A prayer and an interaction with God's word

                       A PRAYER/ AN INTERACTING WITH ACTS 17: 24-27

" The God who made the WORLD and EVERYTHING in it (giraffes, daisies, a husband, friends, parents, children, food, etc............"Oh tell me your name? Who are you? )

is the Lord (the Master, Ruler, ....) of HEAVEN AND EARTH.......( it's hard enough to master just me..Wow!)

He himself gives ALL MEN ( ahhhhh.......every single soul I have met, will ever meet, have never met...)

LIFE AND BREATH AND EVERYTHING ELSE ( "I am alive b/c of YOU!" I woke up today b/c YOU wanted me to.  "What do I have that I have not received" "Every perfect gift is from above..")

From one man he made EVERY NATION of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and HE DETERMINED THE TIMES SET FOR THEM AND THE EXACT PLACES WHERE THEY SHOULD LIVE 
(I am in KALAMAZOO b/c YOU wanted me here. I am living in "Bombadil" b/c YOU have placed me in this EXACT place at this EXACT time with my precious neighbors that surround me).

God did this SO THAT  (  ..." So that..".......there is a reason I am here...and here it is...."God did this so that...what????....tell me!!!.............why am I here? ) men would SEEK HIM (I am here today to seek YOU first, to search for you & want you more than I want anything else on this earth) and PERHAPS ( b/c you don't force yourself on anyone...you are sooo good to give us a choice....I don't want to be with a husband who is forced to love me....I want him to choose and to want/desire me) REACH OUT FOR HIM AND FIND HIM, though He is not far from each one of us...."

Thank you for life and breath, God. Thank you for determining that this would be the time I would live on earth. Thank you for determining this exact place of "Bombadil", in Kalamzoo, Michigan, USA. Thank you for bringing all the things into my life, the good and the bad, that have created in me a desire to "reach out for you and find you." I have found you! I love you! I ADORE you!  I'm in AWE of you. I want to be more like you. I want more of you! I want to be used more by you. I cannot wait to meet you someday and see who is behind everything good on this earth. I have been placed on earth to find you, and I have found you. May I make you known to others who are still searching.

Blessings from Bombadil! Kristy Joy LInk 
 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

"LOVE MERCY"

Hanging above the arch between my dining room and living room are the words, "LOVE MERCY." 

Hanging on the wall in my living room is a sign that says, "And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to LOVE MERCY and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

These are up in my home for a reason. 

Oh I LOVE  when people and God are merciful to me, but when it's required of ME to offer kindness to someone who has offended me mercy just  isn't as appealing as justice.  I can soooo relate to the story Jesus tells in Matthew 18:21-35  He ends the story saying, "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you."

May we meditate today, and every day on what God has to say about mercy.

"Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.'  Matthew 5:7

"Be merciful just as your Father in Heaven is merciful." Luke 6:36

My friends........may we LOVE ( take great delight in, to desire enthusiastically, to thrive on; need, have a strong fondness or enthusiasm for something) MERCY.

When your child spills something on the carpets you just got cleaned may you respond with a gentle kindness because you "LOVE MERCY."

When your husband has offended you and doesn't treat you the way you think you deserve to be treated, may you respond with a forgiving spirit instead of letting your heart grow distant and cold  because you "LOVE MERCY."

When the waitress doesn't bring you what you ordered or bring it to you quick enough, may you still smile at her and leave her a generous tip because you want to be like your Father in Heaven who is "gracious and compassionate."

May many people want our God as we seek to reveal his ways through our sacrificial/obedient lives by "LOVING MERCY!" Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy Joy Link
 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

Endure!

