Pruned!!

I commented to my neighbor,yesterday, on the beauty of one of her bushes. She said to me,    "Yeah, my husband pruned it this year. He cut it way back/down. It scared me because I thought it wouldn't grow back but it actually grew back bigger and better."   Ohhhhh, the wisdom and goodness of God.   " 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."  John 15: 1 & 2     Pruning might hurt a little, but oh how much more beauty..................................   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

"YOU ARE MAKING ME FEEL GRUMPY!"

How do you react when you hear the name- GOD???  How do His truths affect your heart and change your attitude/perspectives???  Allow me the great honor of sharing this delightful story with you that just happened this past Saturday.         I was at a  Monster/Hula birthday party for a precious 4 year old little girl who had invited many other little 4 year old girls. Some of us moms and dads were sitting around chatting while many of these cuties were enjoying the swingset and all that it offered.  In the midst of us parents chatting, the words, (screams???)   "You are making me feel grumpy!" exploded into the air.   Those words continued to bellow out of this little soul becoming louder and louder each time. Things that come out of children are always more funny when it is not your own child so I sat back and was actually finding this little girl and her expression of her words quite humorous.  Noticing that this particular little girl's mom was not there at this time, I realized that she might actually need a little help and have someone step in on her behalf. So, I decided to engage and help "shepherd her heart."  I walked over to the swingset, bent down, put my arm around her and said, "I hear that something is making you feel grumpy. Is this true?"   "Yes!!!" she said.   I asked all the other girls around to please stop swinging and to listen to her heart because God cares about her.   When I asked "what or who is making you feel grumpy?," pointing at the person who was disturbing her insides, she said, "She is trying to go higher than me!!"   "Ohhhh, I see," I said. "Do you think she is better than you because she is going higher than you?   "Yes," she replied.   I proceeded to tell her, "You don't have to compete with her. You were made for God."   At the mention of that name, she stopped looking around, stared deeply, straight into my eyes, and with a  curious, respectful, questioning tone said, "GOD?"   Looking right back at her, I said, "Yes,..... GOD. You were made for God. You don't have to compare yourself with others. God just wants you to do the best YOU can do. So don't watch her, just do the best swinging that YOU can do."    I wish you could have seen how the mention of his name and the truth that I shared with her CHANGED HER.  Her eyes became FULL OF PEACE. She continued swinging the entire rest of the party, yelling, "I'M DOING MY BEST." I think (I guess I'm not totally positive, but I think..) she might have even yelled, 'I'M SWINGING MY BEST FOR GOD."   I will never forget observing this little child go from "YOU ARE MAKING ME FEEL GRUMPY" to the most peaceful and joyful, "I'M DOING MY BEST."   May HIS WORDS and the mention of his name change US and our attitudes from grumpy to peaceful today and everyday. 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

Happy Mom Monday....

I've been struggling connecting with one of my children,lately.            The other day I played a game of "basketball" with him....the thing he loves to do most.           That same night, I received the BIGGEST hug from him.          I think we "connected" again.     Happy Mom Monday. As hard as it is ( and I find it very hard sometimes), Stop what you are doing and PLAY or DO what your children lOVE to do. Remember to enter their world. You just might capture their heart again. .....After all, isn't that one of the many reasons we love Jesus...........He entered our world. Go enter your kids worlds today. You just might receive a HUGE hug at the end of your day.  And don't forget to hug/thank/blow a kiss to the One who loved you enough to enter your world. 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

You are in control

I was in Ludington this past weekend for a Gus Macker tournament with some very special friends. I could write on several things that blessed me while I was there, but above them all was being a part of the early morning worship/devo time led by the father of this precious family, The Bandstras. As I often do, I could not keep from crying. My children seem to love to point this out and with my face turned to the other room I could hear my kids whisper, (and NOT whisper).."Mom's crying again."..........."Why are you crying, mom?"  My oldest son nailed it right on the head when I heard him say, perhaps sarcastically (but I don't really think so) , "She's crying because she thinks its beautiful." Jake, my oldest son, knows me. He should I suppose having lived with me for 13 years.  It was beautiful. It was BEAUTIFUL. It is EXACTLY how it is suppose to be, the way God designed the family to function.......the Father/ the Big Daddy of the clan, passing on the most wonderful truths of God to his children, and not only his children, but to my children as well.  He led his 5 children and beautiful wife, and my five children and myself in this song:   YOU ARE IN CONTROL:    You are my shepherd I have no needs You lead me by peaceful streams and you refresh my life   You hold my hand and you guide my steps I could walk through the valley of death and I won't be afraid   Because You are in control You are in control (3x)   You cause everything to work together you truly have a Sovereign plan and You know who I am And you made me who I am And you love who I am   Because You are in control You are in control (3x)     May these words of God "Dwell in you richly" today.  May you/we BELIEVE them.  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

Seen, known, and loved!

