Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Most Wonderful Time...

Ah yes, the lyrics are in my head, "It's the most wonderful time, it's the hap...happiest time of the year".  Is that really true?  Is it really the most wonderful time of the year for you? Personally I waver back and forth between good and sad!  I have had some good Christmases and some very sad ones.  Most of the difficult ones have come from some very poor choices I have made in my life.  At those places I was either a little girl in an unhappy family setting, a lonely runaway when I didn't even know it was Christmas and then in a marriage that was very difficult where my family suffered from the results of alcoholism. These were times when Christ was not in my life.

There have also been times when even as a believer that Christmas has been sad or difficult.  I have a prodigal son who has caused much sorrow because of his poor choices.  Many years we have seen him come and go without any change in his lifestyle or more "stuff" added to the baggage he continues to carry. This makes for sadness for his family as we watch him struggle to keep his head above water.  These are times when all the sentiment and family time just doesn't take away the pain of watching a loved one flail through life.

However, deep inside the recesses of my heart, I really do have peace and joy.  And it is because of the Christmas story.  An incredible expression of love that was lavished upon mankind as the Creator of ALL, humbled Himself and came as a little baby, being birthed in a lowly manger just so that we could once again have fellowship with the Lord, restoring what was broken in the Garden of Eden.  This extravagant love, poured out in the form of a baby, then child, then man, the Christ, was God's greatest work from a desire to once again have fellowship with us.  As it tells us in Genesis 1:26,27,

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 

We have been created in God's very own image!  That is sometimes to big for my comprehension but...I have accepted this truth and accepted the Christ who came yet was crucified, died, and buried (defeating death) when He rose on the third day! All for those who will receive the loving offer of redemption through His blood.

So in the midst of your Christmas, I pray you will know the peace that surpasses even the difficulties (and there are so many things that try to rob this peace from us) whether death of a loved one, divorce, prodigals, sickness, financial loss, hunger...remember, Christ is the one who fills us completely with His peace and purpose in spite of the former mentioned.  Come to Him and let the humble baby in the manger fill you with peace and joy unspeakable as you ponder and reflect on the "Christmas Story".

With love and a blessed Christmas to you all!
Kimberly Dawn

Monday, December 6, 2010

Being God with Skin On

Are you a mom with kids still in the home?  Or a mom who has grandchildren?  Whether or not, every one of us has a unique opportunity to be God with skin on.  Jill Savage, founder of the Hearts at Home Ministries and author, views motherhood so practically as the ministry of availability.  Gloria Gaither, songwriter, singer and author, speaks about divine interruptions.  I have really come to appreciate that perspective especially when I get the calls from certain people or meet people at various gatherings.  Women like Jill and Gloria, have allowed the Lord to change their perspective on those (big and little) people annoyances that get in the way of our agenda.  He takes those times that we lovingly respond to and makes God opportunities out of them.

I don’t know about you but sometimes my ministry dreams are much bigger than they need to be! We all know that time is such a rare commodity today and that there is just never enough of it to go around and especially when it comes to ourselves!  I have discovered such a love for writing out my “lessons from the field” being passionate about sharing my heart and all that God is teaching me. But...managing a home, being a wife, mom and grandma and working full-time really makes for skimpy hours left to do my writing. Then on top of it all there are those interruptions from other who also need attention. Here is where ministry really begins.

You see...each one of us who have been redeemed, have been given this wonderful opportunity to reach out and touch others--lonely others, hurting others and needy others--because this journey as God’s child has called us to reach out and comfort those in need from the little people to big people. The need is so great and yes, we have to be careful and exercise healthy boundaries but not for selfish reasons. Here is the Scriptural mandate Paul gives us:

2 Corinthians 1:3,4 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
Now this can certainly be applied both emotionally and physically as a child comes needing a bandaid to cover a wound or a lonely elderly lady you may meet at the grocery store who would love to have the ‘touch’ of a kind and caring word spoken to her. On a grand scale? Probably more practically speaking through our own hands, arms and words, given to those in our very own sphere of influence.  Mommies, you most likely have a husband and possibly little ones who especially beg for your attention. But oh how we long for our moments of quiet and rest. Mothers, life just seems demanding especially when we are running here, picking up this kid, running that kid there...you probably feel as though you are going to be split in two as you are pulled from every direction. Then the thought enters, where am I going to find time to work on my friendship with my husband and closest friends?

