Merry CHRISTmas Blessings:-)

Jesus is Lord, no matter what happens, no matter where we are in life.  Paul Baloche sings it right;-)

Blessings and Merry Christmas to you this week~Kim

Originally published on 12/25/2013

It is By My Spirit, Says The Lord of Hosts

Sometimes there are mountains and storms that keep us from moving in the direction we need to go.

You know, the mountains and storms...the problem that needs to be solved.  The medical treatment that needs to occur with no way in sight.  The provision appears to be lacking.  The miracle cure for our special needs children.  Or worse, there is no earthly cure for our children, and we must face their death.

We can push the mountain.

We can attempt to shove the mountain out of the way.

We can find what appears to help to move the mountain.

Or, we can pray for the mountain to move.

In the end, it is the Spirit of God who will make a way.  Or, the Lord gives us the spiritual authority to say to the mountain, "Move."

No matter what our obstacle is, whether it is a physical need or an emotional one.  The Lord will help us overcome it through His Holy Spirit.  It is not based on works but based on laying down our hearts before the throne of grace, realizing our own humanity and frailness.  He will remove the obstacle or open the door when the time is right.


In His grip~ Kim

Originally published on 12/24/2013

Miracles Can Come From Ordinary Circumstances Even in Special Needs

I was thinking that sometimes we think we need to create our own miracles.  You know, help God out a bit? Yet, of course, nothing could be further from the truth.  If we "help" God out, things just don't turn out the way we plan...

This time of year, as we prepare for Christmas, we may attempt to bring our own ideas of the holiday into it. We may even have a grand idea that we are going to try and make the holiday perfect.  We practice traditions and then something happens to change the course of our season or our lives.  It seems to come from nowhere and happens out of the blue.  These are the miracles we all wait for, for our families, our children, and even other people close to us.

It does not matter if the changes come from the enemy or a righteous person.  God's purposes for our lives and our children's lives will be carried out. 

Here is another excerpt from our new Advent Devotional:

Ordinary Circumstances

Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. Luke 2:4-6

A decree was made by Herod to have a census. Herod's obsession with the prophecy of a coming king led him to many deranged acts. Mary and Joseph, in an attempt to follow a mad king's decrees, went to Bethlehem for their part in the census. They followed the land of the law, only to participate in the birth of baby Jesus. I doubt they gave it a second thought.

How many of us have walked out of the mundane, and followed the path of routine, medications, doctor's visits and therapies, only to wake up and realize that suddenly our children progressed? Or, do they develop good health without our knowing how it happened? Sometimes, the miracles come in ordinary circumstances, when we least expect it.

Lord, help us not give up, but keep carrying out in faith those things that seem mundane and without value, until the miracle comes.  

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 12/16/2013

Jesus is the Light of the World

Jesus lights the menorah. 

You might say, "Whatever."  But, it is true. In the Hanukah menorah above, the seemingly taller candle in the middle is called the shamash, or servant candle.  It is the candle used to light the others.  Read an excerpt from our newest book, O Little Town of Bethlehem, downloadable on Kindle.  

The Star Came Upon a Midnight Clear

So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19

The Lord tells us about Jesus.  “The Light of the World is the hope of the world,” the day after the school shooting in Connecticut in 2012. 

It remains a very dark season in December for all of us, and yet, we could only turn to Christ during such an evil time.

How amazing that God used a star, or a bright light, from His skies to tell of the birth of Jesus. The season was dark and cold, yet the light over Bethlehem and over the shepherds shone especially brilliant because of the darkness. It came upon a midnight clear, as the song goes.

I see this paralleled in the holiday of Hanukkah. Each Jewish family uses a shamash, or a lighter candle, also known as the servant candle, to light the other candles in the Hanukah menorah each night, for eight days. This joyous holiday celebrates the miracle of one day's oil lasting eight whole days during the day of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Isn't that what Jesus does for us? He is our Servant, lighting our spirit, so that we can shine to the rest of the world, serving them.

Lord, help us to serve others through the light of Your Holy Spirit.

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 12/9/2013

O Little Town of Bethlehem, A Book

O Little Town of Bethlehem!

Are you already caught up in the business of Christmas?  Why not take a break and read my new book, O Little Town of Bethlehem?

This Advent devotional book reflects the True Jesus, the Jewish Jesus, and the culture surrounding his lifetime.  Interested?  Here is one day's excerpt.

The Shepherds in the Fields

Sometimes we downplay the simplest of jobs. Being a shepherd is cold, smelly, and dirty. Most women would probably label this as the most undesirable job. I know I would! Yet, the shepherds, who were in the dark, alone, and cold, received the special message of light and hope.

Sometimes when we are in the darkest places in our lives, even a small glimmer of light brings hope. We plead to God for it. We seek it out. We run to it.

