 Photo by Ashim D’Silva on Unsplash It’s not too often that my 17 year-old son begs me to watch something, then sits beside me on the couch so the two of us can watch a video on his phone. Although it was not something I wanted to watch - at all - I watched because moments like this are now very rare. Somehow he has become interested in Hoarders, Buried Alive. He is fascinated watching how these people live and how their family hurts and suffers through the mental illness, but cannot get them to see the real issues. “Mom, I know it’s gross, but you gotta listen to the back story. There’s a reason these people are sick like this. They are coping. Mom, watch.” If you have not seen the show, concerned family and/or friends of a hoarder reach out to the show for help. They investigate and determine if it’s show-worthy. If so, they arrive at the person’s home with cameras and crew to document the condition of the home, record interviews and on-cite counseling with the person, and the resolution of the issue. Usually family, friends, and professionals will clear and haul away all the stuff that was hoarded. I don’t like the show because it saddens me. I’m a bit of a minimalist and seeing all that stuff makes my blood pressure rise. I yell at the TV. I am also afraid of rats and at any moment, they could show a rat. I did, however, watch with my son. One lady, Carol, said she was interested in lots of things, so she collected them, and she was always searching for that “special thing.” She lived with her husband in a 3 story mansion that was so full of stuff she collected that no one could enter. The weight of the stuff on the third floor was so great that the ceiling on the 2nd floor was cracking. The city had sent letters about the condition of the home as it needed to be condemned. Finally their adult children stepped in to help - for various reasons, it had been 21 years since they had entered the home. They didn’t show a rat, but there were traps, and they found a fossilized rat skeleton that died in the kitchen. Another lady, Althea, and her husband Julius had been building their dream home when Julius died. Eight years later, she was still buying stuff and holding onto things they bought, with the plan to build this dream home. Althea had also become isolated from friends and family because they could not visit her due to all the stuff inside and outside the house. She even had a trailer bed in the yard that was full of stuff. The city was condemning the property. When the show came to her rescue, she fought them about everything. In eight years, she had not thrown away any of Julius’ things - didn’t even want to throw away his socks! She had not grieved, she was living in a false reality. They say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I don’t think that’s Scripture, but there’s some truth here. Neither of these women set out to become hoarders. Neither of them disliked family or friends and set out to make them uncomfortable. Carol was buying things that made her happy and she said she was always searching for the elusive “special thing.” Althea had not accepted her husband’s death - she received counseling for her hoarding, but she was eight years beyond the need for grief counseling. Last week’s message was about how I evaluate my own mental status, and my routines to ensure I maintain a healthy headspace. I hope you are evaluating yourself, too! We can slip into unhealthy thoughts and feelings through multiple triggers. I’ve known people who partake in “retail therapy,” shopping to relieve stress, and that can become problematic in the long run. God created us to be in relationship with family, friends, and with Him. We should not be so surrounded by stuff that our relationships are harmed. It’s just stuff. For about a year, I have been in declutter mode. I have severed my attachment to stuff. Last year, around this time, we had not decided to move, but I had decided that if we were going to move we needed to start sorting through the 15 years worth of accumulated stuff in our home. I cannot say how many trips to the recycling centers and Goodwill were made, but the workers there know my car! I value space, empty space, I love opening a cabinet and seeing nothing but the back wall. There are 2 empty drawers in my dresser - and I like it that way! Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 Amazon and Facebook Marketplace do not sell peace, joy, or happiness. These are found only in Jesus. He also said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 Evaluate yourself and decide if you believe these words. Evaluate yourself and decide if your lifestyle indicates that you believe these words. Poor Carol was buying everything trying to find that “special thing.” That special thing is a relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. That special thing isn’t a pair of shoes, a purse, a set of DVD’s, or a bottle of perfume, it’s Him. He loves, He understands, He comforts, He gives us peace and joy that surpasses all understanding. When we are feeling down or discouraged, we should go to Him in prayer and meditation. We should have friends and family members we can visit or invite to our homes. When we are feeling down, we should go outside and enjoy God’s Creation. Sometimes I am fascinated by the cloud formations - He doesn’t have to give us that spectacular show everyday, but He does. Right now with all the flowers blooming, I enjoy walking through the neighborhood to see what my neighbors have planted and how they have arranged it. Our joy, our peace, our understanding should be centered in Him. Evaluate yourself this week - are you living as if you believe Jesus is the center or your joy? All the rest is just stuff. You cannot take stuff with you; and stuff will not reserve your seat at the Father’s table. That “special thing,” is a relationship with Jesus. Amen. Please pass this message along! Amen. Thank you for reading! Kim
