God Stop Friday...

It's hard to believe that it's once again Friday!! It's been awhile since I've been able to participate in God Stop Friday...and I'm SO thrilled to be able to join in this week.

This week, I Lord has been speaking to me through Isaiah 43:19 which says,

"For I am about to do a brand new thing.....I will make a pathway through the wilderness and rivers in the dessert."

God had truly been doing, exactly what his word says.

~God has been showing up AMAZINGLY in M's heart. Wednesday night M's mom asked me to come over and sit with them. When I arrived at their home they were sitting in their family room talking. It was such an amazing time as I listened to M's heart as she shared her thoughts, and feeling. It was one of those times when words didn't come easy; but rather, lending a listening ear was what was needed.

As we talked, listened, and prayed, I really believe that M had a MAJOR breakthrough. M's mom and I shared with her how the night before we gathered at their home and prayed that Jesus would sit at the head of their table....and we invited Jesus...to flood their home with his presence. M's listened.....pondered.....and it was so clear that the heart of stone, was breaking away.

I cannot answer WHY M's is going through this wilderness experience...but I did encourage her....that Jesus wants to hold her heart...and that she doesn't need to a boy to fill those lonely places.

Ashley (my daughter) has made this statement (I cannot find the quote so I'll try to remember exactly how it goes) that I shared with M...it says,

"I want my heart to be SO close to Jesus...that a boy has to go through him...to find it."

I really believe that M is finally realizing that there is a hole in her heart...that ONLY Jesus can fill. Regardless of her past mistakes and failures.....Jesus WILL turn the ashes of her heart...into Beauty. His word promises that!!!

Isaiah 61:3
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

~God also showed up in a powerful way concerning Andrew and spring basketball. Each year since 4th grade Andrew has gone from the winter basketball season right into spring/summer ball playing all year round. This of course, requires a lot of commitment as we do a lot of traveling for these teams.

We've been talking, and praying about direction for this season, as this year.....there are a lot of different dynamics to consider. We (dh and I) are very involved in the counseling ministry at our church which takes up every Saturday morning. Well, spring/summer ball is played Saturdays/Sundays and this would cause a great conflict, so we've been seeking God for his perfect will.

God has really blessed Andrew with an amazing talent for basketball and each year...each team he tries out for...he ALWAYS make the team. As he went to the tryout Monday night, my dh sent me a few text messages telling me that if Andrew DIDN'T make the team...it would have to be the Lord...as he was on his "A" game...he was lightin' up the court and was having an AMAZING tryout.

Well...he didn't make the team, and this was TRULY God!!

First, we were so proud of how Andrew handled defeat.....he then began some research, and found an alternative. Due to his skill level.....playing spring tournaments isnt' something that will really help his game, but rather, he found a program that will develop his strength...endurance....and much improve his quickness.

Heres the neat part:

~Andrew will do this 3 times a week...after school and before we get home from work

~The cost of the 9 month program....is the SAME as if he would have played spring ball

~We DON'T have to give up weekends for basketball which would require us to miss church and our counseling times.

God SHOWED up .......BIG...time..in BIG ways!!

God has been teaching our entire family that he is ALWAYS with us....making a way. Even during the times when we may feel as though we are in the desert, walking along a peaceful stream, on the mountaintop, or in the valley!!

I'm so thankful that my Savior died for me.....and makes a way...where there seems to be no way.when we seek him...then shall we find him...and regardless...of what I face.....I have an amazing Savior.....who will rescue me...and lead me.

Praying that each of you...have an amazing...God Stop Friday!!!


For more God Stop Fridays, go here!
Kim~

GodStop Friday

It's Friday again...WOW, where does the week go???? I'm so excited to once again be participating in GodStop Friday.

Patty from Girlfriends in God has started this great Friday tradition which allows bloggers an opportunity to share have God is moving and changing their lives. To read more GodStop Fridays, go here!

I'm also so tickled to see the scripture verse Patty used for today's GodStop...it's SO fitting for my post.

Psalm 92:4~"For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the work of your hands."

In recent months I've shared many details about our daughter Ashley and all that God is doing in and through her life as she participates in YWAM; and often, that has left our second child, out of the pictures, so todays post is going to be about Andrew.


I'm a firm believer that God has a plan for our lives even though at times we face ups and downs. God's gone before each of us, making a way, and he's always ready and willing to lead, guide and direct our lives; and todays GodStop is an amazing testimony of how God DOES have a plan....and he DOES make a way.

Our son Andrew has been a HUGE basketball fan since the day he could walk. In fact, to this day he STILL has one of those silly little hoops hanging on his bedroom door, and any given evening, while my hubby and I are in bed talking, we can hear the thump...thump....thump...of Andrew and his mini basketball.

Basketball runs through Andrew's veins, and God has given him such a passion, and talent for the game. Andrew began playing team ball when he was 6 years old, and that soon ballooned into joining a traveling basketball program. Andrew's love of the game doesn't stop in March, but rather he's involved in teams year round as it is his hearts desire to one day play college basketball.

As many of you know (if you have young kids in sports, you will experience this in the near future so start preparing yourself) it is often difficult dealing with children in sports programs. Not so much from the stand point of the athlete's, but rather...dealing with parents/coaches. Trust me, we've had our share of concerns, and each time, God has brought us through and we've seen his hand developing character in Andrew.

