Why I Want To Go To Bed at 7pm!

I am more a night owl than an early morning person.  I can get up early if I have to, and I can go to bed early, 9-10 if I need to, but I have never wanted to go to bed at 7pm. . .until now.  Why, you may ask, do I want to go to bed at 7 pm?  I'll show you why. . .

Yep, I started riding my bike again.  When I was in my 30's, my husband got this big idea that we would ride across the state of Oklahoma, where we lived at the time.  But that takes training, and training I did.  He and would ride every day after he got of off work, and I worked my way up to 20-25 miles at a time.  Then he entered us into a race at Oklahoma University to see how I could handle a 30 mile ride.  I handled it.  I finished it!  I was next to last across the line, but I finished it.  I was in bed the next day sick.  Oklahoma ride would have to wait.  That ride is around 50 miles every day for a week.  There was no way I could get back on the bike the second day. 

Then life happened, we moved to Kentucky, I got older.  I got softer.  I got lazier.  I didn't like it.  So I got my bike out of retirement, blew the dust off and hopped on and took off.  The bike just isn't the same at 50 as it is at 38.  I went 3 miles and had to take a break.  Then I went another 3 miles, 6 in all.  Ok, that's not good, but not bad for someone who hasn't ridden in years.  The second day, I got on again and rode 6 miles.  Now I'm walking like a cowboy, if you know what I mean, Yippie Yi Ay!  Third day I got on, and raising off the seat every chance I got.  I only went 3 miles this day.

This is how a soft 50 year old looks after day 3 on her bike. . .

not very pretty. 

I WAAAANNNAAA QUIT!!!

But my one word for this year is discipline.  Oh why didn't I pick a word like. . .oh, I don't know. . .

maybe sleeper, lounger,

eater of more chocolate. Oh wait, that's not one word. AND, those words would not be very God honoring. It's ok to sleep, lounge and eat chocolate, but not to excess. But I think discipline would be fine in excess. Sleeping, lounging and eating chocolate is what can make a person lazy, soft and undisciplined. Oh, that may be why the word discipline came to my mind when I was trying to pick one out.  It was what I needed.

This is harder than I thought!

But I'm not a giver upper.

I will straddle the seat, put my shoes to the pedal, and go. I just hope I can make it past my street one day!

Thoughts on discipline:

Master your mood; live by your committment, not your emotions

(I will not cry, I will not cry)

Put your mind in gear before your mouth.

(I will be positive and put mind and bike in gear before whining!)

Stick to a schedule.

(make the best use of time God gives)

"Everyone one of you should learn to control his/her body, keeping it pure and treating it with respect"

First Thessalonians 4:4

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love and self-control."

Second Timothy 1:7

"I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me."

Phillipians 4:13

I'm off to find those padded bike shorts I used to have.

Please pray for me!  ;)

Is God calling you to be disciplined in an area?

Tell me about it and I will pray for you.

Blessings~

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How To Stay Cool When Others Get Hot

It's been a HOT summer this year. I love to be outside. I'm the one who does most of the yardwork. I love it, but I don't love the sweat, oops. . .I mean glow. (I have a friend who says we women don't sweat, we glow) Well, I have glowed a lot this summer!

It's been a HOT summer in more ways than one and it has made me sad. The beloved chicken chain, Chick-Fil-A has been bombarded by people who support same sex relationships and marriages because the founder politely anwered questions about his beliefs on marriage. They were the ones being ugly and hateful, not Mr. Cathy, the founder of the chain. Being a Christian, he just spoke what he believed, what he stood for and that was what God spoke in His Holy Word, a one man, one woman marriage. God created marriage this way, no one else.  Mr. Cathy was not ugly. The chain never turns anyone away, they are gracious to all their customers. He just stated what he believed. End of story. . .NOT!

It's easy to get angered over the ugliness of others when you see that it is not called for. But I have a very funny and very smart friend who I believe put her thoughts down very well. With her permission, here is her little chat with the Lord one morning. . .

