Let's W.O.W.W. w/ our P.R

I found myself drawn to 1 Peter 3:2 & 3 this morning for some reason. Here is
what I read:

"......if any of them do not believe the word, they may be WON OVER  WITHOUT
WORDS by the BEHAVIOR..., when they SEE the PURITY and REVERENCE of your lives."

This is a verse addressing husbands and wives but I intentionally left out
the wives and husband words because I believe these words can be for everyone.
Noitce;

1. We are suppose to be winning people over, drawing people to God, making them
thirsty, attracting them to the One we were made for. We have a purpose, a
mission.

2. Although there may come a time to speak to whoever God is wanting to "win
over" through you, winning people over can be done WITHOUT WORDS. This is a
great reminder for me, a woman who loves to talk and often talks too much.
People are noticing our BEHAVIOR. They can SEE us. They are watching.  What are
they seeing? What should they see?

3. People should see our PURITY and REVERENCE.

    PURITY.... *freedom from sin; guilt; innocence; free from dirt
                    * containing NOTHING inappropriate
                    * FULL STRENGTH ( this is my favorite def.)

   REVERENCE.... PROFOUND awe, respect, adoration, worship....deepest esteem

How's your purity? Are you checking your heart regularly for sinful attitudes or
actions?  Check yourself using

2 Timothy 3:1-5:

"But mark this: There will be TERRIBLE times in the last days. People will be
lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to
their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous,without
self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but
denying its POWER." 

When we allow sin to creep in we are not FULL STRENGTH and lose our
effectiveness.

How's your reverence? Are you growing more and more deeply in love with God? If
not, I wonder how come? What do you think about most in a day? How about
meditating on Him and learning more about him that you might come to have
the "deepest esteem"  and "profound awe" of the One who is the Creator of all
things???

I think it is time we W.O.W.W. ( "Win Over Without Words) Kalamazoo and beyond
with our P.R ( our Public Relations and our Purity and Reverence).

P.R.- Public Relations- *methods by an individual to promote a FAVORABLE
relationship witht the public.

                                  * The ART and SCIENCE of establishing such a
relationship

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

"Highlighted purple"

I had such a wonderful evening last night. It was just my two sons, Max and
Zeke, home with me last night and they REALLY wanted to go to Vanguard house
church. After they asked me for the 10th time and we really didn't have other
plans I decided that perhaps we ought to go. So, off we drove to go be a part of
another community of believers in the Edison neighborhood (the downtown/inner
city part of K-zoo). My dear friend, Holly Platte, cooked ALL the food to feed
around 30 people. Her son had spent the night at my home and when I dropped him
off at 11:30ish she had already gone shopping and begun the cooking ( and she
does this every other week....AMAZING!) When we arrived there at 6pm. we
were greeted with this scrumptious table of chicken and rice, corn on the
cob, watermelon, sweet peas in the pod, cookies AND cookie DOUGH. Many people of
the neighborhood, people who might never be a part of a church had it not been
for VanGuard, sat around the tables chatting and laughing enjoying the food and
company. There were many things about this evening that made it wonderful for me
but there were 2 things I would love to share with you.

    After dinner, the kids left to go do their thing and the adults sat around
discussing James 3. I sat back and took in everything that was said in the
discussion about "Taming the tongue," and being very, very careful about the
words we say. I was relishing every moment of  observing these precious people
interact with the Words of God.  After reading, "Out of the same mouth come
praise and cursing. My Brothers, this should not be," one of the men said, "I
never noticed this before. This should be highlighted in purple. It's like He is
saying, ' This is how it should be and this is how it shouldn't be.' " Then the
words came that made me want to shout the BIGGEST AMEN!!! This guy, Terry, who I
learned has come from a very rough past and has recently become TRANSFORMED
through the word of God, said,

 "The whole Bible should be highlighted in purple."

I AGREE!  I AGREE! I AGREE!  I AGEE!

All throughout Scripture God and Jesus are using the terminology, "Listen", "Pay
attention to this," "Above all else," "Be careful...." "I tell you the TRUTH,"

"ALL SCRIPTURE is God breathed and is USEFUL for teaching, rebuking, correcting,
and training in righteousness...." 2 Timothy 3:16

God desires each one of us to take His words soooooo seriously as if EVERY
SINGLE WORD was highlighted in PURPLE ( I don't think the man who said this even
thought about the color purple, although maybe he did, but that is the ROYAL
color, the color of a KING) and meant to be taken SERIOUSLY.  He has the key to
life, to REAL life...to joy, peace, love, everything good and beautiful, right
and worth anything. God says in Isaiah 48:18;

"If only YOU had PAID ATTENTION to MY COMMANDS, your peace would have been like
a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea."

