Author: Kristi Wilson

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In My Heart

With Thanksgiving only a few days away I’m sure some of you are like me and are beginning to plan the timing of the food preparation, everything needs to come out of the oven at the same time. As a child I had already checked the TV Guide to see what time the parades would start; I didn’t want to miss a single float, band or balloon. I never was into football but know some who are and they have been strategically planning to watch the games, oh the games.

But this morning I find myself in prayer for friends and family I won’t be seeing on Thanksgiving Day. Some of you have experienced real heart ache this past year- the loss of a loved one or the severing of relationships. Others have hearts full of joy; a new birth, a new home, a marriage, renewed health. The Lord has brought many of you to mind and I’ve been praying for you individually.

I can’t help but think of what the Apostle Paul said to all of us. He wanted us to recognize that we have an important part in this life. God has gifted each of us with a unique and personal role; it’s a calling that no one else can fill.

“If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back, says the Lord. 20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them, If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” 21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Romans 812:8-21 NLT

These verses are God’s command to us. Even when we are treated badly we are not to retaliate; we are to be loving. This kind of loving attitude will cause the one who is hatedful to be ashamed of their actions. We will conquer evil by doing good.

Isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about – doing good. The Native Americans helped the Pilgrims through that first year and this was the festival of celebration. Look at your past – when did someone come along side of you and help you through a rough situation? Thank God for them and enjoy this wonderful time of reflection and gratitude!

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Who Would You Talk To

For some reason this morning I began to think about people I would like to sit down and talk with one-on-one. These are people who I feel have great knowledge, insight and understanding. I would like to learn from them, listen to their advice and counsel.

My lists consists of people like Robert Morris, Max Lucado, Rea Drummond, Beth Moore, the Apostle Paul, Peter Maneas, Kevin Harvick and Darrel Waltrip.

Quite a list right? So who’s on your list? Think about it for a moment…if you could have a special meeting for two hours, uninterrupted, who would you like to talk with? Great presidents, leaders of industry, influential men and women of medicine, sports stars – who would it be and what would you ask?

As I sat here thinking of the questions I would pose to each of these people I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of my heavenly Father. He is so much greater than anyone who has ever lived on earth and I have unrestricted access to His throne room.

“Lord All-Powerful, you are greater than all others. No one is like you, and you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true.” II Samuel 7:22 CEV

There is no one like our God – He is gracious, loving, kind and good. He knows all things and He created all things. His desire is for our good and well being; He will never abandon us or leave us helpless.

“No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” I Samuel 2:2 NLT

“I will call to You in the day of my trouble. For You will answer me. 8 There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord. And there are no works like Yours.” Psalm 86:7-8 NLV

“There is no one like You, O Lord. You are great, and Your name is great in power. 7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For You should be honored with fear. Among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their lands, there is no one like You.” Jeremiah 10:6-7 NLV

It truly is amazing to know that someone this great and powerful is not only willing, but desirous, to give us His undivided attention. He asks us to come and spend time with Him. He tells us to call and He will answer. He tells us not to fear, He will never leave us; we will not be abandoned.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 NLV

I would still like to talk with the people whose names I listed above but there is no one, absolutely no one, I would rather talk to than my Father.

Unlimited access! Unconditioned love! Unsearachable knowledge! Unlimited Grace!

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Loaded Up

Here we are just a few days before Thanksgiving and other than the grocery store commercials not a lot is being said about this day that was set aside for giving thanks. The focus is already on the Christmas shopping season and it has been for several weeks now.

It seems that less and less time is allotted for thankfulness. Our hearts should be overflowing with thankfulness. God has been gracious and kind. There may have been disappointments and even heart aches in the last year but God remains faithful and trustworthy.

He continues to bring blessings and benefits into our lives.

“Do not be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes]. 18 It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes]. 19 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; ” James 1:16-19 AMP

He is the giver of every good and perfect gift and He does not change. We need to listen more and murmur less. This will definitely bring us closer to thankful hearts.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” Psalm 68:19 NKJV

Daily, He loads us up with benefits…Selah means stop and think.

Yesterday I stopped in at our local grocery store to pick up a few things that I wanted to have on hand for our Thanksgiving meal next week. I saw a number of people who had their shopping carts loaded to the top. It made of think of this verse. I consider a full shopping cart to be a benefit from the Lord. Loaded up. I remember the days when we had very little in our weekly grocery budget and so my cart was never loaded. A full shopping cart always makes me grateful; I’m thankful for the blessing of enough to eat.

