Trading Ashes for Beauty

Living in this great big, beautiful, wonderful world, sometimes storms blow in. Really big storms that bring fires that burn. . .burn bad. And what comes after the fires?  Ashes. And we have a choice to make. . .sit in the ashes or trade them in. Sometimes we need to sit in those ashes for awhile, because we can learn lessons there but there is Someone who doesn’t want us to stay in those ashes forever. He has something SO much better for us. . .

Isaiah 61:1-3

“…He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

Let me introduce you to four women who have sat in the ashes and learned to trade them in for some doozy kind of beauty. . . (please don’t miss the important story and message at the end)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trading those ashes out for

 

beauty

 and joy and fun, something we had all lost at one time. . .read the rest at the end of pics. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRAISING JESUS!

~TO GOD BE THE GLORY~

 

So there ya have it…four southern women…all who have gone through difficulties and heart breaks in their lives, but made it through with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“He reached down from on high and took hold of (us); he drew (us) out of deep waters. He rescued (us) from (our) powerful enemy, from (our) foes, who were too strong for (us).” Psalm 18:16-17

He was there to comfort, give rest, guide and lead, gave discernment, and brought us out of the pit. It took time, but. . .we found our way back to joy and fun and we praise Him, our Heavenly Father.

You say, “You all don’t know what heart break is!”  It’s different for all of us and no matter what each one is, when it’s our hurt, it hurts!  One of us tried and almost succeeded in suicide. Because of doctors who did not give up the first time, the second time or the third time, she is with us today radiating with joy. One of us became the mother of a prodigal, a story that put her on the couch and lost 30 lbs. over a two week period. It took her 5 years to put it all back on. Two of us have had dear ones in prison. One ended up on a psyche ward for depression. We’ve all had broken relationships. And we’ve all survived. We traded in our ashes for beauty.

Some of these hurts didn’t go away. Some were mended, some restored, and some are still there being raised in prayer. But praise Jesus! We don’t have to sit in the pit of despair. No matter the circumstance, we are here to tell ya, when you follow Jesus, keep your eyes on Him. . .Joy comes! Joy comes! Joy comes in the morning!

Are you going through discouragement, pain, depression, some kind of hurt of your own?  Praise Jesus! Jesus is there with you. Ask Him what it is He wants you to learn while you’re waiting for delivery. PLEASE!  Don’t waste the pain.  That is what the devil himself would want you to do. Don’t give him that. Lean on the strength of the Lord, learn, give Him the glory and be ready to rise, cause it’s comin’ girl, it’s comin’!

“…weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5

 

"You have turned for (us our) mourning into dancing; you have loosed (our) sackcloth and clothed (us) with gladness, that (our) glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, (we) will give thanks to you forever!"  Psalm 30:11-12

 

From your sisters in Christ, daughters of the King,

Elaine, Kris, Tamra and Peggy  

 

DEAR READER. . .Do you feel alone?  You are not precious one. God is with you.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy one of Israel, your Savior."  Isaiah 43:2-3 

BUT. . .sometimes we need someone with skin on. If you would like to talk or want prayer, please feel free to e-mail any or all of us at the following. . .we'll be here for you!

You are loved with an everlasting love. And underneath are the everlasting arms.

 

Kris   ~ Krbrid@aol.com

Elaine   ~ Elainecbailey@yahoo.com

Tamra   ~  Tlew1207@yahoo.com

Peggy   ~ Pgrannybird@aol.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angels with Stethascopes

~In honor of Nurse Appreciation Week~


“God appoints our graces to be nurses to other men’s weaknesses.”

~ Henry Ward Beecher

 

 

 

This is National Nurses Week and I would like to salute all the wonderful nurses out there being angels to all those who are ill in one way or another. Our Homeless Outreach Ministry is blessed to have nurses at the bridge every week to take care of our guests. Not just to put stethascope to skin but a listening ear to their words and compassion to their souls. Listen. . .you just may hear the flutter of wings.

