TIME IN HIS WORD!So, see . . . a bit more personal here . . . you may get more of this in the days to come . . . well see.
Posted by Kimmy at 10:06 PM 0 comments

Exodus 15
Friday, March 16, 2007, 8:01:09 AMAlways Faithful . . . AlwaysDo you know what? God is Faithful! He is faithful Always! Even when we see ABSOLUTELY no way out of a situation!! Isn't that crazy!! It really does seem hard to imagine, but it is so true.Not only do we get to see God's faithfulness in our lives, but we also have a history of his faithfulness provided for us in His Word.Chapter 15 recounts a beautiful picture of God's faithfulness. It begins with a beatifull song where the Israelites praise God's faithfulness for allowing them to cross through the Red Sea. The song also praises God for the way He will continue to lead them in the future through future trails. With the song they choose to live in expectation of God's faithfulness. (they may later waver in this!!) This made me think about how important that is . . . to live with that choice, "I expect God to be faithful." We cannot predict what his faithfulness will look like, we cannot choose how He will be faithfull, but we CAN count that He will be! That my friends is GREAT NEWS!! Great great news!!At the end of the chapter . . . the Israelites begin to display impatience in God's faithfulness. As they approach Marah they thirty, but cannot drink the waters there because they are BITTER. The Israelites become frustrated, but Moses responds by CRYING out to the Lord. The Lord provides a piece of wood that turns the water into sweet drinking water. Again the Lord has been faithful to the Israelites to provide for all of their needs. Yep, all of them.
Posted by Kimmy at 10:05 PM 0 comments

No Chapter Here
Wednesday, March 14, 2007, 12:32:07 AMYep, this entry isn't dated by a chapter . . . I'd love to encourage you to read chapter 13 about the Passover . . . it is great . . . but I am not going to write about it today.So today, I took about three hours just to process where I am with the Lord and where I want to go. Just to pray through what He is doing in my life and to meditate on scripture. Honestly 3 hours was not long enough. I want to encourage all of you to do this. There really is something freeing about it. I had a slight plan for my time, but I also wanted to leave plenty of flex time just to see what the Lord wanted to do with the time and in my heart. One of the things that I was thinking about, but didn't really process during my time has to do with this verse:Colossians 2:10And you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every rule and authority in the universe. I cannot share all the details of the case on this entry, but I had report a case to CPS on Friday . . . it was so hard for me to just put it in their hands. Like once I told them the story . . . I no longer had control. All I could do is tell the story as accurately as I could and leave the rest up to them. When I was reading the above verse in Colossians today it made me think about this truth. That the Lord is in control of the authority of the CPS. That I have to just lay this situation and future situations and the Lord's feet. I just have to give them to Him- b/c he is in control of any and all authority. I know that counseling is what God has created me to do in some fashion, but it is HARD . . . especially when you are dealing with folks that don't even really want to be counseled. There is a learning curve here in knowing how to deal with all of this emotionally. I'm on the curve. :)
Posted by Kimmy at 10:05 PM 0 comments

Exodus 4
Wednesday, March 14, 2007, 12:03:13 AMExodus 4At the beginning of chapter 4 Moses is deeply concerned with whether or not he will be listened to by Pharaoh and the Egyptians. He is feeling scared and inadequate . . but God surely gives him what he needs in order to be prepared for the situation. The Lord gives Moses a staff as evidence that He has indeed appeared to Moses. This made me think . . . what evidence my life shows that He has indeed appeared to me? Can people look to me and see evidence of my Savior?While God has not given me anything physical like a staff as evidence of his appearance to me . . . of my faith in Him. . .there should be evidence in the condition of my heart. Then, this evidence in the condition of my heart should affect the way that I live my life. So the question is . . . where does my life show evidence of Him and where do I still desperately need Him? It feels sometimes as if I need so much more of Him in so many areas of my life. I still want to grow and to change and to become more like Him, but I’m not there yet. . . guess that doesn't come until glorification.Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” So until that day comes, just keep on keeping on. Keep on pursing the Lord with all your heart. Be dilligent in your walk. Seek to discover the ways in which your life is not pleasing to him and to pursue the Lord deeply in those areas.
Posted by Kimmy at 9:59 PM 0 comments

