Books by Kimberly Griffith Anderson
  • Home
  • Kimberly's Blog Posts
    • Just a Thought 2024
    • Message 2021
    • Blog2020
    • Blog2019
    • Blog
  • Kimberly's Books
    • Angelic Shenanigans
    • Sowing Seeds with Brother Wali
    • Abstinence Books
    • But I Love My Husband / But We're Not Married
    • Fungi Books
    • Good Girl / Single Dad 19
    • Start Writing
    • Turn North
  • More Information
    • About the Author
    • Human Terms Publishing
    • Upcoming Book Events
    • Presentations
    • Pictures

Staying Positive

Praise...Perspective...Peace

1/7/2018

3 Comments

 
In the notes app of my phone, I keep a running list of possible blog topics.  I do this just in case my mind runs blank and I have difficulty developing a topic each week for my blog post.  The list currently contains 60+ topics, but I have never had to use it.  By Friday night, I am usually overflowing with words to share.  Please don’t think I have life all figured out—I don’t.  Generally, by Friday I’ve narrowed life down to one situation that needs attention, and God reveals His perspective to me as I type.  It is my hope that this blog sheds light on the situations of your life as you read.

I read the Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian in the two weeks before our wedding ceremony.  As busy and as crazy as I was, I thought it was important for me to get through the book.  I’ve now read it cover to cover several times…  Of all of the memorable ideas and prayers in the book, the part that really makes me nod my head is the dedication:  “This book is dedicated with love to my husband Michael, who has consistently given me more than I ever wanted to pray about.  You and I both know that prayer works.”  Yes, prayer does work.  It is when we develop the belief that we, ourselves can make it without God that we find ourselves in trouble.   Matthew 5:3 NLT states, “God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.”  Sometimes, I believe, God puts us in situations or allows things to happen that will quickly help us to realize our need for Him. 

On December 19, my 13 year-old, always the first person downstairs, yelled, “Mom, who spilled all over the kitchen floor?”  We were getting dressed for school and work, but first we had a little situation.  We were standing in water.  A hot water pipe burst beneath our kitchen floor which caused a portion of our downstairs to flood.  Subsequently, we’ve had to excavate to fix the leak. The kitchen sink and cabinets have been removed, hardwood floors and carpets pulled up, and we had to talk over the sound of 8 industrial fans attempting to dry out the drywall from for 7 days.  I’ve been washing dishes in the bathroom.  Usually when I sit down to write my annual goals, there is a financial savings goal.  Given what we had just paid the plumber, I did not write a financial goal for this year.  Any deposits into our savings will be a miracle from God—and He does work miracles, so I am not giving up hope, just not putting a dollar amount on that hope.   There have been lots of prayers recently.  I am trying to keep a smile and a positive attitude.  When I’ve told people what is going on, and I’ve tried not to tell too many people, there are three phrases that continue to be repeated:  “When it rains it pours;” and “That’s the last thing you need right now;” and “If it ain’t one thing it’s another.”  

Did I mention that this has been a very prayerful time?  As prayerful as it is, it is also reflective.  Didn’t we see devastating flood waters in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico last year?  I believe I recall seeing people sitting on the roof of their homes because as the water rose inside their home, the roof was their only escape.  I believe this water claimed the lives of some of its victims.  Perspective.  Things happen.  Things happen everyday, all day, to someone, somewhere, and I am not exempt.  I recently trained with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief to help victims of flood, fire, earthquake, etc.  God has now given me a glimpse, on a small scale, of what it’s like to experience a flood.  It is inconvenient.  It is destructive.  It causes mold.  It stinks.  It can be repaired, but it first must dry and that takes time. 

​Sometimes when it rains, it does pour.  (This is not the only situation we’re currently dealing with as we start 2018.)  Rather than live in fear of the downpour or worrying about what may be next, we must choose to pray and ask Him to guide us through the current rainfall to the beautiful light.   Jesus said, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27 NIV)  He also said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  (Matthew 6:34 NIV)  The water damage was not something we needed right now, but dare I call it the last thing?  There are certainly worse things that could happen!   I choose to be thankful for our current situation.  Why?  The question of humanity, we always want to know why!  Why doesn’t always have an answer—that we can understand.   “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV)   Maybe the water was a part of the greater plan.  There has been at least one instance in history where flood waters were a part of His plan, right.  “If it ain’t one thing it’s another.”  True, but let us just take what we are given and be grateful. I find that when I praise Him, He gives me perspective and peace.  


Thank you for reading!

Have a wonderful week!
Kim

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Copyright 2018 Kimberly Griffith Massey
3 Comments
fran hinson
1/8/2018 08:40:18 am

Thank you for this perspective. We too had a flooded house earlier this year. We were displaced for only five weeks, but insurance picked up A large part of the expense.
You are right, God was only asking us to bend a little, as where some people have Major flood issues that have almost caused them to break. I found that others were more than willing to help me complain, even if I didn’t want too. Listing off the details as a praise report really helped. “Praise the Lord for good, skillful plumbers!”
I’ve enjoyed this as a reflective reading this morning! Thank you!

Reply
Diana
1/8/2018 11:43:06 am

Thank you for your scriptures today...Matthew 6:27 & 6:34. I know I shouldn’t worry because God is with me, but now I have scriptures to reinforce.
🤗

Reply
Porsha
1/9/2018 10:44:19 am

Thank you for the insight. I really needed that!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Need info about Salvation?
    Picture

      Would you like to receive an email   each time a new
      ​blog post is made?

    Submit
    Picture
    If you like this style of writing, you will enjoy Turn North:  A 30-Day Devotional and Journal written by the author of this blog. 

    Author:

    Kimberly Griffith Anderson

    I am a wife, mother, educator, and author who, between other duties, enjoys writing.

    ​In this blog, I will share some of my current and ongoing thoughts, and will attempt to link them to my books. 

    Author Photo by
    Heather G. Rollings, 2017

    ​

    Archives

    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
All rights reserved. Copyright 2024 Human Terms Publishing & Educational Services, LLC
Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Kimberly's Blog Posts
    • Just a Thought 2024
    • Message 2021
    • Blog2020
    • Blog2019
    • Blog
  • Kimberly's Books
    • Angelic Shenanigans
    • Sowing Seeds with Brother Wali
    • Abstinence Books
    • But I Love My Husband / But We're Not Married
    • Fungi Books
    • Good Girl / Single Dad 19
    • Start Writing
    • Turn North
  • More Information
    • About the Author
    • Human Terms Publishing
    • Upcoming Book Events
    • Presentations
    • Pictures