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Each year as Bible Study begins in September, I desire a new Bible. It just seems like with the new study, I should purchase a new textbook. I never do, I continue to use the one my late grandparents gave me in 1998. The front cover is torn, so I’ve taped it together on the inside. I don’t take this Bible out of the house as I wouldn’t want anyone to think the Lord hasn’t supplied me with the funds to purchase a better Bible, because He definitely has! The Bible I carry with me is lavender, and has my name, well, my old name, embossed on the front. Both are NIV and both have lots of writing in the margins. It’s those important margin notes that prevent me from purchasing a new textbook! Those notes are important. I want to be reminded of what the Holy Spirit said to me the last time I read a particular passage, and a new Bible just would not be the same. As a Christian blogger, I belong to a network of Christian Bloggers that are listed on the Bible Gateway website. From time to time, these writers will ask a favor of the other writers. In September, we were asked to review a new NIV Bible in exchange for a free copy. I jumped on this opportunity and my new Bible arrived on the Saturday before our first Bible Study session. My family watched in suspense as I opened the box left on the front porch, it had to be something special for me to be that excited. A new Bible!!! Yay!!! Well, the agreement was that I would use the Bible for two weeks, then post a few review of it on my blog...by September 17, 2021...I realized this week that I have neglected to hold up my end of the agreement. I’ve been using this new Bible and writing fresh new notes in the margins, but I haven’t posted a review. I’ve been busy. I work full time, I am a mother, a wife...a blogger! From the perspective of the person who made the request, I am a liar. The deal was that they would send me the new Bible and I would post a review by September 17 - I have not held up my end of the deal. It may also appear to the author/publisher that I stole this Bible. I am enjoying the Bible, but this week, when I went back to the email to check the deadline to post the review, I was overcome with guilt when I realized I had missed it...by three whole weeks. John said in Matthew 3:2, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” To repent means that we not only feel bad about our sins, our offenses, our misgivings, to repent means that we admit our sins, ask for forgiveness, and turn away from continuing the practice of that particular sin. I am giving you an example, this week, in hopes that you can relate. Sin is not always blatant and ugly to the sinner. I didn’t set out to miss the deadline. I didn’t set out to steal this Bible or to lie to the publisher, but as I type this sentence, I stand before you a sinner in need of repentance. To be clear, I repented of my sins many years ago. Had my physical body died last week before I posted this review, my soul would be in heaven. Through the blood of Jesus my sins have been forgiven. I do not practice sin, but I do sin. Repentance should be an ongoing process in the life of every believer. When we don’t repent, when we don’t apologize, when we don’t face the fact that we are not perfect and sinless like Jesus Christ, Himself, we fail to see reality. In the previous paragraph, I acknowledged how my actions appear to the publisher. We cannot neglect to see the other side of our sin. I am not hurt by my actions, but my actions have hurt someone. Romans 3:23 says, For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It is for that reason that God sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus is our Savior - His blood takes away our sin, that we don’t have to feel guilt or shame. Amen. Do you need to repent today? You don’t have to do it publicly, as I am in this post, but in your quiet time with the Lord today, admit your sins with a pure heart and ask Him to help you avoid those sins in the future. He will do it. Amen. Thank you for reading, Kim
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“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Mat 7:21-27) Last week’s message noted how Jesus’s birth, although prophesied, and announced by a start, surprised many of the people of the time. They were expecting a king, but they didn’t know when He would come and they didn’t expect Him to be a baby! This surprise was relatively inconsequential, but Scripture also tells us that Jesus will return to retrieve those who have repented of their sins and believe in His Holy Name. Those who do not believe will experience eternal damnation. We don’t know the time or date He will return, but I advise you to be ready. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) For many people, myself included, repentance and baptism took place years ago, so is there anything else we must do to be ready for Christ’s return? Yes! This week’s message opened with Jesus’s words from Mat 7:21-21, a portion of His Sermon on the Mount. Calling upon the name of the Lord does not secure our place in heaven. Notice the phrase in v. 24 “puts them into practice.” Yes, we must confess our sins, call on His name, and be baptized, but we cannot stop practicing life in the Holy Spirit. I could list a number of things, but will try to be brief. We must share the Good News of Jesus. We must share with others that they don’t have to bear the burden of their sins. We must tell others about Jesus and show them the way to find Him. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mat 28:19-20) We must love people. While we must live in the world, we must lead lives that set us apart from those who practice sin, yet we must love those who practice sin in order that we may influence them to repent of their sins. Scripture advises, “...Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Mat 5:16) “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Mat 5:42) “...