Hello 2019…12 New Chapters, 365 Chances to Make This Year Count!

Well, we did it. The pages are written, there’s nothing left to say…for good or for bad it’s time to close the book on 2018.

I feel accomplished, somehow, like I just put another notch on my 48 year old belt. Was every day good? No. Did I fail to do some things I wanted to do? Yes. But did I have adventures, and love, and a whole mess of God’s blessings in between?  Yes…yes I did.

And that’s good enough for me to gently shut the door, turn the lock and throw away the key…and say…

Hello 2019!

I’m excited about your prospects 2019, eager to discover just what God has in store for me while He turns the pages of my life. Just think, we have 12 new chapters to write in this book called life. That’s 365 chances to live, and love, and learn.

Every day will be a new beginning, a new chance to discover God’s will for my life, a new opportunity to grow and bloom under Heaven’s watchful eyes. What blessings do you have in store for me? What trials await my step? What lessons are waiting to be learned?

‘The Lord says…“But forget about the past-it is nothing compared to what I’m going to do! For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it?”

Isaiah 43:18-19

I see it Lord, I see it, and the opportunities are endless and without limit and full of wonder. I'm excited to welcome you 2019...let's turn the page and make new memories together.

On Sale Now!...2019 Day Planner

Hello everyone!

Plan ahead. Get more done. Feel Better About The Year to Come. 

I am excited to bring you my very first Day Planner for the year 2019. Just $8.99, it's sleek, simple design in black and white is perfect to keep your year organized.

2019 Day Planner features:

• January 2019 - December 2019, featuring 12 months of monthly and weekly vew pages for easy year-round planning.
• Monthly budget page to keep track of your spending.
• Each month features a space to write down your Goals for the week, as well as Notes.
• 2019 Holiday list, and space to write important phone numbers and dates.
• A peak ahead, featuring a quick-glance 2020 calendar and 2020 Holidays.
• Simple, sleek, black and white design. "8 1/2 x "11 in size.

Available on Amazon. CLICK HERE!  Order now and get it before Christmas!

Being Kind is the Nice Thing to Do

On Christmas Day one year we took our son, Alex, out to IHOP for dinner. No one felt like cooking and it was nice to focus on the family instead of making the perfect meal. The restaurant was packed, of course, as we weren’t the only ones who had had this idea, and our waitress was busy. We were quite happy with her, however, as she was attentive and friendly despite the fact that she had to work on a holiday and was obviously running from table to table trying to keep everyone happy.

When we were getting to leave Alex told her, “God bless you.”

Tears came to her eyes and she tried to desperately blink them away.  We asked her what was wrong, and as most people do, she tried to make light of it. Without going into great detail she told us that she had had several extremely difficult customers earlier that day who weren’t so nice to her, and she really appreciated the kind words.

We came away from our dinner feeling a little saddened by the thought that people who are supposed to be celebrating Christmas, a holiday known for goodwill and love, were instead spreading anger and hurt feelings to those who are giving up their own holiday to provide us with a pleasant dining experience.

Whatever happened to good old-fashioned kindness? When did it become okay to be rude to not only strangers, but our closest friends and family as well? At what point does a person’s need to vent their frustration become a priority over the feelings and emotions of those around them?

And this isn’t an isolated case. You can see this every day. Just look at today’s top headlines and it’s obvious that most of the problems boil down to a simple case of just plain old not being nice. We are encouraged to “express our feelings”, but unfortunately what people don’t realize is that the freedom to express our feelings quite often can hurt other people. And what’s worse is that most of us don’t even think about it. It’s almost become normal to be rude.

And this isn’t limited to just those outside the Church.

Over the years I’ve seen people who profess to love God treat people with the same rude behavior our poor waitress had to deal with. I’ve even seen worse. And at times, I must confess, I have been just as guilty.  Rude behavior and unkind words are so much easier to slip into that at times I don’t even realize I’m doing it, and by the time I come to my senses the damage has already been done.

I am not always a non-grumpy person. I struggle with being nice, and kindness quite often sounds like a foreign word. But as a Christian, a Christ-follower, I have to work at being different than the world. To truly follow Christ I have to make a conscious effort to use my words to bless others, to show them Christ’s love by being kind and loving to them, to treat them as Jesus would treat me.

It’s not easy being kind, it means that I have to put my own emotions and feelings aside and put someone else’s first. Being kind means that my bad day doesn’t give me the right to make someone else’s day just as bad, or worse. Being kind means that I have to stop before I speak, I have to hesitate before I act, and most importantly, I need to pray for God’s wisdom and strength so that the people I love will see Him, not me.

After all, being kind is the nice thing to do, and if I can’t be nice then am I really following Christ?

On Sale Now - A Book of Days...Birthdays, Anniversaries & Special Occasions

I'm so excited to announce the newest addition to my book collection!

Do you love keeping track of the important days of your friends, family and loved ones, but are not a fan of jotting them down in multiple places?

Has your phone lost your data again, and now you have to call all of your family members to get those important dates again?

