tupperware sales
some success
a washer/dryer i can use for the time being
one room at a time
apples & bananas
quiet time every afternoon
time to rest, think, be productive.
a desire to do more with that time- more spending time with my Father
prayers for more wisdom
He listens
He's complete.
He's more than enough
He. fills. me.
there. is. nothing. more. that. I. need.
this baby, still in my belly
i'm thankful i'm still content with him being there. no rush here little guy. stay as long as you need.
quiet rain all afternoon.
one room at a time.
mom.
that helps me.
that supports me.
that is so much for me.
being able to do ministry with my husband.
that technology can save all those great messages between my love and I
so much love.
unwarranted grace from my Father in Heaven
wonderful coffee
warmth every morning
a good nights sleep
contentment
soft tissues at work for my little nose
support from dear friends
peace
rest
Christ crucified
out of death, into life
reconciled
draw me gently to my knees
focus on Him
a husband who helps and willingly puts those dishes away
songs for memory
naptime
whole world in His hand
faith in His power
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

Psalm 91

a psalm to take comfort from.
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty."
He will deliver. He will cover. No evil. He will command his angels to guard you.
JUST BECAUSE I KNOW HIS NAME. JUST BECAUSE I MADE HIM MY DWELLING PLACE.

LORD I AM SO THANKFUL.

But I'm also confused... evil and awful still come to those who love you. how do it all work. i don't understand. sometimes I don't want to try to understand. I want to trust You. You are my dwelling place. In this strange time of strange fear I will rest in you and know you hold it all in your hand. good or bad. I know that. but evil still might come. how come it says "no evil shall be allowed to befall you." I don't want that to be the important part. i want thankfulness to overflow from my heart. is that ok?

Mark 8:34-38
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

deny themselves- how do I deny myself...? not what I want. not what I need. not what I desire. not what I think is best. not my plan.
take up their cross- to take something up you have to carry it. it probably isn't light. I don't think a cross would be easy to carry. kind of awkward. if I'm carrying a cross there is probably a lot I won't be able to do. what is my cross made of? what do I want it to be made of...?
follow me- seems like the easy one. there a billion ways to follow him. it's not easy. I deny Him and follow myself everyday. simply. follow Him.

Ephesians 6

6:5 talks about slaves obeying their masters. Although, I obviously am not a slave to Jackson/Jack&Indy because I get paid I do work for them and under them. And here I am instructed to serve with respect, fear, sincerity of heart, wholeheartedly, doing of the will of God from my heart just as if serving Christ. I wonder how many times I do that. Like never. I mean I was just cleaning and never was it with sincerity of heart. Good verse to keep in my mind as I come to work.

verse 10-17 talk about the amor of God. I've taught VBS lessons, Sunday school lessons, etc all on this topic and I think that often times it because a lesson for children and adults forget about it. Reading before it we are told to put on this armor "so that I can take my stand agains the devil's schemes." Not very childish. Seriously. this is for fighting against the dark world. {kinda sounds like Harry Potter} {funny because some people think Harry Potter is from the dark world} {I wonder what Christ thinks} {edifying} {more thoughts} but seriously the armor of God is serious business and I'm pretty sure most of the time my armor is more like cardboard- because I've made it that way. Ugh. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with how crappy I am.

Lord. Let me do Your will today. tomorrow. and everyday. I know I fail. And I know You love and forgive. Please love and forgive this sinner named Kim.

Ephesians 3

"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." vs.12

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." vs.20-21

These two passages stuck out to me.
Because of Christ we are able to approach God with freedom and confidence. I think about the Jews/Gentiles that heard this the first time from Paul or whoever. What a hard concept to grasp. It's even hard for me to fathom and I've been doing my whole life. What does it mean to approach God with freedom? Freedom means the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement. I am at liberty to approach God. Whoa. And in confidence? Being secure, no fear, no doubt. I can approach God every minute of every day whenever I want however I want and be confident that he is listening and there. Praise God.

Ephesians 1

continuing my gifts

242. He chose us in him before the creation of the world
243. To be holy and blameless in his sight
244. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus
245. In him I have redemption through his blood,
246. In him, I have forgiveness of sin
247. In him, I am lavished with God's grace
248. I know the mystery of his will because of Christ
249. In him, I am chosen!!!!
250. for all these promises. for I am a child of God. secure.

Ok so it's been 16 days since I last wrote, read, meditated on the Word of God.
Ugh. Sometimes I'm just so disgusted with my LAZINESS. Because yes, that is all it is. Laziness. Sure I've been sick and tired making this baby in my body. But that is no excuse.

But I'm back. Got my game face on. Wanting nothing more than to dive into the Word of God and learn more of who he is.

Finishing 2 Samuel... David's song of praise. You'd think it would be a good place to stop that chapter. After that lovely praise. But No. It goes on to talk about how David disobeyed and the Lord sent a plague that killed 70,000 people.
But no matter what God forgives and blesses those who live in fear of Him.
That means me too.

been seriously slacking. ugh. reviewed 2 Samuel 12-19 today. back on track. starting today.

2 Samuel 15-19

wow. David's son rose up against him to take over Israel. Their armies went against each other and the son was killed. David returned to Jerusalem.

A very interesting story... Many details about people and conversations. David is so forgiving and loving. Towards his son who tried to take over everything. And towards his servants. And towards pretty much anyone...

Lord, I pray that what I am reading in this book I remember. I want to apply it. I don't really get how right now. But I want to someday. Keep it on my mind and written in my heart. I don't want to look at the Word of God and let it be void in my mind or heart. I want to soak it up. Learn more about You from it...

