The Royal Wedding

Have you been watching the "ROYAL WEDDING?" If this Royal wedding is so beautiful, what in the world is the "ROYAL, OF ALL ROYAL WEDDINGS" going to be like???     "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the WEDDING OF THE LAMB has come, and HIS BRIDE has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints)."........Then the angel said to me, "Write: Blesse are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! And he added, "These are the TRUE WORDS OF GOD."  Revelation 19:7 -9     Are we, his bride, making ourselves ready to meet him????  Let these words, these TRUE WORDS linger in your heart today and DREAM of what theat might even be like. 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

" ..........we cannot help speaking..."

"Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey YOU rather than GOD. For we CANNOT HELP speaking about what we have SEEN and HEARD." Acts 4:19       "Oh Father............help us to care MORE about you, and obeying YOU, than caring about what other people think and ask us to do.  May we, like Peter and John not even be able to keep silent.  Compel us to speak of YOU. May we continue to SEE and HEAR great things from your Ancient Book and in our lives TODAY.  Give us a spirit of boldness. Use us to make your name known."   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

From normal to not normal in a blink of an eye

Did you guys have the hail at your homes last night?   After hearing the sirens, were you huddled down in your basement around your t.v wondering if there might really be a tornado? Were any of your children saying things like, "I don't want to die yet. I want to be a mommy."  One moment we were all playing and having fun and the next moment we were all wondering how the rest of the evening might look.  At those times when life goes from completely normal to wondering if we might be alive tomorrow (I didnt' really think that, but some of my children sure did) in a matter of seconds/minutes, I am reminded of these  truths from Scripture: "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, (NORMAL)  up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." Matthew 24:36-39   or in Luke 17:26-30   "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marraige up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinkiing, buying and selling, planting and building (NORMAL). But the day Lot left Sodom , fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed."    Ahhhhhhhhh......what peace is afforded the soul being right with God having believed in and received Jesus, being ready to meet him at any moment, walking with him, working for him, and "waiting for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead- Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath." 1 Thessalonians 1:10     May these Tornado watches be helpful reminders that this is not our true home and he could come at ANY moment, in the blink of an eye, life could go from completely normal to not normal AT ALL.  Would you be ready to meet him? Are you at peace with God through your faith in Jesus Christ?   Blessings from Bombadil.......home of a woman with a precious 5 year old daughter who still may have the opportunity to be a mommy someday . 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

Radiant

I received a really nice compliment the other day. A friend I have told me that I looked RADIANT.  He seemed to think it was because of the tan I had gotten in Florida. He thought it was because I had spent time with  the S-U-N. He was right, ......in a way.  You and I know differently, don't we?  We would spell it S-0-N.     " Those who look to HIM are RADIANT." Psalm 34:5       May we ALL LOOK TO HIM, the ONLY ONE who can make us look RADIANT. May we light up Kalamazoo and beyond. Blessings from Bombadil. "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....2011 Earth Day Movie