Genesis 48
Saturday, February 24, 2007, 10:14:04 AMIt is His!As I was reading today's chapter, Genesis 48, I was struck by Joseph's view of his sons. Genesis 48:8-9 says, "Then Jacob looked over at the two boys. “Are these your sons?” he asked. “Yes,” Joseph told him, “these are the sons God has given me here in Egypt.” Joseph knows that the blessing of his sons comes only from the Lord. He does not take credit for what God has done and what God has given him. This made me think, "Am I consistenly doing this . . . in all my decisions? Would I have resonded in the way Joseph did?" Congitively, I know that all that I have is from Him, but do I consider that in all my decions, actions, and responses? James 1:17, says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." In this verse, I think that the emphsis of this verse is on "every". Everything that I have is from Him and it is His. Living in light of this should should affect the way I DO LIFE . . . the way I use my resources . . . including things like money and time.What a blessing to know that I can know that not only is EVERYTHING I have from Him, but he has given me EVERYTHING that I need. 2 Peter 1:3 says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." He provides all that I need, spiritually, emotinally, and physically.Today this makes me think about counseling people. My counseling supervisor asked me yesterday, "What made you want to go into counseling?". All, that I could say was . . . "it is the only thing that has ever made sense for me." I have always enjoyed just talking to people and helping them sort through stuff . . . it is the way that God has wired me. My desire and my wiring to counsel is from Him. Any success that I have in this area is His. I can also rest in the fact that while I do not have all the answers for everyone, . . . He will give me all that I need in order to counsel in the way that He wants me too. My supervisor also asked me yesterday . . . what is the one client that will be really hard for you (a cutter, someone who is bipolor, etc.)? While I have no experience with these situations . . . well most things at this point . . . I can rest in the fact that He is going to give my what I need. I do not have to live in fear.
Posted by Kimmy at 12:16 PM 0 comments

Genesis 44
Tuesday, February 20, 2007, 8:02:32 AMThanks Judah! Thanks for stepping forward in today's passage. Jacob has asked you to protect your younger brother and you are not willing to let go of that promise. You care about the promises that you make to PEOPLE and you are HONORING your father. That is to be admired. You are a leader among your brothers.I am thankful for the way you have shared the TRUTH in your talk with Joseph. You have not sought to come up with excuses or make bargains, but you have just put the plain truth on the table. I see real repentance in your heart here; it is an example.You are gracious and loving in your speech, yet you talk with convition about what is true. Thank you for your example.
Posted by Kimmy at 12:15 PM 0 comments

Genesis 41
Monday, February 19, 2007, 6:32:56 PMIt’s Beyond Me“It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God will tell you what it means and will set you at ease.”I was so encouraged when reading this. I love Joseph’s response here. He is not looking for others to see him in some position of authority or some position of ability, but he is looking to point others to God.While this passage is concerning dream interpretation, I think it has a lot to do with the counseling realm. Just knowing that it is beyond my power to really “interpret” or fix anyone. I cannot do that. As a vessel of God, I DESIRE to be used by Him, but it will not be me because it is “beyond my power”. I will only be able to point others to God and to love them through my relationship with God.Since Joseph is relying on God here . . . then he will be able to complete the task at hand. He is going to have enough strength to get through in the way that God desires. If he were instead relying on his own resources, then they would run out and he would crash and burn very shortly.
Posted by Kimmy at 12:15 PM 0 comments