Are you really surprised that those who cry out so loudly for tolerance are so intolerant of any view besides their own?? But Lord….do you know how hard it is to put on a sweet face and love Roseanne Barr when she says that everybody that eats at ChickFilA should get the cancer they deserve…ReALLY?....you expect me to love people like that??? Lord…hello? Are you there? Hang on a sec…I’m spelli...ng it out for you since you seem to have trouble understanding plain English….Y--E--S!!!! How many times do I have to tell you?? I didn’t put some kind of wimpy little love inside of you that only loves the people that show love back…..I put MAGNIFICENT, SUPERNATURAL LOVE inside of you that in the face of hatred and insults will stand there and NOT waver from love. CoMPReNDe?? Wait…did you just call me a wimp, Lord?? Yeah…pretty much…lol! Ok…I can see you still don’t quite get it….here’s a copy of the The Passion….go watch it and then we’ll talk again….and while you’re doing that, I’m going to go smile a while at Mr. Cathy and remind him of a few things….:o)

Kathy Young

"Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

When you feel you're getting hot under the collar. . .just have a chat with the Lord. . .He will cool you off.

And now, for some inspiration OR comic relief. . .however you see it. . .introducing . . .

Mr. Tim Hawkins

Mr. Cathy, you are loved and so is your restaurant!  And may all those who seem so angry know us by our love, HIS love through us, just as you have shown it to millions.

I'll have a chicken sandwich and a lemonade please!

The Big House On The Corner

"There is nothing to writing.  All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."
Ernest Hemingway

On this particular day, I was sitting under the big tree in my backyard, enjoying the shade and peacefulness of my place in the country. I was counting my blessings.  A soft breeze was blowing across my skin and my eyes closed.  I, for some reason, was immediately taken back to my very first home, 50 years ago, to the tiny duplex. . .the only place I ever lived with both my mother and father.

Remember, this was a duplex. My family only lived on one side, the left side, away from the driveway. Two bedrooms, one tiny bathroom and no washer and dryer. . .that was up the street in a laundromat.

My mom and dad slept on the fold out sofa in the living room so my big brother could have one bedroom and my sister and I shared the other bedroom.

Dad left when I was six.  My brother had run away from home and then into the Army.  It was just my mother, big sister and me. My mother did not receive help raising us, and suffering from depression, it was hard for her.  But she kept a job and somehow God smiled down on us and we moved to the big house on the corner, across the street.

I thought we were rich because there was a garage, a third bedroom and an attic.  Only rich people had attics and basements I thought.  But we did not have a doorbell.  That was for the very wealthy.

It wasn't until the men from church came in one time with grocery bags for us that I realized we were not rich, we were poor.  I was mad.  I was too young to understand but I knew I was mad.

This was the house where my mother began to fall apart.  But in those times, she always managed to get my sister and I to the front doors of Sequoyah Hills Baptist Church every Sunday.  She drove back home after dropping us off.  Jesus was known in my family, but within my house, it was to church and back and prayers at the dinner table and maybe at bedtime.  But somehow, in His way, God spoke to my twelve year old heart in that house and I said, "Yes, Jesus, come in."  I told my mother in the living room of that house and she and I prayed together.  That was the beginning of a new relationship with me and the Lord and at the same time my relationship with my mother was ending. Depression can do awful things. Two years later I was taken to live with my grandmother until the age of 19 when I married.

Nine years later, God whispered in my heart it was time to call my mother.  I did. That summer night, 27 years ago, healing happened. She became my best friend that night and still is to this day.

The big house was certainly nothing fancy, although my mother even in her sickness, knew how to decorate with the least of things.  She had an eye for details and knew how to sew and put things together.  Even though the family was in somewhat of a chaos, she made it a home as best as she could.

My worst memories were in that house and the best decision I ever made was made in that house.  God came into that home and rescued me from my sin and from sadness.  It was in that big house that I began to learn that I was loved no matter what, and it was the beginning of trusting my Lord and Savior.  When I was confused or hurt or lonely, He was there to give me what I needed. 