2 Samuel 10-14

The stories of David and Bathsheba. And David and his sons.
Man, tons of sin. Adultery, murder, rape, incest, more murder.
And the Lord always forgives.
Sin is sin. For everyone.
And the Lord always forgives.

2 Samuel 10

I only read one chapter today.. Tomorrow is David and Bethsheba. Heavy stuff.
But today David went to battle... He was trying to be nice... It didn't come across as so and it resulted in a really huge battle. And David's soldiers/army is surrounded.
"Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight."
Battle lines in front of him and behind him. And what does he go. TRUST GOD.
Trust God. How am I trusting God? When I am surrounded...?

2 Samuel 7-9

David is now king. He is being so blessed by God. Defeating many different people and their armies. Then he remembers Jonathan and blesses his son greatly.
David. A man after God's own heart.

2 Samuel 6

David is praising the Lord. Dancing. "I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this."vs.22

*I already wrote this once. I'm very annoyed at technology right now.

1 Samuel 3-5

These chapters chronicle more of David's life and what lead to him becoming king over all of Israel. One thing that stood out to me was how David sought the Lord in every decision he made.
... Maybe that is what makes him a man after God's own heart...

2 Samuel 1-2

Chap.1: David is mourning Saul and Jonathan's death... I don't really understand... Saul tried to kill David many, many times. And Jonathan was a loyal friend. Yet somehow, David is mourning them equally; "Saul and Jonathan- in life they were loved and admired, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions..."vs.23.
I guess it was because Saul was the "Lord's annointed." I mean yes, that means a lot. I just don't really get it...
And then there is this whole battle between the house of David and the house of Saul. Everything chasing after each other trying to kill each other... Crazy.

2 Peter 3 : The Day of the Lord

"But do not forget one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of Lord will come like a theif. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare."

So the Lord is patient, waiting for everyone to be saved... An interesting thought... Thinking of free will vs. predestination...
In the same chapter Peter is talking about how some people will distort the confusing/ hard to understand concepts of which he and Paul wrote about. How do I distort Scripture? Making it say what I want it to say. Or back up my opinion on whatever subject. In reality I just want to give it to God. He knows what was written and what was meant, and for those "hard to understand" parts of Scripture I just want to trust His will and not focus on the small parts that in the big picture are unimportant.

{so I finished 1 Samuel. yahoo. but didn't have the internet to post anything}

2 Peter 1-2

All of chapter 2 is talking about false teachers and their destruction using some seriously harsh language : "sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness... are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed... they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed- an accursed brood!... blackest darkness is reserved for them..." And that's just the beginning! I wonder who Simon Peter is writing about? Who were these false teachers? What were they teacher? Ok, I guess that's not really important. But man, it makes me wonder who are the false teachers of today? Are there people today who are teaching their own version of the gospel and have the blackest darkness reserved for them? Who are there? Where are they?

Lord, open my eyes so that I may see the false teachers of today. That I may not become wrapped up in their destruction.

1 Samuel 26-28

Continueing the saga of David and Saul. David again spares Saul's life. But now the Philistines are going to kill Saul and his family. hmmmm

This world doesn’t need trendy gratitude like it needs Jesus gratitude. The kind that gives thanks for the bread and the nails, for the fire that refines and the blood that saves.

105. coloring time : baby on my lap, scribbles, learning
106. a true celebration of a life lived in the Gospel, full of forgiveness and grace
107. a grateful heart when ungratefulness could so easily take over
108. the soft {cold} sand on my toes. that will never get old.
109. clear views of Catalina. Thank You Lord.
110. family blessing family
111. for my cousin who's on the right track
112. unexpected loud songs of praise
113. adventures in the backyard in the warm March
114. for tough kid. no longer a baby. but still a baby.
115. excitement. fear. trembling. emotions. running wild. goodness.
116. two blue lines. yes. two.
117. gifts from California.
118. more please. {nod the head}
119. baby learning : to understand. to ask. to talk - slowly but surely.
120. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33-34
121. meeting the goal on the trail.
122. a just God.
123. pastors sharpening one another
124. talking with the brother. yes, about football, but talking.
125. time spent with my parents. laughter and goodness for my soul.
126. open french doors. sun streaming in. early in the morning.
127. the unknown.
128. soaking in the Old Testament. learning from David. learning from Abigail.
129. chapstick.
130. Colorado clear.
131. honesty.
132. dreams aren't true. and Manny dear is not a horse. and he loves me.
133. new flip flops. already stained. coffee. blood. they must be mine :)
134. so thankful. so thankful. so thankful. words can not describe the overflow of my heart... and for me that's ok...

1 Samuel 24-25

Ch.24 : David spares Saul's life. As Saul continues to pursue David to kill him he goes into a cave where David and his men are hiding. David could do whatever he wants with Saul and he cuts off part of his robe and can't do anything more. Once out of the cave David reveals himself and the mercy he has shown Saul. Saul is all full of repent and "May the Lord reward you..." In the end, David gives an oath to Saul that he won't kill Saul or his descendants. How nice of David.
I think what stood out to me was how David was above reproach with Saul.
reproach: to find fault with (a person, group, etc.); blame; censure
He does not hurt Saul or even call him out for trying to kill him. He gives it up to the Lord. He trusts. "May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you" verse 12.

Ch.25 : This is the story of how David gets his wife Abigail. She is "intelligent and beautiful" and pretty much wicked smart for going behind her drunk and foolish husbands back, "acted quickly" to provide food for David's army as they came to kill all of Nabal's whole household. She makes it right and David leaves them alone. Though in the end, the Lord is just and "about ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died." Then David gets a new wife. How lovely.