Kelly Girl Thinks

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:3

On our way home from town the other night, we were having a nice conversation when a deer came running across the road. My hubby was driving and saw it right away. He slammed on the breaks, but I knew it wasn’t possible to miss that deer. It was as if everything was happening in slow motion, but I was oddly calm. Three words just popped out of my mouth. I said, “Just hold on.”

It looked like the deer just disappeared from view for a moment, and returned as if it came out from under the front of the vehicle. There was never a noise or a movement showing we hit it. The deer ran down over the hill to water as if nothing happened. The situation said that it had to have been hit, but there was no indication that ever occured. Everyone was fine, but we wanted to check the car. We pulled over as soon as we could, and my hubby got out to look.

He came back in shaking his head. We didn’t hit the deer. There wasn’t even a piece of hair on the bumper. We immediately offered up more praise because we knew that by all in the natural world, it was impossible to have missed that deer. We got a lesson on how everything can change in an instant. We also got to see God’s protection in action.

I have to tell you that I was listening to a message about signs that morning. When I had prayed, I asked God to send a sign about whether homeschooling was still right for us. You see, years ago, I asked God to confirm what I was feeling about school, and He did. Sure enough my hubby and I both received a sign in a particular bird we saw. We knew that we were in the will of God.

As everything was quiet that night, I was asking God if there was something that I was supposed to learn from that deer. Instead of seeing a hawk or an eagle, which I figured would’ve told me to keep homeschooling, we nearly hit a deer! Did this mean something?

God reminded me of a page from a book a copied quite some time ago, so I went to search for it. It talked about a deer being graceful, gentle, and loyal. It’s always on alert for an enemy that is waiting to attack it or its fawn. It said how we should have a gentle, quiet spirit, but at the same time we should be alert to the sin our enemy, Satan, would try to make us fall into.

It also talked about how our hearts should long to know God the same way a deer longs for water. It said that the two times a deer most wants water is when it flees from danger or when it has been in battle with an opponent. We should thirst for God’s Word, the living water, when we are in danger of sin. His word alone quenches the heart that is thirsty for God. I wish I had the name of the book to tell you.

That was really nice, but I still didn’t understand what I was to take from that for my situation. I figured that God would let me in on it when He was ready. The next day, I felt prompted to remember the words I spoke in the vehicle as everything happened. It was a little foggy, so I asked the boys to be I remembered correctly. They agreed that I said, “Just hold on!”

It all came to me at once! God didn’t need to repeat a sign that was already given. My hubby said the deer was initially going the opposite way, but turned around. I will not be asking God if I should homeschool again because He already gave me that sign! Now, I will remember the sign He gave me when we see struggles…Just. Hold. On.

Also, I need to be on alert for the enemy to attack because he never wants us in God’s will. I even need to remember that the devil will try all kinds of tactics. I need to make sure to keep returning to the living water.

As we look back at Jesus’s crucifixion, we see the biggest sign that can ever be given to us. I believe that’s why we see so many necklaces that are crosses. It helps us remember that God is close to us, loves us, gives us hope and shows us mercy.

Look for other signs of God talking to you today.  A yellow butterfly keeps fluttering by as I type this…I know what that means!

 

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

I think I might have embarrassed my boys today…just a tad. I really couldn’t help myself. We were in an area that happens to have a store that decorates for Easter. I had been thinking about it, but my boys haven’t had any desire to go in recent years because they felt it was geared more for the younger audience. So, I didn’t mention going. My hubby did though. Yes! Believe it or not, the boys were for it.

This store has been around for years and I remember going when I was little with quite a few people in my family. I guess you could say that it brought out the young girl in me or maybe it was the young mother with excited little boys. I missed an important fact though…my boys aren’t so little anymore.  Plus, they’re boys.

It all began in the parking lot as the excitement started building. I suppose I even tried to take my youngest son’s hand. I got a look that pretty much said, “Are you kidding me?” I didn’t let it get me down though as I practically skipped into the store.

As soon as they saw the Lego Star Wars toys, it became a cool place to be again. That included my hubby. Me…I just wanted to see the decorations. When we got to that area, I had to point out everything I saw. I was just being helpful; I didn’t want them to miss anything. They were giving me funny looks and kept saying how they were glad I was excited. Hmm, what did that really mean?

