Vertical Connection

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Thu, 07 May 2015 20:37:00 +0000

For those of you wondering about where the playlists may have gone...Well we have moved over to www.kimberlydnyborg.blogger.com

I will be phasing out this blog and residing at the above address until further notice so please, take a trip over and we will see you there.

Visit me on facebook at www.facebook.com/thewordofhertestimony

Blessings to you friends!

Kimberly

Lessons From a Schnauzer!

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:13:00 +0000

If you happen to think you have things figured out enough in your life and that you and God are on the same page but for some reason you keep going round the mountain, give me a moment of your time to tell you my story.

I went through this huge test--simply put--because I always think I know what's best for me! However, that can come with some troubles, and I am ashamed to admit it, because surely by now I should know better (not fun to admit I'm am a slow learner.) But I am going to risk some vulnerability because I have a feeling that I am not alone! Maybe you have a decision you are getting ready to make that could change the direction of your life. It could involve a serious relationship, a financial investment or job opportunity. Whatever it is let me urge you to read this somewhat humorous lesson and ponder its implications before you cautiously proceed.

Determination! That's me ever since I can remember. I have always been and still am a very investigative sort. Yes, that can be a great attribute when channeled in the 'right' direction. How else would we ever know that there are (for example) planets that are part of a 'solar system' and that we (planet Earth) belong to one of them? Unfortunately, in my life it has become a stronghold that has gotten me into lots of trouble and this spirit of independence has plagued me even as a more 'mature' Christian. You see when I get something in my mind, I am not easily deterred. One might just reason it away saying I lack common sense at times. But what I really need to have is a plan before taking action and remember how vital it is to have a witness of agreement with two or more to help discern whether or not I am really hearing from God.

You would certainly think that a few hard lessons would reign in this young lass who stepped out into some pretty bizarre situations. Like leaving home at 13 and again at 15 (not to return the second time.) Argh! My younger years were strange years and I grew up rather quickly. Yes, I was rather impulsive. I have heard that half the battle is recognizing there's a problem!

Gratefully, I became a Christian at the age of 30 and God began His deep work in me as I have learned to surrender the many areas of my will with its baggage and consequences (and the deep pain in my heart) to the Lord. I am learning that as it says in John 15:5 "I am the vine, You are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." And this is where I want to begin, now that you have some background.

Let me begin by honestly saying that I really am beginning to like who God is creating me to be. "Lord, please keep me teachable so I don't quit growing!" I also add that there is a whole lot of refining to be done. As with all of us, I am in process and will be until Christ calls me home. So most of the time I really do appreciate what God is teaching me and doing in my life. Now here's where I will reveal one of my strongholds to you--I still like to call the shots and think I know what is best for me. I forget Whose I am and Who knows best!

My husband and I now have a this dog who was a darling little puppy that I totally obsessed over until I got her. You see, after having to put down our sweet old "Chelsey" dog of 13 some years ago, and then putting down our inherited Sheltie (acquired from Jerry's dad when he went home,) it was then time to get what I wanted and thought would be best for us to have. I have wanted a Schnauzer for a long time! So for two months after the Sheltie was gone I searched online high and low and researching as I went, for our Schnauzer. They are great dogs, smart, sturdy, healthy and cut too! My husband decided that he didn't want any more pets (we also have a Siamese cat) insisting that when these were gone there would be no more. Yours truly persisted to convince him that we really should "try one on for size" assuming that he would just fall in love with her. I did pray about it, a lot. But let me confess, I did not wait on the Lord and like I always do, took matters into my own hands. Yes, Kimberly knows best. In July we acquired our first standard Schnauzer. A scrawny 3.5 month-old black female from Canada (Manitoba to be exact.) I even had her name all picked out before hand, Elsa, a good German name for a good German dog, and it means 'God is my oath'.

So you ask "What's the point?" Let me tell you how God has and continues to use this little dog to teach me some stuff! I have learned some vital stats about 'Kimberly', like don't make me wait and don't tell me no! And I have had to pay the price for my resistance to learn. Old Frank Sinatra may have sung the song but I keep living it out, 'doing it my way'.

She is pretty cute don't you think?

Our little Elsa is a smart little Fraulein and she really learns quickly the fun things. But...there is a very stubborn and determined side to her and as smart as she is she came with a few issues.

Coming off the farm, everything about city living scares her. (I should have named her Skiddles and when she first came through the door of the house, the cat greeted us as she always does and little Elsa freaked and poop literally went everywhere!)
She had a horrible case of round worm--yuck--that we had to deal with including diarrhea issues for several months and that was no pleasure to clean up! (Two doses of medicine took care of that and we were good to go although the vet blamed the kennel rearing--how would I know?)
We got her at 3.5 months which gave her head start in nurturing her strong will not to mention that the housebreaking took forever (we finally made headway at 7.5 months and they are supposed to be EASY to train!)
This little dog has a strong will that runs competitive with mine.

Argh--what have I done? Now I haven't painted a very nice picture have I. So please, don't get me wrong, she has her delightful moments and can be a lot of fun. It is just that there are a few hurdles we are going to have to jump through before it is all said and done.

So what's all the fuss anyway? First of all, I forgot the time involved with a puppy. For a time and a season I have had to give up some pretty precious time that God and I spend together. I must say that that has been the biggest adjustment for me. Especially our first three months together. I have missed my time to write, read and study or do the little extra things around the house and I so look forward to once again being able to have time back. My mornings and evenings have involved puppy sitting while I try to read my Bible in between disciplining her for snatching the newspaper or pillow when I'm not looking. I know, this is all very typical puppy stuff.

I am also concerned that I am getting old and cranky! A few frustrating times of training--the experts always say don't push it if you're frustrated--have given way to some harsh reactions on my part. I hate that! And have had to cry out to God for forgiveness and mercy for being so harsh. I don't want to ruin her sweet spirit and cause her to be afraid of me. That has been very hard for me to deal with. Who wants to think of themselves as a harsh disciplinarian? Firm and loving, that is the way.

As I conclude this I have realized that things are definitely getting better. (As she learns and I learn.) But for a time I thought what have I done, and am I going to regret once again demanding my own way and going ahead of God? The thoughts have come and gone regarding what we could have had if I had waited for God's best. Like when the vet says his Schnauzer was house broken in short of two weeks at under two months old! Or will she ever get that "stay" is for her good and so is "come". With all the deer in our yard I wonder what would happen to her the day she decides while off the leash, to chase one. Will I ever see her again? I know by heart the verses in Proverbs 3:5,6 that say,

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

But I forget the rest of the story when I read verse :7

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil."

Ouch, the Proverbs can really make the tough calls! Old Solomon was in tune to his maker! So when will Kimberly realize that God, Abba, knows what's best for His girl and that it is so much better to wait than to regret? His best is always for our best even if it doesn't seem like it at the time or that is is just taking too long?

Elsa and Patsy Cline

I have prayed that God has redeemed the jump-start girl once again and I know that He alone can bring beauty from ashes. Our Elsa is learning and is now grown up. She has matured into a tremendous companion to me and my husband. The ride is slowing just a bit and as you can see I even have some time to do a bit of writing these days, yeah!

Well, if you can identify with my plight, let's pray and ask God to give us what is ultimately His very best and nothing less and the courage and patience to wait on the Lord. Let's pray

Pappa, once again I jumped ahead of You and You have gently reminded me that Father knows best! I really do want to give You my strong will and I also want to give You that part of me that thinks I know what is best for me. You know how impatient I can be when I don't get my way. Just let me learn this time as I surrender. Thank you for your word in Isaiah 40:31 that says we really do gain great strength from waiting upon You. Mounting up with wings like eagles, running and not becoming weary and walking without fainting. What a promise awaits those who are willing to hold on for Your best. I want that and I am so tired of the learning curve as I traipse around the mountain again and again in this area. Please deliver me and give me the courage to stand fast as I wait on You, in Your powerful Name, Amen!

Slowly but Surely...

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:52:00 +0000

If you are a follower of mine, I would like to point you elsewhere as I am hoping to work my way over here: http://kimberlydawnnyborg.blogspot.com/

My goal is to eventually use this current spot for my daily playlist on Psalm FM. This is where I hope to point to artists and their songs and info about who they are. My personal thoughts on the "Lessons from the Field will eventually be moved to the new address above. Not sure how that will all work but taking a step at a time. (Some days I wonder why I don't just leave things alone:0)...not who I am!)