"Our job is to love people. When it hurts. When it’s awkward. When it’s uncool and embarrassing. Our job is to stand together, to carry the burdens of one another and to meet each other in our questions."

 ~Jamie Tworkowksi

“The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest.”

~ William Osler

 

 

 

“Being a Nurse, is a endless loving act of heart!”

~ Anonymous

 

 

Our nurses are always smiling, greeting our guests warmly and ready to take blood pressures, talk about medications and addictions and ready to listen to stories when stories need to be told. 

 

 This man above didn't seem moved when told his blood pressure was WAY in the danger zone. . .that's stroke level zone. The nurse explained what could happen and that it could happen quickly with the extremely high numbers he was showing. He was told to get to the hospital which was just down the street like. . .NOW!

 

We'll see hopefully next week if he did just that or not.

 

Our nurses keep an eye on another one of our guests who has his blood pressure taken every week at the bridge.  His was also in the danger zone awhile back and was told to get to the hospital right then. He rode his bike right there, was put on medication and is doing better.

Everyone loves our Louie. . .

 

Louie loves to come to the bridge each week.  It may be for the food. It may be for the fellowship. It may break up his day. I think he really comes now to see the smiles of ones like these. . .

 

 

 

Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter's or sculptor's work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, compared with having to do with the living body, the temple of God's spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts. 

~Florence Nightingale

 

 

 

 

 

This past year our nurses have formed teams and now are a part of Street Medicine. . .they roam the streets, down alley ways, parking lots, stroll through parks and woods looking for people who might need medical attention.

 

 

 

 

 

Not only do they give of their medical expertise, but grace and the love of Christ. There are those who might not have seen a smile that day except for the smile of the nurses who came looking for them.

 

 

I wish I had pictures of all of them, but there are just way too many. A BIG salute to all the nurses everywhere. . .street teams, hospitals, doctor offices, veteran offices, rehabs, schools. Have I left out a place?  Let me know~

 

 

 

To all nurses,

Thank You!

 

Foot in Mouth?

"A closed mouth gathers no foot."

 

I saw this quote the other day and it made me laugh and I thought, so true.  But then I pondered. . .we can't keep our mouths shut ALL the time.

 

And then I saw this verse. . .

 

"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

Matthew 12:34

 

And so I pondered once again. . .

 

What is the abundance of my heart?  Is it good and pleasing or not?

My mouth will speak from the abundance in my heart.

We have a choice to put into our hearts what we will.  Sometimes our hearts fill so casually and slowly with things, that we don't even realize it until we stub our toe, or someone irks us, or that annoying driver in front of us is well. . . you know. . .annoying us.

 

And then there is gossip.  Even the best of people can fall into this one.  How to stop it?  Well, just keeping the mouth closed will not work, because time has shown that just doesn't happen.  It goes back to the heart.  What are we putting into our heart and minds.  Are we being careful what we watch on the screens, are we being careful who we hang around on a regular basis, are we spending daily time with the Lord, soaking up His presence and His Words and His love.

 

I think if we do, then we are safe to open our mouths.  Yes, we are human and sometimes the foot goes in.  Thank goodness, He doesn't wash our mouths out with soap, He forgives and tells us to go on and do better.

 

So, are you thinking, does Kris have this problem?  Actually, when I am annoyed, or irked or stub my toe, I yell out to Jesus.  Other times, if others are involved, (the irkers), I pray for them.  It's amazing how when you pray, you can't be irked anymore. 
But. . .when my feelings get hurt or I think something is unfair, well. . .
Yes, I have taken it to others when I should have just kept my mouth closed. I have felt the invisible kick in the pants from the Holy Spirit and I apologize.

So. . .thinking back to the quote at the top. . .A closed mouth cannot offer encouragement, it cannot praise with singing, it cannot offer prayer to the one in front of you. I would say that if you open up your heart to good and pleasing things of the Lord, it will be safe to open the mouth. And when the feelings get hurt, I'll just open my heart to the Lord.

