I'm Going To A Funeral

They were my friends. Well. . .they weren't really my friends, but they hung around and wouldn't leave. They thought they needed to be with me and kind of hung around like a noose around the neck. You would tell them to go and they always came back! Those aren't the kind of friends I want around me. They're no fun, they spoil the party, they're downers. . .geesh, you want to just scream at them sometimes to "GO AWAY!"  But they always seem to come back. So. . .I had to kill them. And now I'm going to the funeral where they will be buried side by side. The obituary will read something like this. . .


Here lies Worry and his sister Anxious. There just wasn't room for them anymore and they were laid to rest. Where did I bury them? At the foot of a cross, the cross. And as I lay them to rest, I felt the hand of my real friend, the One, True friend, the hand of God, on my shoulder. I think He was pleased. He is always whispering in my ear, Trust Me, Trust Me. And I do trust Him. That is why I'm throwing the dirt on this grave and walking away hand in hand with my Savior. I want to honor Him with my life and those guys were weighing me down. Now I am more free to do just that.

Yes, I know in this world there will be troubles, but with my Savior, I can handle them head on with confidence.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

I've had to ask myself, Do I really believe that?

And as I stand at the dirt mound holding the shovel handle, I say, "Yes!"

Do you need to kill and bury something today. . .go ahead, there is a plot ready right next to mine.

The Man Who Cries and Grace

I ran up the sidewalk to our Bridge Homeless Outreach. It was raining this night so all the volunteers and our bridge guests huddled under the bathroom gazebo roofed breezeway. Men came out of their side of the bathroom and told me about a man huddled against the back wall crying. No one knew why. All anyone knew was that he lived under the bridge. About ten minutes later he came out, this middle-aged, scruffy, unshaven man with a hollow look in his red eyes.  Eyes without hope in them is a sad look indeed. He looked empty, dead. . .and yet was breathing.

I walked up to him ever so gently to introduce myself and put out my hand to shake his. He put both of his hands under his arms and shook his head from side to side saying, 'I don't like to talk to people." I backed off respecting his space but issued an invitation to help himself to a hot meal. He did but retracted back to the corner with his food, alone.

What was his story I wondered. I was told, but could have easily guessed he was a hard alcoholic. O, how I despise that demon! I suspected mental illness too.

He came back the next week but sat away from everyone. He still looked dead. . .still breathing. He would not talk to me. He would not talk to my husband. We backed away, again respecting his space. O God, I whispered, let him feel love. And then the man walked right up to Frank, one of our volunteers and said, "Do you believe in God?"  I watched Frank and the man walk over to the side of the bridge, away from the crowd, and they talked. Frank was available. We were all available, but it was Frank's space the man was comfortable entering. And Frank's space was open for the man to enter. I don't know what was said but I know Frank, so I know the space was comfortable for this man. We all issue grace at the bridge, but sometimes one is drawn more to one than another and that's ok. . .it's great. . .bonding at the bridge. . .I was thankful for Frank this night, to be available, to stand in the center, to take one to the side, to share with the man who cries. He entered into grace when he entered Frank's space. You cannot be untouched in the presence of grace. It could have been the beginning of a healing, maybe the beginning of tears drying up. We may never know. But I once again witnessed grace at the bridge. It's a beautiful thing.

Thank you Frank!


Linking with

A Birth Announcement

I've been pregnant with child for over 2 1/2 years. There have been aches and pains and blessings galore along the way. I've been in labor since November of 2013. It has been up and down and exciting in many ways. I can truely call it a labor of love. I have been blessed with a wonderful labor coach who has been so patient, so helpful, so kind. I call him Mr. Andrews. He is a publisher by trade. I have been blessed with another labor coach, Mr. Bridgman who by trade works for an underwear company but more importantly, he is my husband and has supported me the whole way.

Together, the three of us with help from a few others and from the Lord Himself, helped to give birth to a bouncing 6x9, 355 page baby. It has been carried in love, birthed in love, and now is being presented in love. Please allow me to introduce you to this baby of ours. . .

 

 

You may participate in the life of our child by visiting the following location and having one for yourself. We would love to share the love with you all.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Kris-Bridgman/e/B00IH2K1ZC/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

 

It's available as a paperback or an e book.

In one more week it will be available on KOBO.

 

If you get one for yourself, I would like to please ask you after you have read this book, to please go back to Amazon.com and write a review and rate it with their 1-5 star system. And please say a prayer that it would move others to grab hold of the Righteous Right Hand of our Savior to step out of comfort zones and meet the blessings right around the corner.

You just never know what's around the bend until you step out. . .

Ya Know What I'm Say'n.

 

Thank you all very much!

 

~May God be glorified in this work~

 

 

 

 

 

 



Love is a Many Splendored Thing

Love…the word is used in so many ways…I love my husband, I love my children, I love chocolate, I love thunderstorms, I love to write. There is parental love, brotherly love, true love, puppy love, and unconditional love.  If I wanted to get a little theological, I could mention that agape, eros, and phileo are the three kinds of love mentioned in the Bible.  But I’m not much of a theological kind of gal.  I would be more into poetry.   When I ponder on this subject, I can’t help but think of a line from one of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poems…”How do I love thee, let me count the ways.”  If God expressed this line, here is how He might answer…
 

            “I loved thee enough to create a beautiful world for you to live in.”

            “I loved thee enough to make you an individual with your own mind, not a robot, but one with free will to make your own choices.”

            “I loved thee enough to give you My Word to guide you in this world, to give you direction in making wise choices, to show you grace and mercy when you make bad choices, and to show my love through these pages.”

