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

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Standing True



In one of my devotional readings today. . .
Treasure God’s Word. You must develop a love for God’s Word and build your life around it. There is no other way to resist the world’s pressure.

My second born has done just this. It has been evident in his 13 years as a Christian, but even more evident this past week.  He is a sophmore in college and going for a double major of Religious Studies and Graphic Arts Design.  For the Religious Studies he had to take an Asian Religion class and so has been in a Hinduism class this past semester. It was very hard for him and at the end of the semester he was carrying a grade of 71.  The end assignment was to visit a Hindu temple and write a paper on it.  He did this just fine. But the second assignment was to make up a god, draw a picture of it, give it a name and describe what it was a god of, showing that he understood the Hindu practices. 

Christopher began to do this assignment but the more he got into it, the heavier his heart became. He struggled with it because of what God's Word says. . .there shall be no other gods before me. I knew he was picturing the Israelites making their wooden and golden gods and how destructive that was. He came to me and said he was going to refuse to do this assignment and warned me that he could flunk the class. I'm ashamed to say, the first thing I thought of had to do with money.  We struggle to pay for each semester but God has provided each time, but with much frugalness on our part. All I could think of in the beginning was how the money for this class would be wasted, his GPA would drop and we would lose the KEYS money for school books, and wondered how expensive taking summer school was going to cost. But then I looked at my son internally struggling with doing something he felt so convicted about and the dollar signs went right out the window.  I was proud of him for being so convicted and standing loyal to his Lord and Savior.  He knew he might have to give up his summer for making up the class and he knew and was willing to give up all his savings to help pay for the extra class or for books the next semester.

After praying about it myself I told him that doing this assignment was not like what he was thinking about.  He was just making up a character for an assignment, just as he would a character for art class, that he was not making a god to bow down and worship. I truely believe that our God knows his heart and that it would have been ok.  Christopher talked with our pastor and a couple of other men at church he respects and they told him the same thing.  Christopher sat in the chair in the living room again with the assignment for the longest time.  I could see him struggling. His dad and I told him we would stand behind him either way.

He wrote the professor and told him he just could not do the assignment and could he be given a different one to do.  The teacher said it was too late to change. Christopher sat in the chair in our living room again for a long time, being very quiet.  I knew he was praying and I knew that whatever he came away with, I had to honor and I wanted to honor. Even if it meant losing money and struggling more, I was so proud of my son and I knew God would honor him for his loyalty. I knew God would provide however He saw fit.

My young man left for school the next morning with a peace and I began my day with peace. God is our Lord, not money, not assignments, not anything else. My young man's foundation is strong.  That is much more important to me than a passing grade. That foundation will carry him far. I may become a broke momma, but I am one proud momma!

 
Psalm 119:9-16
 
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your Word. . .Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You."
 
 

PS~ the final outcome of the class will not be known for a couple of weeks but for Christopher's stand on convictions and for the strength of his heart and loyalty. . .A+!


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16 comments:

Lisa Maria said...

Hi Kris...I've been offline for a while, its been really hectic around here so I was just catching up on some reading and it did my heart good (as always) to visit your place.

How proud you must be of your boy...I can only imagine! I've been thanking God for my own daughters too. There's so much in the world to pull at our children and its truly a blessing to a mother to see hearts that are steadfast and loving.

I know things will work out for Christopher...God rewards the faithful after all!

Rejoicing with you...
Lise

Stacie, A Firefighter's Wife said...

I couldn't be more proud of you and your son. Such conviction. It will serve him well as he faces even tougher decisions in the future. God is strengthening him and building his faith. I can't wait to see how He will provide and make a way. Money is nothing to Him.

Tell him how much this stand means to me. I had to take a similar stand in high school. i was mocked and ridiculed, but I didn't budge. I know God honored that. I was a mediocre Christian back then, too.

A plus indeed!!!!!

joy said...

I was so touched by your sons devotion to God and i was teary eyed reading this post.
You are blessed having him and he is blessed having you and God.

