Welcome

Why a blog from me, someone who has never been a writer, someone who has never been articulate or had a solid grasp of the grammar world. Because God told me to write. Several years ago a life storm invaded my family. God kept telling me to write it all down. I argued, but He would not let up. This went on every day for a couple of weeks until one day out of frustration, (I'd like to say it was out of obedience), I picked up a pen and paper and wrote for 7 hours straight! Do you think maybe I needed therapy and God knew it?

I've been writing ever since and have learned to love it! I started out sharing my stories with friends and family. I've now been published in a Nashville church paper, Our Daily Journey (a devotional site of RBC Ministries), PCCWeb Daily Devotional, Ruby for Women Ezine Magazine, and I am a contributor in the book Alabaster Jars, Life in Abundance Collection 2.

Why Ponderings? During this life storm, God led me to a pond in the woods behind my home. There He met me each time, teaching new lessons, reminding me of old ones, showing His presence and allowing me to feel His love through the surroundings of that pond. I found myself returning over and over to ponder, pray and praise. A healing of my heart took place and out of the experience came my first book, Ponderings From the Pond, then a second book, Ponderings From My Porch, and now a third book is in the works along with a memoir about my storm.

Why am I making myself so vulnerable? Because God has done so much that I cannot keep quiet. I have to share. Jesus's last words to his desciples were, "Go,tell." We are his disciples too and this is just one of my ways of telling.

I'm no scholar but I have heard God's voice in my spirit, experience His love daily, and have a desire for others to experience this also. I would love to share with all who visit and I would love to hear from you. If my sharing gets just one to ponder, to be quiet with the Father, to see and hear from Him or to be reminded of something from Him, then this is worth my vulnerability.

As you visit me, sometimes we will be at the pond, sometimes we will move to the front porch, and sometimes we will just be here, there, and yonder. Thank you for coming and please feel free to come back anytime, you are always welcome here.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

*****EXCITING NEWS*****

My first book, Ya Know What I'm Say'n, has been released.


Ponderings

Ponderings

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Only From Him

(I plan out my stories to post a week, sometimes 2 weeks in advance.  I had a different story for today, but God stepped in and said, "I have a different one for you today."  I'm so glad He did!  All because of Him)




My sweet first born. 

He became a prodigal 5 years ago.  Taking roads I never thought in a million years he would take.  He left, came back, left, came back, and left again with so much in between.  I started to write a book just to process it all in my mind.  So I won’t go into it all here, too much, not enough space for now.

But we received a letter from him last week pretty much saying he was tired of all the voices and was getting alone to think, to break some addictions, and to figure things out, just him and God. 

This past Saturday was a good day.  A beautiful day.  A day filled with grace, unconditional love, and all things good.  It’s just a start, but then, all good things start somewhere.


Someone said I looked peaceful here.  John 14:27 came to mind. . ."Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you."   (only from Him, only from Him!)

The fact that this picture could be taken. . .grace and unconditional love. . .(only from Him, only from Him!)


He played for us on the porch.  He won many awards and trophies on college campuses when he was a young boy playing in piano competitions before judges.  He never walked away from the music.  He has talent. . .(only from Him, only from Him!)

I taught him to play the piano for the first 4 years.  Now he tries to teach me on strings, but I don't do as well.  The fact that he is on my porch with our hands like this. . .(only from Him, only from Him!)

These big feet walked away for the first time 5 years ago. Saturday they walked back up the driveway and next to his momma. They were different this time.  (only from Him, only from Him!)

My heart is grateful.  My heart is full.
Only from Him!

(If you're wondering where my husband, Tim's dad was, he's the one standing behind the camera shooting and smiling from ear to ear)


275.  finding beautiful Psalms that fit the situations
276.  gorgeous cherry trees in bloom all over town
277.  fresh flowers for inside the house
278.  hearing someone whistle while they work
279.  hand-written letter from my Mom
280.  paychecks
281.  provisions
282.  receiving a birthday present. . .20 days after my birthday
283.  guitar music on the front porch
284.  talk and laughter with my three guys over Arby sandwiches and fries
285.  younger son always opening the door for me
286.  first born whispering "thank you" and "I love you Mom" in my ear
287.  photos to capture "the moments"
288.  amazing grace
289.  the ability to see all my gifts from the One and Only, my Heavenly Father


P.S. Tomorrow is my Tuesdays for Tim where I pray and fast all day.  Please get past the sound of the holiness of this.  I am far from this. I wanted to get down low as I could to raise him up as much as I could.  There are now 21 others I lift up also.  If I could raise up one or more of your loved ones, or a situation, please share with me, I would be honored to do so.

19 comments:

Lisa Maria said...