My mother evenutally left the big house and moved elsewhere and it was in that new home of hers that God met her on the bedroom floor and began a healing.  You can read about this here.

When I left the big house on the corner all those years ago, I never wanted to see it again.  But years later after becoming a mother myself in Arkansas, I entered Tulsa, Oklahoma one week, and felt I had to see it again.  When my husband and I drove up the street heading towards it at the other end, my heart began to race.  I prayed as we slowly came closer and evenually stopped in front.  I just sat and looked at it for awhile. It seemed so long ago, as it was, but I could still see the little girl inside.  But I wasn't sad anymore, for that little girl grew up knowing she was saved and one day would be going to a mansion in the sky.

God is so good to remove the hurts and pains. The memories of the big house are still there, but the pain has been removed. The healing came in and relationships restored.

This is where I became the Kris who was forgiven. This is where I remember starting my prayer life.  This is the house I walked away from feeling so alone, not yet realizing just how not alone I was.  He walked with me from that house into a new life and I have never been alone since.

As I looked at the big house, I smiled because I had my mother back. The devil had not won.  My mother was healed.  I was healed.  The enemy had been defeated in this one.

"God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Psalm 46:1

He was my refuge and strength as well as my mom's.

Thank you Lord!

"The Lord is good. He is a stronghold in the day of trouble"

Nahum 1:7

Thank you Lord for being our stronghold in those days!

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them, and make the rough places smooth.  These are the things I will do; I will not forsake you.

Isaiah 42:16

Thank you Lord for turning our darkness into light and making the rough places smooth. Thank you for never forsaking us!

"The greater the trial, the sweeter the victory"

George Muller

Thank you Lord from my mom and I both for sweet victories!

Because He bled for me, I bleed no more.

I share now with only praise and giving glory to God!

That day I visited the house, I left with a peace and a still heart.  God was with me and I know one day I will be in a big house in my new place when the Lord calls me home. 

You can visit the past, but don't stay there. 

Remember, leave behind the bad, take the good, learn and move forward.

Jesus came to me in the big house.

We visited it once more.

I remembered.

I praised Him.

We drove away.

E.E. Cummings is known to have said,

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."

I say it takes faith in God to lead you where you need to go,

to become the person He created you to be,

and to step forward each day being who you are. . .

a child of God.

Back in my own back yard this day, I opened my eyes to see my own home I share with my husband and son.  God moved to Kentucky with me and I was holding His hand all the way because courage flows from that arm of His right into me. . .right into you.

Do you need courage to become who you really are?  Take His righteous right hand and step forward in faith. He will lead the way. 

"Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ and go out into the irresistible future with Him"

Oswald Chambers

The big house on the corner is far away now, in miles and in the mind.

I look forward to the day I go to my real home.  I don't know if there will be attics, basements, or doorbells.  It doesn't matter.  All that matters is that I will be with Him, my Savior, my Heavenly Father, the keeper of the big house . . .His kingdom. And all will be well.

Continuing the count. . .

1241.  refuge in HIM

1242.  strength from HIM

1243.  a stronghold in the days of trouble

1244.  experiencing the smoothness after the roughness

1245.  victories

1246.  able to leave the past at the bosom of Christ

1247.  my beautiful mother (inside and out)

Have you learned from things past?

Have you left the past at the bosom of Christ?

Are you letting God lead you where you need to go, to become who He made you to be?

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You Know You're A Blogger When. . .

. . .you start carrying a camera everywhere you go.

. . .every sentence sounds like a post title.

. . .you have post it notes all over the room with post ideas.

. . .when you start having dreams at night about your posts.

. . .when you've learned what HTML code is and how to transfer it.

. . .you understand what a link party is.

. . .when you see a field of cow patties and your first thought is, "How could that be made into a post?"

. . .when you burn your pot holders and you immediately take a picture of them and write a post about it.