But, notice that although the shepherds received great light, they still had to wait out their Savior's life to witness the fulfillment of God's promise. Abraham had to wait for God's promises in His life. Joseph went through incredible trials waiting for God's purposes in his life.

No matter what hits us in life, whether it is with our children, our marriages, finances, or families, God will bring a ray of hope. If He cares even for the shepherds who were left in the fields with the flocks of sheep, how can we believe that He won't come to our assistance?

Lord, help us see the light in the dark places, knowing that You are with us, and You will deliver us in Your time.

Prayers for a wonder-filled Christmas to you all!

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 12/6/2013

The Earth is the Lord's, Founded on the Water

When you read the second verse in Psalm 24, it reminds you that God did not start with solid ground.  He founded the world on the seas and the rivers; it wasn't the other way around.  

No matter what you are going through, remember, that the Lord is the Master of all Creation, and He CAN help us manage our problems.  Because of Jesus we can get out of the boat and walk on water.

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 11/20/2013

(YHWH) God Created ALL People

When we think about God's creation of our children, we think that He started with our idea of perfection. You know, the perfect people, who are one ideal shape, color, and size, and let's not forget free from disabilities, always and forever since the beginning of time.  Yet, since God, the Creator made all people, I wonder if we need to reshape that belief.

Let me share this with you:

Even in the Old Testament, people and animals were "imperfect" by society's standards displaying all sorts of imperfections such as being unattractive, barren, short, giants, ruddy, hairy, and more I am sure.

Only the perfect lambs were sacrificed as an offering to God, meaning there were definitely imperfect animals who were not sacrificed.

What about the sick, the lame, and the blind?

What about those with epilepsy?

Plus, Jesus Himself stated that a blind man was created specifically for God's glory. (John 9:1-3)  Who are we to judge what God created?

Our kids are extra unique, created for a purpose that defies typical human logic.  Who are we to question YHWH?

Let's all join together to rejoice in His creation of our beautiful children.

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 11/18/2013

I Can Do All Things Through Christ---Even Wait

Don't you hate waiting?

Sometimes we feel stuck and cannot move forward. One thing after another keeps us back. We grow

impatient with God's plan and then we wonder if He is really listening.

We decide we need it now (whatever that is). Further, the tide of others seems to push us to go in a

the direction we know we are not to go.

Why doesn't He seem to hear us and our cries? 

Because He has another plan.

Yep. It remains that simple. 

So, practice waiting. Learn to listen to His voice. Take time to smell the roses, create, sing and love.

Then, when the time is right, God's tide of action will sweep you into the next decision.

Waiting then becomes a cherished season where we learn to find peace with God and those around us.

Further, we release the ones who refuse to listen and think they know better. 

They end up on the wrong path and in a mess.

Waiting on God is best

We find ourselves in His blessed will right on time. Even if we make a mess, God helps us clean it up!

So, bless those who curse you, and remain pure and undefiled before the Lord, seeking His will for 

each and every situation.  When the time is right, He will rise the wind beneath your wings.

In His grip~ Kim

Originally published on 11/14/2013

Jacob's Ladder Become Jesus, The Way, The Truth, The Life

The opening to heaven...

When Jacob dreamed of his stairway to heaven, he was motivated to seek the Lord, building an altar to Him and worshiping Him.  It was a glorious time where the lineage of God's chosen people were to come through his seed, because of Isaac and because of Abraham.  This was God's promise of blessing to Jacob, and he responded.

I love this photo from Ireland, with the stairs leading up to what appears to be right up to the sky.

Although Jesus took claim to being the Ladder, upon which the angels would ascend and descend, we see a prophecy of Yeshua through Jacob's ladder.  We see not only God's blessings upon Jacob's descendants and the lineage of the twelve tribes of Israel, but we see the future Savior.

He was the physical promise who came down to heaven and became the sacrificial Lamb for our sins. With His death and resurrection, Jesus became the Ladder to God.  He became the One who bridges our path to the LORD God Almighty.

And He said to him, "Very truly I tell you, you see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."  John 1:51

Trust that God is real and He wants to lend you a helping hand! 

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 11/10/2013

I am the Vine...You are the Branch

We cannot heal our children, fulfill our heart's desires, save a friend, a marriage, or anything, without our being grafted into the tree of life with Christ.

Nothing.

Oh, we can try to use our intellect and great problem-solving skills, but the results may not be what we expect.  That would only be by the grace of God.

While letting go this much frightens us, trusting in the True Vine brings peace. We are only the branch. Further, we receive our true source of strength and mercy from The Vine.

Without Him we are weak. With Him, we will have victory and overcome all things.

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 11/7/2013

The Grace and Justice of God in the Face of Evil

The life of Sarah, or Chayei Sarah, in Hebrew.