It is rather funny that as I was writing this my husband and I had gone to Florida to visit with my mom and sister over the Thanksgiving weekend.  A quiet moment early one morning gave me this writing inspiration and then my husband awakened. I put down paper and pen and made his coffee (my sister had a new machine he did not know how to run or he could have made his own!)  I proceeded to go back to the writing as I was concluding this piece. Then he started quietly drilling me with conversation and questions. I got a bit perturbed but kept writing although annoyed until the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and basically revealed to me that I was writing about moments just like this. I proceeded to put down paper and pen and zone in on my husband who needed just a little bit of my time to probably just acknowledge his presence!

Now we can look at being used by God to be Jesus with skin on. Practically speaking, every time an interruption comes your way, you have the opportunity to turn it into a ‘ministry’.  You see, ministry may not look like your preconceived notion of what it should be but...when you lay down your agenda and become Jesus to those around you, voila...you can become Jesus with skin on!  Tenderly wiping away the dirt on that skinned knee while you administer love. Helping your husband find that misplaced item (even though you are in the midst of sorting or folding  laundry.) There may be a teenager that comes home hurting from being ignored by a peer group. Stop your supper preparations or ask them to come and help you and be an encouragement to them in their time of feeling very worthless or lonely. There may be Mrs. widow the elderly woman from church in the produce isle. Can you take just a few moments to ask how she has been? We are all in a hurry to get our stuff accomplished but sometimes God wants to use those interruptions to be Jesus with skin on! The following lyrics are the chorus from a song the group Casting Crowns made very popular a few years ago:
But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way

Father God, I confess that most of the time I am all about me and my agenda.  Will you show me that my “ministry” efforts start in my own sphere of influence--even my own home--and that there are so many that I could reach out and touch with Your love.  Let me see that my family comes first but that it all begins by looking up and allowing You to show me those precious opportunities through Your eyes.  Thank you for the times that I have been on the receiving end of some one’s ministry as they reached out to me.  And for showing me that we are the practical gospel that some will only read and that there are hurting people as well in the body of Christ.  For You have shown me that I am here to be your witness as I wear Your love!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

So Much to be Thankful For!

As a child of the King, I am so grateful for new life in Christ!  The Lord has saved me and I did not even realize I needed to be saved or rescued.  But, He restored me and is making me whole.  He looked down on this lost lamb and claimed me for His very own.

I am thankful that I have a Father who has given me more than stuff, He has given me life which He promises in abundance! And on most days I feel full to overflowing with His love.

I am most thankful to have free access to my Father and whenever there is a need He is there to help me.  He even lets me share Him with those who do not know who He is.

Psalm 95:1-6 "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."

Not only has God given me life and in abundance but he has given me love and people to share that with, family, friends and even strangers who need to see God's love in action.

You see like King David said, " I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!"  Psalm 27:13,14

I can be thankful for all kinds of stuff for I have so much but I am most thankful for the sacrifice of Christ which made a way for me to know God as my Father, Provider, Redeemer, Peace, Healer...stuff is temporal but this life in Christ is eternal!

Happy Thanksgiving

Monday, October 11, 2010

What in the World is a Lachrymatory?

Oh my, it really is amazing how intimately acquainted God is with His children.  I know the Scripture that says that the Lord is aware of how many hairs are on our heads.  Okay, I don't know about you but I lose hair daily.  If that Scripture means what it says then it confirms God's Omniscience or that God really does know everything and if the Lord is Omnipresent or not limited by time, that means He can know even when those hairs disappear from my head!  This knowledge is just too great for me!  

I recently discovered the word lachrymatory, and I wondered if it had to do with cremation or something and I thought this isn't such a pretty word (at least by its sound.)  But as I did a study on these verses in Psalm 56, I discovered that this lachrymatory is actually a tear bottle.  Why in the world anyone would use a tear bottle.  (And my friend Peggy actually brought me back a replica of one from Israel when she was there several years ago.)

Psalm 56:8-13                                              
" You have taken account of my wanderings ; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your Book?  Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; this I know, that God is for me.  In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You. For You have delivered my soul from death, indeed my feet from stumbling, so that I may walk before God In the light of the living."
My Ever Present Help in Times of Trouble
                                                                                    
C.H. Spurgeon states that "The custom in old times was, when a person was ill or in great distress, for his friends to go to see him, and take with them a tear bottle. Then, as the tears rolled down the cheeks of the sufferer, they were caught in these bottles, sealed up, and preserved as a memorial of the event."  Henceforth, we have tear bottles or lachrymatories.
From the study of the Scriptures I have picked up that the Israelites were always big on remembering.  I believe that came from the Lord who didn't want them to miss a thing lest they would forget the goodness of the Lord each time He delivered, provided for or healed them. Seems as though God knows just how easily we forget those times when the course of our lives is changed and for the better outcome!

