"Lessons from the Field"

Today's Playlist 1-31

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:41:00 +0000

1:00 PM
"A Different Road" Kathy Troccoli
"Healing Hand of God" Jeremy Camp
"My Dependence" Jamie Slocum

1:15 A Quick Word ~ Beth Moore
"Let Creation Sing" Hillsong - "God He Reigns"
"God of Wonder" Third Day w/Caedmon's Call - "City on a Hill"

1:30 Devotions for Women on the Go, Stephen Arterburn and Pam Farrel (Used by permission. All rights reserved)
"Everlasting God" Lincoln Brewster
"O Sacred King" Matt Redman

1:45 Selah Moment with music by Erik the Flutemaker - "Perfectly Mellow"
"Be the Centre" Vineyard Women in Worship - "Fall On Me"
"Under Grace" Darlene Zschech
"How Great Thou Art" West Coast Worship

2:00 PM
"Starry Night" Chris August
"Bless the Lord" Rita Springer w/Jeff Deyo "Worth It All"
"The First Song That I Sing" Sara Groves
"One Thing I Know" Todd Smith

2:15 Proverbs 31 ~ Lysa TerKeurst
"Song of Hope (Heaven Come Down)" Robbie Seay Band
"Make Something Beautiful" Laura Story - "Great God Who Saves"
"Healing Rain" Michael W. Smith

2:30
"My Adoration" The Sonflowerz
"Change Me On the Inside" Vineyard Artist, Brian Doerksen - "Breathe"
"Fall Apart" Josh Wilson

2:45 HeartBeat ~ Jill Savage
"Write Your Love On My Heart" Matt Maher - "The Love In Between"

Today's Playlist 1-30

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:53:00 +0000

1:00 PM
"This is How It Feels to Be Free" Phillips, Craig and Dean
"Sing, Sing, Sing" Chris Tomlin - "Hello Love"
"In Our Midst" Prayer/Life

1:15 A Quick Word ~ Beth Moore
"Allelujah" The Museum
"I Have A Hope" Tommy Walker - "I Have a Hope"
"Kiss of Heaven" Darlene Zschech - "Kiss of Heaven"

1:30 Devotions for Women on the Go, Stephen Arterburn and Pam Farrel (Used by permission. All rights reserved)
"You Are So Good to Me" Third Day - "All I Have to Give"
"Glorious Day" Casting Crowns - "Until the Whole World Hears"

1:45 Selah Moment with music by Erik the Flutemaker - "Perfectly Mellow"
"The Light In Me" Brandon Heath
"From the Inside Out" Hillsong - "Mighty To Save"
"Treasure" Meredith Andrews - "The Invitation"

2:00 PM
"This Good Day" Fernando Ortega
"Only You Can Save" Chris Sligh
"Mountain of God" Third Day

2:15 Proverbs 31 ~ Renee Swope
"Remind Me Who I Am" Jason Gray
"Audience of One" Big Daddy Weave
"For the Beauty of the Earth" Barlow Girl
"Whom Shall I Fear" Lincoln Brewster w/Kari Jobe - "Real Life"

2:30
"Our God" Passion Artist, Chris Tomlin - "Awakening"
"Take My Breath Away" Michael W. Smith - "Wonder"
"I'll Fly Away" FFH

2:45 HeartBeat ~ Jill Savage
"Forever Reign" Passion Artist, Kristian Stanfill - "Here For You"

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 replace it 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 wow, if I taste them prior to their ripened state just pucker up! So you just try to patiently wait then when they are fully matured, nothing beats the wait. 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 and 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!

Father, here is another day to walk with You and 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 and 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 going 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 can 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-wise and yet be able to gift them with something that they really 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 last year 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 trying to contend with replacing the excessive food with 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

Crying Out to God

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. Last night 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 advil and eleve 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 straights 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 his life which 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 doen'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 out of 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 that and accepted the Christ who came yet was crucified, died, was buried (defeating death) and then 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? If or if not, every one of us has a unique opportunity to be Jesus 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 certain 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 when we lovingly respond 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 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 write with. 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. One a grand scale? Well, probably not although maybe, but 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 got up. 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 then 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!

So Much to be Thankful For!

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 03:50:00 +0000

As a child of the King, I am so grateful for new life in Christ! The Lord has saved me and I did not even realize I needed to be saved or rescued. But, He restored me and is making me whole. He looked down on this lost lamb and claimed me for His very own.