At the end of our time together, this same man who said this verse should be
highlighted in purple, thanked God for His Words and said of them, "They bring
such joy and delight to my heart." I wonder if he was quoting Jeremiah who said,

"When your words came, I ate them; they were MY JOY and MY HEART'S DELIGHT."
Jeremiah 15:16

or I wonder if he is  just a man LIKE Jeremiah, a man like you or I who have
"Tasted and seen that the Lord (and His words) is GOOD." Psalm 34:8

May I encourage you to  highlight EVERYTHING in your Bible the color purple (not
really). I do encourage you, however, to take God's words seriously. He has
given them to us to bring us the most abundant life here on earth. Ask yourself
if God's words are your joy and your delight? Oh..because He wants them to be.
He loves you sooooooo much.....more than you and I can quite grasp.
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

"But...."

".........,BUT I AM A WOMAN OF PRAYER." Psalm 109:4

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

Mom Monday......."would still choose a family like mine"

Why is it so encouraging to hear that my family isn't the only family on the
earth that fights? Why does it breathe so much life and hope into my
soul hearing that I can still be proud of my family for all that we are despite
our weaknesses and failures???  I'm not sure, but I know that I was discouraged
with fighting children, I listened to this song off one of my favorite c.ds
(thanks, Karin V.A!), cried, and when the song was over my soul was soooo
thankful for my family and I had regained perspective.  I was encouraged and I
could agree with the final words of this song.

                                            A Family Like Mine
                                                        by Jon Troast

Little rough around the edge
I'm found in the middle
growing up with 7 kids
we all got our fill
a crazy way to live
it often got loud
But you would be proud
to come from a family like mine

We didn't always get along
cuz our paths crossed a lot
BUT HAVING BROTHERS YOU CAN FIGHT
IS BETTER THAN NOT
Practicing for life
inside those four walls
and I learned it all
living with a family like mine

I don't recall ...all of the details
But I know that life is better when shared.

Mama kept us all in line
My dad he just laughed
If we only had one
 we'd only have half
The sum of the two
was a beautiful plan
You'd understand
If you had a family like mine

If I ever had the chance
to choose my own life
with a family that was rich
THAT NEVER DID FIGHT
One that always smiled
and showed up on time
I know that I
WOULD STILL CHOOSE A FAMILY LIKE MINE."

You might be able to relate to parts of this song, but like me, not ALL of it.
In OUR home, dad does NOT Just laugh while I try to keep all of our kids in
line. Perhaps you are an only child or have only one child or no children. 
Whatever your story, the life-giving message of this song to me is choosing to
be thankful for what you do have in a family allowing yourselves to not be
perfect. This is a message I believe our children need to hear from us that if
we had the chance we would still CHOOSE THEM to be our children. However, we
don't have the chance to choose our own families. God has chosen them for
us.......for a reason. May we be thankful and sing beautiful, encouraging,
life-giving songs over them letting them know the reasons they make us proud.

"The Lord your God is with you,
he is might to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with his love,
HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU WITH SINGING." Zephaniah 3:17

Perhaps we should all make up our own songs about our families giving them a
gift of love and breathing life into their souls. 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

Sustained

When I awoke this morning the first thing I thought, the first words that went
through my head was this phrase in a song I LOVE;
 
"Know that True Love has you breathing."

As a result of those wonderful words gently whispered in my ear, I spent my time
with the Lord meditating on these 2 truths:

"I lie down and sleep;
I wake again BECAUSE the LORD SUSTAINS ME." Psalm 3:5 

and,

" In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times
and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom
he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the UNIVERSE. The Son
is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being,
SUSTAINING ALL THINGS BY HIS POWERFUL WORD." Hebrews 1:1-3

SUSTAIN- To keep in existence; maintain;prolong

May you enjoy this day KNOWING and BELIEVING that you are alive today because
GOD WANTS YOU TO BE ALIVE TODAY.............for a reason. Perhaps to find him
today, to be used by him, to fall more in love with him, to simply enjoy the
day, to prepare for heaven, to "perpetuate God's memory through all generations"
(Psalm 45:17).

You woke up this morning because God has chosen to keep you in existence. I'm
glad he did. Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy Joy Link

Puzzle piece stepping stones

     For my birthday, I received a little money to spend however I desired.
. After giving it much thought as to what I REALLY wanted, I decided to purchase
4 ( eventually I will have 7.....one for each member of the LInk family)
stepping stones in the shape of a puzzle piece.  Well, they just arrived this
week and I am sooo pleased with my decision. As I sat down on my front step
unloading them each from the package, my heart was filled with so much joy. You
might wonder (or maybe not) why in the world a stepping stone in the shape of a
puzzle piece would bring me so much joy. Like many things around my home, it's
not necessarily the stepping stone alone that brings such joy (although it
is pretty cool, in my opinion). It's the meaning behind it.

