"....what is BEST"

"And this is my prayer: that your LOVE may abound more and more in KNOWLEDGE and
DEPTH OF INSIGHT SO THAT you may be able to DISCERN what is BEST and may be pure
and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God."

I had an experience this week where I was put in a situation where a decision
was asked for, where there was a limited window of opportunity and I needed to
make a choice. I made my choice. Now, upon reflection, I dont think I discerned
what was "BEST'."

Bummer.

A missed opportunity to love.

So, hopefully I learned my lesson, and will be more discerning next time.

May it be all of our PRAYER (we need help from God for this)  that our LOVE may
ABOUND MORE AND MORE....... that we may be able to discern what is BEST!!!!
Blessings from Bombadil.....home of a woman who missed an opportunity  to LOVE
but hopefully learned her lesson.

 "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

"No Outlet"

I live on a road where there happens to be no outlet. In fact, the "No Outlet"
sign is right in MY yard (hmmmmm???) At the end of this road is a big fence
keeping  people out of the Kalamazoo Country Club.  The other day I walked to
the end of the road, where there is no outlet,and I stood looking into the
country club. It's BEAUTIFUL. The grass is soooo green and well taken care of.
There is a lake/pond that shimmers in the sun. In the distance is a gorgeous
building that holds countless parties and wedding receptions ( I've been to 2 
there). There is a fee to be a part of this club, to be able to enjoy the
beauty. I've heard it is quite expensive to be able to be on the "other side of
the fence". As I stood there taking in all that was before me I thought to
myself,

"God, surely it is RIGHT for there to be a "fee" for people to get into heaven,
this MOST INCREDIBLE place of beauty. We do this as humans. And it
is SOOOOOOOOO GOOD of YOU to have paid the FEE FOR US."

I felt soo thankful to God that simply by believing and accepting his gift of
paying the price for our sins, I will not have to be on the wrong side of the
fence when it comes to heaven. I won't have to stand on the  outside longing to
be a part of the parties and celebrations and beauty all around me. Jesus has
paid the price for our entrance/membership to the "club," for me and for every
single soul who believes.

Surely, it makes sense that if we do that as humans and accept it as the way it
is, this needing to pay  a great price to be a part of something wonderful, a
place of WEDDING BANQUETS ( Rev. 19:7)...of course there is a great price that
needs to be paid for us to be a part of heaven..........AND HE PAID IT FOR
US!!.,...... That is the gospel ...aka: GOOD NEWS!!! 

May we make sure we are on the right side of the fence........simply by
believing and receiving. Blessings from Bombadil...........home of the "No
outlet" sign. 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

Mom Monday

I don't know about you but I can always receive correction, instruction, advice,
etc....a little bit better AFTER I have received an affirmation of love or words
of encouragement. God's word affirms this:

" The wise in heart are called discerning, and PLEASANT WORDS promote
(contribute to the progress or growth of) instruction." Prov. 16:21

Jesus himself gave us a great example of this in speaking to the different
churches. To the Church in Ephesus he said;

" I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you
cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles
but are not and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured
hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you:
You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have
fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." Revelation 2:2-5

Jesus gave the church  7 things they were doing well  before he gave them 1
thing that he "had against them."

In dealing with your children this week (and any person, really) remember the
wisdom and importance of speaking postively first and MORE than negatively.
Jesus is our Creator. He is the one who made our souls and he knows full well
how fragile they are and how to bring the most fruit from our lives. Constantly
focusing on negative first (and/or only) does not create a desire in a soul to
want to do better rather it burdens the soul and weighs it down. However, giving
many words of affirmation, acknowledging all the good you see in your child
first THEN speaking words of correction will bring about more "fruit" from your
child's life.

May we learn well the balance and order  of giving our children BOTH.....the
postives and the things they still need to work on being a tool in helping them
become all God would have them be. 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

Was it worth it???

Last week Wednesday night I had the women from my neighborhood over for our
annual "Root Beer Float" evening. I simply gather the women together and we all
drink our floats, perhaps answer a question that I put on the invitation, and
share our highlights/lowlights of our summer/year. I really enjoy it.

