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, February 26, 2012

Homeless Hospitality


It was noon on a Saturday.  The air was frigid, in the 20’s.  We came up underneath the bridge.  There was no doorbell to ring or door to knock on.  But we were at somebody’s home.  We yelled hello.  It was Tony and Melanie.  We had met them before on several occasions.  We had been here before.  They were happy to see us and invited us in.  For the first time I crawled all the way in, stepping over mattresses and logs that took up most of the four foot width of floor.


  I was worried about freezing when we set out to visit them. I am not a cold weather person. I did not want to pull them away from their fire and the fire looked very inviting.  I sat on a chair at first and then scooted over onto a log, so my friend could have the chair.


They had hung tarps that blocked them from the icy winds. So thankful for tarps on strings! 


They offered us donuts.  They smiled asking how I had been, saying they were wondering were I was, not having seen me for weeks. I was afraid if I had come around too much, well. . .I didn’t want to wear out my welcome.  I didn’t want them to frown as they saw me coming up the path, thinking, “There’s THAT women again.”  But they don’t.  They were genuinely happy to see me, my husband and friend. 

They were drinking coffee. 

I saw their pantry was stocked with some canned goods
They had water in jugs as there are no faucets in this home. 

 I saw their refrigerator. . .bags hanging on string on the other side of the tarps, so the food inside would stay cold. 

 I bet by night time, that refrigerator becomes a freezer!

I asked about security systems for this home.  Were they worried about someone coming in and stealing their stuff or hurting them?  Melanie said without missing a beat,  “I’ve got a machete here that says, ‘No!’ We all busted out laughing, not ever quite hearing a comeback like that one before.

We had such a lovely visit, talking about their life, what they want, telling me more about homelessness. Tony and Melanie are not a couple.  They are just two who met at the bridge.  They find friendship and companionship with one another.  I'm sure it takes away some of the lonliness they would feel otherwise. When I met Tony last summer, he had gotten away from the Bible.  He tells me this day he is reading it again.  Melanie has her own Bible too and she tells me she knows for sure she knows where her eternal home is. She has Jesus in her heart.  Melanie laughed saying they were probably the happiest homeless people we would ever meet.  It’s not that they are happy being homeless, but for the time being, until things work out the way they want, this is the best home for them and they make the most of it.  They are sweet, they have good attitudes.  We talked, we laughed, we had a good time with each other.

When I got up to leave, I gave Tony a hug, and then Melanie.  They both hugged me back hard, genuine.  My husband said after we left, they needed that visit.  They needed the company from ones who show unconditional love, who is willing to step into their home and visit as if nothing is out of the ordinary.  They know it is, but there is no need to talk about it.  Because home is not so much the interior as it is the people living there.

So what if there is no door, no window, no electricity, no amenities we take for granted.  I realized after I left, that the whole time I was there, I was not once thinking about being cold.  I had become rather warm.  Part of it was because of the fire in front of me.  But I think mostly it was because I was warmed by these precious people who allowed me to come into their home and gave them the opportunity to feel like regular folks, giving hospitality to guests. 

We left a hospitality gift. . .two big boxes full of firewood for their "fireplace".
Tony said as I was crawling back out into the world on that little 4 foot wide concrete slab with the raging river below, "I'm so proud of you for coming all the way in."

Our host, Tony. . .
and our hostess, Melanie


I'm glad I went all the way in. It was truely a lovely visit . . .a vist I needed!

Good-bye for now but we'll be back

********************************************************************

As I came back into my house, a home filled with furniture that collects dust, carpets that need vaccuming, hardwood floors that need sweeping, I pondered about the "home" that I had just come from, a place that have none of the things we take for granted.  Things like furniture, indoor plumbing, appliances, heating and air.  And yet, if Jesus were to walk into that home, would he be comfortable and welcomed?  Yes, I believe He would.  Because the occupants in that home would not have been worrying about dust and a meal to cook.  Jesus would have had a donut to eat and coffee to drink and warm conversation.  These people, people who others say are crazy, are not crazy at all.  With all they have been through, they are people who are inviting, they smile and laugh and are welcoming, not once complaining and whining. We who have so much, can complain over the simplest of things.

I wonder if Jesus came to my door, would I quickly look around to see if my house was presentable?  Would I worry about the dust on the coffee table or just offer him a warm cup of coffee?  Would I worry the whole time about the carpet needing swept or would I just sit at his feet taking all of Him in? Would I find myself whining and complaining about small stuff or would I concentrate on warm and holy converstion with my guest?  We know what He would want because He gave us the story of Mary and Martha.  I have tended to be a Martha most of my life, always thinking things had to be be perfect, look perfect. I think I was the crazy one! Oh, I desired and tried to always make my guests feel welcomed, but I would always eye the cobweb hanging in the corner of my ceiling or see the dust on something. It's great getting older because now if I see the cobweb in my home as I'm visiting with someone, I think, "Who cares!"  I've learned as I've matured that being Mary is more important and after leaving the bridge, I had to smile as I thought of the residents there.  They were definetly a Mary and the home was not perfect in any way athestically, yet I felt welcomed and loved.  Isn't that what Jesus would want?