It is amazing how the Lord acknowledges the covenant of marriage where His purpose and plans for the Kingdom of God reigns.

During the marriage of Abraham and Sarah, Abram inadvertently gave Sarah to the king, and he attempted to make her his wife. Once the king returned Sarah to Abram, their marriage appears peaceful until Sarah lost faith that she would ever have a son, as the Lord promised.  

This lack of faith led her to hand off her husband to her maid, who bore him a son.  When this union finally led to a crisis, the Lord did actually bless Abraham and Sarah with a son, Isaac, who was the Lord's heir.  

It did not matter what they did, the Lord brought them to the truth and they inherited the blessing of God anyway.

Further, when we read the lineage of Jesus, we find amazing "imperfections" told in the lineage of Christ:

Joseph was by all means, Jesus' father by Law, and His lineage was traced through King David and Solomon.

Mary was Jesus' blood relative through King David's son Nathan, the prophet.

King David was an adulterer, who later repented.

King David's wife, Bathsheba, bore God's future heir, Solomon; it did not matter that he was not David's firstborn son.

The people through the Patriarchs did not live always as pure people, but they had God's favor and blessing as they turned their hearts and sins over to their Creator.

Too frequently, Christians assume that the perfect life will yield the perfect children.

Obviously, that is not true.  Whenever someone in our commits a grievance against the Lord, it does not mean that our children are imperfect or doomed for failure because of it.  This is where God's favor, grace, and blessings reach down and touch our children and our own lives.

Many have fallen or gone the wrong way.  The question is, what are we going to do?  Whom are we going to serve, no matter what those around us carry out?

God brings out the good in all evil

Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God; the LORD alone. Deuteronomy 6::4

God is against adultery and yes, there are consequences for it, such as losing a marriage. Yet, God saw to it that His plans and purposes were carried out, despite the sins of His people Israel.

God does carry out His justice when covenants are broken. Rest assured. 

Even when we read Bible stories like this, we surmise the reasons why things happen, but truly, only the Lord can reveal what it is that He wants us to understand.

No matter what, He will deliver the people who hold his heart. You know, the ones who truly seek Him and follow Him. 

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 10/26/2013

Jesus Calms the Stormy Sea

Jesus calms the storm.

In Israel, there is a boat, that surfaced one year on the Sea of Galilee during a local drought. When the boat rose from the muddy bottom of the sea, archaeologists discovered that it was from the time period of Jesus' life.

So, while the boat itself was probably not used by Jesus and His disciples, it is still called the Jesus Boat. The boat was removed from the mud and now sits housed in a museum on the Sea of Galilee. Visitors can now visit firsthand the boat and other relics from the Biblical era.

Yet, they cannot say the same thing about the photo above painted by the famous artist, Rembrandt. The painting, which used to hang in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts, was stolen in 1990. You can read more about the painting here.

The storms of life are not easy

I think truly that pious people through this idea around easily, but until you are found on an ocean such as in Rembrandt's painting, you don't really know what faith really is.

When we think of the darkest, stormiest storm we have been in and how Jesus delivered us, the image makes sense. 

Further, when we envision what it took to put the now termed, Jesus Boat, on the bottom of the Sea of Galilee, we gain an even deeper understanding. 

Whether you survived something traumatic or even an important achievement you did not think you would have, Jesus was there to calm the storm.

He took your hand when you forgot how much faith you started with, and pulled you up so you would not drown when you forgot.

Jesus will always be there when we face stormy seas and He will always pull us out.

Amen?

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 

1 Peter 2:9

The Jewish Jesus Series: God's Plan

Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.  Genesis 12:1

Abram became the father of the Jewish people at the beginning of this step of obedience to the Lord.  It was through his earthly lineage that Jesus, Yeshua, descended.  The Lord promised him

Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. So shall your offspring be. And he believed in the LORD; he counted it to him for righteousness.

Abram and Sarai waited many years for the promise of a son to be fulfilled.  At one point, Sarai lost her faith and encouraged Abram to lay with her maidservant Hagar because they still had no children.  This union produced Ishmael, meaning God will hear.  

Yet, God did what He promised

Yet, despite this, the LORD, El Shaddai, again appeared to Abram at the age of 99 years old to reaffirm His promise to him. Sara did indeed have Isaac when she was ninety years old. Isaac was indeed the Lord's plan for His people and God carried it out---in His own time.

What is striking about the LORD's identity in this passage is that El Shaddai translates breast, and suggests fertility and procreative power.  

It was the Lord's immediate plans for them, and His future plans for us to bring us, Jesus. From the beginning, God had a plan, both for our best lives and for the world.

There is hope for the future.  

When we look at Abram and Sarai's life, we have the benefit of seeing their life from the future.  The LORD had bigger than their own life view plans for their future.  Having Isaac was God's plan for their life, and the future of Israel.  Yet, obviously, at times, they grew weary of waiting for the LORD to reveal what He had promised.

