Protection

The Bible Me: Promise you won't get mad? GOD: I promise. Me (frustrated): Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today? GOD: What do you mean? Me: Well I woke up late, GOD: Yes Me: My car took forever to start, GOD: Okay.... Me (growling): At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait GOD: Hmmmm.. Me: On the way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a call GOD: All right Me (loudly): And to top it all off, when I got home, I just wanted to soak my feet in my foot massager and relax, but it wouldn't work. Nothing went right today! Why did you do that? GOD: Well let me see..... the death angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that. Me (humbled): Oh... GOD: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that might have hit you if you were on the road Me (ashamed): ............ GOD: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work Me (embarrassed): Oh..... GOD: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give a false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered Me (softly): I see God GOD: Oh and that foot massager, it had a short that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark. Me: I'm sorry God. GOD: Don't be sorry, just learn to trust me.........in all things, the good and the bad Me: I WILL trust you God GOD: And don't doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you God, thank you for everything today. GOD: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I love looking after my children. Mike S. Isnady We sometimes forget the PROTECTION God gives us as we go through our busy days. I pray when I start to get aggravated with things that are out of my control or even somethings I have a little control over but don't go my way, I remember maybe that is when God is protecting me the most. hugs and prayers~ Kim

Jesus Sandwich

The last few months I did an online bible study through Proverbs 31 Ministry and we read the book, What Happens When Women Say YES to God by Lysa Terkeurst. This book really made me stop and think about my walk with Christ. During the course of this study the leaders encouraged us to step out and let go. They also showed us great examples or physical things that we can see or touch to remember that God is with us when we feel alone.

One of the chapters we looked at was titled: You never know how God will use you until you let Him. In this chapter we learned by letting go it can be the stepping stone for what God can do in our lives. And then with this stepping stone we can be AMAZED how God is working. 

So what does it mean to REMAIN?

Choose to stay connected, to stay put, stay connected

So what does this have to do with being AMAZED.?.?

If we choose to REMAIN where we are not moving things more than likely will not change but if we choose to REMAIN in Christ then things are going to change. So what holds us back from Letting Go and Letting God use us? Fear, the loss of control, the unknown, outside our comfort zone......

But for God to use us we must remember, " God must be Lord of All if He is our Lord at All."

So how can I let God use me???

I must CHOOSE to Him.

I must stay CONNECTED to Him.

I must stay FOCUSED on Him.

Remember He is INSIDE of me as a believer.

In John 15:4 Jesus states:

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ~NIV 

He is with me through every minute to every second of the day. If I move from one thing to the next guess what He is still there. Jesus is physically moving me, not me moving Him. 

 So what happens when I get discouraged or forget my way? I need to remember to to REMAIN in Jesus. Those little nudges I get  are the Holy Spirit, Jesus inside of me, working, moving me to let go and let Him. He promised that when He left the disciples he wouldn't leave them alone or us. He would send another counselor in His place,  

John 14:16,

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.

Through this chapters in John we learn Jesus is with me always and not just Jesus but because of Him we are in the God our Father.

John 14:20

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in Me and I am in you.

So to help us as a group to remember this verse and that Jesus is always with us the Proverbs 31 team gave us this example to see, touch and share.

 

Take 3 envelopes in varying size and one index card.

On the biggest envelope write the name GOD, the next size write Jesus, the smallest envelope write your name (in my case I wrote Kim) and on the index card write Jesus again. Shown below.....

Also on the GOD envelope write the bible verse, John 14:20 and if you want to flip the index card over and write the bible verse, John 15:4. As a reminder to REMAIN in God and in Jesus.Now take the Jesus index card and put inside your name envelope then add this into the Jesus envelope and last but not least put them all into the GOD envelope. Now you are a Jesus Sandwich because

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in Me and I am in you.

John 14:20

So what do I have to fear. God and Jesus are EVERYWHERE I go! I just need to CHOOSE to REMAIN.

Because I am a 

JESUS SANDWICH!