. . .when you see your button on other's blog sites.


. . .when you're willing to devulge your age for the sake of a post.

. . .when you begin to have a lot more friends from around the world than you do in your small circle.

. . .when you devulge the most vulnerable part of yourself, your, hurts, your craziness, praying it will help others.

. . .when people start coming to you, telling how your posts have helped and they share their stories with you.

. . .when people begin to publish your stories.

Never in a million years did I ever think I would write to share with the world. But then God spoke the word "Write" and I ignored.  He spoke again and I argued, He spoke again and again and again.  He kept telling me, "Share from your heart, and I will do the rest." I weakly said, "Ok." 

I'm so glad I did.   It has become a joy to write, to learn, to make new friends, even to become vulnerable and share hard things, because it has brought many to me who have shared their hard stories with me and we have the priveledge to bring these things before the Lord together.

What an honor that is and as I've said before, may all the things from this place bring glory and honor to the One who started all of this.
And if anything is good here, it is all from Him.

Thank you Father!

"It's a strange thought that sometimes God trusts us more

than we trust Him. Maybe all along He was saying "I knew

you could. I know what's in you. I know what's in you

because I am in you. And I am your all surpassing power

in a jar of clay. Watch me show off,

from the inside out".

Beth Moore


still counting the blessings with the blessing counters over at
Ann Voskamp's place. . .

1226.  dictionaries
1227.  encyclopedias
1228.  thesarus
1229.  spell check
1230.  google search
1231.  blog land
1232.  cyber friends
1233. faith and encouragement coming through the screen
1234.  send buttons
1235.  delete buttons
1236.  Blue Letter bible search
1237.  my cheerleaders
1238.  being trusted by the Almighty
1239.  being loved by my Lord
1240.  knowing I'm saved because of my Savior

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Crackpot

I opened up the e-mail and there it was.  An invitation to step out of another comfort zone.  An invitation to come speak at a church about the blanket ministry for the homeless I had started several years ago.  I actually had spoke at this church last year and they wanted me to come back to give an update and share whatever I wanted.  That familiar knot hit me right in the stomach and I typed out “yes” to the invitation.

Speaking in front of a group of people whether it’s 50 or 500, the numbers do not matter, it’s just the act of getting up in front of people with all eyes on me that makes me nervous.  I don’t know why.  It’s probably selfish.  It’s not about me and I know that.  And I’m passionate about the homeless.  They have become my friends.  That is why I can say yes, even though I’m shaking like a leaf.  I also can say yes, because I know these invitations are from God and I also believe His promises. . .like the one that says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

A friend responded to me on fb with this quote. . . “The bigger the discomfort, the bigger the blessing.”  So true! After every time of stepping out of the comfort zone, I am blessed big time!  I am beginning to see the discomfort as a blessing, because when the blessing comes at the end, I know it’s all God.  It’s God who speaks through me, it’s God who reaches out and touches, it’s God who does the work.  He’s just using this crackpot of a vessel and it is a privilege to be used by Him.  I always pray before I leave the house to go speak that all glory would go to Him, my Father, my Savior.  And it does.  And this makes me happy, sometimes giddy.

I think being a crackpot can be good in some ways because then the light can shine through it.  It also allows the cruddy stuff to run out so it can be filled with the good.  So maybe, just maybe, this crackpot is ok with the knot in her stomach as He fills her up.  Maybe the knot is like the thorn in Paul’s side. . .a reminder?  I’d like to tell God that I don’t need a reminder, I know what I need to know, but then I can hear Him say, “I know more.” 

Ok Lord, take this crackpot and use her, shakes, knots and all!  She's ready.

What puts a knot in your stomach?


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25 Things I Don't Want You To Know About Me

Did you hurry to this post after reading title? ;)

#1 right off the bat. . .I'm stealing the list idea from someone else.

