The Plumber

The other day we had Jason the plumber over to finally hook up our sink and dishwasher. We had only met him one time before but we liked his work and were excited to get our kitchen put back together. As Jason was working under the sink Bryan noticed him looking up at the memory verse on the wall. He would glance at it every time he walked by. Finally Bryan said something, "Jason, does that verse mean something to you?" Jason said no but he wanted to know more about it but he didn't have a Bible. Bryan went and found one (we just happened to have a new one in the closet) to give to him. Then Bryan asked a second question, 'Tell me about yourself." Over the next hour that is exactly what our plumber did. He told us all about growing up with a mom who had him at 16 and spent all of her life leaving him because she partied. Having an addict for a mom and a dad who was never around, growing up on the streets of Pittsburgh, lead to a very messed up life. Because of his past he had trouble staying in relationships and making commitments. His girlfriend had just broken up with him and he was lonely and frustrated that his life looked like this. Bryan listened to him and asked if we could pray for him. Standing in our front yard we put our hands on Jason and prayed. As he left we invited him to church on Sunday night.

On Sunday morning Bryan texted Jason, the plumber, to see how he was doing. He said he ended up going to church on Saturday and GOT BAPTIZED! And he said he was still coming on Sunday night too. He was so excited he watched all the sermons on the series in Acts so he could be "caught up" and know what we were talking about this week. When Jason walked up to us at church that night he had a huge smile on his face and his spirit was definitely lighter. He was ready for his life to change all he needed was somebody to ask the second question and share the good news.

This should not be a fluke or something abnormal. I pray God puts a hundred "Jasons" in our path and we take the time, have the courage, and show the love of Jesus to all of them. It doesn't have to be epic. It might just be asking a few more questions, being a good listener, and asking them to come to church. This isn't a job for just pastors or ministers. We are ALL called to spread the news that Jesus loves them and wants a relationship with everybody.

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved...." Mark 16:15-16b

Trouble At School!

Yesterday my son got into trouble at school. As I walked into the Principal's office my heart was beating a thousand times a minute. I was trying to hold it together professionally but my mama bear instinct was raging in full force. All I could think about was how to protect my son who was obviously upset. The principal informed me, "He had thrown a rock and it hit someone. He admitted he did it but said it was an accident. But he has been told not to play with rocks so he will lose his lunch break and his morning break the next day."
 
The thoughts whirling in my head were not pretty. "Really, he has gone here three years and never been in trouble and this warrants a visit to the Principal's office? He got hit in the head with a Lacrosse ball a month ago and it almost broke his nose but no one missed their break. A kid told my second grader to "F" off yesterday and nothing happened to that kid. Why is my son sitting here feeling so small and so destroyed?"
 
I took a deep breath, knowing that voicing these things took the focus off my son and he needed me to keep it together. He didn't need me attacking the system or arguing over the injustices of school discipline. He needed his mom to reassure him it was going to be okay. I put my "ghetto" Kimberley back inside and faced him.

"Son, did you tell the truth? Did you handle this with integrity? Then do not worry about all this other stuff. You knew you shouldn't pick up the rock because people might get hurt. You are not a bad kid but you did not make a good choice. You will own your part and take the consequence. You will respect the authority of this school even if you don't agree and even if it seems unfair. But know this, THERE IS NOTHING YOU DO THAT WILL EVER MAKE ME LOVE YOU ANY LESS! You are my son and I will always love you no matter what. This does not define you."
 
As we walked out of the office I could see him still struggling to come to grips with being sent to the principal. After he washed his face off I asked him if he needed me to pray over him and he said yes. I prayed for him to accept responsibility, have a peace that everything will be okay, and to remember that he is the son of a mighty, mighty king who will always love him.
 
I watched him walk back to class, and I was still shaking inside. Angry that my son was reduced to feeling so small but knowing that the world can be an ugly place. My job is to help him grow up owning his junk and handling himself with honor and integrity. He did not need me to protect him or help avoid the consequences, that just produces children who think nothing is ever their fault. My job was to ASSURE him that he is LOVED, no matter what. The reason I know how important this is...because I have a heavenly Father who does this for me DAILY.

^"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Romans 8:38-39

Desperate for Grace

"Grace does not depend on what we have done for God but rather what God has done for us. Ask people what they must do to get to heaven and most reply, "Be good." Jesus' stories contradict that answer. All we must do is cry, "Help!" Philip Yancey

Many times people ask me what is so different about being a Christian, besides the whole believing in Jesus part? The first word that comes to mine is...grace. Grace is what is different.

