Changing Perspective

I have often wondered why the Lord hasn't brought my husband into my life yet. Actually this is probably a daily question that goes through my mind. Today as I was spending time with the Lord, I heard him say, "Change your perspective".

What are the good things about me being single and now in my later 30's? A question I need to be asking myself instead of the one I wrote earlier. What can I thank the Lord for in my life? There really are so many things....and beginning to focus on those instead of what I don't have is such a better idea. So often the enemy wants to get us to focus on the bad....the things we are missing out on. My focus needs to remain on the Lord and on His goodness! He knows the desires of my heart, but He also knows the path He has me on....and He is good in all of it!

Things to be thankful for....I don't have as many responsibilities as those that are married and have children. I only have to take care of myself (which can be a chore sometimes!). I can pick up and go whenever I want....no one to ask. I can always go out for "Girls Night"!! I am blessed with an amazing group of friends that have surrounded me and loved me. I am right where the Lord has me....doing exactly what the Lord wants me to be doing! No better place to be!

Just wanted to share a little of what has been on my heart lately! It has been awhile since I have written....but I am working on being more active on here. Thanks for listening to my heart!

~ KIM ~

Adventures in HAITI.....

This past Thursday at about 2:3o in the morning we pulled into the church parking lot after ending a week long adventure to Haiti. I say adventure because it was exactly that! When I look back over all we did I feel like it was a lot longer than just a week. The days were very long and very full of so many things.

We arrived in Haiti the Thursday before last and noticed that there have been a lot of changes made in the country starting with the airport. Things seemed to be a lot more organized as they guided us through customs to baggage claim. We had no problems getting our luggage and making it out without having to pay someone.....which is definitely different than last time! Once we walked out of the building to find our ride, we noticed that there were fences up holding back the Haitians from grabbing our luggage and trying to help us to our vehicles in hopes of getting money. We quickly found our ride and made our way to the Foursquare base camp. It was nice to see all the changes made around the church as we passed by on the way to the house. The wall we had helped move rock for last time was completely up around the church with a huge gate in front. Ground had been leveled out and all the grass and weeds behind the church had been cleared out. It was so amazing to see all the hard work that had been done in just 3 months!

Once getting to base camp we received instructions for what we would be doing for the next few days. We were invited to hike up to a village out of Port Au Prince called Lascahobas. There is a Foursquare church located at the top of the mountain and they asked us to put on a Vacation Bible School program for the children up there for a few days. We planned projects for the kids along with lessons, and lots of games and other activities. Early the next morning we packed up our stuff and began our 2 hour journey in a Tap-tap (the vehicles that transport people in Haiti). Once we were at our destination we were greeted by about 30 Haitians that were going to be walking up the mountain with us to their village, Lascahobas. We unloaded all of our supplies and personal luggage along with ten new wooden benches that another team had made for the church. As things were being unloaded, the Pastor of the Foursquare church began calling kids over to pick up the benches and then he placed them on their heads. They carried these benches along with other items we brought up the mountain on top of their heads. I still don't understand how they did it, but I saw it happen and I am amazed!

I took a look up at the mountain in front of me and was not sure I would even be able to make this hike. The trail was almost straight up and it just kept going. This was by far the hardest thing I think I have ever done. We hiked up the mountain for an hour and a half and all the trails were straight up. I of course was in the very last group and we took our time....stopping along the path at any shaded area we could find because it was so hot. The Pastor stayed with us the whole time, making sure we were going the correct way. I kept telling him that he could go on ahead of us, but he insisted on walking slowly with us and making sure we made it!

Once at the top I was blown away by the view. It was one of the most amazing places I have ever seen. It was absolutely beautiful. We set up our tents and placed tarps around the toilet that sat on a slab of cement behind the church. It looked like it was going to rain a little so we put the rain flies over our tents and then joined the Haitians in the church. While sitting in the church, which is a building made of a tin roof and tarps for walls, the wind started to blow and the rain started to fall. The storm was beginning to hit and we all scattered throughout the area where we had placed our tents, making sure everything was secure. The wind picked up and the rain was coming down even harder. The tarps we had placed around the toilet were blowing away and it took everything we could do to stand there making sure we didn't lose the tarp. Because the rain was coming down so hard we decided to put the tarp from the bathroom over our tent to keep things dry. By this time we were all completely soaked from head to toe. Once everything was finally secure, or as well as we could make it, we went back into the church to wait the storm out. I can honestly say that I have never been in a storm like that before.

