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Blog
Help
One of my favorite Bible verses is the one from Hebrews 4:16 that says,
‘Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace to find help and mercy in time of need.’
I can be a little self sufficient and not wanting to ask for help, because in my flesh, it may make me look inadequate or weak. But, when the Spirit reminds me that it is the flesh that is controlling me and bids me come and die to that, I can hear the kind, encouraging Spirit say “come to me and find rest.”
And help.
And this verse says we can come boldly.
As in just charge in and say “Papa, I really need help right now.”
This must bring delight to the Father when His children take Him at his word and come by faith to his throne.
I mean, what privilege, what audacity, to think we could approach the throne of God Almighty!
All and only because of Jesus!
So, the next time I don’t want to ask for help, for anything, I pray the time between my flesh trying to rise up and me reckoning it dead, to following the Spirit’s prompting to run to the throne room of grace is a bit shorter.
One Thing Remains
One Thing Remains
In light of all that is happening in 2020, it is clear to us that one thing remains: that is the sovereign grace of Jesus Christ who alone is our rock and refuge.
We pray you are well and experiencing the power of His resurrection life.
We pray for comfort in the Holy Spirit if you are grieving any loss at this time.
We pray blessings of good health and hope for the future, in Jesus’ Name.
Our gratitude for you who pray for us and give financially to support this ministry is overwhelming. We have been provided for in such amazing ways. Surely God is “able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think!”
We had so much fun recording our first Living Room concert in April with some of our children and grandchildren helping out! We were blessed by your response and encouragement. That link is here for you to watch if you missed it.
In July, we led worship for a church revival in South GA. The Word was powerful and hearts were revived in His Presence.
The ministry of Southwest Christian Care invited us to sing at their Virtual Inspiration Fundraiser in August. We love this ministry and all they do for our community.
There is more good news! We are leading worship most Sunday mornings again! Sometimes we’re together and sometimes we are one ministry in two locations but we are thankful to be worshiping with brothers and sisters in person again! There’s power in our coming together to lift up His Name!
You can follow our schedule on our website and our Facebook page.
We also are relaunching Kim’s “One Thing Worship Retreat” for this fall and upcoming year. We wanted to make it easily adaptable for small group gatherings for a one day experience.
You can read more about that here.
Thank you for taking time to catch up with us. We’d love to hear from you and how God has revealed Himself to you in this season of being “sheltered in grace.”
And please let us know how we can pray for you; it is our privilege.
We love you and “thank my God in all my remembrance of you.”
In Christ,
Joe and Kim
Breathe
Breathe is something I’ve had to remind myself to do lately.
Deep breathing.
Drawing in slow, intentional air into my lungs, letting it sit there, held for a few seconds, then spewing it out in a controlled huff actually lowers my heart rate and brings me back to the present moment.
Some people may call it mindfulness.
I call it asking Jesus to breathe for me and in me.
I’ve had to do that many times in grieving the death of my 34 year old daughter over the last 2 years.
Just ask Him to breathe for me.
Literally.
And He did.
And He does.
His breath in my lungs not only gives me life in the natural, but continues to be my air, my life, my everything.
Breathe Him deep, friend.
Mercy
The unending, overwhelming patience of our God.
It brings me to my knees with tears of gratitude.
Still.
Once, Mercy brought me to the end of myself, then to the beginning of a new life.
Over and over again, Mercy triumphs over judgement and comes running for me.
Never deserved, always lavished, Mercy is unexplainable but when experienced, is undeniable.
To be a receiver of Mercy, makes me a giver of the same.
Mercy reigns.
Mercy is a person.
Young
I have a hard time remembering when all my children were young and at home. They were all spread out in ages, and our youngest will be 25 this year.
I do remember how I felt frustrated and incapable of being the Mom I wanted to be to them.
And I remember the grace of God showing up every day to be sufficient.
He is just faithful like that.
So today, as I’m not as young as I used to be, I remember God’s grace in the past and look for it today.
Maybe just to help me remember something; 🙂
or to be present with my husband;
or to call a friend;
or to clean out a drawer;
or to write.
Yes, I’ll wait upon the Lord and be renewed in strength.
I’ll wait for him to “let my flesh become fresh with youth; let me return to the days of youthful vigor.”
Breathe in grace.