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This week in conversation, four different friends mentioned their therapists. It also seems I asked each one of them who they were seeing, as if I were looking for a therapist, myself. I’ve asked about insurance coverage and how to make an appointment. Also this week Simone Biles, our favorite Olympic gymnast, decided to withdraw from the US Olympic Team citing mental health reasons. Much of talk radio has discussed mental health this week and it’s got me questioning my own. As I consider whether or not I need a therapist, I have asked myself what I do to relieve stress. Last summer I wrote a post called Self-Care is Not Selfish and I referenced the story of David following the death of his and Bathsheba’s child. 2 Samuel 12:20 states, ”Then David got up from the floor, washed himself, put lotions on, and changed his clothes. Then he went into the Lord’s house to worship. After that, he went home and asked for something to eat. His servants gave him some food, and he ate.” This was a self care routine that David did for his mental health. I’ve been thinking on what I do for my mental health. I recently took an 8 week break from writing this weekly message that I have written each week since July 2017. I felt guilty about taking a break and prayed about it extensively, but it was needed and I made good use of the time. During that time, I tried to put myself in a better headspace by developing a daily routine. I have been forcing myself to go to bed by 10:00pm. I awaken at 5:00am. I have joined a gym and go to the 5:30am workout camp on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - on Wednesday morning’s I walk 2 miles instead of going to the gym. I am usually back in my driveway by 6:30am. I sit in the car with the windows down to cool off and listen to the birds and grasshoppers and read and ponder the Bible Gateway Scripture of the Day. I then go inside and make a pot of coffee and enjoy the smell of it as I straighten up downstairs, if needed, let the dogs go outside, I water my plants, sometimes I sit on the back porch and rub them for a few minutes, then I head upstairs and dress for work. I drive to work with my cup of coffee, medicine, and vitamins to begin the day. This new routine has really been helpful - I’m not rushing around in the morning, my home is cleaner - which is a big stressor - and I plan for 7 hours of sleep. As I write this, I am doing something I have wanted to do for quite a while. I am in a hotel room. In 2020, hotel rooms were out and one thing I wanted to do this summer was stay in a hotel. I wanted to go to a place I had not been or had spent little time, so I chose Isle of Palms, SC. I asked my husband and children if they wanted to come and they were uncertain, so I booked the room and drove down alone. Yes, I felt guilty doing this, but I invited them and they declined. I must do this for me. I cannot express the feeling of only having myself to worry about, even if just for 24 hours. Stress is real and everyone’s stress is different. At this time, I don’t think I need a therapist, but it is good to know that there are many different options and there is absolutely no shame in having a therapist with whom to speak. Meanwhile, I will continue to take time for myself to be with the Lord each morning and take things day by day. I encourage you, too, to take time for yourself. We often say, “Life is short,” when we are about to do something crazy, but it can be short and we must live each day with a grateful heart and seek peace in our relationships and daily living. Amen. ~Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” ~Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Thank you for reading! Please share with a loved one. Kim We recently had a birthday cookout for my son and he invited lots of friends. As everyone began to arrive, they migrated to the backyard and mingled, seemingly enjoying seeing one another since it has been a few weeks since the school year ended. As I was inside prepping the food one of his friends came back into the house. “Oh my God. Mrs. Kim, I can’t go back out there.” “Why?” I asked. “Because [girl’s name] is out there.” “What’s wrong with that?” “Because - I hate her!” “What, why? “Because of something that happened a long time ago, when we were in middle school and I just still hate her.” “You mean she said something to you in middle school and you’re still mad about it?” “No ma’am. I did something to her and she’s probably still mad at me!” Confused, I said, “And you hate her? You did something to her and now you hate her?” “Yes, because she’s probably mad at me!” I thought for a minute and said, “It sounds to me like you walked outside and all of your guilt from whatever you did returned to your mind. She didn’t do anything, but you know what you did was wrong, and so rather than apologize you have turned your embarrassment into hatred.” He said, “Yeah, yeah, you’re right!” I said, “So...why don’t you take this opportunity to apologize and the two of you can enjoy a senior year as friends who don’t have this guilty conscience between you.” He said, “No ma’am. You’re right, it’s my guilt, but apologize...I’m not doing all