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

Monday, November 28, 2011

Bloopers and Blunders


Why does lingo have to change?  It’s confusing to my little brain.  It puts me in awkward predicaments.  I risk embarrassing my teen-ager, not to mention myself.  Actually, my sweet son does not get embarrassed.  I provide him with much laughter.  I think I make him feel grown up because I give him reasons many times to correct me.

This is not a good problem to have when you decide to write and put it out there for the whole world to see.  I’ll give you an example so you can laugh at me too J . . .I was writing a story and used the word incestuous when what I meant to use was the word incessant. There is just a tad bit of difference in the meanings of these two words. . .oops!

Would you like another example of one of my blunders?  I thought you might.  One time I wrote about being prostrate on the ground in prayer but I wrote the word prostate instead. 

This one cracked up my teen-age niece. . .When I was growing up, what we now call flip-flops, was called something else.  A few years ago, my sister, niece and I were in the car together and it was hot.  I said I couldn’t wait to get home and put on my thongs.  My niece gasped in the back seat saying, “Aunt Kristy, you wear those!?”  I replied, “What’s the problem, everyone wears them, you wear them.”  My sister says through her laughter, “We now call those flip flops” and turned to explain to her daughter that when we were young, people called those thongs.  An innocent mistake.

I made another innocent mistake at my mothers one day, way back when I was much younger and just newly married.  Keith and I were both experiencing achy muscles, so we bought an electric massager, the kind that massages deep into the muscles taking the soreness away.  One day, while in my mother’s kitchen, I was trying to tell her about this new contraption of ours thinking she might like one as she was always complaining of a bad, sore back.  I was explaining how wonderful this vibrator was and it felt so good and she should really try it.  I got that surprised, almost horrified look from my mother, kind of like the one I got from my niece, and then my mother says through her hysterical laughter, “Kristy, call it a massager, not a vibrator.”  Not until she said it, did I realize how the conversation was sounding. . .oops!

Our conversations are to be seasoned with salt. I think my conversations are ok but my vocabulary needs some work, or maybe I need an English lesson, or maybe I just need a fiesta. . .or should that be siesta?  What am I thinking, trying to now go into another language?  I better just stick with my own and learn it better.

But again, it can be so confusing.  When I was young for instance, if you were happy, you were gay.  Today you better be blissful, elated, or even tickled pink.  The last thing I want to do is upset someone, and so I can become anxious as I write, praying that I don’t offend anyone.

I’m wondering if this problem is a middle age problem.  I am nearing the middle of the road number on the ol’ birthday cake.  Or maybe I just need to go back to school.  What class would I sign up for? 

Foot in Mouth 101
Learning How to Talk for the 40 Somethings
How Not to Be a Blooper and Blunderer

That middle one would not work because I was doing this in my twenties and thirties too.

Oh well!  If I give people laughter, even at my expense, so be it.  Laughter is good for the bones, and for the soul.  So if I write or say something funny, strange, or just plain wrong, feel free to correct me.  We could always use a good laugh. 


 In the mean time, I’ll be working on my vocab.

P.S.  I've been asked to talk on the radio this week about the blanket ministry, HA!  With my little vocab problem, this could be really interesting!  Please pray for me!

Linking with. . .


Saturday, November 26, 2011

Love Chooses Over an Empty Plate


I know they meant well.  After the precious son left, I kept being told Proverbs 22:6…”Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, will not depart from it.”   After so many times of hearing this, I just wanted to scream, “So, I’m suppose to wait until he is old!?”  (I’m not a perfect being)

God came in and healed so many ways.  But even with a healed heart, a mother still wonders, how long?  There comes a point when you have to lay down expectations and love no matter what.   It’s a choice.  I choose to love even though there is no college education.  I choose to love even though the hair is long. I choose to love the dirty fingernails. I choose to love even though there are rare phone calls.  I choose to love even though there are few steps over my threshold.  I choose to love even though there are no real explanations.  I choose to love when there are no real answers.  I choose to love when there is green paint on the piano keys.  I choose to love when love does not come back.  I choose to love in spite of the quiet day after day, week after week, month after month.  I choose to love when he comes and when he goes. I choose to love when there is no music. I choose to love as I look at the empty plate.

I choose because I cannot do anything else.  His heart beat inside of me for nine months.  The child came out but the heartbeat still rings inside of me.  He leaves, and yet he is still with me.  I love because I cannot do anything else but love the one I bore, this precious gift from God, how could I but not love, no matter what.

The heart chooses to forgive and love grows even more. . .it lets the Eagle Scout go and accepts whoever comes back, because he is still her precious gift, no matter what the wrapping looks like.  This love trusts her Heavenly Father, knowing He is working on this one, precious even more to Him.  Love stays in the heart, but let’s go, believing it will come back in time as it was meant to be. Love quits asking, “When” and just believes.

“Train up a child in the way he should go and be ready to forgive him.”  Ann Voskamp

Yes, we love, we train, we love, we let go, we love in the hurt, we love in the forgiveness, we just love, because we mothers were made to love.