Clearly, when we give birth to a special needs child, it was not in our plans for our future. Some think their life is over.  Others grieve what they dreamed before their special child, and believe their dreams to be over. 

Even when our faith wavers, God will be there to remind us in one way or another. Then, He will complete His holy will for our lives.

The Lord promises His children that He has plans for us with hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).   We, too, are His children, as non-Jewish Christians, through the promise of Abraham.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession. that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him, who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Prayer:  Lord, show us Your plans for our lives, and help us to trust that You have promised us hope and a future.   

Further Reading in the Bible:

Genesis 12:1-17: 27
Isaiah 40:27-41:16
Romans 4:1-25
Galatians 4:21-5:1
Hebrews 7



Originally published by 10/23/2013

A Torah Reading For Christians: And I Appeared

Bible readings for this week:

Genesis 18:1-22:24
2 Kings 4:1-37
Luke 1:26-38, 24:36-53
2 Peter 2:4-11

The Torah portion this week literally, Vayera, translates into And I appeared, and has been followed by Jews for centuries.  

The reading begins with Genesis 18:1-22 and then chapter 24.  It tells the story of Abraham, the first to receive the physical covenant of circumcision, and then, in his pain, the blessings from God, a son given in Sarah's old age.

Later, Abraham is tested with the akedah, or the binding of Isaac, and the miraculous provision of a substitute sacrifice.  Quite obviously, Jesus our Savior was bound by the Lord as our own sacrificial Lamb. Abraham's story and his willingness to sacrifice his own son as the Lord commanded him, was the prophetic example to come.  Again, because of Abraham's obedience to the point of pain, the Lord blessed him with the promise that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars.

Years later, as told in Luke 1, the angel of the Lord appears and promises Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God.

And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of His ancestor David.  He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.  Luke 1:31-33

And I appeared.

Don't you just love that? Yes, God appeared, but then He sent Jesus to appear. The Torah speaks God's truth and prophecy even before we know what it means.

Prayer:  O Lord, appear to us.  Bind our wounds and bring us blessings.  

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 10/19/2013

I Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You...

Peace in the midst of struggle.

This month in history:

The U.S. government shutdown over Obamacare

Two die in a New Jersey school shooting

Do you find this a challenge?

When I am exhausted and fatigued, then a crisis hits, I do.  Sometimes the devil wins over my heart and I become fearful and anxious.  The tears come, and I may "blow a gasket."  Yet, when I turn my pain over to the Lord, he brings peace.

Our world and our country seem all upside down right now.  We are in a season of turmoil, yet we are in a season of grabbing a hold of peace in the midst of struggle.  Jesus never said it would be easy.  Yet, He did say that He would never leave or forsake us.

Won't you come along for the ride?

Pour your buckets of tears before Jesus, and He will bring you peace.

In His grip~Kim

Originally published 10/16/2013

Saving Family

I grew up in a two-parent alcoholic home. 

Yes, most of the time, I lived with both of my parents, and yes, they have both lived a life of alcoholism.

The only thing I can think of as to why I am the only Christian in my family is that God's hand was on me the whole time.

I suffered their ridicule and attempts to draw me into their life of debauchery, but I eventually learned to avoid them all.

So, when I read this verse below, I looked at my family and saw the truth of where they are going.

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.  I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  

For many years, I grappled with the idea that I needed to save them. I mean, after all, they were truly going to Hell in a hen basket!

Oh, Lord!

But, then I stopped because all I heard growing up was the mockery of Jesus and the people of God. My father "instructed" me that God was just a spirit, but I did not believe that he really believed in God at all.

I even struggled with my own faith because of this, because well, they already hated me enough, why would I need to become a Christian?

Really, it did not matter because they hated me anyway. 

So, true to my heart, I discovered I could not even keep that decision to not follow God, and I did. As I said, the hand of God was on me and my life, and His call on my life has only cemented.

I began to seek God in my life

I read this verse and desired this sort of peace.

By contrast, the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.  Galatians 5:19-23

While I really did not find it at first, I sought out what I thought so many people had. Yet, time and again I wrestled with the idea that loving my family meant I needed to continue to be their scapegoat. 

On some level, I made myself their intentional martyr because it brought me some sense of temporary peace. Yet, it made little change or improvement in their behavior. Their emotional "beatings" of me only worsened as I lived out my Christian faith. 

In fact, over the years, they became more outwardly evil, caring less and less about what others think. 

Only God can save anyone

I think this really has not been said in churches enough. 

I really want to tell you that you can save your family members and that through my own example, I saved mine. 

I didn't. 