So bear with me and join my site listed above and I hope to interact with you more over there as well! To my faithful followers, please sign up in the new places as this one will eventually be used for my program.

Now I also have another place to visit too at http://kimberlynyborg.wordpress.com so you are welcome to visit there and it is there that I hoped to provide encouragement for those who are hurting with a page for prayer. I would count it a privilege to pray for you and your needs...it is what the body does for one another!

Thanks for your patience!

In His abundant love,

Kimberly Dawn

Abiding in Him

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 14:31:00 +0000

I have this little piece of wall art that hangs on my wall and it says ‘Abide in Him’. Using wall art that include words or Scripture speak loudly of my convictions and beliefs. But the word abide (in itself) is such a descriptive of the Spirit-filled life that I desire to live, yet struggle to attain. I was plowing through a book by Francis Chan, called “Forgotten God”, and in his convicting fashion I was challenged by one of my favorite chapters in the book of John, chapter 15. Chan issues a challenge by asking a profound question, is my life too loud, to which I could readily say “yes it is!”. Then Francis proceeds to encourage us to put down his book and pick up the Book and read a few chapters in the book of John. Right to some of my favorites in John, chapters 14, 15 and 16.

The verb “abide”, according to Merriam-Webster means to wait, endure without yielding, to bear patiently. It also means to remain stable or in a fixed state and to continue in a place. In John 15 where the picture of the ‘vine’ is used to describe our life in Christ--we being the branch, Christ being the vine and then the Father addressed as the vinedresser--John uses the word “abide” ten times:

John 15:4-11 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love."

Do you think maybe there is a point to be made here? There are ten references to the word abide in the verses above that are being used to drive home some profound points:

The imperative to remain in Christ;
We aren’t fruitful if we don’t;
If we refuse to abide in Christ we can be thrown away for we aren’t fruitful;
There is an invitation to remain in Christ’s love;
By walking in obedience we partake in His love.

So when I am restless, when I am struggling through (with my own resources) and forgetting that apart from Him I can really do nothing, instead of being frustrated with myself I really need to stop and remember that I am a partaker with Christ. I really sell myself short and settle for less than His best by “trying” or “trying to do it myself”. I am sure my Father is thinking “Oh foolish one, as I expend efforts that amount to little when in Him I can accomplish great things or at least what He desires and that spells success!

I don’t believe if you are a driven person that there is necessarily an easy way to submit your efforts for His peace that only comes from abiding in Him! God desires that we would “remain stable or in a fixed state” by abiding in Hiim walking in the Spirit-filled life. But from one who has been there...stop striving, try it and see. Then you can appreciate these words from the Psalmist, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" Psalm 34:8 (ESV) Abiding in Him is where we fulfill the Spirit-filled life that God desires we live out for Him and His glory!

Father, I remember that this battle to 'do' in my own efforts is a winnable battle when I walk with you! I will make the choice today to let You lead via Your Spirit which is living in me! The rest that comes from giving You the reins of my life is well worth the concerted effort it takes to hand them over. So thank You Fahter for the gift of Your Holy Spirit who allows me to quit my striving by abiding in You!

Better Than a Hallelujah...

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 01:35:00 +0000

I spoke to a lovely group of ladies, where a beautiful young lady was asked to do special music for the event. I knew the song but never really paid much attention to it until that day, hearing it sweetly and gently sung by this precious woman. I hadn't realized that some of the lyrics in the song really spoke of my story and my journey coming to Christ and delivering my marriage. I just couldn't get the song out of my mind. (Interesting how God really does put things together since she and I didn't even know each other!)

God has given me specific verses that I use to encapsulate my story of being a desperate young mom who had exhausted all her efforts to 'make life work' or 'make sense'. Instead, all I kept doing was digging my hole deeper and deeper with every poor choice and mistake piling in upon me and weighing me down so that every attempt to climb out only felt like trying to pull myself out of quick sand. I was being sucked in and frankly, I was just about at the place of letting go of all hope, figuring I would never find 'happiness' and I just wanted to give up. But that was the place or point where God could finally do the work He had planned all along.

The chorus of the song that was sung by the beautiful guest was so fitting because I was there, I was a broken, miserable and pretty desperate mess of a woman, failing in all of my attempts to find happiness.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking heart,
Are better than a Hallelujah...

I am reminded of how patient our heavenly Father is with us. He really does know that some of us have to bottom out not only once sometimes more times as we stubbornly keep trying to do things "our way" instead of pleading for help. This only reminds me of how kind our Father truly is toward His wayward children. Another line from the song:

The tears of shame for what's been done
The silence when the words won't come,
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

The verse that speaks so clearly of the day that Jesus rescued me from everthing that I had attempted to do on my own in an effort to find peace is from Psalm 40:1-3:

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD."

God, my Father, could have left me flailing, trying to continue in my useless efforts to get out of my self-made pit...but He didn't! He heard the broken cries of one who finally let go of trying to "do it on her own"! Instead He knew I was truly ready to be plucked out.

Here is Psalm 40:1-3 once again but from the Message paraphrase:

I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip. He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God.

My life has never been the same since the day I gave my broken Hallelujah to my God. I am very encouraged to know that the heart song we sing never goes unnoticed by the Father! He never turns His back on our cries. Like the verses above read, He is patient in His waiting for us to finally say we can't do it on our own, or by ourselves! Help, help me Lord...

Better Than A Hallelujah

Are you at that place today where a broken Hallelujah is all you can muster or where out of sheer desperation your heart is on the verge of failing and you just can't go another step on your own? Oh my friend, God has been patiently waiting for this very moment when you would lay down your self-efforts and allow Him to 'bring you up', up out of your own miserable pit. He is your rescuer, your deliverer and your present help in times of trouble. I urge you to cry out to Him now, give Him your broken Hallelujah, He not only cares for you but He loves you and He won't turn His back on you!

Do I Have to Let Go?

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 02:13:00 +0000

Have you ever had to let go of something but believed that it just wasn't the right time, just not yet or maybe you never thought you would have to ever? Back in the fall of 2009 my story was featured on the front page of Living Stones News, a fabulous newspaper filled with stories of faith, miracles and life-changing testimonies that included my own. The stories proclaim the goodness of the Lord and the work He does in and through people's lives (and some of us have have been pulled through some pretty awful messes). However, these were real life stories of God's redemption, encouragement for others to be able to see just what God is able to do in a person's life!

Almost a year after my story was published, Corinne Scott (she and her husband began this marvelous ministry) asked if I would be interested in having a monthly column in the paper since they recently lost one of their contributors. I was overwhelmingly blessed by her request and accepted. So for almost two years I have been contributing to this paper which went online last November. It has been such a privilege to be connected to the world this way with a fabulous host of other writers and I have seen it as a gift from God to be part of this team.

At the end of August, we received word from Corinne that the Living Stones News would no longer be published for a variety of reasons. Needless to say I was sorely disappointed to hear the news but understand that everything in life has seasons. I was reminded of this bittersweet Scripture:

John 12:24 (ESV) "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

It is sort of crazy and somewhat of a paradox to think that something has to die to begin anew! But it is true. Every single seed that falls to the ground falls lifeless only to eventually sprout and bear fruit. And some seeds have to endure intense pressure before they will be able to sprout new life!

The verse above in John reads like this in the Message paraphrase: "Listen carefully; Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over."

What is it that you are holding on to that may need to fall to the ground? For my friends at Living Stones News, well, god knows what might be stirring under the ground that may resurrect as a new thing that will be used to glorify Him in a fresh, new way. And I myself have had to lay down hopes and dreams so that the Lord can have His way and rebuild what I have tried to do myself. (Much like that dying to self' business!)

Don't be afraid to let go...trust His directing hand and know that when God begins something new that it may be for a time and a season, a specific purpose or use that will give Him glory! After all, Jesus Himself had to willingly die and because He did, we who identify with His death and resurrection now live.

Finally, it is fall and every thing around my neck of the woods has mostly drained of color and appears dead...until spring that is!

What Does Sin Look Like?

