Category: blessings

blessings, children, faith, Family, freedom, God, God's love, God's grace, God's will, Jesus, parenting, religious, scripture, spiritual, Uncategorized

Defenseless Driving

katietkennedy

Recently, I have been driving with my daughter, who has her learner’s permit. This is a new season for our family. As I walk around the car, moving from the driver’s seat to the passenger’s seat, I can feel my sense of control escaping me.

I sit in the passenger seat trying to give the best advice I can, as she nervously drives around. While I can give her instruction and guide her to stay centered in her lane, in reality, there is very little I can do if something major were to happen. Grabbing the wheel would probably only make things worse.

This reminds me of our faith journey. We usually envision ourselves in the driver’s seat of our life, and to some degree we are. If we decide to turn right and find there is a dead end ahead, God lets us make that wrong turn and learn from our mistakes.

God sets the course, the speed, and the hazards in our way. Sometimes we may feel in control of our vehicle, and other times we are reaching over from the passenger side trying to grab the wheel and turn it away from what God has planned. We are unsure and scared about His plans for us so we try to take over and gain a sense of control.

Other times, we sit back in the passenger seat and trust that God knows what He’s doing, and submit to the fact that He is actually in control of my life, not me. Those are blissful moments filled with peace and joy until the enemy interrupts those thoughts with doubts.

While I will continue fluctuating between feeling confident and apprehensive with my daughter’s driving abilities, we will do the same in our faith journey. Maybe one day we will learn to fully submit and relax into His plans for our lives. Until then, we will keep practicing faith by knowing His plans are good, reminding ourselves that He loves us, and He is always there with us no matter how many wrong turns we take.

“All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” (Psalm 25:10)

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Selfless Sacrifice

katietkennedy

One fall afternoon, I waited in our local country market for sandwiches to be made for my girls. An older couple walked in and approached the counter. The woman behind the counter noticed the man’s veteran hat and thanked him for his service. The man’s response left me dumbfounded. He looked the woman in the eye and said, “You were worth it.”

His response was loving and heartfelt. The woman humbly muttered something about not being sure about that.

His response surprised me. I expected him to say something like, “You are welcome,” or “Oh, it was no big deal.” He didn’t. He turned a compliment for himself around and made it about her and her value.

This reminds me of our faith journey. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice. He accepted torture, mocking, and death because it was the Lord’s will for His life. Because of Jesus’s sacrifice, we don’t have to carry around the burden of our sin. As we express our gratitude, Jesus’ fulfillment of the Father’s will shows us we are worth it, just as the veteran in the store verbally modeled.

We don’t always feel worth it. Realistically, we don’t deserve what Jesus did for us, but He did it anyway. He did it because it was the Father’s will. His sacrifice provides us the ability to live freely in a world that could weigh us down with sin.

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to offer us liberty from sin. True freedom is found in Christ alone. Let’s not forget the sacrifices that were offered on our behalf. Let’s show our gratitude by living with the freedom God intends for our life.

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Barely Brunch

katietkennedy

One Sunday we sat in church listening to a guest pastor preach the Word. It was no ordinary Sunday in our church because there was an inordinate amount of guests. Our church denomination was having their annual meeting in our town the next day so our pews were full of visitors from various places.

My husband Jonathan, the social butterfly he is, decided to invite the pastor and some folks over for brunch. He casually mentioned that he might do this a few nights prior, but we made no formal plan and I did no prep.

By the end of church, Jonathan had invited a handful of folks, including the guest pastor, to our house. We have three girls, so the girls and I took off to figure out what to feed some twenty people without notice or preparation. We stopped at the local produce stand (normally I don’t shop on the Sabbath but I made an exception) and picked up eggs, fruit, and a pie. We raced home to beat the guests.

When we got home my girls jumped into action. My two oldest (fifteen and thirteen) started making a massive batch of pancakes and waffles. All those hours in the kitchen letting them bake and cook paid off. They were awesome. Somehow, with the Lord’s blessing, we pulled off a nice brunch.

This reminds me of our faith journey. Being part of God’s family means stepping into opportunities that maybe you weren’t expecting, or looking for. You never know how the Lord will use your willingness to say yes.

One of the guests was a young dad who had his daughters with him. His wife was joining up with him the next day. We provided a place for his older daughter to run around, rather than in a hotel room. His baby was held and loved on by our pastor’s wife. I remember those days with young children and I am glad we could provide a respite for him.

I don’t tell you this story to boast. I tell you this story to illustrate when you say yes to God, even when you are unsure, He blesses your time and efforts. Our brunch was not the greatest brunch our guests had ever experienced. It didn’t need to be. We had a wonderful time of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We gathered a group of the church, fed them, and provided a place for them to hang out.

