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

Friday, October 19, 2012

Grace in the Mess

"I'm not helping good people or bad people. I'm just helping human beings."  anonoymous
 
A group of ladies wanted to help by giving men under the bridge winter clothes and other such stuff.  But when they heard some were drinking and the older one chose to stay there, they pulled their things back and didn't want to help. . .and they didn't.
 
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." Mother Teresa
 
My insides cringed at this.  Do we only help and share the love of Christ with only those who have their "act together".  How many of those are out there even in the church?  Do we only help and love those who have all their issues fixed and addictions cured and sins forgiven.  Are not these the ones who need it most?
 
"By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just entitiled to as we are."  Bonhoeffer
 
I am friends with a registered sex offender. . .a one time felony long ago that he paid for and repented of.  When I met him he was newly homeless and scared and didn't want to tell me for awhile.  We talked for about an hour and then he shared his past.  I didn't react with horror.  I just asked questions and I listened.  I shared about the love of God and forgiveness.  He wasn't sure.  Over the next several months, God began dealing with him and brought a few others to him that began a bible study and then began taking him to church.  I continued to be his friend along with my husband.
 
Love me most when I deserve it least~Swedish proverb
 
Last March my friend rededicated his life to the Lord and has been very faithful ever since.  My husband and I can even see a change in his body language, his demeanor, his face. 
 
What if people had left the minute they knew about him.  Most of them do.  But the few who stayed, God worked through to reach our friend and now he and we know for sure the address of his permanent home. And he is now sharing the good news and love of Christ with others.
 
Grace was shown on a cross on a hill.  Don't you know it was messy? Messy with blood and thorns and the ugliness and mess of sins of the whole world. But our Savior, our Jesus, our Christ, our Lord, stepped into the mess and poured out grace and love.  He didn't turn his back on me and I for one, have been changed. Have you? Are you grateful?  Enough to step into the mess? 

"Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work."
Mother Teresa


Dear Lord,
I pray for all who step into the messes whether that be in Africa, under the bridge, or in our own homes. All places are filled with people who need your love and encouragement.  Fill the steppers with strength and courage and love that looks past the mess and sees the beauty of your creation. May you give all these precious ones the discernment and wisdom to know the what, the where and the how and that we may not always know the why but we know the One who does. . . You, and that is enough. May we all just trust and obey and love and leave the rest up to you.
Thank you Father for stepping into the messes.
Thank you for bringing beauty out of the messes.
Thank you for not leaving me in the mess.
In Jesus Name,
Amen 


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10 comments:

Anonymous said...

beautiful...your heart...your words...these quotes...all lovely and drip with God’s love. Thanks~

Stacie said...

Well, as my dad would say, "I'm with you when you're right!" And right you are, Kristin. God is willing to step into the messy places of our lives and pull us up. As His children, we should do the same, showing the love God has shown to us. Thank you for keeping us humble.

Denise said...

Very lovely.

Jen said...

Your post makes me think of how 99% percent of being a Christian is just...showing up. Being in the presence of who Jesus would have been in the presence of. And God does the rest. I also think of Luke 6:32. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them." Oh, that we might love with His heart...fully, completely, utterly undone. That all might be brought to the fullness of His Kingdom. Love this post, my friend, jen

Alecia Simersky said...

I agree, and this is a beautiful post. God didn't send Jesus for us to stay in our comfortable cliques and not reach out to a hurting lost world. Love the quotes!!

Jhona O. said...

Beautiful post with words full of truth!

kd sullivan said...

Yes, grace is found in the messy. Otherwise, it wouldn't be called grace.

a joyful noise said...

I don't want to judge the ladies, there may be some deep hurts in their personal lives caused by alchol. Anysay, we don't come in contact with the homeless, but a church near by feeds then twice a week for lunch. They are always asking for good like new tennis shoes, so I scan the thrift shop when I am out and since we don't have personal tennis shoes worth giving at our house, this works for me!

Wise Hearted said...

I am studying the book of James and your post fits right into the scriptures James 2: 2-7. There are lots of reason those ladies might have backed off and if it was wrong judgement God will deal with their hearts. I think it's up to us not to fall into a judgement on them.

You are a good writer, blessings on your new book.

Lisa Maria said...

Beautiful post Kris! Very convicting too! Yes, grace is for the messy stuff in life. Thank God for people with heart of gold like yourself! Just giving love and grace and listening without judgement...you are the face of Christ to others. God bless you my friend! When I grow up I hope I can be like you ;-)