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Mat 5:44-45) We must pray and trust God’s plan and His timing. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Mat 6:6-8) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Mat 6:25) We have much work to do as we wait. We cannot be complacent believing we have plenty of time, it doesn’t matter, or believing we are secure because of a decision we made years ago. We are sinful. If we are not doing the work God has called us to do, we are likely backsliding into a sinful, faithless lifestyle. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Mat 7:21) We must be ready by using our specific gifts and talents to share the Good News, love people, and through our prayer life. “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Mat 24:27) Thank you for reading! Kim Last weekend we were expecting my sister and her family to visit. We didn’t know exactly what time they would arrive, but I expected it would be around noon. I had a bit more house cleaning to do in preparation for their visit, and I needed to pick up a few groceries, but I thought I had plenty of time. I was out walking and missed a text from her at 7:14am that stated, “leaving now.” Imagine my surprise when they pulled into my yard an hour later - and my children’s surprise to be awakened by their cousins! Sometimes we know an event is supposed to occur, but we are surprised when it actually happens, or by the means in which it happens. The opening verses of Matthew describe such a scenario. The Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Micah prophesied, “the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel;” and “But you, Bethlehem...out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.” Isaiah was written around 175BC, and Micah between 735 and 700BC. Ample notification was given. When Jesus was actually born, God gave a sign, a star, visible sign for all the world to see. It was there, but the notification went unnoticed, but not by everyone, just most people.
To have been surprised by His initial coming held no consequence. To be surprised by his return will have consequences. I say “surprised,” as in unprepared. When my sister arrived, I was not prepared, I still had dishes to wash, and bathrooms to clean. I knew she was coming, but she arrived before I could do the things I needed to do. We know that Jesus is coming, but we do not know when. If He arrives and we are not ready, there will be consequences. The consequence will be more than a little embarrassment, it will be death. We don’t know when, but, as Luke said, “No word from God will ever fail.” His arrival will be unexpected, but we should expect it.
We must understand and believe Jesus’ purpose. Jesus is the Son of God, and also the Son of Man. He is fully man, as we see from his lineage outlined in Matthew 1. He is fully God, as He was not conceived by man and woman, but by the Holy Spirit. As John 1:1-4 explains, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” Because mankind is sinful, and “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart [is] only evil all the time,” (Gen. 6:5) we desperately need a savior. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) What should we do as we wait expectantly? First and foremost - and I will leave you to ponder on this until next week - we must. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) Paul offers these instructions in Romans 10:9-11 ”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.” We must confess our sins. If we fail to realize and admit that we are sinners in need of a savior, then our sin will be ours to bear at the time of Jesus’ return - which could be today or 5 years from now, or 10,000 years from now. We don’t know when, but we know He will come. If we are not ready, we will be put to shame. Expect it. Have you repented of your sins? Are you trying to live a live that is pleasing until Jesus. Are you trying to live like Jesus lived - most certainly you will fall short, but a repentant heart, one that yields to God, is convicted of wrong, one that asks forgiveness and consciously seeks to let his light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify his Father in Heaven is the first step. Expect it. He will come again. If you want to leave this Earth with Jesus and live out eternity in Heaven, your time has come. If you want to discuss this decision, reach out to me or another believer you know and trust. Tune in next week, for Expect It - Part 2, as there is more. Amen. Expect It - it could be this week! I hope everyone found a blessing in these words. Amen. Kim There’s no debate that Covid-19 is altering our life experience - the debate is what we should do about it. In our quest to make decisions about what we should do, and how to best operate within the constraints of the powers-that-be, complaints seem to arise. I hear them. I am even guilty of my own complaints. On Thursday, I had grown weary of listening to complaints, I suppose, which caused me to make the following Facebook post.  Some would call it a coincidence that on that same afternoon, I had an encounter with two teachers who poignantly told me they have no complaints! I don’t think it was a coincidence, I think it was the Lord’s way of giving me the message to share with you today. A few years ago, as we experienced a bit of a teacher shortage, we began to seek out teachers in other countries who wanted to teach in the USA. I’ve had many conversations with two of our Filipino teachers in the past three years, but usually it’s about Science curriculum. Recently, I’ve wondered why we have not made their presence more of a cultural experience - I guess it’s because we are so focussed on the academics, that we/I don’t take the time to ask. When we/I don’t ask, we don’t learn. On Thursday, I asked. “So, how is the pandemic being handled in the Philippines as compared to the USA or Rock Hill?”
