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, January 29, 2012

Being Renewed

My husband took this picture of our former-homeless friend Greg.  If you are new here at my place, we met Greg last August when he was homeless.   He was the answer to my prayer of should I start a book on the homeless.  I did. We built a friendship with Greg over the weeks. Five weeks later I had the priveledge of praying the sinners prayer with Greg.

I pondered as I watched him at the river today. . .

Greg went from being an ex-con, ex drug dealer, homeless guy to a redeemed man with a home.  A physical home to call his own and an eternal home with the Savior that has begun.

Greg still struggles with issues.  But now the Holy Spirit inside of him convicts him where once before he was not.  Greg used to go to the bars and places where he got stuff that wasn't good for him.  Now he goes to church every Sunday and volunteers at Hope House twice a week.  He reads his devotionals and he prays and he ponders.

His life is much different now than it once was.  He has real friends who love him in spite of his issues.  Don't we all have some kind of issues.  Maybe not like his but then I think scales are not used to weigh one against the other.

Greg has treated me like a lady from day one.  When I need prayer, he always stops right then and there and bows his head, praying to the Father from deep in his heart.

Greg never lies to me.  He never pawns off bad decisions on others.  He is honest when it would be easy to not be. I appreciate this about him.

I have never seen a man try as hard as he does.  He went from one kind of world into a completely different kind of world.  He left a dark world and stepped into the light of Christ.  He has some remnants from the past but he ponders and he prays and in time, I believe it will all be gone from total surrender.

We have watched his mind being changed, renewed.  His way of thinking has changed tremendously over the months. Where once he was hunkered down in depression, he now throws back his head in laughter.  Where once he only thought only of himself,  he now is thinking of others. Where once he would have sold drugs to make money, he now gives of his time only to help others. 

I ponder the word surrender and ask myself tough questions. . .
Do I surrender my finances for others?
Do I surrender my dreams and wants for what His will is?
Do I surrender my comfort zones to go where He asks me to go?
Do I surrender my selfish desires to partake in His desires?
Am I willing to do what He asks even though it is not easy?
Do I trust to go down a road where I cannot see the end?

Before any of us may take on that desire to judge one, we should ask of ourselves the tough questions. We should step into that someone's shoes and feel where they have been.  Their decision to surrender may have come much tougher for them than it did, than it does for us. 

I have been transformed for many years and I think I have learned to test and discern.  New ones in this life need the time that we more seasoned ones have had.  They need to ponder and pray and learn and practice and live with the new heart and mind that comes when Jesus enters the heart.  As I think about it, even us seasoned ones are still pondering, praying, learning, practicing, and being renewed, aren't we?

My husband Keith and I think much of Greg and love him like a brother.
Please pray for Greg, our friend and brother in Christ, as he ponders, prays, and is being renewed and transformed.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2


linking with


&


 

8 comments:

marlece said...

wow, this is simply amazing, I love every bit of it!

Reformed rebel said...

Hi Kris ~ This is an amazing piece. GOD is so good and does so many great things! praise the LORD!!
Blessings...Chelle

Stacie, A Firefighter's Wife said...

praise the Lord! That brings me such hope for you brother-in-law. I am so happy for this precious brother.

Thank you!

Mari-Anna Frangén Stålnacke said...

God is so good! Only with his transforming power can any one of us follow Christ. But God is more than enough. But, yes, surrendering is tough. Somehow we always want to keep a corner to ourselves. And, yet, only a total surrender brings total peace. Blessings to you, sis!

Anonymous said...

Deep questions to ponder...It is truly all about His will and not ours.

Unknown said...

This is such a great post, Kristin! God is definitely calling me out of my comfort zone right now!

momto8 said...

oh my goodness this is a beautiful story! Thank you for your example of not being afraid!
I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.

Anonymous said...

great post...so encouraging to hear how Greg is doing...and those questions...so important...learning to walk in Grace and Mercy...a life long journey for me...
blessings to you and all God's leadings for you...
I continue to hold Tim before the throne of Grace and Mercy...