"Engrossed"

"Time is short.............From now on ........those who use the things of this world, as if not ENGROSSED in them. For this world in its present form is passing away." 1 Corinthians 7:29 & 31   Engrossed- occupy the complete attention of ; absorb wholly   May we ENJOY  the "things of this world." May we USE the things of this world. But may we hold them loosely not giving them our entire and complete attention ,but simply using them to be a blessing and bring glory to God. May we guard our hearts from becoming too engrossed that we fail to be used in advancing the kingdom of God. Blessing 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

Teach me! Correct me! Rebuke me! Train me! I want to be beautiful!

"ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED and is USEFUL for                 1. TEACHING                  2. REBUKING,                  3. CORRECTING, and                  4. TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, so that the woman of God may be thoroughly equipped for EVERY GOOD WORK.'   2 Timothy 3:16   "For the word of God is LIVING and ACTIVE. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the THOUGHTS and ATTITUDES of the heart. Nothing in ALL OF CREATION is HIDDEN from GOD'S SIGHT. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom WE MUST GIVE ACCOUNT." Hebrews 4:12-13   There are sooo many things that I do not know or understand, but ONE THING I DO KNOW: I NEED GOD'S WORD!!!!! I desperately need it this morning to teach me, rebuke me, correct me, train me in what is right. I NEED IT to judge my thoughts and attitudes and to reveal to me where I've gone wrong in some things. Oh how I LOVE this Book and the MOST AWESOME GOD it reveals to me. This God that loves me, is commmitted to my growth and becoming beautiful; this God that sees me, knows what I need, "in whom are hidden all the keys of wisdom and knowledge,"  and who has plans to prosper me. How does one live, I mean REALLY LIVE with peace, joy, and love in the INNER BEING without a daily/hourly dose of these words????? I do not know. I only know that I NEED THEM!!!! Blessings from Bombadil. ....home of a woman who AGREES HEARTILY with this passage of Scripture:   "The law of the LORD is perfect, REVIVING THE SOUL.. The statutes of the LORD are TRUSTWORTHY, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are RIGHT, givng JOY TO THE HEART. The commands of the LORD are RADIANT, giving LIGHT to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is PURE, enduring forever The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether RIGHTEOUS. They are more PRECIOUS THAN GOLD, than much pure gold; they are SWEETER THAN HONEY, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant WARNED; in keeping them there is GREAT REWARD." Psalm 19:7-11   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

An answered prayer.

The Prayer, the journal, the "above all else guarding your heart," the wrestling, the surrender, the dependence of a mom's heart on the day of her daughter's 4th outdoor birthday party in which everything was planned for outside, but the weather was forcasting rain and thunderstorms.   "It is the morning of Elyse's 4th birthday party. I KNOW you are very aware of this. You know all of the children that have been invited. Being that it is a "Tangled" party with Rapunzel and all of her hair, "You know the number of hairs on their head  and my head."  You are the GREATEST party planner. You are the God of details, the sun, of children, of hair.   I'm anxious about the weather. I don't know what I will do if it rains today. My brain hurts from planning the outdoor part of the party. I don't know if I can think now of replanning the party for indoors.   "The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in EVERYTHING, by prayer and petition (A solemn supplication or request to a SUPERIOR AUTHORITY; requesting a benefit from a person in authority) with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God." Phillipians 3:5 & 6   This is THE WORD OF GOD. This is TRUE for MY SITUATION TODAY.   "Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7   You have seen all the work and thought I have put into this party. You have seen how hard I am trying to be organized and orderly. I don't think I can switch things up if it rains and have it in my home. I have invited too many children. Do you think I can?? Would YOU still have the party and just have it in my home or should I cancel if it rains??   I want to bless people's souls. I'm afraid if it was in my home it would be too chaotic. It already is sometime just with 5 children. I can't imagine adding another 16.   You, Father in Heaven, know what I need before I even ask. (Matthew 6)   You are the One who controls the wind and weather. No thing is too hard for you.   "This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us- whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of him. " 1 John 5:13   I am asking for a GLORIOUS evening, Full of sunshine and sunbeams, warm gentle breezes. We are "fellow-workers" and I NEED YOU to come through for me. Even if it does rain, perhaps, "blesssings come in raindrops," and I will still choose to believe that you are good and you know what is best. "     IT WAS A GLORIOUS EVENING.   "THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, GOD!!!!!!!!!   "I sought the Lord, and he answered me." Psalm 34:4   May we seek him every day, hour, minute of our lives, pouring out our hearts to him about EVERYTHING, the ONLY ONE who can do anything about our situations. As we seek him and experience answers to our prayers (although perhaps not all of them because He is God and knows what is best), may our joy be great and our reverence and awe of the Ruler of all Creation grow deeper and deeper. Amen! 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