Genesis 39
Friday, February 16, 2007, 1:17:40 AMJoseph's character is displayed in Genesis 39. We see his unwavering character. Joseph is propositioned by Potiphar's wife OVER and OVER, but in verse 39:9b Joseph says, "How could I ever do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God." Joseph is concerned not with himself, but in living his life in a way that will honor the one true God.He intentionally resists sin. This got me thinking.
Posted by Kimmy at 12:15 PM 0 comments

Genesis 35
Saturday, February 10, 2007, 10:45:07 AMCleaning House!Do you ever just get that urge to clean everything? Like all at once everything needs to be clean . . . your car, your closet, your kitchen? I do quite often in fact. Right now those urges often come during the midst of times when I have a lot of studying to do. There is something refreshing about having everything cleaned out. It's strange . . . I almost feel like I can focus better when my room is clean. It is like there are less distractions around. When things are a mess I tend to go study somewhere else. When I things are clean, I can focus solely on my task at hand . . . studying. It's no wonder that Jacob said to his household in Genesis 35:2 to clean get rid of all of their foreign Gods. These foreign gods were distracting them from the ONE TRUE GOD. They were losing their focus. He says, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes." Jacob is calling his household to clean not only house but to clean themselves. To rid themselves of the past symbols of foreign gods. He is asking them to take a dramatic step to move forward. They followed faithfully and "they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem". Whtat are you holding onto today that is keeping you from focusing on your one true God? What is your "foriegn God", your idol? This is what I'll be chewing on today!
Posted by Kimmy at 12:14 PM 0 comments

Genesis 32-33
Wednesday, February 07, 2007, 11:28:55 PMPRAY, PROMISE, PREPAREOn the Road to meet Esau, Jacob is well PREPARED. He is spirituall, mentally, physically, and emotionally prepared. He knows that Esau is brining 400 men with him, and he believes that Esau will not be a happy brother.In chapter 32 Jacob prayed in verse 11, “Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me” and in verse 12 he remembers the promise God made to prosper Jacob through his descendants. Jacob PRAYS and rests on the PROMISE that God made.Directly after praying and resting on God’s promise to him, he PREPARES. He selects a gift for Esau and he instructs his servants on how to approach Esau. He makes care ful plans and perparations.Jacob has PRAYED, remembered God’s PROMISES to him, and sought PREPARATION in order to meet his brother.So what was the result!! Get excited because it is good stuff!As Esau approaches Jacob with his 400 men, Jacob has his well prepared “crew” with him too. He has his family and a prepared gift of rams, camels, cows, and donkeys that he set aside for his brother. As he approaches he Esau, he is accepted with Love and Grace!This is no special formula. This is not the P’s to a Godly life or to Grace, but wow!- it is amazing to see Jacob’s dependence on God and how he does not just go blindly into a tricky decision. He is well prepared. He has sought the Lord. I have one of my first “official” counseling sessions EVER today. Ya, I know kinda scary. I know that God is leading me into the field of counseling, but just winging it will not cut it. I need to be well prepared! I need to know my stuff and seek God’s promises through prayer throughout the day.
Posted by Kimmy at 12:13 PM 0 comments

Genesis 30
Sunday, February 04, 2007, 9:07:58 AMGosh!! After reading this chapter . . . I'm just tired. I mean I feel like I just read a war! Leah and Rachel really got after it. They went back and forth having babies either by their own bodies or with their maidservants. It seems as though envy is rulling their hearts. They must really be abnormal because of their struggle with envy? Right?Oh . . . so far from wrong. You can totally love the Lord and really desire to serve Him and still struggle with envy. I'll be honest, I'm a girl that loves to shop. I know I know that's strange and not cliche or anything. I'm really good at shopping wisely. I love finding deals and shopping at places no one else knows about. If I am really honest though . . . I know there are times when I am envious of girls that aren't in school and working part time. They can afford to spend at least a little more on clothes (or at least I think they can . . . I could be wrong). There are moments when they may not even know about it, but I'm in a Leah/Rebecca war with them . . . but it is over clothes not babies. Yuck . . . this isn't pretty. God I pray that you would tame the desires that I have to look a certain way and that my desire would instead be to please you fully.
Posted by Kimmy at 12:13 PM 0 comments