One of the teachers actually traveled to her home land in August, so she had firsthand, recent knowledge. She hung her head and said, “Oh, Mrs. Massey, it is really sad. The quarantines, they’re mandatory, and harsh, they lock you down and you think you are doing to die, and it’s in a hotel room at your expense! Not like here where you quarantine and get bored so you go outside or go for a ride in your car for a while.” She laughed, “We don’t even have a car there!” I asked how they got around, “We walk! We walk to work and everywhere else. I walk to work now sometimes if it’s not raining. I live 1.2 miles away, at home I live 2 miles away from my school, so this is nothing.” They remarked on the weather here. They said they love the bright sunny weather without all the rain. In comparison, I learned that while here it might rain for a few hours, there it rains for weeks at a time. They said that at home, they would arrive at work at 6am and sometimes they did not leave to go home until 10pm. They cooked lunch for the students and served it to them. They were required to keep track of each student’s height and weight. If a student was overweight, they would put them on an obesity plan, and for those underweight, they had to feed them more and take more frequent measurements. As teachers, they purchased their own laptop, they enrolled new students, taught three grade-levels in the same room and they did it for what would translate to less than $500 per month. “So, what we are doing now, we don’t complain!” They laughed, “Mrs. Massey, we are glad to be here and you’ll never hear us complain. Disrespectful student, please! Zoom not working, so what! We don’t complain!” -------- Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. AMEN - Have a wonderful week of praise! Kim In case you are busy and only have time to read the first part of this week’s message, let me cut to the chase. If you find that you are too busy to pray, you are a little too busy and something must change. Like many of you, I am busy. Some days it’s rush, rush, rush. Most weeks we only sit down as a family for a meal once or twice due to our multiple comings and goings! But prayer time...that’s a must. Sometimes it’s a brief few words, and at other times it’s a much more engaged time with the Lord. All prayer time is important and necessary. On Thursday evening around sunset, I was driving from Clover, SC home to Rock Hill, SC, only about 15 miles, but the windows were down and the temperature was perfect. While stopped at a red light, I realized I had not adjusted the radio and it was silent in the car. Almost reflexively I reached to adjust the volume, but decided to leave it off - that this was time I could spend with God. “Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Scripture advises that we should always rejoice in the Lord and be grateful for our circumstances. I don’t know your current situation, but it could be impacted by Covid-19 and it might not be preferred, BUT...it could be worse, and it might be preparation for something in the future! (See Romans 5:3-5) Sometimes we like to find a willing ear to listen to our complaints and unsolvable problems, when what we really need is to spend time with the Lord. He hears all, knows all, understands all, and is our ever-present help in times of trouble. We need to pray. (See Psalm 46:1) Luke 17, recalls a time when Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem along the border between Samaria and Galilee when 10 men afflicted with Leprosy approached him and asked for healing. He sent them to the priest and all were cleansed and healed. “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.” (v. 15-16) One of the ten returned to give thanks. I don’t know if this is an indication that only 10% of answered prayers are acknowledged with thanks to the Lord, but be sure you thank the Lord for His answers to your prayers. Thank Him again and again! I have a forgetful fourteen year-old who often causes me to run back to the house for things he forgot. This week, I thanked the Lord, again, for giving us a new home that was near work and school. I don’t think He minds if we thank Him multiple times for hearing our prayers! Don’t become too busy to pray. Be intentional with making time for prayer. Additionally, know that prayer is not just a time when you pour out your needs and wants to God. Prayer should be dialogue. Once you have praised Him, repented of your sins, made your requests to Him, you must yield to Him. When we yield, we are quiet, patient, and willing to accept His response - even if He answers in a way you didn’t propose! When we are quiet we may hear or feel His gentle whisper, a new method may be revealed, the solution to your problem may be clear. We must yield in obedience to Him recognizing that He is both omnipotent and omniscient - and we are not. Amen. Have a wonderful week of prayer. Kim
We cannot close as a District but could temporarily close the schools with the highest numbers - but what about siblings at other schools, what about parents who must go to work, what about those children who come to school to experience peace and love and joy, elements not found in their homes? If those schools remain open, the virus will continue to spread. There was no win-win scenario to choose. When we don’t have the answer, we can always go to Scripture for God’s insight. The final chapters of Genesis describe a crisis situation and it details how it was managed. I won’t explain the fascinating story of how Joseph became governor of the land, in charge of managing the famine, but it is worth the read. Because God shared with Pharoah through two dreams, that Joseph interpreted, that the famine was coming, they were somewhat prepared. One fifth of all the grain harvested in the seven years before the famine was collected and stored. The people did not feel the effects of the famine immediately, but when they did, they were able to buy food from Joseph, the grain stored from the previous years. Genesis 41:57 states, “And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.”