Not being ABLE to see

Without my contacts in or my glasses on, I CANNOT SEE WELL. I would be considered "legally blind" without the aid of either of those WONDERFUL INVENTIONS.  This morning, I decided to go for a little while without any help from my contacts or glasses. Everything was cloudy, unclear, and not in focus. I simply COULD NOT SEE WELL.  Hear what God says:   " Now there was man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you  the TRUTH, no one can SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD UNLESS HE IS BORN AGAIN. ' How can a man be born when he is old?""  Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the TRUTH, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should no be surprised at my saying, "You must be born again." The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:1-8   Just as I am unable to see well without my contacts or glasses, Jesus says that unless we are "born again," unless we bend our knee to Jesus and ask His Spirit to come dwell within us, we are UNABLE to see the "kingdom of God."   Have you put your "glasses on/ contacts in" so that you can see? Have you been "born again" by the Spirit of God???"   "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit , IF THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIVES IN YOU. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is IN YOU, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness, And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living IN YOU, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who LIVES IN YOU." Romans 8:9-11   People who don't have the Spirit of God living in them, people who have not been "born again," are unable to see the Kingdom of God. May we be used by God to help others "SEE" so that they don't miss out on all that God is and all He is doing around us. 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

Mom Monday......The Three Musketeers

I don't know about you, but one of my GREATEST DESIRES as a mom is for my children to love each other well (hmmmmm.....sounds like Someone else I know). There are not many other things that can bring my soul as much joy as when I see my children playing together well, being kind to each other, laughing, and caring for each other.  The opposite of that is also true that one of the things that grieves me and saddens me most is when my children have a day full of fighting, quarreling, etc....... Soooo, as a mom I am trying to do everything I can to help my children love each other. This is HARD WORK.  However, God's word says,   "All hard work brings a profit."        While I was out and about at Big Lots a few months ago I found these boxes that look like books. They were titled, "The Three Musketeers." Since I have 3 boys, I'm always a sucker for "Three Musketeer" anything. I bought the 3 boxes thinking of them as some sort of investment in my boy's lives,  encouraging them to follow the motto:   "All for ONE, and ONE for all!!!!"   or in God's words,   " How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in UNITY."   Not sure when exactly I would give them these boxes, I kept asking God to show me the right time.   After all, his word says,   " He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart: HE GENTLY LEADS THOSE THAT HAVE YOUNG." Isaiah 40:11   Believing it is HIM who is LEADING ME, I was given this idea to give the boxes  to them on Mother's day, letting them know the greatest gift they can give me as a mom  is for them to be the "Three Musketeers."   After giving them the boxes, a new idea popped into my head (" HE GENTLY LEADS THOSE THAT HAVE YOUNG."). We needed something to put into these boxes and so last Thursday we had our first "Three Musketeer Thursday."  I printed off a picture of the three musketeers on-line, and wrote on it their very first assignment and then put it in each of their boxes:   "Walk to Treat St. (and ice cream shop down the road) together with Barkly (our newfoundland dog) and tell the cashiers that you are "Jake, Max, and Zeke Link."  They will tell you what to do next. Be home at 5;30"   I had gone to Treat St. before them and purchased a small ice cream cone for each of them. I told the cashiers  they could get them ONLY AFTER they told the cashiers something they LOVED about each of their brothers. They also had free doggy cones so they were each to be given a cone to give to Barkly.   That began our first, once a month, 'Three Musketeer Thursday," just one more effort made to seek to bring unity to the LInk brotherhood.  They still fought that night. Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! May we keep making efforts, keep encouraging, disciplining, praying, persevering and  waiting until some day all our hard work as moms brings a profit of "good and pleasant unity." 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 the rising to the setting of the sun....