After all the stones were unpacked, I got my black sharpie marker and on the
back of each one I wrote a family member's name and this verse:

" The Lord will fulfill HIS PURPOSE for you (me)." Psalm 138:8

I want to know,believe, and be reminded for myself first,  that God has a
purpose for my life. Purposelessness (is that a word?) kills. Ahhhhhhh, but to
know and believe that you are piece of this puzzle of life, not the whole puzzle
itself, but simply one little piece that adds to the beauty and completeness of
the grander/bigger puzzle, that is life-giving. I desire to pass this knowledge
and belief on to my children by letting them know what is written underneath
each puzzle piece so as they grow up here in Bombadil they may hear the whisper
of those words each time they walk upon the stones.

    "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled with RARE AND BEAUTIUFL TREASURES." Prov.
24:3 & 4

May your home, dorm, apartment, trailer, etc...be built, established, and filled
 with much wisdom, understanding,knowledge and rare treasures. May YOU know,
believe and be reminded that,

"The Lord will fufill HIS PURPOSE for YOU," as you surrrender to Him and His
ways.

Blessings from Bombadil....home of the puzzle piece stepping stones. Kristy Link

p.s. you are all welcome to come and walk upon my stones any time you need that
gentle whisper/reminder. 
 "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 purple comforter

I love purple comforters! I love purple because it speaks of royalty ("You are a
chosen people, a ROYAL priesthood..." 1 Peter 2:9). I love comforters because
they are cozy, bring comfort and remind me of the Holy Spirit. I happen to have
2 of them. The other day while I was making my bed I had a strong thought that I
do NOT NEED 2 of these comforters.  Luke 3:10 & 11 came to mind:

"What should we do then? the crowd asked. John answered, "The man
with TWO tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food
should do the same."

 I began asking God what I should do with the second one. A woman's name came to
mind along with a deep desire to bless her with this comforter. I washed it. I
sewed up all the holes. I headed over to her home to give it to her.

As I gave her the comforter she said to me, "Wow! Something happened to my
blanket and I had to sleep blanketless last night. I kept telling God how
uncomfortable this was."

I have had this comforter for awhile but it wasn't until that day, the day she
actually slept without a blanket and needed one,  that I had a STRONG desire to
give it to my friend.

"For it is God who works IN YOU to WILL and to ACT according to his good
purpose."Phillipians 2:13

"For there is a PROPER TIME and procedure for every matter, though a man's
misery weighs heavily upon him." Ecclesiastes 8:6

May you know if you are a follower of Christ that you are ROYALTY!  May you be
comforted by the Holy Spirit of God who knows you, sees you, cares about you,
and loves you. May you listen to those promptings and strong desires in you
 that are good. Who knows what God wants to do in and for the people around us
that He loves sooo much. Perhaps someone around you needs something that you
have 2 of????? 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

Mom Monday

There are times when parenting is sooooo sweet and full of joy. Then there are
times when it is soooooo NOT SWEET  and full of HEARTACHE.  We've experienced
the later a bit recently as our children are home for the summer and cross paths
often causing lots of opportunity to bicker.

I agree with Prov. 17:1 that says:

" Better a dry crust with PEACE and QUIET than a house full of feasting with
STRIFE."

I have a picture of my 3 boys holding hands taking a little peacful walk hanging
above my fire place with the words,

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" Psalm 133:1

The goal is peace and unity but getting there seems to be quite an uphill battle
at times.

I'm reallizing more and more that as much as I believe in discipline and feel
like I do it consistently, I may not be as hard and stern as needed. Although I
hate to admit it, my gift of mercy can sometimes get in the way of what
is REALLY NEEDED to cause some CHANGED behavior.

We had a day in the LInk household recently where my husband had had enough of
the sibling bickering and did not let a single thing slide. He was stern and
very quick to discipline with severe consequences.  Ahhhhhhhhhh...........it
was sooo hard on this gentle, merciful soul.  But I KNEW it was needed.  Almost
every part of me  cried out during this time for "mercy," and yet knowing that I
really want PEACE in our home and CHANGED behavior, I knew I had to allow Rob be
the heavy hand. I also knew that I need to learn from him and grow in this area
of raising our children.

I have been fixing my mind on Prov. 15:10

"STERN discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will
die."

I asked Rob if he though I wasn't "stern" enough and like a wise man he
responded to my question with a question. Instead of answering my question, he
asked me, "Do YOU think you are stern enough?"

I said, "Well, I suppose if I were our children wouldn't be fighting as much.
Discipline should lead to changed behavior."

I also need to grow in the area of talking less and spanking/giving a harsh
discipline a little more. For this weakness I've been clinging to Prov. 29:19;

" A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; though he understands, he will
not respond."