Oh Kristin. My heart is so full watching these photos.. I can only imagine what your heart must be feeling. I praise God for this gift to you and continue to pray for growth and healing. God is awesome and He works many marvels for us each day. Just remember St Monica.. mother of one of the greatest saints.. St Augustine. It was years before her prayers for her prodigal were answered, but when they were.. HE BECAME A SAINT!! Praying, praising and thanking Him who is the giver of all gifts..
Love & Blessings

Dianne said...

My child walked out of our lives 2 1/2 years ago. My perfect child..no yelling...just a silent walk in the middle of the night..no reason given...just silence..2 years of silence ..2 years of pleading with God. She has slowly started to touch base..no explaination..no I'm sorry..Please pray..she has asked for us to fly her home for Easter...she won't be staying but she will be home for 4 days...We have a God of miricles..I am thankful for what I am given..trying to not look back...or look forward..just to be in the moment. Thank you for sharing and allowing me to share with you my journey..

Kristin Bridgman said...

Thank you Lisa Maria, it's so nice to know there are people praying and praising with you! :)
Dianne, I will be praying for your time with your daughter at Easter. What a wonderful time for miracles:) It is on my list. Please share how it goes afterwards. Thank you so much for sharing!
You guys have a beautiful day today:)

Cora from Hidden Riches said...

I have not stopped thinking and praying for your son since I read your last post, and today I was moved to tears -- who for, I'm not sure! Perhaps me, in my own memories of coming home, perhaps you, in your overwhelming love and realizations that all of this comes only from Him, perhaps for him, as he seeks to find his way again. I only know I'm smiling. And my prayers are strengthened as I think of others still waiting and watching the horizon for their prodigals to return! It was so good to be here today! Thank you for this post!

Unknown said...

My heart is rejoicing with you, Kristin. I am adding you and your son to my prayer journal. Only from Him - Amen!

Heather Rae said...

Wow! I'm so happy for you. Isn't God good to us? Faithfulness is rewarded...

Anonymous said...

Ok. Made me cry. Having walked through this with you, I feel like Tim has come back home to me, too!! I just stand in awe of the way God has answered our prayers so beautifully and so sweetly. I look forward to more happy dances as the days and weeks go by with further growth and restoration.

Love you girl!

Lisa said...

What an incredible blessing and reason for joy! I'm smiling with you and your husband!

Unknown said...

Wow!! I'm SO glad you shared this post!! He IS good!! My heart is full of your for you and your family!!

Liana said...

I saw you all on the porch when you were taking the pictures and wondered how things were going. I am so glad you are starting to see results! I was in between crying and smiling the whole time I was reading your post. Thanks for sharing and I hope you will see many more blessings from HIM!

Quiltingranny said...

God is good, no matter what our situation is, He is always good! I have so many stories, bottled up in my heart and mind, bursting to come forth...the loss of a child at 18 months, a son who lives on the streets fighting the voices and his addiction, a son in prison, a son with Autism but through it all, God grants me compassion. I would like you to pray. We are believing God for a miracle, a larger home and land where we can bring our homeless son to and have his own place. Pray for peace for our family in the midst of chaos! I am praying for you!

Beth S. said...

I love this Kris - the pictures are great and the words are so encouraging. We will keep praying and lifting our boys up. What a very special and precious day with a very special and precious young man.

Beth

Stacie, A Firefighter's Wife said...

I'm so glad I stopped by tonight. You are living my worst nightmare. A mother of a prodigal. I can't imagine that kind of pain. It is everything I pray will not happen to my children, that they would run from God. You are doing the right thing. Loving him, praying for him, and the hardest of all, waiting for him. I will pray for your precious son to come running back to God and that this time of testing and addictions will pass. That his calling on his live will be 100% fulfilled.

Blessings, Friend.

Sniff, sniff...

Unknown said...

Oh, Kristin! Tears in my eyes asI read this. God is SO good! I will be praying for your son and your whole family. I will pray that his heart, mind and soul will be filled with Jesus so that he can know His love. And that he will give his life fully back to the Lord!

Kristin Bridgman said...

Thank you all so much for praying for us and our son. That means the world to me! All but one of you are bloggers I have never met. God is SO good to have blessed me by bringing you all into my life. In the beginning, the blogging world scared me. Now it is feeling like home. Thank you all!!!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for sharing this post. As a mother of young children, I often think about what I would do if one of them "walked away". Already in my heart I know it would be so heartbreaking. You and your family are in my prayers, and I rejoice in the fact that you had some "moments" as shown here in the pictures. Absolutely beautiful.

Martha said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Martha said...

I keep thinking about the return of your son and smiling. Although mine are not out of reach, I still miss the days when my house was full and they were all here. In some ways I guess we all do some amount of wandering before truly returning home, but it makes the parable of the lost sheep come to life in a whole new way when our own are wandering.

(Sorry for deleting, but I hate those bad typos.)

Anonymous said...

Tears!!

I haven't had time to write you back....but I linked from Ann's again and found this. Easter was hard, but I look forward to a day when my son comes back as well. Praying for your Tim to continue to be restored fully.

Shellie