The Journey to Wholeness

This morning I sat reviewing the study guide I wrote for “Journey to Wholeness”, a book written by Dr. Stan DeKoven.  It was my very first writing assignment for Vision International University back in 2010.  I had no idea where that writing assignment would lead me, but that is another story for another time.  As I scrolled through the pages, I found this memory of a 1990’s mission trip and a poem that I had totally forgotten writing.  This is what I wrote: “After returning to the United States from a trip to the Dominican Republic, I (Kathy) found myself revisiting the people of God in the comfort of my own living room.   Through the rehearsing of  memories of things I had seen, and heard and experienced, I sought comfort.  Comfort in that I may have brought them hope in what seemed like a hopeless place.  As I thought on these things, the following words came to mind: In the great expanse of time and space, I make frequent visits to a time and place, That I have visited once before. It is a place across the ocean, Where dark-skinned children play.  Most are barefoot, Some have no clothes. Many […]

Beam Me Up Scotty!

Yesterday, most of us memorialized the horrific terror attack on our home soil nineteen years ago. We watched the video clips, once again reliving the agony as the planes hit the towers and the Pentagon.  Finally, we see the plane that aborted its mission to the capital plummet and burst into flames in a field in Pennsylvania. This last mission failed to hit its mark due to the heroic individuals that chose to do something about their situation.  That something cost them their lives, but it saved the lives of countless others.    Today, many of us have returned our thoughts to the business at hand.  From the comfort of our own homes we lament the status of our current world affairs.  However, lamenting accomplishes nothing. As I scrolled through the thoughts of others on social media posts, I am reminded of the old star trek series and the phrase, “Beam me up Scotty”.    Many are discussing their agony over present day dilemmas and their horror over events that are frequenting our news day after day.  Some are verbally expressing their desire to be caught up to be with Jesus.  Do not get me wrong, I want to be with Jesus […]

Don’t abandon the blessing in exchange for the prize.

When was the last time you sat down and truly enjoyed a sunset or a sunrise?  In the hustle and bustle of life, in our hurry to get to the next place or destination, do we fail to enjoy our journey? Think of it this way, you are hungry… really hungry!  The food is setting on the table.  Do you fill your plate and chow down devouring it in 5 min. flat?  Or do you take the first bite and slowly roll it about in your mouth so to savor the flavor of each bite for as long as possible?  Most of us are just anxious to fill our bellies, not to enjoy the meal. As I prayed, I was reminded that God would have us take time to enjoy the journey.  Yes, we are to be focused on the prize.  We are to motivate ourselves to continue the process and the progress of moving forward in our calling.  However, we are not to be so kingdom minded that we are of no earthly good. God created us for relationship.  First and foremost, he wants to have an intimate relationship with each of us.  Furthermore, he wants us to enjoy […]

More Than a Band-aid Station

The Church, More than a Band-Aid Station The small hometown where I raised my children had a small community hospital. Two of my children were born in that small facility. While they could handle routine medical concerns, more serious cases had to be transported to larger hospitals and trauma centers nearby. For this reason, many would refer to it as nothing more than a band-aid station. That is another way of saying, if you walk in the door injured and bleeding, they may be able to cover your wound and stop the flow of the blood, but don’t expect too much more.  Healing and repair are beyond their expertise.  They must transport you to another location to have those needs met. This is a bit of an over-simplification, but you understand the point. The church must be more than a band-aid station, it is a hospital for the sick and hurting.  It is a place of refuge for those seeking safety and peace.  It is a lighthouse for those in despair who have lost all hope.  The church must never be content with pleasant platitudes and meaningless exposes of thought.  The church is to be a vehicle through which God’s […]

Do You Have a War Room?

The War Room —-A place where we wrestle with God. Jacob wrestled with God. Relentless in his pursuit he contended for the blessing. Before the encounter with the angel, Jacob knew God as the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. However afterwards, Jacob knew God for himself; his relationship was no longer second hand. This intense struggle changed him forever. No longer would he be known as Jacob the trickster, but now he was Israel of God. Acknowledging that this was not just the God of Abraham and Isaac, but also the God of Israel, he built an altar so that he could worship. It is important to note, contending with God does not change God, for he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. However, contending with God transforms us. Do you have a war room? If so, when is the last time you contended with God there?