Genesis 23
Sunday, February 04, 2007, 8:49:28 AMGenesis 23:4-56“I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial sit her so I can bury my dead. The Hittites replies to Abraham, Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choices of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.” Genesis 23 captures the death of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. She lived to be 127 years old. The text says that Abraham mourned and wept for her then sought out a site to bury her. Abraham has found favor with the Hittites because they offer to give him any burial site that would be fitting for her. Reading this verse has reminded me to seek favor with those that I am in contact with. Not for my own gain. Not so that I’ll get the best burial ground or tickets to the latest concert, but so that I will have ground to talk about my faith in Christ. I pray that at City House that I will find favor with the staff and other practicum students. I pray that this favor will lead to relationships with you.
Posted by Kimmy at 12:12 PM 0 comments

Genesis 22
Sunday, February 04, 2007, 8:47:39 AMI keep learning over and over right now how God brings blessing through obedinece. Here it is again in Genesis 22:17-17Genesis 22:16-17“This is what the LORD says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son, I swear by my own self that I will bless you richly I will multiply your descendants into countless millions, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore.”Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac is another demonstration of his obedience. Here we see a demonstration of blessing following obedience. God honors obedience through
Posted by Kimmy at 12:12 PM 0 comments

Genesis 15
Wednesday, January 17, 2007, 9:13:27 AMI'm struck by a lot of things in this passage. Abram's quick response of faith to the Lord, God's faithfulness to Abram, and the creativity of God in His illustration to Abram.God doesn't just tell Abram that he will have many descendants, but he also illustrates it to him. God wants to be sure that Abram understands what he is telling him. God takes Abram outside and asks him to look up to heavens. He tells him that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky. God uses his own creation to illustrate to Abram what he is communicating to him. What a creative God! God is not just interested in spilling out some information that will roll off Abram's brain, but he is interested in really communicating to Abram.In reading this, I am reminded that God has done this for me. He has given me visual representations of what He is doing in my life. Typically he has done this through his people. God has illustrated His Word to me through other believers who know Him and His word. He beautifully orchestrates all of our lives in order that we will better understand Him and His ways.
Posted by Kimmy at 12:10 PM 0 comments

Genesis 13
Monday, January 15, 2007, 9:35:25 AMAfter reading this text; I am struck mostly by verses 8-9. I cannot help but be impressed by Abraham's ability to peacefully step into conflict. Abram steps into the conflict to arrive at peace, not to win. Abram doesn't seek to gain from the conflict or to win the best land, but he seeks unity. I am amazed by how much he is willing to give up his own needs and desires. His desire is unity between him and his nephew Lot.In verse 8, he say, "This arguing has got to stop." What an amazing thing for a man to do-- he did not let his emotions or his anger controll him. He simply saw the heart of the matter and adressed it. Last night, I got into an argument with my brother. We were arguing over something very significant . . . what to have for dinner. My brother was not excited about the Chinese takeout that we were going to have for dinner. In my heart, I so desired unity, but I was unwilling to be as humble and as unemotional as Abram was in this passage. I instead engaged in the conflict . . . letting my brother know that I think that he is a picky eater. Processing that now . . . what a lousy way to try to dissipate the conflict. What good did that comment have? None. I was seeking my own gain. I was unwilling to give up what I wanted . . . "the good land". What a lesson I can learn from Abram here. . . resolve the conflict and be willing to let go of your own desires. Don't seek selfish gain.Time to ask for my brother's forgiveness . . .
Posted by Kimmy at 12:09 PM 0 comments

