Hopscotch

Balance is important to our lives. However, often times we find ourselves balancing on one foot and hopping to the next when our leg gets tired. This is dangerous. Sometimes it's a wonder how so many people, Christian people, Ministry leaders, etc. fall flat on their face.

But really, it's an easy answer. We equate what we do to equal our relationship with God. It is important to realize that this is a false calling! God calls us to stand firm in our faith, to stand firm in His love. But how can we stand firm if we are teeter tottering around and acting as though our life is a game of hopscotch?

Let's face reality together. People expect more of us than we ought to give. They expect us to neglect our families, our Sabbath, and our daily mundane lives. I fight these battle almost daily. I fight the battle and fear of appearing lazy. If I'm not busy all the time doesn't that equate that I am lazy? NO! Don't believe the lies like I have for so long. Obey God. He is your superior, His opinion matters. If you want to have a successful ministry center your life around God, your relationship with Him, your ministry to your family, then your job/career, and finally your volunteer work.

Let us hold one another accountable to keeping our Sabbath, listening to our minds and bodies as we know when we are out of balance and follow the path that God has for your life. In a second you can ruin your career, tear apart your family, and screw up your life. Be aware of your strongholds, be aware of your patterns, behaviors, and habits. Be consistent with your relationship with God and he will hold your feet firm on the ground and you will not stumble and you will not fall, and you'll notice the pebble that's trying to trip you up.

Stand firm friends! Evaluate yourselves and hold true to the command, "Remember the Sabbath daily."

Blessings,

Kinsey

Life Update

Hello friends.

It's been way too long since my last post. I'm so sorry! However, it should show that I have just been crazy busy, or as I say, CRA CRA!

If you didn't know, my residency at Mountain Christian Church is coming to a quick end. I'll be moving back to Oklahoma the beginning of July. Surprisingly enough, I'm sad, scared, and anxious about leaving Maryland. I've become pretty comfortable here but I know God has other plans for me. It's weird how you just "know" but I have peace about moving back home. Not sure how long I'll be there but I feel God preparing me for something more than I could ever imagine.

In the mean time, I'm learning to live in the moment and take one step at a time. It's been wonderful relinquishing my fears, hopes, and dreams. It's been a scary process but God's faithfulness proves to be better than any of my wildest dreams.

May you find peace in the One who brings about plans bigger than you. Dream Big, allow God to act intentionally in your life and expect Him to show up in unexpected ways.

Love,

Kinsey

2011, Year of No regrets and moving forward

Hi friends,

It sure has been a while since i've written. I love to write but I have been in a funk so I stopped. Well, All is well and I'm back! Sometimes life gets hard. My heart has been bitter for a few months and I've had a rough time being refined by God. I've been living in fear and sorrow instead of seizing the day. Things are changing. I'm choosing to live for the day. I'm choosing to remain faithful to God. I'm choosing to live my life with no regrets. I'm choosing to live honestly. I'm choosing to move forward. I'm choosing to leap.

So often we live our lives in fear of what others think, in fear of the unknown, in fear of love, in fear of rejection, in fear of vulnerability, in fear of life. I am choosing to let go of these. I'm finished living in fear. I'm choosing to live.

2010 was a hard year for me. It holds so many wonderful memories but it also holds the most difficult transition I've ever gone through. Graduating college never seemed like a difficult and emotional step in my life but it sure has been. It's been such a weird transition but I'm moving forward. I'm getting excited about what God has in store for me. Sometimes I jump the gun because I feel ready and I'm tired of trudging through the mud to get to the other side. But life is all about going through one door, meeting people on the other side and choosing to stay, keep moving on, or slamming the door and not stepping through at all.

I have no idea what God has in store for me during 2011. "No regrets" will be my motto and through it all I will continue to move forward with my life, faith, relationships, and I will choose to live for "today."

How's that for a Resolution?

Living fully,

Kinsey

oklaHOMEa

Came home today. By home I mean, HOME! I'm in Oklahoma for the Thanksgiving holiday and my heart could not be filled with more joy.

I walked off the airplane, through the terminal, and saw familiarity and my momma. Tears welled up in my eyes and I was so happy to be home.

I've come to a realization. I don't like Maryland. This sentence is more complex than it appears. I don't like Maryland. What I do like about Maryland: My job, the scenery, co-workers, my 3 friends. My realization is that I do not like Maryland because when I'm in Maryland I cannot escape loneliness. Loneliness never leaves me (so how am I lonely it it never leaves me alone?), I do not have any emotional connection with Maryland and to be honest I'm ready to come home. The only thing that continues to drive me forward is the fact that I'm learning. I'm learning so much, but is that enough? I don't know how long I'll last. I guess this is another lesson from God about perseverance and faith. I have to last. I want to last.

