Look Who's Reading You

I am heading off to work this morning so I won't be able to join in with all of you today at Spiritual Sundays until I get home. I don't have time to "pretty up" this post so you are reading it in it's raw form today!

I wanted to share a great devotion that I read every morning. I have recently subscribed to Our Daily Bread and am enjoying it so much. If you have never read this powerful devotional, I highly recommend it! So many powerful messages in such a little book. I can't wait to read it every morning!

Here is a great message that I read yesterday:

Look Who's Reading You
I heard about a judge who used bumper stickers to encourage better driving. He gave two options to people guilty of driving while intoxicated.
The first option was to attach this message to their bumper. "This car owned by a convicted drunk driver." Almost all offenders preferred the judge's second option: Enroll in an alcohol treatment program. The majority of people cared about what others thought of them and wanted to maintain a good image.
The fear of embarrassement applies to other kinds of unacceptable behavior as well. For example, not many of us would be willing to walk around with a sign on our backs that read something like this: "Danger: I am a Christian who doesn't spend time in prayer or Bible study."
Nor would we want to wear a sign that read:"Warning: I am a child of God who gossips too much," or "Be careful: I'm controlled by lust rather than love."
If God required us to display such a sign, would our desire for the respect of others keep us from revealing our true spiritual condition? The way we answer that question says a lot about our sense of shame before the Lord, who judges us accurately. (1 Peter 1:17). Is it possible that we fear His opinion LESS than we fear the opinion of others?
Mart De Haan 11

Be Holy
13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,
19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
24For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever."And this is the word that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:13-25

Blessings to you today,
Kymber

Courage In The Midst Of Danger

I encourage you to stop by and visit all of the participants of Spiritual Sundays. Such an uplifting way to spend a Sunday! Read a variety of wonderful devotions, Bible passages, and listen to edifying music while praising the Lord on His special day of rest for your soul. A special thank you to Charlotte and Ginger for organizing this awesome event for us each week!

I found an awesome video to share with you this week. It is a news clip of an inspiring woman who has touched the hearts of many with her bravery. I fell in love with this sweet woman and know that you will too.

Even in the midst of danger she saw an opportunity to share Christ!

Blessings to you,

God's Confidence

Self Confidence is something I severely lack. God has been teaching me how to turn this negative into a positive these past few weeks that I have been working at my new job. There have been so many times that I have wanted to run screaming for the nearest door! So many times that I have questioned myself - whether I TRULY have heard the call on my life to do this job - or if I have just stepped into something WAY over my head. Through this journey, God is showing me that I truly can't do any of this on my own - every day I must fully rely on Him to get me through it. I hope that by sharing this today - that perhaps YOU will begin to see yourself in my struggles and realize that YOU TOO can serve God in the capacity He has called you to. If I can do it - BELIEVE ME - so can you!

I have been working as a Nursing Assistant for about a month now in a long term care unit in a hospital. While I truly love being able to serve these dear deserving people in this capacity, I also realize my limitations for this job. I am not as efficient in my work as some of the aides in our unit. I am often clumsy - I know this about myself and therefore I try to tackle a job slowly so as not to cause an injury to the dear person I am caring for. I am not a mechanically inclined person either - buttons and gadgets tend to frustrate me and I can look at them every which way and they don't make sense -so if asked to fix something, or if I need to adjust a bed, wheelchair, etc. I am out of my comfort zone and end up taking forever to complete a simple task. While the other Aides are finished with their tasks for the day I am still working on mine and usually am dashing around up until the last minute trying to get everything completed.

Because of these limitations I ask myself everyday why God would want to use ME in this way - Why am I being called to do this work? What could I possible have to offer to this job?

Friday evening was an extremley hard night. I prayed as I always do before every shift, that God would help me do the best job I could for these dear people He had put in my care. I have been working in this particular unit now for a few weeks and am becoming familiar with my patients and their routines - but this particular night was a difficult night for one of my patients, because he had just lost a beloved brother unexpectedly that day. Because of this, he was extremly agitated most of the evening. He kept using his call light every few minutes - asking me to adjust his pillow, hand him his remote, raise his head...lower his head...call his wife, call his sister, hand him a cookie - you name it- he asked for it! This dear man has a disease that has severly contracted his body so that he is unable to do simple tasks for himself. He is in extreme pain and has a hard time getting in a right position that will allow his poor body to relax. On this particular night it was near impossible to help him get into a comfortable position. I raised his head as he asked me to - only to have him ask me to keep lowering it until we were back to the very position I had started at. I sat with him and talked to him about his brother and held his hand - hoping that by doing so it would allow him some time to relax his ravaged body enough so that the medicine that the nurse had just given him could take affect and help him fall asleep comfortably. As I sat with him, an aide rushed into the room and admonished me saying, "Do you realize you have been in here for more than 30 minutes? You just can't take this much time with these people or you will never get finished!"
She proceeded to whisk me out of the room and stayed with me, helping me finish my rounds. She told me that I really shouldn't be an aide -that my heart was too big for this job! She told me that I needed to learn to say no and walk out of rooms quicker or I would never be able to finish the tasks set before me. She told me people were beginning to talk and wonder if I truly had the experience doing this work that I said I did on my application!