Can you, as a child of God's, think of the times that you have shed your tears?  Some of us cry often and for not even a real reason except that we are "emotional" about everything.  Some of us have poured out our anguished hearts for very good reasons.  There are also those tears that roll down our faces from too much laughter and joy.  I am not certain about whether or not God collects those tears of joy but why not remember great times also...?  If the joy comes from the Lord and His goodness, yes!  We will remember.

As I think on the times in my life when I have wept over my varied difficult situations I am choosing to remember the goodness of the Lord in the outcome of each of those situations.  It is always easier to review after coming through!  Because that is when I can see the Lord's goodness poured out in each situation.  Like David says in the verses above, "...in God I will put my trust."  My shed tears are the remembrance of how He takes an impossible situation and turns it around so that I can "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD" Psalm 27:14!

Your tears do not go unnoticed by our God, to the point that they are collected by Him and reveal His tender mercies toward His children in their hours of distress.  You are greatly loved by the Father and He will bring you forth as gold as you wait and be strong in Him.  Fear not for God is with you and not against you because He loves you!

Friday, September 10, 2010

The Tool of Worship

I have always known that worship is a powerful 'thing'.  How do you describe just what it is?  It is a verb as it is used to describe something that we do.  We worship when we give of our time and talents, when we turn our hearts in adoration to our Lord and focus on all that He is. Our godly actions of time, tithe, devotion and ministry (just to name some) are all an act of "worship".

Here is a look at worship as a noun when it becomes a tool, yes, it is a tool.  It is used to accomplish some vital things in our surrounding as well as in our heart.  When noted in the Old Testament, the tool of worship is used to prepare the atmosphere so to speak, in preparation for battle.  Familiar verses in 2 Chronicles 20 tell us of a time when the singers (worshipers) were used to prepare the atmosphere for victory.

They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa ; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the LORD your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed."  When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the LORD and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said,"Give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness is everlasting."Then they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed. 

God then stepped in and overwhelmed the enemies and wiped them all out.  I also believe that when we begin our time of worship in the Lord's house that we accomplish the same purpose because we focus on the Lord and we vocally express in word and song our thanks to Him and acknowledge that His lovingkindness is everlasting.  This clears the air so to speak, to make a way for the presence of the Lord to be welcomed in our midst.  

Now lets look at how worship is a tool that is used to change us.  I can personally testify to how the Lord did a big work in my heart as I learned to worship Him.  Adoring Him for who He is according to His Word and praising Him for all He has done and will do.  In that sense, the Lord has and does use worship to realign who we are.  It is in times of intimate worship that we are able to see ourselves--after looking at our perfect Father--like Isaiah saw himself, as a man (woman) of unclean lips dwelling in the midst of people of the same.

Isaiah 6:5-7  "Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."  Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.  He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven." 

Wow, once in the presence of the Lord, I am able to realize just how unclean I really am!  So this tool of worship can start the process of 'cleaning' me up as I see Him and His holiness.  Now, a vital part of this 'tool' is that God now uses it to also equip us for our seasons of difficulty. Not only will we be ineffective for His service and use but we also will not be able to withstand the seasons of trial.  Worship, and all that it does for us--being saturated in the Lord's presence--is that which will equip, empower and allow us to stand firm in seasons of difficulty.  So Oswald Chambers says it very succinctly "If you have not been worshiping as occasion serves, when you get into work you will not only be useless yourself, but a tremendous hindrance to those who are associated with you."  It is here that the act of worship becomes the tool used to enable us to continue on for Christ's sake.

Let the Worshipers Arise!
Father, I want the deep work done in my heart for your glory only.  Show me Your face and then I will have the courage to keep on until Christ returns.  Show me Your face and I will be able to withstand those times of difficulty that will come my way.  I humbly ask for Your presence to invade my life that I might be Your worship warrior for today, for right now, in Jesus' name. 

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Are You the Parent of a Prodigal?

Years ago when my youngest (troubled) son was placed in a facility to get help (he was an unhealthy hazard to himself and others), I was sharing my heart with Amy Shreve (our harpist and friends that we traveled with for some radio rallies), the night after a concert here in I-Falls.  I was so grieved for this son who has had problems since fighting me in the womb, It is true! Too many heartaches and broken promises that he would straighten up go right and that all never amounted to success.  This mother's heart hurt so badly to see him fail time and time again.  Not to mention the stress it put on my marriage.  How easy it can be to place blame!  It's my fault, the father's fault, the stepfather's fault, everybody else's fault but no owning up to their own responsibility. Living the dysfunctional life I have lived only helped me take on unnecessary blame for a whole host of things that were only partially my fault.