Next time someone comes to my door,  I will invite them in without looking around first. I will look at them and give them my whole attention, not sharing that attention with the cobweb. I'll enjoy their presence, their entire being.  How about you?  Let's leave our dust rag in the cabinet.  And OH. . . we might want to leave our machetes under the bed.








Thursday, February 23, 2012

Words

As I was pondering about what words to write, I looked around and noticed all the words I have in my home.  Having a blank mind for a week-end post, I decided to let the pictures tell most of this one.  I would like to welcome you to our home...please come in. I hope as you reach the bottom you will have a feel of home by being here. 
It's not the words but the actions, attitudes, and fruit of the Spirit within the walls that make it a home.  Love makes it a home.  Love is beautiful.  These words just convey what we believe, how we feel, and I pray it gives you all a welcoming, loving feeling. 
This is who we serve. . .
This is what we 
With Christ in our hearts, we have the privelege to come before Him. . .
In amongst the
We. . .
for. . .
With these letters, we can form
messages to each other. . .

Words in the Bible tell us. . .
With Jesus, we can have
Home is where you find


It's a place where we can. . .
To. . . 

. . . . .

Words are important.  Words convey. Words inspire. Words can hurt.  Words can heal.

But the most beautiful Word of all is stated in
John 1:1
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Simply Beautiful! 


May you find all that you need and be at home in Him and His Word.


Thank you for coming to my home, please feel free to come back anytime!
OR
as my favorite t.v. granny would say in her own words. . .
"Ya'll come back now, ya here?"

ps~come back in a few days and see my visit at another home...one without walls and doors and indoor plumbing, but filled with hospitality and dreams.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Does a Gift Have to Have a Bow?


Good ol' Oswald Chambers!  He was one bright guy!  Here is what I read one day in his devotional, My Utmost For His Highest". . . "Anything that has even a hint of dejection spiritually is always wrong.  If I am depressed or burdened, I am to blame, not God or anyone else.  Dejection stems from one of two sources - I have either satisfied a lust or I have not satisfied it.  In either case, dejection is the result."
I really began to ponder on this.

Early in my marriage, I always felt dejected when my birthday rolled around, Valentines Day, or our anniversary and I didn't received a present all wrapped up and donning a bow.  To me, this just naturally showed love from the giver to the givee.  But as I learned long ago from another bright author, gift giving is not my husband's love language.  I learned that my husband's love language was "doing".  He cleans the carpets, fixes my lawnmower when it breaks down, keeps my car in good, safe working order, goes to the bridge when I want to deliver blankets to the homeless, and is willing to sit in a hospital waiting room after working all day so we can take an alcoholic in for help, and he does it all without ever complaining or grumbling.  I know this would be a gift to some ladies out there.  I learned to appreciate that but still on those special days. . .I may have been holding my breath just a little to only breath out deflated when no bow topped gift appeared.

Don't get me wrong.  It's not about the gift in the box.  It is the time one spends getting the gift, the thought put into it and know they were thinking of you enough to take the time to put it all together.  THAT is what I wanted and THAT is what I thought shouted out "I love you!"  I guess Oswald Chambers would say that is what I was lusting after.  That lust was not fulfilled and so dejection sets in. Even if I got a card or a nice dinner, dejection was still lying there underneath.

I've had to pray and lay those lusts, (I like the word expectations better) at the foot of the cross.  Now I smile and feel loved when I see my husband changing the oil in my car and checking the tires and any of the other 1000 things he does for me. I know he loves me, I have no doubts. He gives me gifts every day and I have learned to appreciate them. They just don't come with a bow and that's alright.

I have been married for 30 years.  I didn't learn this until around the 10 year mark. I wish I had learned this before I got married. If I could give a bride to be a gift, I would give her two books.  Actually there are many books I would want to give her, but for this post, I will mention two. . .

Love Languages by Gary Smalley
and
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers


Is this a sign of maturity?  After 10 years, I could just hear God and Keith say, "It's about time!"  But both are too gentlemanly to say that :)

And the love I get from these two. . .
That needs no bow!

********************************************************

OK. . .after finishing this post I received a package in the mail.  I had to come back and share what it was.  It came just days before Valentine's Day and had my name on it.
I opened it up and found something I had seen on Katie Davis's (Kisses from Katie) website Amazima and had mentioned how neat it was.  It was a necklace made from the Ugandan Women.  The beads are made out of newspaper, but you would never know it.  The money for the jewlery all goes back to the Ugandan women to help them support their families.  I liked that idea.
Hubby ordered the red necklace.
It's beautiful to me, not just aesthetically, but because of who went to the trouble to order it and because of who made it.
Look for yourself. . .


and what's this. . .
I guess an old dog can learn new tricks ;)


linking with
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Friday, February 17, 2012

Denim, Dolies, and Hankies

Aahh, the week-end is coming. Saturdays are for wearing my favorite jeans.  That doesn't mean they are new or designer or anything fancy.  That means they have been around a long time, have learned to shape to my body and have become soft and movable over the years.  The problem with this is...holes developed in the legs.  That may be ok for teens but I felt I should do something to cover them.  With what?  I didn't want the typical jean patch.  I started searching around the house, looking into hutch drawers, and found something.  I think my son thinks I should have left the holes.  My mother would say they are ready for the trash can.  What do you think?