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:35:00 +0000

When I walk my little girl in the woods, most days are filled with appreciation of God's creation. Many times He reveals truth through what I see giving me spiritual insights through my visual observations. When I remember to do so, I like to take my camera with me to capture various interesting creatures, plants, etc.

One day I was captivated by all the varying types of fungus that grows on seemingly alive and dead trees on our property. These come in a wide variety of shapes and colors and according to my Google search there are different types but the ones on my trees are fungal and require a 'host' to grow. In otherwords they can drain the host for their own survival. There many shapes and sizes and some are just fascinating even attractive in some cases like the petticoat or lacy look at the bottom of one tree. But interestingly enough, when they die off, they shrivel up and get nasty black, slimy and become very yucky looking. There is nothing attractive about them at all. And in a lot of cases their host begins to look unhealthy and may even die off. Maybe they even reveal an unhealthy interior in some cases?

In one of the pictures I felt God showing me how this is like sin. We can become captivated by what looks to be something not only satisfying but lovely, exciting, attractive, delicious, and yes, alluring. The word alluring, really says it well, to attract or tempt by something flattering or desireable. And the word seduce is also a good descriptive of anything that captures and lures us from where we are in a disingenuous manner, to cause us harm.

In the Scriptures it talks about being enticed and seduced by sin and its results when it is allowed to have its way in our thinking and actions. James 1:14,15 says, "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

It is indeed an unfortunate thing that we allow ourselves to be tempted and swayed by our 'natural' desires instead of using the weapons of warfare--God given in Christ Jesus--to win the battle of temptation in our everyday world. The lure is there everyday and everywhere, it pulls and tugs for us to obey in a sense demanding our attention where instead we might choose to focus on the tools God has given us to win the war against sin. Sometimes, even daily, it can be exhausting, however on the other side of the battle is the peace that is ours when we make right choices.

I like the way the Message paraphrase puts Proverbs 2:6-8 "And here's why: God gives out Wisdom free, is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding. He's a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well, a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere. He keeps his eye on all who live honestly, and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones."

God's word reminds us that we will be tempted! But He also shows us the benefits of making the right choice, telling our minds the truth about the temptation. If it is only going to bring a momentary burst of enjoyment then give way to a not so pleasant outcome then why not refuse to indulge in it? My biggest struggle is with food and I can really apply this to what I allow to pass from my hands to my mouth. And it isn't very often that I win the battle once the temptation is in hand so to speak. But that is my struggle. For you it might be something different. But the bottom line is that we have the freedom to make the right choice or decision every time we are faced with temptation. Mentally frisking--if you will--by putting it to through the Philippians 4:8 test is a big help when we take the time to ask ourselves if it is "...true...honorable...just...pure...lovely...commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise..."

The war is played out in the mind, and today like every day we have all we need to be victorious! How is it going for you today? Take a moment right now to reflect upon the Scripture in Philippians above that ends with "...think about these things" and you will see that the battle really does belong to the Lord!

Let Your Love be Genuine!

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:26:00 +0000

I love to observe people who really walk in their gifting. When we come to Christ, He gives us (according to how He created us) the ability to "minister" the love of Christ in various ways to people. Could be people yet to know Him or members of the body in need. It is something that is within us and part of us that can come to life as we become His vessels to show God's love to this world and each other.

A friend of mine and a loved one of mine are so good at picking up on the needs of others. It amazes me how a segment of their life is all about using their gift of mercy to come along side of those who have been in tough places and have real physical and spiritual needs. These women are an inspiration to me and they truly walk out the verse in Micah 6:8 that is really a verse for all of us!

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

After reading through the minor prophets in the Old Testament, I came away with knowing how important it is to stay connected to the Father and then walk out my love for Him by loving others. If Jesus said in six different verses in the New Testament that we are to "...love one another..." then I think it is a pretty important point to pick up on and to live out!

John 13:34: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have love you, you also are to love one another.

John 13:35: "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 15:12: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

John 15:17: "These things I command you, so that you will love one another."

1 John 3:11: "For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."

2 John 1:5: "And now I ask you, dear lady--not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we havce had from the beginning--that we love one another."
Are you getting the picture? This is for the body of Christ today, right now!

How are you doing with your part of the words above from Jesus? I know we all don't have the gift of mercy but let me ask you how you are doing with issues toward another? You might be gifted in teaching or helps but if you are not living out the above "commandment" are you being effective? Nothing we speak or do without the inspiration that comes from genuine care or concern amounts to a hill of beans if it isn't lived out in us first. I have heard it said that our pets know instinctively who is a dog or cat lover. And that can be applied to people as well. If we love each other and sincerely care, we will accomplish what Christ calls us to because we have taken seriously the mandate to "love one another".

Lord, I know there are people that I struggle to love and I want that to change so that I can walk in Your ways, not my own. Please stir in me a desire to let go of any misunderstandings and really desire to put love into practice. I can call out to you when it gets difficult and if I listen to You, You will show me how! Paul says it well in Romans that we are to "If possible, so far as it depends on you (me), live peaceably with all." When I purpose to live letting love be my motifation, you can use me to touch lives with Your words and minister to the hurting!

Worship the Lamb of God

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:45:00 +0000

Shackled By A Heavy Burden

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:53:00 +0000

“Shackled by a heavy burden,
‘neath a load of guilt and shame...”
The the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same.”

The Gaither Vocal Band wrote the lyrics to this gospel song which after a walk in the woods one morning with the pup kept coming to mind and I began to sing it. I was admiring the beauty of the freshly fallen snow but as I glanced at the trees they were so heavy laden with that thick weighty load bearing upon the branches. I am sure that some of them were so close to breaking and I thought of how familiar that is to us when we are full of unconfessed sin.

Sin is a very heavy load to bear, after all, the Father didn’t design us to carry that kind of a weight around! It is a weight that will eventually cause damage physically and spiritually. Physically we hide our sin and by hiding or stashing it we become unhealthy in our actions trying to cover up our mess. And what about the guilt that we carry around because of our sin? It could be from something we’ve done or said or we might live in denial pretending that we have done nothing wrong yet wonder why our happiness and joy is stifled, only a facade.

Spiritually speaking, we might do likewise as we pretend that our walk is just fine and that all is well. When in fact we for some reason have a difficult time with people, especially certain ones who seem to remind of us of a place we would rather not visit. Or those especially nice ones who make us uncomfortable because they seem so clean and right. Why can’t I just find peace? Then there is also that void when I don’t know Jesus and He doesn’t reside or dwell within, you just want peace with yourself and with others!

“Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same...”

I have learned that sin is a weight that is not intended to be can’t be carried. And I am unable to soar bearing its load. God created me/you to fly like an eagle and soar to great heights but by carrying an unnecessary burden, I become handicapped so to speak unable to attain those things that God designed me for! But there is a remedy...

Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--these, O God, You will not despise." (NKJ)

God delights when we turn from sin! There is no degree of one sin over another, it is all unacceptable to Him. And there is nothing sweeter than being released from that burden which stood in the way as a road block between me and God! No more guilt, no more shame and one thing is for sure, the world takes on a whole new look when it isn’t skewed with our sin and guilt! You see, God provides enough grace and mercy daily for every wrong we confess. After all, He delights in our felllowship and right standing with Him because of the sacrifice His Son Jesus made on the cross. When Jesus rose from the grave on Resurrection morning, He made a way for us to have life and a relationship with Father God. It was extreme love, given for us!

John 15:13 says it clearly, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (NKJ)
And like the song continues...
“He touched me, oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.”

So if it is unforgiveness, adultery, abuse, a besetting sin, the sin of unbelief, you just name it and give Him your burden, don’t delay, it belongs at the foot of the cross! Jesus blood covers it and God has already forgiven it!

Don't Leave Home Without It!

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:57:00 +0000

What is your covering? Right off the top we know that God is our ultimate covering. He is Lord over all! But as a married woman in ministry I am learning that my “covering” is my guy. There was a time that I would not have liked or wanted to live that out. However, being a female representative for Christ and a wife means this is key to God’s blessings as I serve Him!

My guy--old-fashioned man that he is--really enjoys having his girl home. As the Lord began to open up more ministry opportunities this meant that I would have to be gone more frequently. Believe me, I love to be home, especially being one who works all week. But as requests to speak began to come more frequently I sensed that the guy was not very approving especially when there would be overnight stays. I sensed and heard some grumbling and I knew that we had to go tete-et-tete!