that. I’m just going to stay in here and help you with the food.” I said, “Nope, I’ve got the food, you go mingle and apologize if the Spirit leads you to do so.” He didn’t apologize. He just avoided her for the evening. This conversation with my son’s 17 year-old friend has stuck out in my mind for the past few days. He is allowing a middle schooler’s offense to continue to plague his relationship with someone who could be his friend. By isolating himself from the others outside he wasn’t building any relationships that might prove to be important later. He might need a job reference, he might need a partner for a school project, he might need a ride to practice or a ride home one day - anything. We need each other here on this Earth and it seems crazy to me that we would let something from long ago hinder us now. This young man is not the only person allowing something old to hinder the new. I’ve been thinking about it - all sorts of things could damage our relationships. Things can be said or implied or misunderstood or lies could be told that leave us with a bad impression. It’s important to face up to it and try to make amends. I have a friend who asked me to read her book and give her feedback. I told her it could be while since we were in the middle of moving. Well, as of last week, I never finished. I felt bad about it. Every time I saw her I felt like a horrible person - I didn’t hate her, I knew I was the one who failed her, but I just couldn’t find the time to finish. On Friday, I saw her, sat next to her and apologized for not completing the reading. I told her that I tried, which was true, and that I had written some things that might be helpful in the margins of the portion I did read. I think we are okay. The next time I see her, I won’t feel the need to cower away wondering if she’s mad because I didn’t finish the book. If we are not careful, we can fail to see God’s loving hand on our lives because in our minds He didn’t do something we asked of Him in the past. I have actually heard people say they don’t believe in God because He took their grandmother or their mother or their best friend away. We must always realize that God is God. Whether we acknowledge Him or love Him or talk to Him or have a relationship with Him, He is still the God of the universe. He is still our Creator. He is still the one who planned our life. And He still loves us whether we love Him or not. If we are not careful, we can turn our backs to the One who is. Jesus said, He is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Through Jesus, we can have life and have it more abundantly - but this comes through a relationship. This week, I beg you to examine your relationships. Yes, I’m talking about with friends and family, but I am also referring to your relationship with Jesus. He loves you more than you can fathom. Amen. Thank you for reading! Please, please, please share with someone you know and love. Kim
Before I begin this week’s post, I must thank you, my readers, for allowing me to take a break. I cannot tell you how necessary it was. If you have been reading for a while, we just moved into a new home and with work, parenting, etc. I needed some time away from my weekly duties to tie up a few loose ends. God has been faithful through this time helping me to alter my bedtime routine - going to sleep earlier, waking earlier; exercising more, working on the yard, unpacking and decluttering, painting. I also read a book and went on a short vacation. It’s been a well-spent 8 weeks.
I mentioned our short vacation, we drove up to Washington DC/Maryland over the Independence Day weekend. We did several tours visiting multiple historic sites and monuments. If you have ever driven on I-495/I-95 in that area, you know that the exits come quickly and if you miss your exit it could add a great deal of time between you and your destination. I drove with my phone leaning against the control panel showing me the GPS map. Each week, it seems, I realize a new difficulty with my changing vision. Driving in DC, I realized I can no longer read the GPS turns from my phone. Not wanting to miss an exit, I connected the phone through the audio in my car so that I could hear the directions and not rely on my ability to accurately see the GPS. As I relied upon the vocal directions of the GPS directing us back to South Carolina, I realized how this reliance was like how we should rely upon the voice of the Holy Spirit. We cannot see what’s ahead in our lives - even with the best glasses, even with the best laid plans, we cannot see beyond our present circumstances. We must rely upon His guidance every day of our lives. During the break, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, as He has many times. As I always do, my first reaction was resistance. I bargained. I hesitated. I tried to rationalize. I prayed. Then I told Him, I would do it tomorrow (3 days after he initially spoke to me) if He didn’t give me a different directive. Around 6:30am after my now routine morning workout, I was obedient. I sat there in my car waiting for the next step which did not come. I’ve now been waiting for about two weeks and I haven’t heard what I should do next. That’s a bit unnerving, as I already had my plans together and He told me to change them. Now what? I’m waiting. I’m practicing patience, which is a virtue. And you can bet He has my attention - when He speaks I will not be distracted and miss it. Some people wonder how to tell for sure, it’s the voice of the Lord and not the voice of their own mind. Here’s what I have found to be true.