“After you eat and are full, give praise to the Lord your God for the good land he gave you. 11 Make sure that you never forget the Lord or disobey his laws and teachings that I am giving you today. If you always obey them, 12 you will have plenty to eat, and you will build good houses to live in.” Deuteronomy 8:10-12 CEV

As you go about your day, Stop and Think about the ways the Lord has been good to you. I guarantee it will make you thankful!

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Good Fertilizer

Yesterday I listened to a conversation between two very wealthy men. One man was asked about his philanthropy. He is extremely generous; always giving to make the lives of others better. This man said he looked at wealth in the same way as he did manure.

Interesting thought.

He said if you hold manure too close it will cause everything you do to stink. But, if you throw it away from you, it can be used to fertilize the ground and cause things to grow. He was using his wealth to cause communities to grow; he was fertilizing local economies.

Such an amazing perspective. This man chose not to hold his wealth close to him, instead he wanted to spread it around where it could benefit and prosper others. If more of us had this attitude there would be much less selfishness and greed.

“Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you. 32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself. 33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. 35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:31-25 NLT

The Apostle Paul was willing to give up all his personal acclaim and possessions to see that the world knew the greatness of God’s love for us. He learned that from Jesus – instead of holding His position in heaven tightly in His grasp He gave it up freely so that all would know His Father’s love, forgiveness and desire for renewed relationship.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me. 15 Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for my sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them together too, when they hear my voice. Then there will be one flock of sheep and one shepherd.

17 The Father loves me, because I give up my life, so that I may receive it back again. 18 No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly! I have the power to give it up and the power to receive it back again, just as my Father commanded me to do.” John 10:14-18 CEV

Jesus fertilized the world with God’s love. He spread it everywhere He went.

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” I John 3:16 NLT

In light of this analogy I can honestly said that I want to be a fertilizer spreader. I want to fertilize the world with God’s love.

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Shout For Joy

I hope things get really noisy at your house today. I want you to shout for joy – yes, shout!

Does that sound silly to you? I hope not. We shout at sporting events for our favorite team, we rise to our feet in applause at the end of a concert or public performance; we shout when we are calling our kids home for dinner; we shout when we feel someone is in danger. So why not shout for joy?

Little kids do it all the time – they go outside to play and they shout – they giggle, they laugh, they yell with glee! At this time of year, we should be child like and overcome with excitement and joy. There’s so much to be thankful for – if you’ve been following along since the first of the month you have nineteen days of things you’re grateful for. Everyone of them should be worth shouting about.

On my list from yesterday I told the Lord I was grateful for His loving correction in my life. Yes, correction – I had talked to Him about a situation I was experiencing and He lovingly showed me that I needed to adjust my attitude. I was mumbling inside and it was disturbing my joy. I was quick to repent and my whole outlook changed.

I would shout right now but it would wake up the whole house, so…I will go outside in a little while and shout.

Today is a day to shout – Shout to the Lord, with a voice of triumph!!!

Remember in the movies when the battle would be over and those that were on the winning side would shout and toss their hats and other clothing in the air? That’s the picture I see when I read this verse – shout with a voice a triumph – not a voice of defeat or depression!!!!

“All of you nations, clap your hands and shout joyful praises to God. 2 The LORD Most High is fearsome, the ruler of all the earth. 3 God has put every nation under our power,
4 and he chose for us the land that was the pride of Jacob, his favorite. 5 God goes up to his throne, as people shout and trumpets blast. 6 Sing praises to God our King, 7 the ruler of all the earth! Praise God with songs. 8 God rules the nations from his sacred throne. 9 Their leaders come together and are now the people of Abraham’s God. All rulers on earth surrender their weapons, and God is greatly praised!” Psalm 47 CEV

Verse 5 reminds me of the children of Israel when they had marched around Jericho for seven days. For six days they had walked around the city in silence. On the seventh day they were given the command to march around the city in silence again but when the trumpets blew they were to SHOUT and the walls came crumbling down.

“The LORD said to Joshua:
With my help, you and your army will defeat the king of Jericho and his army, and you will capture the town. Here is how to do it: March slowly around Jericho once a day for six days. 4 Take along the sacred chest and have seven priests walk in front of it, carrying trumpets.
But on the seventh day, march slowly around the town seven times while the priests blow their trumpets. 5 Then the priests will blast on their trumpets, and everyone else will shout. The wall will fall down, and your soldiers can go straight in from every side.” Joshua 6:2-3

In obedience, they followed the Lord’s command and victory came! In obedience today, rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice – why? Because you feel like it, probably not; because you can figure out the solution on your own, probably not; then why? Because God said so, He has a victory planned for you!

SHOUT!