“The Bunny Hop” was playing in the background as we were passing one of the decorated areas. When fun music is playing, one must dance and sing along right? The boys were acting embarrassed because I may be a believer in that philosophy. I just want it to be on record that I was not the only person celebrating life today by doing the bunny hop.  I had no control…the joy is bubbling out!

Easter should be focused on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Those were the final scenes, and they were beautiful as always. This is the reason we’re able to celebrate! This is the very reason to show excitement like children. This is why we can be so in awe of the world around us. It makes us humble and just like children…dependent…on Him!

Children love to learn right? I challenge you to become like children, do some learning, and come to an even greater realization of the true reason we have to celebrate. Next, find a way to express your appreciation just like children would for a fantastic gift. If it’s simply to let others see you radiating joy with a smile and maybe even a little dance, I say to go for it!

 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

I had to run into the store today for two things…only TWO things. My oldest wanted to get a shopping cart, but I said, “Nah, we only need two things.”

He gave a little sigh and said, “Ok Mom,” like he didn’t believe me. I knew what I was getting…TWO things. I didn’t know what his problem was.

In the first aisle the boys started looking, but I kept them on track. You see, I have to be careful because as soon as my human garbage disposals see food I’m in trouble. They are two growing boys that apparently are never full.

By the end of the first isle I realized I needed to pick up some berries too. Then, the oldest said he really needed spinach. How could I say no to healthy food? The youngest agreed we had to get bananas, and I got the tomatoes I went in for. Oh, wait…we needed some wheat buns. We made it down the first isle. This didn’t look good! How did this happen?

The next thing I knew, the boys were getting cereal and cranberry juice. What was that in my youngest son’s hand? Things were out of control…we had no shopping cart! Every person was juggling food, and I’m not sure if I could see faces at one point.

When all the groceries were on the conveyer belt, I was quite surprised. Who’s groceries were they? Surely not mine because I only needed two things, which I managed to only get one of the two items I needed. I guess we did need that cart.

Looking back, I don’t know how we were able to keep all the items in our arms from dropping. I’m pretty positive if there was one more thing piled on, we not only wouldn’t have been able to keep hold of it, the rest of the food would’ve gone tumbling too. We can only carry so much.

It got me thinking how we get that way in life too. We try to take care of too many things that we aren’t even called to take care of. We start juggling so many things that we’re about to lose something because we can only handle so much on our own. The only thing I know for sure is that we’re called to have a relationship with God. It’s simple. When we give it all to Jesus, I guarantee you He won’t be dropping anything.

Today, take a load off. Hand it all over so you can focus on learning and obeying. Listen to find out what you’re called to do instead of what you feel you have to do. The weight of all your commitments and projects will cause things to go tumbling before long. Get some rest!

It seems foolish to run around like we do with our arms full when all we have to do is unload our burden into a cart…or give it to Jesus.

 

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; Psalm 37:23

When I was twelve or thirteen years old, I kept getting sore throats. I would have to go to the doctor’s office where they’d inform me I had tonsillitis again. Finally, I was told that my tonsils would have to be removed through surgery.

Since I’d be missing a week or two of school, I got my assignments so I didn’t get behind. My mom stocked up on Jell-O for as soon as I got home from the hospital and ice cream for later on. My bed was moved into the living room because Mom wanted to be close to me in case I needed her. With all these changes, the time came to head to the hospital.

I met with a very nice hospital staff and was finished with surgery in no time. They got me moving and sent me home. There was a problem though. They made sure I knew that I wouldn’t be eating solid foods for a while; however, they gave me medicine I had to take that was big pills. Please explain to me how that medicine was to go down a throat when I was simply having trouble swallowing! Do you remember me saying that I couldn’t eat solid foods? The medicine would get stuck.

Even at that age, I realized there was something not quite right with my situation. Why wasn’t I given the medicine in liquid form? It would’ve made my life so much easier!

I was thinking of how often I try to take on something I’m not quite ready for. Maybe I’m not mature enough in a certain area or I’m rushing ahead of God’s plan. Both of those things will get me frustrated and cause a whole lot of unnecessary discomfort. It would have been so easy to take the liquid medicine, then move on to pills instead of forcing the pills before my throat could handle them. That’s the same way with life.

Baby steps can be strong, firm steps and the best way to see success. It would be so much better to stop rushing things and move forward slowly. We don’t want to end up in worse shape than before from trying to do too much too fast. When that happens, we have more of a tendency to quit because just like a baby who wants to run before walking, we’ll fall for sure!