This past Wednesday was a tough day for me as a mom!   I was suppose to take my kids to the park in the morning, but it rained, and we couldn't go. I was suppose to take my kids to Sandy Pines to visit my mom and dad in the afternoon, but it rained, and my dad called and said it might be better to come another day. It became this day where nothing that I planned was happening, my kids were cooped up in the house for a lot of the day, they became bored and restless which thus led to LOTS of fighting with each other, my house was TRASHED b/c we are trying to bring beauty to our basement but we are in the "before the beauty stage," and I felt like a bad mom because I couldn't seem to bring much fun, peace, or order to this day. This became one of those days I simply had to ENDURE and look forward to a new day the next day or find my joy in the hope of Paradise.

    As moms, there are going to be days, seasons, times in our lives that are simply going to call for ENDURANCE.

ENDURANCE- The act, quality, or power of withstanding hardship or stress. The state or facts of persevering ; continuing survival

ENDURE- To carry on THROUGH, despite hardships; to bear with tolerance; put up with. To suffer patiently without yielding ; persevere; hold out

Endurance is a part of life, it is a part of this journey on earth. Hear what God says about ENDURANCE:

"For everything that   was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through ENDURANCE and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives ENDURANCE and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Jesus..........." Romans 15:4 & 5

"If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you PATIENT ENDURANCE of the same sufferings we suffer.........We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to ENDURE, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us with your prayers." 2 Corinthians 1:6-10

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you  with the knowledge of his will through all spritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have GREAT ENDURANCE and PATIENCE, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." Colossians 1:9-12

"Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, ENDURANCE and gentleness." 1 Timothy 6:11

"ENDURE hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs- he wants to please his commanding officer.... I ENDURE everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." 2 Timothy 2:3 & 10

"ENDURE hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" Hebrews 12:7

"Since you have kept my COMMAND to ENDURE PATIENTLY........" Revelation 3:10

May we have great endurance as moms learning how to suffer patiently and gracefully through all the stresses not giving up or giving in on this great responsibility we have. May we embrace enduring some things in motherhood as training and character development so we may also endure in our faith  when things are hard.

My daughter Reese has said many times , "I wish every day was Christmas, Easter or a party." She, you and I may wish that as well but that is NOT reality...........yet. As long as we are on this earth, we will be asked to endure. Endure well, my sistas! Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy

 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

That's what Jesus feels like to me.

Sometimes it's hard to describe the difference Jesus makes in your life. Yesterday, I had a good example. I painted some of my basement walls the other night and got paint all over me and my clothes. I had been wearing my paint/work clothes most of the day and didn't have a chance to shower. Yesterday, I began my day with a run and ended up being in those clothes for most of the day as well (along with the paint from the previous night still coloring parts of my body blue......Avatar....here I come!) So when I got ready for the Uganda banquet our church held last night and I showered and put nice clothes on ...ahhhhhhhhh.......I felt sooo clean and it felt soo good to have nice clothes on. That's what Jesus feels like to me.

"Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sins, and I will put rich garments on you." Zechariah 3: 3 & 4

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags."Isaiah 64:6

"I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness." Isaiah 61:10

What does Jesus feel like to you? What difference does He make in your life? Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy
 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

Perceiving my thoughts once again.

NOTHING brings more peace to my soul than knowing that I am seen and being guided by my Creator. As I spent my time with God this morning I began looking at the day ahead of me. I will be going to UpJohn Park off of Lake St. ( from 10-11:30ish today and every Wednesday in the summer....unless it rains.  I'd love for you to join me ). As I thought about going to that park I was reminded of what happened a few weeks ago. I was pouring out my heart to God and asking, as I often do, for him to lead me and guide me helping me use my time wisely as his servant. I was once again wondering about this meeting at the park thing remembering how when I had questioned it before he brought someone to the park who I KNEW he was pursuing. I remember writing about this experience in one of these daily blogs.  In this conversation with God I said to him, "God, I was sure I was suppose to go to the park when you brought that girl that day and I invited her to
join us, I even wrote about that in my blog, but then she never came so did I hear you wrong???"   Well, guess who I ran into in the Meijers parking lot!! That girl! Guess what she said to me!  She said, "Are you still meeting at the park this summer? I thought about you all last summer and wanted to join you. I'd love to try to join you this summer."