Genesis 10
Thursday, January 11, 2007, 9:16:38 AMBy the way if you are reading my journal . . . great . . . but also be sure to take a look at jointhejourney.com for devotional readings on each chapter. I write that because I was struck today by one of the questions that today's jouney writer wrote. It is as follows: What triggers or obstacles during your daily life seem to get you off track or turn your search for strength inward?What is it that gets me off track daily? What causes me to be someone that wouldn't have a legacy of Faith written behind my name?For me this was a great connector to what God is doing in my life. I think one of my biggest struggles recenlty . . . has been a lack of faith that God really does love me, care for me, have my best interests at heart. I struggle because I often decide how my life should look and how every detail should fall into place. Then when God's plans are different, I struggle to find contentment in His plan. I usually want to believe that I don't do this . . . but I know I do.I am not a super detailed person . . . so I can handle little details being different. I can handle changed plans at the last minute (usually), but the struggle comes when relationships of all forms take a differnt course. I struggle to rest in the Lord's plan for me. The thing is though that in my wrestle with being able to realy rest in His plans for me-- he has ALWAYS pulled me closer to Him. There will be days and times when it is harder to understand and Trust. It is worth the fight to rest in the Truth that He is in control of relationships . . . every detail.The good news is that when you trust in the Lord's plans for you . . . how much you are released from this inner struggle and battle. Not having to control it. Just living in abadonment to what He has. All you have to do at this point is to run towards Him. Serve Him and His people. It really makes life more simle. (not easy).What causes you to get off track every day?
Posted by Kimmy at 12:08 PM 0 comments

Genesis 6
Saturday, January 06, 2007, 10:29:00 AMWhat must it have been like to be Noah? I can't imagine being called to a task a big as Noah. He wasn't called to just leave behind some personal belongings, but he was called to leave behind actual people. What a task God gave him. It's amazing when God calls us to tasks that are beyond our expectations . . . how he strongly supports our ways. God made a covenant with Noah (vs. 17) and then asked him to follow. Noah was not without the support of God in his obedience to the request.It's amazing how when we are obedient to what God is asking us to do how he will strongly support our ways. Not when we are obedient to he world . . .or even to what the Christian culture says . . .BUT what to God is truly asking us to do.You say how do we know what God is asking us to do? God isn't making a covenant with me like he make here with Noah? What do I do then? Oh, but He has!!! If you have trusted in Him and have a relationship with him then you have a covenant relationship with Him!!! He has revealed His truth you through His Word. Reading his word, praying his word,
Posted by Kimmy at 12:07 PM 0 comments

Posts from Old Blog

Friday, February 8, 2008

There is no Fear in Love
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.Really? Really God? Somtimes I just squirm when I hear this verse b/c I get so frustrated. I mean there is fear in love . . . I mean I get scared all the time in "love". I get scared when I share things and the reciever does not understand when I am saying totally and I don't feel totally accepted and loved like I (notice the word I) want.Sometimes I get afraid because I get completely convinced that the one who seems to care the mose is the one who may indeed hurt me the most.Then, though I have to remember that these are my fears indeed and God is calling us to so much more that it is not our love that is perfect, but it is his love that is perfect! We are already loved so perfectly loved by Him.So knowing that he loves us perfectly . . .He does not let go of us, he listens to all of our worries, he understands us completly, he does not fail us, and on and on we have a great example what perfect love looks like.The bottom line is that I am called to not be loved by another human perfectly, but to try to love like God perfectly . . . and not just in Love Relationships, but in all realationships.It doesn't mean . . . don't have needs . . . give so much and act like a martry all the time and then become so run down in the midst that will not really be beneficial, but through the power of Christ and with your perfect relationship with Him . . .love differently. Putting the other person's needs above your own.So . . . I write this today b/c this is where I am and what I am processing and more of who I want to become.There is no Fear in Love . . .
Posted by Kimmy at 3:40 PM 2 comments
Labels: Fear, Love
Monday, May 21, 2007