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The Air I Breathe

Have you ever been desperate? Thinking all hope was gone and there was no where to turn – what do you do? That’s a time when many turn to God – they have exhausted their own resources; their wisdom, their finances, their influence and even their health and then they say “God help!”

I’ve been there and so have many of you! I would never criticize any who finds yourselves in that place. I only want to encourage you with this truth – God does care and He will help – He will provide a way out! When I think of that helpless, hopeless feeling now it brings me to a place of comfort and peace because God did meet me there – He did provide all that I needed and more!

There’s a song by Michael W. Smith that says “I’m desperate for you” – that’s the place I want to be each and every day. Desperate for the Lord – I want to be so dependent on Him that I can’t imagine a day or an hour of living without a sense of His presence in my life. Again from the song there’s a line that says, He’s the very air I breathe. Do you know what’s it like to be that desperate for the Lord? I hope so!!

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good his love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story, those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, 3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5 They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. 6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. 8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, 9 for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:1-9 ERV

Verse 9 in the King James version says “ For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” To be longing – that’s desperate. It’s more than desire; it’s a need, a deep need – a “I can’t go on any further without you” need.

When Jesus was teaching the Sermon on the Mount he said this:

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 KJV Now read it in the Easy to Read Version
“Great blessings belong to those who want to do right more than anything else. God will fully satisfy them.” Matthew 5:6 ERV

Are you satisfied – fully satisfied? They will be satisfied! That’s a promise from God. Do you long for Him today? I hope you do!

I hope you are as grateful for God’s presence as you are for the air you breathe and the food that sustains you.

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Rest!

Do you remember being little and having your Mom tell you to take a nap? It was torture. The thought of having to lay down, close your eyes and rest. Fast forward sixty plus years; please, please, please will someone make me go to my room and rest!!

Our bodies need rest. They aren’t made to continually operate at full speed. Rest is an overlooked necessity to our good health. Overstimulation brings stress factors; anxiety, short temper, fatigue, forgetfulness, rudeness, worry, overeating, heart problems, poor digestion and so much more.

God gave us a gift – He gave us the seventh day. He set the example from the very beginning. After all He created He rested and enjoyed the fruit of His labor.

“By the seventh day God had finished his work, and so he rested. 3 God blessed the seventh day and made it special because on that day he rested from his work.” Genesis 2:2-3 CEV

It wasn’t until hundreds of years later that the Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments and made resting on the seventh day an established sign of obedience.

“Remember that the Sabbath Day belongs to me. 9 You have six days when you can do your work, 10 but the seventh day of each week belongs to me, your God. No one is to work on that day—not you, your children, your slaves, your animals, or the foreigners who live in your towns. 11 In six days I made the sky, the earth, the oceans, and everything in them, but on the seventh day I rested. That’s why I made the Sabbath a special day that belongs to me.” Exodus 20:8-11 CEV

God gave us a day of rest for our well being but also as a reminder to give Him pre-eminence in our lives. All of the commandments that God has given are for our best – don’t lie, murder, steal, commit adultery, etc and so is keeping the Sabbath or a day of rest. All the other nations worked every day, there was no rest. Resting was a sign to them that the Israelites were a people who had a promise of provision from the Lord. They didn’t need to work themselves to death; they were trusting God.

“I reminded them that I was the Lord their God and that they should obey my laws and teachings. 20 I told them to respect my Sabbath to show that they were my people and that I was the Lord their God.” Ezekiel 20:19-20 CEV

Let’s not miss out on this wonderful gift of rest that God has provided for us. Let’s place of our trust in Him that He will help us get enough done in the six days to rest on the seventh. After all, we should be following His example.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 NLT

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Be A Comfort

Yesterday morning I went to the hospital early to see Mom. She had a good night and was feeling much better than she had the day before. Shortly after I arrived she received her breakfast. She said it tasted good but not as good as the chocolate pudding she had the night before.

In just a little bit, a sweet nurse’s aide came in and asked if Mom would like to have a sponge bath. She thought that sounded nice. The aide was so sweet as she went about her task – warm water, wash cloths, a clean hospital gown and then she changed the sheets on the bed. Mom felt like a new woman! To top it off, she leaned over and gave Mom a big hug before she left.

Comfort!

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” II Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT

Mom was dismissed from the hospital yesterday afternoon, my sister and brother-in-law are taking good care of Mom, we are so grateful for all they do!

The littlest kindnesses are sometimes the greatest sources of comfort. Where do you find comfort?

