Do you have a ‘prayer goup’? My prayer group has been so such an encouragement to me through the years we have met together. We have shared with each other the where and how God brought us to His redemption, and how He literally rescued some of us from the pit. It is quite humbling to think of how God has worked in each of us, bringing us to where we are today. Faith-filled, and in no way crediting ourselves for His glorious work. Every one of us has a story. For me, my merciful God saw the mess I’d made out of my life. He came to my rescue when I finally cried out for help.
Unlike me, you may have come to Christ by simply praying the prayer. But then your life changed. Maybe nothing dramatic but none the less brand new in Christ and a miracle! You became a new creature in Christ and that’s amazing Grace! There is absolutely nothing to say or do to take the credit for this new life you now live in Christ. As my former pastor used to say now and again from an old hymn “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the cross I cling…”
Brought out of Darkness
It is difficult to see ourselves as new in Christ without trying to take some sort of credit for it but alas, it was the hand of providence and wooing of the Holy Spirit that sought to rescue us and as it says in 1Peter 2:9-10…
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
Today, I am so grateful for where He has brought me and I listened intently with joy as another sister shared more of her story and I think how amazing is this God is who delights when each of us enter the fold. Whether a dramatic rescue or just a simple acknowledgement of needing Him, we are all miracles and beautiful in our Father’s eyes.
What is your story?
What’s Your Story?
Your story may not include drama and hardship, however, guarenteed, you are still a miracle. God has called you specifically to be His! Let’s rejoice in the beautiful calling He has given us, His children, to be the light of Christ in a darkened world.
Lord, today let me be Your hands, feet, arms and mouthpiece to those who don’t know You. Thank you for reconciling us to Yourself giving us the advantage of being Your children. Thank you for my story of redemption which gives hope to those desperately in need. And in this You give us peace and hope in the midst of a crazy world as we await the return of Your Son for His coming is ever closer. In Jesus Name!
There is a right time and place where opportunities happen. The key is will we take advantage of them? I kind of think that there are many that come along that we don’t even see.
I personally get down on myself when those God opportunities come along and it isn’t until after the fact that I realize I blew it, I didn’t seize the moment as they say. That’s when I could “kick myself” for blowing it.
How do we keep our eyes open especially to God opportunities and what are they? That covers lots of territory for sure.
Maybe it is a job opening or a mission trip that you might be interested in. Could be an everyday kind of thing like the last minute call to a friend for coffee. Just being at the right place at the right time is always a blessing.
I have found that on those days where I am really wanting more Jesus from the get-go, I ask Him first off to give me eyes to see those opportunities when they come along. Because we do so much better when we are looking for them than the just leaving it all to happenstance. Not that they aren’t a blessing as well, because they are!
Seeking Him and asking Him every day to help you see God in all the circumstances that come your way can lead to exciting days!
Preparing your heart to be the hands and feet of Jesus when an opportunity presents itself.
And may I add, don’t turn away from one.
Sadly, I know it well when that happens. Immediately the Holy Spirit lets me know that I blew it. A couple of instances like that will turn your heart around!
This verse is such a good reminder for us…
” …always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”
1 Peter 3:15 ESV
When I read that verse I just think of the possibilities when we say yes, we share, help or whatever it is the Holy Spirit is invoking us to do!
Kimberly is a blogger at KimberlyNyborg.com. She serves as an office manager and radio host at Psalm FM Radio in International Falls, MN.
Her God-given purpose is to help others find hope and healing in Spirit, Soul & Body as she has found through God and His word.
I love the Psalms, and contained in this verse is a larger than average nugget of truth…
Psalm 39:4 ESV
“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!”
Now how simple yet full of truth is this verse?
I don’t know what you think of when you think about “measuring your days”. But when I read this verse I can’t help but think about the time that is left here on this blue dot earth. Yup, the “time is short” phrase, hits hard at this point in my life…I will be 65 this year.
With that in mind, I am realizing that being 65 just doesn’t leave a lot of time to get things right. When you begin to see the end so much closer than the beginning, life can take on new meaning for sure! But hey, I am still trying to learn and add to my year’s. But it is more of His knowledge I am desiring, not just worldly knowledge.
When I decided to commit to three days a week at a gym it came out of taking care of my momma who wasn’t who she used to be and had developed health issues. My self-talk mantra became “I want to finish strong!” (And it still is!) Momma is now gone but I haven’t changed my outlook on this thought and the actions that follow it.