I have also learned that when we hear His voice and fail to be obedient, we are saying, “That’s okay God, I can figure this out for myself.” This week, as you pray and study God’s word, listen for his voice. Realize that which you are trying to figure out has already been figured out since the beginning of time. Do what He says and wait to be amazed by the results. I will keep you posted on my situation. I have not figured it out, but He has. I know that and will give Him all the glory when the proper time comes. Amen. Thank you for reading! Please share this with someone you think may benefit from these words. Kim Some time ago, I was feeling overwhelmed, and I asked the Lord if I could start publishing this message weekly rather than monthly. He clearly said no. It was not the answer I wanted, but I accepted it and continued to be obedient. This week, I asked Him if I could take an 8-week break to take care of some things, such as myself. He hasn’t said no - or at least I don’t think He has.
My family has been in a new home for a month and we love it and we know that we are abundantly blessed. I am feeling some frustration over the fact that I cannot make it what I really want, as fast as I want it to happen. I think these feelings are compounded by the fact that since December we have been in transition. I’m tired of boxes, tired of things not being in place. I want to hang curtains, paint, clean, and update - but it’s difficult with work, family, and other activities. Yesterday at work I was preparing for a Zoom session scheduled for Monday and I thought I should email a quick reminder to all of the teachers who had registered to come. I typed the email then went to the registration portal to see who should receive the email. I was disappointed to see that no one had registered. I had a moment of rather negative thoughts. Then I asked myself, did I send out the email announcing the session? I searched my Sent folder, but could not find it. Then I scrolled through my Drafts folder and there it was - I had typed it two weeks ago, it, but had never clicked send. I looked at the top of my Drafts folder and saw that I had 300 Draft emails - emails that I had begun but never finished and never sent. Later in the day, my frustration got the best of me again when I had so many tabs open that I couldn’t find something I needed. I told my colleagues, “Y’all, I’m going to close Google Chrome and just start over. I have too many open tabs.” They stared at me. I said, “For real, I’ve got too much going on and I can’t find stuff, I’m forgetting things.…” I realized that all these open tabs were like a metaphor of my life - too many open tabs. I said, “I’m going to close the program. And you know what, I’m going to delete this Drafts folder.” They stared at me. I looked at the mess on my computer and I deleted and closed. It felt good. I didn’t feel any remorse or regret. It was overdue. It was like cleaning out an old closet. I really feel led by the Holy Spirit to share a Scripture-based message each week, but it can be a burden when my time is so limited. Truly, I have realized my whole life is like a browser with 100 open tabs. And when there are so many open tabs, it drains the system, and slows down progress. I’m convinced that I am more productive when I start earlier in the day. To awaken at 5:30am and exercise, however, I must go to bed earlier. My goal is now 10:00pm. Going to bed earlier is what I have not mastered. This may be the last post for few weeks. I am going to work on myself. I am going to spend time in prayer asking the Lord which tabs I need to keep open and which ones should close. I tell my kids that cleanliness is Godliness. I am going to work on demonstrating that truth. I am going to work on establishing some new good habits while settling into our new home. I will miss you all. This is not the end, it is a pause. Prayerfully, when the weekly message resumes, it will be even better as it’s author should be in a better physical and mental place. Your prayers are appreciated. Thank you for your patience! Peace and love to you! Kim This week, I watched the evening news with my mouth agape in total disbelief that someone in South Carolina had the gall to hijack a school bus. The news report stated that there were no injuries. I thought, there may not have been physical injuries, but there will be emotional trauma. Later in speaking with my sister, she saw the aftermath of the situation just after dropping her daughter, my niece, off at school. I said to her, “I’m ready to move to another world. This whole world is crazy.” The truth is, at some point in the future, only God knows when, I will be