I've got the solution for you! "A Book of Days - Birthdays, Anniversaries & Special Occasions" is your one-stop handy organizer for all of those important dates you want to remember.

Just "6 x "9 in size, it's a perfect fit for your busy lifestyle. And it comes in four different themes:

"A Teddy Bear on Holiday" - a different bear for each month

"How Does Your Garden Grow?" - offers a bit of gardening advice each month

"It's A Dog's Life" - each month is a different breed

"Kitties at Play" - each month is a different breed

Makes a great gift or the perfect stocking stuffer!

Purchase your copy on Amazon

Unplugged

The world is busy, isn't it?  So much to see and do, to accomplish and conquer, that sometimes I can feel overwhelmed by it all.  A typical day involves non-stop movement from the moment my eyes pop open in the morning until late at night when I finally fall exhausted in my bed, and even that’s not a guarantee that I'll find some much needed rest.

Humanity, as a whole, is plugged in and online 24/7.  We have gadgets and gizmos galore, from the latest cell phone to the best computer money can buy, and every one of them is clamoring for our attention.  With all of these demands on our time and attention it’s no wonder that we can’t seem to find any rest.

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired.  Not just physically tired, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually drained as well.  There are days when it’s hard to get out of bed simply because it feels like I just went to bed an hour ago!  And then I get cranky, and whiny, and most definitely not at my best.  And it’s in these moments that I have to remember something important.

Jesus said in Mark 6:31 – “…come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Jesus took time to rest. 

And let’s face it, He was busier than I could ever dream of being!  And yet, he found, no, made the effort to carve out time to rest because He knew that was the only way He could continue to function at His best.  He needed to spend quality time with His Daddy, time to unwind from the stresses of the day, and just rest.

And to be honest, that's where I stumble.

Solitude and time for reflection is necessary, a vital part of the Christian walk, and you would think that I would get that, wouldn't you? And for the most part, I do...well...I think I do. And yet I struggle with making the time to rest. I'm plugged in to all the little distractions of my life so tightly that I forget to snuggle up to my Daddy and simply rest in His presence.

I have to remind myself that unplugging doesn't mean I have to go through these giant, grandiose schemes and plans. Sometimes it's simply stepping away from the computer, or the television, or putting down the phone and picking up my Bible, finding a quiet corner of the house to tuck myself away with God, and rest in His embrace.

The good thing is that I am still learning this walk of Faith, and to be the best person I can be, to be at my best, I simply need to “unplug” and let God give me rest.

We Will Never Forget...

Where were you when the towers fell?

I was sleeping.

The phone rang and my husband went to answer it. It was his father. He yelled at me to come to the living room, to watch the television, his hand still held the phone as he switched it on. We watched in horror, disbelief, as the first plane hit the tower…we were still numb when the second plane hit the other tower. I remember thinking it couldn’t get any worse, then we found out about the Pentagon. The day passed in a blur of numbing emotion, we cried, we tried to make sense of what was happening, and in the end we could only fall to our knees in prayer.

It’s hard to imagine that today marks the 17th anniversary of the day the towers fell.

Do you remember?

I only ask because it seems that today’s world is bent on whitewashing history, and dear friends, this is one history lesson we must never forget.

2,996 people died in the attacks, and more than 6,000 were injured.  What happened that day touched every nation, and changed the world.

We must never forget the ones who died so senselessly, the ones who died saving others, and yes, we must even remember the ones who perpetrated such an act of hatred. All of them were made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), and all of them mattered to God (John 3:16), regardless of what they did or did not do, God loved them.

We must never forget.

So dear friend, would you take a moment, just a moment from your day, to stop and reflect on what happened the day the towers fell? When your children ask you why you are crying, will you tell them? Will we remember those we lost?

We must teach our children that yes, there is bad in the world, but there is much that is so much better. Evil does not win in the end. 

Say a prayer for those left behind, for the families still grieving the loved ones lost, for the world still reeling from the pain, and know that God loves you, yes you.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow,  nor crying…no pain, for the former things have passed away.” Rev. 21:4

Trusting Jesus Enough to Find the Strength to Live My Life

Am I ‘strong in the Lord’? I want to be, but to be honest, at this moment; I don’t feel like I am. I guess it depends on the definition of the word “strong”. 

Am I strong in my Faith? Do I trust Jesus that everything is going to be alright? Am I leaning on Him instead of the problems that surround me? Or do I rely on what the world says should be my strength…to just believe in myself, trust my feelings, that I don’t need anyone else but my own wisdom and guidance?

I would have to say that on my own, no, I am not. I keep getting tangled up in the details of my life, trying to maintain a balance that can never be balanced, placing one thing after another on top of the pile, all the while ignoring the signs. Eventually my life is going to topple over, and my strength will never be enough to keep it from happening.

Can anyone relate?

Here’s the thing, though, I don’t have to do this life alone. I can let go and let God take over. His strength is all I need. If Jesus is truly the foundation of my life then it’s just a simple matter of trust.