Sometimes doing God’s work is having a quiet conversation with a child who is having a rough day. It might mean bringing a neighbor a treat so they know you were thinking of them. Occasionally it means opening up your home to host folks for a meal when you weren’t planning to. When our hearts are open to serving God, He can use us in many wonderful ways.

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Backpack Burdens

katietkennedy

My husband bought me a rucking backpack with a weight included. He will often do a rucking workout and thought it might be a good option for me.

I use the backpack on occasion during a workout. By the time I am finished, my shoulders are very sore no matter how tight I fasten the other buckles. I think it’s just a product of carrying additional weight on your back. When I remove the backpack there is a huge relief. My shoulders are delighted to have the surplus weight gone.

This reminds me of our faith journey. We often carry around burdens we are not meant to carry. We add weight that doesn’t need to be there. Where does this extra weight come from? Sin. Sin separates us from God. When we sin, we distance ourselves from God and add extra pounds to that backpack by feeling unworthy, ashamed, guilty, or too full of pride to admit our mistake. All these weights are added by Satan, not our Heavenly Father.

God has not meant for us to hold this unneeded load. When we come to God humbly, repent, and cast our burdens on Him, He receives them. He unloads them from our back. Jesus carries the weight of our sins, worries, or anything weighing us down. He knows we are not made to handle that heaviness. He loves us too much. This is why God sent Jesus down to die for our sins so we wouldn’t have to live afflicted with our burdens.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

Find peace in the words of Romans 8:38. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Cast off those burdens and live in the freedom God intends for you.

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Greener Grass

katietkennedy

One afternoon I was trying to encourage my eight-year-old daughter in the kitchen. She was feeling discontent about her current situation and was lamenting she wasn’t doing something else. I reminded her of the saying, “The grass is always greener on the other side.” To which she replied to me, “Not unless you water it.”

I’m not confident she understood the meaning of what I said, nevertheless, her reply stunned me. Her comment was innocent and unknowing. As I pondered what she said, I realized how much depth there was to the statement.

While my daughter’s response was meant to be literal, it has a greater meaning. When we find ourselves discontent with our life or a situation, instead of coveting what others have or cycling in self-pity, invest in your lot. Your neighbor’s grass may be greener, however, instead of desiring their home, seed and water your grass.

This reminds me of our faith journey. We can easily covet those around us, or wallow in the things we don’t have. Instead, change the things you can. Invest in yourself and the people around you. Make your grass greener.

One way to make your grass greener is to water your soul with the words given to us by our most Holy God. There is a reason He left us the Bible, because we need it! We need its guidance, comfort, and encouragement.

Feed your soul with the only living words available. Psalm 23:1-3 sums up this message nicely.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

Water your grass with the only thing that brings contentment, comfort, and peace.

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Zestful Zinnias

katietkennedy

I was discussing flowers one day with a friend who is more knowledgeable about floral care than I am. I was bemoaning how the deer had snipped off all my sunflowers, yet left the flowers immediately in from of them.

She asked me what kind they were. I showed her a picture and she told me they were zinnias. She said if I trim the flowers when they bloom, more will come, lots more. I thought this odd because in my experience that’s not how the other flowers had worked. I decided to try it and sure enough, she was right.

I cut flowers to enjoy in my home and more grew back. The best part about these flowers is the deer left them alone. Zinnias also attract beautiful butterflies.

This reminds me of our faith journey. When we trim the sin in our lives, it allows God to help us bloom in other areas. When we eliminate sin or idols we draw closer to Him. If we repent of the things we do wrong, He washes us clean and makes us new in Him.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

We are never going to be sinless, but the more we prune and trim sin from our lives, the more space we give God to help us grow. Sin infects our lives, using up valuable resources. If it stays there untouched, or worse continues to grow, it will wreak havoc. It will remain and grow bigger until we become aware and take action against it, with God’s help.

On our own, it’s very hard to eliminate a sinful habit or indulgence. Have you ever tried and failed? I have plenty of times. When I go humbly to my loving Father and ask for His help, that is when I am able to mortify the sin.

The result of trimming my zinnias leads to a colorful array in my kitchen. Whereas, defeating our sin guides us closer to the Lord, and the peace and joy that follow.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

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Breathtaking Beauty

katietkennedy

Many people travel to the beach during the summer. The sun and sand and ocean are extremely restorative. 

When you reflect on your vacation, you usually remember the positive things; your feet in the sand, the laughs you shared with family, the yummy food you consumed, strolling along the shore, or jumping waves with your kids. 

What you don’t focus on, or maybe we block out, is the hours upon hours you spend shopping for food, packing, and loading and unloading the car. You don’t dwell on the twenty trips you made walking up and down the stairs carrying bins of supplies and suitcases. We don’t think about the sweat you poured out while packing the car in 90+ degree heat. We don’t focus on these things because the time by the water overshadows the rest. The days of relaxation are worth the work. 

