Wednesday, December 14, 2011



Forgiveness

Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come. 
Thy will be done in earth, 
As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. 
And lead us not into temptation, 
But deliver us from evil. 
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.
Without forgiveness, we would all be hopeless.
God’s forgiveness through our LORD Jesus Christ is complete – it is perfect. Because of Jesus Christ, God forgives can forgive all mankind of all sins – it is a free gift offered to those who willingly receive Christ as their Savior.
 The scope of God’s gracious forgiveness is amazing. It is something worth taking time to think on and to meditate on God's grace and mercy. Recognizing this changed my life a few years back. God in his grace fully forgave me unconditionally. God’s forgiveness is based upon Christ’s sacrifice alone and upon God’s own character – He keeps his promises.
How then shall I live now? I believe that I should recognize God’s hand in everything in my life – to be thankful for everything – ‘in all things – give thanks’. I should govern myself to do the right thing – to the best of my ability. One of those things is to be forgiving. If God in His grace and mercy forgave me, how could I not be forgiving of others.
This was recently tested and brought to my mind and heart.
On January 20, 2009 my younger brother Tim was murdered by his close friend and roommate. The news was a devastating blow to my heart. I knew of Tim’s friend, knew of their close friendship for many years. Tim had even brought his friend to  my sister’s home that previous Thanksgiving. It was and is still inconceivable to me that someone such as that would – could commit such a heinous, brutal crime. Not only did he murder my brother but he also cruelly murdered on the next day another friend of theirs. Anger and hatred toward someone I’d never met were two emotions I fought constantly. My siblings and I had to plan our brother’s funeral, we had to endure the slow legal process of learning of the events leading to his death and had to endure the legal process of being in his murderer’s presence on two occasions in court. The anguish caused to myself and to my siblings was very deep. Fortunately, for us all this man pled guilty and we were spared the ordeal of a trial with the evidence that would bring to our hearts and minds afresh the pain of the knowledge of the act of murder against our brother.
A few weeks after the court hearing sentencing our brother’s murderer I read Ezekiel 3:18,19
“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if you warn the wicked, and he turns not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”
And I knew. I had to forgive this man and I had to share with him what I knew, that God for Christ’s sake is willing to forgive anyone. I had recognized my sin and had asked for forgiveness and received it – how could I keep that to myself – even from one such as this man. In the end, all sin no matter how great or how small in our eyes separates us from God – we all needed forgiveness.
“Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18-19).
So, I wrote this man a letter expressing my forgiveness and explaining that God has offered him the opportunity to be forgiven. I plan to send to him this letter and a Bible.
It took me a while to approach my siblings about my plans – I knew their deep hurt and wasn’t sure whether they’d understand. I didn’t want to hurt them further. But, praise the LORD they did – and have given me their blessing.
It is liberating to release one from such a burden – I miss my brother deeply, but know based upon his own testimony that many years back he too accepted Christ as his Savior, so I know - trusting God’s word – I will see Tim again someday.
If God forgave us for Christ’s sake, how could we do any less.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Trust

Confidence in God

My husband is planning to sing the song

Trust His Heart

Sunday. I am struck by the concept and the words.
More times than not, we cannot see the way God is leading in our lives or in the lives of those we love. Nevertheless, we need to completely trust Him. I have loved and grown to trust God more and more through the good and the bad situations in our lives.
Now, thinking – that God has the best plan for me and for them – I need to trust His heart – His love for us.
To me, there is no better source of peace and comfort than to know that I can trust God – no matter what.
Here are the lyrics. I hope you find peace and comfort yourself in them.

All things work for our good
Though sometimes we don't see how they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth
Our Father knows what best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just don't see Him
Remember you're never alone

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart
Trust His heart

He sees the master plan
And He holds our future in His hand
So don't live as those who have no hope
All our hope is found in Him
We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and the last
And like a tapestry
He's weaving you and me
To someday be just like Him

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart
Trust His heart

He alone is faithful and true
He alone knows what is best for you

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart
Trust His heart


When you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart
Trust His heart

God Bless,
Kathy

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Made Complete in Grace


All I Need I Already Have


“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
II Corinthians 12:9

I think we all struggle with something. Whether it is a physical infirmity, as was probably the case with Paul, or with events in our past, or with feelings of incompleteness. The list can go on and on.

Grace in Christ tells us we’re already complete in Him.
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Being
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus”
Romans 3:23-24

We are complete in Him.

