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

Sunday, October 13, 2013

The Staff

When my husband goes for walks out by the pond, he always grabs one of his rods, or as he calls them, his walking sticks. It makes him look like a mountain man to me, rugged, strong, surefooted, outdoorsy kind of guy, someone I like to follow. My mountain man of a husband has always taken care of me and loved me through thick and thin, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Just like my Lord and Savior. Psalm 100:3 says,

“We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.” He is the great shepherd who goes ahead of me and points the way, showing me lessons I might not have learned if I did not follow Him and His staff.

The shepherd’s rod was used to protect the sheep from other animals. The meaning of staff is something to lean on, to trust, to support. So you could say His rod protects us, and His staff is something we can lean on, trust in, and be supported by. I can trust His leading. Even if sometimes the paths are rocky and there are holes here and there, just like the paths to the pond.

If I follow my Savior’s leading, I know I’ll be fine at the end. He doesn’t promise a smooth path through life but He does promise to be there with us; He will either go before us, with us by our side, or carry us when we feel we can go no more.

Not all of my paths have been smooth, but He has been there guiding me all along. I can look back on my life and see how He has protected me. He has provided for me. He has comforted me, carried me, and has helped me become stronger.

Although pretty close, my husband is not perfect, yet I can’t help but smile as I see him walking in front of me with his staff and compare how he is like my Heavenly Shepherd; strong, loving, caring, taking the lead and protecting me. This week we will celebrate 32 years of marriage. That's a lot of steps we've taken together. I pray we have many more.
 
Thank you Lord, for being my Great Shepherd and for giving me an earthly one as well.
 
 
“Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4


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2 comments:

Jody Lee Collins said...

Kristin, we are 'neighbors' this week at Soli Deo Gloria. I'm so glad I stopped by. I wrote this week about being propped up on the path... How we all need to lean into Jesus!

a joyful noise said...

Congratulations on your anniversary. That staff your husband carries is also good protection, say from a snake or other unwanted guest along the path. God has his protection also to keep us safe as we follow him.