KRISTIN’S BLOG "LOVE BOMBED"
Last week, I was home with Little Man. I got a call from Miss Preschool. She was my daughter’s preschool teacher over 4 years ago. The preschool is in a church up the street. Miss Preschool began to tell me about a problem she was having and she didn’t know what to do. “Kristin, there are these two young people sleeping outside the doorway to the preschool. They were here yesterday. The church wants me to call the police and have them arrested. But, I just don’t feel right about it. You came to mind.” I asked Miss Preschool a couple of questions and gave her some suggestions, it was then I heard it in her voice. Fear. “This is so far out of my comfort zone. I don’t know what to do,” she said. I asked her, “Do you want me to come up there and help?” I heard a sigh of relief. “Would you?”
I quickly turned on the cast iron skillet and cooked up some eggs and ham. I toasted a couple of English muffins and made sandwiches. I loaded Little Man in the car. When I got there, the couple was still asleep under their blankets. They had a stroller loaded with all their possessions. I went in to get Miss Preschool and drop Little Man off to play with the kids. We went outside. “Good morning!” I said. “I have a hot breakfast for you! Time to get up.” I heard the couple mumble under their blankets, “Really?” “Yup” I said. “But, you have to get up.” Miss Preschool and I waited for the drowsy couple to pull themselves together. It’s kind of weird to be so close to someone’s personal space. I mean, how many friends have you stood over when they were waking up?
They sat up. I introduced myself and Miss Preschool and handed them their breakfast. We sat down on the lawn and waited. As they started to eat, I began to ask them about their story. *Mary said they had been on the streets for a couple of months. She had gotten in a fight with her dad because her dad didn’t like her boyfriend *Tim. I asked if they were looking for a place to stay…had they tried the shelters? Tim said, “They won’t let us stay together in the shelters because we’re not married. We don’t want to be separated.” I asked them what they needed. “How can we help you?” I don’t think they get asked that question very often. They just looked at me. Then Mary spoke up, “Can I use your bathroom?” “Sure,” I exclaimed as I hopped to my feet.
Miss Preschool was a little concerned that the church wouldn’t be happy with me inviting her in. I said, “I’ll take the heat for this one!” About 15 minutes later Mary emerged from the restroom looking freshly washed and changed. I was so glad to have a few minutes with her. You see, I’ve been working with a friend on starting transitional housing for under aged girls who want to leave the sex industry. I’ve been receiving training and basically just having my eyes opened to the reality of how prevalent this industry is. I was pretty sure Mary was working the streets to help (said) boyfriend. She denied it of course, but all the signs said other wise. I asked her what she needed. Again, she wasn’t sure how to answer. “Do you need clothes? Shampoo? A clean towel?” She slowly began to roll off a list. I gave her my number and told her to give me some time to pull it all together.
Miss Preschool and I walked her to the door. I let Tim and Mary know that even though I understood they needed a place to sleep, they couldn’t sleep in front of the preschool. We said our goodbyes.
I went inside with Miss Preschool and she began to cry. “This just breaks my heart,” she said. “But, Kristin, you made it look so easy, so natural.”
It doesn’t take much to make someone feel special, even for a moment. I can’t solve their problems. They really didn’t want to change their circumstances. But, for a moment, they received a hot meal (not peanut butter and jelly), I asked them about themselves and what they need. For a moment, they were treated with dignity and shown a little love. Have you everLoveBombed someone? Would you?
*Names have been changed.
Shifting Shadows
Recently many folks who follow their "zodiac sign" got a rude awakening. Many had to shift to a new sign due to the movenment of the planets around the sun. I can imagine the confusion when they opened the paper to read thier horoscope only to find that they are no longer a "Libra" but are now a "Taurus" or a "Leo"
You see, thats the problem when we pin our identity on anything of this world...everything here is temporary, everything here changes. But Hebrews 13:8 says "Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever." What a comfort to know the One who is unchangeable!
Have you ever consulted your horiscope to figure out what is in store for you? Do you seek the council of the zodiac signs before you make a decision? The Word says, "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:16-17) .
