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

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Why I Gave 40 Things Away

My One Word for 2013 is
 
You can read my post about it here.
 
One of the things that was laid on my heart on February 13 of this year was to give away 40 things from my home.  I wasn't too sure why at first but had an inkling.  I told God to show me how He wanted me to give and I would do it. 
 
I felt led to put a message out on facebook that I was giving away one thing of mine a day for 40 days. People were giving up food, habits, luxuries, etc. for 40 days for Lent, leading up to Easter. I figured I would give away things, never to be returned. I would post a picture of it on facebook and whoever wanted it could comment.  Then I put all names in a bowl that evening and randomely picked a name and that is who won the item for that day.
 
I prayed that this would not be just about giving things to clean out my house but that there would be some meaning to whoever got what, that there would be a blessing for them. Then I left it in God's Hands to do whatever His will was.
 
 
Since growing up in a rather poor family and one that never did extra...I tended as a grown-up to hang on to things. Some might say that's not such a bad thing, but having clothes taking up space in the closet that were only fashionable 20 years ago and you haven't worn them in the last 10...yeah, I'd say there's something wrong there.  And what about books that have sat on the shelves for YEARS...they just collect dust. And those earrings that you haven't worn since 1998?
 
I pondered and thought maybe I had a fear that if I got rid of things, I might never get anything more?  Pathetic, I know.  And then a couple of years ago, the Lord started moving on my heart to live a simpler life.  We already lived a simple life, but my mind kept going back to all that stuff in the closets, drawers, shelves, attic.  Why was I hanging on to it?  Could it be a blessing to someone out there?  I wanted to declutter, I wanted less to dust, I wanted less of stuff and more of HIM!
 
I believe it all started a couple of years ago when I read a book and then watched a video of J. P. Yohannan. His book, Revolution in World Missions.
And then I read the book Radical by David Platt.
Both ask the question. . ."How much stuff do we really need?"
I thought that was a very good question.
 
And then after being in the homeless community where people have nothing or very little and strive to just survive each day, well, I just couldn't seem to get away from that. The why of it didn't matter to me.
When I would walk back into my home and see all that I had, yes, I was very grateful, and yet I knew. . .I didn't need all this and it came to the point where I didn't want it.  It all gave me a sick feeling.
 
And then I heard Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love, ask questions like. . .
"Are you too attached to things?"
Do you feel safer the more you have?"
Are you clouded by all the stuff around you?"
The answer might have been yes years ago, but
I felt the answer to these questions now were no for me but it made me ponder.
 
Do I feel safe completely because I am His?
Or do I feel safe because of my stuff?
Do I make comfort an idol?
Could I give things up that I've had for years and be just as happy. . .or happier?
 
And then a FB friend of mine wrote this,
"When He gives us more than we need, that abundance is His, not ours, and is allocated somewhere else. We are the channel, that's all. . .upliving our living standard is never the point. For that matter, nothing I "own" is mine if I belong to Christ."
 
And then the challenge came in my heart with Lent coming up. . .
Could I find and give away 40 items from my home?
Could I let go?
I wanted to take it on.
And so I did.
 
I didn't need that cookie press and decorators kit.  It sat in my garage for 8 years and I never once used it!
 
I didn't need those baseball earrings that I wore to my sons every little league game...those boys are now 20 and 25!
 
I didn't need that big, pink Easter Bonnet . . .I don't look good in hats!
 
And the purple ring with bling. . .well, I'm not too much of a bling girl anymore, but it was SO fun to see who was:)
 
And then I heard that still, small voice say, Can you give up what you really like for me? Yes! You all know I'm a book lover, so I gave books away. And movies. And another purple ring that was really pretty and a cross-stitched picture I had put many, many hours into and more stuff.
Have I missed any of it.
No!
 
If anyone is thinking if I think it's wrong for people to have "stuff", the answer is no.  
For me, just too many things were pointing me in this direction. It was something I pondered on many times. I decided it was time to take action.
 
I know where my security and comfort lie. I know where my joy comes from.
 My Supplier, my Provider, Jehovah Jirah.
I will accept my provisions but I won't uplift my living standard.
I won't stuff my shelves and closets with anymore stuff.
I want to and will continue to give in however He leads me day by day.
I am content! I am happy! I am joyful!
 
I let go. Oh, to let go of things. . .OH, so freeing!
 
And if you're wondering, "Did she empty her house?" LOL, No. It's not about giving it all away and becoming a monk somewhere. I hope you understood.
 
This Give Away was so much fun for me and such a joy!
 
"I have found among it's other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver."
Maya Angelou
 
For all those who played along and became the receivers, thank you.
It's hard to give if no one ever receives.
 
 
And in your receiving, you helped to give me a gift. . .the gift of freedom and simplicity.
Thank you!
 
P.S. ~ Come back in a few days to see what my 40th give away gift was. I will also be giving it away here :)
 
 
linked with
Missional Women
 
 
 

8 comments:

Shari England said...

Excellent post Kristin. Very thought provoking as well. As I was of all the things you didn't use, my thought shifted to things I DO want. Then so did yours. :) This is definitely worth pondering a little more. Oh and...I don't look good in hats either.

She Stands said...

What a beautiful post Kris!! It amazes me the things we hold on to that we really don't need.....All we need is Him!!!

Blessings to you!!
Stacey

Denise said...

Bless you for constantly giving your heart away.

kd sullivan said...

I love how you've decided not to give something up, but just to give something. Great twist on an old idea.

Wise Hearted said...

Precious post Kristin...lovely idea...one I may try and not wait for Lent. I am getting ready to clean out some of my thing. It's more of a self thing for me, I don't like clutter but you have put a wonderful twist on it. You are so right none of it is ours, it all belongs to the Lord. Blessings and Happy Easter

Unknown said...

I think it's great when you do what you feel you should be doing. You gain so much from doing that. I am visiting with DYWW blog hop. I am a new follower.

http://agutandabutt.blogspot.com/

Maryellen said...

Well, better late than never, I guess, to finally get on here and read WHY you were giving your things away...obviously, some of them meant something to you at one time, but your heart has grown so big and you have learned the true meaning of giving...what a beautiful twist on Lent...I would like to give things away and have someone totally excited about receiving...that is, for me, the best part of giving. So much has been given to me and I am so blessed...seems silly to me now all the collectibles and stuff that I thought I wanted, needed. All I need is Jesus and his gift. So thank you, for this gift...this thought, and I plan to implement. Thanks for sharing what God laid on your heart to do...

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