This heart of gaining His wisdom continues to grow within me as I have made the choice to embark on a health journey. And that really does line up with God’s word, because we are to treat the temple of the Holy Spirit with respect and take care of it. And my blog even includes the Spirit, Soul & Body, theme.
Three Areas of Focus…
Thinking about what that looks like…continue to do those things that will cause your spirit to be free of garbage, your soul to be certain of what view of eternity it will take and to take good care of your temple.
Friends, I am convinced that no matter where you might be on your journey, the days are short and growing shorter! And I don’t want to sound morbid but seriously, what are you doing to be mindful of the time that is left? My prayer would be that we would make our days count as we draw near to the finish line on this side.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this verse too!
Radio Host, Speaker, Writer Kimberly Nyborg blogs over at kimberlynyborg.com
Every now and again those songs come along that just touch your heart and add peace to your day. I love this group of young fresh Irish Christ lovers who call themselves Rend Collective. Their songs are joy-filled and full of faith.
Since I have been pulled from the pit of destruction when I was that crazy mom of 30, through many trials and tribulations I now know what it means to be free. Free from the guilt that stained my heart and kept me from walking in liberty. I know how God redeems and sets us free to live in fullness which He must delight in as He sees us dancing in our freedom in Christ!
If you are still having difficulty pulling free from your past gunk, let me boldly ask, what are you waiting for? Give it all to Him, quit holding on to your past and the bondage that is keeping you from true freedom in Christ! If you don’t think I know what it means to be there you can visit here to see what Jesus has done for me!
“Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:34-36 NASB
No one is too far gone with too much past that God, our mighty Savior, cannot break through! We are called to point others to Him but walking in the Light as He is in the light! 1 John 1:7
If you have never met the Father and would like to, please know that there are redeemed ones who have prayed for you to know Jesus and the peace and joy that only comes from knowing Him. How does this all work you might ask…jump over here to find out more. And visit my prayer page if you would like prayer! Today I pray you will bask in His peace!
This is a funny request because I am asking for your input!
When we build into the lives of those we connect with, it is like sitting them down and giving them a really good and nourishing meal. A meal that not just satisfies but also helps them grow and be healthy.
That’s what speaking words of life to one another is all about, right?
Well here’s the deal, I am looking for suggestions consisting of one or two words to use as a category for a section in my blog that will be used for you mommas to build into your kids lives. I would say ages 4-9. There will be the Word and then an activity for your kid(s) to do to help them understand the Word being implanted in their heart. I am so excited to do this!
So right now I have several suggestions but would love more to choose from! Will you help me find the just right wording? Looking for something catchy, fun and hits the mark!
Here is what I have thus far:
Building Blocks
Little Nuggets
Treasure Building
Truth Nuggets
Nuggets of Truth
Building Treasure
Milk & Cookies
Building Character(s)
Proverbs 22:6
Or if you particularly like one of the above and it caught your attention please let me know!
Oh, and thanks for your help! Who knows if your suggestion won’t be used!
I have had my dry times–spiritually speaking–where it seems as though I am crawling through molasses. Have you ever experienced that? Everything is just as it always is and I then begin to sense the growing barrenness in my life. That old feeling of walking alone and out of sync with the flow. Everyone else seems to be alive and excited to be serving God but for some reason, I feel blah spiritually!Those times have been too often and frankly I do not like being there. It is a pathway that is weighty and bordering on sorrow and dare I say depression?
I have never been in a sand dessert but for a time I did live in the northern part of New Mexico. It is not quite the same but there are some similarities with the hot dry, summers. In a sand desert, there is some life but not a bustling flurry of activity as in a thriving forest. It is simply too hot and dry.This ugly cactus plant of mine is rather similar to the plants that grow in the desert. It tends to thrive on very little water and it is so ugly that I almost wish it would die so I could get rid of it. I think it is about 45 years old and as you can see it doesn’t get huge. What grows (very slowly I might add) are these ugly long fronds or whatever you call them with their prickly little edges (although not like the usual cacti with its thorns.) It sits rather lopsided in my pot and obstructs my husbands view of the television if I don’t turn it around the other way.