I believe that we are only responsible for the situations that we directly cause and not the speculative ones (if only you...)  If I steal something, I am at fault, not the person who doesn't lock his door to keep a thief out.  If onlys are pure speculation but we can really let ourselves get buried underneath them if we are not wise (or shall I say walking in truth.)  Stuff happens, we make mistakes, acknowledge them, confess them and ask forgiveness of those we have wronged and move on.  How sad when we become buried under guilt and condemnation that really isn't ours to assume provided we have responded correctly like mentioned above. We can become overwhelmed with false guilt.

Prodigals can be used by God to help us look at the truth in our own situations.  Looking back I can now see that there are things that could have been handled differently and with a whole lot more unconditional love.  But then the child has a responsibility also.  They become runners. Runners from the truth, their pain and anything that gets uncomfortably close to their emotions. They need help to see that their poor choices are what they need to own up to.  I am responsible for my choices and my children for theirs, my spouse His, etc.  It is a dynamic that I just don't know how people without the Lord survive and many don't.

I have attached a link to an Oswald Chamber's reading for March 24.  This is what Amy came to show me the next morning when she had been praying for me and my prodigal.  It wasn't even March but she came upon it and shared it with me and it has had a very profound impact on my thinking.  You see dysfunctionality breeds false guilt which in most cases won't let the wrong assume their sorrows and pain that they find themselves in. He must increase... If God is sovereign and in control and I believe He is, then every thing, large and small is used by Him (He is fully aware of it's happening) to grow us up and closer to Him.  According to Chambers, we can become the very thing that gets in the way of our prodigal learning (yes the hard way) his lessons.  Some of us have to learn the hard way, I have.  If someone comes along to smooth out the situation instead of letting the circumstances being used to teach the lesson then that someone has interrupted the class and the lesson may be postponed until a later date and possibly a more severe situation.  The verse for that day is from John 3:30 and it is simple and profound, "He must increase, but I must decrease".  Get out of the way and let God be God and the Holy Spirit do what it is that He desires to do in a wandering soul's heart!  In modern day terms we would say quit being an enabler!  Friend, I have had to say this to myself over and over because that it what I was so used to doing to try and make things right and work!  But I was the one who continued to get in the way.

So I pray that we would not be in the way of the catylist that the Lord would use to work in the heart of that one who is walking contrary to God's ways.  

Father, I cautiously say, do it Lord, whatever it takes to break the heart of the wander so that they would look beyond themselves and see You!  I know You will give me the courage to believe that You hold his or her life in Your hands and that Your desire is to see them come to You and give them the peace they have been searching for.  I can even say "thank you" for the hard lessons that I have had to learn because You used them to bring me a bit closer to You each time.  I not only love You Lord, but I trust You and entrust my loved ones to You, in Jesus' Name!

Monday, August 23, 2010

What's Next Lord?

There are too many days when I feel as if I'm at a standstill.  Not going forward but I guess thankfully not going backward, just in that holding pattern.  This frustrates me and I tend to start thinking that I must do something to make something happen.  I am slowly learning that there is this fine balance between waiting on the Lord and pushing through.  If I am not certain of what's ahead then I best not be pushing through or I might end up where I don't want to be or involved in something that I am not ready to be involved in.  Yet on the other hand, if I make the effort to wait on the Lord, (very difficult for me) I will reap the harvest He has planned for me and those I am involved with.  

Isaiah 55:9 says it so well, ""For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."  

Can I ponder all He has in store for me, probably not because my 'heavenly mindset' still has ties to this world.  I can dream but I really think He delights in my trusting Him enough to wait and prepare.  It is so hard for me to wait and that has always been an issue for me.  True confessions are that even as a kid, I had to peek at the presents hiding in the closet at Christmas time.  But waiting is like getting your favorite fruit before it is ripe.  If you break into it before it is fully ripened it isn't going to taste  like it would if you had waited for that fullness of flavor to develop and mature and wow, my mouth is watering as I think of a juicy pineapple.  They are so, so while still in the finishing stages of maturing but man when you get one that is fully matured, it is so wonderful and well worth the wait.