moving to another world. As Jesus said, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2) I don’t know exactly what the new world will be like, but I’m sure it will be free of crazy because it will be free of sin. 1 Corinthians 2:9 tell us, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” I’m sure I am not the only person who has thought about an alternative location to all the ridiculous and horrendous things that happen on earth. The question is, while I am confident that my heart is in the right place for heaven to be my final destination, are you as confident about your heart and final destination? Scripture tells us in Romans 10: 9-13 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Are you saved? Understand that salvation is not a matter of whether you are a good person, it is not a matter of your work professionally or in the church, it is not a matter of how much you give to charity or whether you feel comfortable praying in front of a group. Salvation is not a measure of how much you sin or what those sins were or are. To be saved you must confess that Jesus is the Son of God who died to pay the penalty for your sins. You must believe that He was then raised from the dead defeating death. Through Jesus you are justified - you are no longer guilty of sin. When you die, truly, a new world awaits. “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” If you desire to know more, speak with a minister or Christian friend, or email me at kim@kimberlyga.com. While we remain on this earth, be watchful and careful. Kim
I remember feeling like my parenting had definitely entered a new stage when I disconnected Nick’s carseat for the last time. Sure, the booster seat remained, but that was easy. Both of my boys could open and close their own car door, they could buckle their own seatbelt, and I was happy about those things. I recall the summer when I was anticipating having them ride the school bus home from school that fall and I wanted to teach them how to stay home alone for 30min until I arrived. That was definitely a new stage! I could go to the grocery store alone and only buy what I intended to buy - wow, what a day!!! It seems like just last month that I had an afterschool program fee deducted from my account, but it was actually 3 years ago as that ended when Nick graduated from 5th grade - he will finish 8th grade next month. Yep, next year I will have two sons in high school - and now Zach is contemplating whether he should graduate early since...he can. As the years have passed, I’ve shed many tears and prayed so many prayers. I’ve protected and had difficult conversations, I’ve tried to teach lessons and come up with creative punishments, supply all of their needs, and many of their wants. God has been good to us for sure. I remember talking to the pediatrician about how Zach seemed delayed in speaking. He assured me there was no delay, and added today you ask when he’s going to start talking, next you’re going to ask when he will shut up. Well, last week, Zach, who works as a cashier at a grocery store came home with groceries that he picked out and paid for, himself. He said, “Mom, I’m sick of this fridge looking like this, so I decided to be responsible and buy us some food.” He bought Hot Pockets, Lunchables, Gatorades, 2 half-gallons of ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, popsicles and yogurt. I’ve been making an effort not to buy so much junk food, and to reduce our food waste and he just ruined all of that because he was sick of this fridge looking like this. His pediatrician was right! On the evening of the NFL draft, the boys wanted chicken wings, and I obliged. Nick sat with his plate of wings, potato wedges, coke and a bottle of ranch dressing. He dipped all of his food in ranch before every bite. Finally, I said, “Nick, you need to stop with that, that’s way too many calories and fat.” First he gave me the side-eye, then he said, “This ranch is not going to kill me and not eating it is not going to save me.” He kept on dipping. The pediatrician was right. A few months ago, we studied Genesis 21 when Abraham sent Hagar and his son Ismael away because Ismael had been mocking Isaac, his son with his wife Sarah. Scripture tells us that Hagar wandered in the desert with the boy.
I remember wondering how the boy, Ishmael, who should have been 13 or 14 years old, at the time was carried by his mother. Moreover, I have wondered how she put him under the bushes and made him stay. My teens don’t stay where I put them! They don’t take my suggestions or follow my lead. I offered $50 to the first one to completely unpack and set up his bedroom - neither was persuaded.