This visual had a big impact on me when I first did it and ever since then. What a great thing to have stuck in places that I will see and so I can remember I am not alone.

hugs and prayers~ KMS

Good Morning God

Start of the day

What is the first thing you do as that alarm goes off in the morning? For me it's usually telling Daniel to shut it off as he hits the snooze button multiple times. Then finally I usually say, "Daniel it's time for you to get up." sometimes in a nice way and sometimes not so nice, "I'm ready to throw the phone out the window." Depending on how I sleep depends on my reaction. We both like to sleep because we stay up late and get up early. We are up early getting kids to school on time and Daniel to get either to the fire department or to go mowing. We stay up late because sometimes that's the only alone time we have together, to ourselves, to watch a certain TV show, Daniel to study for test, me reading a book, up and down with kids, playing catchup on bible school lessons, or bible studies and the list could go on and on. But come the next morning we are dragging because of the lack of sleep, not always but most times. I know people are always saying get up early in the morning and have your alone/quite time with God. And I really, really want to do that but I just don't.  In this time or season of my life my alone/quite time just doesn't work out for me in the early morning and I use to beat myself up because of it. I don't now because to me what the important part is, is not the time of day completely, its taking the time to just do it. So I have found myself as I go through this study and read What Happens When Women Say Yes to God, starting my day with a prayer, more than I have in the past, before I even lift my head from the pillow. It is a great way to start my day. It even tides me over until I can sit later in the day for my alone/quite time. Some mornings the prayer is long and sometimes short. 

Here is a sample of what I will say......

Lord, Good morning. Thank you for a peaceful night of sleep. And a good start to my morning. Lord, you know what today is going to be like and you know the path I will choose. I just pray that I listen to you as I walk today. I ask you to watch over my children at school and that they be a blessing to each person they come in contact with. I pray for Daniels safety as he does his job today. I ask for my head, my heart and my ears to be clear of the jumbled stuff that keeps me from you and that I listen for your voice in the direction I take for the day. I pray that I say Yes Lord as you call on me today. Lord, you know, there are more times than not I truly would like to slap some people or lose my cool. Lord I ask for help to keep it together and strength for control of my actions. You also know I need to keep my thoughts good and not let negative things bring me down.  I pray that I am your blessing to someone who needs you the most. I pray that you use our family as shining lights  and that others will want to know you through our actions.  I want to accept what ever is thrown my way today Lord to help build your kingdom. I want my palms up, for whatever you ask of me, so I can be amazed with your strength and I'm going to stick with it because you love me and have my back. I love you Lord.......in Jesus name......Amen

  

Or it could be as simple as....

Lord, Good Morning. I love you. And I need your strength for what lays ahead. 

in Jesus name... Amen

Like I said somedays are different in what I may say but I always ask for his strength to say Yes to the tasks ahead. I have found if I at least start my day with, "Good Morning, Lord", I have more energy for the day. Also what helps me to is not just starting my day with a prayer to God but to end my day with a prayer. I try to recap what the day has held and where I've seen God or how He has used me. And tell Him, 

"Good night, thank you and I love you." in Jesus name.....Amen

This has helped with a peaceful night of  sleep. 

Don't think I have it all together because trust me nothing is further from the truth but I am TRYING each day to live a life of Yes God Use Me Today. Somedays are much better than others.

hugs and prayers ~KMS

Just Fellowship

So for the last couple of years, once a month I put together a ladies lunch for the women at my church. I love it! I love the time each month that I get to sit down with no kids, sometimes I have to bring them, and enjoy a meal with a wonderful group of ladies. Most the time I don't have a clue who is going to show up or not, there are a select few I can always count on and that is always the joy in it. The ones I can count on and new faces. Sometimes this is the only time I get to speak to some of the ladies, which is sad since we all go to church together. But that happens when you have more than one service and I am trying to make sure where my four kids are at and what they are into. These ladies have shown me strengths, struggles, joy, pain, hope, kind words but more than anything have shown me Christ. They help keep me on the line for him. Sometimes I will put together a devotional that I have wrote but most times I read something that has stood out to me since the last time we were together or sometimes we just chat. The most important thing is we come together for a common thread, that's our love for God. God designed us for fellowship with him first and foremost but he also wants us to have fellowship with each other. And through fellowship is when he gets  to shine. I believe when we go eat together in public restaurants others get to see us outside of church with a common goal. Often times as I am reading the devotion the other tables near us can hear what I am saying. And just maybe what is being read is something they may need to hear. They also hear the prayer before we eat and sometimes,  I have seen others join in with lowering their heads or even stop eating or talking. I pray that they may be joining in but who knows, only God does, it' at least a sign of respect. And maybe it makes them think did I pray for my meal? When others get to see a group of women or men together praying, talking about God and having a time of fellowship I believe a seed is being planted. Are we not called to be planters for Christ?