After everyone was gone, the root beer and ice cream put away, and the Link
children all tucked away in bed, Rob asked me if it was worth it. He wondered if
it was worth all the energy I put into cleaning the house and backyard, typing
up and personally delivering all the invitations,  purchasing the root beer and
ice cream,  making sure the Link children are taken care of, and everything else
that goes into entertaining. Was it worth it?  My answer: ABSOLUTLEY!!!!!!!!

Here's why:

1. "There are some who are ignorant  of God- I say this to your shame." 1
Corinthians 15:34

    Perhaps, just perhaps, through my gathering my neighborhood women they may
encounter someone who knows God and is seeking to show Him to them through her
love, compassion, care for their lives, generousity, etc...Perhaps, just
perhaps, this might be an opportunity to say something, plant a seed of truth,
show them that God is sooooooo good or provide an opportunity for them to ask me
questions.

2. "Practice Hospitality." Romans 12:13
    "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." 1 Peter 4: 9

     It is worth it simply because I believe God commands it. I beleive even if
no one comes, some day we will be rewarded for our efforts in seeking to be
hospitable. May we practice hospitality whether it seems worth it or
not...simply because we are told to do so. Blessings from Bombadil.

p.s. Last year  I had a neighbor tell me that he thought I hated him
simply because I was a Christian and he was gay. He was shocked when I invited
him to my home for a Christmas party and thought to himself, "hmmmm...maybe she
does care.'

 "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 message in a bottle

I went on a date with my son, Ezekiel, last Tuesday night.  When thinking about
Zeke and what might be fun for him to do on a date with me, I thought of the
Bead shop. Zeke loves rocks, sparkly beads, monkeys and little treasures so I
thought I could take him to the Bead shop and let him pick out a little
"teasure" for $1.or $2. dollars.  While we were there he found a little glass
bottle with a cork on it.  I told him he could write a little message and put it
in the bottle and wear it as a necklace.  He got excited about that and began
wondering what kind of message he would put in the bottle. He finally decided he
wanted something from the book of Ezekiel, the book in the BiBle that he was
named after.  Soooooo, we are in the process of finding just the right
message/words from Ezekiel to put into his little bottle.  Here are some of
Zeke's options:

"Don't be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and
thorns are all around you and you live among scorpians. do not be afraid of what
they say or terrified by them...You must speak my words to them, whether they
listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious." Ezekiel 2:6 & 7

"Eat what is before you, eat this scroll; THEN GO and SPEAK...." Ezekiel 3:1

"Son of man, LISTEN CAREFULLY and TAKE TO HEART ALL the words I speak to you. Go
now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, "This is what
the Sovreign LORD says," whether they listen or fail to listen." Ezekiel 3:10 &
11

"When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die," and you do not warn him or
speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that
wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood."
Ezekiel 3:18

"How I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from
me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols." Ezekiel 6:9

"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove
from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will
follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I
will be their God." Ezekiel 11:19 & 20

"Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were ARROGANT,
OVERFED,UNCONCERNED; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and
did detestable things before me." Ezekiel 16:49 & 50

"Every living soul belongs to me." Ezekiel 18: 4

"Do I take any pleasure in the dreath of the wicked? declares the Sovereign
LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" Ezekiel
18:23

"The house of Isreal says, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Are my ways
unjust, O house of Isreal? Is it not your ways that are unjust?" Ezekiel 18:29

"I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovreign LORD.
Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.
Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a
new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Isreal? For I take no pleasure in the
death of anyone, declares the Sovreign LORD. Repent and live!" Ezekiel 18:30-32

"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me
in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found
none." Ezekiel 22:30

"This is what the Sovreign LORD says; Since you have forgotten me and thrust me
behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness.." Ezekiel 23:
35

" Then you will KNOW that I am the Sovereign LORD." Ezekiel 23:49

"You are a man and not a god." Ezekiel 28:2

"My people come to you, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do
not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their
hearts are greedy for unjust gain." Ezekiel 33:31

"Woe to the shepherds of Isreal who only take care of themselves! Should not
shepherds take care of the flock?..You have not strengthened the weak or healed
the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or
searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally." Ezekiel 34:2-4

"You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares
the Sovreign LORD." Ezekiel 34:31

"Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows." Ezekiel 47:9

.."For the sake of my holy name...I will show the holiness of my great name.'
Ezekiel 36:22 & 23

" Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovreign LOR, when
I show myself holy THROUGH YOU before their eyes." Ezekiel 36:23

Which message would you pick to put in your bottle, to hang around your neck and
close to your heart?  May we listen carefully to his words and like ZEKE, who
had a choice to put any message he wanted in his bottle, may we choose God's
words. 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

Saying goodbye to our "Gentle Giant" on "Mom Monday"

As I type, Rob and Zeke are taking Ralf, our Newfoundland 10month old puppy/dog,
to the Vet to put him down. Rob took him to get neutered back in February and we
were told he had one month to live because his kidneys were failing. We are sooo
thankful we were given 4 1/2 extra months with Ralf and yet we are sooo sad that
we've only had 10months with this precious puppy that we thought we'd have for
10 years. . I am surprised with myself ,not being much of a dog lover, just how
sad I feel. Last night we had a BEAUTIFUL time as a family sitting in Ralf's pen
with him (because he could barely move to bring him into the house with
us) crying together and sharing "Ralf" memories. As we shared, It continued to
come up just how GENTLE Ralf is/was and the affect that had on all of us.
We began seeing more clearly through the life of our dog just how powerful and
soul touching gentlenss is.

On this "Mom Monday" as I honor our dog and reflect on this "Gentle Giant" 
(that is actually a term used to describe the Newfy breed....Ralf was even extra
gentle) may I share with you some of God's words on gentleness.  May His words
spur us on to more and more gentleness as mothers.

GENTLE- Considerate or kindly in disposition; patient, not harsh,severe or
violent; soft; tamed and broken.

"Take my yoke upon you and LEARN FROM ME, for I am GENTLE and HUMBLE in heart.."
Matthew 11:29

"See your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, GENTLEand riding on
a donkey." Zech.9:9

"A GENTLE answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger." Prov. 15:1

"Your beauty...... should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a
GENTLE and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:3 &
4

"Let your GENTLENESS be evident to all." Phillipians 4:5

" A GENTLE tongue can break a bone." Prov. 25:15

As you mother your children today be reminded that gentleness is POWERFUL. It is
healing and  beautiful.  It turns away wrath and touches souls. As I mourn the
loss of our "Gentle Giant" today, I will treasure deeply in my heart the way his
gentleness touched all of us Links. May we touch the souls of our children and
every soul we meet with our/God's  gentleness......one of the fruits of the
Spirit. 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

"Protected"

The other day I decided to take a walk around my block with my two daughters,
pushing them in my double stroller. My son, Zeke, was hanging out around our
home with the "Wolf Pack,"-- the "club" he and his neighborhood buddies are a
part of. As the girls and I began our walk,one of the members of the "wolf pack"
asked if we would like them to come along on the walk with us so they could
"protect" us.  What girl/woman wouldn't want to be protected by the "Wolf pack?"
So of course I responded positively and told them that I would love to be
protected by the Wolf Pack; 4 strong and brave  6-9yrs. old boys.  After
expressing my desire to be protected, the one in charge quickly yelled for the
other members to get into position. Two boys road their bikes behind us and two
road their bikes in front of us. Zeke, half way around the block, yelled out,
"This is my mom, wolf pack! Let's protect her!"  Mmmmmmmmmmm.....being protected
is so wonderful ,soooo good for the soul, soooo boy/man revealing their being
made in the "image of God. God/Jesus himself is a protector.  Listen to these
words:

" I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were
yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that
everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave
me and they accepted them. They knew with CERTAINTY that I came from you and
they BELIEVED that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world,
but for those you have given me for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all
you have is mine. And the glory has come to me through them. I will remain in
the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you.
Holy Father, PROTECT them by the power of your name- the name you gave me- so
that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I PROTECTED them and
kept them safe by that name you gave me.......My prayer is not that you take
them out of the world but that you PROTECT them from the evil one...."John
17:6-15

The truth is , we all NEED to be protected. There is an evil one out there who
is seeking to divide us and bring fighting, hatred, disunity, slander, etc......
Jesus prayed that we would be ONE. May you be protected from  the evil one
today. May you see his sneaky ways & resist him. If you have sons, may you
delight in them being made in the image of God and may you hear God himself
 whisper, "I willl Protect you."  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

"Little by little"

As I seek to build and create this place called, "Bombadil," I find myself using
this little phrase over and over again. It is the phrase,

"Little by little."