Parenting is not for the faint of heart. We see that when Hagar had exhausted her visible options, she sat down and began to sob. Scripture does not say she called upon the Lord, but likely she did since in the next verse an angel call to her and gave her comfort, that God would take care of her son. I’m not at the point of despair, no one is pending their death, but we are certainly in a new stage. One in which mom’s ideas suggestions and concerns are hers-alone. They are testing their independence and believe they can overcome any challenge. Zach’s manager schedules him to work on Sunday’s from 8am to 4pm. I’ve asked him to request that he be changed to noon to 8pm so that we can attend church together. His response, “I don’t want to work that late. Besides, even if I miss church, it doesn’t mean I don’t love God. I watch the service online when I get home.” I’m glad he loves God, but I do think church attendance and participation are necessary. Additionally, as I look into the future, I can only pray that my parenting has pleased God, that I have taught them well and demonstrated Godly living, the rest...Lord help me, I pray. Amen. Pray for your children this week! Amen. Kim So, I am vaccinated against Covid-19. I had the Pfizer shots back a few weeks ago. I am now finding the face masks much more uncomfortable and I wish they were unnecessary, but they are still recommended. We are still in the midst of a pandemic and must continue to take precautions as the virus has shown its ability to mutate and proliferate through the population. On Friday, I attended a wedding, and later in June I am planning to attend a performance at my son’s school. Our school district has announced it’s high school graduation date - we are getting back to…”normal,” but hopefully with some lessons learned.
I continue to see Facebook memories of posts from 1 year ago. I was in a completely different state of mind. We were closed. We were very limited in our interactions with humans outside our home. Many people were working from home, the school year was 100% remote, restaurants were closed - it was a different time. Many people wondered if Coronavirus / Covid-19 was a plague. I asserted that it was not, but most certainly, I do not have the mind of God, so I can only speculate. My pastor, Steve Hogg, has been preaching a series from Exodus and last week he preached about the plagues sent to encourage Pharaoh to let God’s people, the Israelites out of bondage. Pharaoh didn't believe in God or His power - his heart was hard against God. God responded by sending plagues on him and all of Egypt to help Pharaoh see and realize who was in control. Pharaoh tried to bargain with God and sometimes he pretended he understood. As he resisted, the plagues became progressively worse. First the Nile River, the water supply for all of Egypt was changed to blood. Then frogs covered the land, were in the people’s homes. Then came the gnats. “All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats.” (Ex. 8:17) Between each plague, Pharaoh was given the opportunity to recant, to believe in God, to allow God’s people to go and worship Him freely, but he refused. In my pastor’s sermon, he explained that plagues can be personal, that we can experience our own personal plagues due to our disobedience. We can respond through repentance or by hardening our heart and continuing in disobedience. If we choose the latter, God may respond with another personal plague. This sermon made me think about the wonderings last year in regards to whether or not Covid-19 was (still is) a plague sent by God to discipline mankind. I ask you, if Covid-19/Coronavirus was a plague, in what ways has it changed you? We see in Exodus that Pharaoh did not heed the Lord’s call, which incited another plague. Scripture indicates that Pharaoh thought the plagues were a game. After the fourth plague, it states, “Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord, 31and the Lord did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. 32But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.” (Ex. 8:30-32) If we continue reading, there were six (6) more plagues to come. Maybe Covid-19 was a plague - if so, how has it changed you? What have you learned? Did you use the change of pace to read more into the Word of God? Did you begin to appreciate your family? Did you begin to pray more? Or did you harden your heart and remain unchanged? Surely you were touched in some way by Covid - maybe you experienced the virus first hand. In your illness were you driven to pray and as God for healing? Maybe you were not sickened by the virus, but you prayed for someone you love who was infected by the virus. Maybe you lost your job or experienced a decrease in hours, maybe you prayed that someone would answer the phone when you call the unemployment line. Maybe you prayed that the Lord would better equip you to teach your child at home. Maybe you lost a loved one to Covid and you don’t know if he/she was saved - maybe you don’t know the whereabouts of your loved one’s soul. Maybe Covid was a plague, what have you learned? How have you allowed it to change you? What could the Lord have been teaching you through your experience? Through the plagues of Egypt, God showed Pharaoh that He was the true King. Prior to 2020, you may have thought you were king of your castle, master of your own destiny, the one who controls his own life. Hopefully, Covid has shown you differently - that He is the Alpha and Omega, the Creator and Planner, the One who knows. I am sure there were other, more specific lessons for each person, but we all should now have some new perspectives. Amen. Have a wonderful week! Read something