Once all of the people’s money was gone, Joseph enacted the next stage of his plan. “Then bring your livestock,” said Joseph. “I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.” (Gen. 47:16) After a year, all of the livestock belonged to Pharaoh and the people still suffered. “20So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields, because the famine was too severe for them. The land became Pharaoh’s, 21and Joseph reduced the people to servitude,[c] from one end of Egypt to the other.” (Gen. 47:20-21) Since God had said the famine would last for seven years, as that seventh year approached, Joseph gave the people seed to plant, but stipulated that they must give one fifth of their crop to Pharaoh and keep four fifths for themselves and for seed. The people responded, “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.” (Gen. 47:25) I will admit that I didn’t like this plan for famine management when I was studying it. It seemed as if Joseph was taking advantage of the people’s vulnerability - he made them buy food with all their money, they lost all of their livestock, their land, and even became servants to Pharoah through this ordeal, BUT...they lived and they appreciated Joseph’s leadership. Looking at our current situation, this is totally relevant. What can we learn? Everyone was not prepared for the Coronavirus pandemic, but some people were. There are highly trusted organizations devoted to the protection and monitoring of public health. They hire public health and epidemiology majors. I am referring to the World Health organization, the Centers for Disease Control, the SC Dept. of Health and Environmental Control, etc. We must submit to their advice - even when it’s not comfortable or when we don’t think it’s necessary. Everyone has an opinion, but not everyone’s opinion is relevant given the circumstances. Social media has given all of us a platform to share our voice - even if our voice is clueless, selfish, not data-based, or just for laughs. All of these opinions being shared makes for a lot of noise and it can drown out the voice of the experts and leadership. It seems the people submitted to Joesph’s plan without excessive complaining, rebellion or trying to do it their own way. We see no evidence in Scripture that they threatened Joseph’s or Pharaoh's life. We don’t see that they hesitated to comply with the rules - they may have hesitated, but through their hesitation they would have experienced the worsening of conditions, so they submitted to Joseph’s authority. Doctors have worn face masks for years! They don’t wear them to symbolize their MD status - they wear them as a filter preventing the spread of disease. It has been recommended that everyone wear a mask now to lessen the spread of this highly contagious, airborne virus. A face mask is not a fashion statement, it is not a political statement, it is personal protection. It is a basic defense mechanism for managing this pandemic. Vaccines have been administered for years! Vaccines have eradicated Polio, Rubella, Measles, Chicken Pox, and more. I admit I was skeptical about the Covid-19 vaccine initially, but I do trust the CDC, the FDA, and the WHO and I believe God has given certain people the wisdom and insight of specific means to save the masses, His people. We were not able to test it for 10 years - we may not have survived 10 years waiting for it. I submitted to the vaccine early on. In a way, it was an altruistic act. By being vaccinated, I am saving my life and hopefully the lives of others. If I get infected, I could infect 5 -6 others, they each could infect 5-6 more, etc. and someone might lose their life. If you truly want this situation to pass, you must submit to the advice of the experts and to the leadership of those we elected. We must be willing to give up ourselves for the benefit of the masses. Referring to Jesus on his way to the cross, “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’” (Mat 26:39) Jesus submitted to the will of the Father, not for His own sake, but for the masses. If we think about Jesus as a man, it was not win-win, but He did it for you and me. This week, think about what you need to do that doesn’t feel like a win for you, but might be a win for others. Amen! Thank you for reading! Let's all work together to overcome Covid-19. Kim I’ve written multiple times about my proverb which is Proverbs 16 as my birthday is January 16. It begins, “To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.” Proverbs 16:1 This verse is why I KNOW this proverb is for me. I am a planner, I like to know ahead of time what is going to happen because I planned for it. Unexpected events can be unsettling for me, and I suspect they have the potential to disturb us all.
