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Wednesday, May 23, 2007
 The first time is always an event. I remember when my son scored his first soccer goal. He turned and said "YES" running down the field. Of course, we made phone calls to family members after the game recounting each important detail.I love "firsts." I have come to treasure sharing firsts with those I love. First dates. First kisses. First days of school. First teeth. First steps. First time to walk on the beach and see the ocean. First time to fly in an airplane. First Broadway play. First Major League Baseball game. First time in a swimming pool. First prayers. First live concert. First mission trip. First time to jump in a pile of autumn leaves. First July 4th fireworks. First time carving a pumpkin. First time to play in the rain. First time decorating a Christmas tree together. First roller coaster ride. First books. First birthdays. First time to play in the snow. First sunset. The first time always is coupled with a childlike wonder and excitement. Each new first experience makes such a powerful memory in our minds. Children seem to have the ability to experience life in this manner all the time--bringing such anticipation and joy. I believe that God desires for us to live life like this all the time. He places amazing blessings and challenges in our lives to reveal himself to us. Just hiking in His creation should be "like the first time" every time. He is awesome, amazing, and wonderful. May we pursue Him passionately and with wonder each day--just like it was the first time. In Him, Kelly A Spacious Place Labels: Kelly's Articles Leave a comment... 5 Comments Links to this post  During a Bible study when I was in my church youth group many years ago, my youth pastor used an object lesson that greatly impacted me. He passed an aluminum soda can around and invited each of us to put a dent into the can. We started timidly, but by the time the can had made it all the way around the circle, it was practically flattened. Our pastor then instructed us to pass the can back around, each of us removing the dent we had put into the can. We all sat puzzled. We started the can around, attempting to remove the dents and restore the can to its original form. It became apparent very quickly that the can would never be the same as it was before. Our youth pastor then shared with us from the third chapter of James. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.I am often reminded of this visual image of the damage our unkind words can cause. Once said, they impact others, changing them in some way. Yes, we can ask forgiveness and many times receive it, but those words may still ring in the air at times. Those words have changed someone. During times of struggle and doubt, those unkind words can surface in the back of their minds. Our tongues are untameable in our own strength. We must seek His strength to use our tongues to encourage and uplift others. I pray that my words will ring in others' ears as a voice of affirmation and encouragement. May this instrument that is so often manipulated by Satan, be used to bring glory to God as we praise Him and seek to edify others. Blessings to you all! In Him, Kelly Labels: Kelly's Articles Leave a comment... 12 Comments Links to this post  As women, we all wear different hats--wife, mother, teacher, nurse, writer, friend, etc. Many times we wear several at one time! The hats we wear represent different roles we have in life, some more constant than others. While many times we fill our closets with too many hats to juggle, having different roles in life is inevitable. We see that the Proverbs 31 woman wore various hats, in amazing fashion might I add.The wearing of masks is what is of more concern to me. Women are care-takers and often put on masks covering pain and fear so as not to "bother" others or to protect themselves from rejection. How dangerous this is! I know from personal experience how much damage this can do. For me, I have worn various masks during my life. One of those masks is what I call the "I got it under control" mask. As a firstborn, I grew up liking to be in control, being very achievement-oriented. I put forth the confident, dependable persona, even when I was struggling with insecurities. People came to expect this from me, which only exacerbated the mask-wearing on my part. Over time, God has really helped me to begin to put away those masks and be vulnerable and authentic in who He has created me to be. This has been freeing, and I long to see Christian women of all ages to put away the masks they wear that only bring bondage. Why do we wear masks? I believe that most of the time our reasons are rooted in fear--fear that we don't measure up, fear that there is something wrong with us, fear of rejection, fear of failing. God' Word clearly states that we do not have to live in fear: So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. (I John 4:16,18)As followers of Christ, we are called to live in victory over fear. God's perfect love extended to us allows us to live in His love, apart from the fear of punishment and rejection. James Baldwin writes: Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.It is only His love that can help us to remove the masks in our lives. It is only when we accept that we are powerless in this. In many ways, wearing masks is sinful. We are choosing to live ruled by fear, eventually leading to a very self-centered life focused on maintaining an image or persona. Our masks, always in peril of smearing and cracking, in need of continuous check in the mirror or silverware, keep us in thrall to ourselves, concerned with our surfaces.(Carolyn Kizer)I pray that we all would evaluate our mask-wearing and claim God's promises that we are uniquely and intimately made by Him. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth. (Psalm 139:13-15)So ladies, let's toss those masks aside. I would love to hear from you about the masks you struggle with. As women, may we seek to encourage one another through our struggles! In Him . . . Kelly Labels: Kelly's Articles Leave a comment... 