We love because He first loved us.

1 John 4:19

. . .perplexed, but not in despair!
11 Corinthians 4:8


*(sorry, next post will be cheerier)*

Friday, November 25, 2011

Thanksgiving Morning, 2011

Thanksgiving morning at our Salvation Army. . .2011. . .a beautiful day. . .

A day of serving, giving, visiting, loving, and writing down the blessings. . .

crew getting 450-500 blankets out of 5 large SUV's.


beautiful children





beautiful people







beautiful prayer time between him and his Lord
beautiful conversation about the God we serve
my beautiful friends
y
our beautiful kids and helpers
beautiful servers

beautiful words left on the table covers




serving and sharing and loving in Christ's name. . .a beautiful thing!
God bless all of them!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

WAIT!

Before you indulge, sorry, eat that wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, ponder on this for just a minute.  Matthew 5:6 say, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.”  As good as that turkey, potatoes, and gravy will be, to be filled with righteousness is even better.
            I used to think it didn’t sound right; it wasn’t humble to say or even think, “I am righteous.”  But that was because I didn’t completely understand the word.  When I trusted in Christ 37 years ago, I exchanged my sin for His righteousness.  The bible says our sin was poured into Christ at His crucifixion and His righteousness was poured into me (us believers), at our conversion.  It was a gift I gladly and humbly accept.  I am righteous, not because of anything I have done, but all because of what Christ has done for me.  I am clothed in it.  When God sees me, He sees His Son.  He doesn’t see my sin, He sees His beloved.  How awesome is that?!  That is something truly to be so thankful for!  Now what I can say and feel good about is this…I am righteous in God’s eyes.
            Before you bite into the turkey, remember to thank Him for already filling you with His righteousness, and then go ahead and fill up on that wonderful meal.  Don’t forget to thank the cook also!
“The righteous eat to their hearts content.
Proverbs 13:25


                                               

Friday, November 18, 2011

All I Want For Christmas Is. . .

. . .one goat,













Two chickens. . .


five ducks. . .


and a couple of mosquito nets. . .



After being around the homeless, reading books such as Revolution in World Missions, Radical, and Kisses from Katie, materialism has taken a back seat for me.  For over a year, closer to two, the Lord has been laying it on my heart to live more simply and do without all the store bought things.  I haven't shopped in a mall in a long time.  When I do go into a store and see all the pretty trinkets that I used to ooh and ahh at, now almost give me a sick feeling.  My mind goes to all the ones who don't even have enough food to eat and the thought of buying a trinket just doesn't seem right anymore.

 I'm not condeming those of you who do, please don't hear that!  It's just that the Lord has layed this on MY heart and so I feel this is how I need to and want to be now.  When my son started college this past semester, my husband and I didn't have the cash for it and we did not want to take out loans that would take forever to pay back.  So we became even more frugal than we had been and somehow with the help from the Lord, we have paid the first year of college in cash.  Only from the Lord!!!  We learned that we could live without much, make what we did have go further, do without vacations and new things for the home and yard.  My garden beds were emptier this past year but my heart fuller knowing we were living a more pleasing way in the Lord's sight, again this is my conviction, not speaking for anyone else here.

I received a catalog from World Vision and was excited to think that this Christmas instead of gifts underneathe my tree for me, I wanted the money that would be spent on me to be spent on a goat, two chickens and some mosquito netting. 

The world's deadliest creature, the mosquito, kills nearly 800,000 people every year.  While preventing this malaria infection in inexpensive by U.S. standards, it's out of reach for poor African families who must watch helplessly as their children suffer and die.  One of the best ways to protect children from Malaria - bed nets - as well as critical education for prevention and control.

The ducks and chickens will produce hundreds of nutritious, protein-rich eggs to feed a family year round.  And both eggs and ducklings can be sold for extra income.

Dairy goat milk provides great protein to help children grow.  The family can sell surplus milk, cheese, and yogurt at the market to earn money for medicines and other necessities.  Plus, fertilizer from goats can increase the amount of vegetables grown in a family garden. 

To me, this sounds more beautiful than a pretty trinket or something for my home that would collect dust.

If you would like to consider giving in this way please go to the online website of World Vision at http://www.worldvisiongifts.org/  and see what you could give this Christmas season to a family in need.

Another wonderful place to go to shop is http://www.amazima.org/. . .you can buy beaded necklaces made by the Ugandian women and the money goes back to them so they can support their families.  With this, you do end up with something pretty around your neck or can give to a loved one.

These kind of gifts change lives. . .these kind of gifts can save lives!

And if you would like to give a gift to the homeless, instant coffee or coffee bags would be a wonderful gift, maybe along with a coffee mug. Hot chocolate and cider bags would be great. Also a great gift would be warm, wool socks.