This is a few of us at our camp in the midst of the storm, completely wet!

All three nights that we were in the village, the Pastor invited us to a prayer meeting. The Haitians would all sing worship to the Lord, which was by far one of my favorite parts! They would sing with everything they had in them and it was beautiful. After a few songs, the worship leader would then read a Psalm. Then they would all sing a few more praises to the Lord. Each night one person from our team would share what the Lord had put on their heart. Our interpreter, Robenson, was there to help us out!

During the day we would play games with all the kids of all ages. We had relay's which was so fun to watch them participate in. Even the older women in the village joined in the games! Our team played in a few soccer games, one of which was in the mud and everyone was slipping and falling all over the place! Everyone in the village would come out and watch the games being played and would cheer and laugh with all of us. Basically we were up in their village to love on the people, but really what happened was they loved on us just as much. It was an incredible week of learning what community really is all about. These families live together, eat together, play together and love each other. It really was amazing to see!

While on the mountain the Lord spoke to me a lot about His presence. I was sitting up on this mountain looking out at the Lord's beauty and resting in His presence. He instructed me on what we needed to be doing the whole time we were up in Lascahobas. Without Him I would have been so lost and not really knowing what we could be doing for these people.....but He showed me that we were up there for a specific reason and He guided our steps along the way. I don't want to ever leave His presence. In His presence things happen! When we are in His presence, He gives us instruction and we, in obedience, get to move see things happen that wouldn't out of His presence. As I learned a lot about the presence of the Lord on that mountaintop, I realized that I need to bring that down into my every day life.....the valley. I don't want to go anywhere without being in His presence. I want the Lord to invade my life completely....and I want to see the unbelievable happen.

There were so many more things that happened in Haiti, but really this was the part that impacted me the most. Thank you for your prayers and support as our team went to Haiti. This trip will always have a special place in my heart.....it really did change me and for that I am so grateful!

~Kim~

HAITI

To be honest with all of you, I just want to admit that I am having a little bit of anxiety about our upcoming mission trip to Haiti. I leave on a trip with our 2nd year Anthem students in a little over one week and I am not sure if I am really prepared for what we are going to be doing. It is possible that we are going to be going to a part of Haiti that has not really been reached yet since the earthquake in January. I am from Eastern Oregon so I know what it is like to be "camping" with no showers and no bathrooms.....but the heat on top of this is going to be hard. Also, leading a group of young people is a lot of work and I have been going through a lot this summer....so the question is, am I really ready for this?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Phil 4:6-7

I am super excited to see what the Lord is going to do with our team....how we will be able to work in this village He is sending us to and what an impact He will have on lives by using us there. I felt like I was to write this blog post and ask that you will join me in prayer....because the scripture says "present your requests to God" and his peace will guard our hearts and minds!! I need the peace of the Lord!!!

Thank you!!

~ Kim ~

What An Adventure.....

This summer has truly been an adventure. Not so much in going places physically but mostly going places spiritually. The Lord had me start a journey this summer that has taken me back to places in my life where I have made agreements that shape my life. These agreements have not always been good agreements and have caused me to live in fear instead of living in freedom like the Lord has wanted for me.

A few months ago I started meeting with a Christian counselor and she began to help me process through all that the Lord was revealing to me. I felt like I had some pretty major breakthrough in my life and I was on my way to living in freedom!! About a month passed and I realized that the process I began at the beginning of the summer was really just the beginning. I am still on an incredible adventure with the Lord and on my way out of this dark pit that the Lord has revealed to me. There are good days and there are very hard days....but through it all the Lord has been so faithful! He wants complete healing in all of us....it is just our choice if we will surrender to his will and walk through it or just keep living our lives the way we always have. Personally I am sick of living my life the way I always have!!!

Today I was reading in My Upmost For His Highest, and it was talking about pouring out our blessings on the Lord. What the Lord was speaking to me was that instead of me holding on to the blessings and gifts that he gives me, I am supposed to be pouring them back on him. I am so afraid of losing these blessings so I hold on too tight....just hoping they will always be there. These blessings become my filling each day.....and that is not God's intention! He desires to be our complete filling....not his gifts and blessings. It has definitely been something for me to think about!

