Mercy for a Murderer

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”- Jeremiah 29:11-13


Here are some of my favorite verses in the Bible. I didn’t know them well until I interviewed a lady for a story in Today’s Christian Woman and she used them. The verses seemed to apply to her situation and I’ve always thought of her when other people quote them.

Her name is Maggie Troyer. You can read her story. It is a powerful example of how God can take someone who has been a murderer, prostitute, drug user, alcoholic, neglectful mother, and turn them into something beautiful.

Maggie today struggles with cancer. She is still living for her Lord and will never turn her back on Him. Her husband supports her in her belief and together they cling to promises like this one. I encourage you to read this story and see how someone found peace with God when there seemed to be no hope. You can contact her at Setonefree@aol.com.

I don’t say this often because it sounds boastful, but I’m proud of this story because it points readers to God. Praise Him.

Take care,
Kayleen

A Psalm to Wake Up to Each Morning

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song. (Ps 28:7)


Every morning when I wake up, I spend a few minutes in prayer going over the words to this psalm. First, I thank God for everything in my life. I’m thankful for my family and our health. I’m thankful for our house. I’m thankful for my marriage. I’m thankful for my church and extended family. I’m thankful for my work and my husband’s job.

Then I pray for situations and people who need help and God’s help and guidance.

When it comes down to it, the words to this verse form the basis for what I say:

“The LORD is my strength and my shield”

God protects me from everything. Whatever comes into my life has gone through His hands first.

“my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.”

He is the only thing I put any stock in. If it wasn’t for God, I wouldn't have any purpose in life.

“My heart leaps for joy”

Because of my belief in God and His faithfulness, I am thrilled my life counts for something.

“and I will give thanks to him in song.”

I love to sing hymns to God out of thankfulness and adoration for how He has redeemed my soul from nothing to something.

--Four brief lines of thought and it sums up exactly how I feel about God and try to live my life.

The psalms don’t always express positive thoughts. Some of the psalm writers question why God allows things to happen.

That’s part of a healthy relationship – being honest and expressing feelings. God gave us feelings for a reason.

But even when we don’t want to believe God would allow something bad to happen to us or someone we love, we have to continue to love Him. It is the only way life will ever make sense.

If He only allowed good things to happen to people who said they loved Him, then people might be tempted to say they love God, just so they wouldn't be hurt in life.

How sincere of a faith is that?

I think God allows bad things to happen to us because He wants us to see that He will never forsake us or leave us. We can see God in bad situations, if we look for him.

I’ve definitely had bad things happen in my life. My dad died unexpectedly during a surgery. My mother-in-law died following a lingering bout of cancer. We have faced unemployment and health issues in our family. But as I heard someone say 20+ years ago, I’ve decided that I’ve come too far to give up on God now.

Is there a psalm or part of a psalm that sums up your feelings about God?

Take care,

The Greatest of These is...

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:13)

Today is Valentine’s Day. I almost had to spend it without my Sweetie because he had to do snow removal at work after 12 inches were dumped on our area yesterday. But he finally made it home late today, only to take a shower and head to bed.

I might not be with him physically, but I'm with him emotionally and spiritually. John has always been a hard worker and someone I could be proud of in his work ethics and relationships.

My husband has never been rude and I’ve never had occasion in 26 years of marriage to fear he would hurt me. Lots of women would think those attributes alone are enough, but wait—there’s more!

John is patient and puts up with my bad habits like not hanging up my clothes. He came from a generation where the women did the dishes, but he doesn’t complain about this task when it falls to him. Plus, he always tells me he loves me, which is really great since a lot of times I don't feel I deserve it.

So even though we’re not celebrating together in a romantic restaurant with roses and dim lights, I’m thrilled just to still be married to this guy and spending a quiet night at home. I don’t take that for granted and never will, especially since I just read that couples who have been married for decades are getting divorced now in greater numbers.

How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day? I hope it’s with someone you love and who is a blessing to you.

Take care,

Love is Like a Wind Chime

1 Cor 13:1-3: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."

***
Before I fall asleep on windy nights, I can hear my neighbor’s wind chimes on her front porch. They sound tinkly and gentle. I’m so glad she doesn’t have a big gong so every time the wind blew, it made a BONG! BONG! sound.