In honor of Earth day, our family saw the 2011 Earth day movie. It was a movie about African cats ( mostly lions & cheetas). The movie really honors motherhood (in the animal world of course) and speaks of the "Power of a mom."  At the end of the movie, the mom  was honored for doing her job of teaching her babies what was safe and what was dangerous, how to live on their own without her, and how to hunt. May we be honored for the same someday.   May we first know ourselves what is safe and what is dangerous.   SAFE- not able to cause danger, harm, or evil. Secure, free from danger or hurt; affording protection     DANGER-  exposure  or vulnerability to harm or evil; power to harm (wrong/evil) or damage   "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture." Psalm 37:3   "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are SAFE." Prov. 18:10   "My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will  go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down your sleep will be sweet." Prov. 3:21-24   "He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." Prov. 14: 26 & 27   SAFE:                                                                       DANGER:   1. wisdom                                                                 1.  Foolishness 2. accepting God's words                                           2. Rejecting/ignoring God's words 3. loving God's/parents discipline                                 3. Hating correction 4. faithfulness                                                            4. unfaithfulness 5. love of God                                                             5. love of money 6. humility                                                                 6. pride 7. moderation/balance                                                7.. extremes 8. kindness  (Prov.11:17)                                            8. Cruelty 9. Guarding lips (Prov. 13:3)                                         9. speaking rashly 10. Confessing sin (Prov. 28:13)                                   10. Concealing/hiding sin 11. obeying instruction (Prov. 19:16)                             11. Disobedience   This list goes on and on. May we fill our own hearts with the Proverbs first and then may we be faithful in teaching them to our children.                     Like Mama Cheetah, May we keep in mind that it is our end goal to teach our children how to live on their own without us. We are preparing them each day to leave our nest with the necessary skills and truths of God in their heart so they can live blessed, productive, and  healthy lives. We are preparing our sons NOW how to be godly men, and  good husbands and daddys to their own families someday.  We are preparing our daughters NOW how to be beautiful women of God by walking with Him and putting our hope in HIM and his word.   "So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. .......I will make EVERY EFFORT TO SEE THAT AFTER MY DEPARTURE you will always be able to remember these things." 2 Peter 1:12-15                  Lastly, may we teach our children HOW to HUNT.   HUNT: 1. to pursue (game or wild animals..........or the word of God) for FOOD. 2. to seek out and search for; conduct a diligent search for     "If a man doesn't work, a man doesn't eat."  2 Thessalonians 3:10   May we teach our kids how to be good, hard workers that they might provide physical food for themselves and families.   AND   "Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Deuteronomy 8: 4   May we teach them how to "Hunt" for God's word, how to search Scripture and to "seek God with all their heart."    At the end our days, may we have done our job of raising, "magnificent cubs,"   who know what is safe and dangerous, can live well on their own without their mother, and who know how to hunt. May the love God and people with all of their hearts.  Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy Link..............home of a mom in the thick of seeking to raise 5 "Magnificent cubs."   "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 Friday

Happy Good Friday.  Hmmmm.........that doesn't quite sound right. Happy??  What are we suppose to say to people on Good  Friday?? We say "Merry Christmas," and "Happy Easter."  However, those are merry and happy occassions, so those words are appropriate. Well, whatever is the right word to use, ".....................................Good Friday."              Listen to a conversation that happened thousands of years ago on this morning (the day set aside to remember all these events):   "Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"   "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it yoiu have done?"   Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."   "You are a king, then!" said Pilate.   Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. EVERYONE ON THE SIDE OF TRUTH LISTENS TO ME."  John 18:33-37   Jesus said this right before he was sentence to be crucified. This is the day we remember, reflect, and ponder Jesus being flogged, mocked, and crucified. May we be mindful (Full of thinking about) of the events of this day we remember. Spend some alone time today reading Matthew Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 22 & 23, or/and John 18 & 19.   May the importance and signifance of this day sink DEEP into our souls.   Are you on the side of truth????   "........................Good Friday." Blessings from Bombadil.................home of a family remembering this day, seeking to listen to Jesus and being on the side of truth. 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

He speaks in our defense

On Sunday night, as the Link family gathered in our living room for some time together, these were the seeds that were thrown out that will hopefully sink deep into some good soil and bring forth much beauty:          " My dear children, I write this to you so that you WILL NOT SIN. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father IN OUR DEFENSE- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD. We know that we have come to know him IF WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS.The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we KNOW we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him MUST WALK AS JESUS DID." 1 John 2:1-6   May we obey our Father. May we understand the damage that sin does to God's beautiful world/creation. May we know how Jesus walked and may we walk as he did. And when we mess up and do sin may we take GREAT COMFORT that there is ONE who is RIGHTEOUS and he stands up for us, having taken the punishment on himself that we deserve.    Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy Link.........a woman who is soooo thankful to the One who speaks to the Father in her defense when she is a bonehead. "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 am a builder"