In 2003, I was dissatisfied with my OB/GYN and decided to see a new doctor based on friends’ recommendations. It was at my first visit that I unexpectedly learned that I was 14 weeks pregnant. I had missed the whole first trimester! This unexpected news brought tremendous excitement and joy. There were so many things to do in preparation for the baby, I was beside myself with thoughts and expectations. Now, my firstborn, seventeen years old, wants to graduate earlier than expected. Rather than wait and graduate with his class in June 2022, he would like to graduate in December 2021 and expedite his entrance into college. I was expecting to have those additional months to finalize the college finance plan, but it looks like those plans will need to be expedited. He told me this past week, “Mom, I called the Office of Admissions and they did not discourage me. I think I’m going to do it. See, I’m being responsible!” Unexpected events happen everyday and they can be helpful or exciting, such as when we receive a phone call or text from an old friend, or when we receive flowers, or good news! Unexpected events can be scary or even traumatic. We may receive the news of an accident, or we may be involved in an accident or experience a devastating weather event. Who knows what a day may bring? Our theme for this year’s Bible study is “Unexpected.” We will study Matthew’s account of the unexpected King. Imagine living your life day in and day out, taking the good with the bad, and one night this unexpected star appears in the sky. It stands out and draws more attention than the other hundreds of stars in the sky. People begin to speculate the meaning of the star, and some suggest the farfetched idea that it could be God’s announcement of this birth of His beloved Son. While Jesus’ birth was unexpected by the people of the time, it was not a surprise to God. Nothing surprises our God. When we read the Old Testament, we see suggestions of a king to come. John 1:1-5 tells us Jesus (the Word) was not only a part of God’s plan in the beginning, but was with God in the beginning. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Last year, we all began to experience the unexpected affliction of a pandemic. While we didn’t expect it, it did not surprise God. While it continues to disrupt our plans, the pandemic has not impacted the plans of our Heavenly Father. His plans proceed, He is not surprised, and what He said still stands. We can all be assured of these facts. We are not privy to all of His plans, but quite a bit is revealed in Scripture and through the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit. What can we do as we live each day into our unexpected future? Understand that trials, expected or unexpected, produce perseverance. I trust that everyone reading or watching has experienced trials of some sort. Many of us are in the midst of a trial today. While trials are unpleasant and uncomfortable, they give us experiences we can draw from in the future and they help us empathize and sympathize with others. Sometimes when we emerge from a trial, if we have been listening and being obedient through the situation, we have a testimony we can share about the goodness of God through the trial. (see Romans 5) Be obedient. We should all seek to live like Jesus - sure we will fall short, but we should all make the effort everyday. Always do the next right thing. Yes, the unexpected will happen, but we must practice self control and operate with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 4:12 tells us we serve a living and active God. He is still speaking to us telling us what next steps to take. If you cannot hear Him, you may be surrounded by too much noise. Maybe you need to spend more time in the Word. Don’t worry. “25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?’ 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Mat. 6:25, 34) If you are a planner, unexpected events can cause you fear and worry - both of which are a waste of mental energy. Trust the Creator of the Universe. It was unexpected by you, but He has not been shaken. He is not redrawing His plans. He loves His children with an unfailing love. He is good all the time. He is ever-present. He understands, and understands more deeply than we do. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 As we continue our lives experiencing the unexpected, we must realize that we are not trying to gain the victory - you already have the victory! Jesus took care of the victory for you and me when He overcame death. AMEN! Thank you so much for reading! Have a blessed week and don't let the unexpected shake you! Kim A couple of weeks ago, as teachers and other school district employees prepared for the students to arrive, we had a guest speaker, Adolph Brown, III. He said something that stuck with me, he actually said multiple things that stuck, but one thing was this: Don’t believe everything you think. He was addressing stereotypes about race and culture, and advising teachers to get to know individuals rather than making judgments based on appearance. When he said this, it struck me as profound, my head probably cocked to the side like my dogs do when they are trying to decipher something strange. Don’t believe everything you think. Well, what else would I believe, if not what I think? I’ve been pondering on this statement and it really is a helpful piece of advice.  How many times have my thoughts been wrong? Where shall I begin? I used to think 40 was old - it’s not! I used to think laptops were inferior to desktops - I would never be a laptop owner - I am! I had written at least 4 books before I realized I was a writer! I used to think people divorced over toilet seats left up - no, it’s way more than that! I used to think it didn’t really matter who held the office of POTUS - it does matter! Last year I thought COVID would be over by now - wrong! Don’t believe everything you think!
