As of late I have had a lot of convictions. I don't know who is praying for me but I am so blessed. Currently God is rocking my world. I feel the Holy Spirit and I can hear him so clearly. My hearts desire is to be like Jesus and with every word that I say I either a) think about it before I say it b) keep my mouth shut or c) regret it and take it back...
God is working in me and I hope to be a truly transformed person. I know that it takes time, but i'm already noticing changes in myself. Also, I have this problem of being overly observant. I notice what people look like, wear, act, say... it's bad... I notice everything. Because I notice these things many times I point them out to my friends and crack a joke. Praise God for my friends who tell me to shut up and be nice because there are times when I don't even think I'm doing anything wrong!
I also believe that God is changing me because I was challenged in class to pray this prayer, "Lord be ruthless with me in revealing my selfish ambition and my lack of willingness to die to myself." I've been praying this prayer daily and although it is hard to be refined by God it is wonderful to know that I am being made new.
There has also been another helpful thought that i can not get out of my head. 1 Corinthians 13. Francis Chan writes in his book "Crazy Love" to replace "love" with your name and read the text. Am i these things?
Love is patient, love is kind, It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
To some degree I hold a few of these qualities but not all of them. In these verses all I see is Jesus. He is all of these things and I desire to be like him. I can't get these characteristics and qualities out of my mind. When I think about someone I say, "Kinsey is not rude" or "Kinsey does not envy" and "Kinsey is patient"... I've been quiet for a few days and i'm glad. It's time for a change... a transformation.
I'll leave you with a quote from Mother Teresa.
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echos are truly endless."
- Kinsey
P.S. I have an interview with John Brown on Monday. If you think about it, say a little prayer for me. If I get the job it pays for my tuition and it would be a really wonderful blessing.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Silence is Golden
"We need silence to be alone with God, to speak to him, to listen to him, to ponder his words deep in our hearts. We need to be alone with God in silence to be renewed and transformed. Silence give us a new outlook on life. In it we are filled with the energy of God himself that makes us do all things with joy."
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A little thing called Love...
As most of you know (and should know) Valentines day is approaching. Generally speaking I hate Valentines day. Mostly because I'm jealous of everyone who is in love. I know it's wrong but it's the truth. Anyway, I remembered that i must remain faithful to my series of blog postings about Mother Teresa and her quotes. I was really hoping for something different but somehow (fate?) Mother Teresa's quote fits perfectly in with the month of February.
She says, "Love is like a fruit in season at all times. Love can warm three winter months."
At first glance i didn't really understand what Mother T was saying. Can warm three months? What does that mean? And while I attempt to think this late at night the only vision in my mind are the homeless men who stand on 7th street in Joplin begging. Which brings me to another thought. These last few days it has been brutally cold. As I was walking down to my dorm my friend said, "Gosh, it must suck to be homeless" I replied, "EW don't say that" because I honestly couldn't hold the thought in my mind. I didn't want to imagine people sleeping in the cold and having no place to call home.
So what does love have to do with these thoughts? Well, I'm not exactly sure. But I do know that Mother Teresa reached out to the poorest of the poor. And I know that there are a lot of homeless ministries in Joplin and the winter months are some of the hardest so the next time I have an extra few bucks maybe I can buy a blanket or donate to these ministries and help keep someone warm.
Here is an additional thought. Love is like a fruit in season at all times. When you spread love not only do you continue to love others but those people continue to love others and it's like this big seed that started out small and with one apple and turned into an orchard.
What do you think about this quote?
She says, "Love is like a fruit in season at all times. Love can warm three winter months."
At first glance i didn't really understand what Mother T was saying. Can warm three months? What does that mean? And while I attempt to think this late at night the only vision in my mind are the homeless men who stand on 7th street in Joplin begging. Which brings me to another thought. These last few days it has been brutally cold. As I was walking down to my dorm my friend said, "Gosh, it must suck to be homeless" I replied, "EW don't say that" because I honestly couldn't hold the thought in my mind. I didn't want to imagine people sleeping in the cold and having no place to call home.
So what does love have to do with these thoughts? Well, I'm not exactly sure. But I do know that Mother Teresa reached out to the poorest of the poor. And I know that there are a lot of homeless ministries in Joplin and the winter months are some of the hardest so the next time I have an extra few bucks maybe I can buy a blanket or donate to these ministries and help keep someone warm.
Here is an additional thought. Love is like a fruit in season at all times. When you spread love not only do you continue to love others but those people continue to love others and it's like this big seed that started out small and with one apple and turned into an orchard.
What do you think about this quote?
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Prayer Request
Dear Friends,
My wonderful friend Andrew Temm's 1 month old niece passed away today. If you would please say a prayer for his family, I know that they need it.
Thank you for being a faithful community of believers who trust God.
My wonderful friend Andrew Temm's 1 month old niece passed away today. If you would please say a prayer for his family, I know that they need it.
Thank you for being a faithful community of believers who trust God.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Mother Teresa
I'm starting my first blog series. My blog series will be a reflection on the sayings of Mother Teresa. Recently I received a book called "The little book of Mother Teresa" by Sangeet Duchane. I have always had a fascination with Mother Teresa and the work that she did for the Lord and finally I have a book on her. Mother Teresa's dedication to God is inspiring and encouraging, she is my modern day hero.
This little book on her life has pictures and brief memories of how she became who she was. With each new chapter there is a saying and thus my reflection on her words.
The first of the series reads:
"It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home, for this is where our love for each other must start."