Some of you may be able to relate to me in this needed area of growth and
perhaps these words are for you as well. Others of you might find bringing down
the hammer to be the easier part and need to hear different words from God.
Wherever you are in raising your children, may you look to His Wonderful Book to
help lead you and guide you. He knows exactly what is needed to help you in
raising your precious chidlren. As we seek to do this most wonderful and
difficult job of raising our children may we offer ourselves the same grace and
mercy tha God offers us AND may we continue to "Aim for perfection," (2
Corinthians 13:11)..........whatever that looks like, not giving up in seeking
to be wise in "Shepherding" our children for their good and the sake of His
Name. Blessings form Bombadil, a home that is hungry for peace, quiet, unity,
and delightful children.
 (Prov. 29:17). 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

A Wind

    After I had written yesterday's blog on watching over my flowers, I engaged
in the task of watering those beauties. While I was doing that, my dad came over
to work on some things in our home. He handed me his I-pod and wanted me to
listen to this c.d. he enjoyed. He thought I would enjoy it as well. It was by
Micheal Card and it was based on the Book of Revelations.WOW! Was he right. I
REALLY enjoyed it. The c.d began with this powerful prelude that had an
Irish/Scottish sound to it and had all that was needed to be in the movie,
Braveheart (my fav.) during the climax of an epic battle. It was a delight to
the soul. However, that wasn't what delighted my soul most while I was watering
my flowers and listening to this awesome c.d.  What captured me yesterday and
yet this morning was while I was doing those two things (watering my flowers and
listening to the c.d) I closed my eyes for a few minutes to take in all the
beauty and closeness of God. I whispered an "I love you" and although I was
standing upright, I was bent all the way to the ground in worship of the creator
of flowers and music. At that very moment, what seemed like out of nowhere
having been a calm & muggy summer morning, came a powerful strong wind
that enveloped me while my eyes remained closed. It lasted only a moment and as
soon as I opened my eyes the wind settled down and it was calm the rest of the
morning. It was as if God wanted me to know He was there, he is real and he was
receiving my adoration. It truly took my breath away.

    So this morning, as I reflected on yesterday I couldn't help but think of
that experience and wonder, "Oh God, was that you?..........Am I crazy?...It
certainly was a moment I will never forget and it brought the greatest wonder,
peace and joy to my soul. I looked up the word 'Wind" in my Bible and here is
what I found:

"He who forms the mountains,
CREATES THE WIND,
and reveals his thoughts to man
he who turns dawn to darkness,
and treads the high places of the earth-
the LORD God Almighty is his name." Amos 4:13

and

".....He got up and rebuked the WIND and the raging waters; the storm subsided,
and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and
amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the WINDS and
the water, and they obey him." Luke 8:24 & 25

He most certainly could have sent that wind at just that moment to speak to my
soul of his closeness.

After all, his word also says:

" Without faith it is impossible to please God, becasue anyone who comes to
him MUST BELIEVE that he exists and that he REWARDS those who earnestly seek
him." Hebrews 11: 6

and

" Did I not tell you that IF you BELIEVED, you would see the glory ( praise,
honor, renown, magestic beauty and splendor) of God?" John 11:40

He is a God who desires to REWARD us for seeking him. He is a God who delights
in showing his awesomeness to those who believe in him.

As for me, I'll cherish yesterday's experience of being enveloped by a brief
moment of a strong wind while watering flowers, listening to a powerful song,
and whispering words of adoration to my Maker.  I will accept that as a little
"reward" and a moment of seeing his glory. I wonder how He'd like to reward YOU,
my fellow seekers and believers,  & show YOU his glory, today??? 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

A little routine I have....

    Every morning when I go out for my run I seem to have a little routine.  I
slowly walk around my house checking out each plant/flower that I have growing.
The ones that I just planted and seem so small I find myself talking to them in
my soul saying, "You'll get big and beautiful someday....just you wait. Be
patient".  I walk around LOVING the variety and wanting all DIFFERENT kinds of
flowers at my home. I LOVE the uniqueness of each and don't compare any of my
flowers to each other wanting the daisy to look or be like the peony. The ones
that just bloomed for the first time ever cause sooooo much delight.   I say to
myself (in my head of course,  otherwise I might look a little crazy to my
neighbors)  "It's working, it's working...........the seed/plant took root and
it is growing!!! Yeah!!."  My son, Zeke, knowing how much I LOVE flowers came
running into the house yesterday soooo excited saying, "Mom, mom.....the plant
you just planted has a little red flower on it! Come see!"

    The ones that look droopy and thirsty b/c they have spent too much time in
the heat, I have compassion on and know I need to give them some water soon! The
ones that I planted this year and had soooo much potential for beauty but are
doing nothing, are withered and dead looking, grieve this ol' flower lovin'
soul. The flowers that have been growing a few years here at Bombadil and are
rooted and well established providing much beauty I feel very proud of and
think, "Ahhhhhhh....this is as it should be." This morning it struck me  (
again) with deep conviction.................."Oh God, I know this is your image
in me." I wondered if this is what God does with us, watching over each one of
us unique creations on a daily basis, allowing us to be where we are on our
journey but desiring all of us to be making progress to reach all the maturity
we can and display as much beauty as possible, and desiring to give us what is
needed to make us more "fruitful."  It certainly is the imagery He gives all
throughout his Word:

"I am the true vine and my Father is the GARDENER. He cuts off every branch in
me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so
that it will be even more fruitful. ...No branch can bear fruit by itself; it
must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I
am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he
WILL bear much fruit; APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. If anyone does not
remain in me, he is like a bracnch that is thrown away and withers; such
branches are picked up and thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me,
AND MY WORDS REMAIN IN YOU, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you.
Thsi is to my Father's glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be
my disciples." John 15:1-8

or

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell
along the path: it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some
fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no
moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the
plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a
hundred times more than was sown."  When he said this, he called out, "He who
has ears to hear, let him hear." ....This is the meaning of the parable: The
seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then
the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not
believe and be saved. Those one the rock are the ones who receive the word with
joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a little while,
but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among the thorns
stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's
worries, riches, and pleasures and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil
stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and
by PERSEVERING produce a crop."

