The Great Escape

Being with people is one of my favorite things, but sometimes you just need to get away.

I absolutely love the working life, but it really detracts from the amount of personal time you get. Add in the social life, and the weekly meetings, etc, and your time gets sliced into pieces. All of this is making the sabbath more and more precious to me.

I cannot say how much I love my job, but I'm realizing that spending 8-9 hours minimum a day without getting to develop people towards the Lord is really starting to wear on me.

It would seem everything has been building up in me, and I have desperately needed a get-away. I felt like I was supposed to do something different for church this morning, but I didn't know what to do. I spoke with a friend, and he suggested hitting up a park. Finally- peace! I knew what I was supposed to do.

So this was church this morning:

I also wrote a new jingle: "I saw a bug today I never want to seeee again..." [and repeat]

And I found what may be my new favorite flower. So beautiful. :)

I didn't hear Him much while I was there, but I know He heard me, and I trust Him, so that'll do. And what's even better, He gave me so much guidance and insight on those things later in the day! What a blessing.

And what an incredible day!

What DO you have?!

Hello again!

Tip of the day= gratitude.

Ohhh this is so what I want to learn! The Lord is having a field day keeping me humble these days! I think He's probably trying to convince me that I can't make things happen. Noted, Lord? Ohhhh, yes. So noted! Everything I say or do to try and attain my desires usually leaves me feeling like a complete idiot! [all glory to God! haha]

But you know, at the same time, this is what the Lord is surfacing in me: "What DO you have, Kelli?! What DO you have?"

After such a long season of disappointment and hurt and stripping away, my little heart has completely forgotten how to be blessed in the natural! He took me into the quiet place to draw my heart closer to Him, but now that He wants to bless me externally, I have no idea how to receive it!! Because... look at the pain last month, Jesus! And look at the heartache months ago, Lord! ... honestly. Kelli. I love you, but open your eyes, girl! BIG FLOWERY FIELD OF WONDERFUL stands before you! [shaking my head]

"Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

This verse wrecked me a couple years ago. Perfect timing, really. Pray, yes. But pray with a watchful eye, and be thankful.

When I think about the amazing, incredible people He has placed in my life that very sincerely care about me, I am undone at His goodness. There is so much love surrounding me! If only I look to what I DO have! Praise Him, for He is good!

You are my Gate

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." -Proverbs 4:23

This verse has been circling through my head for months now. Various friends (of a loving and wise sort of nature) have offered it to me as advise in this season of my life. How discerning of them. And yet, every time I hear it or read it, it stirs turmoil in me...

A guard is set in place to protect something of value- something deemed precious, and worthy of any expense to protect. Above all else, the Lord considers my heart to be the one thing worth guarding. I could spend the rest of my life pondering on that alone.

So why the turmoil? What can be bad about my heart being precious?

Finally, after a man that I deeply admire shared this verse yet again with me, the Lord explained to me what I did not understand about guarding my heart.

This is what I knew: As said before, a guard is set in place to protect something of value- they are strong in stature, and often carry an additional weapon to defend against those who would try to steal or wound that which is being protected. Keep it safe, keep everything out.

But that is where I erred!! A guard is not solely set in place to keep everything out. Rather, a guard is set in place to keep everything out that would harm, while allowing any rightful person to pass easily. If a guard is excellent at protecting something- a city, for example- but they do not allow the King or the citizens of that city to enter- what good is the guard?!

Guard your heart.

Yes, a guard often means putting up walls, putting up boundaries... but a boundary without a gate is but a prison!

I need a guard of my heart to defend against anything ill intended, and to allow those who would bless to enter. I need a gate of my heart, to let the wicked depart, and let the loving to enter.

It's the same misconception as we have about God being a judge- we forget that a judge also pronounces the people innocent! Remove your turmoil, and be thankful!

But I have learned that I am not the best guard of my gate. I used to let all of the good in, but there was no closing my gate! Here is my heart- wide open for all who desire to possess it. Friend or foe. The truth is- I need a guard, and I need a guard who is stronger than I am.

“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" John 10:1-10

Freedom and Golf Carts!

Here is a quick pic to demonstrate the awesomeness of a family town Freedom Parade!

This was everyone leaving after the parade was through:

Ohhhhhhhhh the golf carts.

And for any of those pondering about the wellness of my face this year- my father saved me from a stray pair of beads that had been hurled- yes, directly at my face. Saved my life. Thank you, father. :)

Otherwise, other than minor bruises from candy-pelters, All is well!

Happy 4th, everybody!

Cornbread and Chicken

Well, 4th of July weekend is upon us! Hellooooo 3 day weekend! I decided to travel on down to my favorite 4th of July spot- HOME.

We may not be a big city, but we do it right! I'm talking all-out. Fireworks are amazing, and the town is decorated like no one's business. Beware of frantic flag wavers, or the lady who keeps slapping you in the face with her beads- the beads that she keeps whipping around carelessly [in your face] as she begs the other floats to give her MORE BEEEEADS!!! .......

All of this, though, is really just a side note. I've been thinking recently about how much I enjoy the small city life I have right now- with all of its entertainment and distractions. And yet at the same time, I sooo commiserate with "Sweet Home Alabama", when the heroine states something to the extent of: "but then I come here, and this feels right too." Not only does it feel right... it feels great!

It was a great moment today when I stopped for gas a block or two away from home. I looked around me, and smiled as I stared in the face of my roots. I suddenly remembered why I'm a small girl devoted to her Ford truck. This song came echoing from my speakers as I pulled up: "Where I come from, it's cornbread and chicken! Where I come from, a lot of front porch sittin'. Where I come from- tryin' to make a livin'. And working hard to get to heaven, where I come from."

Every last one of those vehicles is a truck! HA! And every one of the vehicles parked out front was a truck or an SUV. I looked up just in time to see a man in his 50s walking out of the station with his unbuttoned shirt exposing his tanned beer gut! And my confession? I loved everything about that gas stop!

"I feel no shame, I'm proud of where I came from
 I was born and raised in the boondocks!
 One thing I know- no matter where I go
 I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks!
 It's where I learned about living / It's where I learned about love
 It's where I learned about working hard / And having a little was just enough.
 It's where I learned about Jesus / and knowing where I stand..."

Happy 4th, America! And it's good to be in the South!

Songs quoted: "Where I Come From" by Alan Jackson, and "Boondocks" by Little Big Town