What God has taught me over the years is that real love, the kind of love that will save lost people filled with dry bones and evil behavior is to leave them in the hole they put themselves in. 

Why? Because only then do they have a chance to reach out to God and beg for His help. 

He is the only way through Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior. He is enough to save anyone when they cry out for the One who made them. 

Truly, it is the only chance any of us have.

Amen and Amen

In His grip~Kim

Originally written on 10/9/2013 at 12:38 PM

The Kingdom of God Depends on Power

Is Jesus your rocket fuel?

I wonder.  How in the world do we ever accomplish anything with a lack of hope?

We can't fill it with things.

We can't fill it with a perfect life, or at least someone else's idea of what a perfect life is.

All we can do is seek the Lord with all of our hearts, and find rest in the idea, that if we trust Him, He will keep us on the right path.

All of our wrong choices may become light to us, and He will bring restoration.  It may not wash out as a perfect example of the Christian life lived, but what it will do is bring hearts that are healed and pure before the Lord Jesus Christ.

With Christ, we live in darkness.  The light we see is either from the fleeting world, or it is from Christ, beckoning us to Him, which is eternal.

You see, we can walk out religion, but it ends up being only that, religion.

By studying and reading the Word of God, we find an end to religion, the receiving of Jesus Christ as our Savior, and the movement of the Holy Spirit to heal, guide, and teach us.

When we make baby steps toward this, He fuels us, and the Spirit guides us.

For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control.  2 Timothy 1:7

For the kingdom of God not on talk but of power.  1 Corinthians 4:20


In His grip~
Kim

Originally published on 9/30/2013

Christ is Enough by Hillsong

His Special Kids is going on sabbatical until September.  I pray that you find blessings in Jesus during the remaining summer month.

Of course, I leave Hillsong's latest video, Christ is Enough, below:




In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 7/28/2013

The Lamb is on the Throne

Life in this current world has become a little more than uncertain.  It is a struggle to keep the darkness out some days.

I don't know about you, but this summer has not been easy.  Life hit full force with the summer months, and between constant and frequent challenges, I am dragging my feet thinking about the upcoming school year. Thankfully, we still have a few weeks;-)

Some days, I really struggle to turn it over....to trust God with all that He has given us.  Yet, I pray daily, that the Lord will help me continue to seek His will.  Are you like that?  

Do you grip tightly to what you have, only to find that you are gripping so firmly, that you forgot He is on the throne?

Prayers that we will all find peace and rest in the remainder of this summer.

I think we already need another vacation!

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 7/24/2013

We Are...Overcomers in Christ on the Seas of Life

Photo of the Jesus Boat, Israel

I took my special needs son to a special needs swim class the other day, for the first time.  For some reason, it took us two weeks to get actually show up. But, we finally made it two days ago, and it blessed our socks off!

Why did it take so long?

Well, we had to overcome a lot of adversity to get there.  

The first week we were supposed to have lessons, but one crazy thing after another occurred.

I raced to leave, ran late, and then forgot the directions. On the way, my car's rearview mirror simply broke off.  So between the 9 million things going on, and my son's obsession with swim lessons (he talked nonstop), we missed the lesson altogether. 

Seriously, somewhere between the lack of sleep, chaos, and bizarre events, my brain simply shut down and I could not beat the clock. 

I have never done that before. Yet, I had to laugh.

The second week, the car had to go into the shop. 

By this time, I simply resigned myself to the fact that we were not going to make it...again.

A parent of a normal family might say, What are you doing even leaving the house?!  

As special needs parents, we know the reality...because WE HAVE TO!  And, I will point out, that we did finally make it to swim lessons, once the time was right.

Or, at least, that is how I viewed it.

As special needs parents, we juggle a lot

We strive to be invincible, overcoming great odds, no matter what they tell us, and act as our children's advocates.  We struggle with more responsibilities than the typical parent, and not little crises either, but the big whopper events, of course, and when we least expect it.  

So, obviously, reality gives way, and yes, the only way to walk on water, is if we have enough faith. Somedays I simply feel stunned at what just happened.

Life throws us all curves and unexpected twists, and we find ourselves trying to have faith and hope for the future.  

The alternative is that we could end up staying home all day, but I think the point here is that we have to try. I guess, but even when our physical and mental abilities fail us, God picks up the slack where He wants us to be. He does manage to keep us afloat.

Normal parents sometimes say things like, "I don't know how you do it!" Or, "You are a special mom to have a special needs kid."

What they missed is that most of us don't think of ourselves in this light at all.   

The difference comes in how we handle this.

This disability, illness, disease, genetic syndrome, or whatever, makes life challenging.  It is the obstacle that God chooses to conquer through us, and others, as He chooses.  We are merely His instruments to help our kids as much as we can.