Luke 8:5-15

"A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on
it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard,
"For 3 years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't
found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil? "Sir," the man replied,
'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If
it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down."
Luke 13:6-8

.....and sooooo many more.

As you garden, plant, farm your land today......may you find great joy in
understanding that you are made in the image of God and you deeply desire your
plants to thrive, mature, produce great beauty or yummy food because HE HIMSELF
DESIRES THAT FOR YOU! He longs for YOU  to thrive in life, to mature and to "Be
transformed into HIS LIKENESS with ever- INCREASING GLORY, which comes from the
Lord, who is the Spirit. (and I will add.."who is the GARDENER OF ALL GARDENERS
AND THE FARMER OF ALL FARMERS") 2 Corinthians 3:18

May you take inventory of your life seeking to discern what kind of seed are
you? Where are you in your growing process? May you take great comfort and
delight ( and a healthy little fear)  that there is a God who sees you  and
cares about what you do with your life, and that your life can bring him great
pleasure (or pain). After all, that is why you are here! Colossians 1:16, "All
things were created by him and FOR HIM." Don't you want him, as he walks through
his garden of precious souls, to stop and breathe in all the beauty that comes
from your life?  He says the key to this is

" Remaining in Jesus and allowing HIS WORDS to remain in you."John 15:7

Like Zeke running in to rejoice with me over my first little rose, may God and
Jesus rejoice with each other when they see a beautiful bloom  in our life.
Blessings from Bombadil. May your soul be watered and may you water another's
soul.

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

A day of spills

 If I had to give yesterday a title it would be, "The Day of Spills."  My mom
and I went to the K-zoo museum with our kids and tossed everything we needed
into my big bag. Unfortunately, the cup that was in my bag SPILLED out all of
the orange juice contained inside and ruined my phone(so if you tried to call me
yesterday I won't get your message).  When Rob came home from work, somehow (not
sure how this one happened) he SPILLED the BIG bag of dog food all over our Sun
room floor. Then at dinner, after finally JUST sitting down, Reese SPILLED her
blender drink that accompanied her taco on Taco Tuesday. So, this morning as I
reflected on my day yesterday, I decided to spend my time with God seeking what
his word has to say about "SPILLS/SPILLING/SPILLED."

Spilled means .......poured out; shed...to allow or cause a substance to fall
out or run out of a container.
There are actually many verses I read and could focus on having to do with
"pouring out or shedding," but I want to focus on one....Psalm 62.

"My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
 he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

How long will you assault a man?
 Would all of you throw him down- this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies.

With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in  him at all times, O people;
POUR OUT ( SPILL OUT....allow your thoughts and feelings to run out of your
body/heart/mouth) your HEARTS to HIM,
for God is our refuge.

Lowborn men are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie;
if weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.

Do not trust in extortion
or take pride in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.

One thing God has spoken,
two things have I heard;
that you, O God, are strong,
and that you, OLord, are loving.
Surely you will reward each person
according to what he has done."

May I encourage you to make time each day to SPILL/POUR out your hearts to God.
Get it all out to the One who loves you, cares about you, hears you, knows what
is best for you and knows the plans he has for you. Journal, cry, sing, write,
talk ..do whatever you need to to spill out your heart to him. After you've done
that, may I encourage you to end with the words the Psalmist gives us right
before telling us to pour out our hearts....the words,

"TRUST IN HIM AT ALL TIMES..."

Blessings from Bombadil............The home of many spills..... 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

weaknesses

In being faced with some of my weaknesses I thought it would be good for my soul
to spend some time in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

 "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great
revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to
torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he
said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so
that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in
weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when
I am weak, then I am strong."

Lessons learned:

    1.  "To keep me from becoming conceited..."
            a. weaknesses are given to us for a reason.
            b. conceited- too high an opinion of one's abilities, worth, or
personality; vanity...valuing self and                     knowing you have
great worth is important but having too high of an opinion leads to ugliness.
            

    2. "There was GIVEN  me...."
        a.  "A man can receive only what is GIVEN him from heaven." John 3:27
        b."Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you
did not receive?
             1 Corinthians 4:7
        c. I am God's creation. He has GIVEN me strengths AND weaknesses.