18 Comments Links to this post  I never remember my dad reading the newspaper as a child. It wasn't until I was older (and could stay up later) that I would see my dad lay down on the couch to read the paper. Why is this significant to me? Well, for me it symbolizes the importance that my dad placed on spending time with me and my brother. My dad was home every day at 5:30 for dinner. Afterward, he quickly changed clothes and spent time with us (playing, reading, doing family devotions) until bedtime. I was blessed to grow up knowing that I was important enough to be a priority for my dad. He would have rather played with me than read his paper or watch TV. My mom also made purposeful decisions to invest in her children. She has shared with me how she specifically chose to be a teacher so that she could maximize time spent with us in the afternoon and summers. I will forever cherish the many summer adventures that we shared. In addition, my parents really included us in their activities, whether through their work or church activities. My brother and I had the opportunity to walk beside them and learn. This is how God designed parenthood and child training--through relationship and connecting. You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between you eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise. --Deuteronomy 11:18-19As I look around our world, I am rather alarmed at the lack of priority placed on parenthood and family. I recently read a book called The Price of Privilege by Madeline Levine, a clinical psychologist. She pointed out some very interesting developments in the demographics of her clientele. More and more, her "typical" teen client comes from wealthy and upper middle class families. These teens have been given everything, and many are very gifted and intelligent. They should be happy, right? As a society, we must understand that children do not need "stuff" - they need their parents. Rather than a new ball glove, they want their dads to watch them play. Instead of gadgets, they want time with their parents. Because they are disconnected and depressed, many teens are turning to alcohol, drugs, eating disorders, and cutting to mask their pain. This is becoming the price of privilege in our country, driven by materialism and the pressure to achieve. In a country where the large majority of people are more "privileged" than the rest of the world, we must continually work to keep the proper perspective on money and material possessions. I do not want my children to ever doubt that they are more important than the "stuff." To me, the price of privilege is too high to pay.  Labels: Kelly's Articles, Parenting Leave a comment... 11 Comments Links to this post  I am selfish. It is a reality that I am not proud of, but one I seek strength to overcome every day. Our society only feeds this natural, sinful inclination by encouraging us to focus on ourselves in about every way, ironically leading to continued emptiness and seeking of fulfillment through self-gratification. It is a vicious cycle. The irony is that to break the cycle, God calls us to look outward in service rather than being so focused on ourselves.Several years ago, my brother spent a week serving at the Kalighat Home for the Dying in Calcutta, India--a hospital founded by Mother Teresa to give the dying, poor of Calcutta a place to be cared for. It was here that my brother would share that he learned what true service was. My brother was assigned a man to serve that week while he was there - feeding him, bathing him, and changing his diaper. The most precious time was spent, though, holding this man's hand and just being with him. Even though they did not speak the same language, the presence of Christ's love speaks powerfully. My brother had the special opportunity to serve "the least of these." Most of us will never have an experience like that, but we are called to serve others where God has placed us. This service is not required for our salvation, but is the pouring out that results from a heart that has been transformed by the grace extended us. For grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)Not only have I been challenged recently in my calling to good works, my husband and I are trying to look at more specific ways that our children and our family can serve. Children love to help and "be in on the action," so what better way to teach them to be selfless and kind than to be involved in regular, purposeful service to others. So I challenge myself and you to look outward at how God might be calling you to serve others. We might not have money or resources, but we certainly have time, talents, and gifts that God has given us to be poured out to serve and bring glory to Him. We can "spend ourselves" in service. So spend yourself:
What are some creative ways you have found to serve others? In Him . . . Kelly Labels: Kelly's Articles, service Leave a comment... 16 Comments Links to this post  Kelly is a woman who is in passionate pursuit of her Lord and Savior, seeking to "run with endurance the race that is set before her, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of her faith, who for joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1b-2)Kelly was blessed with great race preparation growing up with parents that were in Christian ministry and teaching, and who saturated their home with a focus on Christ. She and her brother joined in ministry at early ages on mission trips and through church service. Kelly was active in drama & mime ministry and athletics, going on to play and coach volleyball in college. She found great joy in using her talents and abilities to glorify God and reflect. One of her favorite quotes is from Eric Liddell, an Olympic gold medalist & missionary to China: "When I run, I feel His pleasure." During her second week in college, Kelly met her future husband who had recently returned from a mission trip to Papua New Guinea. She fell in love quickly with the tall, handsome basketball player with a passion for Christ and missions. He became her best friend and life running partner. After marrying four years later, they moved for her husband to pursue a seminary degree and Kelly to begin graduate work. God added so much joy to their life by blessing them with a son and daughter. Motherhood has been one of the most challenging and wonderful experiences that God has used to grow and refine Kelly. She counts it a high calling to join with her husband to raise their children in the knowledge and love of Christ. Kelly was blessed to be able to stay at home during her children's younger years and even had the opportunity to homeschool them before they eventually began attending a private Christian school. She remains a homeschool curriculum addict and still uses it to supplement their schoolwork. Kelly has been called to teach, mentor, and disciple college students. She is blessed to teach at a Christian university, and have the opportunity to serve in a Titus 2 ministry. She seeks to encourage the young women she works with in Biblical womanhood and being grounded in scripture. Although the race gets tough, Kelly always finds that God is strong in her weakness. Through her blog, Kelly seeks to point others to Christ and encourage them along the way as they run their race. She is so grateful that He delights in her and has brought her into "A Spacious Place." "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever." (Ephesians 3:20-21) Labels: Kelly's Articles, The Blog Team Leave a comment... 3 Comments Links to this post
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