I'm going to continue to open my mouth when the time is right and I will lean on the Holy Spirit for guidance and I have asked Him to keep both my 6 1/2's on the ground and not come anywhere near open mouth.

I will still write what's on my heart, but know that I pray each time before hitting that publish button.

And if I happen to slip and open my mouth in front of you when it should be closed. . .I give you permission to kick me in the pants.

Who's Coming To Dinner?

*I wrote this post over five years ago having no idea I would teach an ex-con about it.

 

I didn't know Greg back then, a special homeless man who said I needed to write a book.

I didn't know then that he and I would get to sit on a park bench together many times.

I didn't know back then I would get to witness this giant of a man give his heart to Christ.

I didn't know back then that he would say to me, "I now have a seat at the King's table, you taught me that."

I didn't know on that park bench that he would take his seat so soon.

If you ever fear sharing, please don't. You never know when that person who needs to hear will be called to take their place at the table.

And which one will it be?*

 

 

Who's Coming to Dinner?

 

The first supper we read about in the Bible is in Genesis, chapter three.  The appetizer, main course and dessert were all wrapped up in one juicy piece of fruit that was “pleasing to the eye.”  Who was on the guest list?  Adam and Eve of course.  They didn’t pay money for this dinner, but oh, how they paid!  The cost of this dinner. . .destruction, sin entered the world, which led to death, nakedness, shame, fear, broken relationships. . .disastrous!

Far down the time line was another feast, known as the Last Supper.  The guest list here was Jesus as guest of honor and His twelve disciples.  The menu. . .unleavened bread, lamb, bitter herbs, and wine.  The cost?  The ultimate sacrifice was coming to pay for the cost of the first supper. . .victory over death, the gift of forgiveness, the chains of shame and fear and broken relationships broken and freedom restored.  Hallelujah!

In the New Earth will be another feast.  In the book of Revelation we are told the guest list here will include all believers.  We will be invited to eat from the tree of life.  Interesting.  The Garden of Eden had a tree of life but two were told not to eat from it.  Disobedience brought on sin.  We are told as depicted in Revelation we believers will be invited to eat from the tree of life because our sins have been removed.  I’m definitely no bible scholar so this may be literal or symbolic.  But it just goes to show that there was a plan in place even when the first two diners committed the first wrong.

I don’t know about you but this gives me comfort.  From beginning to end we see God and His plan.  He is just and He is loving.  The two go hand in hand.

The first supper involved selfishness and disobedience.  The last supper involved unselfishness and obedience.  The first supper, Satan slithers and misleads.  After the last supper, Jesus crushes the serpent’s head. 

In the New Earth feast, our dining clothes will be robes of righteousness.  The cost of this feast?  According to Revelation 21:6, there will be no cost…He says, “To him who is thirsty, I will give to drink without cost from the spring of life.”

Dining with Jesus, can you fathom it?  As believers, we already dine with Him, we just can’t see Him face to face, but He is with us always.  Do we act like He is with us at our dining table, our restaurant table, at our picnics?  He not only feeds us with food and drink, but also feeds us with forgiveness, peace, joy and unconditional love.

Who’s coming to your dinner tonight?  Will there be a place for the one called “The Bread of Life?”  If so, let us remember to say “thank you” for all the nourishments in life He provides for us.  After the prayer of thanks and gratitude, let’s “eat, drink, and be merry.”

 

 

*God and Greg led me to write that book. The title is Greg's own words he spoke many times. . .

Ya Know What I'm Say'n

 

If you are interested in the book, you may purchase it at Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble.com

If you live in the Bowling Green, KY area,  you can find the book in the Lifeway store and the

Barnes and Noble Book Store.

You may click on the book's picture to the right of the blog and it will take you to the book's FB page. Please feel free to come over and "like" to keep up with us and we would love for you to share with us.

Thank you*

Do they warsh in Spain?

Mom, it's wash, not warsh. . .

Mom, it's hamburger, not hambooger. . .