    3. "...a messenger of Satan, to TORMENT me."
        a. God allows Satan to have some access to our lives
            1. Job 1: 6-12

"One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also
came with them. The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"  Satan
answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going  back and forth in
it." Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is
no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and
shuns evil."

"Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge of
protection around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed
the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds spread throughout the land.
But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse
you to your face."  The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has
is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." 

    2.  Luke 22: 31 & 32

    "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed
foryou, Simon, that your faith             may not fail. And when you have
turned back, strengthen your brothers." 

    3. It is Satan who seeks to TORMENT us.
    TORMENT- Great mental anguish; a source of harrassment, annoyance, pain; to
annoy or pester

    4. Satan and people might be out to harm or torment us, but God is in
control and uses all things for good.

        a. Genesis 50:19-21

        "But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
You intended to harm me, but                 God intended it for good to
accomplish  what is now being done, the SAVING OF MANY LIVES." 

        b. Romans 8:28

            "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
love him, who have been called                 according to his purpose."

    5. "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away.."
        a. He didn't pray only once. He didn't stop praying until he heard God
speak to his situation.
        b. Life involves/needs a relationship  with God and honest, passionate
conversations with him who is the             One who can do something about our
pain.

    6. "But He said to me.."
        a. God speaks to us
        b. When was the last time you heard God speak to you?
        c. God is aware of our situations and knows what is needed or what is
best.

    7. "My GRACE is sufficient(enough, adequate, as much as is needed) for YOU."
        a. I don't have to be perfect!!!
        b. His unmerited gift of kindness & perfection is enough.

    8. "My Power is made PERFECT in weakness."
        a. It is all about His Power in our lives
        b. "Christ in you, the hope of glory."

    9. "I will BOAST (take pride in; be enhanced by) all the more GLADLY about
my weaknesses..."

        A. An encounter with God can change the way we look at our situation
        b. we can move from being tormented to thanking God and seeing God

    10. "...For Christ's sake.."
        a. Life is to be lived for Christ
            1. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go
on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me." Phillipians 1:21 &
22 .
        b. "For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus'
sake so that HIS LIFE may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at
work in us, but life is at work in you."  2 Corinthians 4: 11- 12

Ahhh! I'm out of time. Let this be a beginning place to interact with this Word
of God. May it be in your mind and heart all day. May you ask God more questions
about it and may He reveal to you more insight into this great passage of Truth.
May this Scripture somehow lead you to not be knocked down or out by your
weaknesses but rather to turn to God to see what He wants to do in and through
your weaknesses. 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

"Obey your mommies and daddies"

Yesterday, the Link family drove up north to Cran Hill Ranch (the camp where my
husband and I met AND got married) to drop off one of our sons for camp. After
the drop off was complete and all goodbyes were said and done, the rest of us
thought as long as we were up there we ought to spend some time enjoying this
special place. We drove down to the lake and went swimming, spent a little time
in the "petting zoo," ( a little place where the little ones LOVE to gather and
pet the bunnies, donkey, sheep and kittys..........I'm so glad my son doesn't
call them "Titties" anymore) and went for a walk.  During this walk we found
ourselves in the Chapel of the Pines which is this beautiful outdoor "church" in
the middle of the forest with great big pine trees all around. In the middle of
this gathering place for worshippers is this wonderful old stone pulpit where
thousands of messages of truth have been preached from. Our youngest son, Zeke,
was the first to take the pulpit while the rest of us sat in the benches waiting
for a great sermon.  Although I wouldn't be surprised if someday Zeke is a
preacher with all of his passion and the way he loves Jesus, it wasn't his
message that I want to share with you today. After Zeke stepped down moving on
to the "worship/dance team" ( the  little stage set up behind the pulpit) 
my almost 5 daughter, Reese, thought she would like a turn as a "preacher." As
her dad and I prompted her with the question, "Reese, give us your greatest
message of truth... What do you know that Jesus would say???" She said with
great confidence (as she should because she probably hears it more than anyone
else),

 "Obey your mommies and daddies!"

What a great message! What truth proclaimed from the old stone pulpit.

We clapped and "Amened" her short but powerful message (must be taking after her
father) and off she went to be a part of the "worship/dance" team with her
brother, Zeke.

Hear what God says about obedience:

" Children, OBEY your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father
and mother"- which is the first commandment with a promise- "that it may go well
with you and that you  may enjoy long life on the earth. Fathers (& mothers), do
not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the TRAINING and
INSTRUCTION of the Lord." Ephesians 6:1-4

It is sooo pleasing to God when children obey (quickly and cheerfully) their
parents. (including us obeying him, our Heavenly Father). Why? As a parent I'm
sure you can understand and relate to the pleasure obedience brings. How does it
feel to your soul when your children obey you without putting up a fight? How
does if feel when they rebel and disobey???

Children obeying their parents is a HUGE topic in God's word. One of the
Proverbs says:

"The eye that mocks a father,
that scorns OBEDIENCE to a mother,
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures."
Prov. 30:17

We want to teach our children that obeying us is whispering "I love you, mom or
dad."