Now on with the rest of this adventure.......

Seeking His Presence

It has been way too long since I have updated my blog....so I thought it was about time to do just that.

My life has completely changed over the past few months and it is all because of God's presence in my life. For years I have walked around filling a deep pit with anything and anyone that could come and make me feel good and make me feel loved. The sad thing is that those things never lasted and so I would keep reaching to others and other things. Never completely satisfied. I started seeking the Lord and His Presence and the Lord met me! He came to this deep pit and began to fill it with his presence and his love!

He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings..... Psalm 40:2 (Amp)

It is amazing what can happen when we truly seek the Lord with our whole heart. When we finally let go of control and give God our EVERYTHING! I am living proof that God wants to come and completely fill our lives with his love so that we stop trying to reach out and get it from other people and other things. He wants to fulfill our every need!

~ Kim ~

A Revelation

Revelation - something made known to us by God

For the last couple of mornings I have been reading through the book of Galations during my quiet time with the Lord. The word revelation kept standing out to me as I was reading, so I began to dig a little deeper into what the Lord was wanting to speak to me.

Paul said in Galations 1:12....."I did not receive it from any man, not was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." Paul was talking about how he came to know the Lord.....that nothing any man said changed his life, but it was what the Lord showed him that brought him into relationship with Jesus. Then, in Galations 2:2 he writes....."I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles." Paul had a revelation from the Lord to go and preach to the Gentiles, so his response was obedience.

For my own life I have realized in that the Lord speaks to me often....He gives me revelations! He makes known to me what direction he wants me to go in life. He makes known to me the things he wants to bring healing to in my life. He makes known to me what he thinks about me and how much He loves me. These are all things the Lord is doing on a regular basis. Now, just like Paul, I get to respond. Will my response be obedience or will it be to go my own way? I would hope that it would be obedience, but sometimes I have to admit that I am a little stubborn and it takes me awhile to completely obey.

I pray today that you and I will be receiving revelations from the Lord. That as we draw closer to the Lord he will draw closer to us! I pray that as the Lord reveals things to us that we would respond in obedience. I also pray that when God reveals things to us, that we would be a people like Abraham....."he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." Galations 3:6

I pray that when God speaks to us we would believe his truth and declare it in our lives.

Thank you Lord for speaking to our hearts!

~ Kim ~

Step Out

The moment I saw this camper the Lord showed me a picture. I was at the registration table at camp, checking in all the boys while Kate checked in all the girls. The picture was so real and it broke my heart. I began to pray and listen to the Lord for this young man.

Two days later I am standing in the back of the chapel and I see this young man and the Lord told me to go tell him what I saw. I went back and forth with God for about 5 minutes because one, I didn't know the kid and two, I didn't any clue what God was going to tell him and I was afraid. I had this heaviness on my chest and I knew I had to be obedient. God is so good....as I tapped this kid on the shoulder he glanced back at me, not really sure what I was doing. I leaned over and told him, "I have a word for you!" and immediately he turned around. There was an anticipation in his face and I knew he wanted to hear from the Lord. As I began sharing with him the picture the Lord gave me, God kept speaking more to him. That moment I knew that God met him right where he was and his life would be changed. It was amazing!

No matter if we know all that we are going to say or just a little piece of it, if God asks us to step out and speak....be obedient!

Since camp I have received a few texts from this kid and he told me that he is completely different. God did some pretty incredible things in his life up at camp and I am honored that the Lord would use me through it. I am learning that I don't have to have a feeling or have my heart start racing before I know it is God speaking to me.....I spend time with the Lord everyday and I have learned through my time with him what his voice sounds like. Now I listen and move when he asks, even if there isn't a feeling that takes over. I have seen God show up so much more lately because of my obedience and I don't ever want to go back to the way I was. I want to be used by the Lord everyday to see lives changed. I also want to hear from the Lord everyday for my own life.

I can't imagine living life without God speaking to me. I am so glad I don't have to!