Not only do these lunches me the world to me but in the last year, every Thursday morning, I join in with ladies throughout our county and surrounding counties in a morning bible study called Community Bible Study or CBS. This past year we have been reading the book of John. Have I ever read it before this study? No, just bits and pieces through my life. The last few lessons we have studied about the last few days of Jesus Christ life and how he was preparing his disciples. He was letting them know that he his time is short but the Father was sending another counselor in his place, 

John 14:26 states, 

 "The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

I have read this verse before as well as bits and pieces of all the Gospels but the last few weeks a light went off. I know that their is God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit or the Trinity but what stood out to me was I have Jesus completely inside me. In the past I know that I have treated my Holy Spirit as that, a spirit or as just my consciousness or even my momma in my head. But guess what that's not the case, that is Jesus inside me convicting me on my actions. How many times I have I just brushed it off. So when I brush it off it off in reality I'm brushing Jesus off. Boy did a light bulb go off in my head, DUH Kim. The Holy Spirit is a person, as opposed to being just an influence,  He "walks the earth" through the men and women who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. Knowing that I am LOVED that much for Jesus to live completely inside my body, heart and mind, WOW.  I need to stop, pray and listen. He is right there with me all the time.

We are made for fellowship with Him and through Him to have fellowship with others. We are made to bring glory to him through our lives. He is living inside all who believe in Him. So this brings to my mind how can I listen more to His Spirit and make God Famous.

Life

LIFE

Crazy. Hard. Easy. Stressful. Full. Fun. Active. Struggle. Lovely. Tear filled. Laughter. Hurts. Regrets. Promises. Joy. Cheerful. Dark. Lonely. Lovely. Scary. Busy. Slow. Loss. Gain. Blessed. Love. Up. Down. Roller coaster. New. Light.

So many of these words can describe Life at our house the last few months and year. And I can add and subtract these words daily. Some days are filled with each one of them and some days maybe only one or two. But I know Life goes on. I know I have to look at each day with a new outlook or in this case a new word. I have to keep my eyes on God when I don't I go down a a spiral and then it's hard to climb back. But I know through Life I belong to a King. He feels Everyone of these words and more as I feel them. He holds and carries me through them. And if I didn't have my faith and trust in God I wouldn't have nothing. I question and get mad at God. I wonder and believe. I know these struggles in my Life can be used for His glory. And when I question and get mad, He listens and lets me choose to trust him or not. He lets me feel because he knows my heart and knows that I love Him. He gives me a verse to read, a story, someone else to put my mind on, something to do, a shoulder to cry on, a ear to listen, a person who is dealing with the same, a study to grow, He lets me choose Him. 

Diabetes at 8

Parents ups and downs

Brother 

Family

School ups and downs

Change of friendships

College

Dating

Marriage

Becoming a Mom four different times

Child having surgery

Friendships

Children starting school

Sunday school teacher

Leading Ladies devotional lunches

Home Bible Studies

Sports

Family Vacations

Neighbors

Gardening

Birthday Parties

Meals that are prepared

Sickness

Being healthy

Cancer

Heart disease

Meals outside of the home

Hiking

Camping

Holidays

Church Family

Friends

Loss of my Daddy

Loss of my sister friend Pat 

Each one of these can be described with a word from up top. I could choose where I went with them or where to go with them. But the main ingredient in each of these words is God. He is what Life is about. He is what holds Life together.  He is where I need to keep my focus. He is what I choose. He is what keeps me going.

God = Life

at least at the Snyder house

hugs and prayers~ Kim

A Bag of Candy

Hershey’s Miniatures

A look at this bag and it might say, A Little something for everyone. 

Family Size.

And inside you will find Milk Chocolate, Krackel, Mr. Goodbar, and Special Dark Chocolate

Some with a certain type of chocolate, some with crisped rice, some with nuts.