That would be so irritating!

Paul is telling his readers that talent, wisdom, even faith and sacrifice, without love are like a gong – irritating and worthless. It would be like someone sacrificing his life for his own benefit. No one would be helped. What good is that?

If we’re going to improve the world, let’s do it for love and not for ourselves. Let’s be like my neighbor’s wind chimes and do it gently, not irritating people with selfishness we try to disguise as love.

*******

We’re currently getting blasted with a terrible snowstorm which may produce 12 in. of snow.

I hope everyone reading this is safe.

Take care,
Kayleen

Love does not delight in evil

“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”- 1 Corinthians 13: 6-7

I’m focusing on the subject of love for this entry because Valentine’s Day is coming up. This verse from “the Love Chapter” of 1 Cor. 13 is huge.

“Love does not delight in evil”– that means we don’t get excited when someone we love messes up. That makes sense, but it also may mean confronting the person we love to tell them they did something wrong.

Some people call this "tough love." It’s difficult to stand up to someone you love who has taken a wrong path and try to point it out to them. They may not want to hear it or believe you would “judge” them.

Perhaps that’s why the Apostle Paul who wrote these words also put “love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” right afterward. He knew people who mess up need other people to hang with them through thick and thin.

Of course, this doesn’t mean staying in an abusive situation or enabling someone to become emotionally dependent on you. It may be the best thing to do for someone is leave them alone to figure out a situation.

Is there someone in your life that needs you to point out a problem he’s been ignoring? He may also need you to stick by him to try to remedy the situation. Be a Valentine and show your love by sticking by him.

It’s what Jesus would do.

Take care,

Kayleen

The Love Chapter

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”- 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

The 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians is often read at weddings. It’s called “The Love Chapter” because of its focus on love. But I’m pretty sure the writer, Paul, never meant for his words to only apply to married couples. They are words that can apply to any relationship, be it in the work place, with extended family, or even strangers.

As for economy, Paul knew how to combine words to pack a punch. He doesn’t expound on them because he used simple, mostly one-syllable words so his readers would have no problem understanding his meaning.

This is a good example for a writer or anyone who wants to communicate. It reminds me of the acronym KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid.

Challenge: Think of someone in your life presently whom you have trouble dealing with. Try to show them one loving action today on your part. They may not reciprocate or even realize what you did. But you’ll know and God will know. That’s enough.

Take care and stay warm!

Kayleen

Master Mind Group watches "The Secret"

The Master Mind group that two other friends and I started in 2007 is going well. Weather and jobs have not interfered too much, so we’ve been able to meet several times to help us get to know each other better and become friends.

We met each other for the first time last summer at a writer’s club and quickly hit it off at the monthly meetings. Then we decided to start this Master Mind group and I think we’ve already made strides in reaching our goals.

Since it is recommended that 4-8 people be in a Master Mind, we’ve asked other people to join the Master Mind group, but thus far, we haven't found anyone who can make it. So we’re moving on and enjoying each other’s company as we share our personal and career goals with each other.

Our writing interests vary, but our passion for success is similar. We all want to see our dreams come true. We plan to work hard and help each other by sharing advice and resources.

Recently, we met at Tammy’s office and watched “The Secret,” which Laurie had purchased and already viewed it and read the book. She believed it was worth our time together to view it. Tammy and I agreed.

You can read more about my Master Mind group in a blog which I’ve been asked to contribute to on a monthly basis by Evan Carmichael. I’ve checked out Mr. Carmichael’s website and think it looks informative and worthy of some more research.

Thanks to Evan Carmichael for asking me to join his Master Mind blogging group. My first entry there will be posted soon.

My entry will discuss “The Secret”, which is a DVD describing how a person can begin changing his or her life for the better. It features Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup fame) and others who teach about what the secret is that will help people live happier lives.

I watched Oprah’s show on February 8, 2007, as the people involved with “The Secret” talked about it. It was nice to know I had already begun using the principles from “The Secret” for years. In fact, I think most of the same principles are referred to in the Bible in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Thinking good thoughts is always a good rule and has helped me stay positive in difficult situations.

You can find a copy of “The Secret” online. Watch it and read Philippians. I guarantee you’ll be a happier person if you put these principles into effect.
Take care and keep warm!

Kayleen