It is as if the Lord is saying, here is your thorn, which I gave you, which will keep you humble before Me.  You will call out to me, and I will answer you, but I may not respond in the way that you expect.  I will bring victory out of your child's life and they will run free in heaven.  There is hope for the future of your family.

We are Joshua fighting the battle of Jericho.

We are Judith, the only one brave enough to bring down the enemy.

We are David fighting Goliath.

We are Nehemiah, attempting to rebuild the walls of health around our family.

We are Lot leaving Sodom and Gomorrah.

We are Joseph being sold into slavery, only to discover God's plan for our lives.

We can overcome.

With the help of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will overcome.  No, our lives may not fit into the perfect American church family, be cool, hip, or luxurious, as special needs parents.   

But, the good news is that we, as special needs parents, really have it easy because the pressure is off.  We are excused from wanting the perfect life, filled with emptiness, and we won't be ridiculed by others who do prioritize those things.  We will never really have the opportunity to become arrogant or too comfortable.

Instead, we received a life of:

depth,

deep peace,

miracles,

Holy Spirit,

purpose,

truth,

integrity,

AND LOVE.

We are in the Jesus Boat, and that is where we need to stay.

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 7/21/2013

God is Light

Jesus took religion and made it whole.

We simply cannot be unequally yoked.  

We may take on the burden of the children of darkness, but ultimately, we cannot remain there.  We do not counterbalance the other.  At one point, we will have to either push darkness out using the Light and its power, or we simply have to walk away.  

It does not mean defeat.  It means that we are living in the Light and choose only to remain there.  

God is the Light that we all need.

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 7/17/2013

Jesus is the Light

About 5 years ago, a prayer group I run prayed for a little boy about a year old, with a genetic syndrome the same as my son's.  He caught a simple virus, which created a whole host of problems for him.  

He was declared brain dead and his parents planned for his funeral.  Yet, the Lord stirred up an army of Believers, who prayed over that little boy, and he came back to life.

Recently, he fell ill again, but this time he crossed over to Jesus forever yesterday morning, when his family removed him from the ventilator.  I don't know the circumstances of why they made this choice, but some of us prayed for a miracle.  

Apparently, crossing over to Christ was the Lord's answer for this little boy.

God is the Author of Life.

I keep running across these fantastic video stories about special needs children being healed.  I have witnessed my own son's healing of many different illnesses.  God wants us all to live...doesn't He?  I mean, what about the little boy above?

The answer lies in the fact that the Lord's purposes extend beyond our human perspective.  We want life, and He does too.  The problem arrives when we limit our view of life to this world, and not the one beyond. We in the western world, in particular, struggle with this.  

Frequently, we look overseas in undeveloped countries, and say, well, that is not my life, and we think little of it.

Yet, God calls us to live in both this world and the world to come, not conforming to its standards.

I wonder if this is the season for healing.    

I wonder if we need to just expect God to show up.  Expect Him to create a miracle.

I could be discouraged about the above little boy's death.  But, I'm not, for some reason.  I see the Lord's purpose and plan here, even though I find it sad that he died.  As special needs parents, we can even become fearful for our own children's lives; I certainly have many times.  Living and dying are part of Special Needs Land, only our children tend to die prematurely.

Have faith that He will heal.

I know for some, this seems counter-intuitive.  I had one doctor tell me when my special needs son was young, not to worry about his testes, because "He has Prader-Willi after all!"  The problem with that attitude as a physician is that really, you (doctor) must give our children the best chance to live the life God called them to be.  

t isn't always about the perfect medical care, but it is also about treating our children's symptoms, and their bodies with respect.  The Lord preserved one of my son's testes despite that man's attitude.

But don't expect the Lord to show up in the conventional way.  Don't expect Him to show up only because of you, or someone else's human ingenuity.  He might show up in someone's worldly skills and abilities, but typically, they won't even realize it.  

We need to have the kind of faith that the apostles walked, in the Bible, but we need to stop boxing God into our ideas of healing.  We need to expect the Lord to heal our children in His way, miraculously, or otherwise.

The outright, medically unexplainable can occur, despite expert medical research and diagnosis.  The miraculous can happen despite mistakes made, poor diet, or a lack of finances. We need to have that kind of faith in the Western World.

We need to practice extreme faith in Jesus Christ.  

When we have no other alternatives or recourse, God will show up.  How He heals is completely up to Him, but He will arrive, and yes, it will be right on time.  There will be no mistakes and no misunderstandings.  Truth and Light will shine from within us.

I leave you with this video about Lacey Rose, born a special needs child, and miraculously healed by God. I pray that it inspires you to find healing in Christ for your child.


The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:5

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 7/14/2013

In The Word Wednesday: Plans For Your Welfare

God has great plans for you and your family.

Maybe He hasn't healed your child of the big and wonderful.  Perhaps he has blessed your child with good surgeries, strong improvements in development, or generally good health.  

