lubricating the world...

"As God's chosen people...clothe yourselves with...kindness." 
colossians 3:12


Going back to work is opening my eyes to the world that I live in. This world stretches far beyond the walls of my cozy little home, where my children are healthy, food stocks my pantry, and clean linens cover our beds. This world goes past my own ability to take a walk around the block, grab a refreshing shower when I want, and sit down for a meal with my family. All of which I am clearly seeing that I take for grated far too often.

In the past five days I have walked through the doors of the "Paralyzed in the projects", the "elderly who is facing death", the "obese hoarder", and the "wealthy clinically psychotic". Life circumstances I have only seen on TV. And God's voice in my heart says to me, "Take a hard look at bondage. Pray fervently while you work. Wait patiently for My lead. You will have a window of opportunity to do what I called you here for. To Set the Captives Free."

An encouraging word to the one who can't get out of bed on his own.
An act of kindness to the one who can't control his emotions.
A prayer for the one who is writing the final chapter of his days.
A listening ear to the one who sits all alone everyday buried in his own prison.
A cheerful attitude.
A gentle smile.
A generous laugh.
A genuine interest in their story.
Little by little unlocking the chains of bondage. Lubricating the hard places.

Not long ago I read a story about a peculiar man who carried a can of oil around with him as he walked through life. When he found squeaky doors, or gates that were hard to open, he would squirt a little oil on there hinges or latches, making it easier for those who came behind him to get through... to enter. He oiled all the difficult places he found. When we stretch beyond the comforts of our own lives, we find that many lives creak painfully, with rusty hardened hearts that are difficult to open. They desperately need the lubrication of the "oil of joy" gentleness, helpfulness, patience. We never know how our little can of oil could soften ones heart and make it ready to receive the grace of Jesus. Ready to be set free.

Has anyone ever used their oil can on you, that eased up the difficult places in your life? that set you free? I would love to hear about it...

Kristin  

hello monday...

boy, did the weekend deliver. It was one of those times where i knew without doubt that i was exactly where i was suppose to be, doing exactly what i was suppose to be doing. that kind of experience always makes me feel so ALIVE.

and I am excited to say HELLO to monday and a brand new week...

hello counting down to christmas...

hello mailing christmas cards...not a normal tradition of ours, but we're making a new one.

hello holiday baking, now that's a tradition..

hello planning holiday get togethers..

hello anticipating the birth of my first niece... anytime now 

hello my new favorite christmas ornament... a gift from Gs mom, also a christmas tradition..

 

hello to a surprise phone call from a dear friend whose family are full time missionaries in africa...

hello "21 days of rediscovering christmas" reading plan.. our family is receiving a blessing from you.

hello first full week of working in the great big world... im counting on a great week...

hello december... you are the encore of our 2011' story. May you be truly special!!

what are you saying hello to on this first monday of december?

HAPPY MONDAY

discipline...

I have always struggled with discipline. I'm not very good at it. I'm more scattered and spontaneous.The idea of routine gives me heartburn. But, I know it's important. Needed. Healthy.

This past week I went back to work. Outside of the home that is. I've been a stay-at-home-mom for better than a decade and Friday I took a leap of faith (with some fear that wanted to tag along) and ventured into the working world. I need the discipline of punching a time clock, the accountability of answering to a boss, and the working in my life of being a faithful employee. I don't take for granted the years I've had at home with my family. I surely recognize the hard work and dedication of managing a home. I am glad to have made the sacrifice to be at home, often performing the thankless tasks of wiping runny noses, teaching sentence structures and patterns, vacuuming under couch cushions, and washing dirty underwear. But, now I'm called to learn the discipline of work in a whole new way.   And as I walked out the door on Friday decked in a pair of scrubs with my nametag hanging around my neck, my husband said to me, "Watch for what God wants to do." And watch I did.

Friday night I cared for an 86 year old man who is dying of cancer. When I entered his home I immediately noticed that everything was in its place. He laid in his bed, flat on his back in a pair of button up pjs that were as neat as a pen. The night was still and quite in his home and I tried to keep myself busy (and awake) by dust mopping his floors and cleaning his furniture. These task did not give me a huge sense of accomplishment considering there was very little dust on my rags. At 3am. my patient woke to go to the bathroom. I assisted him and patiently waited outside the door. I noticed through the mirror that before returning to bed he carefully combed his hair making sure every strand was in place. I smiled to myself and thought, Wow, here is a man pushing his 90s, dying of cancer, and yet he makes sure that everything around him is accounted for, in its place, as it should be. He is DISCIPLINED. I whispered, "Im watching Lord."

The morning went right on cue. The coffee started brewing promptly at 6 am. He woke at 630 and has a routine for everything. Bathroom, office, shower, breakfast. He told me before he got out of bed. "I want my coffee black, sitting by my chair in my office on the coffee warmer." And, I prepared it. He sat down in his chair and said, "I will be in here for 30 minutes praying." And for exactly 30 minutes he drank his morning coffee and prayed. Every morning this is what he does. And I'd be willing to bet its been that way for years. Discipline. Faithfulness. And I watched.