My dry times can be just like that old cactus, dry, barren, lonely and fruitless. It really is a terrible place to be. I am not even nice to be around because I have no joy, motivation or energy. I just want to hang it up. Interestingly, it even causes those that I am around to get cranky, like my husband. My hard places don’t just effect me, they also have an impact on those around me. My co-workers know when Kimberly Dawn is going through rough times because I am usually a pretty joy-filled person. (Praise God!) But not with the weight of the world on my shoulders, pressing me down! Or a mind preoccupied with relationships gone awry.
However, it is in these valleys where my sorrow is caused by my own poor choices. If you are a relational person like me, you know how important people are in your life, you need them to interact with and fellowship with and just to enjoy life with. Thank you Lord for creating fellowship with one another. But then a quirky communication takes place and an offense comes along and suddenly the joy has been robbed. I have reacted by making provision for the flesh, and harbor bitterness or jealousy in my heart and wham, down I go and it is time to linger in the desert for a few rounds about the mountain. My thoughts are possessed with wrong thinking. My reactions are very “me” centered around all my thoughts and hurt feelings. Woe is me, they don’t understand, what about my feelings on the issue and don’t I have a “right” to feel the way I do? Just look how they have hurt me! It is amazing what we will try to justify!
When I go to bed at night, I want sweet thoughts and pleasurable memories of my day or week. I want to reflect on the goodness of the Lord and to be able to see His hand in motion throughout my day. If I am in the midst of a desert experience I can’t see any of that, just poor, miserable me. If I dwell too long in that place I become dryer, harder and more and more lifeless and bitter in my own defense. What an icky place to be!
How in the world do I come to an end of my desert journey? Thanks be to God for the power of the Holy Spirit in spite of quenching His Spirit with my “me-ness” mentality. Something jogs my heart and I begin to see that I am the problem not the other party. I’m the one who is holding on to the bitterness, unforgiveness, anger and resentment because all I can see is how mistreated I have been. God’s Word has sooo…much to say about the above list of excuses we use to stay in our desert-land:
This Scripture from Matthew 5:23,24 really sheds a spotlight on relational issues out of sync:
So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
I am believing that my offering to God is not going to amount to anything with resentment at the root of my heart. And I have worshiped and wondered why I couldn’t sense His presence and wondered why He seemed so distant from me.
From Romans 13:14 Paul tells,
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make noprovision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
And this includes along with all sorts of immoralities, strife and envy. And once again from Mark 12:25
But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.
You have to admit that forgiveness is a huge issue in God’s eyes. I guess that means that I better make it a priority also. God says 7 times 70 and that if I cannot forgive then I too will not be forgiven. God forbid I don’t get a grasp on this one! So, what is my excuse now? Can I really justify my situation any longer? I don’t think so! Okay Holy Spirit, show me how to get myself to the watering hole ’cause I am so parched and desperately longing for Your presence once again.
You see, with enough sunlight and just the right amount of water, that ugly old cactus does an amazing thing every once in a while. It unpredictably blooms. Sometimes only one or two but these huge gorgeous blooms come out of the most unlikely places. And like that blooming cactus, I too need adequate time in the “Son” so that I can produce fruit that will please my Father and bless others.
How’s your heart today? Are you filled with bitterness and anger? Unforgiveness and resentments? The Lord would have us walking in the fruit of the Spirit which is right where I need to be so I want will exhibit those attributes toward others. It is through a victorious life that this fruit grows and is used to show others the love of Christ.
Galatians 5:22,23
But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.
Father, will You show me my unpleasantness and its root? I don’t want to be there anymore. I want the fruit of the Spirit to be evident in my life so that when others look at my life they see You. Help me to root out all the negative things like anger, resentment, bitterness, envy and strife those things that keep me in bondage. Set me free and even if I need to go to someone for forgiveness will You give me the grace to humble myself and approach that one so that we might be restored to fellowship with one another and with You? I trust that You will work out all the details of this in my life and that You will receive all the glory, honor and praise due Your Name. I will lean on Your promises and trust this to be resolved in Your perfect timing. Restore me Lord to Your presence and fill me with Your sweet Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ Name, Amen
It is the history of 911 and yes it made a difference in our country and world but even so, it is Christ in us the hope of glory that truly altars the course of history for eternity sake!
With some thoughts on being used by God to make a difference!
Joining a fun Five Minute Friday blog posting on the queue Red…here we go:
Red, love the color in certain shades but I would say that because it is almost fall…that it is those lovely red hues
that catch my attention. Here in the “Icebox of the Nation” they really stand out because they are minimally placed in the mixture of green and gold.