In the blogging world, it seems like I read a lot about the good stuff. . .which is good. . .it's inspiring and I would like to be inspiring myself.  I read about people homeschooling their little darlings( which I did), exercising (which I did), eating organic foods (which I didn't), having quiet times every single morning( at times yes, and at times no), and on and on and on.  Wouldn't it be great sometimes to just open up the door, (or here it would be the screen) and just be really real?  We all know that none of us are perfect and I'm going to prove that right now by attempting to show you 25 things that I do not want you to know about me ( because we all really want to know those things, don't we?)  and hope by the end you all will still like me. . .here goes!  (Deep breath)

#2.   Sometimes I sleep in during the week
#3.   I sometimes sneak chocolate candy in the night
#4.   My ceiling fans have way more dust than they should have
#5.   Sometimes when my husband is talking to me, I am daydreaming
#6.   I trip all the time. . .over nothing!
#7.   I've let food stay in my fridge until it became unrecognizable
#8.   I still have some clothes in my closet from the 90's
#9.   Sometimes I walk into rooms and don't know why I went there
#10.  I get tired of people sometimes
#11.  I'm not very smart
#12.  I can't read a map
#13.  I talk out loud sometimes. . .when there is no one else around
#14.  I can just sit and ponder and do nothing else
#15.  When I dry and style my hair, I use three different hair brushes
#16.  I like to think I'm not vain, but I think maybe I am
#17.  I don't shave my legs every day
#18.  Sometimes when praying at night, I will fall asleep before finishing
#19.  When my husband snores too loud and long, I go sleep in the other bedroom
#20.  I'm 50 years old and I still get pimples
#21.  I have arugued with God
#22.  I have a prodigal
#23.  Sometimes when you see me smiling, it's a cover up
#24.  I look completely different underneath the make-up
#25.  I can't write (Oh, you may already know that one)

There ya go folks, I'm not perfect.  None of us are.  I'm sure some of you could say is that all, you should see MY list.  Isn't it great that God does not keep a list.  No matter what is on our list of what we wouldn't want people to know, God already does.  And you know what?  He still thinks we believers, His children, are the cat's meow, the flowers in the field, the redeemed, renewed, masterpiece of His work, His beloved child. He loves us just because we are His. 

So what if your legs aren't shaved, if you burp 20 times a day, you stay up too late, you ate one too many bags of candy, your family is not perfect, you don't homeschool, you don't say "Yes" to every request made of you, you fill in the blank.  God sees us believers through His Son Jesus Christ and that can only mean that he sees us as holy as His Son is holy.  When you look in the mirror, don't just see the pimples or the flaws you think you see on the inside.  See yourself as a child of the Most Holy One, dearly loved, worth dying for.  We are beautiful! We've been draped in His love, grace and mercy. We are soaked in His salvation. We are washed by the blood of Jesus Christ and clothed in His righteousness!  We are HIS! Now that all that has been said, forget the list and be free to be who God made you to be.

And please feel free to forget my list too ;)

Now for a more fun kind of list. . .

~Blessings~

#1147.  a Savior who doesn't keep lists

1148.  chocolates in  cupboards

1149.  furniture polish to swipe away the dust. . .(eventually)

1150.   food in the fridge. . .(the fresh, edible kind)

1151.  updated (I think) clothes
1152. Hope House. . .a place to take the clothes from closet

1153.  naps. . .so I can like people again

1154.  smart husband who doesn't laugh when I ask dumb questions

1155.  time to just sit and ponder

1156.  pants to hide those unsightly legs

1157.  an extra bedroom when needed

1158.  cream for those dreaded little bumps on the face

1159.  hope and grace and love for the prodigal

1160.  that I'm able to smile when I don't really feel like it
1161.  for the joy in my heart despite what the enemy would throw at me

1162.  make-up for this face of mine

1163.  forgiveness for those times when I mess up

1164.  the security and joy of knowing I am His
1165. knowing it's not about me and ALL about Him
1166. hearing from Him that I don't have to be a writer, just a sharer of my heart in writing and that if anything good comes of it, it is ALL from HIM
1167. courage from my Lord
1168. a brand new day every morning

1169.  knowing there will be a #1170 coming soon

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SHUT UP!