So, We are deceived if we place our trust in "heavenly lights" or stars that shift and change. Instead, put your hope in the One who created the stars! He doesn't see you as a member of a particular zodiak sign. He created You and calls you by name. It's personal with Him. He sees into your heart and knows more about you than you do! He created you to shine like stars not worship them!
Hey! Here's a better idea than following a shifting horiscope in the paper...Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways aknowledge Him and He will direct your path! (Prov 3:5-6)
You see, thats the problem when we pin our identity on anything of this world...everything here is temporary, everything here changes. But Hebrews 13:8 says "Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever." What a comfort to know the One who is unchangeable!
Have you ever consulted your horiscope to figure out what is in store for you? Do you seek the council of the zodiac signs before you make a decision? The Word says, "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:16-17) .
So, We are deceived if we place our trust in "heavenly lights" or stars that shift and change. Instead, put your hope in the One who created the stars! He doesn't see you as a member of a particular zodiak sign. He created You and calls you by name. It's personal with Him. He sees into your heart and knows more about you than you do! He created you to shine like stars not worship them!
Hey! Here's a better idea than following a shifting horiscope in the paper...Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways aknowledge Him and He will direct your path! (Prov 3:5-6)
Caretakers of God...
All alone in a darkened cave with only the light from a small candle, Mary and Joseph pondered how this baby, so tiny and helpless would save the world. Yet the warmth, joy and peaceful glow eminating from this child somehow calmed their wondering, anxious hearts.
The night was filled with an electric expectation- hard to comprehend except to say that the supernatural was with them. Emmanuel. Mary and Joseph sat in awe, soaking in the impossibility of this moment...God in the flesh, kicking and cooing before them.
What would tomorrow bring? How does one begin to parent God? Will he wake frightened in the night? How does a human comfort the King of Kings, creator of all that is created? Serious questions and a lifetime to seek the answers as hand in hand and heart to heart, Mary and Joseph became the caretakers of God.
Christmas Blessings to you and may you experience His presence in ever increasing ways in the new year!
The night was filled with an electric expectation- hard to comprehend except to say that the supernatural was with them. Emmanuel. Mary and Joseph sat in awe, soaking in the impossibility of this moment...God in the flesh, kicking and cooing before them.
What would tomorrow bring? How does one begin to parent God? Will he wake frightened in the night? How does a human comfort the King of Kings, creator of all that is created? Serious questions and a lifetime to seek the answers as hand in hand and heart to heart, Mary and Joseph became the caretakers of God.
Christmas Blessings to you and may you experience His presence in ever increasing ways in the new year!
Falling...on purpose!
Falling. This word brings back visions of embarrassing moments. Falling up the steps as a freshman in highschool... books whizzing everywhere. Classmates tripping over me and my book avalanche. It was like a 10 car pileup on the highway but add teenage hormones and several "mean girls" to the mix. Ugh! I remember "falling for" the cute popular boy in 5th grade who never knew I existed. ouch!
Later, as a Realtor, I walked through a dark doorway to find a lightswitch only to fall into the homes sunken living room! Not the best way to point out this architechtural feature!
But I have also experienced a falling of the supernatural kind. On Sept 11th our country's false sense of security was shaken during a surprise terrorist attack. My personal illusions of security and "having it all together" tumbled that day as well. This surprise attack brought up memories that I had been running from all my life. Emotions that I had long since burried overwhelmed me as I grieved for the people in those buildings..somehow identifying with them.
At that moment, as that first tower fell, I sank to my knees and williningly surrendered my life, again, to Jesus. Falling on purpose into the arms of my gracious God. But this time, no one laughed at me. There was no pile of books to pick up while my face burned with shame. This time, I didnt fall for a self absorbed popular boy who didn't know I existed...This time, I fell for Jesus. Jesus, who knows every detail of my life and loves me. I discovered that Jesus had always been reaching out to me, ready to support, comfort, steady and love me if I would have only laid down my pride and self sufficiency and grabbed hold of what He offered to me.
I have found that falling on purpose has been the most significant decision of my life. Oh, I may still trip on a step or step off a curb wrong once in a while but no matter what, my soul is held secure as I hold tightly to my Lord's strong and loving hand. No matter what trials this life may bring, He promised to never let me go!
