conquering fear

Is God REALLY with us?

Our hearts were made to long for God to be with us. Perhaps, that’s why even unbelievers find themselves drawn to the wonders of Christmas-time. But this world has a way of telling us all, that God is not with us. The evil one tries to convince us He doesn’t exist or just doesn’t care.Continue reading “Is God REALLY with us?”

Those who fear God aren’t consumed and paralyzed by fear like those who look only to this world for their hope. In our flesh, we are just as capable of worry, dread and fear; but when we remember what we know of the Lord, we aren’t devastated by the circumstances we find ourselves in, INSTEADContinue reading “Conquering Fear”

Pain Places

I originally shared this several years ago, but felt led to share it again for myself, and maybe for someone else who stumbles across it today. I still live in the same town where my first husband took his life. My life still takes me to the place where the detectives told me they hadContinue reading “Pain Places”

Is that You?

For so many, for me, there have been things that have happened in our lives that shook us to the core but ended up helping us see Jesus walking closer to us. I think about the disciples who were afraid as Jesus walked toward them on the water. They initially thought He was a ghostContinue reading “Is that You?”

God is still compassionate towards us!

Jesus’ life on earth was marked by great compassion for those who were hurting, sick, and caught up in sin. The miracles when He feeds the 5000 and when He walks on water are prompted by great compassion towards us. (See Matt 14:13-33) And as we are told in both the Old and New TestamentsContinue reading “God is still compassionate towards us!”

When we keep our Christianity to ourselves, we miss the peace!

As Jesus sends out His disciples, He tells them, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to theContinue reading “When we keep our Christianity to ourselves, we miss the peace!”

With just a WORD!

Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law, she gets up and serves Him, then the crowds come, including the sick and the demon-possessed. Matthew tells us, “He drove out the spirits with a word” (Matt 8:16, NKJV) Can we stop right there?! Jesus drove out demonic spirits with a word! Only a word! Later, Matthew will describe howContinue reading “With just a WORD!”

Peanut butter & jelly and a pink jacket.

“Give us today our daily bread.” (Matt 6:11) Just this one day, give me what I need for this one day. It’s a simple prayer about the daily things we need. Early theologians thought Christ surely meant this in the allegorical sense -as in “give us communion with You” and while we certainly need this,Continue reading “Peanut butter & jelly and a pink jacket.”

God can bring good in ways you’ve never even considered.

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven”. (Matt 6:10) And with those words, my prayers seem quite lacking. For so often, I’ve prayed for my will to be done without giving enough thought to if what I’m asking for is His will. Honestly, I’ve spent way too muchContinue reading “God can bring good in ways you’ve never even considered.”

Fearful? Not fearful? What’s the difference?

It has to be strange, curious, and honestly, a little absurd, for those who do not fear the Lord, to watch those who do, deal with hard things. What those, who do not fear the Lord, or perhaps have only dabbled in a secular religion, do not understand, is that to fear God, more thanContinue reading “Fearful? Not fearful? What’s the difference?”

Worrying?

There it is again. The Mary/Martha passage. I know it.You probably know it too.I’m tempted to move right past it. Except. I know it is meant for me.Again.😳 “Kim, Kim, you are (still) worried about many things.” Still. How I wish I was more like Mary, and less like Martha, in this encounter with JesusContinue reading “Worrying?”

Don’t let what someone did to you be more than what Jesus did FOR you.

Don’t let what someone did to you be more than what Jesus did for you. We will all be sinned against. None of us will escape this life unscathed. Some will be horrifically wounded by no fault of their own. I do not like it or understand it. However, I do know there are demonicContinue reading “Don’t let what someone did to you be more than what Jesus did FOR you.”

When you feel afraid…

Three years ago today, my daughter sent me these words. The world has only gotten scarier but her words are still keep-you-going truth…. Completely and utterly afraid… Overwhelmed, tired, ready to wake up from this bad dream… That’s exactly how I feel. I have this knot in my stomach, and this fear, every time IContinue reading “When you feel afraid…”

One thing that defeats FEAR!

There are so many things in this world right now, that tempt us to fear. I’m sick of seeing the enemy rob us of peace because we are distracted, discouraged, and gripped by fear. The enemy really uses that. But here’s one thing I’ve learned that has disarmed him time and time again in myContinue reading “One thing that defeats FEAR!”

I’m Not Enough For My Kids

I’ll be sharing with young moms this morning and tonight at First Baptist Concord. I’d appreciate your prayers. As I think of that, I’ll share something God laid on my heart several years ago— I’m Not Enough For My Kids What feels like a long time ago now, a squirmy, wet, beautiful, little creature wasContinue reading “I’m Not Enough For My Kids”

Remember what He has done so you can keep walking forward.

When we remember God’s faithfulness in the past, it encourages us to walk forward in the hard things we face today. Peter reminds us in his letter that the prophets of old had spent their lives searching carefully for the salvation and that it had come through Jesus— just like God said it would. (1Continue reading “Remember what He has done so you can keep walking forward.”

You know it’s going to be okay, right?

One week from today, our country will have a very important midterm election. You know it’s going to be okay though, right? Oh, our world may get harder.Our country may continue to look very different and perhaps become even weaker on the world stage. But as I think about all this, I also remember thatContinue reading “You know it’s going to be okay, right?”

Want PEACE like a RIVER?

It’s 3am and I’m here thinking there won’t be colonoscopy prep in Heaven! Good grief, this is not fun! But this, is actually a very small problem compared to the trials many in this hard world are walking through. I’m reminded of something God laid on my heart a few years ago as I watchedContinue reading “Want PEACE like a RIVER?”

When you don’t have the perfect picture

We are a people desperate to be reminded of the hope we have. Our flesh forgets. Our souls become downcast. Our eyes forget to look beyond the here and now. We struggle to remember God can make a way when our limited imaginations can’t fathom any possible way. And we, who possess eternal hope, spiralContinue reading “When you don’t have the perfect picture”

Fear’s great lie…

Fear is a liar. But what is fear’s great lie? —That God really won’t be enough for me. But God says, “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. (Isa 41:10)Continue reading “Fear’s great lie…”