I had JUST been thinking about and had been having a conversation with God about THIS PARTICULAR GIRL about THE PARK. Then I SEE this girl and she brings up the park. 

So I spent time AGAIN in Psalm 139: 1-6

"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise: YOU PERCEIVE MY THOUGHTS FROM AFAR. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all of my way. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.  You hem me in- behind and before; you have laid your hand uon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain."

I know I've written about this before and possibly many times. I will keep writing about it until it sinks in sooo deep into my own soul first and then yours, that God is SOOOOOOO AWARE OF EACH ONE OF US. He perceives our thoughts from afar. HOW DOES HE DO THAT FOR EVERY SINGLE SOUL ON THIS EARTH? HOW HUGE IS HE THAT HE KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF EVERY MAN AND WOMAN THAT LIVES TODAY AND HAS EVER LIVED????  Why do we worry if He is that aware of our situations and what we need. May you have thousands of experiences that bring you to a deeper place of belief and confidence that God is aware of you every second of the day. As that belief takes up residence more and more in your soul may your inner peace increase and the "Kingdom of God" grow in your soul. Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy

p.s.- By the looks of it outside right now, I won't be going to the park this morning.

 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

"I love you!"

I just got back from an awesome time staying at some friends home in Ludington where 2 of my boys played in the Gus Macker tournament (and played VERY WELL, I must say). The Macker is why we went up there and was quite an experience providing wonderful memories, but the Macker wasn't what stirred my soul this weekend.  What really captured my attention and wonder was the peacock that one day just showed up at my friend's home and has stuck around for 2 years. This male pheasant would just strutt around their property, fly up into their trees, take a seat on the roof of their home, make lots of noise at night, run away from the big Great Dane, Zoey,  and fan it's feathers when it would catch a glimpse of himself in a reflection from a car (although I didn't see this personally but just heard about it). I found myself fascinated by the fact that this bird just showed  up one day and never left. What is that? I couldn't get this song out of my
mind when thinking about this:
                       

             GOD SPEAKING by Mandeesa

 "Have you ever heard a love song that set your spirit free?
Have you ever watched a sunrise and felt you couldn't breathe?
What if it's Him? What if it's God speaking?

Have you ever cried a tear that you could not explain?
Have you ever met a stranger that already knew your name?
What if it'sHim? What if it's God speaking?

Who knows how he'll get a hold of us?
Get our attention to prove He is enough.
He'll do and He'll use whatever He wants to-
to tell us- I love you!

Have you ever lost a loved one who you thought should still be here?
Do you know what it feels like to be tangeled up in fear?
What if He's somehow involved?
What if He's speaking through it all?

Who knows how he'll get a hold of us?
Get our attention to prove He is enough.
He'll do and He'll use whatever He wants to-
to tell us- I love you!

His ways are higher.
His ways are better.
Though sometimes strange.
What could be stranger than God in a manger?

Who knows how He'll get a hold of you?
Get your attention to prove He is enough.
He'll do and He'll use whatever He wants to
To tell you, "I LOVE YOU"
GOD IS SPEAKING, "I LOVE YOU!"

MY  OWN ADDED VERSE:

Have you ever had a peacock just show up at your home?
Did that peacock stay around, even though it's free to roam?
What if it's Him? 
What if it's God speaking?

Why does that peacock have feathers with many, many "eyes?"
Why does it shed it's OLD ones and NEW ones arise?
What if it's Him?
What if it's God speaking?

I wonder how he'll try to whisper "I love you" to you  today? I wonder if you'll hear him? I hope so. Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy Joy Link
 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

He sees us at all times!

I LOVE the knowledge that God knows where each of us are at ALL TIMES and He directs our paths.