Elyse, my little 4 year old daughter, LOVES to sing. Yesterday, and even a few days before that a song came out of her heart, seemingly out of nowhere:    "I see you. I know you. I love you................................I see you. I know you. I love you!" ...........over and over again.   When I asked her, "Who sees us and knows us and loves us, Elyse?" almost offended at my question as if to imply, "Duh, mom, don't you know," she replied,     "God"     Sounds Biblical to me!   "You are the God who SEES ME' for she said, "I have now seen the ONE who SEES ME." Genesis 16:13   "Oh Lord, you have searched me, and you KNOW ME." Psalm 139:1   " Dear friends, since God SO LOVED US, we also ought to love one another." 1 John 4:11    Ahhhhhhhhhhh......I can make it through another day KNOWING and BELIEVING the God who made the UNIVERSE sees me, knows me and loves me. After all,   "Perfect love drives out FEAR." 1 John 4:18   So let the song out of the heart of a child, a 4 year old little girl, "given to her for you,"  settle your souls. YOU are SEEN. You are KNOWN. YOU are LOVED.  Actually, I belieive the text says, "SO LOVED." 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 cares for YOU.

As I sat on the floor next to my daughter, yesterday, who sat in the "Check your heart" chair feeling VERY ANGRY... I realized once again what a TREASURE this truth is:     " Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. CAST ALL YOUR ANXIETY( CARES) ON HIM BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU." 1 Peter 5:6-7   What a privilege to have the opportunity to teach my daughter where to go with her anger. To be able to sit with her and counsel her to get out all the thoughts she is having that are causing her anger to a God that cares is a gift. He cares. He REALLY, REALLY CARES.  Then to guide her in listening to HIM and HIS THOUGHTS ON HER SITUATION AND THINKING.   How does one get through life in all its difficulties, all the raging emotions and questions, without the belief and knowledge that the One who created us, the One who understands us and knows us better than we know ourselves, and understands the situations or people that are causing us to be angry in all it's entirety, CARES???? He cares .   May we ALL sit in our own "check your heart" chairs and get out everything going on in our inner world. After we've gotten 'IT" all out, may we take the time to LISTEN to God and HIS COUNSEL. After all, he is:   "wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom." Isaiah 28:29   May we take great delight in knowing that HE CARES. He cares about YOU and HE cares about THEM ( the "them" or whatever it/who it is that is making you angry, etc.....) 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

Two climbing roses planted

I just planted two of the very same kind of climbing roses,one on each side of my garage door.  As I entered my garage yesterday and looked at both of the plants, I found that the one on my right is growing and has green leaves all over it.  I felt soooo happy and excited to see all the beauty that is going to come from it. The one on my left, however, looks dead. There is nothing on it; no signs of life or beauty. I felt soo sad. I wondered if I should dig it up and see if I can get my money back or at least get a new one, one that WILL produce flowers/beauty, what it was MADE to do.  This morning I had the thought,   "Perhaps I will keep them both, the one that is alive and full of beauty AND the one that appears to be dead with no growth at all, as a symbol and a reminder of the following words from the ONE we were made for, the ONE who deeply desires beauty and growth from his "flower bushes,"...........US:       "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. ....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 branch 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 you. This is to MY FATHER'S GLORY, that YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT, showing yourselves to be my disciples. "  John 15:1- 8   " Then Jesus told this parable:  ' 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 three 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 13:6-9  "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." Luke 3:8     May we be like the one rose bush planted on the right side of my garage, growing and bringing forth "fruit" and beauty as we abide in the vine and allow HIS WORDS to dwell in us richly.   It is our Master gardener's deep desire for us to draw close to Him so we may add sooo much beauty to HIS WORLD. Isn't He a GOOD GOD for LOVING BEAUTY!!! What symbols can you put around your home to whisper to and remind your soul of your Master's desires??? 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

Happy Mom Monday!!