As I read this my first thought was, "Oh I'm skipping this one..." And then the conviction came upon me and I realized why I wanted to skip this quote. It is all to easy to ignore the ones who live with us. I have two instances because I live in two places. I have my home in Joplin and my home in Oklahoma.
I have had a great home life. My parents have been married for 30 years and I was raised with morals and unconditional love. However, my brother Jacob and I have never really seen eye to eye. We have nothing in common and he is quiet. When he does talk it's about cars (to which I have no knowledge on). My brother was married when he was 21 and his wife and I do not get along. Well in the beginning at least. I was so mean to her. She was raised differently and she is pretty quiet herself and well, we just didn't "hit it off". These are the people that are hard for me to love. Why? Why is it hard for me to love my brother? If I can't love my own biological brother then how am I going to love others? I treat my friends and even strangers better than I treat my own family. THIS IS EMBARRASSING. But it's time for me to be called out! I have to confess, repent, and ask for forgiveness. I must bring love into my home. If I am not faithful in loving my family then I cannot be faithful to other people! I must love the unlovely, even if, it's my own brother.
This goes much further than love for me. It goes to me being a selfish, self-righteous, brat. I think that God really wanted me to be humbled by this and made aware of who I actually am towards my brother. I am not better than my brother. We are different but it's time to embrace it! Maybe learn about what he likes and call him once every couple of weeks. It's time to dive into a relationship with my family. It's time to embrace and love them in my own home.
I hope that you don't struggle with this. But I've looked at people's families and I've noticed that in most families there is always an outcast... someone who doesn't quite fit in. Look at your own life. Look at your family or the people you live with. Evaluate. Do you have love in your home?
This little book on her life has pictures and brief memories of how she became who she was. With each new chapter there is a saying and thus my reflection on her words.
The first of the series reads:
"It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home, for this is where our love for each other must start."
As I read this my first thought was, "Oh I'm skipping this one..." And then the conviction came upon me and I realized why I wanted to skip this quote. It is all to easy to ignore the ones who live with us. I have two instances because I live in two places. I have my home in Joplin and my home in Oklahoma.
I have had a great home life. My parents have been married for 30 years and I was raised with morals and unconditional love. However, my brother Jacob and I have never really seen eye to eye. We have nothing in common and he is quiet. When he does talk it's about cars (to which I have no knowledge on). My brother was married when he was 21 and his wife and I do not get along. Well in the beginning at least. I was so mean to her. She was raised differently and she is pretty quiet herself and well, we just didn't "hit it off". These are the people that are hard for me to love. Why? Why is it hard for me to love my brother? If I can't love my own biological brother then how am I going to love others? I treat my friends and even strangers better than I treat my own family. THIS IS EMBARRASSING. But it's time for me to be called out! I have to confess, repent, and ask for forgiveness. I must bring love into my home. If I am not faithful in loving my family then I cannot be faithful to other people! I must love the unlovely, even if, it's my own brother.
This goes much further than love for me. It goes to me being a selfish, self-righteous, brat. I think that God really wanted me to be humbled by this and made aware of who I actually am towards my brother. I am not better than my brother. We are different but it's time to embrace it! Maybe learn about what he likes and call him once every couple of weeks. It's time to dive into a relationship with my family. It's time to embrace and love them in my own home.
I hope that you don't struggle with this. But I've looked at people's families and I've noticed that in most families there is always an outcast... someone who doesn't quite fit in. Look at your own life. Look at your family or the people you live with. Evaluate. Do you have love in your home?
Thursday, January 14, 2010
love hurts
Today i miss my orphan babies. Some days seem unbearable. It seems like I never stop thinking about them. I wonder how they feel, what they look like, what they are learning, what their new favorite phrase is, what adventure they are going on, and if they've been matched. I miss seeing their little faces light up when they get an album of their new family. I miss the joy that they brought me and the unconditional love that they gave me. I miss China. I miss my China babies. Sometimes I ask God why I don't feel called there... I ask him why? Why is my heart there but it's just not... right. And then I remember to but my trust and fear in Him and to believe that I have another plan. But I do know, that one day, I'll have my own little Asian baby. If anything, God brought me to China to show me that one day I'll adopt as many children as I can because they all deserve a home and love.
Love hurts. But it's worth it.
Love hurts. But it's worth it.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Devastation in Haiti
Dear friends,
It is our responsibility to stand in the gap for our brothers and sisters in haiti. Please pray for them. I can only imagine the turmoil and pain they are going through. Not only was Haiti a rough place to live in on a normal day but I can only imagine what it's like with everything destroyed. I am fearful and confused but I know that God is with his children. I look at the news and can hardly open my eyes. How will anything be fixed? How will people survive? It is not my part to question, it is my part to pray, so please, please, pray for haiti. There are tons and tons of orphanages and missionaries and Christians in haiti. Don't forget about them in a few days, write them on your hand and pray... unceasingly that God will intervene.
Kinsey
It is our responsibility to stand in the gap for our brothers and sisters in haiti. Please pray for them. I can only imagine the turmoil and pain they are going through. Not only was Haiti a rough place to live in on a normal day but I can only imagine what it's like with everything destroyed. I am fearful and confused but I know that God is with his children. I look at the news and can hardly open my eyes. How will anything be fixed? How will people survive? It is not my part to question, it is my part to pray, so please, please, pray for haiti. There are tons and tons of orphanages and missionaries and Christians in haiti. Don't forget about them in a few days, write them on your hand and pray... unceasingly that God will intervene.
Kinsey
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