On Mother's Day we had a drawing at our church for a free haircut (thanks to a very generous Denise Glas from Identities Salon). A woman by the name of Karen Beckner won the prize but she wanted to give it away to a certain woman she had noticed at our church that day. The woman Karen noticed was a woman who has known many struggles in life, is pregnant at the moment and spends most of her days walking the streets. My only connection with this woman is that she often comes to our church, The River. I couldn't wait to tell her that she would be receiving a free haircut/style at a very nice salon. The problem is, SOMETIMES she comes to the River, and SOMETIMES she doesn't. She doesn't have a phone so I have no way of getting a hold of her. After finally catching her and letting her know she would be receiving this, I then had to make the appointment and catch up with her AGAIN to let her know when it would be. I was starting to get a little nervous
because I had made the appointment for Wednesday, June 16, and I wasn't finding her to let her know.

Ahhhhhh...but God knows where she is at all times. God knows where I am at all times. He knew that I needed to get a hold of her so she could be blessed. And who loves to bless more than God? So guess what He did. He arranged our paths to cross...at just the right time.  I was going to UpJohn park last Wednesday and right as I turned into the park, guess who just "Happened" to be walking by at that exact moment??? My friend, the receiver of the haircut,  the woman I needed/wanted to see, the one who is carrying one of God's creations, the girl who even though she walks the steets is always seen by the one who thinks she is so much more valuable than the birds of the sky.
So yesterday, after having arranged where and when to meet so I could get her to the salon on time, I picked up my friend and brought her to "Identities" so she could receive a little extra lovin.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." Prov. 3:5 & 6

Acknowledge him today. He knows where you are at all times and he knows what you need. May your eyes be open to his activity, goodness,  perfect timing and knowledge of you today and everyday. May you/we know God's true Identity.

IDENTITY---- The collective aspect of the set of characteristics by which a thing is definately recongnizable or known. ....the personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity.

Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy Joy Link
 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

"more and more...."

"We ought always thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your FAITH IS GROWING MORE AND MORE, AND, THE LOVE EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS FOR EACH OTHER IS INCREASING....." 2 Thessalonians 1:3

If you are a goal-oriented person, and even if you are not, may you/we make it our goal to:

    1. make our life about our faith growing more and more and more and more.
        *" Faith is being SURE of what we hope for and CERTAIN of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

Is your faith stronger today than it was yesterday? Do you have more CONFIDENCE and BELIEF in God, Jesus, and his Word, The Bible? Do you TRUST him more today because you EXPERIENCED his trustworthiness yesterday? Are you more LOYAL to him and him alone than you were whenyou first believed?  Watch your life and your faith. We should be going forward and not backward.

    2. experience our love For each other INCREASING. Is your love increasing? Is it  becoming greater (more sacrificial), becoming larger ( for ALL people, not just your family and friends), becoming deeper (not based on how people treat you or what they give you but simply on God's UNCONDITIONAL love placed in you through Jesus)

"The ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IS FAITH EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE." Galatians 5:6

May our faith and love NEVER QUIT GROWING. May we always seek to be HOT and not lukewarm. May we want/desire and have more and more and more.

I walk around my home almost daily desiring there to be more and more flowers and beauty and  more and more love and peace between my children.  I can't wait until my home is ABUNDANT with more and more "fruit" on the "vines." Doesn't this come from being made in the image of God who desires our lives to have more and more beauty, more faith, more love, more and more until it is overflowing, abundant, breath-takingly beautiful??? I think so. Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy Joy Link
 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

Flag day

Happy Mom Monday AND Happy Flag day.

This is the day America celebrates the United States flag becoming our flag....the flag birthday.

I LOVE flags. Flags/banners are symbols. They represent something. They depict, portray or present something clearly to the mind.