Reading Psalm 139 completely just fills my heart. To know that
from the very beginning, God knew us and thought of us.
What incredible love. God knew in and of ourselves we
could never do enough to merit Heaven, so Jesus freely paid
the price for us – He did it all – we are complete in Him.
I find comfort and deep joy knowing that God loves me so completely.
There is liberty in realizing and understanding that there’s nothing
I can do to earn Salvation – Christ paid it all. But, to live, to love
Him – that’s what I can do – to make my life a reflection of His
Love so that others may know – that is what I can do.

Psalm 139
1O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.



Wednesday, August 10, 2011

My Heart's Song




I started this blog with the intention of giving myself something to be more accountable to in my walk with the LORD. And, to share my faith and journey in getting to know God more. I came to know Jesus as my Savior when I was a teenager. My dad was in the Navy and I grew up in various places – but for the most part in Southern California.
While we lived there, folks did not take us to church, but they did allow us to attend neighborhood Vacation Bible Schools and attend a Baptist Church through their bus ministry.
When my dad retired we moved to South Carolina, where my extended family lived. It was a joy to be near my Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Frank – they were two who kept contact with us so far away – they loomed large in my young life.
Uncle Frank was a Deacon at Florence Baptist Temple and greatly influenced my parents to send us five children to their Christian school.
That summer we moved to SC. I attended a camp in the mountains of North Carolina, The WILDS. It was there, on a rainy Thursday night that I realized that God loved me so much to send His only son Jesus to die on the cross to pay for my sins. I saw myself, His love and
was overcome with tears of joy! I fell in love with Jesus that night
and have grown to love and to trust Him more and more over the years.

Over time I came to know and to appreciate the music ministry of Steve Green.
He has stayed true and honest in his music –in his worship and praise of our God.
I love it when artists can take your heart’s longing and yearning and put it into
words and into music.
This song seems to be the theme of my heart’s desire. I hope you're encouraged today and if you don't know the LORD yourself, I'd be glad to share with you how you can. Blessings to you!

Oh, I Want To Know You More

Just the time I feel
that I've been caught
in the mire of self.
Just the time I feel
my mind's been bought
by worldly wealth.
That's when the breeze begins
to blow I know,
the Spirit's Call.
And all my worldly wanderings
just melt into His Love.

Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
To feel Your Heart and know Your Mind,
looking in Your eyes stirs up within me,
cries that says I want to know You
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more.

When my daily deeds
ordinarily lose life and song,
my heart begins to bleed,
sensitivity to Him is gone.
But the Gentle Arms of Jesus
warm my hungering to be whole.

Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
And I would give my final breathe
to know You in Your Death and Ressurrection,
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more...




I hope you're encouraged today and if you don't know the LORD yourself, I'd be glad to share with you how you can.

Blessings to you!

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Psalm 30:11,12


Thou has turned for my my mourning into dancing: thou has put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Psalm 30: 11,13

Empathy. I have learned through the trials in my life a deeper empathy for those suffering. But, more importantly, I have learned to love God all the more. Two words come to my mind, "But God..." Had it not been for God's love for us, we would have no hope. What keeps some people from harming others, from committing crimes against another - is it their upbringing - or is it something more? 
What keeps me from doing things I know to be wrong - consequences - not what you might think - it is the knowledge that Jesus Christ died for my sins - why would I ask him for forgiveness and then deliberately place another spot on my account. There is none perfect, but we do have choices each day. And when we do wrong - He is faithful and just to forgive. 
Forgiveness. That is another word that has been on my mind. To know and to accept God has forgiven us for our sins is one thing - but to harbor anger and malice towards another - how can we? How can we who have been forgiven much - hold something against another - especially, if God himself has and is willing to forgive that person.
Understanding - How does God look at situations? From His perspective - I wonder about that - the phrase, 'What would Jesus do?' truly is a powerful phrase. From Heaven's point of view what is the most important thing in a situation? I believe if we acted with that thought in mind, we might govern ourselves differently from day to day. 
Love. Can I love the unloveable? God can - who am I to say that through Jesus I can't? If I believe God's word to be true - I believe that I am forgiven of my sins and that through Jesus Christ - I will one day see God. Therefore, while here on earth, I must govern my mind and my actions to reflect Him -
and it is through Him I can Empathize, forgive, understand and love.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusteth in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart trusteth in him, therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psalm 28:7