Simply stated, God has the big picture and I do not.  Yes, His ways are far surpassing ours although we have been given the mind of Christ we have a lot to learn about developing 'His thoughts." 

I have come to appreciate this verse in Proverbs 16:9 "A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps."  Let me make all the plans I can, if I could draw a picture of my day without putting the Lord in the mix it would be one squiggly mix of here and there and everywhere.  When I take the time to consult the "Planner" I will have a picture with much more direct routes to the goals and purposes He has set before me.  It just sounds so easy doesn't it?  But...let me place my heart's focus on the Lord and the ripening process that He has me in for this hour.  Indeed, what He allows to mature will be well worth the wait and preparation!

Father, here is another day to walk with You and in Your will. Let me take the journey a day at a time.  Will You help me to give my day and plans completely to You?  Let me lay down my agenda and pick up Yours so that my day will account for something worthwhile.  When the end of the day comes I want to breathe a sigh of goodness knowing that my efforts were all part of Your divine plan for me instead of looking back and wondering if I accomplish anything?  Thanks, Pappa that you are ultimately in control and although you will let me sputter around doing my own thing, while wasting a lot of that precious commodity called time, You will have Your way in my life.  Today, let me choose Your way, the higher way and I trust that You will use this good day to make a difference in my circle of influence, in Jesus' name.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Bearing One Another's Burdens

Today I am burdened for some people that I love and admire and really look to as friends that can help me to walk a deeper walk with my Father. 

Today I prayed that these friends would stand up to the enemy and tell him right where to go just like Jesus responded to Peter when he tried to rebuke Jesus who then responded "get thee behind me satan..." 

Today is just one of those days where I see the wearing down of the saints and my heart hurts when my circle of friends is hurting.

Today was a day of intercession for these ones who are battling on the front lines but getting very weary from battle wounds. 

Today I stood in the gap and and prayed that God would intervene before it is too late...

Today on the station I heard a profound statement from one of our feature vignettes who asked "Do you know why I am still married?" then responded "Only because of my fear of the Lord". 

Today, I wonder if I fear God enough to be obedient to His call on my life, in whatever capacity He calls me to.

Today, I really want to renew my covenant to the Lord that no matter how...no matter what...no matter why...I will be obedient...even if...this is hard because right now it is easy to say I would never but...when in the valley of darkness, the fiery trial, the pain and hurt, even if...would I hold on? Would I bite the bullet and hang in there? Despite the world view, the appearance of common sense, the pressures of those who have gone through and taken the plunge and suffered the consequences and are living with their decisions...

Today, I will take one day at a time. Today I am strong. Tomorrow I might be weak and I will need help to keep standing firm against all the odds. I just can't look too far ahead but will step one day at a time with my eyes as fixed as they can be and my heart steadfast and assured that Father loves me and will guide me into tomorrow where once again I will rise and take His hand as He guides me once more through the next day, then hopefully the next...

Tonight I go to bed weary from my burden but certain that God has heard the brokenness of my struggling friends and I can trust that He is near for His word tells me in Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

I can rest...

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

A Word Fitly Spoken

Confession gives expression to what is believed. The confession of the mouth must accurately express the belief of the heart. To defeat Satan, we must speak forth the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17).

As a young immature mom of three, not a believer in Christ Jesus, I remember the times when I spoke so negatively to my children. I would venture to say that the no's outweighed the yes's by at least 10 to 1. No, don't do that! No, you can't go there! No, don't hit your brother! No, I said no!!! Well, along with the no's how many times did I think or say oh for stupid? Oh, for dumb! That was stupid! Even to this day I will catch myself speaking a poor confession over myself. I will have to say that through the help of the Holy Spirit and a good accountability group that I am really becoming aware when I do make a negative confession over myself or someone else. Why do we entertain that mindset, habit or whatever you want to call it so naturally?

I occasionally find myself humming or singing that cute little Steve Green children's song that has these lyrics in it, "Encourage one another and build each other up, build each other up, build each other up..." That is it! We are called to build one another up just like it says in Romans 14:19 "Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another." That is just so rich and sweet although we must purpose to offer that  to one another! What kind of a world would we live in if only we would take that approach with those in the world around us?

Let's together see just how much we can be an encourager to one another and then watch what that influence has on our sphere of influence! Let me know how you encourage others along and build each other up! We are in this together for Christ's sake!



Father, I really enjoy those times when I can be an encourager to a brother or sister in the Lord.  And even for myself Lord, I need to speak life and peace into my own spirit!  Holy Spirit, show me when I slip back into my old ways and remind me that the power of death and life is in my tongue as it says in Proverbs 18! In Jesus' name.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

No Excuses!