Does that mean you have less faith than normal families?  Does that mean that God has cursed and abandoned you and your family?

NO! 

God has plans to bless you and not curse you!

Sometimes God gives us miracles and sometimes He gives us improvements.  Sometimes He blesses us with good health and improvement through food, and other times, He outright delivers unabashedly.

He knit all of us in our mother's womb.

He created all of us for His purposes.

This includes the siblings of your special needs child.  

We don't always talk about this, because really we are probably in the middle of so much with our special needs child, that we slip in our parenting of them in between much.  Yet, really, even though our children don't always see it, God meant it to bless them as well, not curse them.

Honestly, it gives them an edge in Christ, if they will receive it.  They must face their own bitter feelings about this life that is different from their peers, particularly in the adolescent years.  All children must learn to rebel against the world's ways, and siblings of special needs children, even more so.

No, they cannot make it go away.  Yes, they may leave our house and the special needs life, but they will have to come back to it eventually.

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

Each part of the Body of Christ has a unique purpose, with Jesus Christ as the head.

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 7/10/2013

God is Able to Give us Hope

For some, the Fourth of July is a joyous event, for others it is bittersweet.

As moms and dads of special needs children, it can become different.  

Too many fireworks overstimulate sensitive ears, too much bad food on the table overwhelms food drives, and celebrations in the form of noise and activity may still be a challenge.

Yet, we have CAN hope for the future.

I don't know about you, but somedays I wake up, and I have been wakened by my special needs son three and four times.  He spends his day cycling in and out of tantrums, or I set the alarm on the kitchen stove to remember the daily round of medications and treatments day and night.  

I spend too much time driving to appointments and I feel lost.  I think, How much longer can we live this way? 

Some days I am crazy tired, frustrated, and angry at God for giving me this life, and I begin to wish for a new one.  I know that I am going to wake up tomorrow, and even possibly 10 years from now, and I will still be taking care of my special needs child.

Yet,

God is able.

He is able to turn things around.  No, He may not fix our lives into the place where we want it.  But, yes, He will give us peace during the storm, carry us, and bring a resolution, or maybe even a miracle.

He is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides.

He is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals.

He is Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our banner.

Hillsong always says it well:





In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 7/3/2013

Do We Honor God With Our American Flag?

Years ago, my family and I attended a small Christian church with several military men. They were serious about their service and attended the local American Legion for military veterans. 

What I noticed was the regular tradition of posting the American flag on American holidays such as the Fourth of July and Memorial Day. 

It struck me because the few church services I attended as a child were in a posh rich church that rarely mentioned the military at all. Posting the flag was certainly not done! ;-)

While I was stirred by these moments, I realized that many others were not.

Then, recently, I read a blog and a group of responses from a few young seminary graduates regarding placing American patriotism in the church service.  

It appears that they do not agree with the long-practiced patriotism in church services during seasons such as the Fourth of July and Memorial Day.

Their foundation lies in the principle that passivity remains God's way since Jesus died on the cross in agony.  Likewise, they believe, we are to do the same as Believers.

Yet, many good people have fought for our freedoms

I refer, of course to people who have served around the world in the military. Like any group, there are both Christians and non who carry out their duties. I think that for them, this is the plan and purpose of God in their lives. 

And, some do get out of the military without truly harming anyone. 

But, is serving with violence what God calls us to? And does that mean that we need to stop honoring the American flag in the church because some people did find themselves in the position to take someone's life?

What about law enforcement? 

While I do think this is the will of God for many, not everyone understands the truth of this.

Many real heroes stand on the lines for us as citizens

I am speaking of everything from the military to law enforcement. This includes men and women who fight and have fought for our lives and our citizenship. 

Some have died for us as well. 

Does their mission in life make them less Christian than those of us who have not served?

Are men and women in the military not carrying out their own kind of mission? There are people who need the rescuing hand of personnel around the world. Further, so many are called into danger, only to escape unharmed. 

There are even staggering numbers of special needs children around the world, who are unidentified and could use the love and care of those serving overseas in the battlefield areas.  

The harvest is great in war-torn areas, where hope struggles to take hold.

But, still, do we honor God with patriotism?

Generally, it is true that most of our American holidays have nothing to do with Christ and His Crucifixion.  

Church time should prepare us for our mission to serve God during the week.  It should be a time of fellowship and general agreement that Jesus Christ was God incarnate.  Worship time is a time of praise and worship to our Lord.

Yet, it is because of the American flag, the freedom it stands for, and the people who willingly or unwillingly fought for our rights, that we have this freedom. 

Further, it was the will of God that we have this freedom in the first place, so we can worship Him and do it in complete freedom. 

So, the question still begs, does it reflect God?  

Do we honor Him with military recognition in our worship services?