Daily, I am in desperate need of grace!! Grace because I yell at my children. Grace because I often forget to open my Bible and feed on the living word. Grace because I don't always act like I am a follower of Jesus Christ. Grace because I put my foot in mouth A LOT! Grace because I have been too afraid to go and do what God wants me to do or share something he wants me to share. Grace because most days I feel...unworthy..not good enough. And then God whispers, "Kimberley, my grace is all you need. My power works best in your weakness. You don't have to be strong. You don't have to do it all right. You don't have to be everything to everyone. You just have to love and obey Me. Nothing you do will make me love you more and nothing you do will make me love you less. "Grace is not a free pass to do anything that you want to do knowing that you will be forgiven. Grace is not a word we throw around to let people do whatever they want to do without consequences. "Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living." Romans 6:15-16

Grace is a gift of God to people who don't deserve it. Grace is perfect because you can't earn it, you receive it from a God who loves you. Daily, I am desperate for grace and daily I am assured of it from the One who created me.

Don't wait for AHA Moments!!

The other night at Bible study we were talking about how do we know the Holy Spirit is with us? As we went around the room sharing, each person had their OWN experiences with the Spirit..it didn't all look the same. I was in awe how amazing God is... to speak to us individually not in a cookie cutter kind of way. But a similar theme for each of us was we didn't wait for the Spirit to come in these big AHA moments! He often speaks to us in the little, everyday things. Some of you might be saying, "But I just don't ever really know if it's the Spirit or not!" I challenge you to look in the Scriptures at all the times God talks about the Holy Spirit, his power, his promises that if you claim Him as Lord and Savior, then the Spirit lives within you! Don't wait for the burning bush; turn your hair white moment! Ask God to reveal himself to you in your everyday life.

What will that look like?
 
Maybe it's the small voice that tells you to go buy lunch for that homeless guy in line, maybe it's the tears of joy you feel when that certain worship song comes on, or it might be when you suddenly stop yourself from tearing into your spouse even when they deserve it. Maybe it's the Spirit when you stop yourself from cussing at the person that just cut you off in traffic or when you can look at the beautiful sunset and appreciate the Creator! The Holy Spirit is involved in your everyday, minute by minute life. Are you being sensitive to Him? Do you listen when he says, "Is that the wise thing to do?" Do you say yes when he says, "Go and tell that person about Jesus?" The Spirit is there when someone asks you a question and you have no idea what to say but all of sudden words come out of nowhere that make sense. He is there when you don't feel like you can get out of bed today but he nudges you to just put your feet down and trust him. It's the Spirit there when you feel a peace even in the midst of a storm or you have courage to do something you thought was impossible! It's the power of the Holy Spirit that helps feed our faith when the doubt seems overwhelming and the pain is all consuming!
 
Stop asking yourself, "Is it the Holy Spirit?" and starting claiming the promises of God! Stop waiting for the heavens to split and the angels sing to you! (Although that would be really cool) Start being SENSITIVE to how He already is working around you, in you, with you! You can't go wrong with giving Him the glory even if you are not a 100% sure it's Him. ASK God to show himself to you and be ready to respond!!
         "....don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what        
           God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be    
                        speaking, but the Holy Spirit." Mark 13:10

“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!"

 John 14:15-17 (The Message)

Because I said so: Lecrae raps the Gospel

Because I said so: Lecrae raps the Gospel

It's All About Perspective...

Usually when I am driving, I can get easily frustrated by other drivers. Drivers that don't use their blinkers, who are texting, not going the speed limit, or just because they are in my way. Sometimes when I go to work I get behind a school bus which really sends me to "crazyville". They make constant stops and wait until every last child is on the bus, even the one that obviously was too late to catch it, but still the bus waits, as the cars line up behind it forever. And then it is off to the next stop which is literally a few blocks away, to start the process ALL OVER again! Now I am late and fussy and aggravated. If I am not careful I could let this affect my attitude and my day.
 
A few weeks ago, I was going to work and right in front of me the car turned in the left lane and got hit. A truck from the other lane plowed into it. Luckily no one was severely hurt, but a lot of us were pretty shaken up...the outcome could have been drastically different. As I put on my seat belt and tried to catch my breath, I had a "AHA" moment. That could have been me! I was the next car. If I would have raced pass him, like I usually do, I would have been the one who got hit!! I starting praying, "Thank you God for protecting me. Thank you God for letting me get to my destination safely. Thank you for one more day with my family."
 
From that day on I decided it's all about my perspective. When I have to stop at every red light from here to work or I get caught behind a grandpa going slow, I think maybe there is a reason. Instead of getting mad or frustrated, I choose to take a minute, breathe, and thank God for His protection and His unfailing love for me. Maybe God is saying, "Kimberley, slow down. Enjoy the ride. It is better to be late than dead. Driving should not get you angry. Give this time to me."

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." Psalm 5:11