It is that phrase that simply means in small degrees or increments; gradually.

The Bible uses the phrase "little by little" as well in Deuteronomy 7:17-22:

"You may say to yourselves, "These nations are stronger than we are. How can WE
drive them out?" But DO NOT BE AFRAID of them; REMEMBER WELL what the Lord your
God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. You saw with your own eyes the great
trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm,
with which the Lord your God brought you out. The Lord your God will do the same
to all the peoples you now fear. Moreover, the Lord your God will send the
hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished. Do
not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, WHO IS AMONG YOU, is a GREAT
and AWESOME GOD. The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you,
LITTLE BY LITTLE. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the
wild animals will multiply around you."

Perhaps you need to hear the phrase, "Little by little"

It can be phrase used for all kinds of situations in our lives.

Trying to lose weight and want it to come off fast?? "Little by little" my
friend.
Trying to grow your savings account?  "Little by little"
Trying to reveal God to your family, friends,neighbors? "Little by little"
Trying to bring order and beauty to your home & life? "Little by little"

Wherever this phrase applies in your life.....apply it. Know that "little by
little" is one of God's ways.  I love the last verse in this Scripture when it
says, "you won't be allowed to eliminate them ALL AT ONCE OR..... (something bad
will happen).........................................."..   There are reasons to
learn to live "little by little." Remember that God's ways, although not always
easy, produce the greatest peace, joy, beauty, & completeness.

May your soul find rest in embracing "little by little."  We don't
need everything RIGHT NOW!

" There is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery
weighs heavily upon him."

Ecc. 8:6 

"Little by little" can be difficult and can "weigh heavily upon us" at times,
but trust God in this. He is the King and,

" Since the king's word is supreme, who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
Whoever OBEYS HIS COMMNAND will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know
the proper time and procedure." Ecc. 8:4 & 5

Blessings from Bombadil..........the home that is SLOWLY becoming what I
envision it to be...."little by little."
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 good day"

I met my in-laws at the St. Joseph beach yesterday. We had a wonderful day. I
LOVE the beach! However, in the same breath, I HATE the beach! It's no wonder I
am always tired after a day at the beach. For some reason, the beach (or any
place where women are walking around in bikinis in front of my husband and
sons) brings up sooo many emotions for me. As I brought my weary and emotion
laden soul before God this morning and poured out my heart to Him through
journaling, I realized I had experienced a plethora of  different emotions. I
was in awe, filled with wonder, thankful, angry, sad, mad, jealous, frustrated,
confused, curious, longing, hopeful, and the list goes on.  It felt good to pour
out my heart to the Lord, to "cast my cares upon him because He cares for me,"
to "cry on His shoulder," to wait tand listen for His refreshing, gentle,
life-giving, peace-restoring, truthful voice. What I heard was,

" He will wipe away EVERY tear from their eyes. There will be NO MORE death or
mourning or CRYING or PAIN, for the old order of things has passed away." 
Revelations 21:4

"No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in
the city, and his servants will serve him. THEY WILL SEE HIS FACE." Revelation
22:3

If what we experience in life causes us to hunger for more of Him, more of
heaven, more of his ways,  and leaves us weary with this world and longing for
Paradise then I suppose it can be called a "good day."

May you have "a good day" today. May your experiences increase your hunger for
Him and for Heaven. May you continue to bring your own emotionally laden souls
to HIm. He cares for us. Blessings from Bombadil....my home away from my True
home.  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

"Every Effort"....Mom Monday

 As a mom, may this be a truth you tuck away in your heart and hold before you
as somewhat of a mission in passing on God's truth to your children:

"And I will make EVERY EFFORT to see that after my departure you will always be
able to remember these things." 2 Peter 1:15

Peter was speaking to the early Christians. He was teaching them to hold on to
Jesus and his promises.

I wonder what we can do as moms to pass on the things we desire our children to
remember after our departure?  Scrapbooking, recording God sightings, Making a
book or a song????? May we make every effort to help our children REMEMBER what
God has done throughout history and in your own family story.  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