Please pray for me if you think about it. Come next tuesday I'm going to be very sad, possibly bitter, and not ready to go "home." (I shutter to even call Maryland home...)

What does the Lord have in store for me next? It really doesn't matter, I need to focus on today because today has enough worries of it's own...


- Kinsey

friends are friends forever...

Have you heard the really old song, "friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them..."? Well I LOVED that song when I was a little girl. I remember singing it to my best friends Kara and Kristen (twins), I LOVED this song. I'm not sure how I can express how much I loved this song. Now, I kinda make fun of it but you better believe I know every word.

So Why am I talking about this song? Because at this "place" in my life right now I am realizing how important friendships are, how important community is, and how difficult it is to come by. Transitioning from Ozark to Maryland hasn't only been difficult because I'm so far from home, but it has been difficult because I no longer live with 30 other girls, eat with 100 people, or "work (aka school)" with 600 other "kids" my age. I no longer have the tangible community and friends that I so dearly thrived on and well, loved.

I've made a few friends out here. But it's definitely been difficult. I'm so blessed with the friendships I've made and I can totally see that they are God ordained. However, I can't help but think of my friends in Joplin and Oklahoma and well others who are scattered across the world.

I know I'm setting a few roots here and I'm sure when I leave that it's going to be really hard to pull those up and move to the next place God has in store for me. But right now, I feel like one of those over grown viney plants that can't really seem to find a home.

My prayer is this, "Lord, please let me settle somewhere next year, I don't think I can be a nomad any more..." I'm not exactly sure what God has in store for me but I do know this, God is changing me and refining me and I'm glad. He is preparing me to be a leader and he is reassuring me every day that I'm doing his will.

All this to say, I really wish that I could do ministry with my friends but I know that God has to spread us out all over to, well, get stuff done. So I take comfort in what my favorite song says, "Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them..." I'm not saying I'll never see my friends again because I've graduated college but I do think in Heaven there's going to be one fabulous reunion.

So my dear friends, I miss you. I'm not sure when I'll see you but know that I think about you daily, pray for you, and wish you success, hope, and a friendship that lasts a forever (literally).

Love,

Kinsey

Just wanted to say, "Hay!"

A new kind of me...

I've been in Maryland for 3 weeks now. Time sure has flown by! I'm still discovering the town, city, and well east coast. Most days I get lost if I try and explore and sometimes I get lost on my way to work. I wish i wasn't so geographically and directionally challenged. The family I live with have some of the kindest hearts i have ever met. They love missions and the church and they are big volunteers! Obviously this family is well loved in the church.

My job is crazy. I still haven't figured everything out but it all comes with time. Mountain (the church i work out) is going to be a wonderful learning opportunity for me. The staff and members are absolutely wonderful. Community is key here at this church.

I'm immersing myself in the "culture" of Maryland and the church staff life. I never knew how much responsibility i signed up for when choosing to go into ministry. I had no idea that people are always looking at me and that appearance really does matter when you are in a ministry position. You must always look pure and not allow people to "assume." My mind set has completely changed from being selfish to being focused on the mission of the church.

It may seem that my life here in MD is just peachy and perfect, however, it does come with heartache, homesickness, and humility. I used to be so independent. I didn't have to rely on any one for directions or guidance... I did everything myself. Now I have to get step by step directions, hugs from strangers, and counsel for my spirit that seems to be in the refining process.

My friend was talking to me the other day on chat and he asked me what I was struggling with, my answer was the whole transition from being in college and moving to Maryland. Tresor responded to me with this:
"Transitions are our training ground for our calling, it's where we learn the difference between being called and being driven. It is the time we are refined for what we are truly called to."
These words that Tresor told me really spoke to my soul. They have been my prayer the last few days. I really do find that God is refining me and molding me into the woman that he wants me to be today, tomorrow, and in years to come. Needless to say, I think that after a year I am going to be a completely new person. I'm excited for the journey that God is leading me on and I can't wait for the doors that are awaiting my arrival.

Blessings,

Kinsey


"Maryland Me"

On the move

Well folks, I've leaving for Maryland in the morning. I should be arriving on Wednesday in the early afternoon. I'll update you in about a week how everything is going. Please pray for me as I transition into this season of life.

Blessings,

Kinsey