I am thankful that I have a Father who has given me more than stuff, He has given me life which He promises in abundance! And on most days I feel full to overflowing with His love.

I am most thankful to have free access to my Father and whenever there is a need He is there to help me. He even lets me share Him with those who do not know who He is.

Psalm 95:1-6 "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."

Not only has God given me life and in abundance but he has given me love and people to share that with, family, friends and even strangers who need to see God's love in action.

You see like King David said, " I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalm 27:13,14

I can be thankful for all kinds of stuff for I have so much but I am most thankful for the sacrifice of Christ which made a way for me to know God as my Father, Provider, Redeemer, Peace, Healer...stuff is temporal but this life in Christ is eternal!

Happy Thanksgiving

What in the World is a Lachrymatory?

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:34:00 +0000

Oh my, it really is amazing how intimately acquainted God is with His children. I know the Scripture that says that the Lord is aware of how many hairs are on our heads. Okay, I don't know about you but I lose hair daily. If that Scripture means what it says then it confirms God's Omniscience or that God really does know everything and if the Lord is Omnipresent or not limited by time, that means He can know even when those hairs disappear from my head! This knowledge is just too great for me!

I recently discovered the word lachrymatory, and I wondered if it had to do with cremation or something and I thought this isn't such a pretty word (at least by its sound.) But as I did a study on these verses in Psalm 56, I discovered that this lachrymatory is actually a tear bottle. Why in the world anyone would use a tear bottle. (And my friend Peggy actually brought me back a replica of one from Israel when she was there several years ago.)

Psalm 56:8-13

" You have taken account of my wanderings ; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your Book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; this I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You. For You have delivered my soul from death, indeed my feet from stumbling, so that I may walk before God In the light of the living."

My Ever Present Help in Times of Trouble

C.H. Spurgeon states that "The custom in old times was, when a person was ill or in great distress, for his friends to go to see him, and take with them a tear bottle. Then, as the tears rolled down the cheeks of the sufferer, they were caught in these bottles, sealed up, and preserved as a memorial of the event." Henceforth, we have tear bottles or lachrymatories.

From the study of the Scriptures I have picked up that the Israelites were always big on remembering. I believe that came from the Lord who didn't want them to miss a thing lest they would forget the goodness of the Lord each time He delivered, provided for or healed them. Seems as though God knows just how easily we forget those times when the course of our lives is changed and for the better outcome!

Can you, as a child of God's, think of the times that you have shed your tears? Some of us cry often and for not even a real reason except that we are "emotional" about everything. Some of us have poured out our anguished hearts for very good reasons. There are also those tears that roll down our faces from too much laughter and joy. I am not certain about whether or not God collects those tears of joy but why not remember great times also...? If the joy comes from the Lord and His goodness, yes! We will remember.

As I think on the times in my life when I have wept over my varied difficult situations I am choosing to remember the goodness of the Lord in the outcome of each of those situations. It is always easier to review after coming through! Because that is when I can see the Lord's goodness poured out in each situation. Like David says in the verses above, "...in God I will put my trust." My shed tears are the remembrance of how He takes an impossible situation and turns it around so that I can "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD" Psalm 27:14!

Your tears do not go unnoticed by our God, to the point that they are collected by Him and reveal His tender mercies toward His children in their hours of distress. You are greatly loved by the Father and He will bring you forth as gold as you wait and be strong in Him. Fear not for God is with you and not against you because He loves you!

The Tool of Worship

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:03:00 +0000

I have always known that worship is a powerful 'thing'. How do you describe just what it is? It is a verb as it is used to describe something that we do. We worship when we give of our time and talents, when we turn our hearts in adoration to our Lord and focus on all that He is. Our godly actions of time, tithe, devotion and ministry (just to name some) are all an act of "worship".

Here is a look at worship as a noun when it becomes a tool, yes, it is a tool. It is used to accomplish some vital things in our surrounding as well as in our heart. When noted in the Old Testament, the tool of worship is used to prepare the atmosphere so to speak, in preparation for battle. Familiar verses in 2 Chronicles 20 tell us of a time when the singers (worshipers) were used to prepare the atmosphere for victory.

They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa ; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the LORD your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed." When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the LORD and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said,"Give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness is everlasting."Then they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.

