The Valley

In the valley there is pain

In the valley there is rain

In the valley the sun sinks low

In the valley I lose my soul

In the valley my ears are deaf

In the valley there is no rest

In the valley my eyes are closed

In the valley of sorrow and woes

But a Savior stands close by

He is listening to our cries

Waiting for our cries of pain

Standing steadfast He remains

Hands stretched out He reaches down

Pulls us up to hallowed ground

Arms around us, peace within

Christ has come for us again

Always waiting, watching close

Knowing when we need Him most

In the valley I will see

Just how much He means to me

Footprints

Whose footprints are you walking in?  Who guided your live?  Is it a parent, or a brother or sister? Is it an Aunt or Uncle you have admired for years?  Or perhaps a person you don’t know very well.   Maybe it could have been a grandparent who raised you as their own child, or a teacher who believed in you.  Whatever the case, I think we have all known someone who has made an impact on our lives. Someone who has had a quiet voice,  but heavy footprints.   ]Someone whose work had not gone unnoticed, but was not talked about.. Someone who served but didn’t want to be served.  I have known someone like that, and he is no longer with me. I don’t’ want to dwell on my loss, but rather acknowledge his victory.  I want to learn from a man who I only knew for a short time, but a man that I admire for his quiet confidence and kindness.  A  man whose smile said hello instead of his words.  A man who showed his love by his actions.  A man who was always there.  Loss is sadness and sadness is loss.   But peace and understanding comes with the quiet confidence that God is in control.  We are left with the knowledge that God knew exactly the time and the place He  would call His servants home.  Do not mourn for those who are gone, but instead rejoice in knowing that they are helping prepare a place for us!  What a privilege for them, that they were chosen first to be waiting for us to join them In glory…Praise God!

Peace,

Kelly

Meeting God

We had discussion in Sunday school a few weeks ago about remembering how or when we became a Christian.  There were many wonderful testimonies that gave us all a lot to think about.  

We all look back on our faith sometimes and wonder how we got to where we are today.  I can’t remember a certain time when I said okay today is the day I’m a Christian, but rather remember just being raised to worship and love God.  I must admit that sometimes I envy people who have experienced that one moment when they got down on their knees and accepted Christ into their lives.  But I do feel that we all have very different and powerful ways of becoming God’s children.  He certainly wants that from the start for us, the moment we are born and even before!  But I also feel that it is a process that continues every day.  I feel that God knows exactly where we are in our walk with him.  Some may be jogging very slowly, just trying to finish another lap, while others may be in an all out sprint.   We all know someone (maybe us) who is standing on the sidelines just waiting for some encouragement.  And then there are those who are the constant cheerleaders.  The wonderful thing is no matter where we are, God will meet us there if we only ask. 

 I am reminded that when I taught Kindergarten, some of the children came to me in the fall knowing all of their letters and numbers, while others could barely write their name. As a teacher had to learn to recognize what level a child was on, and meet that child there in order to teach he/she in a way they could learn and achieve.  I didn’t expect every child to be on the same level at the beginning of the year or even at the end of the year. And I never made a child feel that they were “behind” if they weren’t at the top of the class.   I feel that is how God is.  He is there waiting for us to come ready to “learn”.  He doesn’t care where we are.  He doesn’t care if we were raised to know Him and made the decision years ago to be His, or if we just met Him yesterday.   He’ll meet us where we are, and raise us up. 

What a comfort to know that He accepts me for who I am, not for where I am. 

Peace,

Kelly

Colossians 3:12-14

 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
This is the verse that Steve and I had read at our wedding.  He reminded me of it the other day.  Just think how the world would be if we all tried to live by this!

Peace,
Kelly

Hello!

Okay, so it has been almost a month since I wrote anything.   I really need to change the name of my blog..but maybe not.  I do “daily follow Him”, I just don’t write about it.  That was the purpose of starting this blog, to hold myself accountable for quiet times and reflections.  Well I guess I can’t do it by myself. 

I am going to start reading a new book, Amish Grace.   It is the story of the murders of Amish school children that took place in the fall of 2006.  From what I can tell it will not only tell the story, but will also deal with the subject of hate and forgiveness.  One quote by an Amish farmer really struck me:  “The acid of hate destroys the container.” 

More to come

Peace,

Kelly

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Matthew 6: 25-27

                                                                      Birds

This morning I was sitting with a group of ladies on a front porch during a Bible study.  We commented on the beautiful flowers that surrounded us and the singing of the birds.  That led one lady to tell a story about a nest that a bird had built in a low hanging plant in her carport.  She said she enjoyed watching the young birds over time as the mother flew back and forth bringing them food.  As she watched them grow, she noticed that when they were ready to leave the nest and try out their wings, they didn’t go very far.  The nest was too close to the ground. You see young birds don’t have the ability to fly up, only out or down. All they could do was fly around the carport or sit on the ground.  My friend’s husband realized the problem and somehow put the nest with the young birds in it on the edge of the roof.  Soon they took off, flying high and strong. 

I started thinking about that story and realized that I was so much like those young birds.  So many times I have found myself in a “low” place..too close to the ground, and closed in.  I fly in circles, never going anywhere.  Then it never fails, my Heavenly Father reaches down and picks me up.   He gently puts me in a higher place where I can leap out in faith and fly. 

What a wonderful feeling!

Peace,

Kelly