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down."  Proverbs 14:1   We have a job to do as moms. We are builders. Hopefully we are building our house wisely. How do we do that? How do we build wisely?   " Therefore everyone who HEARS THESE WORDS OF MINE and PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall BECAUSE it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.' When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had AUTHORITY, and not as their teachers of the law." Matthew 7:24- 29     Are we hearing God's words? Are we spending time hearing the words of JESUS? Are we putting them into practice? Are we not just hearers but doers of the word??   May we spend some time today asking God to show us and whisper to us any words of his that we are not putting into practice.   His word is clear that 'with her OWN HANDS the foolish one tears her house down."   We have a great responsibility as moms. If we don't hear God's words, if we don't put them into practice, we are the ones who are foolish and our foolishness will tear our house down. What a sobering thought.   "Man's own folly ruins his life yet his heart rages against the Lord." Proverbs 19:3   We NEED GOD and we NEED HIS COUNSEL.  We NEED his Holy Spirit helping us. ( I just prayed from my deepest being yesterday, "Jesus! I cannot do this alone! I need you to help draw my children to you and give them the desire and love to obey you"). He WANTS to give of himself, his words, and his spirit. He gives to those who ask. He longs for us to build wisely. He is for us and not against us. He is leading us and guiding us to make wise choices in how we build but he will NOT FORCE US.   Next time someone asks us what we do, may we say, "I am a builder." May we build well. May our foundation be the rock, Jesus Christ. When (not if) the rains come, the wind blows and beats against our house.........may it not "fall with a great crash" but may it stand strong because we have heard his words and put them into practice. 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

Better or Bitter???

Any coffee lovers out there???  Oh, I know there are.  Have you seen the latest billboard advertisement by Big B's coffee? I think it says something like this:                       "Always Better.......Never BItter."   May that be said of us. May we be on our guard against ANY kind of bitterness.   BITTER- having or being a taste that is sharp or unpleasant..harsh.....exhibiting or proceeding from strong animosity; marked by anguished resentfulness    Instead, may we respond to life's hurts and disappointments in the way our heavenly Father teaches us:   " If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even "sinners' lend to 'sinners' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you WILL BE SONS/DAUGHTERS OF THE MOST HIGH, because HE IS KIND TO THE UNGRATEFUL AND WICKED. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:32-36   We have a choice to make with everything that happens to us. We can either become bitter by going over and over the hurt done to us and not being forgiving or merciful or we can become better......."daughters of the Most High" by  being like our Father and being merciful.  One of those choices is by far the BETTER and more pleasant choice. What will you choose this day?   Blessings from Bombadil. ....home of a coffee lover (well............a little coffee with "A BIT" of creamer) 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

Enjoy!

I LOVE surprises. I love those unexpected moments where your heart is stirred and a breath of life fills up your lungs. I had one of those moments yesterday standing by the soda (or "pop" if you prefer) machine at McDonalds yesterday.While filling up our cups,  I was chatting with a friend who loves to make bows for little girls hair and had just brought all her creations to our ballet class for the little ballerinas to look at.  My friend, Missy- the bow-creator, said, "It is sooo fun to watch people enjoy what you have made."  That was it!! That was the surprise that stirred my heart. All at once I was brought out of my own little small world and I heard HIS WHISPER. I responded to my friend saying, " Ahhhh.....don't you think that is in us because we are made in the image of God??? Isn't that how he feels when we ENJOY what he has made?"   May we ENJOY HIM and his countless, beautiful creations today. It must be sooo fun for Him when his people take great delight in noticing the details, wonder and beauty of what He has created and give HIM the credit for it. I can't imagine how my friend, Missy, would feel if all the people looking at the bows SHE created, gave the credit to ME for the bows. I didn't make those bows! Missy did.  Or if the people holding the bows in their hands never said a thing to Missy about her creation and simply just thought/believed the bows simply appeared with no creator behind them.  Enjoy God's creation today. Bless his heart by lingering over what he has made, taking great delight in his amazing intelligence and creativity. Don't praise the creation itself. Praise the Creator, the Most Awesome one behind EVERYTHING. Tell the One behind the spider that spins a web, "That's amazing!" Shout to the one whose idea it was to create life within a woman and then provide this little life a mom and a dad to take care of it, "You are a genius. That is a BRILLIANT idea." E-N-J-O-Y Him today. ...............................and to think that someday we will get to meet him face-to-face. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...........I can't wait!   ".........God, who richly provides us with everything FOR OUR ENJOYMENT."  1 Timothy 6 :17   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