I tell my children often after they have obeyed me, "I just felt sooo loved by
you....Thank you!"

1 John 5: 3 says, "This is love for God; to obey his commands."

 Jesus himself said in John 14:31

"The world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my
Father has commanded me."

Jesus knew his Father. He knew his Father was sooooo good, knew what was best
for him, was full of wisdom, provided everything he needed and loved him. Out of
this love came his desire to obey.

As parents, may we take seriously our walk with God . May we seek to be holy
leaving no room for our kids to accuse us or call us hypocrites asking them to
obey us but not seeing us obey our heavenly Father. May we seek forgiveness when
we fail. May our goodness to them and our wisdom with them cause their love for
us to grow deep creating in them a desire to obey us out of LOVE not because
they are forced to. May they FEEL and KNOW how much we love them through
everything we say, don't say, do , don't do, through the looks on our faces and
all of our body language.

As we train them to obey us, we are training them to obey God which will lead to
the most abundant life possible here on earth.

So moms....may we love our children well today and be careful not to
"exasperate" them ( make them angry & irritated; provoke..) May we train them in
obedience, instruct them and may we ourselves be obedient children to our
"Father" because we love Him.  Obedience brings blessings.

"Obey your mommies and daddies!"
-Reese's first sermon given on 7/11/10 @ CHR

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

Wax seals

I've got a thing for wax seals. There is something about writing a note to
someone and then taking my little wax stick, lighting it, letting the wax melt
onto the envelope and then choosing one of my different seals to stamp an
impression upon the wax. For my birthday, I just got a whole wax seal set with 5
different seals ( a flower, a butterfly, a crown, a dog paw and a de fleur
symbol) and I LOVE IT! Why, why, why do I love this so????? I imagine somewhere
deep in my soul it has something to do with this:

A SEAL is a : A die or signet having a raised emblem, used to stamp an
impression upon a receptive                                 substance
                    a small disk of wax affixed to a document to PROVE
AUTHENTICITY or to seal it shut.
                    Something that serves similarly to authenticate, confirm or
attest
                    The design or emblem belonging exclusively to the user

"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,
set his SEAL of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit,
GUARANTEEING what is to come." 2 Corinthians 1:21

" And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with SEAL, the
promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit GUARANTEEING our inheritance until the
redemption of those who are God's possession..." Ephesians 1:13

"And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break
the SEALS and open the scroll? But NO ONE in heaven or on earth or under the
earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no
one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the
elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root
of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven SEALS."
Revelation 5:2-5

May I remind us this morning that we belong to God. He has set his Seal of
ownership on US..........He owns us........we were bought with a price.  If we
have believed in Jesus and received him into our lives, the Holy Spirit dwells
with in us,.....The Holy Spirit is God's Seal on  us.

There is only one who is WORTHY...... His name is Jesus.

Meditate on the worthy one today. Think about the truth that, if you are a
believer and receiver in Jesus, he has set his SEAL on YOU guaranteeing what is
to come.......paradise, perfection, no more pain, tears, everything glorious.
Blessings from Bombadil..........home of the lover of wax seals. 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

"....good stored up....."

Happy HOT Mom Monday! Whew!!! It is warm here in K-zoo, MI and it's only 7:30a.m. For some reason, this verse is on my mind this morning: 

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is reconized by its fruit. .....For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good STORED UP IN HIM, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken."
 Matthew 12:33-36

By this verse in my Bible I have a prayer/plea written by me in ink . The prayer/plea is

"Help me STORE UP GOOD in the hearts of my children."

Perhaps it's on my mind because yesterday I had a conversation with a mom who just said goodbye to her 18 year old son and is at that good yet difficult place of having to let her son go.  After our conversation, I was once again reminded how fast time goes and my time to parent my children and "STORE UP GOOD" in them is not something to let slip through my fingers. The time is NOW to make the most of every opportunity to pour GOOD into them.

May we, as moms, ask ourselves today and every day "How can I  help store up good in my children?" 

Here are some of the definitions for the word, "Good";

1. Having positive or desirable qualities
2. Not spoiled or rotten; able to be used
3. in excellent condition; whole; sound
4.Superior to the average
5.Of high quality
6.Complete; thorough
7. pleasant; enjoyable
8. of moral excellence:virtuous;; upright
9. cheerful; kind; loyal
10. well-behaved; obedient

"Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul." Prov. 29:17

"Good" is good to the soul.  I'd love to hear your ideas of how you "store us good" in the hearts of your children. 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

".......will NOT be disappointed."