(they say a blog post title should grab you. . .Did this one grab you?  :)

I'm re-reading a great book by David Nasser titled Glory Revealed.  In it was this statement from him~

"Never miss an opportunity to shut up."

I posted this on Facebook and asked for comments.  Here are a few of them. . .

"Always heard that God gave us one mouth and TWO ears for a reason."

"Our willingness to to truly listen demonstrates love.  Often a person will arrive at a solution just by talking it through."

"WOW! Wish I had read this yesterday."

(I'm guessing but I think the above is maybe thinking what is said in this next comment I received)

"This is an area that the Lord has REALLY been working in me this past year.  As the family 'peace maker', it felt natural to me. But I'm discovering the freedom of 'butting out' and allowing the Lord to work in others."

What Mr. Nasser was saying is that we want so badly to rush in and trouble shoot and fix others problems, that we end up hurting them more than helping. . .arm chair quarterbacks.

We need to step aside and let the Holy Spirit do His work and let Him guide our mouths.  I think stepping in with words is really easy for us women because I'm guessing a lot of us are people pleasers and we want everyone to be happy. But I've seen men do this too.  If we don't know the whole situation and it is not something we had committed to prayer, then we need to use those two God given ears more than the one mouth.  Mr Nasser says, in these kind of moments, we need to 'righteously shut up.'

So when do you know when to speak up and when to shut up?

First of all, did they ask?  Second, pray and listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit. There may be some awkward moments, but I've learned that in those moments, the person is thinking and they can hear Him best and process in those non-chattering moments and we should also be listening. Let Him do His work and you be there with caring arms and ears.

Sometimes, we can love best when we shut up.

(And as a people pleaser, I say this in the most loving way)

My Soul Desire

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My Soul's Desire. . .this song says it all. . .an empty vessel to be filled by Him.

To do His perfect will.

To build His kingdom.

Not for my glory but for His.

Where is my place in all of this?

At this moment, it is within the homeless community and it is in my prayer closet.

Please click on this link

01 My Soul Desire

and listen to Sarah, a fellow blogger, whose place was in her room, dibilitated by a disease that kept her there, but really her place was all over the world through her laptop screen before she went to be with the Lord.  She touched many! She still does!

Where is your souls desire at this moment? I guess really, it would be anywhere we are, but is there a specific place your heart goes right to ? Don't be shy. Please do share. I would love to pray for you and that desire.

You Just Never Know

If you've known me for long, you know that I've met many homeless people on the square, our downtown park.  I've spent time down there interviewing them for a book I'm working on.  Sometimes I have appointments, but more times than not, I just plop myself down on a bench and see who shows up.

This particular afternoon I met someone who was so interesting.  He is not homeless but I was so enthralled with this one that I just wanted to introduce you to this guy. He and his friend walk the mall, walk all over downtown, and this guy has been in plays in our little town theatre.  He talks some, but for the most part is quiet and just shows off.  He's not tall, dark and handsome, he is short, white and well. . .a little fluffy.  And he seems to love the kids.  I think he even liked me as I think he was trying to flirt.   Come see who I met. . .

Hello there. . .

Give me a treat and I'll do a trick

Woo-Hoo, watch me flip

How do I look?

This is my "I don't care" look

Oh, camera lady, get my good side

Well, hellooo pretty lady

(I swear he said that ;)

I'm really a good bird.  I'm thankful to have a home but some down here at the park do not. Please say a prayer for these folks, will ya?  And if you're ever down here and see one or some, please sit down with them for just a few minutes and chat with them, smile, and shake their hand.  It's those little things that mean so much. Thanks!

Oh, and you know that verse that says, "His eye is on the sparrow. . .?  His eye is on me too;)

AND He watches over you

Have a good day!

~God bless you~

You just never know who you'll meet when you step out your door.

Have you met anyone interesting lately?

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