in the Word of God this week! Kim Sometimes I know exactly what the week’s message should be before the weekend, but at other times, I really have to pause and reflect. On Friday, I came home and changed to go for a walk so that I could reflect on the week’s occurrences, what we discussed in Bible study and the applications to my life. In hindsight, this should not have been necessary as the applications were very clear. The whole of our 2021, thus far, has been about moving. This week, on Monday, April 12, we finally moved into our new home! We could not be more excited and satisfied. Throughout the study of Genesis, I have felt as if Scripture has met me right where we were. When we read about Abraham and Lot deciding to separate amicably, we were making the decision to list. Our home and neighbors had become like family, after 15 years, but we thought a separation was best. Once the search for a new home became difficult, and we wanted to change our minds and stay, I was reminded of Lots’ wife who looked back and God turned her into a pilar of salt - we trudged on. When it became clear that we would not find a new home in time for a simple transition from one home to another, that was the week we read about Jacob having to sleep in the wilderness with his head on a rock. I cannot tell you the fear this mother had. My children said, “Mom, we’re going to be homeless if you don’t stop being so picky about a house. This place is also where Jacob found God (Bethel). Call me crazy to even notice this, but my addresses since leaving my parents’ home have been 8306, 576 and 286. Our apartment number was 306. That final 6 gave me confirmation that this was where God intended for us to be. We didn’t know how long, and prayed it would be short, but I felt better about it due to the address. While in the apartment, we read Genesis 27 in which Jacob deceived his brother Esau to steal his blessing, previously he had made an unscrupulous deal with him over a bowl of soup to give away his birthright. As Jacob’s story continued, in Genesis 29 Jacob works for Laban for 7 years in order that he be allowed to marry Rachel. At the end of the time, Laban deceitfully gave him Leah in marriage. When Jacob confronts him about this, he says he can have Rachel at the end of the wedding week, but must work another 7 years. While in the apartment, I was the victim of someone’s deceit. We see the reconciliation of Jacob and Esau after 20 years. Later Jacob’s youngest and favorite son, Joseph, is sold into slavery by his brothers. By the time we read this, we had a new home, well a home built in 1979, under contract, and I truly felt like I was a slave to the lender. They were heavily scrutinizing my banking accounts, questioning me, they wanted tax records from the past several years, paycheck stubs, employment verifications, etc. Ultimately, God reveals to Pharaoh in two separate dreams that Egypt would experience 7 years of plentiful harvest followed by 7 years of severe famine. Pharaoh, however, didn’t understand the meaning of these dreams on his own - he summoned the help of a Hebrew slave named Joseph who called on the God of Abraham to reveal the meaning of the dreams. Pharaoh was so alarmed by the revelation that he knew he needed to act fast and put someone in charge of developing a system to use the grain efficiently during the 7 years of plenty that they would not all perish during the 7 years of famine. He chose the 20-year enslaved Hebrew for the task. God moved Jospeh from slavery to Pharaoh’s top official. Two years into the famine, who came to buy grain but his brothers who had sold him into slavery, now 22 years ago! His brothers did not recognize him and he put them to the test. He wanted to know if they had changed. When he finally revealed himself, his words brought me to tears! He said, “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” This passage brought me to tears because so often things happen in life that we do not understand. We endure things that do not seem fair. We suffer through times of less, times of loss, we hurt, and we grieve. We wonder why. This passage shows Joseph’s maturity in the Lord. He fully realizes the truth of Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” On Friday, as I walked, I realized the same. Our two moves were for several reasons. One reason was to cleanse our pallet. My children had only experienced one home in their life and to move from one to another would mean constant comparisons. With our new home being older, something I wanted, this one would fall short. The boys love the house - they didn’t even fight over which bedroom would be theirs! I can now envision the previous owners of this house contemplating their move at the same time we were moving out of our house and praying a home would list at a similar price, as our move was not accompanied by a pay increase! When I first toured this property I noticed all of the shrubs inside the backyard fence which decreased the usable area of the yard. I thought about having someone come take it all down so that we could see and use the entire yard. By the time we closed and moved, I realized the folly of my thinking - those are pink, red, and white azaleas and they are blooming - my favorite variation of colors! These shrubs inside the fence have become the dogs’ happy place, they run behind those shrubs like they are in the wilderness! God is so good. I surrender. His plans are WAY better than mine! (About the address...This address does not end in 6... In Genesis we saw Jacob work for 7 years followed by another 7 years. We saw Pharaoh's dream that Egypt would experience 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine. During the time we lived in the apartment, I found two 4-leaf clovers - I had never found one prior to these two! They say this means I will be lucky - I don’t know about that, but we are abundantly blessed! Seven is supposedly the lucky number. Seven is also the number of completion. 