God then stepped in and overwhelmed the enemies and wiped them all out. I also believe that when we begin our time of worship in the Lord's house that we accomplish the same purpose because we focus on the Lord and we vocally express in word and song our thanks to Him and acknowledge that His lovingkindness is everlasting. This clears the air so to speak, to make a way for the presence of the Lord to be welcomed in our midst.

Now lets look at how worship is a tool that is used to change us. I can personally testify to how the Lord did a big work in my heart as I learned to worship Him. Adoring Him for who He is according to His Word and praising Him for all He has done and will do. In that sense, the Lord has and does use worship to realign who we are. It is in times of intimate worship that we are able to see ourselves--after looking at our perfect Father--like Isaiah saw himself, as a man (woman) of unclean lips dwelling in the midst of people of the same.

Isaiah 6:5-7 "Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven."

Wow, once in the presence of the Lord, I am able to realize just how unclean I really am! So this tool of worship can start the process of 'cleaning' me up as I see Him and His holiness. Now, a vital part of this 'tool' is that God now uses it to also equip us for our seasons of difficulty. Not only will we be ineffective for His service and use but we also will not be able to withstand the seasons of trial. Worship, and all that it does for us--being saturated in the Lord's presence--is that which will equip, empower and allow us to stand firm in seasons of difficulty. So Oswald Chambers says it very succinctly "If you have not been worshiping as occasion serves, when you get into work you will not only be useless yourself, but a tremendous hindrance to those who are associated with you." It is here that the act of worship becomes the tool used to enable us to continue on for Christ's sake.

Let the Worshipers Arise!

Father, I want the deep work done in my heart for your glory only. Show me Your face and then I will have the courage to keep on until Christ returns. Show me Your face and I will be able to withstand those times of difficulty that will come my way. I humbly ask for Your presence to invade my life that I might be Your worship warrior for today, for right now, in Jesus' name.

Are You the Parent of a Prodigal?

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:28:00 +0000

Looking for the Silver Lining

Years ago when my youngest (troubled) son was in a locked facility to get help (he was an unhealthy hazard to himself and others), I was sharing my heart with Amy Shreve the night after a concert here in I-Falls. I was so grieved for this son who has had problems since fighting me in the womb! It is true! Too many heartaches and broken promises that he would straighten up go right and that all never amounted to success. This mother's heart hurt so badly to see him fail time and time again. Not to mention the stress it put on my marriage. How easy it can be to place blame! It's my fault, the father's fault, the stepfather's fault, everybody else's fault but no owning up to their own. Now living the dysfunctional life I have lived has only helped me take on unnecessary blame for a whole host of things that were only partially my fault.

I believe that we are only responsible for the situations that we directly cause and not the speculative ones (if only you...) If I steal something, I am at fault, not the person who doesn't lock his door to keep a thief out. If onlys are pure speculation but we can really let ourselves get buried under them if we are not wise. Stuff happens, we make mistakes, acknowledge them, confess them and ask forgiveness of those we have wronged and move on. How sad when we become buried under guilt and condemnation that really isn't ours to assume provided we have responded correctly like mentioned above. We can become overwhelmed with false guilt.

Prodigals are used by God to help us look at the truth in our situations. Looking back I can now see that there are things that could have been handled differently and with a whole lot more unconditional love. But then the child has a responsibility also. They become runners. Runners from the truth, their pain and anything that gets uncomfortably close to their emotions. They need help to see that their poor choices are what they need to own up to. I am responsible for my choices and my children for theirs, my spouse His, etc. It is a dynamic that I just don't know how people without the Lord survive and many don't.

I have attached a link to an Oswald Chamber's reading for March 24. This is what Amy came to show me the next morning when she had been praying for me and my prodigal. It wasn't even March but she came upon it and shared it with me and it has had a very profound impact on my thinking. You see dysfunctionality breeds false guilt which therefore won't let the wrong assume their sorrows and pain that they find themselves in. He must increase... If God is sovereign and in control and I believe He is, then every thing, large and small is used by Him (He is fully aware of it's happening) to grow us up and closer to Him. According to Chambers, we can become the very thing that gets in the way of our prodigal learning (yes the hard way) his lessons. Some of us have to learn the hard way, I have. If someone comes along to smooth out the situation instead of letting the circumstances being used to teach the lesson then that someone has interrupted the class and the lesson may be postponed until a later date and possibly a more severe situation. The verse for that day is from John 3:30 and it is simple and profound, "He must increase, but I must decrease". Get out of the way and let God be God and the Holy Spirit do what it is that He desires to do in a wandering soul's heart! In modernday terms we would say quit being an enabler! Friend, I have had to say this to myself over and over because that it what I was so used to doing to try and make things right and work! But I was the one who continued to get in the way.