Do you really believe?
"Heal me oh Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." Jeremiah 17:14.Do you really believe that God is capable of healing you? Do you really believe that God is the one to praise? I ask these questions as a means of checking my own heart. I mean really I know that I say that I believe this . . . and I would tell anyone else that, but am I really believing that at the core of my heart? Am I living my life expecting THE ONE to heal me?I put all this out there because . . . I need to tell you something. . . guess what . . .I'm broken. I have hurts and they are not fun. I believe though though that if we are all honest before the Lord that we all have hurts. They look different for each person. Some are deep-rooted while other hurts may just be surface level -- but guess what? God can heal them all and there is healing available in Him.Do you believe this verse in Jeremiah . . . "Heal me oh Lord and I will be healed." I love the word healed. There is such a permanence to it. It does not say I will feel better or that I will temporarily have relief. The Lord wants to heal the hearts of the hurting. That is beautiful.By Believing in the One True God . . .we can find healing.
Posted by Kimmy at 5:32 PM 0 comments
Labels: healing, hurts
Sunday, May 13, 2007

Resting in the Lord

Okay so finals are over . . . the semester has come to a close and I feel a weight lifted off of me. Life is still busy, but not quite so crazy. I only have a few days left at my practicum site as well.I have been thinking though that I want to rest well right now. Not just sleep more (which I do want to do) or not just develop a general attitude of laziness. I want to really rest in the Lord. I was at this worship service on Friday night and one of the girls shared that she was so physically exhausted . . . and it was hard to get there, but she knew that she needed more than sleep. She knew that she needed to sit in the Lord's presence. I feel that way right now. I feel like my time with the Lord recently has been way too much of check that box kind of thing. Just staring at the pages of a Bible does not produce heart change . . . and I've been lacking in devotion with the Lord . . . at the same time though I know that the Lord has been with me and has used even those rote times with him to encourage me. So there is value in just doing it at times.I just believe that the Lord wants more from my heart. He always does. He always wants all of our hearts. He wants all of us all of the time. Not because He is selfish or because He is jealous, but because he LOVES us dearly. Isn't that amazing?So with all of this in mind, I want to spend just this next season just really resting in the Lord. So . . . I'm searching for what that is right now. I know that it means that I'm still seeking to glorify Him with everything I do (Deut 11:13). I also know that I don't want to cease in proclaiming his TRUTH (Acts 5:52). Overall, in a period of rest . . . I'm still on mission for Him.So . . . every time though that I think rest, I think JOSHUA. This book has a theme of rest. Rest comes up over and over. In chapter 1 verse 13, Joshua said "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land." Then after the Israelites receive their land . . . in Joshua 21:44a "The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers."From these verses it seems to me that the Lord gives rest. So, I am not completely sure what this time of rest that He is giving me is going to look liked, but I know three things:1. I am still on mission2. Rest is given by Him3. I'll keep you posted
Posted by Kimmy at 4:04 PM 0 comments
Labels: rest
Friday, April 27, 2007

Counseling . . . ?@?@?@!!!!