I wasn’t built to handle life on my own.

Do I trust Jesus enough to let Him take control? Do I trust Jesus enough to place all my worries, doubts and fears at His feet and leave them there? Do I trust Jesus enough with my past, present and future?

I mean, Jesus died for me, if I can’t trust Him, then who can I trust?

Happy Mother's Day...

Mother's Day is bittersweet to me. Mom, if you're reading this, Happy Mothers Day!

For those of you, like me, who do not have your Mom in your life - whether by abandonment, death, or some other reason, take heart, God loves you and He will never leave you!

For those who are struggling with fertility, know that God sees you and is right there with you.

For those who are blessed to have your Mom within reach, don't take her for granted, love her and let her know just how much she means to you.

Happy Mother's Day dear friends!

Christian's, are we living tasty lives that shine brightly in the darkness?

If you've attended church for any length of time you've undoubtedly heard the phrase, "We are to be the salt and light of the world." I've often wondered if we Christians truly understand what this phrase means. Thankfully for us God has provided not only the edict, but the definition of just why we are to be 'salt and light' in Matthew 5:13-16. Let's break this scripture down...

vs. 13; "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. "

Salt has so many applications in our lives. It not only preserves items, but it makes them tasty and appetizing as well. Salt also keeps ants away from your shelves, can clean your brass items, soothes a bee sting and a multitude of other surprising uses. So, what am I saying?

If we are to be the 'salt of the earth', then we must be willing to preserve others from the gates of Hell, help keep the bad elements from taking up residence in lives, make an effort to work with people to help them shine up their lives and reach out to those who have been hurt by people or circumstances.  But the most important part of being salt is filling our lives up so full of Christ that our walk with the Lord is tasty, appetizing, and attractive to the people who we come in contact with.  Our relationship with Jesus should be so evident that others want what we have.

If we have lost the 'saltiness' of our Faith then we have thrown away any opportunity to attract others to Christ, and dear friends, what good is our Faith then?

vs. 14-15; You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house.

Now, let's think about being the "light of the world".  What does light do?  The simple answer is that it allows us to see.  But light is so much more than sight!  It brings warmth to cold places.  It promotes healthy plants and well being in animals and humans.  A single pin point of light can shine brightly in the darkest room, breaking the darkness apart completely.

No one places a light under a blanket, or tries to hide it. If you're lighting a lamp it's because you want to use it to see. A hidden light is pretty useless, isn't it? Why even bother to light it if you're not going to place it somewhere it can be seen? In the same way, why call ourselves 'Christian' if we are not going to light the pathway to Christ?

vs. 16; In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.

We, as Christians, are called to be that light that shines in the darkened world we live in.  We are to be a beacon of hope, a lighthouse that leads poor sinners to salvation before they are broken on the shores of this wicked world we live in.  We are to reach out in warmth, reviving souls to the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are called to be the light that leads sinners to Christ.

As Christian's our goal should be to lead tasty lives that shine brightly in a world of darkness. So how do we do this?

We must spend time daily with God. It's not enough to just attend an hour long sermon one day of the week. We have to develop a personal relationship with Christ, and that requires our time and effort. And here's the best part, it's easy to do! Through personal prayer and good old fashioned Bible reading we can become the "salt and light of the world" that God intended.

Happy Easter!

Grace on a Sunday Morning...

Sitting in church on a Sunday morning, watching people filter in, makes me wonder at the grace of God.

I’m a people watcher, a by-product of my naturally shy personality, and I do admit that I’m happiest when sitting off alone obscurely watching the world around me.  You can learn a lot by quietly watching the people that make up your world, and sometimes what I see amazes me.

People are funny creatures.  Some people amble in slowly, almost hesitant to find a seat, making a beeline for those lone seats set off in the corner.  Others barrel in like a tidal wave, full of themselves and determined to make a splash, grabbing everyone’s attention with their exuberant greetings and grand displays of affection.  There are those who prefer to hang out in the lobby until the last possible moment, squeezing in as late as they possibly can get away with.

The church welcomes all sorts of people…there are talkers and loners, exuberant children, mom’s and dad’s, friends and family members, those that are single and those who are not.  There are people who are grumpy by nature, those who are like a breath of fresh air, quiet people, loud people, and everyone in between.  People from all walks of life filter in to the house of God and take their places and I cannot help but marvel at the grace of God.

All of these people are different, unique beings created by God, each one with personalities and life experiences that are theirs alone.  They’ve faced trials and experienced blessings that I could never dream of, and yet we all share one thing in common.

We all come to church with one goal in mind.  When the music starts our voices will rise to give thanks to the One who loved us so much that He died for us.

And for a little while, just a little, all of these people who lead separate lives will become one.  No longer separate but the Church, the people of God, brothers and sisters in Christ, united by our love for God.  With one voice we will lift our voices to praise the God who not only created us, but saved us, and for that brief moment we will touch the throne of God together as a family, united by the grace that is God’s and God’s alone.

And I am thankful for the grace of God.

Love & Blessings,

Kathy