I didn't want to waste the other side of the hankie I cut up so added it to the back. . .




My momma told me to never waste anything!

And when my jeans get to the point of no return, they turn into this. . .






a jean quilt:)

But for tonight, Friday, I'm wearing my good jeans. My sweetheart is taking me out on a date to see the movie, The Vow. I hear I may need a hankie for this one.  To bad it's sewn onto my Saturday jeans!







Wednesday, February 15, 2012

What was in the Boxes?

For those of you who follow me, you will remember these boxes.  I never shared what was in them.  Now I will tell. . .the handprint of God!

I'll show you in just a minute. 

For those of you who are new, let me retell just a little. . .

The Lord layed it on my heart back in 2009 to start a blanket ministry for the homeless in my town.  The winters of 2009 and 2010, over 1000 blankets were given away.  It was continued for this winter of 2012 and have already handed out over 600.  The handprint of God was on every one of those blankets, being donated from the people of my church and community.

Because of a friend at Red Cross, the newspaper got a hold of my name and did several stories on this ministry.  Then the Christian Radio Station interviewed me on the radio.  Being the quiet, reserved girl that I am, this had God's handprint all over it as He was pulling me out of another comfort zone.  The ministry grew even more!

Because of the blanket ministry, I began to meet people who worked with the homeless and needy.  An invitation was given to what was a brand new coalition coming together ~  The South- Central Coalition on Homelessness.  Because of meeting others here who also had a heart for the homeless and need in their field of expertise, my name started to be added to their e-mail lists.

I began to receive e-mails that were going out to multiple people.  E-mails from Social Services telling the needs of different individuals.  I would put those needs out on Facebook and people responded.  Some people may bad mouth Facebook, but I believe it becomes what you make it.  You make it a ministry tool and God will use it. 

So many examples, but wanted to just share a couple to show how you just never know who, where, and how God will move.  Last Christmas, friends of mine plus some whom I had never met but found me through the newspaper, came together and planned a Christmas party at the bridge for our town's homeless.  They decided to fill 40 green tote bags with needed items for the people. 


 Somehow the beanies caps and gloves came up 8 short.  I did not share this with anyone except to the Lord. The day before Christmas Eve, I received a box in the mail from a dear friend in Texas.  Inside that box were clothes along with 8 beanie caps and gloves!  The handprint of God! Not just on the beanies caps and gloves but those green tote bags and friends who worked to put it all together. You can see the successful results of this here~ http://ponderingsbykris.blogspot.com/2011/12/bridge-christmas-party.html

Just in the last couple of weeks, I received an e-mail telling of a young teen-age mother having a hard time keeping diapers and other items for her baby.  She had moved in with her grandparents so she could go back to school, but the grandparents did not have much either.  I shared this on facebook.  Just the other day, I found 2 big boxes on my front porch.
A sweet, compassionate friend from Texas sent these to me for the teen-age mother.  This friend of mine, I have not seen in over 10 years.  We met each other when we both lived in Oklahoma years ago.  She moved to Texas and I moved to Kentucky.  But through the window of Facebook, we reconnected.  I share information and she shares from her heart. As in the Christmas story, I didn't even share, God just moved her to fill a need she had no knowldege of. 
The handprint of God.

Inside these boxes were 258 diapers, baby food, bath items and a money card for the mother.


The handprint of God was all over this.

Never dismiss His voice telling you to start something, or to go to that meeting you are not sure about, or post on facebook something He has led you to do.  Never underestimate what He can do with facebook, through people you have not seen in years, what He can do through you. Never underestimate what that small gift He is asking you to give will do for another.  Never underestimate the power of your prayers.  He hears, He works, and it's exciting to see the results!
If His handprint is on it, the blessings will abound and you and others will be truely touched.
 All glory to the Sovereign Handprint!


"What I do you cannot do, but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things with great love, and together we can do something wonderful."
Mother Teresa

A WONDERFUL SIDENOTE
Yesterday on Valentines Day, I interviewed a former homeless teen boy for the book I'm doing about homelessness.  A boy that spent three hours telling me all about his life, a life that has been through much and yet talked about God bringing him through.  He didn't know Jesus though. I got to introduce him to Jesus and explain about what He did for us on the cross, and being the healer of our pain and everything else.  At the end of our time, this young man wanted to accept the greatest gift.  We prayed.  I would like to introduce you to our precious, new brother in Christ.
Please pray with me for God's handprints to be all over this young man and his future.  He wants to be a nurse.