So . . . I am just in the middle of a lot of wrestling with where in the world I want to go with counseling. Not that I have to determine my future right now (cause God's in control of that anyway), but what are my next step's . . . and what direction do I want to head????This semester I have worked in a secular enviorment and it has been HARD not to have opportunities to talk abotu Christ. To not get to share about Him unless He was spoken of first. Then this week at the very end of the semester . . . I had two opportunities back to back to talk about Him, his church, and his Word . . . Crazy!I think at the end the day, I really would love to be working in a place where the name of Jesus is often not heard. If given the opportunity, I would like to be in that kind of enviroment, but man it is hard!!! I went for months w/o the opportunity speak of Him! It is exhausting and feels hopeless . . . but at the same time I do believe that it is a part of where God has my heart. I just cannot seem to get past it.I just do not see myself working in a church. I think somedays that it would be easier . . .but the bottom line is . . . my heart is not there.I wonder what opportunities exist to work to work with the lost, but the name of Christ is allowed to be shared. I think I would fit there really well.If you have any more thoughts on this let me know. I feel like I am all over the map on this and will probably continue bloogging on the subject so Do expect to see this topic again!
Feeling a little bit like a Jacob . . .
Posted by Kimmy at 11:30 AM 2 comments
Labels: counseling
Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Numbers 8
At first glance I read Numbers 8 and all I can think of is RULES, RULES, RULES on what it looks like to be "set apart" apart as a Levite and how now it is so great b/c it doesn't work that way.Then . . . you think deeper and well here you go. Yes, God set up all of this standards initially on how to purify the Levites and how they were to live in order to "set apart", and that was under the Old Covenant and now we are under the New Covenant . . . BUT. . . but really it seems to me that God showed an AMAZING amount of grace in proving the standards in which "set apart" the Levites. He provided a way to show Himself. It may not have been easy, but it was clear.Today... things look a little different, our instructions are not so clear as to how to be "set apart" under the New Covenat in this culture. . . but God's word does remain true and should be applied to life in community so we can help each other to be SET APART. Press on!
Posted by Kimmy at 11:46 PM 1 comments

You Might Ask . . . Where Have I been?
Where have I been?So . . . it has been a long time since I have written. I’m sure sorry about that. I’ve missed posting!! I’ve had some computer problems and then just got out of the habit of it. Not to mention been pretty busy! I am back though! However. . . I’m going to start posting at this new site! I have brought all my old journals over to this new site. Why? Well . . . while writing on the Journey has been such a blessing, but there are other topics that I want to write on in the Blog world and possibly get some feed back on. In order to accomplisht this, I’m going to start a blog that is not quite so narrow. You can still expect to find some of the old journey posts intermingled throughout the blog.Also, the site that I have been using is not quite so user friendly. I’d like to add some pictures and such to my blog without having to start a new solar system in order to do so.Happy Blogging.
Posted by Kimmy at 10:09 PM 0 comments

Exodus 16
Sunday, March 18, 2007, 6:48:11 PMI'm going to warn you before you read this, I have a a lot to say . . and while it comes from my reading of Exodus 16 . . . it is a bit more personal today.Exodus 16 deal with the Lord's provision of food for the Israelites. The Israelites are commanded to rest on the 7th day to rest because God is going to provide enough Manna on the 6th day for the 6th and 7th days of each week. He wants them to take a break. He has their best interests at heart, but they do not see it. They do not trust that the Lord is going to provide for all of their needs. God's commandment for them is based out of LOVE for them, because HE knows what is best for them. This makes me think of SO many things right now, the first one being REST Literally. I'll be honest . . . I just feel tired right now. I mean . . . I am sleeping great, my morning coffee is still great (Cafe Bustello . . . AMAZING), but circumstantially, I am very tired, I just feel depleted. This isn't some long term thing . . . just over the last few days.My question is what does rest look like right now? I've tried to be VERY purposefull in spending extra time with the LORD and taking a little more down time. I LOVE being around people, but with some family circumstances that I have going on . . . I do feel like I have needed more time to myself. So you are like . . . okay . . . Kim what is the problem . . . take that REST????!?! Well, the problem is that I don't like it. I don't really like the slowing down from things. I mean I do . . . b/c I feel like I need to . . . but I DO not like missing OUT on things. Can you relate to this?? However, after reading Exodus 16, I feel like I'm a grumbling Isralite who isn't willing to rest on the 7th day!! I don't want to do that! I don't want to be a grumbler! I feel like I just need to trust that the Lord has my best interests at heart and trust His provision for me.So, for me, it is a decision by decision thing . . . there is no actual 7th day. It is more of a decision by decision thing . . . relying on God in each . . . AND DEFINITELY SPENDING TIME IN HIS WORD!So, see . . . a bit more personal here . . . you may get more of this in the days to come . . . well see.