I was devastated! I fought back the tears and the urge to run for the nearest door. I felt like a utter and complete failure! How could God use me - even the Aides around me were losing faith that I could do this work! I began to feel extremely sorry for myself.

I have been reading a book that is very convicting. It is written by Kay Warren and is called "Dangerous Surrender - What Happens When You Say Yes To God?"
As I pondered yesterday over the events of Friday night, I read these words from the book:
"God prepares a cross for you that you must embrace without thoughts of self-preservation. The cross is painful. Accept the cross and you will find peace even in the middle of turmoil. Let me warn you that if you push the cross away, your circumstances will become twice as hard to bear. In the long run, the pain of resisting the cross is harder to live with than the cross itself."

YIKES!

I also read these words:
"To want to serve God in some conditions, but not in others, is to serve Him in your own way. But to put no limits on your submission to God is truly dying to yourself. This is how to worship God. Open yourself to God without measure. Let His life flow through you like a torrent. Fear nothing on the road you are walking. God will lead you by the hand. Let your love for Him cast out the fear you feel for yourself."

Did you get that? I will repeat it - "Let your love for HIM cast out the fear you feel for yourself." WOW! Powerful words aren't they? I stand convicted when I read this!

Now...the part of the story that I DIDN'T tell you is this - I was called to the office of the nurse supervisor for our floor. I was very nervous and just SURE that she was going to point out all of the wrong things that I had been doing. She didn't. Instead, she told me that she had been hearing wonderful things about me from the patients and from the staff. She told me that the patients loved me for my kindness and that the staff felt that I had been very helpful to them and always willing to lend a helping hand. A few nurses had told her about my professionalism and work ethic. The few who were grumbling about my work were coming from individuals who were gossipers and who happened to complain about everyone in the building! She went on to ask me if I had ever considered a permanent position on that floor! As I have said before - I work on an "as needed" basis right now - but this kind lady told me that when a position opened up - she would put in a good word for me because they "needed good workers on this floor."

Wow! It is amazing that we see ourselves so much differently than others do! The devil had tried to whisper negative words in my ear to try to turn me aside from the job the Lord had called me to do. Had I LISTENED to the words, I would have run - like I always had before.

God's work is never easy - it is not for MY glory that I do it - but for GOD'S glory! THIS I need to constantly remember! God will help me in my weakness - HE will be my strength. This is His promise to me - THIS I have to remind myself of daily!

All of the supposed "inadequacies" - that I whisper in my own ear - how many times have they kept me from doing the Lord's work! How many times have I played right into the devil's hands?
How he LOVES to use our own self worth against us! We MUST remember though - "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world."
I hope that this story will help you realize that YOU TOO can do the Lord's work - right where you are at today! Let Him use you and you will be amazed at how you will grow through the process.
God's richest blessings to you as you do the work He has called you to do,
Kymber

It's Starting To Look Like Fall Y'all!

The outdoor colors are only just beginning to turn on the trees but I am feeling the need to decorate my house for Fall. One of my favorite times of the year for decorating~!

I am in between quarters in school right now and enjoying my break from the books this week. I studied very hard last quarter and came away with an A ! Thank you God! I really couldn't have done it without His continued guidance and support. HE is the One who is carrying me through this new journey I am on! Studying and retaining information at my age isn't as easy as it used to be! It is a constant struggle and I have to keep my face in the books constantly just to keep my head above water!

I am very happy for the needed break and have been having fun this week pulling out all of the decor for Fall. I don't have very much, and what I DO have will probably get moved around a bit before I am happy with it, but it has been fun to look at my old favorites, and new things that I have acquired from my trips to the thrift store.

I found this beautiful vase while at the Goodwill a few weeks ago and knew that I wanted to fill it with Sunflowers. Faux flowers fit into my lifestyle better at this time - this adds a little dash of color by my front door!

This little vignette sits atop a table in our entry way. ALL items were thrift store finds. I filled the glass candle holder with black and northern beans to add some color (an idea I learned from a crafty blogger friend) and stuck a candle inside.

I fell in love with this little guy - it looks dusty - but it isn't - I may have to paint this all one color because I am not sure if I LIKE the faux dusty look :-)

This tray is another great new find from the Goodwill. I love it! Just added some pinecones and candles - instant warmth!

