Welcome to my website!
This site reflects little bursts of inspiration and thought - through writing and photography. I like to credit anything that blesses you as simply God flowing through me...and anything that doesn't...well, that would just be my mere thinking out loud! :)
May there be more of God's inspiration than Kim's thoughts...and may you be greatly encouraged and blessed as you browse through this collection of offerings!
Feel free to scroll through the above mini-gallery by placing mouse on the arrows. (Note: Some devices do not show or allow this option. Also, some devices such as I-Phones show blog pics separated differently than you will view them on a PC. I have yet to figure out why, but then my humble technology accomplishments are doing well to even have a blog!) Check out the gallery of photos if you like color and photography. At the bottom/left of each page is a small arrow to view previous posts. There are many.
Before you get to all that, click below. Take a breath. Enjoy!!
Song by Eva Cassidy
Photos, well, by me!
Victim or Victor?
Recently I have been challenged about what it means to defend our faith. We live in a society that loves to blame shift and one in which being defensive and self absorbed fuels victim mentalities in various ways. Too often we seek to gather all human resources in an effort to protect and defend our "rights" and wants. Our humanity also leans towards "looking out for number one" and keeping all cautions and guards up in a world that often indeed can be cruel, dishonest and unfair.
Many times we are taken advantage of and do in fact become unfortunate victims. Our experiences of being wronged or hurt can make us all the more needy and mistrusting. Sometimes we even become somewhat dysfunctional as a result of these kind of histories. Playing the "victim" card becomes a way in which we can manipulate compassion, sympathy, response and even relationships to an extent.
I believe that God has something much better for us than the temptation to mistrust and become defensive. Though we must be wise, He asks us to take risks in the name of representing the God we cannot see. Even relationships that have questionable aspects usually deserve a "3 strikes your out" chance! Since we are all human and capable of making mistakes and hurting others, we must keep in mind that forgiveness and reconciliation is our responsibility - as believers in a God who first forgave us!
I am learning that defending my faith often means that I am required to love - even my enemies. Rather than to immediately assume the worst and how it adversely affects me, might I instead consider how to be victorious and overcome with His love and mercy?
I must add that allowing abuse is quite a different category, though He enables us by His strength alone to forgive. It is hard to love those who harm us. "Love" does not mean to give in to the wishes of those who choose to hurt us, but it does mean we become victors over their wrongful intentions or actions. We learn to set ourselves free by walking away from their grips and forgiving them as Jesus has forgiven us. We choose to allow the strength of our conqueror to overwhelmingly triumph in us! We do not have to give in to bitterness, mistrust and anger, becoming a needy victim. Instead we let His wings carry us far above the wrongs done us and become better, trusting in His abilities to carry us to freedom. It is a powerful testimony of our faith when we let Him be our defender.
My strength and song...
Doing some contemplating today. Praying about some big decisions. We have a couple of offers on our house that has recently been on the market. It is a good problem - and I am thankful to have to decide which offer to take! We have decisions about where to live and when to move. Our daughter is still in a lot of pain and there are decisions to make about medical strategies for her as well as decisions for her future.
Transition is both exciting and scary! And so I lift up my eyes unto the hills and find yet again that my help comes from the Lord. There are many encouragements and much wise advise, but only God can offer what we need as it relates to direction and peace.
For anyone who does not know the Jesus I refer to here, please seriously consider Him as you search for answers to the good, bad and in-betweens of life. At this uncertain and changing season, I cannot imagine what I would do without the Source of my hope and strength. It is God and the work of the cross that sustains me and upholds my heart. He is my song.
Bessie Boo Birthday Blog!
Our Bessie Boo is 32 - June 21st! It is hard to believe all those years have flown by! She is a young lady who loves life and all it has to offer...quite a social butterfly and doesn't know a stranger! Even when she was a just little one, it was not unusual to find her on any stranger's lap if I wasn't watching very closely! She is a people person with a beautiful smile that simply attracts even those who do not know her!
Bethany loves to sing. She has delighted us with music since she was big enough to make sounds! From her early years in elementary school she was in talent shows where her favorite music was the songs from Disney movies. She insisted on costumes, wigs and the works!! And so it was - and remains - the song bird keeps on singing! She more recently won first prize in a YMCA talent competition a few years ago, and has aspirations of singing more in church and perhaps even recording one day.
Bethany has been going through some especially tough physical difficulties these last three years. She has had some chronic pain that doctors cannot find the reason for. It has been a day by day battle for her, and as if that weren't enough, she broke her ankle about 6 months ago. She certainly did not plan on this glitch as we had been working on the pursuit of a job and independent living. However, she is a good sport and we are praying with her for a miracle or remedy soon. We may be taking a trip to Mao Clinic soon to get a new evaluation. We appreciate prayers for her always!
In the meantime, her little furry friends, Bella and Angel keep her comforted and she just keeps smiling in spite of the challenges!
This birthday girl will celebrate regardless, but we look forward to the next season when she can be back on her feet again! Happy birthday, Bethany! May there be many more well ones for you in the years ahead! Here's to a girl with big dreams and an even bigger God who specializes in just those things!
Potosi, That's Where I'm From! - Coming to Potosi next weekend!
One week from today, Friday, June 19, I will be in POTOSI!! So looking forward to bringing my new book, "Potosi, That's Where I'm From" for a signing at the Washington County Library!! Hope to see a few familiar faces!
I will also be at the Moses Austin Heritage Festival on Saturday, June 20 - all day. Apparently there will be a venue a few doors up from the courthouse for artists. That's where I will have books and framed photography.