177 is our new address - we are complete and we will take it! Thank you, Lord!!!) Take time to reflect this week! Amen! Kim When I wrote Turn North, a 30-day devotional, I chose what I thought were 30 key Scriptures starting with Genesis 1:1, including OT and NT verses to offer a brief application segment for each. Some were common Scriptures, but others not so much. One common Scripture I wanted to include, but I couldn’t explain at the time was Romans 8:28. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” This is a common verse recited in times of trouble. It’s a common verse recited from the pulpit. There is even a song by Todd Galberth called “My Good.” I think this verse could use a bit more explanation as we can all think of things that happen, even this week, that we cannot fathom resulting in anything good. (1) First, I think it’s important that we not isolate one sentence from a passage. In the passage, Paul is writing about how life on Earth cannot and should not be compared with the glory we will experience in Heaven. (2) It’s also important to remember that what we consider good and what God considered good are not always the same things. (3) Our timeline and God’s timeline are also not the same - in Him a day can be like a thousand years, but for us we want things yesterday! (4) Sometimes we must be reflective to see the good in certain situations we experience. (5) Good always brings God glory. Good doesn’t mean our prayers are answered with a yes, necessarily, good always glorifies God. In Genesis, Joseph, the youngest son on Jacob was sold into slavery by his brothers because they despised him and were jealous of him. Twenty years later, after enduring many trials as a slave in Egypt, he was put in charge of all the land and was Pharaoh's right-hand-man. When his brothers came to Egypt to buy grain, because there was famine and Joseph’s grain in Egypt was the only grain there was, Joseph revealed himself to them saying, “Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” (Gen. 45:5) It was twenty years before the good was realized. In Joseph’s reflection, God was glorified as having a much better plan than anyone could have ever imagined. This past week you probably heard about the shooting that took place in my city. A former NFL player went into the home of a prominent local doctor and killed him, his wife, two grandchildren, and an HVAC worker who was there. This kind of thing is shocking, unbelievable and terribly sad. We cannot fathom how God could possibly bring good from this. I’m not someone to say that this incident was a part of God’s plan--I don’t think God planned this, but I do think He can bring forth good from this unthinkable situation. The family released a statement that touched my soul and totally glorified God. I felt I didn’t even need to hear the rest of the press conference. “While we know there are no answers that will satisfy the question ‘why,’ we are sure of one thing: we do not grieve as those without hope. Our hope is found in the promise of Jesus Christ and we are enveloped by peace that surpasses all understanding. To that end, our hearts are bent towards forgiveness and peace, toward love and connectedness, toward celebration and unity.” As Paul states in Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” The deceased are now in the presence of God which is not even comparable to the life they experienced on Earth. This is good. The NFL player also killed himself. His brain will be examined for CTEs - damage due to multiple concussions. Much research into CTE likely paused during the pandemic, but this incident puts the need for more information back into the national spotlight - more good. None of this good lessens our anger or sorrow, but we should not lose sight of the good in every situation, and as time goes on, more good may be revealed. Many of you know that our family experienced difficulties locating a house to purchase in January and February. It was with a grudging spirit that we moved to an apartment until a new home could be found. It’s now been six weeks, and I have learned that we can live with less! We have lived on paper plates, 2 small frying pans, 2 pots, and 8 glasses; we have not used the dishwasher. The apartment came with a small washer and dryer, not the super capacity as we are accustomed - but our clothes have been clean! My husband and I have shared a single bathroom sink with no issues. The boys have shared a bedroom and both have survived - I don’t think I’ve heard any fighting. We have found a house and I believe it is the one the Lord intended for us to have. It is slightly smaller than our old house, but I have every confidence all of our needs will be met and we will love it! The good is that He taught us to live with less. We can use some of our newly found excess to bless others and glorify Him - that’s good! Romans 8:28 is not a simple Scripture to understand and it takes maturity in the Lord to see the good in all things. Know that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His plans are not our plans. Understand that good is not always immediately obvious to man, but by and by we may understand and be able to give God the glory, in all things! Amen. Thank you for reading! Glorify God in all you do! Amen! Kim  Photo by James Barr on Unsplash |
AuthorKimberly G. Massey Archives
October 2021
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