            “I loved thee enough to give you beautiful sunrises and sunsets, beautiful sounds, fragrant flowers, and people to love and be loved by.

            “I loved thee enough to give you unconditional love, not a love based on feelings or emotions, or works by you.”

            “I loved thee enough to not give you all the answers on the earth, so you would learn about trust, to have faith, so we could have a lifetime of building a relationship, to have the fun of learning, so you could experience blessings each day, and learn to be a blessing to others.”

            “I loved thee enough to allow my Son to leave our kingdom to come be born on earth, to grow, to teach, and then to be mocked, tortured, and hung on the cross to die so your sins could be forgiven once and for all.”

            “I loved thee enough to raise him from the grave to show victory over death, to show you that you can claim victory over death if you so choose.”
 

            If we were to answer this toward God, how would it sound?  It could sound like this…

            “How do I love thee?  I’ll let you know when my television shows are over, when my work is done, when I get some time off, when the vacation is over, after I’ve lived my life my way for awhile.  I’ll let you know tomorrow, next week, next year, or…

            OR, it could sound like this…

            “I love thee enough  to serve others in Christ name.”

            “I love thee enough to love the unlovable, to show your mercy and grace because you’ve shown me the same.” 

             “I love thee enough to build a relationship with you continually.”

            “I love thee enough to have an ongoing dialogue with you and yet be still also to listen for your voice.”

            “I love thee enough to stop and smell your fragrant flowers, to stop and take in the beauty of your sunrises and sunsets, and to reach out and form friendships, sharing your love with them and my family.”        “

            “I love thee enough to accept your Son as my Lord and Savior, loving Him also for wiping my sins away, making me new, because of His sacrifice.”

            “I love thee enough to not forsake you when I’m around others, not to forsake you in my day to day living, to not forsake you in my thoughts or words.”

            “I love thee enough to model things that are true, noble, just, pure, and lovely.”

            “I love thee enough to forgive others, because you forgave me.”

            “I love thee enough to care about what you care about, to grieve over the things you grieve over, and rejoice over the things you rejoice over.”

            “I love thee enough to let love be my greatest aim.”
 

            When love comes from God and we can learn to love with this same kind of love…it is “a many splendored thing.”      .

“I pray that you…may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness   of God.

Ephesians 3:17-19

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

IT'S COMING!

It's getting closer!

            It's approaching!

                          It will be here before you know it!

You can go here to get a sneak peak. . .

 

https://www.createspace.com/4582361?ref=1147694&utm_id=6026&fb_action_ids=10201534709429101&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%2210201534709429101%22%3A1439000989669508%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210201534709429101%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

 

and you can go here to a get a glimpse (be sure to have your earphones on)

http://youtu.be/qsCKVP63irk

A special man from a park bench kept asking me to not give up on our project. . .

"Please don't give up on this, ok Kris?"
"I promise Greg, I will not give up.

Answered prayers come in many forms and on God's time frame.
One of my prayers took six months to see an answer.
Another took 2 1/2 years.

You've just seen the results of those prayers.

Please stay tuned for release date.

IT'S COMING SOON, VERY, VERY SOON!

Do you have a dream? A promise to keep? Waiting for an answer?

So many prayer warriors prayed for me for all the above.
I would like to pray for you for yours.
~Please do share~









 

 

 

Love Letter to the Homeless

Dear One,

As you sit under that bridge, warming up by the fire you built,

Do you know that He loves you?

 

As you sleep under the stars,

Do you know that He loves you?

 

As you walk the streets, looking for cans and change,

Do you know that He loves you?

 

You may not feel loved, but you are.

He sees your every move

He knows your every thought,

Do you know Him?

 

He has been with you from the moment you were conceived.

He has always been with you, heard every word from you,

He has known your every thought. . .while waiting.

 

His Beloved Son paid the penalty for your sins because of Their great love for you.

Do you know this?

 

You say, “I’m bad, I’m filthy, I’ve done wrong things, I’ve made wrong choices.”

He knows dear one,

His love covers over a multitude of sins.

 

Sins as filthy as rags can be made white as snow.

Do you know this kind of love?

 

People have hurt you?

He can heal you.

 

Wherever you are, there He is also. . .

Waiting, because He loves you so.

 

You say, “I’ve never seen Him.”

When that man bought you lunch, He was there.

When the blanket lady handed you blankets and gave you a hug, He was there,

When that man led you to help, He was there,

When Salvation Army fed you, He was there,

When Red Cross gave you a cup of hot coffee, He was there,

When Hotel, Inc. gave you information you needed, He was there,

When you were given a good diagnosis, He was there.

When Hope House gave you a new pair of shoes, He was there.

When that young man witnessed to you, He was there.

When the nurse took your blood pressure, He was there.

 

When that lady handed you a Bible, He was there.

 

When that man handed you a coat and patted you on the back, He was there.

 

When you think you are alone, you are not, He is there.

 

Dear one,

The streets can be hard

They can make one weary.

Come to Him and He will give you rest.

 

When you open the door of your heart to Him

He will welcome you home.

 

Oh Dear One,

Do you hear the message?

Your Heavenly Father loves you!

Jesus Christ is waiting with His loving arms open to you.

Do you hear Him?  He is saying “Come.”

 

How do I know this? 

I went to him with my filthy rags and opened the door of my heart.

He came and cleansed me white as snow.

He sent me to you.

He says to us, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”

 

Dear One,

There is no greater love than this,

That He layed down His life to save another. . .

You and me.

 

But death could not hold its sting

He was raised to win the victory.

 

Oh Dear One,

Do you hear Him?

 

“You are loved!”

“You are loved!”