All different but one thing in common: Chocolate

Now compare that with our life:

Men, Women, Mom, Dad, Grandparents, Children, Grandchildren, Aunt, Uncle, Jobs that define us, color of our skin, American, other nationalities, Christians and Non Christians and many more

We all have labels that tell who, what, or where 

Really no different than this bag of candy

One thing in common with these labels is a God who Loves us. 

Now this bag of candy can tell us a story of labels. 

Such as …..

Milk Chocolate can represent God’s love for us. Very smooth no bumps or things blocking our way with love from Him. We put those bumps and blocking items in the way of our love for Him. 

Krackel : the things that are small items we think we can get away with: White lies, gossip, hurtful words, actions and so on.

Mr. Goodbar: the things in life that make us feel good: Vacations, a certain show on TV, reading a good book, doing nothing, spending money on things we don’t need.

Special Dark Chocolate: Can have a bitter taste but has very good health benefits to us but we don’t always go to it first: Prayer, Reading our Bible, Quite time, Church, Church activities.

No matter what our label is. God’s Love is Free to us All. He wants us to have a relationship with Him. He wants us to take that bite of Special Dark Chocolate and not taste the bitterness; He wants it to be smooth like Milk Chocolate. He didn’t promise our life would be smooth sailing but he does promise us that our trials will have a Great outcome.

1 Peter 1:4-7

⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you,⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

God still loves us through the Krackels and the Mr. Goodbars of life. All we have to do is ask for forgiveness of these bumps. And through them all keep our eyes on Him that his great works will shine through.

Matthew 5:16

¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Still Counting

So yes I am a slacker. I have failed behind once again with my Joy Dare. I printed it and like in the past other papers got put on top. And then I forgot. Or I would remember right before and be like I will do that first thing in the morning. And guess what I'd forget again. Does it mean because I am not actually following a list I'm not still counting my blessings.?.? No, I've just been saying Thank you as the day goes on. Have a done it every day  without a list to check off, probably not. Does the list help give me a starting point, yes. So I am human and not always the best. But that is the Great thing about living my life for Christ, he still loves me through everything. Even when I'm being a brat. Does God get mad at me for not following a list of Thanksgiving, that he didn't write in the Bible to a tee? Heck, No. What he truly wants is for me to talk to him, tell others about him and live my life for him. Am I doing that, some days are better than others. Has this list help me stop and think of new ways to say, Thank him, Yes. So do I go back to the being of Septembers list and start there or do I just pick up on today. Or does it matter if I start with a combination of the days I missed. See that's the cool thing about this Joy Dare, I can do it how it works for my life. Because it's truly about just saying, Thanks You God for all the blessings in my life; little and big. I can say that where I haven't been looking at this list of Gifts, life has seemed a lot more crazy and out of control. So to me this list of Gifts is another tool in my life to help me stay connected to God. And that is a Great thing. So I will continue to add to the list one day at a time because God has Blessed me with so much more than stuff.

Day 32 ~3 Something Cut: the lawn that Daniel mows that gives life to the yard, the wrapping paper I cut for a friends gift, the hair I cut off to give to Locks of Love for a child's wig

Day 33 ~  4 Gifts of Autumn: a pot of chilli to feed friends and family, birthdays to celebrate life, cooler evenings, football

Day 34 ~ 3 Gifts framed: Our marriage certificate, pictures of family no longer here, the addition we put on the house
Day 35 ~ 3 Gifts Ugly-Beautiful: the scars from csections for healthy babies, the bruises that remind me that even in the fight something good can come out of it, the removing the stuff from life that hinders me from the beauty of God
Day 36 ~ 3 Gifts Growing: Amos, Carter, Isaiah- growing in their faith, Laura Mae holding her bottle and feeding herself, My mom, Jimmy and Me has we figure life with out my Dad
Day 37 ~ 3 Gifts Shared: laughter with friends, the struggles of life, and a spot on the front porch swing
Day 38 ~ 3 Gifts Given : The life God has given me, Family, tools to help me through this life

So today that's my list of Gifts from God. Are these the only things of the day I have been given? No, just a staring point of my day or days. It truly is in the little things. 

hugs and prayers~ KMS