My 21 year old son stands in the kitchen laughing as I try to say hamburger and wash the correct way.  What he doesn't get is I am a born and bred Oklahoman.  In Oklahoma my way is the right way. But we now live in Kentucky where he has spent more of his life.

We giggle as he keeps trying to teach me to say waaash. . .nor warrrsh. Hambuuuurrrger. . .not hambooooger.

"Mom, quit pursing your lips, open your mouth more. . .waaash. 

"Warrrsh". 

"Ok  Mom, let's try hambuuurger."

"Hamboooger."

I try it over and over and over in between the giggling. He's cracking up.

The scene enters my mind from the musical My Fair Lady where Henry Higgins tries to teach Eliza Doolittle to speak like a proper English lady, thereby making her presentable to high society.

She had to keep repeating over and over and over the phrase. . ."The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain", until she got it right.

I can say that!

My son does not care about high society, he just thinks his mom should be able to say those two little words properly. What he doesn't get is that in Oklahoma, that is proper. But I'm not there anymore, so should I try harder?

I think about the people born and raised in the South with their Hey Darlin's?  Don't they know there is a "ing" on the end of that word.  Personally, I think it's charming. And after being in Kentucky for ten years, I'm becoming more charmin' myself.

The the more I think about it, I think it could be charming that I say what I say the way I say it. It's really hard to purse the lips with words you're not used to pursing for and to open the mouth wider for words you don't normally open the mouth wide for.  It's SO much work. I can lose the "ing" but I just cannot seem to lose the R in warsh and I'm sorry, but hambooger is just so much easier for me to say.

I love you son but I just don't think I can think so hard every time I say those words.

I don't think he really cares. It gives him something to laugh at and I am AOK with that.

I've wasted enough time here. I need to go tell my son to bring the warsh to the laundry room and then we need to go get some hamboogers.  I'm hungry! And a sweet tea on the side.

Wouldn't that be loverly?!

Mt. Dew in the Cowboy Boot



It was just an ordinary day grocery shopping in Krogers, the grocery store in town. Just minding my own business walking down the aisles picking up this and that off the shelves. I rounded the corner when what to my wondering eyes should appear. . .a cowboy putting a 2 liter bottle of Mt. Dew down a cowboy boot. . .yep. . .that's what I said.

I had to take a double take. He caught me and smiled. "Ma,m," he said, "These boots cost me $800 and they are too tight on my calves. I took them to a shoe place and they couldn't stretch the calf part so I thought maybe this 2 liter would do it. He's pushing the liter down the boot the whole time he's talking. "I think this will work, don't you?"  I guess, I just hope it doesn't bust and ruin your boots."
"Oh no, it's not going to bust", he says.

Now he's trying to pull the 2 liter of Mt. Dew out of the book and it won't come. It's stuck. He looks at me. I'm still staring. "Ma'm, would you mind helping me?"  "Not at all sir." He grabs the neck of the bottle and I grab the foot of the boot and we both pull. I notice the other customers staring as they come around the corner and they just keep on walking. The cowboy and I keep pulling and pulling and pulling. Then pop! The bottle came out of the boot. "Thank you ma'm, I sure do appreciate it."
"No problem sir, have a good day." And off I go to the milk section.

You just never know what will happen when you go out your front door. I tried to come up with a lesson to go with this story...I kept pondering and pondering...

Be kind to strangers?

Be helpful to fellow customers?

If your boots are too tight, stick a 2 liter bottle down them?

Don't be afraid to ask a stranger for help?
If spending $800 on boots, make sure they fit first?!

 

Hhmmm, I'm just not sure. I'm going to have to ponder some more on this one.  But I did get a giggle out of it and so did he.

 

Do you see a lesson in this?

Please do share.