Psalm 113   "PRAISE the Lord.   Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the LORD. Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore.   FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN TO THE PLACE WHERE IT SETS, THE NAME OF THE LORD IS TO BE PRAISED.   The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, the ONE who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?   He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with the princes, with the princes of their people.   He settles the barren woman in her home as the happy mother of children..   Praise the Lord."       See if you can TRY to PRAISE HIS NAME from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun...( ALL DAY LONG). No matter what happens today...PRAISE HIS NAME......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

He AILS our TAILS!!!

This past Friday night we had a Marriage Mini-conference at our church. One of the things my husband and I spoke about was the work and ways of the evil one who is bent on destroying marriages.  Here is a little something to tuck away in your heart and mind as you grow in years and love with your hubby (or as you simply go through life....this can apply to just plain ol' life as well as marriages)     AIL- to cause pain, make ill or uneasy; trouble   TAIL- The bottom, rear, or hindmost part of anything   SATAN AILS OUR TAILS!!   In other words.......He is a PAIN IN THE BUTT, BACKSIDE, GLUTEOUS MAXIMUS, REAR, BOTTOM, _________________(insert your own word)         T ...empts.......Matthew 4: 1...."Tempted by the devil."  and 1 Corinthians 7:5 A...ccuses......Zechariah 3:1..."Satan at his right side to accuse him." I....incites ......Job 2:3...."Though you (Satan) incite me against him to ruin him." L...ies ...........John 8:44..."When he lies he speaks his native language, for he is a liar." S...teals.........John 10:10..."The thief comes to steal........"   May we get good at recognizing HIS tactics so we may be able to say like Paul,   "For we are not unaware of his schemes." 2 Corinthians 2:11   Marriage is God's idea and it is BEAUTIFUL! It's no wonder the evil one wants to destroy us. When we give in to his ways we end up walking with our TAILS between our legs because his ways always bring shame and death. However, if we hold fast to God's words, believing that we are in a battle and his word is our sword , we can fight this evil enemy and have beautiful marriages that remain faithful to the end and are rich in love and mercy.   Next time you think it's your husband who is the pain in your butt PERHAPS it is actually the evil one stirring up some temptations, accusations, incitements, lies, and stealing your joy, peace, thankfulness for your man.   Be on the look out. He is like a "roaring lion looking for someone to devour." What a pain in my bootie he is. I HATE him.  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

Mom Monday........."I am a jealous God."