I have a flag hanging outside my home right now with  a big "L" on it.  The "L'" stands first for our last name:  LINK. The "L" also stands for " LOVED.....LIVE a LIFE of LOVE..." taken from Ephesians 5: 1 & 2. Listen to the rest of this truth:

"Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly LOVED children, and LIVE a LIFE of LOVE, just as Christ LOVED us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

As moms, it is our job, our responsibility to help our children know and understand who they are, to teach them about God and how much He loves them, and to encourage them to live life God's way...to live a life of love.

Perhaps today would be a good day to make some flags with your children letting them draw a symbol/picture of who they are and what represents them and march around the house waving their flags.  

Maybe today would be a good day to create your own family flag or go buy a flag that is a good picture of who you want your family to be/represent in your neighborhood.

It could be that today is a good day to be reminded of Song of Solomon  2: 4

    "He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner (flag) over me is LOVE."

This book is writings between lovers but has been taken allegorically as God's love with his people.

Or maybe you just want to throw a birthday party for our national flag and help grow your children's appreciation for our country.

Happy Flag Day. Part of being a mom is making your home a happy place to be for your kids. Go make your home happy and fun by doing something/anything to celebrate flag day. Go thank God that you are dearly loved and his flag over you is LOVE. HE LOVES YOU!!! As a dearly loved child of God, go love your children dearly through your words and actions. Blessings from Bombadil...home of the "L" flag. Kristy
 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

Jesus is God!

Mmmmmmmmm....Parenting is such a tiring job, as many of you know. This is true for so many reasons but two of them being:
    1. Our children (and all of us) are sinners.

            " Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." Psalm 51:5

    2. There is more going on than what we see. We are in a battle against spiritual forces of evil.
       
            "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood , but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:11 & 12

I felt this soooooo strongly this week as I seemed to have a 3 day show down with one of my children. During one of the countless battles of this week, this PRECIOUS child of mine said to me, " I DON'T LIKE GOD! I DON'T LIKE JESUS!....................................WELL, MAYBE I LIKE JESUS, BUT I DON'T LIKE GOD!" After assuring this "gift" given to me that they may not like God/Jesus but He sure likes them, I threw in there that you can't like one and not the other because Jesus is God. 

In this world that seems to accept God but often not Jesus, let me remind us of what Scripture teaches:

    *"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well." 1 John 5: 1

    * " Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
1 John 5:10-12

    * "No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also."
1 John 2:23

    * "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me." John 8:42

    * "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Hebrews 1:3

Do you see?  According to Scripture, you can't love God and not Jesus and you can't love Jesus and not God. If you love one you love the other. You can claim to love God but:

"If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God...you are doing the things your own father does." We are not illegitimate children," they protested. 'The only Father we have is God himself." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me.." John 8:39-42

"My Father, whom you CLAIM s your God, is the one who glorifies me.' John 8:54

As we journey in our search for truth,  and encounter all kinds of beliefs out there,  may we know /remember this...Scripture teaches that God and Jesus go together. You cannot seperate them. There is only one God and Jesus is the way to him.

"I am the way, the truth, the life, no one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy

p.s. I am happy to say, I finally had a beak through with this Precious child, their heart has been changed and we had a WONDERFUL day yesterday. In fact, I overheard  this child teach their younger sibling that "Jesus is God and you can't love one and not the other." Ahhhhhhhh.....may we persevere through whatever it is we are going through UNTIL we experience a breakthrough. The movie, "The Miracle Worker" (that I watched with my children last night) is a WONDERFUL picture/example and inspiration of this.

 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

Eyes

    After receiving a few reminders in the mail, having dealt with my first year of allergies/itchy eyes, and knowing that it has been quite awhile since I've had my eyes checked (2007), I decided it was time to make an eye appointment. So, last night, I dodged the rain drops and headed out to the new RX Optical near  me and had my eyes checked. Now, this morning, I've got "EYES" on my mind. As it is with the physical, so it is with the spiritual. Bausch and Lomb say, "Better eyesight....Richer life" ( or something close to that).  Listen to how God says it:

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the EYES OF YOUR HEART may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." Ephesians 1:17-21

How is your spiritual eyesight? When was the last time you had a checkup? Can you see well? Do you see the:

    *"HOPE to which he has called YOU?"......Heaven, the Kingdom of God, living w/ him in paradise, being         presented as perfect & blameless before him

    *"the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints?"... the wealth of his life in you..."Christ IN YOU, the             hope of glory."

