Stain Remover

My husband had this lime green shirt that looked great on him! The other day, I took it out of the dryer and it had stains all over it. He had forgotten to take out his chapstick from his jeans and I didn't check his pockets. So when I dried the clothes the chapstick had melted all over the whole load! I was beyond bummed!

I was determined to try to do anything I could to get these stains out! But no matter what I tried; Spray and Wash, soaking, rewashing, the oils had seeped in and they were just not coming off. As I looked down at the now ruined shirt, I paused. This reminds me of when I first became a Christian. There were a couple of things that I did not think even God could forgive me, some "stains" in my past that no matter what I did; get baptized, volunteer, cook for the homeless, go to church, teach bible study, give money..certain stains were just not going to come out. They were permanent, soaked into my soul, so deeply ingrained into the fabric of my past that no amount of effort in trying to remove them would be successful. I always felt like I was and would always be irreversibly stained. 

Until I came across this verse. 

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us." 

Ephesians 1:7-8. 

I was floored; these words came off the page and pierced my heart! You see, the word redemption means atonement, deliverance, rescued, repurchased! 

'Kimberley, understand this my daughter. The sacrifice of my son, removed those "stains". There is NOTHING in your past that is not covered by the blood of my son. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18). You are set free, forgiven and not just a little, but abundantly! My grace is extravagantly and generously poured out onto you! I purchased those sins....all of them!" 

"...and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7 

Facebook and Bikinis

I enjoy Facebook. It is cool to find friends that I haven’t seen in 30 years and family that live across the country. I like to keep in touch with people that I can’t get together with on a regular basis. It is fun to watch the kids grow up, babies being born, weddings, and other milestones in people's lives.

But like with anything, it is important to keep this in perspective. Facebook gives a snapshot but it doesn't give you the story behind the pictures or the true meaning behind the posts. At its best it is very surface level…it’s like a bikini. Bikinis reveal a lot but it’s what they hide or cover up that’s important.

In a recent report, it said that people are getting more and more depressed by going onto Facebook. We are constantly comparing our lives to what we see online and we feel we are falling short. Discontent settles in, fear of missing out, wanting what other people have, and thinking everybody else has much more interesting lives than us.

It stinks when you haven’t gone a vacation in years and there are pictures of all these cool places posted. It’s hard to see your friend on the beach in Mexico when you are sitting at your desk in the office. It’s easy to envy the woman who runs marathons, cooks incredible meals, and homeschools her kids all before noon! Click on the celebrities’ pages and you have the all the seemingly glamorous and unobtainable stuff we desire.

But in reality, we have no idea what is really going on. We don’t have a clue if that mom is trying to keep it all together by being busy because her marriage is falling apart. We don’t know if that trip to Mexico put your friend one more step towards bankruptcy. How many celebrities do you know who are really happy even with all that money?

So while I enjoy my Facebook I constantly stand guard to make sure I don’t fall into the comparison trap. “In all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.” (2 Corinthians 10:12b Msg) What’s the point? Being thankful and content. Giving God the glory for everything in your life.

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13

God Block

In October, I did not write any blogs. Zero. Nada. Nothing. In two years of blogging I have posted at least 2 per month sometimes up to 15. What happened? Sure I have been busy but no more than normal. Every time my fingers hit the keyboard I felt blah. Yep, blah! I thought an idea was there and I would sit down at my computer but nothing would come out. Usually when I write my heart beats fast. I get very excited, often I cry. The words just seem to flow and I can barely keep up the typing with all my thoughts. The longer the month dragged on the worse I felt. I tried to squeeze one out by the 31st so that box wouldn't be empty-no go! God where are you?
Writing is one way I communicate with Him. I know writing is a gift given to me by my Heavenly Father. My blogs are an expression of my heart…..which I gave to Him a long time ago. Why all of a sudden is this blocked? Am I holding on to something I shouldn't be? Anger? Bitterness? Unforgiveness? Hidden sin? Have I been thankful? Praised Him? Are my motives off? Is this about teaching me humility? Have I connected with Him in other ways? Prayer? Worship? With my actions? In my relationships? When I struggle to feel His presence I must answer these questions.

“Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.” Psalm 66:16-20

God is always there, always faithful, His love never fails. But sometimes I get in the way and block the communication. If I am honest with myself, it is easier to blame Him then to deal with my own junk. This weekend, I got real with the One who knows my heart and today my words started flowing!!

Sticks and Stones!

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me."

Whoever came up with this silly saying obviously has not been devastated or destroyed by somebody spewing hurtful words at them. Personally, words are very powerful to me. They can express the deepest feelings of love and joy or they can tear down when they are said with hatred and ugliness. I can CLEARLY recall names I have been called, actions I have been falsely accused of, and attacks on my integrity, character and family. I also can remember some of the nasty things I have said, words I wish I could take back.

I heard a song on the radio the other day called Words the lyrics pierced my heart because they rang so true...

                                        Words can build you up
                                       Words can break you down
                                       Start a fire in your heart or
                                                Put it out

                                         Let my words be life
                                        Let my words be truth
                                     I don't wanna say a word
                               Unless it points the world back to You"

In Proverbs it says that the "tongue can bring death or life". Life or death..which comes out of our mouths more? I don't think there is much middle ground. If we were truly to take a look at what we say through out the day where do we fall? I for one CONSTANTLY have to pray over my words!!! My foot is a continual fixture in my mouth!

"Dear Jesus, guard my heart so that what comes out of my mouth brings life, speaks truth, encourages, and is loving. Help me fight against foolish talk, gossip, slander, and foul language. I want to build people up not tear them down! Help me to reflect you well by what I say so I can point everyone back to you!"

"Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Ephesians 4:29

11 

Jesus.....BUT?

A sorry doesn't mean as much when it is followed by a but...the but word some how takes away from the apology. "I'm sorry but I am really tired after work." "I'm sorry but you just made me so mad." "I'm sorry but I had a bad day." It gives the person a way out, a reason to not really be responsible. 

Often times we use this word in our relationship with Jesus, intentionally or unspoken.  "I will follow Jesus BUT I am not willing to commit too much. I love Jesus BUT I'm not willing to give up "fill in the blank".  I would share Jesus with others BUT I am too shy. I will go to church once a week BUT I'm too busy the other days to fit Him into my schedule." But, But, But.....

We feel better because at least we do something or follow part of the time or love mostly. We can still check off the boxes right? It's better than nothing? "But" is such a tiny word how much does it really matter?

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind." Matthew 22:37

The "buts" stop us from giving our all. The "buts" give us the excuse to only meet Him halfway, to put up walls that cause barriers in our relationship with Him. We hold on so tight to parts of our lives in the end we lose because we miss the power of the Gospel!

"If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it." Matthew 16:24-25

So, how do you get rid of the "buts"? The answer is the cross. When we truly understand and rejoice in the work of Jesus on the cross we are not motivated by guilt or shame or have to. He said, "It is finished" and that's were our lives truly begin, standing in His grace and mercy and ultimate sacrifice. He doesn't need us to do anything, but because of the cross we should WANT to!

"Dear God, help me to know and see the "buts" in my life that are keeping me from loving you with all my heart, all my mind and all my soul. I don't want to hold anything back from you. It is hard, to give certain things up. Give me the wisdom to see the beauty of the cross and the courage to respond to it."