Please pray about what God would have you do this Christmas shopping season.  Let's give a Merry Christmas to those who really need it.  The cheer will come in the giving.

words from Katie from her book Kisses From Katie. . .
"Lord.  . .help me to never be too busy or too comfortable to rememeber the people who suffer. Help me to never stop desiring to do something about it.  Lord help us to remember that as the body of Christ, this is our responsibility.  Thank you for loving us even when we forget."

May we never forget

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

You Want Me To Do What?!

The South-Central Kentucky Coalition on Homeless Group became public and official on November 15, 2011.  That's me on the far left. . .

What in the world am I doing there?!


I am standing with a group of professionals who represent professional businesses such as Hotel, Inc., Salvation Army, LifeSkills, Community Action, WKU Alive Center, the Housing Authority.  And then there is me. . .a housewife of 30 years whose calling was to her family and her home.  My children are not little anymore, 23 and 18.  One day I asked the Lord, now what would you have me do?  That is when He pestered me, ummm, told me to start writing.  Me, a writer, HA!  I have no experience.  But I shakily obeyed and my blog took off.  Not because of me, but because of HIM!

Then I heard, "hand the homeless blankets."  WHAT!  Me?!  I wouldn't know where to start.  But I shakily obeyed and have handed out over 1000 blankets in two winters with a great start on this third winter coming.  I've made friends with ones I would have never met if I had not obeyed the Lord's promptings.

Then I received a phone call asking me to come to a meeting.  ME?!  I'm just a housewife. . .do housewives go to meetings?  But I heard that familiar voice say, "Go."  I shakily went.  I took a friend who is also a housewife and mother.  She is not pitiful like me though.  She gives me courage.  :)   And before I knew it, the South-Central Kentucky Coalition on Homelessness was born and I was there!  I felt like I shouldn't be there.  Everyone was talking about MOU's. . .I'm thinking, "what's an MOU?  I soon learned that meant, Memorandum of Understanding. . . OHHH.  I kept hearing statistics, numbers, 501(C)3 non-profit organizations, IRS fees, CoC, Grant Acts and on and on and on. "Lord, remember me, little ol' housewife who knows nothing."  NOW, He decides to be quiet and leave me there.  But as I picture the people I have met underneath the bridges, on park benches, sitting on the walking bridge, at Salvation Army, my heart goes out to them.  Some have become my friends.  I can give this new group above a face. . .faces for who they so tirelessly work for.  The homeless have to come to these organizations to get help, many of who do not know about.  I can bring the people to these organizatons if they will let me. 

Is this my job, Lord?  
"Just be their friends, show My love to them, and I will take care of the details, I will show you your steps in My time."   OK, I get it.  Keep obeying as I go and He will direct my steps.  I can do that.  And with each step I take, I am blessed.  

My and my friend's job for this meeting above?  Supply the food.  Oh yeah, we can do that.
 
with the help of

and the beautiful table courtesy of my friend Leigha. . .the brave one.

What will happen because of this group?  I'm not sure yet.  But I will hang around and see what is up God's sleeve.  And as I think about my new friends that I have met out there on the streets. . .I smile as I think of the blessings I have received and I would not have ever met them if I had stayed in my comfort zone. . .my home, my empty home during the day. . .my home that would have been very clean, but my soul would have been kinda empty for not have meeting the precious souls that I have. . .these souls that Jesus love. . .and I'm learning to love. . .

 


Stay tuned to see what happens as I learn myself.  It could be interesting!

What has God said to you that made you go, WHAT?!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Eucharist and Gifts

I had the priveledge of watching Greg experience his first communion in our church yesterday.  It was something.  He was curious, he seemed excited, and then he seemed humbled.  He held on to the little cup for the longest time before putting it into the holder.  Later towards the end of the sermon, he picked the cup back up looking into it for the longest time.

Greg sang as we sang praise songs.  He listened intently to the pastor, sometimes closing his eyes, head back, smiling big, saying Amen with passion several times.  When we left the church building, he said, "You may think I'm crazy but I think that pastor was speaking right at me, it was if it was written just for me."  I told him that was the Holy Spirit working on him.

My husband Keith said to me later when it was just the two of us, "You know, Greg has 46 years of crust built up and God is chipping it away bit by bit."  For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:10  

Last week Greg said to us, "I know I'm a bit rough around the edges, but Jesus is smoothing me out."  At another time he said, "I'm like that clay that the Bible talks about, and Jesus is molding me."  Yes, I'm watching the Master build his masterpiece and I can't wait to see what God has prepared for Greg!


#865.  experiencing Greg's first communion
866.  the wafer
867.  the juice
868.  hearing Greg sing the praise songs with meaning
869.  hearing Greg Amening in church service from deep with-in
870.  watching God chip away bit by bit
871. moulding and sandings
872.  raised hands
873.  bowed heads
874.  prayers from the heart
875.  manners (Greg always opens the doors for me)
876.  hearing him introduce me as his sister-in-Christ
877.  my newest brother-in-Christ
878.  Eucharist

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."  Luke 22:19

In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." Luke 22:19-20

878.  remembering


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