Television is his evening routine spent with Bill and then Sean but I asked that he would please turn it off and hear my heart. I then began to ask some questions like “Do you think that God uses my story to help, encourage and bring others to Christ?” and he admitted He does and has been for a time! You see I have always done Bible study groups with teen girls and women which he has observed over the years. Not to mention my program on air every day. I then let reminded him that being a Stonecroft speaker means that I would be asked to speak all over our state (and bordering states). Not to mention the other speaking events I would be doing. It is at this juncture that I said to my guy, that if I don’t have your blessing, there is no way that I will have an anointing to go forward, if he didn’t agree that this was where God was taking me then I would lay it all down. You see, I realized I cannot go forward if my husband disagrees with me doing so and it is vital for me to be under his covering, not out from under it “doing my own thing.”

After a bit guy paused and then said that he thought it was important to continue what I was doing but he also gave me some very sound advise and for the fist time I truly felt he was protecting me not restricting me. (This was quite a breakthrough for us!) Like not traveling to the Dakotas via automobile in the winter months, that makes sense! I knew he was lovingly showing his care for me! But the long and short of it was he had released me to “go”!

I was writing this on a plane en-route to an event in Platteville, WI where I would be keynotes at an all day women’s seminar! This however did not come without some difficulties! While preparing for this event I was overwhelmed at one point because of all these things that kept coming up out of nowhere! The cold the guy acquired was over in three days while it stayed with me for ten. And, during the end of that time I somewhere along the line contracted conjunctivitis, not fun when you are praying and evaluating your talk! Not to mention that it affected my voice for work. Not only that but the weekend before I was to leave saw my husband admit himself to ER for chest pains (this is one of the healthiest guys!) where we suddenly had a pile of concerns to deal with. Although, as we prayed I sensed God’s peace in it all. I was ready to cancel out on the event but he settled, was put on a medication and sent home the next day. Whew, Lord, what in the world was going on?

The rest of the week leading up to the Wisconsin event found me living with a grumbly man. The night before I departed I had to once again go tete-et-tete as we discussed our meeting over a year ago and the fact that he had released me to do this! (He was feeling better and had been working that week) I mentioned that as we prayed I knew things were going to be alright and he relaxed a bit and agreed but I am sure that there was a lot of uncertainty as to what the future was going to hold going on in his mind!

I remembered Moses' request that God's presence be with him or else he (Moses) would not go forward to do as God had called him:

Exodus 33:15, "Then Moses said to him, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here."

Moses knew he needed God's presence to accomplish the daunting task set before him and God certainly let His presence be known and Moses' face was radiant from his God encounter.

Now God really does show up in the eleventh hour. I called my husband before I left and asked for his blessing upon the Saturday event and I asked him to pray for me especially during the times I would be speaking and he surprised me by saying that he would and that he loved me! I can only tell you that it is much better to leave home knowing you not only have the Lord’s blessing but also your husband’s. Isn’t God good!

Friend, don’t just make sure that your bases are covered but don’t leave home unprotected!

Wearing the Blinders

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:54:00 +0000

The young girl asked, "What are those things by the horses eyes? How can he see?" The owner of the beautiful Percheron pair said "They are blinders and they keep the horse from being spooked or surprised (especially when pulling a sled full of people.)" Which is just what we were getting ready to enjoy!

These are 1,600 pound horses that could do a lot of damage if they were spooked not to mention that one step on a someone and wow, I think you would break! We had a delightful ride and my, that pair pulled a sled with 8 adults and 10 kids ranging in size and age.We had a marvelous time and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful winter day. By the end of our hour long ride it began to snow so so although beautiful, it was somewhat heavy and wet, it all timed out beautifully!

As I pondered the thought of blinders I realized that in essence we all should be wearing spiritual blinders. When I think of how easily we can be pulled this way or that in our thinking, (by the the wiles of the enemy of our soul) I think yes, that is just want he wants to do with us, spook us into old behavior and get us to regret and feel guilty and the like. He is so sneaky!

My favorite verses in Philippians basically reminds us to keep our eyes on the prize so that we will attain the goal in sight, so we don't become distracted and pulled away from that goal!

The Message Paraphrase puts it this way:

:13 Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. :14 I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

If we do likewise, then we really can’t use excuses when we get pulled away and tempted to walk contrary to our Christ life. God has certainly given us everything we need to literally be armed and dangerous. I like that thought! We just need to read and lean into Ephesians 6 and remind ourselves of the armor God gives us to use, applying the armor daily just like the horseman. He dresses his horses to protect them and others!

So, do you have your blinders on today?

Father, I can’t make excuses when I fall, you have fully equip me to stand the wiles of the enemy who would love nothing other than to trip me and then watch me fall. And, he would get double for his effort if I caused someone else to fall. So guard my heart Lord, may I be armed and watchful and a trustworthy example keeping my gaze upon the end result of an eternity with You!

Tending The Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:34:00 +0000

Do you like to garden? Once upon a time I was an avid gardener. I had a small hobby farm and I grew produce and planted flowers. I even had some ducks, geese and chickens to tend. They weren't just any old chickens but rare breed chickens. It was just fun for my little boy and I although he struggled with the birds as they weren't very nice to him.

The older I got the more involved I became in kid things as they grew and I too began to participate in more stuff and suddenly I didn't have much time left over to take care of my garden and flower beds. After all they take lots of work, and hours of dedication to keep them cleaned out so the tender shoots don't get choked out. they also need to be thinned out so that the plants themselves don't get over crowded and then there is harvesting...lots of work! But what is there that is good that doesn't come with effort?

I have discovered a new web blog called A Holy Moment that is authored by Ann Voskamp who has come to the forefront with her book--now on the New York Times best-seller list--One Thousand Gifts.

I think this beautiful girl is definitely on to something. Nothing new, nothing that takes rocket science but an effort. An effort to wake up alert to whose you are and gratefully appreciate what God has blessed you with. Oh friend, this just isn't quite as easy as it looks. As I mentioned above, tending a garden takes effort and so does cultivating a heart of gratitude!

You might be like me, having gone too long in the negative zone, with a negative mindset to start and finish your day. But what if we put forth an effort to counter that mentality with thanking our Sovereign for who He is as the giver of all good things, acknowledging His marvelous presence in our lives each and every day? And just like a garden we would tend to weeding out unwanted foreign thoughts that are contrary to our Sovereign's truth, and replanting with thankfulness after we have tilled up the crusty, dry ground that has settled for too long in in one place.

Let's imagine looking at life with nothing less than a handful of things to be grateful for each day! I will just bet that as you and I work toward cultivating our heart of gratitude that we are going to naturally adjust our outlook, in turn to other's and our family's, and then who knows what could overflow even outside of our immediate sphere of influence? Seriously, what would the world look like filled with grateful hearts?

Today, I have decided to diligently proceed to my flower bed and take the trowel to grumbling and complaining and replant with appreciation and thankfulness.

Psalm 66:1-3a says "Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, "How awesome are Your deeds!""

The joy that comes for from a heart of gratitude is where we get the strength to stand in the difficult times (and they will come!) Without it we will wither but joy is wrought with gratefulness! So let's get our tools and get digging.

In the Waiting!

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:15:00 +0000

There are too many days when I feel as if I'm at a standstill. Not going forward but I guess thankfully not going backward, just in that holding pattern. This frustrates me and I tend to start thinking that I must do something to make something happen. I am slowly learning that there is this fine balance between waiting on the Lord and pushing through. If I am not certain of what's ahead then I best not be pushing through or I might end up where I don't want to be or involved in something that I am not ready to be involved in. Yet on the other hand, if I make the effort to wait on the Lord, (very difficult for me) I will reap the harvest He has planned for me.

Isaiah 55:9 says it so well, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."