I love fall and I am so thankful for this time of year because it is when I am comfortable being outside. Less bug activity, much cooler (don’t do that 80 degree stuff very well) and well..I just love being out doors!
Camp retreats coming up! One for my church women at Bluewater Covenant Camp and then speaking for one at Crossroads Covenant the first weekend in October.
So is fall a busy time for you? Red, the color of fall maple leaves, harvested red tomatoes, red beets and I love the red we painted on our doors for the house and garage (small one on the garage:0)
Proud parents are continuously acknowledging–from the moment of birth–just how much their children look like either mom or dad. They might see characteristics of grandma and grandpa too, such as the nose, eyes, forehead or mouth. As the
Grannie and her Grandson Isaac
children grow and develop, the opportunity may arise to begin to see familiar temperaments as well. They may be positive or they could be negative. You will hear comments such as “look at her, she is such a girly girl, just like her mom” or maybe “boy, has he got a stubborn streak, just like his dad.” It is inevitable that we will take on similar looks and characteristics as genetic dispositions. If only it was just the positive, good qualities that were evident, unfortunately that is not always so.
If we look at this a bit deeper, we can also see how it is possible to “inherit” those good and bad tendencies. Let me give you an example from my own life. Divorce is not a pleasant thing to think about and go through. Unfortunately in my family it is a prevalent occurrence. Not only has my mom been divorced twice but my grandmother once. I recently had it pointed out that my great grandmother had been divorced three times! That was extremely unusual and frowned upon in that day. Sadly, I too have also gone through a divorce. Now as a Christian, it makes me sorrowful and guarded to know that my three children could have the ‘tendency’ to fall into this unfortunate pattern and as a matter of fact one of my children has already succumbed to the divorce solution. It is interesting yet sad that my father too was also divorced twice. Therein that has only made for a double whammy for our family, argh!
So how can and do we break this vicious cycle?
God is teaching me many things right now and for the most part He is showing me how to learn to be dependent upon and put my trust in Him. I only bring this up because my “independent” nature has gotten me into so much trouble through the years! The world tells us that independence is good and I really do believe there can be a positive side to it. But God calls us to lay down our independent spirit and to take up complete dependency upon Him. Generationally speaking, our family has a problem with that. We have had to be survivors and have done just the opposite of what the Word tells us in Proverbs 3:5-8
“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.” (Amplified version)
It is so ironic that God includes the healthful benefits of our being dependent upon Him! (The first thing I thought of when I read the ‘moistening to your bones’ section was how arthritis is deterioration of our joint cushioning and once again, our family as they age tend to develop this condition!) I am diligently learning to work through and break the habit of leaning on Kimberly Dawn’s understanding and lack of wisdom!
The key focus here is that–while it is obvious that not everything we inherit is bad–there are or can be some debilitating ‘bends’ or ‘tendencies’ that affect our living the abundant life. Do you ever wonder why you only move forward with baby steps? Or why you might keep doing and revisiting the same negative habit over and over? It is possible that it could be a generational sin or tendency. After all the Word tells us the sins of the fathers will revisit to the third and the fourth generations! Now that is a scary thought and I am living proof that it is so. But the good news is we do not have to stay there!
While it is wonderful to inherit the wonderful and admirable qualities of our family and ancestors, when we are earnestly seeking God we need to allow Him to show us our short comings. That might involve a painful look into our past. It might be that you can recognize your stronghold as an excuse to continue to behave in an un-Christ-like way. The old “devil made me do it” mentality just does not fly for the Spirit led, abundant life. God really does have a better plan in mind for us and He has called us to go higher, and challenged us to a deeper level in our walk with Him. In Romans 6:6 we find that we are no longer slaves to sin. And that means that I really have been given the power to overcome every bad tendency–even if it goes back to the 100th generation!
1 Peter 2:9,10 (NASB)
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.”
Abba Father, I want others to see You in my life. I want them to see the difference You have made in me. It is because of You that I am alive! With all that You have brought me through and healed me from I can publicly rejoice and declare Your faithfulness to me and to my next generations. I am not who I used to be because Your love broke through the darkness that once bound me and caused me much pain. Let me continue to make myself available to Your refining fire then others will see how truly marvelous and in love with Your children that You are. I rejoice and praise You as I walk in Your marvelous light.
For a look at another stumbling block visit Blocked Goals.