Prayer in the Cereal Aisle

"Call to Me, and I will answer you . . ." (Jeremiah 33:3)

People who have known me for a long time will tell you I am a prayer warrior. I have walked and talked with God on a daily basis for 40 years. All those years I have taken Ephesians 6:18 seriously, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. . . "  Because of this, I have seen a fallen tree stand up, an non working air conditioner begin to work, a lawnmower that wouldn't start, begin to start with prayer and a sink unclog. . .without cleaners!

Besides just talking with the Lord throughout the day, I have also practiced going down on my knees in the prayer closet to have those deeper times with the Savior. For about the last 6 months though, I have had a desire to go even deeper. God has blessed me with an answer to that desire. Without saying a word to anyone, a friend gave me a book several months ago called Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala, the pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. It's main message. . .Prayer.  Then I became interested in the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. They have quite a story of their own!  For Valentines Day, I received their new music CD simply titled, PRAY.  When I received the CD in the mail, it came with two band bracelets with the simple word. . .

 

I shouldn't be but I am still always amazed when He answers so quickly and so precisely; just like He did on this day.

 

This morning before I left for town to run errands, I put on this bracelet and I prayed, "Lord, send me someone who needs prayer."  An hour later I was standing in the cereal aisle when there was a tap on my right shoulder. I turned around and it was William, a homeless man I befriended a long time ago and lost touch with him the beginning of last summer. I had been worried about him. And now he was standing there tapping me on the shoulder needing, wanting prayer. He proceeded to tell me about a lot of serious, physical ailments and that surgery was probably in his future. Despite all his problems, he was working in this store. That should tell you a lot about him right there. "Kris, he said with tears in his eyes, I'm afraid, I don't like surgeries, I'm scared. " He wanted prayer. And so I put my arm on his shoulder and we went before the Lord and prayed right there in the isle next to the Cheerios. He was blessed and so was I. I felt like we were standing in the presence of Jesus. . .and we were! God meets you wherever you are, even next to cereal boxes.

 

I pondered all the way home about what had just happened and why it doesn't happen more. I get so busy when out running around, thinking of my own things I need to do, the lists I need to get done, and my own worries swirling around in my head. But isn't everyone else doing the same thing? How many faces have I've passed by in the stores, in the restaurants, who were worried, sick, upset and I walked right by them, a Christian, a prayer warrior, and just walked on by?

It was such a blessing to see my old friend, for him to show up when I was waiting for the Lord to send someone and he needed someone. What a blessing to be available!

I'm reminded of another book I read a couple of years ago, Praying for Strangers, by River Jordan. She felt led by the Lord to spend an entire year picking someone, a stranger, every day and pray with them, for them. And so many wonderful stories came from that, she wrote a book about it all.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, what a blessing it is to be available, to be obedient, to be open to others, hear what they're saying and go to the throne of God on their behalf right then and there. I don't do it near enough but I hope this year will be different.

So if you're out to lunch with me and I happen to go hunt down a waiter or waitress. . .how about going with me? I think the biggest blessings come when you least expect it and no matter what side of the blessing you are on, God will be glorified and honored.

That's what it's all about. Blessing others and glorifying Him, Lord of Lord and King of Kings, Immanuel (God is with us). . .even on a grocery aisle.

Is there something you need to be more intentional about?

Pray about it. He will show you.

And don't be surprised if it comes with a tap on the shoulder.

 

 

 

White Snow White

No, not snow white, the fairy tale princess. We had a snow fall today and it was so beautiful. I’m not a cold weather lover but I do admire the beauty of the snow.  I’ve heard every snow flake has its own pattern…just like people.  That’s just like God to be so creative. Only one verse came to my mind about snow, which you will read at the end of this, but I did think of the white horses at the end of the bible.

            In Revelation 6:2, John writes,

            “I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a white horse.  Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

            In Revelation 19:11 John describes this,

            “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True…then down to verse 14,

            “The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

            It sounds like a prince charging in on his white horse to save the damsel.  Actually, the rider called Faithful and True had written on his robe and on his thigh the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Even better!

            His entrance here signals the end of the false powers.  A great battle will ensue and we know the ending.  He will conquer, will take his bride and ascend to the New Earth.