How about you? Could you use a hand today?
Psalm 37:24 Though he stumble he will not fall for the Lord upholds him with His hand.
Later, as a Realtor, I walked through a dark doorway to find a lightswitch only to fall into the homes sunken living room! Not the best way to point out this architechtural feature!
But I have also experienced a falling of the supernatural kind. On Sept 11th our country's false sense of security was shaken during a surprise terrorist attack. My personal illusions of security and "having it all together" tumbled that day as well. This surprise attack brought up memories that I had been running from all my life. Emotions that I had long since burried overwhelmed me as I grieved for the people in those buildings..somehow identifying with them.
At that moment, as that first tower fell, I sank to my knees and williningly surrendered my life, again, to Jesus. Falling on purpose into the arms of my gracious God. But this time, no one laughed at me. There was no pile of books to pick up while my face burned with shame. This time, I didnt fall for a self absorbed popular boy who didn't know I existed...This time, I fell for Jesus. Jesus, who knows every detail of my life and loves me. I discovered that Jesus had always been reaching out to me, ready to support, comfort, steady and love me if I would have only laid down my pride and self sufficiency and grabbed hold of what He offered to me.
I have found that falling on purpose has been the most significant decision of my life. Oh, I may still trip on a step or step off a curb wrong once in a while but no matter what, my soul is held secure as I hold tightly to my Lord's strong and loving hand. No matter what trials this life may bring, He promised to never let me go!
How about you? Could you use a hand today?
Psalm 37:24 Though he stumble he will not fall for the Lord upholds him with His hand.
A Good Morning Kiss
I am standing on the shores of Lake Erie in the wee hours of the morning. A vivid orange sunrise has begun creeping over the expanse of the waters. It is quiet except for the occasional sing song of birds as they awaken to a new day. The aroma of water and sand swirls around me in the gentle morning breeze and I smile, enjoying it's sweetness.
Yes, this promises to be a good day....a "God day". I whisper a silent thank you to My Lord as I sleepily stretch my arms up to the heavens in a gesture of surrender. Just when I think the moment could not be more perfect, I lift my eyes and behold a breathtaking sight...a simple cross spread majestically across the blazing sky. Stretching high above me, yet seeming to bend down from the heavens... a good morning kiss from my loving Savior!
I Dare You
I recently had the honor and priviledge to co-facilitate a weds night Bible study. We were studying Romans 12 with Chip Ingram in a Bible study entitled. "Living on the Edge. Dare to experience true spirituality." Well, I love a dare! Especially one that will bring me closer in my relationship with The Lord and my brothers and sisters in Christ.
We started out as students in a classroom, seeking to grow spiritually. When Chip challenged us to begin to open up and come to grips with our authentic selves. To actually share out loud some of our struggles in our Christian walk, something "divine" began to happen in our group...
First, We got nervous! One person voiced what many of us were thinking. "Wait a minute I just wanted a nice Bible study, I didn't know we had to share our stuff!" We each struggled in our own way with the questions in our hearts... "Is this a safe place to share?" "What will they think of me?" "Does anyone else feel the way I do?"
Then, in week two, we were challenged with a surrender question..."Are You All In?" We talked about what complete surrender to Jesus would look like. We shared some of our biggest barriers to living a surrendered "All In" type of life. We dropped our church masks, took some risks, and for the rest of the study, "got real" with The Lord and each other. Sharing our stories, our trials, pain and triumphs.
Well, The Lord honored our willingness to be vulnerable with Him and with each other and has knit our hearts together in love...In 10 weeks we went from fellow classmates to a living, active, caring family. We prayed for each other, gave to those who were in need and are going to serve together at a shelter this week. Not because of works but because The love of Christ compells us and honestly, we enjoy being together!
This is "true spirituality" this is the church Christ desires. Nothing flashy, just a bunch of regular, non-perfect people who love Christ and made a decision to trust Him and live authentically. People who took a chance to say "I'm all in" and see what God would do.
He did not disappoint us!