“When I felt my feet slipping, you came with your love and kept me steady. 19 And when I was burdened with worries, you comforted me and made me feel secure.” Psalm 94:18-19 CEV

“When I am hurting, I find comfort in your promise that leads to life. 51 Conceited people sneer at me, but I obey your Law. 52 I find true comfort, Lord, because your laws have stood the test of time.” Psalm 119:50-52 CEV

Our true comfort doesn’t come from the external things in our lives but from the eternal – from God’s Word and His love.

“Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God’s Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others.” Philippians 2:1 CEV

My prayer is that we will all be used of God to make others “Comfort-abled” today!

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Thankful for Peace

Spent quite a bit of time this morning thanking the Lord for peace. No, not the kind of peace that is talked about at beauty pagents, world peace, but soul peace.

I was a Christian for a lot of years but had no peace. Worry was a big part of who I was. I worked hard to worry. Occasionally I would find small moments of peace but for the most part peace eluded me. Peace isn’t the absence of conflict, but instead, it is a clear focus while in the turmoil. King David says in Psalm 91:

“Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful. 2 Then you will say to the Lord, “You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you. 3 The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. 4 He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall. 5 You won’t need to worry about dangers at night or arrows during the day. 6 And you won’t fear diseases that strike in the dark or sudden disaster at noon. 7 You will not be harmed, though thousands fall all around you. 8 And with your own eyes you will see the punishment of the wicked. 9 The Lord Most High is your fortress. Run to him for safety, 10 and no terrible disasters will strike you or your home.” Psalm 91: 1-10 CEV

True peace, peace that comes from God, isn’t something we “work” to get, it comes from a place of trust. It is an outgrow of being attached to Jesus the living vine. Jesus told his disciples that He was the vine, we are the branches and if we abide in Him we will bear fruit. Peace is some of the fruit that grows when abiding in Him.

“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.” Galatians 5:22-24 AMP

Producing fruit is a natural result for a healthy plant. Water, sunshine, good soil and a strong stock produce good fruit. Good ground (a prepared heart), the Living Water, the Vine and the Son.

Yesterday I learned about peace from my 96 year old mother. She had a heart incident in the morning and had to be taken to the ER. I spent the day with her there. She wasn’t scared or worried about dying, in fact, she was looking forward to “going home”. She talked of my father, her parents and all her friends that are already in heaven. She talked about her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and how she prayed they would all be there some day too. She was a testimony of peace to the medical staff and to me. She stayed the night for observation and I came home. Before I did, we prayed, she prayed that I would have a peaceful night sleep and not worry.

This morning my heart is filled with peace. Jesus has been cultivating my heart’s soil and I am grafted to His vine. I bear the fruit of peace through Him.

Focus on the Vine today – the fruit of peace will come!

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Be Someone’s Blessing

What does it take to be a blessing? How do we treat the unthankful? Jesus gave this instruction to his disciples:

“I’m telling you to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to people without expecting to get anything back. If you do this, you will have a great reward. You will be children of the Most High God. Yes, because God is good even to the people who are full of sin and not thankful. 36 Give love and mercy the same as your Father gives love and mercy. 37 “Don’t judge others, and God will not judge you. Don’t condemn others, and you will not be condemned. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.” Luke 6:35-38

Jesus instruction was clear – we are to be an example of God to those we deal with each day. We were all sinners by nature but Jesus freely gave His life so that we could be brought into right relationship with God the Father. He gave freely and so should we.

Look at that second phrase in today’s verses, lend without expecting to get anything back. What have you lent…your time, your friendship, your assistance, your tools, your car, your money, your love, your compassion, your attention and genuine interest. When we lend without expecting to get things back then we’ve really made them a gift and in giving we’re an example of our heavenly Father.

Search for an opportunity to give to someone who is, by nature, unthankful. Maybe they were raised to be skeptical and feel that anytime someone gave something it was with a hiden agenda – so give today, genuinely give. Who knows you may be the one God is using to break through their shell and bring out an attitude of gratitude.

Let’s make this our prayer. “Lord, what can I do to please you today? I know I don’t have to work to earn Your love. But I like to do things that make you happy – things that bring a smile to Your face, something that will let You know that I love you?”

“My brothers and sisters, God chose you to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful selves. Instead, serve each other with love. 14 The whole law is made complete in this one command: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14 ERV

The verse above was Paul’s instructions to the Christians at Galatia. He was reminding them of what Jesus taught and Jesus words were a repeat of a lesson God gave to Moses when the Israelites first came out of Egypt. God’s command from the very beginning was that we walk in a loving way towards those around us.

“Forget about the wrong things people do to you. Don’t try to get even. Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:18 ERV

Be forgiving, be generous, be loving, even to the unlovable and be the reason that someone else is thankful! It will make your Father smile.

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