~ Kim ~

Summer

When I think of summer I think of Camp Crestview. This summer will be my 21st year going to Crestview, with a break in between for a few years. In 1984 I was told by my mom that I was going to go to camp at Crestview, but I was the only girl from my church. I fought my mom, because how scary would that be? I just remember begging my mom to not make me go...but she kept saying, "I grew up at Crestview and so will you. Don't worry...you will love it!" I am so glad that my mom made me go. I didn't want to leave. I couldn't wait until the next summer when I could go again. Camp was a place where I would meet new friends and grow closer to the Lord. It was a place where I learned what worship was all about. It was a place where I remember God talking to me for the first time.

Tomorrow I get to go to Crestview for High School camp. I am busy getting ready....packing clothes and hoping I don't forget anything. I am so excited for what is going to happen this coming week. Last year was the best year at camp for me by far.....but I am expecting God to show up in a new fresh way this year....and I am waiting for him to rock the lives of these young people going to camp. The great thing about camp is that not only are the campers lives changed but also the staff. I came home from camp last year a new person....and I am looking for the Lord to work in my heart again this year!

Today I am thankful for the opportunity to go to camp. I am thankful for a job that allows me time off of work to do the ministry I love so much! I am thankful for the expectant heart the Lord has given me for camp. I am also thankful for the amazing summer weather we are having!!!! I love the sunshine!

~ Kim ~

Stories that make you laugh.....

I love to sit around with friends and tell old stories.......

Laughter

Last night, while sitting in the Allstott's living room, some friends along with some "kids" that used to be in the youth group when I was a leader sat around and shared story after story. We have had some fun times and it meant a lot to me to just sit back and laugh with friends. At one point I know I was crying because I was laughing so hard.

Tomorrow we celebrate Kevin Osterloh's life and last night we were able to share our funny Kevin stories. The way I want to remember Kevin is by these stories we shared. He was such an amazing young man and has blessed each of our lives.

Being back in La Grande just reminds me of all the good times I have had here. I am thankful to be here and to be with friends!

~ Kim ~

Do Not Hide

Psalm 40:10

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

I remember a time in my life where I had a hard time believing that God was really good. It's crazy because God has always been faithful. He has always been righteous. God has always been loving. Why then would I have a hard time believing he was good?

I can look back at my life and really wonder what happened here and there. When bad things happened was it God punishing me? No....it was me walking through the choices I made. God taught me things through those hard times. He is so good that he wanted me to learn more about him through the choices I made that brought me pain and sorrow.

My responsibilty now is to not be quiet about what God has done in my life, but to speak of his goodness. When I am talking with someone who is walking through a hard time I need to be leaning on the Holy Spirit to tell me what to say. My words are not going to change what someone is going though, but God can change their heart by what he wants me to speak. Being quiet and not telling others of his goodness in my life is not allowing myself to be used by the Lord to bring his truth.

My heart is so heavy right now. There are people in my life that do not walk an easy life. Their choices have brought some pretty hard circumstances. I want to come in and fix the problem. I want to help them make choices that will be better for their life....but I can't. What the Lord has shown me today is that I can be quick to listen to the Holy Spirit and when he tells me to speak, I will tell of God's goodness. I will tell of his righteousness. I will tell of his great love. And instead of me changing things in their life......I allow God the room to do what He can and will do in their heart.

I am thankful for what the Lord keeps showing me in my quiet times with him each day.

I am thankful that God's word is......"Living and Active", Heb 4:12

~ Kim ~

Thankful For Lifelong Friendships

I was able to sleep in today. What a wonderful feeling! I woke up refreshed and ready for my week. As I rolled over to look out the window I saw beautiful Mt. Emily and smiled. What a site to wake up to. It is nice to be in La Grande for awhile.

Today I get to have lunch with friends.....then I am off to spend the rest of the day with someone very close to my heart. After this weekend of spending time with this friend.....I realized how deep my love is for this person.

John 15:12-14

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

I am thankful that the Lord has blessed me with this friendship. I am thankful that the Lord brought both of us back "home" so that we could have time together. The Lord always has a plan.....and I am honored to be used by Him to love His children!

~ Kim ~

July 5th....

I am thankful for an amazing 4th of July weekend at Wallowa Lake!

I am Thankful for......

The Allstott Family and for them inviting me camp with them this weekend

Laughter and Memories

Long talks with an old friend

God speaking through others to my heart

More Laughter

Fireworks at the Lake

Good Food

Good Weather

And again......Laughter

~ Kim ~

July 2nd.....