High School, is NO different. Andrew's 9th grade experience with basketball was one of the most amazing times he had. He LOVED his coach...and the coach was a true coach. He knew when to yell...when to praise....and he was amazing at motivating Andrew to play 110%! At the end of the season last year, we were truly sad that Andrew would be moving on from this coach, BUT, we were also excited about the new opportunities that this year would hold.

We are now in the thick of *the new opportunities that this year would hold*, and trust me when I say things have NOT worked as we thought they would.

Sparing you ALL of the details, suffice to say, this year has been an ackward time for Andrew. He's experienced GREAT negativity from one of the coaches....so much so that it is frankly WRONG. Often the comments may seem petty and small...but to a young man, they become very degrading. The coach....(who by the way, isn't even Andrew's coach) will walk up to Andrew and cut him down in front of his peers for his style, or for his "this is me, and how I am" way of carrying himself. The comments have gone so far as to be very personal towards Andrew. (Here's an interesting note: this same coach, is the one who stroked Andrew...and told him he'd be bumped up to the varsity team this season. This coach went out of his way to encourage Andrew. But, now that the season has started and the coach CHOSE to NOT move Andrew up it's as if the coach is taking his frustrations for his decision out on Andrew)

Of course, our hands are tied as parents, as we did go to the coach, and things have gotten worse, as we thought they would because High School coaches DO NOT take kindly to a parent, raising issues.

Well, here's how God is SHOWING up for Andrew. The coach from his 9th grade season has developed an amazing relationship with Andrew and we see God's hand in it. This coach, has shared with our family that he is personal friends with a coach from a major Christian college......that has an amazing b-ball program....and Andrew WANTS to play for this team.

This same coach, is filling Andrew's heart with things that are helping to build his character.....and be a Godly man! (it's SO great when others come along side of you as parents and reinforce what you are teaching)

This amazing coach thinks SO much of Andrew that he was able to get tickets to take Andrew to the Timberwolves/Celtic game on Feb. 8th when Kevin Garnett plays here in MN. (this coach is personal friends with KG's sister)

All the negative things that have been happening to Andrew from the High School level, God is using to deepen Andrew's faith, and build his character.

We were even blown away a few weeks ago when we took Andrew shopping for some new dress clothes that he has to wear on game days, as the salesman who helped us in NONE other than a former PRO NBA player. He's sending Andrew personal notes in the mail, and he's giving such AMAZING advice to Andrew...on how to move forward...through the junk of High School sports, and dealing with a head coach who is chosing to treat Andrew is such a poor manner.

Today my husband and I were chatting about how AMAZED we are....that our Jesus, LOVES Andrew so much, that he's even concerned about such a small thing as BASKETBALL!!

God's given Andrew the love, and desire for the sport....and it's so wonderful to see Andrew play, and shine...for Jesus.

Not to sound as if I'm bragging, but Andrew is such a humble young man. Each year, he's been the go-to-guy for every team he's played on. His stat's are as follows:
Average points per game: 18
Average assists per game: 6
Average steals per game: 3
Average rebounds per game: 6
He shoot's on average 90% from the line

Yet....he's alway preferring his team-mates above himself, often giving them the ball to score verses scoring himself! He leads, he encourages, and he has such an amazing passion.

What satan has meant for evil.....God is using for good in Andrew's life. So today, if you are going through a difficult situation....LOOK for the small little miracles.......because they are there! So often we get our focus on the negative, and on what we see......when God would rather have us look to him.....and the amazing things he has in store for us!!!!

God cares about EVERY detail of your life.....trust him!

God Stop Friday

I am so excited about GodStop Friday. Patty from Girlfriends in God has started this great Friday tradition which allows bloggers an opportunity to share have God is moving and changing their lives; and I truly count it a privilege to participate in this great opportunity.

This week God has been speaking to my heart from Habakkuk 1:5 which says:
*For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. * (NIV)

Heart issues are never fun, but oh so necessary. Yet through each trial and circumstance I face, God is revealing HIMSELF to me. God IS going to do something....something that I would NEVER believe!! He is faithful, even when I'm not.

At present, I'm in the season of my life where I'm *resting*...not physical *rest*, but a time of resting, and reflection from involvement. Although it's often hard to move back, take a break and catch your breathe, it is yet so necessary.

Matt 14:13 says, *When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.* (NIV) Even Jesus took time to withdraw.....seek out quiet, and solitude.

In my devotions this week God has brought some great thoughts to my heart. You see, times of rest, often follow the same process as music. In the melody of our lives, the music is often separated here and there by rests.

Often, for some reason we believe that during these resting periods we've come to the end of our song. Yet, during our resting times, just like a rest in a song...the next note may be the most amazing thing God has in store for us.

God does not write the music of our lives, without a plan! God requires of me that I learn the tune of his heart, so that I'm NOT discouraged...during the rests.

Remember, rests in a song are not to be slivered over, or omitted, nor used to destroy the melody or to change the key. But rather, if we keep our eyes focused on Jesus our next note will be full and clear.

God is teaching me this:

"The process is often slow and painful in this life, yet how patiently God works to teach us, and how long he waits for us to learn the lesson"!

Isn't that great!!!

God is getting ready to do something BIG...something I'd never dream of our imagine. He's simply asking me to be obedient...and trust him. Why?? Because he has a perfect plan for my life.

My prayer for you is this: no matter where you are, no matter what your circumstances...DO NOT become weary...God has a plan for your life...and he WILL see you through.

For more GodStop Fridays...go here!

Have a God Stoppin' Friday Friends!!!