Can I ponder all He has in store for me, probably not because my 'heavenly mindset' still has ties to this world. I can dream but I really think He delights in my trusting Him enough to wait and prepare. It is so hard for me to wait and that has always been an issue for me. True confessions are that even as a kid, I had to peek at the presents hiding in the closet at Christmas time. But waiting is like getting your favorite fruit before it is ripe. If you bite into it before it is fully ripened it isn't going to taste like it would if you had waited for that fullness of flavor to develop and mature and wow, my mouth is watering as I think of juicy grapes. But taste them prior to their ripened state...just pucker up! So you just try to patiently wait then when they are fully matured, the anticipation is realized as sumptuous! Simply stated, God has the big picture and I do not. Yes, His ways are far surpassing ours although we have been given the mind of Christ we have a lot to learn about developing 'His thoughts."

I have come to appreciate this verse in Proverbs 16:9 "A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." Let me make all the plans I can and if I could draw a picture of my day without putting the Lord in the mix it would be one squiggly mix of here, there and everywhere. When I take the time to consult the "Planner" I will have a picture with much more direct routes to the goals and purposes He has set before me. It just sounds so easy doesn't it? But...let me place my heart's focus on the Lord and the ripening process that He has me in for this hour. Indeed, what He allows to mature will be well worth the wait and preparation and especially to bring Him glory!

Father, here is another day to walk with You and be in Your will. Let me take the journey a day at a time. Will You help me to give my day and plans completely to You? Let me lay down my agenda and pick up Yours so that my day will account for something worthwhile. When the end of the day comes I want to breathe a sigh of goodness knowing that my efforts were all part of Your divine plan for me instead of looking back and wondering if I accomplish anything? Thanks, Pappa that you are ultimately in control and although you will let me sputter around doing my own thing, while wasting a lot of that precious commodity called time, You will have Your way in my life. Today, let me choose Your way, the higher way as I trust that You will use this good day to make a difference in my circle of influence, in Jesus' name.

My Christmas Letter...

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:36:00 +0000

It's Christmas time! Everywhere you go people are rooting around for gift giving, holiday baking and party planning. I really feel like something is wrong with me this year. My melancholic other side has really kicked in. Normally I am the sanguine, dress me in red and send me off all smiles and laughter...this year is different. Oh, I don't think I am depressed, just rather reflective. This year I am peering hard into the nativity, listening to the various teaching programs present the story of Christ's birth and well, really soaking it in. Can it really be that after 27 years as a believer that it has suddenly hit me...that the baby born in a manger...God's only son...came to die for me and I am just getting it? No, I know these things, however this year it is remarkably different as I just seem to be looking beyond the surface, pondering the very stark reality of this event that we make fuss over year after year.

Lately, God has been helping me see just how very teeny tiny I am in light of who He is. I am barely capable of even trying to comprehend this God that I am somehow deeply in love with. Itsy, bitsy me knows that the Maker of heaven and earth loves her, desires her affections, and continually walks with her to bring her His very best, every day. Not only that, the King of the universe, the One who hung the stars in the sky even sings over her when she is sleeping. I can barely contain myself when I think of that!

The very understanding of these verses in John are so remarkable as they reveal Christ Jesus to us from the first five verses in the book of John:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of Men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."

These verses are proof that the Majesty came to invade our world of darkness so that we would no longer be in darkness. He came to provide life where there was only death!

When we read the Christmas story and get to the part of shepherds witnessing the revelation of the birth of Jesus in Luke 2, I am in awe!

"In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

I listened as the Bible teacher from a program we carry on the radio talked about the fact that these shepherds who received this revelation were really the lower class of society in that day. Dirty, stinky, sweaty and probably pretty course in their language, yet God made them privy to the realization of a story told hundreds of years before. They were some of the first to witness this baby born in a disgusting cave filled with animal refuse and dirt. How can it be? And how can it be that God has allowed one like me or even you, to come to know Himself as Trinity? This amazing event gave us the reality of the Creator Himself! If that doesn't humble you just a bit then pinch yourself to make sure you are really here!

My past has been an ugly stumbling block to receiving God's amazing grace. It has held me captive with unbelief that God could love me because of _________ (you can fill in the blank if you can identify.) Maybe this Christmas of 2011 is a year where after almost 27 years of having known "Christ as my savior", that I am able to freely receive what was given to me over 2000 years ago. Not because of something I have done, but because I now realize that my Creator invaded my messy life and pierced my heart with His love. Like the unlikely shepherds who were given the revelation of Jesus birth, I too am the unlikely to receive this gift of love.

It could be that you have gone through the motions year after year like me without really internalizing the actuality of God becoming flesh, to dwell among us, then to die so that we might live. It is simple yet complex and as one song puts it "what a strange way to save the world"! I have looked at myself as the most unlikely and accepted His love which completely invaded my messy life and this has given me hope for my tomorrows! Peer deeply into the manger scene and ask God to give you His perception of what this "Christmas celebration" is really all about. Then like me you can truly rejoice in the Savior that has come. May His Christmas blessing be yours!

"Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

A Passion to Serve

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:08:00 +0000

Upon entering the building--a rather newer structure of a good size and modern layout--you could hear the more classical sounds of stringed instruments playing Christmas carols. As I looked around the room, which was the sanctuary with all the pews or chairs removed so accommodate many tables, I was struck by the beauty of the room. Each table painstakingly decorated in a unique and festive decor' as the table host desired and they were all gorgeous! To the rear or entry area of the large room were many tables laid out with many items that were anything and everything, for every occasion, young and old, to be bid on by the guests. What? An auction in the sanctuary? Yes!

This was an evening of firsts for me. I had never been to an auction in a church before. After getting my bearings and changing into my dress for the occasion I perused the items for silent auction and although I could have bid on many wonderful things I only chose one set of items. I entered my bid and proceeded to browse and visit.

Another fun item was that each guest was presented with the gift of a small wooden Ukrainian hand painted egg. All in such varied and beautiful colors. Mine was yellow with beautiful colored markings on it. You will see some elaborate samples here. If you read the history you will find that the meaning of this egg has been redeemed for the Christians instead of its pagan roots.

It was time to open the evening and the delightful emcee/host, Kathy, was sweet, charming and quite humorous in her presentation. She got the evening started as the men who weren't parking cars were in the kitchen dishing up lovely plates of Chicken Fricassee and the trimmings then delivering them to the tables. I thought to myself 'what a lovely event and how special that the men would serve in this capacity!'

There were Christmas readings by Kathy interspersed with some special numbers like two darling girls who sang and played violin to Everlasting God. And another first was to be able to see dancing in a Baptist church! Tap dancing to boot! Three women and the young violin player tap danced to a Christmas song and it was fascinating! When they were finished, Kathy looked at me and said, "Kim, are you a believer now that you have seen dancing in a Baptist church?" I laughed and said, "now this is sanctified tap dancing!

Now in between these things I had the pleasure of visiting with the pastor's wife and another saint who began to unfold what this event was really all about. I would have to say that I was moved by the love for the Ukraine people that this church not only has but demonstrates! This auction and dinner--their tenth--was to raise money to send to their sister church in Dumatsi, Ukraine. I also learned that yearly there is a trip taken by several church members to visit and encourage the church over there. A church of very poor believers who have nothing but the love of Jesus to see them through. What a privilege to partner with these women and to get their heartbeat of love for these people.

It is a breath of fresh air when I see people openly loving God and then in turn loving others. I would imagine that the church in the Ukraine finds these saints a great encouragement to them also! They have many difficulties which includes having very little food and very few jobs. Yet I am told that the Christians have joy. Amazing, to be poor, without food yet filled with the joy of the Lord!

From Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 9:12-15 (NASB)

"For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is alo overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

For the sake of Christ I pray that these friends of the believers in Dumatsi, will maintain their fervor and devotion as they lend their support to these precious Ukrainians! Thank you for allowing me to have an inside look at your love for God and then for others!

Merry Christmas!

Holiday Madness!

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:44:00 +0000

It is Christmas time and for most of us the season begins around Thanksgiving. We typically shift gears right after the turkey dinner to Christmas. Of course if you are a television person you may have the tradition of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. (A tradition since I was a young girl.) I was nine when I moved to New York City and on my first Thanksgiving there I was treated to getting to see it personally! That was exciting and chilly as I stood there watching, feeling quite small as I tried to see the floats go by. So I have sometimes had that on in the morning background while cooking in the kitchen and specifically when my grandsons are home. It truly jump-starts our holiday celebrations and makes me feel like decorating!

Yikes!