    *"the incomparably great power for us who believe?",..."I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who                     strengthens me."

 The better your spiritual eyesight, the richer your life will be. Perhaps it's time for you to go to the "Eye Dr." and ask Him to check the eyesight of your heart.

    * "So we FIX OUR EYES not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

    * "Let us FIX OUR EYES on JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross..." Hebrews 12:2

    * "For the EYES of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:12

    * "Because you relied on the king of Aram and NOT ON THE LORD YOUR GOD, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hands.....For the EYES of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war."  2 chronicles 16:7-9

    * "Does he who formed the EYE not see?"  Psalm 94:9

    *"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM...." Revelation 1:7

May our vision be clear and our eyes "fixed" until these eyes of ours meet the Creator of these amazing inventions (our eyes). Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy
   
   
 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

A vacation

A few weeks ago we were at Max's flag football game loading up our chairs to go home when an interesting interaction occured. Max asked me if we were going to church that evening. I respondedd by telling  him that Thurs. night church had taken a break for the summer. A father of one of Max's teammates joined the conversation by adding, "Yeah Max, God needs a vacation too." Upon hearing this I quickly retorted with, "I'm glad that's not true. I need God ALL THE TIME!" It's true. I take great comfort in this truth:

"I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber; INDEED, he who watches over Isreal - will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life; The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
Psalm 121:1-8

and,

"Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Isreal,
'My way is hidden from the Lord: my cause is disregarded by my God'?
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
HE WILL NOT GROW TIRED OR WEARY, (He doesn't need a vacation)
and his understanding no one can fathom."
Isaiah 40:27-28

"My Father is ALWAYS AT HIS WORK......" John 5:17

May we take comfort in believing that God is with us and aware of everything we are going through....ALL THE TIME.  While humans may need a break, God doesn't. He is God and soooooooooooooooooo much greater than us. May our eyes be opened to His  constant presence and the work he is doing all around us and in us. Go enjoy your summer vacation cherishing the truth that God doesn't need one. Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy
 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

I Hate/I love......Mom Monday

On Friday, Reese got her stitches out of her big toe. During the process she did quite a bit of screaming/yelling/chanting. One of the things she chanted was, "I hate stitches! I hate stitches! I hate stitches!" After understanding CLEARLY that she hated stitches  all of a sudden she added, "I love halloween! I love Christmas! But I hate stitches!" At first, this cracked me up then God whispered in my ear:
"Your children have things they like and things they dislike......................just like me." Do you know what God hates? Do you know what he loves? Are you passing them on to your children?

"About the Son he says,
    ' .....You have LOVED righteousness and HATED wickedness.." Hebrews 1:8 & 9

"HATE evil, LOVE good."  Amos 5:15

"There are six things the Lord HATES, seven that are detestable to him:
    haughty eyes,
    a lying tongue,
    hands that shed innocent blood,
    a heart that devises wicked schemes,
    feet that are quick to rush into evil,
    a false witness who pours out lies
    and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers." Prov. 6:16-19

"He LOVES justice." Ps. 11:7

"God LOVES a cheerful giver." 2 Cor. 9:7

"To him who LOVES US....." Revelation 1:5

Perhaps you can make out a list with your children about things they love and things they hate. Then share with them and perhaps post it in your house somewhere the things that God loves and hates. As you do this you will find that God is soooooooooo good. Everything he hates is that which destroys beauty, peace, joy, love, harmony, etc..............Everything he loves is everything that is good. How can we not love a God like this? This is one of our many joys and responsibilities as parents, to teach our children about what God hates and what he loves.Like Reese,  may we not just focus on what he Hates. May we help our children see what he LOVES and why.   Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy Joy Link

 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

16 years

On this June 4, 2010 I am celebrating 16 years of marriage with Mr. Roberto Link! In honor of 16 years - I've got 16 truths how our marriages on earth are symbolic of our walk with God/committment to Jesus.