This reminds me of our faith journey. Being a Christian is hard. It’s not easy, recall the ‘narrow gate.’ We have years of trials and challenges. All the while learning to be a servant of Christ, to mortify our sins and worldly desires daily.

When we are packing up the car and the kids are fighting and we’re hot and exhausted and we haven’t even left, I wonder if it’s even worth it. Is the trouble worth the trip? Once I’m there, see the view, and listen to the sounds of the waves, I remember, yes it is. The destination is worth the journey.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

So, as you endeavor through the days and wonder if all the preparations, work, and effort are worth it; consider arriving at the feet of your Heavenly Father, and the rest and restoration He provides, not just then in that moment but for all moments for the rest of your moments, for eternity.

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Slow Sloths

katietkennedy

We recently visited Dallas, Texas, and toured their downtown aquarium. We observed many different animals including sharks that swam above us in a large glass observation area.

One of the most fascinating animals in my mind was the sloth. I had never seen one in person before. To watch this creature move so slowly was mind-boggling. It was as if you were watching a slow-motion video. If you have ever seen the movie Zootopia, they do an excellent depiction of a sloth character.

This reminds me of our faith journey. Sometimes our sanctification can feel like the motion of a sloth. In our busy world, the faster the better. We expect things without having to wait for them. We want our packages tomorrow, we want the internet site to appear in less than a second (otherwise we move on), and we want our food delivered at the restaurant faster than people can actually make the food.

Sanctification works very opposite of our we-want-it-now society. God’s timing is perfect, but sometimes slow in our opinion. God is looking at the long view, and we are thinking about tomorrow. We want our prayers answered immediately, and our fruit to develop swiftly.

Oftentimes, you can’t even see how God is working until you look in the rearview mirror. “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

Rest assured, your prayers will be answered, but not always how or when you expect. These things happen in His time, not ours. Like the sloth, our sanctification can feel painful at times.  

“With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9)

God is sovereign over time and our sanctification, may we find patience and joy as we wait while He does a good work in us.

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Verifying Voices

katietkennedy

It was a rainy Tuesday morning and I was headed to the bank to rummage through our safety deposit box. My mission was to find my husband’s passport. We were preparing to travel and I was gathering the necessary documents to get TSA approved.

Inside the bank, I requested access to our box. The employee informed me I was not on the account. I asked if we could call my husband and have him add me to the account. I learned they could only do this if an employee at the bank had encountered enough interactions with him that they could verify his voice. I thought this was slightly odd but awaited their response. Had my husband frequented the bank enough that his voice could be verified over the phone?

A teller spoke up and said she could recognize his voice. We made the call and I got added to the account. This gave testimony to my husband’s personality. His friendly demeanor and tall stature make him easy to recognize and remember. While I wasn’t successful in finding the passport, the adventure got me thinking about our unique voices.

It reminds me of God. He knows our distinctive voices. He knows the tone and cadence of our voice better than anybody, He created us after all. In addition to our voice, He knows our hearts and thoughts. God knows when we are praising Him or speaking slander about someone. He also knows when we are hurting so greatly we can’t even put words together.

God can recognize our voice, but can we recognize His? Are we getting to know Him through the words in the Bible? He won’t yell at us through the frenzy, we must carve out stillness to hear Him. “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

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Hovering Cows

katietkennedy

One Friday afternoon a business associate invited my husband and I to the country for a social gathering. It was over an hour away and as we neared the location we wondered where we were going. The event was being held on someone’s private property, up on a hilltop.

As we drove up the road, it got steep and bumpy. We winded our way up the gravel drive and met some cows on our path. Momma and baby cows were all around us. We had to coax a few calves off the road so we could pass by. 

This reminds me of our faith journey. We are heading up in our sanctification process (hopefully). As we follow Jesus He will keep us on the right path, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6). There will be challenges and unexpected visitors on the way (cows in this case) but we must keep going, slowly yet still progressing. 

We take one step forward at a time and trust in our Heavenly Father to lead us. This is the challenging part. We don’t know all His plans for us, nor all the why’s, yet we need to keep trusting even when we can’t
see around the bend. We recall in the past at other turns, He has always been there. Yet, you still wonder what if this time He forgets me. Of course, He doesn’t, He meets us yet again for another trial, another challenge.

When we finally made our way up to the top, there were majestic views of the valley below. I was glad we had arrived safely. While it wasn’t an easy trip, it was worth it. The fresh air and the stars were magnificent.

We don’t always understand the paths the Lord takes us on. We keep praying for our will to be His will. We remind ourselves He keeps His promises and will always be with us. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)