I can remember the days of late night baking, making and decorating that although nice to have, thoroughly exhausted me by the time Christmas actually came. No wonder I would put on several pounds throughout the end of November and month of December! No surprise that when the day came I was cranky and lacking energy from all the late nights and poor diet. Then the new year comes and we have to make all those resolutions that end up getting tossed aside after a few weeks or months if we are really diligent.

So how can we be kind to ourselves and those we love without over-taxing, over-spending and over-indulging ourselves? It is hard and I will be the first to admit that my will power is weak and wimpy this time of year! I guess one could shop and bake throughout the months leading up to Christmas but that typically doesn’t happen! So as I have been thinking about this I have some thoughts to share.

Over-taxing ourselves can lead to physical fatigue and then we succumb to sickness if we are around it. It is vital to keep the immune system boosted and fighting all those ickies that float around in the air and are on things we touch in public places! Sure we can carry our sanitizer with us but if we are taking care of ourselves then our immune system is able to do what God created it to do and ward off the ‘stuff’ that wants to invade our bodies.

Take care of yourself during this stress-filled time of year! It seems that everything is heightened and emotionally we become drained. I am trying to make sure that I get lots of rest and that I eat healthy. I am using a bit more vitamin C and love that 1000 mg dose in an easily consumed package! Stir into a little water and voila, it will go a long way throughout your day. (Just don’t take it too late in the evening or you won’t sleep!) Also, stay hydrated. Winter is always dry and most of our homes are more so in the closed winter months. Unless you live in the south!!! I struggle with consuming water throughout the day but try. How is it that we know what is good for us but struggle to do it? Sounds like the familiar words of Paul, "...for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate..." Even Saint Paul struggled to do the right thing. It is sometimes just a simple, 'right now, I am going to make a conscious effort to do what is right' kind of thing! You will be encouraged when you do.

We all know that over-spending this time of year is typical. I don’t know about you but a gift-giving budget is just hard for me! One of my love languages is gifting so it is extra hard for me to reign in. However it helps to have a husband who is ultra conservative on matters like spending and so we are back and forth as I try to show him the “somewhere in the middle” range of spending:0) I have started to ask my kids and grandsons for a list. That way I can have a choice pricing-wisely and yet be able to gift them with something that they really would like to have. It is also nice if one can put funds aside throughout the year to use toward the gifting fund.

Gifting is a wonderful thing and we know that Jesus himself said in Acts 20:35 “that it is more blessed to give than to receive.” A few years back we decided that we would let our grandsons see giving done in the spirit of blessing those who don’t have. We looked through our Samaritan’s Purse catalog and let the boys choose a gift to give like a dozen ducks or chickens and we even purchased a goat to be given in their name another year. The whole gift thing should be focused on the fact that we give because God first gave to us His Son Jesus! We have certainly carried that to the extreme!

Then the over-indulging issue! This tends to be one of my worst sins. I have been completely defeated in this area for way too long! However I had my best year ever a couple of years ago and I am hoping to continue it this year. I confess my besetting sin is gluttony! Not a very nice word to admit to but I am going to call it what it is!

Author Dee Brestin, relates ‘gluttony’ to idol worship and I agree that we can let food replace our need for God in many instances. In the word it says in Psalm 34:8, “O taste and see that the Lord is good...” I am determining to replacing my excessive food intake with precious time with the One I love. Not only does the consuming interrupt my Godward thinking but look at the prep time in cooking! It is time that a good portion could be given to my Father who waits for me to come and join Him in sweet fellowship! Not to mention Paul’s words again from 1Corinthians 6:19,20 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God and that you are not your own?” He issues the call to “glorify God in your body.” Yikes, I guess for me it will only be a couple of ‘goodies’ and a nice meal or two when the family is home. It is difficult though, I love to cook and feed! Now I can turn my “feeding” into spiritual food!

Now that is peace!

Be kind to yourself and those that have to put up with you. Be a joy to those around you and spend your quality time with your Father, celebrating Christ’s birth! That is how we become equipped to meet the needs of those around us. Now that’s Christmas!

Emotional Meltdowns...

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:30:00 +0000

It was a day wrapped in disappointment! I am most thankful that I don't have many days like that. But not today...this was a dreary, gloomy (sensing winter's approach) day of emotional let downs. Two of my friends recently lost their loved ones and my heart was heavy for them at their loss of mom and a sister. Then to top it off, an opportunity came to bless some gals that went south and for whatever reasons it just could not happen. Well my emotions were already tender and I responded with an inward look instead of upward. I began to play around in the pity pool for a time getting splashed with more and more disappointed as my 'woe is me' thinking which are just down right untruths began to flooding into my mind. Wow, I was really beginning to drown myself in self-proclaimed despair. I am this and I am not that...! Suddenly I didn't think I had a friend in the world and I even began to doubt my abilities, capabilities and boy, one thing streamed right into the next. Only God knows where it could have ended up!

Then, I received a revelation! Just maybe God was protecting me, doing exactly what Paul says in Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." I began to look at various scenarios that could happen if things went along as I desired for them to go and decided to--by faith--believe that these disappointments were not intended to discourage me but to protect and prevent dire things from happening? Then the Holy Spirit reminded me of that powerful Word from 2 Corinthians 10:5 that ends with "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ..." This certainly changed my entire outlook!

You see, God has empowered us, He has given us tools to help when we get all wrapped up in our own 'stinkin' thinkin'' and although sometimes difficult, our part is to acknowledge the enemy's lies and then counteract them with God's truth about who we really are! I really believe that we can all get in a funk like this at sometime or another in our 'everyday' living, but the key is admitting where we have landed, that our thinking is is incorrect according to God's standard and what He says about His children and then be willing to do something about it! Start by applying 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God," then finish by..."taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."

Father, thank You for Your Holy Spirit that teaches us in the way in which we should go. Continue to give me listening ears to hear His voice and then a willingness to respond correctly when I am headed in a direction that spells out CALAMITY. My heart wants to please You and I ask for grace when I walk contrary to Your excellent way!

Crying Out to God

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:11:00 +0000

Have you ever been to a place either relationally, emotionally or physically where you have literally cried out to God? I would have to say that there are many of us who have been in the throws of pain from either of the three mentioned catalysts where we hurt to the point that there is no other way but to cry out! And believing in our omniscient God we have verbally let it fly, aloud, to Him in hopes that relief will come!

This is not something new to me and every now and again I have to just let it out because there is no other way to get relief. Not long ago I was in such physical pain, uncomfortable standing, walking, sitting and laying down that I finally 'cried out' to my Father and implored relief from my pain. I know that there were some friends out there praying for me and for that I was so grateful. About fifteen minutes after I 'cried out' the pain began to lessen and it wasn't too long after that that I could at least lay without being in a constant state of misery. I am dealing with a sciatic nerve issue that rather came out of nowhere (that I can see.) Many of you know how debilitating that can be! I am not one who likes to use drugs but I was definitely using the Aleve last night but at one point they seemed useless.

I woke up today and feel much better and hope that this will somehow relieve itself. But, all that to say that I am so grateful that God hears and responds to our cries of pain. Look at these words from David in Psalm 18:6

In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.

After looking up the many verses where the men of old 'cried out' to the Lord I was convinced that they knew where their source of help came from! David however, topped them all for he was finding himself in predicaments all the time! And in his quandary, he often turned to his God. Remember, he learned this early on--being known as a young man who was after God's own heart!

When we find ourselves in a dire straight situation, you have some options, you can run to a friend (or friends,) try to fix the situation on your own, visit the doctor (don't get me wrong, they have their place!) or you can cry out to the One who knows you inside and out. He actually inclines His ear toward you that He might be the One you visit first! I am sure blessed to know the Father intimately so that in my times of distress I can always turn to Him knowing that He hears my cries for help!

Abba Father, You are so good to Your children and I am sorry when I put You last on my list to ask for help. Thank You for showing me that I can run to You first because You care for my well being like no one can. Thank You for healing my pain and working in all situations for my good and to bring You glory!