I used to think Scripture was for Sunday, the Lord’s day, and as long as I went to church I was in good shape - not true. While it’s true that once we are saved, our soul is saved for eternity, but everyday we think and make decisions and if those are not Scripture-based, Godly decisions, then we find ourselves in trouble. I used to think it was impossible to actually hear the voice of the Holy Spirit - that was wrong. Now, that I’ve heard it for myself, I believe it’s real. 1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Some people do not believe they are sinners. Because of that, they do not believe they need a savior. This thinking is incorrect. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All includes everyone. Those who subscribe to thinking they are an overall good person and believing in Jesus is just taking things too far, may find themselves in a heated situation they cannot escape. We should never minimize our sin because we have used our own thinking to justify it. Don’t believe what you think. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1) Romans 12:12 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. We must study our Bible to be able to discern between scriptural and cultural beliefs. Among other things, our culture would have to believe we live for ourselves. When we live for self we focus on personal gains, gathering and saving money and material goods. The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:23, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. In 2 Corinthians 5:15 we learn, And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. In this world, in our culture, it’s difficult to find truth, nobility is rare, what’s right is subjective, and purity is nonexistent. John 14:6 records the words of Jesus, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We have to read and study our Bible in order to find the real truth. We can’t believe everything we think. We must subject our thoughts to prayer and meditation and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to His noble, excellent, and praiseworthy conclusions. Amen. Thank you for reading, and please share! Peace and Blessings this week and always! Kim When I run into people I don’t frequently see face-to-face, but often see on Facebook, I say, “Look at you, people I only see on Facebook!” That comment always gets a laugh! Now, what’s happening are encounters with people I’ve only previously met on Zoom. Last year at this time, we started the school year with all meetings conducted online. All of last year’s new teachers, I met through Zoom meetings. Many, I have never seen face-to-face until now. During my 8 week blog break, I began attending a morning workout class. Most mornings, it’s a similar group of people. Sometimes the trainer will ask that everyone find a partner. One morning, after being a part of this group for several weeks, the lady next to me became my partner, and as we introduced ourselves we realized we were colleagues. We have been on Zoom calls with each other nearly every week for the past year, and had worked out together many mornings, but were just realizing it! A local park held it’s grand re-opening and as I walked the boardwork, I spoke to a lady and kept walking, but something about her seemed familiar. I mustered the courage to ask her if her name was Tina. She said, “Yes, are you Mrs. Massey?” We embraced briefly! We have shared many Zooms, but had never seen each other outside the Zoom box! I was excited to finally see another teacher this week for the first time! She and I have Zoomed, we have talked by phone, we have FaceTimed, we’re FaceBook friends, we’ve chatted on Messenger, texted - all of it - but this week we were finally face-to-face. She made this post. She is right, we should have taken a picture! I don’t know if you have experienced any encounters such as this, but it is pretty exciting! Zoom has been a great solution to the need for collaborating while social distancing, but it’s no substitute for face-to-face interaction. We are all more than our little square can convey. While it’s exciting to encounter one another, I don’t have the words to describe what our encounter with Jesus will feel like when we are finally face to face with Him. We have read so much about Him in Scripture. We read about the woman who believed if she could just touch the hem of his garment she would be healed. ”Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed at that moment.” (Matthew 9:20-22) We know who Jesus is based on His words recorded in the Gospels. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28) He also said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1) Do you believe in Jesus? Do you look forward to that day when you can touch the hem of His garment. Do you look forward to sitting at His right hand? What an encounter that will be!  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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January 2022
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