There is a discipline that comes with solitude. A solitude that brings peace to us, even when we are faced with the shadows of death. We should all learn to sit at His feet early in the morning, and go away with Him to the higher places late in the evening. Jesus showed us an example of the discipline of solitude and rest. He made it clear that it was important.

"He went up on a mountainside by himself." Matthew 14:23

I read in my devotion this morning these words:
"Oh, how we need to reclaim the lost art of meditation! Oh, how we need "the secret place" as part of our lifestyle."  -Streams in the Desert

Are you a disciplined person? Do you practice the discipline of solitude and rest? Do you think that it is important?

Kristin

hello monday...

 

Hello warm cup of coffee with cinnamon sprinkled on top. Oh how Ive missed you..

Hello braces on Madison's top teeth and going into school an hour late.

Hello dreary rainy day, you make me feel so cozy. 

Hello To Do list, grocery list, Christmas shopping list. I can't wait to check you off.

Hello Santa, you are my most favorite ornament.

Hello popcorn garland, that took our little family 4 hours to create on Friday.

Hello fun Christmas mantle. This years theme is "It's a Homemade Christmas."

Hello golden sky, you sure did deliver this morning with a rainbow to boot.

Hello grocery store, I'm on my way.

What are you saying hello to on this fine, wet Monday?

todays forecast...

Temperatures today are a balmy 750 degrees. The refining fire is HOT! You can expect a burning away of rotten decay, dirt, mold, and debris. Even though it's a hot one, don't loose heart, put your hope in the treasure it is producing. A transformation front is following behind. Be waiting for a refreshing cool down in the near future.

What does your forecast look like today?

i resolved 2...

Yesterday I started a list of resolutions from John Edwards that I am attempting to re-write so that I can better understand them. And quickly I am learning, no matter how long of a list of resolutions I make, and no matter how hard I try to keep them, I will always always fall short. I guess that was the whole point of the law. We can't fully keep it. The key is a relationship. And last night after I finished my post God showed me what He meant by relationship first hand. I'll share more on that at later post. But for now I'm going to continue my list. Because, even though I can't keep it perfectly, there is something empowering about mediating on these things. So here is 11 through 20..

11. Resolved, when I see any problem around me that need to be solved, to quickly go about the works of making it right to the best of my ability.

12. Resolved, to immediately dispose of any gratification I take in my pride or self seeking nature.

13. Resolved, to seek out ways to give to others and to help those in need.

14. Resolved, never to react, or behave, or scheme out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to bind myself to anger towards those who are not thinking straight.

16. Resolved, not to put others down, criticize them, or make them feel shameful.

17 Resolved, to live in such a way that when I die I have no regrets.

18. Resolved, to always live with the gospel as my focus. remembering what Jesus means to me and the world he is preparing for me in eternity.

19 Resolved, never to be anywhere, doing anything, that I would not want to be doing when Jesus comes back for his bride.

20. Resolved, to eat and drink only things that are good and nutrious for me, never to pollute my body with toxins to the best of my ability.

And there you go..

happy monday...
kristin

i resolved

Today is Sunday and George had to work this morning, which meant the kids and I drove 40 minutes to church ourselves. The little church plant our family has been attending for a few weeks now is, yes, 40 minutes away. Church has become somewhat of a day trip. But, as each week passes the more I (and the rest of my little family) feel we are being called to this church. So God, would you please make the path straight for our family to take up residence in this community so that we will feel more at home on Sunday mornings, then having to pack for an excursion. Swiftly... Thank you and Amen..

So enough about that.. That's not really what this post is about anyway. George and the fellow that he works hand in hand with most days had their own little church service this morning. A sort of devotion I guess (it was George's idea) His co-worker is an "ULTRA" Conservative Christian of the Independent Fundamental  Baptist roots. George and I find ourselves somewhere in the middle. A good blend of power receiving Charismatic, Jesus believing Southern Baptist, a Non-denominational training up and teaching of biblical application, with some rules, methods and disciplines of our Methodist and Catholic backgrounds thrown into the mix. We tend to just be sinners who know very well that we have been saved by grace. George and I have had many conversations as of late about the strict, legalistic beliefs of his co-worker. These conversations have brought somewhat of an exploration to our own faith.

When George mentioned this morning that he thought they should have a little church at their break.. you know maybe read some scripture, say some prayers for the company and those who work for it, His co-worker went and printed out these resolutions off the computer, to share at church. George brought them home and I thought they were pretty good. Although, I had to read them several times to grasp what they were saying. So I decided I would write them in my own language and read them for awhile just for good measure.

There are 70 resolutions of  John Edwards written in the mid 1700s.
I am going to take 10 a day for a week and rewrite them.