    Mail time around the Link home is always a time of a little excitment. You never know what might just be in that special little box when you open it up. Often the words, "Is there anything for me?" come out of at least one of my kids mouths on a regular basis (just yesterday I found myself saying it). The other day when I opened our box of possible excitement you will never believe what was in there. There among all the bills and boring mail was a note addressed to Kristy Link from B.Moore. I couldn't believe my eyes! What!!!!!
B. Moore. For those of you who don't know why that would hold any significance for me, there is a woman by the name of Beth Moore who is an amazing teacher of God's word . I have the greatest respect for her and secretly in my heart kind of want to be like her.  As I held this note in my hand a million thoughts were going through my mind. "This can't be from Beth Moore. She has no idea who I am." "What in the world would Beth Moore have to say to me?"  "This is NOT from Beth Moore!.....Oh, but what if it is?"...etc....... I was sooooo excited/nervous to open it I set it down on my table to wait for just the right time when I'd be able to sit and take it all in. When the right time had finally come, I nervously and slowly opend the note to find a bill from a woman by the name of Brandy Moore who works at Winchell Elementary where my kids go to school.  Although I didn't REALLY think it was from Beth Moore, the possibilty of it got me a little
excited. So, needless to say, I was a little DISAPPOINTED.

Many of you, I KNOW, have dealt with much greater disappointment than that. I have as well, I just thought that was a funny story that just happened.  We ALL deal with disappointment in many things.  Allow me the joy of sharing with you what God's Word has to say about  disappointment.

"My God, my God, whay have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Isreal. In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried out to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were NOT DISAPPOINTED." Psalm 22:1-5

"Does a maiden forget her jewelry , a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number. How skilled youare at pursuing love! Even the worst of women can learn from your ways......Why do you go about so much changing your ways? You WILL BE DISAPPOINTED by Egypt as you were by Assyria. You will also leave that place wit hyour hands on your head, for the Lord has rejected those you trust; you will not be helped by them." Jeremiah 2:36

"Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." Isaiah 49:23

Have you been disappointed in something/someone lately????? God says that we will be disappointed. The ONLY ONE who will NOT DISAPPOINT us is him.  He sees the big picture of life. He knows what he has in store for us......in this life AND the life to come.  Trust him!  Seek to be obedient to everything He whispers in your ear and prompts you to do or where to go. Know His commands and do His commands. Surrender everything to Him.

 I remember when Rob and I went to Ireland and I had chosen this place from on line.  I prayed and prayed the whole time I was looking that God would lead us to the perfect place for us. It looked awesome from the pictures on the internet but you never know. I will never forget the feeling I had when  we arrived at our place and I walked through these gates into this AMAZING garden. It was MORE than I had dreamed. I remember having the thought, "Oh surely God, heaven will be even more glorious than this. You are not a God who disappoints."

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us,....."Ephesians 3:20

"I consider that our present suffeirngs are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18

Wait on Him for His perfect timing. Call on him and trust that he hears you and knows exactly what you need. Hold on to the promise that those who hope in him WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! 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

"That didn't feel good to my soul."

    As I was spending some time out and about yesterday, the selfishness in humanity was blatantly obvious to me.  While I was at Lowes speaking with one of the workers, I paused for a moment to try and recall a name of a tree. In that split second, another woman, instead of waiting her turn, seized the moment and began asking the worker her question taking him over for herself.  I left the two of them to chat to figure things out on my own thinking to myself, "That didn't feel good to my soul."

    On my way out of the parking lot I came to a stop sign. The car that was across from me and had gotten there before me went his turn. The car behind him, however, instead of waiting his turn after me decided to try to slip through quick with the car in front of him.  I'm sure he had a good reason for his haste, however, I thought to myself, "That didn't feel good to my soul."

    At the check-out lane in Hobby Lobby, I couldn't help notice the woman behind me.  She had pulled out LAST WEEKS 40% of coupon desiring to use it for this week. I also had a 40% off coupon in my purse from last week and understood this woman's desire and temptation to try to use it for this week, but, being a fairly frequent shopper at the H.L, I knew that was not allowed.  What stood out to me was the way this woman treated the cashier after she was told she couldn't use the coupon.  The cashier was simply doing her job but she received the wrath and cold shoulder from this woman who was not allowed to use her expired coupon.I'm sure the cashier was thinking "Oooohh.....that doesn't feel good to my soul." ( actually..........that's probably NOT what she was thinking. She was probably thinking much worse)

    I most certainly could relate to all these selfish people. After alll, God's word says,

" You have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the SAME THINGS." Romans 2:1

" No temptation has seized you except what is commom to man......." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Although we can understand the temptation to put ourselves first, and I'm sure given into the temptation many times,  Oh........for the sake of God's name, for the sake of LOVE, for the sake of bringing more peace, joy and beauty to the earth..........may we as women who have chosen to follow Jesus and seek first the kingdom of God, RESIST the temptation to put ourselves first. May we seek to leave each soul we encounter thinking, " Hmmmmmm.....that felt GOOD to my soul" rather than " Ooohhhhh..that DIDN'T feel good to my soul." 

As we are "out and about" today, may we make our Father proud. After all, "Nothing in all of creation is hidden from his sight."  Hebrews 4:12............" ........your Father, who sees what is done in secret,  will reward you." Matthew 6:4

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