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Return, Rest, Repeat!
Good morning Friends!
There are so many emotions we are feeling during this time, right?
It’s been kind of shocking to me to sense the surge from full on joy and gratitude to panic and frustration. And everything in between.
I don’t know why I’m surprised. Emotions are a God given release to pressure around us. I guess we would all explode, or implode, without them.
And of course we’ve all learned by experience that emotions in and of themselves are not to control us or be the ultimate decision making factor for our lives.
So, as we embrace all the “feels” that come during these unprecedented times, we also recognize the beautiful privilege and invitation we have to bring them to the feet of Jesus.
Again – His Presence is the one place I can safely “throw up” in without fear of rejection, or being told I’m sho’nuff crazy. He listens to my raving heart and then quiets my soul with his love.
“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 ESV
Breathe Him in deeply, friends.
Run to the secret place and let him shelter you too.
We are all “prone to wonder” but praise God that His invitation to return and rest is not a one and done thing. It’s a lifelong practice, initiated by the Spirit, to be enjoyed continually.
Return, rest, repeat.
My family and I are hunkered down too and we are praying for you and thanking God for the mutual encouragement we are blessed with by our forever family. Please let us know how we can pray specifically for you.
May your days be full of his glory and grace.
***Stay tuned for an upcoming online concert with Joe and I along with online devotionals too. Details to follow here, on our Facebook page and Instagram account.***
In His shelter,
Kim
http://www.joeandkimstanley.com
Before
Before I was grown, a little girl full of broadway dreams, I acted out the part of Mary in our little ‘staging’ of the birth of Jesus. This was more of a tableau as we just put on costumes and froze in our manger positions.
Before the first Christmas, the redemption plan was known to Father and the rescue op was already in place.
Before the fall of man, I AM.
Before today, all of my days are known and hairs accounted for.
Before days of grief, I didn’t know how quickly tears could come or how long they could stay.
Before the tears, my heart didn’t know how joy and sorrow could live together.
Before the joy and sorrow, maybe I wasn’t as fully alive as I am now.
Before being fully alive, Jesus came to give me His Life.
~kim
Home
My goodness where did this summer go? Are you excited about fall? A schedule? Pumpkin anything?I’m getting ahead of myself. This summer, between ministry travel and having all 5 grandkids here with us for three weeks, we’ve been taking things off the walls and painting, cleaning and sorting. And there’s still much more to do.
But it’s become physical picture of a spiritual truth to me.The house itself is good, it’s built on a sturdy foundation. Jesus. I think of that verse in John 15 where Jesus was teaching on abiding in his last intimate encounter with his disciples. Yet the pruning never stops. The rooms in my house are cluttered and dingy, in need of some straightening and sprucing up. Stay in and clean and purge. Breathe deeply It’s as if the Father is saying to me, “I’ve given you this home as a refuge; a place to grow in my love. It has sheltered you, your children, and now your grandchildren. It’s a safe space to welcome friends, new and old. Take time to freshen this sacred place.” It’s not a quick process. My daughter’s old room has become the “holding room” for all things moved off and away until further assignment determined, be that in another place in this house or Goodwill. (update: it was Goodwill) There’s a gallery of pictures in our kitchen. Well, there has been for the last 8 or 10 years. They are all black and white photos of our family – children, with their spouses, and their children. In the center is a photo of Joe and I. And above the collage are the stenciled words “Home – the place your story begins.” It was a labor of love to get those pictures arranged and hung. My youngest son Jesse, a teenager at the time, helped me organize and arrange them on the floor first, before we hung them on the wall. And I have loved looking at the visual story of our family every day. It has been a reminder, an altar of thanksgiving to God’s faithfulness and goodness. When I took down the pictures to prepare for the painters, tears welled up and I felt a little stab to my heart. Peeling off those hallowed words brought sorrow, mixed with joy and gratitude. Will I put those same pictures up in the same way on the newly painted wall? Will I ever find that exact saying again? Now I’m staring at this clean, freshly painted, naked wall. But.. Selah What is our story now Lord? Home is where our story begins – but where does it go from there? There are parts of our heart, our family, our story, our people, in those pictures that aren’t here with us anymore. The story of our family has been changed forever. God’s penmanship, though difficult to understand at times, is still the faithful guarantee for the best, most glorious story. For all of us. I trust the scarlet thread woven throughout our story, which is His story. I let Him write on. Because He is good and He is love. And if home is where it all begins, then Home is where it ends, or really begins. And there will be more pictures of more people in our story. And these walls will tell of it. Tell me where you’ve been this summer. I’d love to hear more of your story. My walls are talking to me 🙂 Kim |
Travel With Us
We sang and sang yesterday; with wonderful people hungry for Jesus. We love this church; the praise team who loves to worship and the pastor who really loves to worship and is such an encourager and wonderful preacher. After the services, we talked with one man and his wife who had lost their 12 year old son recently. And listened intently to another woman who had lost her son. It seems we’re members of a club not of our choosing, but healing nonetheless.