Today, keep moving forward.  Just make sure you’re going at God’s pace.

 

He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21

We had a few days of nice weather until it turned cold again. The snow came back and we were bundling up for our walks like before. As the oldest stepped outside, he started pushing snow off the steps with his sneakers. What in the world? Apparently we thought spring was here to stay, so we put the shovels back into the shed. I didn’t realize we were so anxious to move on with some sun and warm weather!

When we started our walk, it was really coming down. My youngest was laughing because our pup was turning white. We were all huddled in our coats, and the pup was getting to be a sloppy mess! What did we expect? Doesn’t this happen every year? When it starts turning warm, we’ll go back to having a few cold days. That’s life!

Sometimes we think that when we’re on track and moving forward, what’s in the past will stay in the past. We think that we’ve gotten through the problem or over the hurt. We really believe that we’ve worked through whatever struggle we were having and that season in our life is over.

Be prepared with a clue from nature. There can be a time of two steps forward and one step back. It doesn’t mean that we’re going to go through the past all over again; it’s just part of the changing of the seasons. It’s here only for a short time and all you need to do is stay strong for a day or two and you’ll be seeing the sun again!

Trust that the difficult times really will be behind you and the new season will be here to stay!

 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

My hubby has taken over science class for the boys and he’s bouncing off the walls with enthusiasm because he’s so passionate about what he’s teaching. I have to tell you that I’m enjoying it too because it sure takes the pressure off me having to figure out all the experiments!

I didn’t want the hubby to feel like I abandoned ship though, so the other night I decided to help encourage real world application. I took a bottle of Gatorade and dropped it onto the basement floor letting quite the stream flow out. Fine…maybe I was just being klutzy! Anyway, I called for help and that hero of mine came running to my rescue. He didn’t even get annoyed; he got excited! WHAT? He really did conduct an experiment with the Gatorade flowing on the basement floor.

Whether it was the devil knocking that bottle out of my hand or not, God already had a plan for the mishap. He took care of me and my cup certainly did overflow to a fun teaching moment.

The next time you feel like things are going wrong, recognize it really could be the devil trying to irritate you and make you leave God’s presence by leaving His peace. Just say, “Nope, my table is already prepared. See all the good stuff? I’ll just walk around the mess you’re trying to use to detain me so I can quickly reach that table that overflows with God’s love.”

 

The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. Proverbs 12:10

When my oldest was young, he was quite the little cowboy. We spent quite a bit of time on a dairy farm, and the kids there used to hold him so he thought he was sitting on a calf. When that little calf started bucking, he couldn’t stop the giggles. Then, all we’d have to do to keep him occupied was give him some twine from one of the hay bales, and he became the greatest leader of all time. He had such loyal followers! Yep, the barn cats were his playmates.

After putting away the muck boots and putting on the cowboy boots, he’d exchange his green John Deer hat for his cowboy hat to go to the rodeo. He’d stand there tall and proud with that little hat over his heart with his head bowed during a moving prayer. That hat was still there as the National Anthem was sung and the American flag, being held by a cowgirl galloping by on horseback, came waving past us.

That little cowboy exchanged those denim and boots for a sharp looking scout uniform, but still stands tall and proud while saluting the flag just as he did all those years ago. Yes, that little boy with blue eyes and freckles is now bigger than me, but kept with him many life lessons learned within the walls of a barn and in the world of animals. Just like the Chris Ledoux song, I look at how our little boy’s grown and know we’ll soon be turning him loose.

He started learning life lessons within the whitewashed walls of a barn. He learned to care for the needs of animals, he began to understand about life and death, and he got a glimpse of how we need to rely on God. A person can’t control the rain, the weather, the crops, or even sickness. We are dependent on Him. When we begin to think we’ve got everything under control, we’ll often get a lesson on how that isn’t true. These are lessons that he’ll take with him as he grows from boy to man.

Do you need reminded that God gave us certain responsibilities that He expects us to carry out? We’re His stewards. Are we helping care for His animals and people? Are we seeing things with a loving heart because we know that love is the best way to show we’re dependent on Him? We’re only able to show others the truths that are within ourselves.

I challenge you to ride to an animal or a person’s rescue today with a kind act or word.  Do it to honor God!