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with that temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13


This is a Scripture that should be on the top list for memorization (at least in my opinion!) How many times can we slip into that 'devil made me do it' mode? I think it becomes an out to basically do what we want to do but the truth is contrary to this mindset! Every temptation (not just some) that comes our way has an opportunity to prove God's faithfulness in His word to us. Every temptation has an escape route so that we won't be trapped. And, if it begins to feel unbearable, God's word also tells us that we are able to endure that temptation until it passes!

So friends, no excuses, Kimberly Dawn, no excuses! Today I choose to not give in when I am feeling pressed by temptation, but will surrender my fleshly desires to the Lord and escape before harm can come to me or another that I might have an effect upon. No cranky responses, gossipy tongue, judgmental thinking, it has to go! Because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me--and you too!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Free From the Ties That Bind - Intro

Did you know that God desires to use you for kingdom purposes?  If not it is time to get a clue.  Here is some of my favorite Scripture:
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 
To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 
To grant those who mourn {in} Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
Now mind you this was a prophetic word written some 700 years before the Messiah was to come.  It indeed has indicated the coming One who would bring the Word, with healing for the brokenhearted, liberty to the captives and freedom to prisoners.  Now fast forward to the New Testament, what Jesus left the disciples with was to go and do likewise in My name.

You know every time we bring the Good News of the gospel to the world there is the potential for amazing change in that person’s life should they accept it.  But here is where I want you to envision just why you are here at this time “for such a time as this.”  Every single one of us has a sphere of influence.  I like the picture of a stone being dropped into water and the “ripple effect” that takes place as the stone hits the water’s surface.  Let’s use that to reflect on the fact that every thing we do has some sort of impact on someone within our sphere of influence.  

I am going to start with a typical day.  You may get up with your spouse in the morning, that being your first encounter.  Then it could be your children.  I am going to stop here and we will see just how much influence we have right here.  Please, I know that we all have days when we really don’t want to see or talk with anyone!  Whether it be good old PMS or stubbing our toe on the way to the bathroom.  And there can be aches and pains that can be highlighted by tossing and turning all night, whew!  I am sympathetic to the kinds of things that can start the day off on a sour note.  But here is a tough truth for you (and me), we have a choice to make--right from the moment our feet hit the ground--to share our love and blessings with those we share life with or we can lend a thud to their day.  Can you see the huge impact you have on your family?  How much better to send them on their way encouraged with a blessing and knowing just how much they are loved.  So now we continue on to see who else we impact through our day.  There are the neighbors, our friends, work relationships, people we meet in the grocery, and the post office…and that ripple just continues to spread wider and wider.  That just amazes me!

Will you think of yourself as a “Change Agent” (Agent of Change), which reads according to one of Mirriam Webser’s dictionary editions: a change agent, or agent of change, is someone who intentionally or indirectly causes or accelerates social, cultural, or behavioral change.  That’s it!  Have you figured it out yet?  You are here for a specific reason and it is not about you!  I love what it says in 
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Now that we have a glimpse of our purpose we need to look at reality and see that all does not always go according to Hoyle!  For we all have stuff in our lives that has played a role in making and shaping us.  Hopefully there is a lot of good, positive stuff.  But for some of us it has been a journey through the pit.  In too many cases the pitfalls we have experienced or are working through have become stumbling blocks that may have developed into strongholds.  Check out the meaning of a stronghold in the Hebrew: castle; defense; fortress; be hunted; net; snare.  Interestingly enough, we see that it is a good thing for the most part.  After all king David declared that God was his fortress and high tower, but what about those last few meanings, to be hunted, a net and a snare.  If you have been caught in the snare of blocked goals, unforgiveness toward another, generational sin, unforgiveness of ourself, not believing who God says we are and pleasing man over pleasing God, stay tuned.  We are going to see how these strongholds have or can keep us from moving forward into the abundant life God calls us to live for Him.



Next time I will share with you from a time when I almost gave up on God.  It was one of the most difficult times of frustration and disappointment in someone I love very much.  But…God!