The Transparent Me

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 21:45:00 +0000

I have found it interesting that the Lord uses circumcision as a depiction of a changed heart. For the picture of a hardened heart is that shell that develops around our hearts to the point that we cannot be sensitive to anyone but ourselves, our own needs and desires. Because we are wrapped up in our own little world. Leviticus and Deuteronomy give us a clue of what heart circumcision is all about:

Leviticus 26:40a, 41b “If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their forefathers, in their unfaithfulness...-or if their uncircumcised heart becomes humbled so that they then make amends for their iniquity,” and in Deuteronomy 10:16 we read: “Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stiff-necked.”

A New Testament verse that I read in Romans 2:29 also addresses the state of the heart. Paul says “But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.”

Paul makes a few valid points here stating that circumcision of the heart is not done by living in the law but it is done by the Spirit. It is the Spirit of God within us that works continually to bring us to that place of Christ-likeness and not by following a set of rules and regulations that are impossible to keep and that we are destined to break. I am reminded of how we can look great on the outside but inside we are still very selfish and sinful, and determined to gratify our flesh. That is just plain sinful and that is not why God has created us.

Paul goes on to say that we should not seek praise from men but from God. I have a suspicion that by attempting to follow the letter of the Law that we might be focusing on the wrong details instead of tending to the issues of our heart. For when we are seeking praises from God, to which others do not need to be made aware of, we are doing the right thing for the right One. It is only then that as we lay down ourselves--getting out of our me-centered world--that others will observe a Christ-like change that will be evidenced by our behavior.

Am I really who I say I am? Do I really walk the talk? When others observe my behavior, do they see genuine love and concern for others (like I preach) or do they see one who is merely pursuing her own agenda. I am finding that change will only happen for me when I get my focus off of myself and put it on loving others. That is the daily laying down my agenda and picking up His cross to follow after Him which helps me see the needs of others. I please Him by loving Him and then loving others!

Here is a link to a very thought provoking song by Matthew West.

But Lord, I have stuff to do today...oh, that’s right, Jenny really needs my help today...five hours later it is time to make supper. I thought it was going to be a quiet evening at home until the phone rang and Terry called me to tell me that she just found out that her husband has been stepping out on her...three hours later it was bed time. Mary needs a ride to an appointment out of town, but I was going to do something fun just for me...Mary is scared and really needs a friend to be with her...how can I say no?

Stayed on Him!

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:43:00 +0000

Obsessed, messmerized, well not quite, but here is how the NAS says it,

"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You."

And the Message says:

People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don't quit.

But my favorite translation is from good old NKJ:

" You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You."

This verse has been resonating in my mind over the past few days as I have succumed to some unhealthy thoughts that the enemy of my soul was using to pull me down. I really believe when there is a breakthrough on its way that the schemer and prince of the power of the air can really knaw and nip at our heals to render us as ineffective for the King and His kingdom as he can. He is such a liar (actually the father of lies!)

So when Isaiah 26:3 started coming to my mind I took that as a gift from the Lord to be my tool for this onslaught to defeat ol' satan. Fixed, stayed, camping on, steadfast, set on and stayed are powerful words which help me understand the importance of being locked on to the truth especially when we are tempted to think contrary to God's Word. I think of a missile system that locks on to a target whether a bomb or ship or whatever maybe in motion to cause destruction by the 'enemy' as a perfect description of being stayed. It will not deter from the target once it is 'locked' on to it or has it in its sights.

When the enemy who is very busy prowling around like a lion seeking whom he can devour sets out to attack my mind and thoughts, I have to know where to go to get my missile, that is in the Word. I had to take the truth of this verse in Isaiah and use it to defeat the lies of the enemy. Another verse that keeps me from shrinking back from the enemy's hits is from Philippians 4:6,7 "Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made know to , then the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus." Our Tuesday prayer group has made a point to memorize these verses and wow, it is amazing how many times I need to pull that one out and use it whether for myself or others. If I am anxious about anything, I am walking in fear and not in faith!

So the Word which is alive! sharper than any two-edged sword is applied to the lie the enemy tries to make me believe, I can use it as a tool to get my peace back! I am stayed, on the truth! That is what helps me to defeat hiim and then continue on the pathway of victorious living, giving God all the glory for each battle that He helps me win. Yes, then I can truthfully say that it is because I trust in Him!

Lord, so many come under the condemnation of the enemy of our soul, help us to lock on to the Truth and know who we are in You so that Your plan and purpose for our lives doesn't get thwarted and we become a casualty. I will trust in You knowing that You bring the Truth I need just when I need it, in Jesus name!

The Disappointments in Life

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:14:00 +0000

Are there times in your life when you thought things would turn out so much differently than they have? Times that have left you feeling a bit hollow inside and terribly disappointed? Like when a child grows up and grows away from the Lord instead of toward Him, or your dreams of being a missionary went south because for whatever reason be it money or relationship it became the wrong timing? How about that first love that set your dreams on fire and then after a time the relationship fizzled and instead of fulfilling your dreams they brought about disappointments. And maybe it was the perfect job that you have waited for with all the amenities you could hope for and you were certain you had all the qualifications but you didn't make the final round and someone else stepped into the position you longed for.

Sometimes there are disappointments that totally change the course of your life. That familiar saying "It just isn't fair" can light upon you and pull you right down into the pit. Friend, I want you to know something and it isn't anything new or profound but, it is truth and that is that God, in spite of our tendency to walk our own way, really is in control. Kind of like we are the vehicle but the Lord is our steering wheel. Oh, I know He really does allow us to do our own thing, because He loves us so much! He wants us to love Him back without restraints and of our own accord. After all, how would it feel if your children only returned your affection because they were supposed too or your spouse because you had to ask?

So what do we do with the disappointments in life? We all have them to one degree or another and really, how we respond to those disappointments determines whether we will move forward or lag behind. I would have to believe that like me you want to soar and draw closer and closer to the Lord. Your reaction to these realities sets the course for the next leg of your life journey.

Our journey in Christ takes the focus off of us and puts it on Him! Every single thing that happens to us must glorify the Father. I love that verse in Matthew 5:16 that says we are to let our light so shine before men that they would see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. And just for fun here it is in the Message paraphrase:
Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

When the disappointments come, those around us need to see how we handle them because after all there are plenty enough to go around in everyone's life! I recently received another hit and the rug was pulled out from under my feet. Yes, for a moment I fell and hurt myself and briefly slipped into the pit of despair, but...I have a circle of friends that let me know that they care and they encircled me and prayed for me. I am slowly getting back up on my feet again. I hate when this happens but it does and there isn't a one of us who doesn't know what if feels like.

I would like to give you some things to think about when your dark moment comes.

Don't keep it hidden! Go to your trusted prayer partners and yes, make yourself vulnerable and share just how upset you are and let them minister to you!
Ponder and pray when you hear a word for you even if it isn't necessarily comfortable. God will provide the comfort because He is the God of all comfort!
Set your face like flint not to revisit those debilitating emotions but focus on the truth! You will not move ahead until you do and the more often you revisit the deeper the pit gets.
Remember, God is your healer and He wants to bring you gently back to the firm ground you were on before. Forgiveness is the key to moving forward and friend, I know just how difficult this one is but I also have tasted the sweetness when the enemy of our soul is defeated and forgiveness cuts the chains of our heart loose.
Do not get comfortable in the pain of your emotional battle. God has given us the tools to get out of the pit.

The battle is in our minds and here is the Scripture that can help us work through the enemy's 'mosh pit':
"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ..." 2 Corinthians 10:5"
Unless we get our minds set on the truth we will become wounded as we are banged around by the lies and untruth that the enemy wants to use to render us useless to our Father. Draw the line in the sand and do not go there. If you have, get yourself in the truth of the Word and let that truth bath and comfort you and bring healing to your mind, body and soul!

Father, too many times I have seen how ineffective I become when the enemy comes in like a flood! But I am also so thankful to know I don't have to go it alone and that In Your truth I am able to raise the standard that defeats the enemy of my soul. You have provided brothers and sisters in Christ who thankfully become my help in times of trouble. Thank You for Your love for me and for gently picking me up when I become Your wounded warrior. I choose to walk in the truth today, in Jesus' name.

Am I Willing?

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:05:00 +0000

Am I Willing?

There are some very talented singer/songwriters out there today and although the argument seems to be too much repetition and simplicity in our modern day praise and worship music. However, there is truth from the Word in today’s contemporized Christian music and who knows if the repetition is to drive a point home or heavenward?