What is your story?

I sat this morning contemplating how to begin the process of writing The Power of Unity Volume II and the concepts of building healthy relationships in the church.  Sometimes starting a new book is much like trying to dislodge the cork from a bottle.  I have all these thoughts and concepts I want to share, but where to start? However, as I put my fingers to the keyboard the following thoughts began to form. Slowly at first, soon it began to flow freely surprising even me… as the story line developed.  I had no idea it would start like this….. Jonathon was a busy and active teenager.   While his family attended church on special occasions, they did not make church a priority.  The family was overwhelmed with social commitments; fundraising events, school sports, work commitments, birthday celebrations with friends and family, well you get the picture. Who has time to attend church? Jonathon had a busy social schedule, but he could not help but notice that some of his classmates would sometimes turn down opportunities to party with their friends to attend church related events instead.  Why?  What could possibly be more fun than attending a party with friends?  Besides, […]

Do You Fit?

Many have heard the expression,  “I feel like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole.”  That is to say, many feel out of place and uncomfortable in certain situations.  Although we try our best to meet expectations, we may feel a personal sense of incompetency, inadequacy, and dissatisfaction. Perhaps our job, our station in life, our role in society and /or the church may seem out of sync with who we were created to be and accomplish.  Personal obligations, circumstances, or responsibilities may hinder us from moving forward in the direction we desire. Know that we are not alone.  Biblical role models have walked through similar experiences. Take Moses…. called to lead the people of God out of bondage in Egypt, he first experienced living forty years in a desert caring for sheep. Or Joseph, who was to rise in authority and honor to save his family….. imprisoned and isolated from the family he loved. You get the idea…. but we know that eventually God moved them into the proper position to fulfill their calling in him.  A sense of fulfillment, satisfaction, and happiness comes when we find where we fit and can step into our God […]

Don’t Take the Bait

  This is from  the new book I am currently working on.  The working title is …. “The Power of Unity–  Relationships that Make Us Whole. ” I have yet to settle on the final title.  I hope to have this book done and published before fall.  We shall see.  This excerpt is the introduction to chapter eight…  Let me know what you think! Do not take the bait,  don’t bite the apple.  One of my favorite childhood movies was the Disney hit, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  The beautiful and innocent Snow White had a wicked stepmother, the queen. The stepmother became so jealous of Snow White’s beauty that she devised a plot to have her killed.  I’m sure you remember the story. Instead of killing her, she was taken to a cottage to live with the seven dwarfs. All was well and life was good in the cottage with seven dwarfs. That is, until the queen discovered that Snow White was not really dead. Her anger at being tricked became volatile. So, she came up with another plan and this time she would take care of it herself. She disguised herself and took Snow White a poisoned apple. I remember sitting […]

What is the world coming to????

  Is it any wonder that people worldwide lay awake at night wondering what may come next?  In a world that seems to be turned upside down and without faith, unity, even unity within the church, seems to be fleeting. Neighbor rises against neighbor, and family members are unable to agree; the idea of unity in the world as we know it seems nearly impossible. The concept of free speech is challenged by those who feel they know what is best for all.  Any who disagree with their personal ideology may find themselves the subject of angry outbursts, and at times, even violence. Actually, violent outbursts may be observed on all sides of the political spectrum.  It would seem in some circles that freedom of speech only applies to those who comply with the concepts they mutually agree on.  Unity, ah yes.  How might a city, country, nation, or even the church hope to achieve unity in a world so torn apart by controversy, violence, and hate?  It can’t, except by the grace of God.  But for God, we would have no hope.  But therein comes our peace and joy, that by His grace we will someday attain the unity […]

The Storm

  “Even the eagle knows not to fight the storm. The process of climbing higher allows it to soar above the tumultuous wind and the pounding rain. We cannot allow apprehension, anger, resentment, offense, fear, hate, or bitterness to overcome us when the day of trouble comes. Emotional baggage weighs down our hope and hinders our movement. Its heaviness hinders our spiritual ascent. Rather, we must rejoice in the victory and promotion that are sure to come. We must rest in him and move forward in him, with the understanding that the storm is just a part of the process.” — excerpt “Power of Unity”  power, struggle, unity