So I pray that we would not be in the way of the catylist that the Lord would use to work in the heart of that one who is walking contrary to God's ways. Father, I cautiously say, do it Lord, whatever it takes to break the heart of the wander so that they would look beyond themselves and see You! I know You will give me the courage to believe that You hold his or her life in Your hands and that Your desire is to see them come to You and give them the peace they have been searching for. I even say thank you for the hard lessons that I have had to learn because You used them to bring me a bit closer to You each time. I not only love You Lord, but I trust You and entrust my loved ones to You, in Jesus' Name!

What's Next Lord?

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:52:00 +0000

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 break 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 a juicy pineapple. They are so, so while still in the finishing stages of maturing but man when you get one that is fully matured, it is so wonderful and well worth the wait.

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, if I could draw a picture of my day without putting the Lord in the mix it would be one squiggly mix of here and 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!

Bearing One Another's Burdens

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 12:07:00 +0000

Today I am burdened for some people that I love and admire and really look to as friends that can help me to walk a deeper walk with my Father.

Today I prayed that these friends would stand up to the enemy and tell him right where to go just like Jesus responded to Peter when he tried to rebuke Jesus who then responded "get thee behind me satan..."

Today is just one of those days where I see the wearing down of the saints and my heart hurts when my circle of friends is hurting.

Today was a day of intercession for these ones who are battling on the front lines but getting very weary from battle wounds.

Today I stood in the gap and and prayed that God would intervene before it is too late...

Today on the station I heard a profound statement from one of our feature vignettes who asked "Do you know why I am still married?" then responded "Only because of my fear of the Lord".

Today, I wonder if I fear God enough to be obedient to His call on my life, in whatever capacity He calls me to be.

Today, I really want renew my covenant to the Lord that no matter how...no matter what...no matter why...I will be obedient...even if...this is hard because right now it is easy to say I would never but...when in the valley of darkness, the fiery trial, the pain and hurt, even if...would I hold on? Would I bite the bullet and hang in there? Despite the world view, the appearance of common sense, the pressures of those who have gone through and taken the plunge and suffered the consequences and are living with their decisions...

Today, I will take one day at a time. Today I am strong. Tomorrow I might be weak and I will need help to keep standing firm against all the odds. I just can't look too far ahead but will step one day at a time with my eyes as fixed as they can be and my heart steadfast and assured that Father loves me and will guide me into tomorrow where once again I will rise and take His hand as He guides me once more through the next day, then hopefully the next...

Tonight I go to bed weary from my burden but certain that God has heard the brokenness of my struggling friends and I can trust that He is near for His word tells me in Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

I can rest...

A Word Fitly Spoken

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:06:00 +0000

Confession gives expression to what is believed. The confession of the mouth must accurately express the belief of the heart. To defeat Satan, we must speak forth the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17).

As a young immature mom of three, not a believer in Christ Jesus, I remember the times when I spoke so negatively to my children. I would venture to say that the no's outweighed the yes's by at least 10 to 1. No, don't do that! No, you can't go there! No, don't hit your brother! No, I said no!!! Well, along with the no's how many times did I think or say oh for stupid? Oh, for dumb! That was stupid! Even to this day I will catch myself speaking a poor confession over myself. I will have to say that through the help of the Holy Spirit and a good accountability group that I am really becoming aware when I do make a negative confession over myself or someone else. Why do we entertain that mindset, habit or whatever you want to call it so naturally?

I occasionally find myself humming or singing that cute little Steve Green children's song that has these lyrics in it, "Encourage one another and build each other up, build each other up, build each other up..." That is it! We are called to build one another up just like it says in Romans 14:19 "Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another." That is just so rich and sweet although we must purpose to offer that to one another! What kind of a world would we live in if only we would take that approach with those in the world around us?

Let's together see just how much we can be an encourager to one another and then watch what that influence has on our sphere of influence! Let me know how you encourage others along and build each other up! We are in this together for Christ's sake!