Today I am thankful for........

My car that is paid of and will get me to my destination!

Air Conditioning

Waking up before my alarm......it is a beautiful day

Time off

Great friends!

Today I begin my adventure.........

Wallowa Lake ~ Friends ~ Camping

Sunshine ~ Boat Rides ~ Fireworks

Great Food ~ Games ~ Road Trip

~ Kim ~

On July 1st I am Thankful for....

Quiet Time This Morning

Hearing God's Voice Speak To Me

Amazing Sunshine ~ Summer

A Trip To Look Forward To ~ The 4th of July is coming!!

I decided yesterday that I am going to start writing down things I am thankful for daily. Too often I get caught up in the negative and forget about all the amazing blessings in my life. Even starting this yesterday I could see how I was having a hard time thinking of the things I am thankful for. I need to change my mindset! Here I go!

~Kim~

A Thankful Heart

In the past couple of days I have realized that I keep thinking about the things that I don't have and not looking at what God has given me. I don't seem to have a thankful heart too often. I am always wondering when God is going to show up with the things I desire instead of looking at all the blessings He has given to me.

This morning I was reading in Psalm 104 and it really spoke to my heart. How amazing is our God? I don't think I spend enough time thinking about how amazing my God really is. If you have a moment you should read Psalm 104 and really think of all that God does on a regular basis. He provides for our needs. He gives us the breath that we need to live. God is in control and He has our best in mind.

The more I sit and think about these things the more I forget about the things I don't have. I think that the enemy wants me to sit in my self pity and make me think of all the things I am missing. I don't want to sit there anymore. I want to change my thought process and have a thankful heart. So that is what I am going to do. For the next few times that I write on here I am going to write about what I am thankful for. I am going to stop letting the enemy keep me down and I am going to start thanking the Lord for all the good things he has done.

Today, I am thankful for the breath that God has given me. In Him I have life! I am thankful that God giving me a purpose for living. Thank you, Lord, for having a plan for my life!

~Kim~

Weary

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap

a harvest if we do not give up.

Galations 6:9

This past week the Lord put a word on a friends heart for me. He said to my friend that I have been growing very weary. At first when I heard this I was not in agreement with that word. "I am not weary!" I kept saying to myself. While sitting down that next morning, spending time with the Lord, I began to look up the word weary and scriptures that talked about being weary. I began to understand what the Lord was saying.

This past year has been a lot of "plowing" ground for what the Lord wants to do in and through my life. As I look over the past 10 months I have seen God strip things from my life, including my comfort. I have been seeking the Lord and doing what he has asked of me, even if I am not understanding all that he is doing. I have really been trying to walk out the "doing good", as the scripture says. The Lord has given me many promises and I believe he is faithful and these things will come to be in my life.....so I will keep doing good and wait.

While waiting on the "harvest" to come forth in my life, it is encouraging to know that I have friends around me. Friends that I can be real with. Friends that will walk beside me and pray. Friends that don't always have the answers, but they are willing to listen. God has blessed me with some pretty amazing friends!

~ Kim ~

Saying Goodbye

Saying goodbye to a friend is hard, especially if you know it will be the last time you ever talk to them. A little over two weeks ago I was leaving Medford for a mission trip down to Mexico. I received a text from a friend letting me know that I should probably give my friend Mary a call before I leave, just in case she didn't make it until I got home. My first response was to just leave and not have to deal with how I was feeling about the situation, but I decided that I would make the call and I am so glad I did. Mary was 82 years old and she had leukemia for the second time. This time she decided not to do any treatment and go home with the Lord when he was ready to bring her home. Mary is like a grandma to me. I have known her most of my life and over the past twelve years, while I lived in La Grande, I grew really close to her. When I made the phone call I wasn't even sure if I would be able to talk to her, but God is so good and allowed me to have my final conversation with Mary. I was able to tell Mary goodbye and that I loved her and she said the same to me. This was one of the hardest conversations I have ever had and it ended with me crying harder than I have in years. Two days later, while I was walking back to the hotel in Mexico, I received the news that Mary had passed away. A part of me was relieved because I didn't want to see her in pain anymore and I knew she was at home with Jesus, the other part of me was sad because I lost someone so close to my heart.