The Resolutions of John Edwards according to Kristin...

1. Resolved, that I will do whatever will bring God the most glory, and benefit my well-being every day of my life. I resolve to do what God has called me to and will make sure to encourage and build up others for His kingdom. I will do this no matter what trails I may face in the process.

2. Resolved, to continually seek out new ways to grow in the knowledge of God and truth.

3. Resolved, whenever I fall short of the standards God has set before me, I will quickly repent of what is made known to me.

4. Resolved, never to do anything, whether in my soul or with my body, but what will tend to the glory of God.

5. Resolved, never to waste time, but to use every moment for the betterment of myself and others to the best of my ability.

6. Resolved, to live fully alive, fully aware, in the present. Not holding to the past and not worrying about the future.

7. Resolved, never to do anything that I would not do if I knew I would no longer be living on earth in the next hour.

8. Resolved, never to believe that I am any better than anyone else. I am fully capable of the wickedest of things. Never think that it is my place to judge others in anyway.

9 Resolved, to remember often, that I am only here for a short time. My days are numbered. My focus is on the eternal.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain or self pity, to remember those less fortunate than I, and to pray for those who are not yet secure in a real relationship with God, through His son Jesus.

The next 10 will come tomorrow.
Blessed Sunday Evening to all...

kristin

where we are going..

"There is an anatomy for life... Words and images determine the way you think. The way you think will determine how you feel. How you feel will determine your actions. Your actions determines your habits. Habits determine your character. Then your character determines your destination in life." 
-Creflo Dollar


I am not a huge fan of the prosperity gospel. However, I do enjoy a little Creflo Dollar once in awhile. I caught an interview with him a few days ago and jotted the quote above down in my journal. I liked it. It made sense to me, and I can see the truth of it playing out in my life and in my families life during this season. I can also see how the truth of it has played out in my past as well.

The other morning George and I were sitting on the sofa talking about money. An area in our lives that we are "growing up" in right now, among other things. I stated that, "I can't help how I have choose to spend money in the past, but I can help how I spend it today and for the rest of my life." He responded with, "That's interesting, I woke up this morning being plagued by the past, and I realized I have not been able to get a vision of the future because I've been held down by the past."

It has been so long since we have dreamed together. I don't even remember the last time I imagined our future and what it would look like. Much of our marriage has been in survival mode. Trying to beat the odds. Fighting one battle after another. Playing characters God never intended for us to play. And frankly we have wasted a whole lot of time. BUT... We can do nothing about where we have been..however, where we are going, is a whole different story.

Several weeks ago one of George's friends called him up and said he was needing to sale his house and that he really wanted us to take a look at it. I have been praying for weeks that God would move our family to a new place. Give us a fresh start. Free us from the surroundings of our past. Give us a dream, a vision, a hope. I knew right away that we had to go see Dave's house. I didn't have extremely high hopes for it, but none-the-less, it is in an area that would be completely fresh and brand new for our family. It is close to the mountains we love to frolic in, and not far from George's work. So on a Saturday afternoon our family drove 40 mins away to see a possibility.

Immediately it felt right to all of us..

It seemed as if we were being invited to enter into a new life together. A life that is refreshing and cleansing.

"I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs." Isaiah 41:18
 
How encouraging this is to me. It seems we have spent a lifetime in the desert. The image of a refreshing pool causes me to take a very deep breath..

Dave showed us the garden.. I like the idea of having a garden. I like the idea of being fruitful. The image of this home producing fruit stirred in me. Dave stood by this garden and explained to us that he dug three feet down and removed all the bad soil, then he replaced it with fresh compost and good soil. I smiled to myself and thought, it seems that's what my life looks like right now. A digging up, a digging deep, a removing of the bad soil, a preparation for the replacement of good soil and planting..

"Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop - a hundred , sixty, or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears let him hear." Matthew 13:3

The image of fruitfulness, the words of digging deep, has been what I am thinking on. It has been producing a crop of new actions, and I am getting the slightest glimpse of new habits forming..

We walked along paths of strawberry plants and blackberry bushes. The kids ran around in a yard perfect for a dog (maybe two) and their excitement was almost tangible. We picked peaches from the peach tree in the front yard and enjoyed their sweetness. I imagined the joys of decorating and fixing up a 1960s brick ranch and making it home. A fruitful home.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22

So we have a vision. A dream. Although we have some steps to take to get there, and I hope God allows us to find ourselves at the destination of this sweet home, more than that it is what this place represents for us. 

It has been an image and words that have gave us new thoughts. Our thoughts are giving us feelings of hope, encouragement, motivation, desire. These feelings are causing us to act more careful, more faithful, pursuing goals we have long thought were unreachable. These new actions are developing into habits that are forming the characters God DID intend for us to be. And that my friends is going to take us to a new destination. 

Where are we going?
We are going to produce fruit...

kristin