Stacie said...

I agree, Kristin! Your sons devotion to our Lord is so special and honorable. I'm glad that he followed the convictions of his heart--we should never grieve the Holy Spirit of God, even if others feel like the choice would be okay. Your son has to walk out his own journey with God and I am so glad that you and your husband are standing by him.
This carries so much weight in eternity!!!!! A+ for sure!

P.S. I know you know this, but God will provide AND He rewards the faithful!
:)

Jennie Lathrop said...

SO proud of Christopher! I admire him for being more concerned with God's approval than man's. He will be blessed abundantly for this stand, no doubt about that. You and Keith have every right to be proud parents! He is a testimony to your faithfulness and God's glory.

Eileen said...

What a pivotal moment in your son's life. Such a very hard age to stand firm to your convictions.

Denise said...

Your son is a precious blessing.

Kristin Bridgman said...

Thank you ladies for beaming with me. All of you are momma's and I know you understand. ;)
Have a great week-end!

a joyful noise said...

I appload your son for being strong in his belief.

I was a good one to do work arounds. I probably would have tried to submit the picture and the summation.
This is a picture of a hindu God and the Apostle Paul told us that many worship god's made of wood and stone and not the true God. This god represents to the Hindu bla bla bla He believes that this god will do this or that for him. (but this god does not bring peace and forgiveness of sin.) I probably would have failed the course! Thank for sharing at Tell me a Story! Amazing young man your son.!

Connie said...

Your son will always remember the struggle and the moment he felt GOD's Light and Peace flood his soul. As all Heaven waited, he followed His Savior...what joy!

bluecottonmemory said...

It's hard when our children's beliefs are challenged - and so celebratory when they stand firm. The college writing teacher in me would have suggested trying to fulfill the assignment paralleled with Acts 17:16-34 - the unknown God. I wonder if there's a way that would have worked.

Donna said...

Good for him. God is working. Try appealing to the Dean. If people can register children in school without immunizations because of "religious convictions" then surely an assignment could be changed. Perhaps he could suggest an alternative. Better to try now then to wait until the grade is given.

Floyd said...

I give him an A++++++++++++! Our God is not short of cash... We're just short of faith sometimes and we are woefully short of people with courage to stand up for the right cause; people like your son. As a man in a lost world I find comfort and encouragement from the actions of your son. He is a leader and God is grooming him for a purpose. The seeds planted and sewn in his life as a child have come home to blossom with the strength of depth and character in God. Awesome news and post. Please pass my congratulations on to your son. And congratulations to you and your husband. Well done.

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

I feel he should have spoken out and made a stand in the beginning. When he was told to make a God, he could have written about Jesus and had a picture of him and said, "This is my God.I have made up what he looks like, he is the one I worship." Its amazing when you stand on your convictions how it can turn out for good. I always spoke out when I was at University. A tertiary education is to teach us through self learning. It is not there to take away one's own convictions.I pray it all works out well for your son, God will stand with Him.

Kristin Bridgman said...

He tried to get a different assignment and told the teacher why. The teacher would not let him. The teacher would not have accepted Jesus as the God. Christopher asked if he could do the paper on a god already made. He was told no. This was a Hinduism class and the god had to be a completely made up one with the Hinduism characteristics. I believe Christopher's stand spoke loud and clear about who his God is and about his loyalty and service to Him. I believe God will honor his decision.

caryjo said...

I SO agree with him!!! An assignment to draw another god, to attend another temple? I know MUCH and I could tell you more and more of what I know from one of my ministries. Caution is a good thing ... PREcaution is a great thing. I made one huge mistake in this area in Morocco. Touristy issue I didn't turn aside from. Kicked my tail for MONTHS with depression and I hadn't had the reason hit the surface. Finally it did and, through prayer and repentance, had immediate spiritual and healing results.

Hope the teacher will come to understanding. Glad you are supporting your son. That will be/could be a long-time blessing.