Go on, I dare you....today, will YOU say to God, "I'M ALL IN"?
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in veiw of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. And do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world but BE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your minds. Then you can test and approve what God's will is, His Good, Perfect and Pleasing will. Romans 12:1-2
Interested? go to LivingontheEdge.org for more info on this wonderful study of Romans 12.
We started out as students in a classroom, seeking to grow spiritually. When Chip challenged us to begin to open up and come to grips with our authentic selves. To actually share out loud some of our struggles in our Christian walk, something "divine" began to happen in our group...
First, We got nervous! One person voiced what many of us were thinking. "Wait a minute I just wanted a nice Bible study, I didn't know we had to share our stuff!" We each struggled in our own way with the questions in our hearts... "Is this a safe place to share?" "What will they think of me?" "Does anyone else feel the way I do?"
Then, in week two, we were challenged with a surrender question..."Are You All In?" We talked about what complete surrender to Jesus would look like. We shared some of our biggest barriers to living a surrendered "All In" type of life. We dropped our church masks, took some risks, and for the rest of the study, "got real" with The Lord and each other. Sharing our stories, our trials, pain and triumphs.
Well, The Lord honored our willingness to be vulnerable with Him and with each other and has knit our hearts together in love...In 10 weeks we went from fellow classmates to a living, active, caring family. We prayed for each other, gave to those who were in need and are going to serve together at a shelter this week. Not because of works but because The love of Christ compells us and honestly, we enjoy being together!
This is "true spirituality" this is the church Christ desires. Nothing flashy, just a bunch of regular, non-perfect people who love Christ and made a decision to trust Him and live authentically. People who took a chance to say "I'm all in" and see what God would do.
He did not disappoint us!
Go on, I dare you....today, will YOU say to God, "I'M ALL IN"?
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in veiw of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. And do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world but BE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your minds. Then you can test and approve what God's will is, His Good, Perfect and Pleasing will. Romans 12:1-2
Interested? go to LivingontheEdge.org for more info on this wonderful study of Romans 12.
Stripping Wallpaper
Stripping Wallpaper
Kim Dent
Have you ever had to tear off old, stuck, ugly wallpaper? It's NOT a fun job! I remember our first house was completely covered in wallpaper in every room...and not just one layer! It seemed we would finally steam, scrape and peel our way through one layer and another hideous pattern would be revealed!
Mark and I spent weeks steaming, scraping and sweating to restore the walls in our little house to their original state. Many times I just wanted to give up and slap some paint over the layers of paper and call it "good enough". My husband wouldn't allow it...he somehow always kept the vision of what it could be and he would encourage me to keep working with him...he never even entertained the thought of taking the easy way out...
We eventually got the walls scraped, sanded, primed and repainted. They were beautiful...probably even more so to us because of the great effort it took!
I wonder...has The Lord been after you to do a little re-wallpapering of the walls of your mind? Those old habits, hurts and hang-ups that have been occupying prime space in your thought life, like old ugly wallpaper, need to go! Be prepared, they won't go easily. Those old thoughts, lies and beliefs that are so deeply rooted in us will take honest, hard work to strip them off of our mind's walls. Like the old wallpaper in my house, these old thoughts often have a "Strong Hold" on your mind.
Thankfully, Our Lord knows the plans He has to restore the walls of our minds (Jer. 29:11) He keeps the vision and is continually encouraging you and I to "Keep working with Him" He will never let us slap the paint of religion over the old lies, beliefs and thoughts that keep us from the abundant life He has planned for us. He will do what seems impossible (Matt. 19:26) but we must work with Him! We must not just hear the Word but actively DO WHAT IT SAYS! (James 1:22)
So, are you ready for a fresh start? Jesus has all the tools (weapons) you will need to demolish the ugly, tacky strongholds papering your mind. (2 Cor. 10: 3-5) He is waiting for you to get serious about the business of re-wallpapering your mind, no more short-cuts. He will do all the heavy lifting but you and I must Work With Him! The end result will be a Beautiful Mind!
Re-Wallpapering
Tearing down my mind's wrong beliefs
Replacing with Truth!
(Haiku by Margaret Slabach)
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