Father, I really enjoy those times when I can be an encourager to a brother or sister in the Lord. And even for myself Lord, I need to speak life and peace into my own spirit! Holy Spirit, show me when I slip back into my old ways and remind me that the power of death and life is in my tongue as it says in Proverbs 18! In Jesus' name.

No Excuses!

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:09:00 +0000

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with that temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

This is a Scripture that should be on the top list for memorization (at least in my opinion!) How many times can we slip into that 'the devil made me do it' mode? I think it becomes an out to basically do what we want to do but the truth is contrary to this mindset! Every temptation (not just some) that comes our way has an opportunity to prove God's faithfulness in His word to us. Every temptation has an escape route so that we won't be trapped. And, if it begins to feel unbearable, God's word also tells us that we are able to endure that temptation until it passes!

So friends, no excuses, Kimberly Dawn, no excuses! Today I choose to not give in when I am feeling pressed by temptation, but will surrender my fleshly desires to the Lord and escape before harm can come to me or another that I might have an effect upon. No cranky responses, gossipy tongue, judgmental thinking, it has to go! Because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me--and you too!

Free From the Ties That Bind - Intro

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Dawn Nyborg) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:11:00 +0000

Did you know that God desires to use you for kingdom purposes? If not it is time to get a clue. Here is some of my favorite Scripture:

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;

To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,

To grant those who mourn {in} Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

Now mind you this was a prophetic word written some 700 years before the Messiah was to come. It indeed has indicated the coming One who would bring the Word, with healing for the brokenhearted, liberty to the captives and freedom to prisoners. Now fast forward to the New Testament, what Jesus left the disciples with was to go and do likewise in My name.

You know every time we bring the Good News of the gospel to the world there is the potential for amazing change in that person’s life should they accept it. But here is where I want you to envision just why you are here at this time “for such a time as this.” Every single one of us has a sphere of influence. I like the picture of a stone being dropped into water and the “ripple effect” that takes place as the stone hits the water’s surface. Let’s use that to reflect on the fact that every thing we do has some sort of impact on someone within our sphere of influence.

I am going to start with a typical day. You may get up with your spouse in the morning, that being your first encounter. Then it could be your children. I am going to stop here and we will see just how much influence we have right here. Please, I know that we all have days when we really don’t want to see or talk with anyone! Whether it be good old PMS or stubbing our toe on the way to the bathroom. And there can be aches and pains that can be highlighted by tossing and turning all night, whew! I am sympathetic to the kinds of things that can start the day off on a sour note. But here is a tough truth for you (and me), we have a choice to make--right from the moment our feet hit the ground--to share our love and blessings with those we share life with or we can lend a thud to their day. Can you see the huge impact you have on your family? How much better to send them on their way encouraged with a blessing and knowing just how much they are loved. So now we continue on to see who else we impact through our day. There are the neighbors, our friends, work relationships, people we meet in the grocery, and the post office…and that ripple just continues to spread wider and wider. That just amazes me!

Will you think of yourself as a “Change Agent” (Agent of Change), which reads according to one of Mirriam Webser’s dictionary editions: a change agent, or agent of change, is someone who intentionally or indirectly causes or accelerates social, cultural, or behavioral change. That’s it! Have you figured it out yet? You are here for a specific reason and it is not about you! I love what it says in

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Now that we have a glimpse of our purpose we need to look at reality and see that all does not always go according to Hoyle! For we all have stuff in our lives that has played a role in making and shaping us. Hopefully there is a lot of good, positive stuff. But for some of us it has been a journey through the pit. In too many cases the pitfalls we have experienced or are working through have become stumbling blocks that may have developed into strongholds. Check out the meaning of a stronghold in the Hebrew: castle; defense; fortress; be hunted; net; snare. Interestingly enough, we see that it is a good thing for the most part. After all king David declared that God was his fortress and high tower, but what about those last few meanings, to be hunted, a net and a snare. If you have been caught in the snare of blocked goals, unforgiveness toward another, generational sin, unforgiveness of ourself, not believing who God says we are and pleasing man over pleasing God, stay tuned. We are going to see how these strongholds have or can keep us from moving forward into the abundant life God calls us to live for Him.

Next time I will share with you from a time when I almost gave up on God. It was one of the most difficult times of frustration and disappointment in someone I love very much. But…God!