I hope you all had a beautiful Mother's day either honoring or being honored.   I had a fun and interesting conversation with my 5 year old daughter on Mother's Day eve.  I was tucking her in bed, and she was exceptionally affectionate. As I was receiving many kisses from this precious little girl she said to me,   "Why do I have to love God more than you??? I want to love you more. I don't love him more than I love you. Why does he say I have to? He sounds jealous...'Love me, love me.' I don't want to. I want to love you more, mom."   Talk about honesty and struggle with God!!! It was soooo pure and simply the truth about what was going on in her heart.   We had had a conversation before about priorities and how God should always come first in our hearts and that He is the one we should love most.   "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life- he cannot be my disciple."  Luke 14:25   As wonderful as it is to receive this kind of love from our children, it is our job to help them fall more and more in love with Jesus. Our children were not made for us. They were made for Him;   " All things were created by him and FOR HIM.' Colossians 1:16   They were made to worship the Creator, not the created thing ( a mom.....that was ALL HIS IDEA.....He is the Creator of motherhood, us moms.........we are the 'created thing').....   "....they worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator." Romans 1:25   Most certainly, God desires moms to be honored and it is a beautiful thing to him to see children loving their parents, honoring and obeying them. However, God has made moms in His image to reveal some of HIS  characteristics . A mom comforts her child to show him/her that God is a comforter.   "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you."Isaiah 66:13   When I asked a friend what she really appreciated about her mom she said, "Her unfailing love."  Why can a mom love like that?  God has made many moms to reveal His Unfailing love:   " The earth is full of HIS UNFAILING LOVE." Psalm 33:5   "May your unfailing love be my comfort." Psalm 119:76   "What a man desires is unfailing love." Proverbs 19:22   As awesome as a mom can be, us moms are imperfect and we can fail our children. We are not God. We need to continually point them to the One who will not fail them.   " Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has born? Though she may forget, I WILL NOT FORGET YOU. I HAVE ENGRAVED YOU ON THE PALMS OF MY HANDS." Isaiah 49:15 & 16   As far as God being "Jealous," Reese was absolutely correct in her observation.   " You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God , am a JEALOUS GOD." Exodus 20:5   "Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is JEALOUS, is a Jealous God." Exodus 34:14   May we do our best to reveal the characteristics of God to our children, but may we always point them to the "Creator."  May we encourage honest questions and  struggles from our children, allowing them the freedom to work their faith out. May we LEARN FROM OUR CHILDREN and be honest with God about our own hearts, questions, and struggles. May we remember that God is a jealous God and He alone should be number one in our lives.........even before our own moms, dads,  husband, children........only then does life work as healthy as it should. 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

Celebrate!!!!

I wish you all could have sat around my dinner table with my family the other night. We had soooo much fun celebrating one of our own.   After much struggle  and many failures of seeking to get this one particular child to go to his room when in need of discipline, without complaining, without talking back or throwing a fit, but with a very respectful and obedient, "Yes mom/ yes dad,"... we FINALLY had a SUCCESS!!!!!  It happened on Sunday night.  This one of the "Fab. 5," was not being a good listener when listening was required and so Rob told him to go to his room. Wondering how he would do THIS TIME, holding my breath and cheering for him in my heart to respond rightly, HE DID IT!!! He simply said, "Yes, dad," and he got up and he went into his room with NO  FIGHTING BACK OR COMPLAINING.  Yeah!!!!!            So, on Monday morning, as I was having my time with God, sitting quiet and listening, I had a strong sense that we REALLY needed to CELEBRATE this spiritual growth for our son.  I decided that on Tuesday night, he was going to eat off of the "You are Special" plate. I told him that we were sooo proud of him for choosing to respond the way he did and that we were going to celebrate and honor him for the choice he made. I asked him what meal he would like for that evening and proceeded to make it with great joy, I put his picture on my "Count your blessings" board along with what he did that was such a blessing, and set the Red plate right near dad's spot. When it was dinner time and every one was in their place, I proceeded to tell them that we were celebrating tonight. I asked everyone to clap and cheer for our growing son to which everyone complied and the cheering that went on  was like what you would hear at a winning sports game.  There was whistling, clapping, cheering using this one particular child's name.  I wish you could have seen my son's face. He LAUGHED, SMILED FROM EAR TO EAR, and had to put his face in his hands because he couldn't stop. He was beaming the rest of the night.   I wish you all could have been at my dinner table with my family the other night.   May I remind us to   "Rejoice with those who rejoice." Romans 12   "Let us NOT become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  Galatians 6:9   May we not give up seeking to bring ourselves first and then those God has placed us as an authority over to righteousness. May we NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD and may we reap a HUGE harvest.  When there is growth in our own lives first and then those God has given us..may we CELEBRATE HUGELY.  Growing in doing what is right is worthy of a HUGE PARTY. So, if you are like my child and have struggled and failed, and struggled and failed, and struggled and failed, and struggled and failed, but haven't given up and  have FINALLY done the right thing ....CELEBRATE!!!! Go buy yourselves a Starbucks or some fresh flowers. God LOVES right doing. He loves when his women refuse to disrespect their husbands. He loves it when his children learn to have thankful hearts instead of whining/complaining/negative hearts. If you have been able to give thanks and focus on the positive today when you used to go down the negative road.....CELEBRATE!! May we get better and better in the Family of God at throwing amazing parties and celebrations in honor of spiritual growth and doing what is right in this world where doing the wrong is a constant temptation.  Blessings from Bombadil............home of one fun dinner party in honor of a boy who FINALLY obeyed his daddy in a very respectful way.  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