            Revelations describes a perfect city with no evil.  Paradise is re-created in the New Jerusalem.  I bet there will be ponds there, but I’m not sure about the snow.

            Snow White had her prince.  But again, that was just a fairy tale.  She was not a real woman, but if she was, I think she would be in Heaven.  Any woman who could live with, work with, and clean up after seven men, and with names like Grumpy, and Dopey, and still whistle, has to be an angel. OK, all kidding aside, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords charging in on his white horse and taking his bride, the church, to a paradise like place is no fairy tale.  It’s the real deal. 

            The bible says our sins are as scarlet but Jesus makes them white as snow.  I smile as I look out at the clean, pure snow, thankful that I took that step of faith and knowing how He sees me, white as the pure driven snow.  Because of this I will be in paradise with Him someday.  I hope you will be there too.

            For us believers, I guess you could say,

            “And they lived happily ever after.

A Valentine From the Homeless Cowboy

I met a gentleman who is experiencing homelessness at the moment. They call him "Cowboy" out on the streets. He spends much time writing and I asked him if he would share his latest,

 

A Valentine. . .Enjoy

 

(Please leave your comments to Deese, thank you)



The Broken Empty Vase by Deese

The Broken Shattered Vase: Valentine's Day. 

 

 When I was a child, how many valentines’ heart shaped candy always said Be My Valentine? How many valentines did I give to you over the years? More than I can imagine in my life. As I see the heartaches, the sadness and the broken dreams of each card I gave you, it said a lot of things. I love you.

 

So many years have gone by and here stands a shattered broken vase with no flowers. A card of all the promises I say to you and a broken vase. I left you long time ago in a vase, with a broken heart. All the promises I say to you on Valentine's Day, I came up short.  I broke your heart.  There are so many things that I left unsaid. I was not there when I needed you in my life. I left you in tears. I promised all the love to you Lord but, I say to you that I would give to you on Valentine's Day; in all the serenaded love songs like you do with us you serenaded us with love songs so when the birds sing to you and to us I would like to give you the same, my Lord. It would be a love to you like every morning as all the birds are singing songs to you sir and to us .

 

So if I can give it to you, my lord, it would be like the hummingbirds when they hum to Leader of the band; with lyrics and the morning dove's they are singing to you sir home come on home yea who are weary come home softly and tenderly calling home come on home blue jays: they are singing to you. This land is your land this land is our land to you sir and the red cardinals, they are singing too, lord and the old gospel hymn My Lord What a Morning and the woodpeckers. They are singing to you, their songs as they were pecking on an old tree. Singing to you like the Old Rugged Cross and the black birds with their dreams and their dear songs to you sir. And it is like the morning has broken, like the first morning, And like the first sunlight, Fresh from the word. And like the old owls; they are singing to you I saw the light I saw the light I saw the light I saw the light into the night as the morning sun, is come up and   pelicans and seagulls were singing to you with dear tears. Aye Calypso the places you’ve been to, the things that you’ve shown us, the stories you tell and so sir we see the story you tell us of the good old book of Agape love. So the eagles are singing to you sir. as they soar through Colorado rocky mountain high and He gave me a home where the buffalo room where the deer’s and the antelope play where never I heard a discouraging word and the sky's it is clouded all day and a cowboy see’s a love on the open range to you lord now I stand here with nothing but a Shattered Broken Vase which has been emptied over the years in my life. 

 

The cards fell short. The things I should have said in those cards over the years and all the love to you”   I was to say.  There were promises I was to fill it with but failed to keep. A cowboy's heart is full of love to give but, I fell short. If I can give all the roses that you can see in the vase that is a love that comes from within us, is Agape love that you give us.  So Lord I come to you sir on Valentine's Day as a broken shattered vase.  My love for you is a love that is true love as a cowboy to you sir.  Thank you for the old tree and the three rusty, old nails, that you gave life . . .So we can have life.  Thank you on Valentine's Day.