I have a lot of admiration for Chris Tomlin and it seems that every project he comes out with whether it is he and others on the Passion CD projects or singular projects, they are excellent songs of worship.

Chris’ recent project “If Our God is For Us” has a song that spoken to me in volumes and it is the song “I Will Follow”. This drummed up some great thoughts as I pondered the lyrics to this song and then, I was reading in My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers for March 9 and there it was again that theme but presented as a question from Jesus Himself:

“So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"

The picture here is Jesus teaching on eternal life and interestingly enough, many of the disciples turned and walked away from following Jesus at this point. Jesus talks about getting our daily spiritual nourishment from Him alone through the body and the blood. This did not sit well with the Jews and they couldn’t quite wrap their brains around the truth He was presenting. So too some of the disciples were troubled by His presentation. The Body and the Blood thing is almost too simple and Christ questions His disciples saying, "Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Oswald Chambers insinuates that many are working for Jesus Christ, diligently pouring their lives out to “do” good works in Jesus’ name, but he states, all that is really required is oneness with the Him. After we have abandoned our agenda, and determined we will follow Christ and seek to be a daily partaker of His divine presence we are truly His disciples.

So Chris Tomlin’s song “I Will Follow” reiterates that thought in these lines:
Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you (link to the song provided)

The road we are on with Jesus is not an easy road. However, I refer to it as tracking with the Lord and that tracking or being in His will is the place where you find peace in the midst of the storm, satisfaction instead of exhaustion as you serve with Him and the eternal perspective as others see Christ in you the hope of glory! Pretty exciting stuff isn’t it?

Jesus, I will follow you and when I head down a rabbit trail that is not my destiny I will rely on the Holy Spirit it nudge me or sometimes jolt me back to Your side. I am so grateful and most satisfied when I am tracking with You!

The Most Wonderful Time...

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:05:00 +0000

Ah yes, the lyrics are in my head, "It's the most wonderful time, it's the hap...happiest time of the year". Is that really true? Is it really the most wonderful time of the year for you? Personally I waver back and forth between good and sad! I have had some good Christmases and some very sad ones. Most of the difficult ones have come from some very poor choices I have made in my life. At those places I was either a little girl in an unhappy family setting, a lonely runaway when I didn't even know it was Christmas and then in a marriage that was very difficult where my family suffered from the results of alcoholism. These were times when Christ was not in my life.

There have also been times when even as a believer that Christmas has been sad or difficult. I have a prodigal son who has caused much sorrow because of his poor choices. Many years we have seen him come and go without any change in his lifestyle or more "stuff" added to the baggage he continues to carry. This makes for sadness for his family as we watch him struggle to keep his head above water. These are times when all the sentiment and family time just doesn't take away the pain of watching a loved one flail through life.

However, deep inside the recesses of my heart, I really do have peace and joy. And it is because of the Christmas story. An incredible expression of love that was lavished upon mankind as the Creator of ALL, humbled Himself and came as a little baby, being birthed in a lowly manger just so that we could once again have fellowship with the Lord, restoring what was broken in the Garden of Eden. This extravagant love, poured out in the form of a baby, then child, then man, the Christ, was God's greatest work from a desire to once again have fellowship with us. As it tells us in Genesis 1:26,27,

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

We have been created in God's very own image! That is sometimes to big for my comprehension but...I have accepted this truth and accepted the Christ who came yet was crucified, died, and buried (defeating death) when He rose on the third day! All for those who will receive the loving offer of redemption through His blood.

So in the midst of your Christmas, I pray you will know the peace that surpasses even the difficulties (and there are so many things that try to rob this peace from us) whether death of a loved one, divorce, prodigals, sickness, financial loss, hunger...remember, Christ is the one who fills us completely with His peace and purpose in spite of the former mentioned. Come to Him and let the humble baby in the manger fill you with peace and joy unspeakable as you ponder and reflect on the "Christmas Story".

With love and a blessed Christmas to you all!

Kimberly Dawn

Being God with Skin On

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:16:00 +0000

Are you a mom with kids still in the home? Or a mom who has grandchildren? Whether or not, every one of us has a unique opportunity to be God with skin on. Jill Savage, founder of the Hearts at Home Ministries and author, views motherhood so practically as the ministry of availability. Gloria Gaither, songwriter, singer and author, speaks about divine interruptions. I have really come to appreciate that perspective especially when I get the calls from certain people or meet people at various gatherings. Women like Jill and Gloria, have allowed the Lord to change their perspective on those (big and little) people annoyances that get in the way of our agenda. He takes those times that we lovingly respond to and makes God opportunities out of them.

I don’t know about you but sometimes my ministry dreams are much bigger than they need to be! We all know that time is such a rare commodity today and that there is just never enough of it to go around and especially when it comes to ourselves! I have discovered such a love for writing out my “lessons from the field” being passionate about sharing my heart and all that God is teaching me. But...managing a home, being a wife, mom and grandma and working full-time really makes for skimpy hours left to do my writing. Then on top of it all there are those interruptions from other who also need attention. Here is where ministry really begins.

You see...each one of us who have been redeemed, have been given this wonderful opportunity to reach out and touch others--lonely others, hurting others and needy others--because this journey as God’s child has called us to reach out and comfort those in need from the little people to big people. The need is so great and yes, we have to be careful and exercise healthy boundaries but not for selfish reasons. Here is the Scriptural mandate Paul gives us:

2 Corinthians 1:3,4 (ESV)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Now this can certainly be applied both emotionally and physically as a child comes needing a bandaid to cover a wound or a lonely elderly lady you may meet at the grocery store who would love to have the ‘touch’ of a kind and caring word spoken to her. On a grand scale? Probably more practically speaking through our own hands, arms and words, given to those in our very own sphere of influence. Mommies, you most likely have a husband and possibly little ones who especially beg for your attention. But oh how we long for our moments of quiet and rest. Mothers, life just seems demanding especially when we are running here, picking up this kid, running that kid there...you probably feel as though you are going to be split in two as you are pulled from every direction. Then the thought enters, where am I going to find time to work on my friendship with my husband and closest friends?

It is rather funny that as I was writing this my husband and I had gone to Florida to visit with my mom and sister over the Thanksgiving weekend. A quiet moment early one morning gave me this writing inspiration and then my husband awakened. I put down paper and pen and made his coffee (my sister had a new machine he did not know how to run or he could have made his own!) I proceeded to go back to the writing as I was concluding this piece. Then he started quietly drilling me with conversation and questions. I got a bit perturbed but kept writing although annoyed until the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and basically revealed to me that I was writing about moments just like this. I proceeded to put down paper and pen and zone in on my husband who needed just a little bit of my time to probably just acknowledge his presence!

Now we can look at being used by God to be Jesus with skin on. Practically speaking, every time an interruption comes your way, you have the opportunity to turn it into a ‘ministry’. You see, ministry may not look like your preconceived notion of what it should be but...when you lay down your agenda and become Jesus to those around you, voila...you can become Jesus with skin on! Tenderly wiping away the dirt on that skinned knee while you administer love. Helping your husband find that misplaced item (even though you are in the midst of sorting or folding laundry.) There may be a teenager that comes home hurting from being ignored by a peer group. Stop your supper preparations or ask them to come and help you and be an encouragement to them in their time of feeling very worthless or lonely. There may be Mrs. widow the elderly woman from church in the produce isle. Can you take just a few moments to ask how she has been? We are all in a hurry to get our stuff accomplished but sometimes God wants to use those interruptions to be Jesus with skin on! The following lyrics are the chorus from a song the group Casting Crowns made very popular a few years ago:

But if we are the Body

Why aren't His arms reaching

Why aren't His hands healing

Why aren't His words teaching

And if we are the Body

Why aren't His feet going

Why is His love not showing them there is a way

Father God, I confess that most of the time I am all about me and my agenda. Will you show me that my “ministry” efforts start in my own sphere of influence--even my own home--and that there are so many that I could reach out and touch with Your love. Let me see that my family comes first but that it all begins by looking up and allowing You to show me those precious opportunities through Your eyes. Thank you for the times that I have been on the receiving end of some one’s ministry as they reached out to me. And for showing me that we are the practical gospel that some will only read and that there are hurting people as well in the body of Christ. For You have shown me that I am here to be your witness as I wear Your love!