Breaking the Stronghold of Blocked Goals

As we start our journey we will look at pivotal points in our life that became strongholds and those strongholds may be preventing us from living the abundant life.  Let's begin by thinking about blocked goals. You know, the times when we set our sights on something like marrying our high school sweetheart but then he ran off with your best friend.  Or maybe like me you always wanted to be a teacher, even as a little girl, but things got in the way and when you finally decided to go to college your husband said no (not to college but to traveling over 200 miles each day to attend classes.)  And maybe your child had such a caring heart for others and you really saw them becoming a missionary someday but they got into trouble along the way and have yet to find their way back into the church body.  These are things that can really take the wind out of our sails and cause some deep-seated resentment toward God or others. The story of my prodigal has served to teach me many lessons that have been extremely painful and even drove me to temporarily delve into unbelief and hopelessness.


My youngest son was difficult from the get-go.  By kindergarten he was already having problems on the bus and with all authority figures.  It is a long story but to bring you up to speed and when I suffered the biggest disappointment was over six years ago now.  While sitting in jail and under my influence, he opted to see if the judge would let him go to Teen Challenge, in hopes of getting the help he needed to get his life straightened out.  The judge court ordered him there and we were holding our breath thinking that this is it, this kid is finally going to turn things around.  Teen Challenge is a twelve-month plus program that I really do believe in because they have proven very successful at helping anyone who is ready to help themselves recover from whatever it is that got them in the program!  My son pulled himself out after seven and a half months and it was just like I was socked in the gut.  I just knew this was the answer for my guy and that it would bring him back to the Lord and I was devastated.  I wanted to throw my arms in the air and tell God that I give up, that’s it and that he is hopelessly lost.  I really hope to never revisit this place again.  


Let me say that pitfalls like the blocked goal described above can turn into your times of preparation!  It can be a time of tilling the hardened soil around the heart.  In a Bible study that I did many years ago called “Trials, Don’t Resent them as Intruders” the author, Juanita Purcell said this and it has stuck with me:
“Faith does not grow on a smooth road without obstacles.  However, we must view trials as steppingstones—not stumbling blocks.  Each trial we pass through should help us climb a little higher and draw us closer to Christ.”
We all have dreams that have been soured.  And my prodigal’s situation is a perfect example of obvious disappointment.  It is situations like this that the enemy uses us to render us hopeless!  When we are in a hopeless mode it can lead to depression and depression is many times anger turned inward, a blocked goal.  The plan didn’t develop the way that I thought it should have or would have if only…He had taken the road I knew would bring healing to his wounded spirit.  What I found though, was that this was a lesson for me.  You see God wanted me to know Who was in charge.  And it wasn’t me!


I am very grateful for an amazing little group of people who I pray with almost every week and we have met for going on eleven years.  They are my prayer partners and accountability group and I thank God for them often.  They played a big role in helping me to get back to believing that God would make a way where there seems to be no way.  For a good couple of months it was like I was numb.  With their tough love and words of encouragement I soon found myself back on the journey of faith.  It is certainly easy to see how I could have continued on the downward spiral of unbelief and become very bitter and angry.  I could have missed out on walking in my kingdom purpose.


Faith is where I need to rest when it comes to my goals being prohibited. 
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJ)
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Do I trust God with the unknown?  Can I trust Him when circumstances take a different path than I anticipated?  Will I be able to admit that I am not in control and that there is Someone much greater and more trustworthy than I could ever be?  Who knows the beginning and the end and what is best?  


Father, I am so guilty of trying to step in and take charge but then so disappointed when my way didn’t quite turn out as I expected.  What I need to do is take a deep breath and then open the Word and look at the many times You were faithful to those whom You called Your own.  Faithful even when they didn’t deserve Your favor but Your judgement.  It is rock solid truth that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  Right now I am choosing to trust in You.

Generational Sins

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 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.

Unforgiveness Toward Others

Breaking the stronghold of Unforgiveness Toward Others


This is a topic that will touch every one of us because even if we happen to be one of the few who has not held bitterness or offense toward someone (come on and let’s be honest), we may have been on the receiving end of either.  It is a topic whose fallout is so detrimental that (especially lately) many books, sermons and Bible studies have been written about it.  I am convinced that of the strongholds we will examine, it is probably the most debilitating.  And God’s Word has much to say about this topic of unforgiveness.
Matthew 5:22-24 (NASB)
"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, `You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, `You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”
Wow, such strong words from Jesus!  Really, I am certain that all of us can honestly say we have—even if for a brief time—taken on an offense toward another or internalized bitterness.  In the verse above, the Word specifically says to first go and be reconciled to our brother (the one who has a beef with us) before we can even present our offering to God.  Please take notice of the words in parenthesis, or the underlined scripture.  This is addressing one we know might have something against us.  To start with we are being asked to do something that is going to show obedience to God and then release that one for God to work deeply in their heart!
How about this verse from:  Mark 11:25,26 (NASB)
"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. ["But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."]
Does someone treat you unfairly?  Maybe it is quite noticeable at your job that your boss favors someone who gets by with “stuff” and you who maintain utmost integrity barely get noticed for your efforts.  There may be an unresolved conflict between you and another and you just keep hoping that it will go away.  It could be that someone has done something in your past that was unjustified and you keep expecting them to apologize for what they have done but they are never even willing to admit what they have done let alone apologize for the hurt.