Imitate

IMITATE= To model oneself after the behavior or actions of. 2. To copy the appearance, mannerisms, or speech of. 3. resemble 4. To follow something or Someone taken as as a model.......duplicate an original as precisely as possible   "Be IMITATORS of God, therefore, as DEARLY LOVED CHILDREN, and LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."  Ephesians 5:1 & 2   May it be!!!!!!!! Life is ALL ABOUT L-O-V-E!!!  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

Mom Monday

Motherhood affects every single person who has ever walked the earth.   Thoughts and reflections on Motherhood, can bring much joy AND/OR pain.   Listen to just some of the different "mom" situations:   *A new mom for the first time with her husband by her side soooo incredibly excited. *A new mom for the first time with no husband by her side (in military, recently passed away, out of wedlock) *A single mom in the thick of raising children all alone *a woman longing to be a mom but can't get pregnant *a mom who secretly had an abortion ( & still carries the secret around in her heart) *a mom who has just adopted a child *a mom who gave her baby up for adoption but has never met her baby/child *a mom who has rebellious and distant children *a mom who has many children but for some reason has lost custody of them *working moms *stay-at-home moms *home-school moms *moms wondering if they should become a mom again??? *moms who are raising chronically sick children *moms who are raising mentally and/or physically impaired children *moms who have lost children to illness, miscarriage,still-birth, accident, murder,suicide *Step-moms *women who have never been a mom stepping into a marriage involving children who lost their mom *teen moms *older moms *mentally-impaired moms seeking to raise/keep a child *Moms who have a terrorist son who has killed 3,000 people and who the world rejoices when they die(Bin Laden was killed today)... *moms who have children from rape *Children who grew up with a mom who loved and trained them well and was loved by dad *children with moms who were treated awful by dad/men *children who grew up with a distant, mean, alcoholic, drug-using, depresssed mom  *children who never knew their mom for whatever the reason. *children who lost their mom at a young age or just recently due to illness, accident, suicide, murder *children who grew up knowing mom really wanted them *children who grew up knowing mom really DIDN'T want them *children growing up  right  now with a mom who has left dad/ and them  *children growing up right now with a dad who left their mom   *Husbands who just lost the mother of their children *Men who haven't treated their moms or mother of their children well ...haven't "Honored" them.   *Grandmas who are put in the situation of having to be "mom" again *Grandmas who are rejoicing seeing their daughters as moms *Grandmas who are aching at seeing their daughters as moms   I think I could probably go on and on and still wouldn't touch on all the different stories and ways Motherhood has affected each soul.I think I personally know someone in every situation mentioned above (okay, maybe not a few...I don't know Bin Laden's mom..but man, can you imagine???). .  Whatever our story has been......God knows it. He cares about it, sympathizes with it, rejoices with it, mourns with it, wants to bring good out of it, is with us in it and He says this in Isaiah 49:15 & 16:   " Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion  on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I WILL NOT FORGET YOU! SEE, I HAVE ENGRAVED YOU ON THE PALMS OF MY HANDS ( JESUS)."   On this week before Mother's Day........may we be mindful of Motherhood and the way it may have affected every soul you come in contact with. May we bring the truth of Scripture with us into this week passing on this wonderful message, that although we may have had messed up/painful/etc.........situations involving motherhood, GOD WILL NOT FORGET US. He is WITH us through it all.   Motherhood is God's idea. May you PRAISE HIM for the GENIUS and BEAUTY and MOST PRECIOUS AND AMAZING OPPORTUNITY of being and having a mom. Blessings from Bombadil...........home of a woman who has always LONGED to be a mom, has had the most amazing mom, has been given the greatest opportunity of being a mom to 5 children, and who struggles daily being a mom and NEEDS to KNOW God is with her in it all. 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