Color copies will be 32.00. Black & White copies will be 10.00.
Photography will include many Potosi sights, homes and scenes from around the community - and also some St. Louis shots!
See ya there!
Abi: A birthday blog
Sweet Abi. 30 years on this earth (June 11) and she just seems to grow more beautiful - inside and out. She is a servant. A giver. Loving much - complaining little. I know few who seem to be as steady about life's ups and downs, though she has experienced plenty of those extremes. Her heart remains large and open. Her smile is genuine and her life reflects patience, compassion and faithfulness that anyone who knows her can only admire.
The youngest of 3, Abi was always the easy-going-happy-go-lucky little girl. With a hearty curiosity and interest in just about anything! She had a machine gun chuckle that matched her spontaneous and soaring spirit.
A common story we tell about her is something that happened when she was only about 4 years old. We lived in a farm house on a couple of acres in Fenton where our backyard had an old swing that sat under the shade of lots of climbing trees.
One day as I was watching Abi swing from the kitchen window, I saw her swaying back and forth as she lay on her tummy in the swing. She was singing to herself and enjoying things that I am sure only her imagination could come up with. While in mid-flight, she adjusted herself slightly and fell forward - face down - on the dusty ground.
I ran to the door, but before I could even get outside, she met me with a very tear-stained, dirty face! As I picked her up, she said in her unique little "New Joisey" accent, "Mommie, I was twying to fwy wike a boidie and fell down and hoit my wittle face." After I cleaned her up, we both had a "wittle waugh" and she went "wunning" back outside to swing!
Now she is mommie to her own one-year old busy buster boy! That same lovable personality has cradled and comforted this little guy as he has begun tumbling and toddling into his own life's stories. Abi's middle name is Joy, and surely, that is what you see on her face as she looks at this little one's curious cherub expressions! She came into the world with a giggle and continues to pass it on!
Abi is a testimony of what it means to "pass it on". Perhaps quiet-spoken, yet very vocal in action - words are not so necessary for this person who loves bigger than her words. It is my guess that the same little face who is now receiving her kindnesses will one day sing her praises!
Here is a Happy 30th Birthday offering for a dear daughter. May there be many more joy-filled years ahead for you. May God's favor abound even beyond your desires to acknowledge and love Him and your family and friends. May you be strengthened with His encouragements, confidence and continued love to accomplish all that He challenges you in. May this special day and many more be filled with princess moments and the kind of blessings that you so long for and generously give to others!
I wish for you good health, good relationships and constant joy as you continue to grow more beautiful in Him!
The clock is ticking.
There are not enough hours left in my life - and too much to lose - to question whether or not I should believe in God! Eternity is something we must make one of two choices about - accept God's eternal plan or reject it.
Either choice will cost everything - one will bring forever joy and the other a forever lake of fire.
I will not sit on the fence or be a pew warmer in these very crucial days. Life is but a breath.
The clock is ticking.
"...choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: ...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
Crazy love!
It happens all the time
This crazy love of mine
Wrapped around my heart
Refusing to unwind
Oooo, Oooo, Crazy love!
Just ask...
Without the Spirit, the new Testament is merely a collection of goals. It is otherwise unattainable. We come full circle to Ezekiel, "And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to obey my rules."
Just as faith without works is dead, works without the Spirit are at best, a struggle. It is literally the life and power of God flowing through earthen vessels!
"Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit." Acts 8:14, 15
Just ask!
All nature sings, and round me rings...
A very wonderful old hymn, "This is my Father's World" says it beautifully, "All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres."
Many say they need proof to believe in a God they cannot see. I can only stand amazed while I watch the very mouth that speaks doubt move and operate meticulously and miraculously.
All of nature beautifully proclaims its Creator to the extent that we are without excuse. Denying it refuse our very breath and heartbeat!
"...because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." Romans 1:19, 20.
Red, White and Glue
Just thought I'd splash a little red, white and blue on the palette today as I am thinking of our nation. I almost daily feel an urge to pray for the country that I have lived in and loved. It seems it has become very needy and very far from the God who has so blessed it. So many parts are out of joint. So much disfunction, injustice, heartache and hurt. It is as if it has become "un-glued". Life this side of eternity will always have pain - and it will always have injustice. However, I believe when a country is not bowed to it's Maker, it loses the very sinew and ligaments that hold it together.
We are at risk of losing that which we have worked and fought for in this hour. As a country, we have squandered finances and owe beyond what we could ever repay. Generally, we have not upheld God's righteous ways and listened to His quiet voice. We have not allowed Him control, nor paid attention to His standards of love and righteousness both in our personal lives and in our government, work places and educational systems.
I believe there is hope - contingent upon our willingness to bow our knees once again to God, the One who has blessed the men and women who's hearts were poised to serve Him when this nation began.
Like America, our humanity often takes us far from the one who both created and offers us that great hope. Like America, it is easy for us to gravitate to the things that feed our flesh and desires. Like America, we find ourselves straying from our first Love and Provider because we are subject to greed and earthly gain.
I say that to say this: Like America, we can choose to turn back to obedience to our gracious and loving Father who simply wants our heart and trust. He has promised firstly to forgive, and secondly to help in the time of need, if we simply surrender! We do not need to fear for our tomorrow when we allow Him control of our lives. When we decide that it is God who will be our guide, and allow Jesus (who paid the ultimate price for us) to be in control, then the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace!
May we give Him charge and allow Him to "glue" this nation back together - one willing heart at a time.
"If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14