A jealous God

dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ;

Thank you for your continued prayers for me~  God is so very good!  He continues to teac hand guide me according to His good and perfect will for my life.  I am amazed at some of the simple things He shows me. Things that I have been completely oblivious to for years.  I am thankful He continues to open my eyes to His truths.

I have a big cat named Jasper, he is now 9 years old, I've had him since he was a tiny kitten. He loves me so very much. He is jealous if I talk to another person. He sits between me and the person, looks up at me, meows very softly, and touches my leg with his paw. He keeps this up until I pick him up.  If I am out of the room, he looks for me. He goes to bed when I go to bed. He stays with me all night long. I can reach next to me, and he is there.  He either sits next to me on the floor or lays on my lap when ever I sit in my chair.  It's nothing I have done that causes this sweet animal to love me as he does.

The night before last, I had a realization ~

This is how God loves me. He is jealous for my love, He wants to spend time with me, He wants me to be with Him all the time. Where ever I go, He wants me to take Him with me.  Now when I look at this cat, Jasper, I see the Lords love toward me.  I am not sure I explained it all that well, but the bottom line is: God loves me~ wants me to spend time with Him daily, and it's not because of anything I have done to cause such devotion and love.

I have started the new job a week ago. It feel good to be back in the arena of doing activities with and loving on the elderly at the facility. It is amazing that just simply stoping and taking time to 'chat' with a person that is chair/bed bound 5-10 minutes, touch their hand and give them a hug at the warm response they give. Often thanking me! Sometimes this is the only contact from a NON-nursing / medical staff they have in a day! think of that, 5-10 minutes of attention a day. 

I thank God for the MANY blessings He has bestowed upon me and my family and for ALL the various things I have no idea that He has allowed to pass me by and my family too. Thank you Lord God for your mercy and kindness toward us.

"Guard jealously your relationship to God.Jesus prayed "that they may be one, even as we are one' ---nothing inbetween.  Keep all the life perennially* open to Jesus Christ, don't pretent with Him. Are you drawing your life from any other source than God Himself/ If you are depending upon anything but Him, you will never know when He is gone."  by Oswald Chambers       (*perennial -  present at all seasons of the year, : persistent, enduring , continuing without interruption : constant, perpetual, regularly repeated or renewed)  Renew your relationship with the Lord daily for He gives us a new day each day. 

My prayer needs are to continue to empty myself and fill up with and on the Lord Jesus Christ that I might be a positive example of who Jesus is.  I pray I do not cause any to stumble. 

Please also pray regarding the funds to come in for the Missions trip to Guatemala. I am about $800- short at this time. (if I've added correctly!)

I am picking up a few spanish words, but not studying spanish since the Rosetta Stone I bought was a counterfit and would not work.  God is good, He knows what I will need to know.

Vaya con Dios ~ "Go with God"

En su gracia ~ "In His grace"

Kim

waiting

Hi Everyone~

It's been a crazy busy week.  But a good week also.  I started the new job and love it.  I thank God for His provisions.  Isn't it wonderful that He knows exactly what we need, when we need it!  Much more so than when 'I' try to do things in and on my own.  (notice I say 'try') haha~ He gets it done, He doesn't try.  AMEN.

I attend Calvary Chapel in Asheville, and we are reading through the entire New Testament in like two weeks!! This past Monday we read Matthew, last night they read Mark, (I didn't go, I was exhausted) tonight we will pick up where they left off last night. This Sat. we will be reading from 10-4pm with a light lunch. Then begin again on Monday through Wednesday. It is amazing to HEAR the Word read. It also is quite intimate to hear another read the Word of God.  I am so thankful for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Each morning I read "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.  This daily reading goes deep into the understanding of WHO I am in Christ. Who He is in me and if I allow Him to be the master of my life or if I only say the words, yet strive to maintain control myself. (we know that in reality, none of us controls anything)

Yesterday this stood out to me: 'Beware of anything that competes with loyalty to Jesus Christ'~ pretty good advice and very true.

This morning this stood out to me: 'When God gives a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will make you in accordance with the vision He has given if you will wait His time. Never try to and help God fulfill His word. Abraham went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all self-sufficiency was destroyed; there was no possibility left of relying on common-sense ways. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not displeasure.'

Wait?? I don't know about you, but waiting is hard for me to do. 13 years?? geezzz and I think a week or two is long much less a month or a year!!  We are such a NOW generation aren't we. discipline? Discipline is not usually a pleasant thing is it? Even as children, we do not like it, even if it is for our own good, safety and building our character. oh and here it is again, never try to help God~ ooops, I do that too. In truth, if I am 'trying' to help God, doesn't that imply I do not trust Him to do it for me? 
Lord, I pray that I would trust you with my day to day life, that I rest in you, that I will wait for your time in ALL things, and be thankful for where I am right now.  I also pray Lord for all those reading this message, that you would bring them peace and comfort in what ever areas of their lives you see a need.  In Jesus precious name I pray to thee God, AMEN.

Vaya con Dios~  Go with God.

Kim

friendship

God is so good. Praise His name.  :)

As you know, I bought a 'counterfit' Rosetta Stone Spanish course.  I had to go to the bank and file a claim, and then, return the counterfeit to CHINA.. yes, I wrote out a bunch of Chinese words I have no idea what it was, but there was a zip code, so off it went. This morning I was looking at my checking account online, and guess what? I have been credited ALL the monies I spent of the counterfeits. (including the currency exchange rate!) PRAISE GOD.  Isn't our Lord good to us!

I did get the new job, but haven't started yet. I have to wait for my background check to come in. I am very excited and looking forward to this new adventure at the skilled nursing facility. 

This morning as I was reading my daily devotion in 'my utmost for His highest', by Oswald Chambers,  he is speaking of friendship and what it means to be a friend.  He states; it is a wonderful intimacy, Friendship is rare on earth. It means identity in thought and heart and spirit. (Jesus calls us His friends) The whole discipline of life (interesting to consider this a disciplining now) is to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we know Him?
It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to step more intimately with Him. Fruit bearing is always mentioned as the manifestation of an intimate union with Jesus Christ. (John 15:1-4)

Then I read in Luke 15:13-17
and in that reading, Jesus says; (13) Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. (14)You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
(16) You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (17) These things I command you, that you love one another.

This means WOW, Jesus IS my friend, I can count on Him, He has told me 'to go' and bear fruit, (fruit of His Holy Spirit) that this vine, should remain in Him in order to bear that fruit.  He will provide for ALL my needs according to His will.  What shall I fear? nothing. PRAISE BE TO GOD.
Hold your head up, look up to the Father and His loving kindness. What father does not give to his child what is best for him? How much more then, that our heavenly father should give to us what we need? Spiritually and physically? For He IS LOVE.

be blessed in His mercy and grace today as you 'go out' in to the world.

Kim