When I was a toddler my father left my mother to raise me alone.  He was rather irresponsible and unable to hold a job.  He apparently had a serious drinking problem that consumed much of who he was.  While growing up, my father was not in the picture at all.  I believe that I saw him once as a four or five year-old and my mom said I wet the bed that night for the first time in years.  Argh!  I really do not remember that incident at all (we can tend to block out hurtful experiences.  What I do remember is my mother saying even until recently is that it is too bad I could not have known my father, as he was such a great guy.  Excuse me--a great guy?  To this day I remind my sweet little mother that “great guys” do not abandon their family leaving them to live in poverty.


I truly believe that many of the searching and longings in my life have come from not having a father’s presence in my life.  I covered and buried it deeply not realizing there were deep-seated resentments that had woven their way into my little girl’s heart.


As God began to do a great work in me—the result of crying out to Him for a deeper journey with my heavenly Father—I was introduced to Neil Anderson’s materials Bondage Breaker and Victory Over Darkness.  For those of us who recognize that we have “stuff” in our lives that need to be addressed and relinquished, Neil Anderson has developed the “Seven Steps to Freedom”.  They are all based on our identity in Christ (such key truths to help us mature in Christ).  The steps are a time of intense prayer and acknowledgement of all the areas in one’s life that have been given over to deviant behavior which can be the result of abuse.  I am not going to go into this topic, but instances of abuses of all kinds would seem to be a good reason to never forgive a perpetrator of such heinous actions toward their victim.  It is such a serious time of deep cleansing that it can take hours to go through and because of an enlisted intercessor, things can come to the surface that have seemingly been long forgotten or buried deeply.  And such it was with me in regard to how I had stuffed the anger toward my father.  The bottom line of my time going through the steps revealed to me that I needed to forgive the man who abandoned my mother and me.  I was so shocked that I had harbored that intensity of unforgiveness.  I did offer forgiveness to a man I would never see or know and the outcome was that I received instant healing because of my step of obedience to do so.  You see, he had died several years earlier, so I could not go to him personally, but this step was sufficient and God heard my heart.


When we are angry, bitter or resentful, bad things happen to us emotionally and even physically if it continues without resolution.  Being an amateur gardener I am reminded of that miserable thing we call quack grass here in northern Minnesota.  It is so terribly persistent and I am telling you that you cannot leave a piece of the stuff behind or it resurrects itself with a vengeance.  So it is with the spirit of unforgiveness or the root of bitterness.  You must not leave a thread of it behind because it will indeed rear its ugly head once again.  I have often said that if we truly forgive someone, we will have to really dig deeply to remember what the issue was in the first place.  Have you noticed that?  You see, you have truly let go and there is no root left to thrive.


So lets take a moment to pause and reflect on those little hurts that become big issues in our life and can even lead to things like aches and pains and, well, you fill in the blank.  If there is someone with whom you need to mend the fence, will you take the time to really pray for the situation and that person?  I have found that when I am up against a sand paper personality who rubs me the wrong way and just drives me crazy, all I have to do is to stop the mind game of the whys and wherefores and just pray for them.  If I really mean what I am praying then how can I entertain bitterness or anger?  It took me a while to figure out how that worked, but now I just ask the Lord to bless them and to show me how to be kind to them regardless of how difficult they can be.  


Now, Father, thank you for teaching us about just how serious it is to harbor unforgiveness toward another.  This is serious business to You and that means that even if it is difficult, I need to work my way through to understanding how to release ill feelings toward another and exercise forgiveness.  I know that I do not want to be stunted in my spiritual maturity due to my unwillingness to comply and be obedient.  Will you help me, Father, because this is not easy, to forgive and release where You reveal that I need to do so.  I will trust You because I know You have my best interest in mind and that You do not want to see me living in a way that does not glorify You or show the world that You are our ultimate Healer and Redeemer!  I will thank You now for the work You are about to do in my heart as You prepare and make it fallow and easy for the Holy Spirit to bring about miraculous change that glorifies You!  Amen.