 

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13

We used to rent a little house that people used to call the Barbie House. It was a little blue and pink cottage that sat on top of a hill. It had a huge yard that looked on forever. We would grab the camera when it had been raining and the sun would come out because we’d see the most spectacular double rainbows from the porch.

When we were driving on vacation years ago, we got to see the biggest rainbow we ever saw. It was a perfect arch. There was a little white church that it went right over…so beautiful!

I think the most vibrant rainbow I ever saw was while driving. It transformed a dreary area into a magnificent picture. It was so bright and unreal that I was a bit overwhelmed. I even felt that God was right there with me in the car. I had to look around to make sure there wasn’t a visible person beside me. I sure felt it in my spirit!

Why do we automatically smile when we see a rainbow? Is it the pop of colors, or could we be reminded of God’s promises and mercy? God could have chosen anything to represent the message He had for Noah and the many generations later, yet He chose the most cheerful visible picture I can think of. How exciting!

Instead of just thinking about a pot of gold the next time we see a rainbow, let’s get excited and give God some praise! All those wonderful colors are something to really celebrate. Not only did God give us amazing colors in his rainbows, he provided us with constant reminders in His flowers and birds. I could give you great examples of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, or violet ones. If you want me to just sum it up…the male painted bunting.  Check it out!

If you’re living in a dreary world that you’ve made for yourself, I challenge you to put some color into your life. It will remind you of those vibrant rainbows and God’s promises. May you find God’s mercy each day and receive His amazing grace.

Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? Amos 3:3

Years ago before my hubby and I were married, we decided to go on a short vacation with my grandparents and a few other family members. A house was rented and we were off. Grandma and I were in the backseat while Grandpa was in front with his future grandson-in-law driving. I don’t think I ever drove their car before, not that I’m complaining or anything. There actually wasn’t anything that made me smile more than when my hubby was accepted as if he was always family.

My grandma decided to wash up some clothes the one day since there was a washer and dryer in the house. My family can be a little Clorox crazy, but when she started mixing something else in there, that’s when my future hubby decided it was time to speak up. Mr. Safety saw what she was about to do and about jumped over the table to grab it from her. He thought the world and all of my grandma so I knew it was serious when he told her that she absolutely couldn’t mix the two together.

Sometimes when two chemicals are put together, they just don’t mix. They’re both perfectly fine for their intended purposes, but are toxic together. Some people are that way too. We should always try our best to get along with everybody, but everybody is not always going to want to get along with us. Just like we can’t walk together with God unless we’ve agreed to do so, two people can’t have a relationship unless both parties agree to it.

I challenge you to stay respectful to each person you’re around, but if you’re fearful of the mixing, proceed with caution. I wouldn’t want you to be overcome in the process. I’d suggest putting on the protection of God since walking around with a gas mask might seem a little silly. Just don’t make Him jump over the table to keep you safe!

 

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:10

I have this crazy mirror in my bathroom that is pretty unusable above the sink. When we first moved into our house, we really only had one problem with the house itself. Frankly, it was barely even a problem. The mirror had lines starting to show through where the glue was, so the contractor replaced it.

The problem wasn’t really fixed because it was replaced with the exact same kind as the old one, and soon the issue started again. Maybe it wasn’t necessarily the mirror, but the humidity in the bathroom causing the problem. I wasn’t going to keep complaining over something so insignificant; therefore, eleven years later we have a quirky mirror that you can’t really see through except in a few spots. I just use a different mirror if I need to see more than one eye at a time, and gave that old mirror a new job. I now have a message board! All it took was a few dark-colored dry erase markers.

It shows us what happens when you want to trade in for something new, but not fixing the problem first. Whether it was getting the same type of mirror and expecting a different outcome, or not fixing the problem in the bathroom and still expecting a different outcome is a little bit crazy!

Do you ever feel like trading in your spouse for a new one? Personally, I think I won the jackpot, but I’ve heard people say this. I’m perplexed why someone would want to do that. You’d probably just be attracted to the same type again, getting the same results, or if you haven’t worked the problems out within yourself, you’re just going to want to trade in the “new” one for an even newer one later on. That sounds exhausting!

People tend to want a quick fix for themselves or others by just tossing the old and getting new. Sometimes we need to figure out the reason behind the issue in order to make a change that will last, or we’ll end up in the same position again. The way to do this is by not lying to yourself or anyone else. Be renewed by getting to know God. He’ll reveal the way to true change so you can take on the image of Jesus.  The best image for anyone to see.