1. Set apart for ONE-

2. Yearning/longing-

3. Mysterious

4. Bride Belongs to Bridegroom- "The BRIDE belongs to the BRIDEGROOM. The friend who attends                                                                 the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the                                                 bridegroom's voice....He must become greater; I must become less."
                                                John 3:29 & 30

5. One and Only

6. Love for Life

7. Invited

8.Committment

9. Marriage bed-  

10.Accept

11.Rejoice... "As a bridegroom REJOICES over his bride, so will your God REJOICE over you." Isaiah 62:5

12. Radiant..."Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her to make                    her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to himself                     as a RADIANT church, w/o stain, wrinkle, or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."
                    Eph 5;25-27

13. I

14. Adultery- "Go take yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness because the land is guilty of                         the vilest adultery in DEPARTING FROM THE LORD." Hosea 1:2

15. Godly jealousy- " I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so                                 that I might present you as a pure virgin to him." 2 Corinthians 11:2

16. E

Oh Bummer- I'm out of time. Sorry. I wanted to make an acronym for "SYMBOLIC MARRIAGE,"(which includeds 1 letters)  because I believe that Jesus is seeking to communicate to us that our relationship to him is like a marriage. We are the bride, he is the bridegroom and heaven is our wedding reception. Just as if a man asks us to marry him we must give him a response......so it is with God. He has asked us to "marry him.,"  to be committed to him, and him alone.........NO OTHER LOVERS ( things/people that take priority over him), until death do us part. He is waiting for our response and expects us to be faithful to him. Just as adultery hurts deeply, soo sooooo deeply, our leaving Jesus feels the same way to his heart. We belong to him and him alone.  Ahhh- I'm sorry. So many thoughts, so little time. I hope this does something to your soul.  Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy Link

 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

"oops....wrong person."

I texted my husband yesterday asking him what jobs he had assigned  to our son, Zeke, after school. I couldn't help but let out a big chuckle when I got a text back from a friend saying, "I'm sorry Kristy. I don't know what his job is." Ooops. Wrong person. I texted her back telling her I'm glad I didn't say something else (you know...something husbandy/wifey). I brought my question to the wrong person. Accidentally, of course, but to the wrong person none-the-less. She couldn't answer my question because she didn't know. She's not Zeke's father.

    We do this all the time. That is, bring our questions to the wrong people, people who either  don't know the answer or shouldn't answer because it doesn't matter what they think.  Questions like,

    *"What should I do with my life?" "What should I do in this situation?"
    * "Am I beautiful?"
    * "Am I acceptable?"
    * "Am I special?"
    * "Do I have worth?"
    * "What do I need?"
    * "If I do _______, what will you think about me?"
    

Gods' word says that we exist "For Him."  We are here on this earth to "Please Him."

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.'Prov. 29:25

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men or God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10

"When a mans' ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him." Prov. 16:7

"Don't be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.Rather, BE AFRAID of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:28-31

"So, we make it our goal to please HIM, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:8-10

May we bring our questions to God first. He most certainly uses people to help guide us and counsel us, and  "each of us should please our neighbor for his good, to build him up," (Romans 15:2).However,  our first priority is to live for God and bring our lives before him before we live for other people. God is so awesome, that when we live to please him and we grow in wisdom and in favor with God, we also grow in favor with men. Live to please God first and you will have rest for your soul. Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy LInk

"I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

"Dress the wound as though it's serious!"

    I've been told that I didn't share how Reese hurt her toe in my e-mail a few days ago.  Elyse, my now 3 year old daughter, dropped a brick on it on accident. Elyse was building steps up to their "castle" and the brick was simply to heavy for her. When she let go, Reese's bare toe was right there to catch the brick.