I LOVE to decorate my home on a budget - why pay full price when you can make it look warm and homey for half the amount that you see in the stores and big name catalogs? It has become a hobby of mine to try to make my house a home for less - which THEN gives me more money that I can spend on my kiddos. Works for me!

It has been fun visiting all of your blogs this week! I look forward to getting caught up with you all and thank you for stopping by to visit - I enjoy getting to know each and every one of you and consider you all friends!

Blessings to you,

So Little Time

I have been wanting to share this with you for the last week or so - bear with me - this may be a wordy post...

As you know, I am now working as a Nursing Aide again - doing what I love, working with the Elderly. I hope to continue working with the elderly population once I BECOME a nurse , because I love these special people so much. I get WAY more out of working for them then I feel I give TO them!

I was privileged this week to work with a very special lady. I will carry her in my heart for a great while because she left me with a huge message that I want to share with you. A message I will not soon forget!

I was setting up breakfast trays, when I approached a bed in a darkened room. There was a small woman lying in her bed - surrounded by pillows which were propped all around her. As I moved them so that she could be turned, I was touched by how tiny and frail she was. She was so thin and as I moved the pillows I became more and more aware of how fragile her life really was. I sat her up in bed to help her eat. She was so weak that I had to hold the straw up to her lips so that she could drink from it. I held my breath as she sipped from the straw - hoping that the liquid would make it to her parched lips.

She tried to talk to me but couldn't quite mouth the words yet. She didn't need to though because her eyes spoke volumes - her soul seemed to jump out at me through her beautiful eyes! I was spellbound and couldn't take my eyes away from hers as she tried desperately to speak. I leaned closer to try to hear her. I asked her if she was comfortable and she blinked. I had the overpowering urge right then to pray for her! Around her neck she wore a beautiful cross. I asked her if it would be alright if I prayed for her and her eyes welled up with tears. She asked me if I could do it right away with her. Even though my time was very limited, I had SO much to do - I knew that the Lord wanted me to take the time needed to give this dear woman comfort. So we prayed -together! I pressed my forehead against hers and we prayed. I kissed her forehead and as I raised myself up, I saw huge tears well up in her eyes and she mouthed the words - "Thank you..."

I felt very inadequate at praying, but I knew that God wanted me to do this for her - that it was important at this very moment to this dear woman. She whispered to me that she missed her parents. I told her that she would see them again - that ALL of the things she was going through right now were just momentary - but that she would be greeting her beloved family one day soon on the other side - in Heaven! Her beautiful eyes brightened and tears streamed down her face. All of a sudden the light faded and her eyes changed. She looked so forlorn and lost! I asked her what was wrong and she began to tell me about her brother. She told me that she wasn't sure if he was in Heaven right now. She told me that she missed him so much! She told me that he hadn't walked with God while here on earth and the pain that I saw in this dear woman's face is what I can't get out of my thoughts today! All I could do for her was hold her hand and let her cry out her pain and sorrow for her beloved brother. ...

Today I am thinking of MY life and all of the people whom I care about who are not walking with the Lord. I think of my children who are far from Him! Time is so short for ALL of us here on this earth! How much time has already gone by in my life and how fast my children have grown and are now walking the paths of THEIR lives with their new families. Many of them are apathetic when it comes to the Lord - they BELIEVE in God, but don't live their lives for Him - Is it enough? Or do God's words about being lukewarm apply to such as these?

16"So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Revelation 3:16-21

I fear for the time that we all have left for none of us know the time or day in which the Lord will take us. I need to do all that I possible can - with the time that I have left to PRAY and pray without ceasing - as I have been called to do for the ones I love - while I still HAVE the time to pray!

I am reminded of the story of the mother of John Newton who prayed for her son for only seven short years before the Lord took her home. BUT SHE USED HER TIME TO PRAY! John floundered for a time after his mothers death but came back to the Lord later in his life and went on to write the famous Hymn - "Amazing Grace." If interested, you can read about his amazing life and his struggle to find his way back to the Lord, here. It is a long read, but VERY inspiring!

Prayer has always been my weakest point. I tend to procrastinate when I try to pray. Do you? I become so overwhelmed for all that I must pray about - that I give up! I need to remember God's words that EVEN though I may stumble with what to say - God can hear my grumblings and if I am faithful - even if it is just mouthing the person's name that I am praying for - God will hear the longings of my heart.

Lord, please help me to be faithful to the call to pray without ceasing - and let it start today so that I will have no regrets tomorrow!

7"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Blessings to you,

All for Your Glory Lord!

"Praise be to you, O LORD,
God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

12 Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.

14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 18 O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you".
1 Chronicles 29:10-18
Blessings,

Revelation Song