The gospel of Christ in my every day life

Tuesday...another day where the Lord was so gracious and faithful to me, another day of provision seen in each moment...strength when I was feeling weak, wisdom in the uncertain moments, kindness and care for those around me. All of these things were not of myself because I am anything but strong and wise and kind and caring...

As I was driving home from work that day, I became acutely aware that whether I succeed or fail at work (or anywhere in my life) it is not those successes or failures that identify who I am..because I am clothed in the rightousness of my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my identity! Wow! What a relief to be reminded that the gospel of Christ did not just provide my salvation but is also my source of sanctification. 

A Spirit of Fear?

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." I Timothy 1:7.  

These words have been on my mind the last few weeks...we sang a song with these words every day while I was at Camp Enosh and the words have stuck in my head...they will not escape...

Then today, I was reading a little devotional on my YouVersion app... "Soul Detox", day 16...and this is what it said:

 

"There are four types of fears: fear of loss, fear of failure, fear of rejection, and fear of the unknown. It is very likely that you are struggling with one or more of these fears. These fears can paralyze you and keep you from God's best. Remember what 2 Timothy 1 says in that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.

Which fears do you currently struggle with the most?"

I know I struggle at various times with each one of those fears mentioned above but the Word of God reminds me that it is not the spirit of fear that should reign in my life but His Spirit...His Spirit that gives me power and love and sound mind. Is that the Spirit by which we are living today? Or are we being paralyzed by a spirit of fear instead? 

Prague Day 1

Having some problems posting so if a bunch of the same all post I'm sorry! Just read one!! :)

After fitful sleep on our long flight and a short layover in Paris we arrived in Prague. We quickly maneuvered the trains, bus and tram systems to arrive safely at our hostel. We are staying at plus one Prague...it's a lovely hostel that is simple, clean and quite comfortable with a shower fit for a queen! :) we threw our stuff down, freshened up a bit and then hit the town. Our first task...get money. We didn't immediately find a bank so we caught the 5 bus into town...or so we thought! We were turned around and though we caught the right bus we took it in the wrong direction. Whoops! No harm...we just hopped off, and grabbed bus 14 into the city. Once there we wandered around namesti republiky and found a mall for shopping....our mission: a jacket for kel and shoes for Mel. Kel found a jacket that should work nicely for the trip (though she long for her sweet north face friend who was inadvertently delayed in Kansas...banks to Hannah it is now safely home again). Mel didn't find a pair of shoes but we still have 2 more days here and then so many more treasures to be found in poland and Germany! So all hope is not lost! :) By this time we were starving hungry so we found a restaurant and sat down to rest and fill our tummies. Mel had Czech goulash and I had Czech beef tenderloin with cranberry and lemon. They came with sides of potato cakes and dumplings. Ohhh my!! Soooo good! Then we wandered around and came upon the old city. We took pictures and enjoyed the beauty of the powder gate and the municipal house. The powder gate is from the 11th century. It had very little defensive power and was intended to bring prestige to the adjacent palace of the royal court building. Construction was stopped 8 years later when the kind had to flee and when he returned the royal court never again occupied that building. It gained its current name in 17th century when it was used to store gun powder. It was mostly damaged and removed soon after 1757 and was replaced in 1876.

The municipal house has karel spillars mosaic "homage to Prague" displayed on the outside. It is a lovely sight to behold.

As we were being touristy and taking many pictures we had the pleasure of meeting 8 young people from north carolina, new zealand, Australia, Canada, and Wisconsin. We had a fun time chatting and were advised by both groups to do the free walking tour. The girls had just come from a play of Cinderella and we are hoping to catch that sometime too. After walking around for a bit, the hour was getting later and we headed back. It took much wandering to figure out how to buy a new bus ticket. Now we know...head underground to the metro and you can always get a ticket there. So we hopped on number 5 and had a lovely ride back to our hostel. Once back, it was so nice to get cleaned up and out of our travel clothes. We did some laundry and kel blew up her hair dryer! Yep....that's right! It turned red hot when it was plugged in because it was already on and the damage was done by the time we figured out what was happening! Good thing we still have Mel's straightener to tame the locks!! :)

Now, after having a great nights sleep we are off to see more of Prague..a city we are quickly growing to love!!

And we are off...

Mel and I are off from Atlanta due to arrive in Paris around 9 am Paris time! So far the trip has been so relaxing...except I pulled a Kelly! This means I left my coat...the one intended to keep me warm and toasty For the whole trip..in the Wichita airport! Yep, that's right...it never even made it out of kansas! Good news: it's been found and Hannah k. will pick it up for me. More good news: now I have to shop for a new coat!! Stay tuned...more posts will hopefully come as we continue this adventure!!

A Look in a Book

It's been a while since I've posted, especially about a book. I'll admit, I sort of took a hiatus from reading...don't get me wrong...I still read books but I wasn't reading 14 books at one time! Crazy, I know! But I'm getting back on the reading bandwagon and that always makes me very excited! 

Last week I finished one of several books on my 2012 reading list. "Kisses from Katie". Have you heard of it? Have you read it? If you haven't read it, I definitely recommend it. As I read about this young girl who lives in Uganda, caring for 14 children in her home and seeing to the needs of so many more in her community, my heart was challenged. This girl has gone to the other side of the world and is caring for orphans and widows, the poor and the needy. She has sacrificed so much in order to accomplish this one thing...to share the love of Christ with others. 

It's easy for me to quickly be stirred in my heart to run to Africa to help the needy, the poor, the orphans, the sick. It seems to valiant and courageous and adventuresome to want to go clear across the world to help a needy people. But then I stop in my tracks and I realize that I can do the same thing right where I am. There are widows I know that need a hug, a meal prepared, a smile....widows that need to know they are loved. There are orphans I know...the ones whose parents have passed away and they feel alone...these orphans need a hug, a meal, a smile...they need to know they are loved. There are ones around me that are needy and poor and sick...all ones who need a hug, a meal, a smile...they need to know they are loved. 

I am surrounded by ones who need love..practical love shown to them. I am an extension of my Heavenly Father...I am extension of the One who is Love. Am I looking for ways to show the love of my Father to all those I see? AM I even taking the time to see the people around me and their needs? Or am I too busy looking for the more adventuresome thing to do? Am I too busy doing my own thing that I miss the needy people right under my nose? 

 

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself usntained from the world." James 1:27

 

Maybe one day, the Lord will take me to Africa to share His love but right now He has placed me in the good ole US of A and so I choose to be a light of my Father's love right where He has placed me for today.

 

**PS...if you are interested, you can visit Katie's Blog Here.

A sewing project

I have this great skirt that I love...it's perfect to wear with leggings and boots and is so comfy! One problem...whenever I walk it just rides up in front and looks completely unattractive not to mention its really annoying. So I bought a slip, cut it up and sewed it into the front of the skirt as a lining! Its not the prettiest sewing job but it works like magic and that makes me super happy! One small step for this relatively uncrafty person! :)

Rapunzel, I presume. By Kate