Do we honor Him by wearing our uniforms to church?

Do we honor Him by singing American patriotic songs?

Do these practices have a place in our Christian worship services?

I say Yes!

Truly the foundation of our country consists of many Christians and their Biblical beliefs, which came from the American freedoms bought and paid for by the blood of many. 

We are honoring God's plans and purposes individually as American churches by recognizing the freedoms we have in our country to worship and serve a mighty God, who truly gave us all that we have. 

Is it the center of all that we do? Of course not. 

Christ is King and Lord over all. 

Further, if the Church is about the people in it, the Body of Christ, then why would you squelch this? Why would you attempt to remove the mark of God in your freedom to worship Him? Further, why would you stop the people of God from carrying out a service or ritual that honors Him?

This is a matter of the heart

No matter how you feel about churchy ideas of recognizing the military, our hearts are what the Lord is after. Because when He has our hearts, He can more effectively use us in His service.  He calls us all to be faithful.

I pray that this Fourth of July we all remember the freedoms that God gave America, and other developed nations, honoring God first, with all that we have.  

Truly, we are blessed to worship in freedom and in truth. And what better way to remember that than to honor God through the posting of the flag, which remains a symbol of our freedom?

Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.  As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.  With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Ephesians 6:14-17

In His grip~Kim

Originally published on 6/30/2013

Word Wednesday: Are You One of The 144,000?

We are all members of the household of God if we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  No, we may not be the nation of physical Israel, but yes, we are now grafted in not necessarily into the nation of Israel, but we are citizens in the nation of God, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  

He died for the sins of all people, reconciling all those who believe in God to Him and to each other.

There will be 144,000:

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. 

The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures, and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 

It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth, no lie was found, for they are blameless. Revelations 14: 1-7

What does that mean? 

Hispanics

Anglos

African Americans

Africans

Asians

Australians

Latinos

Nordic

Native Americans

Slavic peoples

And anyone else not coming to mind right now...

And...special needs people.

The Lord's blessings to you this week~Kim

Originally published on 6/26/2013 at 11:30 PM

We are The Potter's Creation

Author attribution

How many mothers prayed for a miracle in their children born with special needs, and still have children with special needs?

There are more of us in this boat than the few miracles of complete healing. I think sometimes parents with special needs children become stuck, struggling with the, Why is it my child?  God surely doesn't want bad things for me.

But, instead, I pose the question, Since when is having a special needs child a "bad" thing?

Really, all children are gifts from God, and John 9:1-3 tells us about a man born blind specifically for the glory of God.  We are all created for a purpose.

Sometimes we need our perspective re-framed for us.

God will re-frame our ideas about what is a good or bad event. It is all a struggle if it challenges us.  Not because God is a big, bad mean Creator, but because He wants to carry out His purposes for ALL of His children.  He did not create our special needs children to punish us.  

HE SIMPLY WANTS TO BLESS THE WORLD WITH OUR SPECIAL CHILDREN!

How has your special needs child blessed those around him or her?  How has your child touched the lives of those who come across his or her path?  

I know that my son was truly the Lord's plan for my life.  

Trust me, He does.

God. has. a. plan.

Yet, the Lord's plans go beyond all of our own ideas.

That is a fact.  He is sovereign and holy. He created our temperaments and our very DNA.

Truly, when it comes down to it, nothing we can do adds one day to our lives beyond His will.  He knit my son in my womb.

When the special needs life turns really dark and burdensome, we scream out at God wanting Him to bring us relief! I admit, the dark days are a reminder that we live in a human world, where things are not so rosy and our kids are still special needs.  

Life is a journey

And ours is the special needs life. You know?

Sure, I know we did not get the Soccer Mom life, or the Rich Mom life, but what we did get is a chance to feel love and pain. 

I know people that drink their pain away and completely miss out on what life is all about. What hope do they have, and in the end, who do they have to share it with? 

Life does not always go as we plan, in fact, it rarely does. But, when we see that we are on a road that gives us the eternal reward of Heaven, we know that there is hope.

I love the statue of the little boy in a wheelchair who never knew the gift of walking, but his tombstone is a release into Heaven where he walks for all of eternity.

Does that mean that we spend all of our time and energy on self-indulgence?  Sure, we could, but like the man who had everything and spent his life with no one, never loving anyone, where would that get us?

He is the potter, and we are the clay.

Instead, we received a life of miracles

God blessed us with a life of difference, so we could be on the front row of the miraculous. If we lived a normal life, we would probably be sitting on the sidelines of a soccer field, appreciating only normal life and not appreciating the real goodness of the miracles.

I think that is God's plan after all.

As He walked along, He saw a blind man from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?"  Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him."  John 9:1-3

In His grip~Kim


Originally published on 6/23/2013 at 7:00 PM