"Then they can TRAIN the younger women to LOVE their HUSBANDS and CHILDREN."  Titus 2:4   Remember that we need some TRAINING to LOVE.   Training is coaching. It is coaching in some mode of behavior. It is to help make proficient with specialized INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE.      Here are a few of God's instructions on LOVE:   "Love is PATIENT (long-suffering), love is KIND, ..........it is NOT RUDE, it is NOT EASILY-ANGERED, it keeps NO RECORD OF WRONGS...."   That is the instruction. Now.......PRACTICE patience, kindness, not being rude, not getting mad easily and keeping no record of wrongs.   Remember that following Christ means dying to ourselves and learning to obey his instructions.   "A patient man has GREAT UNDERSTANDING." Prov. 14:29   Understand this moms and wives (and all other women) ....it doesn't feel good to your children's or husband's souls when YOU ARE IMPATIENT, UNKIND, RUDE, EASILY ANGERED & KEEPING A RECORD OF ALL OF THEIR WRONGS .  Those DON'T  bring life to your family. As moms  & follower of Jesus Christ, we are called to bring LIFE!!!   "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, SO THAT the life of Jesus may also be revealed in OUR BODY. 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 4:10-12       Know God's instructions my friends. Practice them over and over until you are incredibly skilled at PATIENCE, KINDNESS, NOT BEING RUDE OR EASILY ANGERED, AND KEEPING NO RECORD OF WRONGS. DIE TO YOURSELF .........SO THAT CHRIST CAN BE REVEALED THROUGH YOU to your husband, to your children, to all the people God brings you.       We are  "Training ourselves to be GODLY." 1 Timothy 4:7    We are a "prudent women who ACT OUT OF KNOWLEDGE" (NOT feeling & emotion and mere instinct). Prov. 13:16     Like any good coach would train and encourage his/her players in the game.......may I encourage you in the "game" of 'moming/wifing/ womaning"  ..........YOU CAN DO THIS!!! YOU HAVE THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD INSIDE OF YOU (IF YOU HAVE ASKED HIM TO DWELL WITHIN YOU). YOU HAVE INSTRUCTIONS. NOW DO THEM! YOU HAVE A SACRED OPPORTUNITY TO REVEAL CHRIST TO THOSE AROUND YOU IF YOU WILL DIE TO YOURSELF!!! COME ON LADIES!!! WE CAN DO THIS. WE CAN BRING SOOOOO MUCH LIFE TO OUR FAMILIES. THIS IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY GAME (basketball, soccer, tennis, etc....) This is LIFE.  Blessings from Bombadil. "Coach" 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

Beauty

Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! What is it in me that LONGS for BEAUTY???  It is one of my deepest desires. Beauty in me, beauty in my children, beauty in my home. I crave it. It heals. It inspires. It comforts.   We had another tornado warning the other night. I had worked in my yard that day planting some climbing roses. All of my hard work to bring beauty to my home could be gone in a second.   Where can I go, then, with this deep, deep, longing and desire for beauty??? I know of only one place- The hope of heaven. Paradise. Jesus.   "Zion, PERFECT IN BEAUTY..."  Psalm 50:2   May we seek to bring beauty everywhere we go here on earth, but may the hope of heaven, paradise, through Jesus Chris  be the "anchor for our soul," tying us down to a deep HOPE when beauty here on earth is destroyed, could be destroyed,  or is not yet attained, To be sure, this hunger for beauty can only be that we are made in his image and part of what we were made for. God IS beauty. 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

Hide and seek

"He himself gives ALL men LIFE and BREATH and EVERYTHING ELSE." Acts 17:25   You and I are alive today because God wants us to be alive today. Your neighbors, family, co-workers, enemies, etc.. have life because God gave them life.   Do you know WHY we have breath and life????   "God did this SO THAT men would SEEK HIM and perhaps REACH OUT FOR HIM AND FIND HIM." Acts 17:27   Are we seeking HIM? Are we REACHING OUT for HIM???? Have we FOUND HIM???   SEEK- to try to locate, discover, search for, move to or go toward,   REACH- to stretch out or put forth, extend, to touch or take hold of by extending some bodily part; to go as far as ; suceeding in communicating with   We have been given life and breath today to seek HIM and to find HIM. It is WHY we are here. I'm sooo thankful I'm not here to try to be the most beautiful, rich, talented, popular, intelligent,  being, for life would be HIGHLY discouraging and disappointing if that was why I was put here,  but rather to find the ONLY ONE who is all those things and more and to worship HIM. Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy JOY Link   "You will SEEK me and FIND me WHEN YOU SEEK ME with ALL of your HEART." Jeremiah 29:13   "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