In the evening Lakeside BC gathered together again in their outdoor pavilion near the lake and shared a meal together, and then we sang some more. One man, a Vietnam veteran, with a smile on his face said he had a flashback when he heard Joe sing the remake of the Temptations song “My Lord.” A full day. This morning we continue down the road to south GA, gnat country, God’s country more. Reidsville BC is having revival services this week, Monday through Wednesday, and we are blessed to lead the worship. Please pray, as you have so faithfully, for the Spirit to hover, move, bring the revelation of Truth to those who may be veiled in lies. For the broken to realize their Christ was broken for them; for any shackles to be broken off in the only Name that has the power to save. We will go in expectation and the power of your prayers. For the glory of Jesus, Joe and Kim You can keep up with us on our website and Facebook page: |
Sing
I attended a funeral yesterday. A dear, dear friend lost her husband to ALS, in a relatively short time. His funeral was a celebration; much like we experienced at our daughter’s service, the presence of the Lord was tangible, thick.
Their son led us in powerful worship, but really the Spirit led us, and everyone standing beside me led us.
It was a war cry for me, singing the songs, the lyrics I know in my spirit to be true, but sometimes wrestle getting out of my mouth. And when they come out, it’s like a no holds barred, ‘let’s do this’ kind of thing. Like an inner dialogue between God and myself; “I know this is true, that You are real and good, but my heart hurts so badly now in this loss.” And though I’m not flippantly singing, I just wrestle with each word.
Each word sung becomes a stand alone anthem.
Almost like it’s creating something as it comes out.
This struggle of faith is real.
I don’t think I believe anyone who’s said they’ve never doubted.
My wiser than his years son in love shared with me about questioning someone who thinks they have God all figured out, who stops considering the mystery of God.
I’ve doubted more in this past year than I ever have.
And I’ve also gained some new perspective.
Faith is believing in the unseen.
Faith is realizing we don’t have the answers, the explanations, the step by step formula to get out of this place.
I’ve come face to face with the end of life here.
As a mama, anyway, watching my daughter breathe her last.
I’ve come face to face with my disappointment. In God mostly.
Because my expectations were for Him to act a certain way.
To fulfill my agenda. To heal my daughter – here.
And yes, I have known Him through His Word.
It’s not from lack of knowledge or time spent or disinterest that I’ve taken up this expectation.
In fact, I think I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
This journey, my journey and yours, starts in faith and continues by faith.
We are rescued by grace.
And kept by grace.
No “I should’ve,” or “wish I would’ve” or “how could I be so ….?”
“He is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.” 2 Tim. 1:12
We walk in the truth as He reveals it to us.
So in my struggle to relinquish my expectation of God, I find much comfort, power, peace, truth, in corporate worship.
I’m all for private worship. His Presence revealed to me in those private devotions have changed and continue to change my life. I’ve designed an entire retreat experience around being still before the Lord and sitting at His feet.
But He has also called us to be part of the Body.
His love for us makes a way for us to live this life here – fully, overcoming,
And worshiping with other believers is a way to that Life.
Yes, even if you struggle to sing the words because you’re hurting or wondering if they’re true because you feel so awful right now,
Sing anyway.
Sing because of that very thing.
Sing as if your life depends upon it. Because it does.
Let your mind hear the words deliberate come from your mouth.
The Spirit sings truth, the mind hears it and is renewed.
And sense the great cloud of witnesses around you, beside you. Take in the glory of His presence.
Every word is an anthem, a prayer, a declaration of His goodness, His power, His sovereignty. His love.
Just sing.
I’m singing with you,
KIm
Sing