    We took Reese in yesterday to get her wound checked out. They reminded me of the importance of dressing the wound carefully so that it doesn't get infected, spread into her leg and lead to something more dangerous. Dressing the wound as though this is serious is very important. Listen to Gods' words:

"From least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain;prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. THEY DRESS THE WOUND OF MY PEOPLE AS THOUGH IT WERE NOT SERIOUS. "Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them," says  the Lord.  This is what the Lord says, "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, "We will not walk in it.'... Hear, O earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law. What do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me."
Jeremiah 6:13-20

SIN IS SERIOUS!!!!

    *Sin leads to death
        "If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." Romans 8:13 & 14

    *Our sin is what nailed Jesus to the cross

    *Our sin seperates us from God here on earth
        "Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short tosave, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities(sins)have seperated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you...." Isaiah 59:1 & 2

    *Our sin will seperate us from Him forever if we do not confess our sin,seek His forgiveness, and acknowledge that Jesus is who he says he is, the Son of God:
        "I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come (heaven).' This made the Jews ask, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, "where I go, you cannot come'?" But he continued, "You are from below: I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins: if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you wil indeed die in your sins." John 8: 21-24

Sin is serious! May we heed the Doctor's orders who deeply desires us to be healthy and whole and dress our wounds carefully- making sure we seek God for forgiveness when we sin, aiming to follow the Spirit of God who leads us to NOT sin, and believing him when he says that all sin leads to harm/death.........death in peace, death in relationships, death in joy, death in abundant life, etc....

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not is us. If we CONFESS our sins, he is faithful and just and will FORGIVE US OUR SINS and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1 John 1:9

God doesn't want our souls to get infected. He loves us so much. He doesn't want to have to amputate. He wants us to take sin seriously. May we heed the Great Physician's orders and say "No to ungodliness and worldly passions." Titus 2:12.   Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy Link

"I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26

"Stir Max"

I"m always looking for ways to get the Word of God into my children's hearts and minds.  Last week, I was driving down Westnedge when I saw the resturant called, "Stir Max." Since I have a son named, "Max" I thought to myself, "How could I use that resturant as an incentive for Max?" I went home and looked in the back of my Bible for the word, "Stir," and sure enough there are a lot of verses with that word in it. So, I told my son, Max, if he could memorize the following verses I would take him out to "Stir Max".....

STIR- To rouse, to incite, provoke or instigate...to excite the emotions of causing a person to take action or feel emotions; annoy

"There are six things the Lord hates: seven that are detestable to him:
    1. haughty eyes,
    2. A lying tongue
    3. Hands that shed innocent blood,
    4. A heart that devises wicked schemes
    5. Feet that are quick to rush into evil,
    6. A false witness who pours out lies
    7. And a man who STIRS up dissension among brothers." Prov. 6:16-19

"Hatred STIRS up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs." Prov. 10:12

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word STIRS up anger." Prov. 15:1

"A hot-tempered man STIRS up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel." Prov. 15:18

" A perverse man STIRS up dissension, and a gossip seperates close friends." Prov. 16:28

"A greedy man STIRS up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper." Prov. 28:25

"An angry man STIRS up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins." Prov. 29: 22

Dissension- a difference of opinion, especially one that leads to contention or strife.

May God lead us to more and more creative ways to get his words in our children's (and ours) hearts. May we take these words to heart and guard our own hearts and lives carefully that we may not "STIR up dissension" in the souls we come in contact with today. Isn't God such a good God to give us these  peace-loving words? Can you see his beautiful heart in this desiring, like any good parent, for his children to love each other, to get along, to die to oneself in order to bring life to those around us, and to  walk in wisdom??? He is sooooo good. May we be obedient children to him as we desire the children around us to be obedient to us. Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy
 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26