We spent another week in Mexico when we received the news that another close friend of mine, Kevin, was not doing very well and they weren't sure how much longer he would be here. Kevin is 21 years old and has been in my life since he was in the 6th grade. I have loved Kevin like he was my own child. I was his youth leader for many years and then had the honor of being here in Medford, helping out with Anthem, where he is a student. Kevin was diagnosed with a brain tumor a little over two years ago and in the past couple of weeks we found out that his tumor has grown to 6.5mm. Just last week, after not thinking he might make it through the night, the doctors gave him steroids and that helped him to make it back home to La Grande. Our team in Mexico made the decision to cut our trip short and head home as quickly as possible. We flew into San Francisco, drove home to Medford, did some laundry and packed up again.....then we made a long trip to La Grande this past weekend. We were so blessed to have made it back in time to see Kevin and spend some time with him. He is such a blessing to all of us and we really wanted him to know that! We were able to stay in La Grande for a few days. Monday night was our last night in town and we planned a special night just for Kevin. Since he will not be able to join us here in Medford for the Anthem graduation, we gave him his own graduation ceremony. Each of the students prepared something for Kevin.....a letter, song or just sharing with him some of their favorite memories with Kevin. I had the opportunity to share with Kevin how much I loved him and what he meant to me. This was one of the most incredible nights of my life. To hear from each of the students and leaders just how much Kevin meant to them and changed their life, that was a moment that changed my life. That night I said goodbye to Kevin and maybe even hugged him for the very last time. He is still holding on and we aren't sure what God is going to do, but we will keep praying and see what God has in store for Kevin.

Something that both Mary and Kevin have taught me is to live life for the Lord until my very last breath. Each of them have been such an amazing example of lives completely sold out to the Lord.....no matter what came at them, the still praised their Jesus. I do not want to take for granted the life God has given me. I want to be a light for him every second of every day, just like Mary and Kevin have both done. I am going to miss my friends very much but I am so comforted to know where they will be!

~Kim~

Extravagant Love

This past weekend I was shown Extravagant Love by some pretty amazing friends. These friends allowed the Lord to use them to pour out His love on me in a time when I really needed it. My birthday was on Monday and for the past few years I have really struggled with that day. Since being in my 30's the enemy has really gotten me down around my birthday, bringing up the fact that I am single and going through life alone....and for some reason getting older is hard to face. I have sometimes even bought into the lie that God has forgotten me. I know all these things are lies but around this time of the year I always seem to believe them.
A few weeks ago our pastor spoke about Extravagant Love. He spoke to us about allowing ourselves to be used by the Lord to show others the Father's love. On Sunday...the day before my birthday...after church, my friend Kate took me to lunch and to the park to relax in the beautiful weather we were having here in Medford. Not really knowing what was happening, I was totally surprised by two other friends, Kate B. and Steph, who were redecorating my bedroom. On Sunday evening I was taken home and with my eyes closed I was guided up the stairs into my bedroom. My friends had been asking me questions for months about the things I like and don't like. They had been working together on making my room a place where I could go and relax and just completely enjoy. It is so beautiful! They made me a new duvet cover for my comforter and bought me satin sheets and beautiful pillows to lay on my bed. They made me curtains for my windows and to cover my huge closet doors. There was a new lamp on my night stand with candles and plants in cute pots. Everywhere you look something was new and it was so beautiful. I had always been bummed about my room because it was so blah and boring....now it is elegant and relaxing. My friends went above and beyond all I could have imagined and I truly felt the Extravagant Love of my Heavenly Father.
On my birthday these same friends had the whole day planned....from picking me up in the morning and bringing me tulips and a Starbucks coffee to the end of the night celebrating while eating my favorite dessert, Bobbi's famous carrot cake! Along with my friends here in Medford, I received many cards and packages from friends in La Grande. Just to be remembered was a blessing. I can honestly tell you that this is one of the best birthday's I have ever had and I will remember the Extravagant Love my friends poured out on me these past few days!
Now it is my turn to show the same kind of love to someone else. I am listening closely to the Lord for his direction. I know that he wants to use me and I am excited for the opportunity!

~ Kim ~

In Obedience We See God's Miracles

Joshua 3:15-16

"Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing."

This morning in my devotion time, the Lord had me walking through Joshua. I love the book of Joshua because it is the time when we see the goodness of the Lord and his promises come forth. Joshua becomes the leader of the Israelites after Moses dies. He is the one that gets to lead God's people into the Promise Land!!! Once the Israelites get to the Jordan river the Lord directs them to take the Ark of the Covenant into the river. The river is not just a calm river and it is no big deal to come near it.....it is actually raging and at the flooding stage. I can just imagine what the Israelites were thinking when they saw the river. I am sure they were a little fearful and wondering if they really heard God correctly.

In Obedience We See God's Miracles

The Israelites were Obedient
"Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their

feet touched the water's edge....."

And they saw the Miracle

"....the water from upstream stopped flowing."

It's one thing to read God's word.....it's another thing to believe that it is truth. This season of my life I have been learning a lot about being obedient to the voice of the Lord. And when I say obedient, I don't mean a few days after he says something to me, but immediately doing what he asks. About two weeks ago I received a phone call from a really great and trusted friend. As we were talking I walked away knowing that the Lord was asking me to do something that I saw as very hard....and I was even a little fearful of the unknown, just like I am sure the Israelites were before they stepped into the Jordan river.

What the Lord has asked me to do is to sell my truck. I know to some of you that is probably not a big deal....but for me it has been completely hard to make that decision. When I first heard the Lord say that to me, I was thinking.....why would God say that to me? I have spent so much time and money taking care of my truck....why would he ask me to do this? I love my truck!! This is going to be a sacrifice. So I began to process through what the Lord was saying and realized that if I do sell my truck, I can pay it off completely, buy something else to drive and I can get out of debt almost completely. Thinking about that now, in the place that I am in financially.....getting out of debt is God taking a huge load off my shoulders. WOW! God does have a plan! So I will step out in OBEDIENCE and watch what the Lord will do!

I put my truck up for sale this past Tuesday.....parking it in the church parking lot on the busy street the church sits on. Within a few hours I had phone calls coming in. We are living in a day and time where people are not buying things, they are selling.....but God asked me to sell and he is bringing me a buyer. If you would like to pray for me during this time I would greatly appreciate it! I want to see God's miracle and I belive it is coming!!

~ Kim ~

Life On The Vine

This past weekend I went to Camp Crestview to join 160 women at a conference/slumber party called Life On The Vine. I went with Kate, Ashley and the Anthem Girls.

It was our first "girls outing" and it was amazing!!

On Saturday afternoon I went in to the chapel to hear Sunshine speak. She shared her testimony and the response of the women was amazing. After the testimony time, Shannon Kearney spoke about the next thing we were being invited to do. Around the front of the sanctuary were about 5 or 6 different stations. At the first station was ash on a plate. The second station had rocks and a cross. The third station was clean water in bowls. Then there were about six women available to pray with you. After that you could go and take communion. Next stood three men that had been asked to attend this conference. They were there to pray with the women. After that there was salt and then apples and honey.

At first I didn't really understand the reason for the stations. Usually in situations like that I tend to just walk away from them instead of engaging. I did walk out of the sanctuary for a little bit and said to the Lord, "I don't get it!" He said back to me, "I don't care, get back in there and go through it." I have been in a place of learning to be obedient right at the time that he asks something of me, so....I walked forward and got in line. Still unsure about what the purpose was, I reached out and touched the ash. Immediately the Lord spoke to my heart and said that my past is behind me and I need to stop looking behind and keep pressing forward. I went to the next station and picked up two rocks. As I was holding on to those two rocks the Lord began to show me two things I needed to let go of and leave at His cross. I began to pray and then placed them at the foot of the cross. The next station was prayer and as I turned around I saw someone that I knew and the Lord sent me to them. There has been a relationship that I have struggled in and the Lord wanted to heal that area. God is so good to direct and prepare hearts. After the conversation and prayer with each other, I was then able to take communion. The next steps happened and I left the sanctuary really excited about all that My Father had just accomplished in my life. If I would have remained stubborn and not walked through the stations just because I didn't understand, then I would have really missed out on something wonderful and very freeing.

Thank you Jesus for the blessing of your voice speaking to my heart. I would be lost without hearing from you!!

~ Kim ~