school is back in session!

Back to school came up out of nowhere and bit me on the seat meat!

I have been enjoying my lazy days of summer ~ even the ones that were "growth" difficult. On the personal side ~ I went to the pool with the children. We hit some movies for free movie days. The children did their various camps. I did laundry every day, cooked, cleaned, and played. We enjoyed the Car Cruise. We watched movies, did cookouts, and had friends over. We enjoyed summer.

On the Ministry side ~ I walked with way too many women through their infant losses this summer. That is never easy ~ I am blessed to love on them through it. I love seeing them smile, heal, and breathe again. I walked with many dear sistas through their pregnancy after loss. Wrote a little. I helped some women organize their homes. {I LOVE this...yes, I am crazy and I know it...O, but to organize ~ mmmm it's like butter when you are done! Smooth n creamy ~ things are easy to find and a certain level of stress is diminished!} O, Um...back on task here...I walked with a few women through their marital "griefs". And on and on the list could go. {Wait a minute, I thought I took the summer off to write??? All I really did was not teach "formally" this summer...but still did Ministry...hmmm what does that mean??? Anyway...}

BAM ~ summer is done and school has started!

I kid you not ~ I was not ready. I bought supplies, clothes, and did haircuts 2 days before school started. This is not "the norm" for me. I feel like I have been playing catch up and today is only Day 4 of school!! There is still sooo much to do. School is back ~ time to regroup and focus. This is a completely different year than any other year that I have ever had ~ I have a 10th grader who is in Band(s) and Boy Scouts; I have a 4th grader who is a Violin player and Cheerleader; I have a Kindergarten kid; and a Preschooler ~ my life has changed drastically in the past few days. Time to get the new schedule down for life to be more organized and rest-full.

OK...I will leave you all and get back to work...I hope you are having a blessed and resting fully in God kind of day. Laurie Kay

"Not Christian enough" & "Too Christian" at the SaMe time????

How can this be???? OR like I always say...maybe I am just CRaZy???

Psssst ~ I don't think that I am CRaZy this time. *please humor me*

So ~ the last BLOG, I mentioned our title for today as one of the things that has been said to me this past summer and I thought I would go deeper here today.

I was told by someone that I am not Christian enough and then by another person that I was too Christian ~ both said to me by Christians. Now, I can understand someone saying that I am not Christian enough ~ but too Christian ~ that simply can't happen.

I love God very much ~ I take Him and His Word very seriously. I also, live life to the fullest ~ after all, this is my Father's world and He has given me all things to freely enjoy! (1 Timothy 6:17)

I aim to live my life full of faith and trust in Him. I aim to obey His written Word. Yes, I am a human and make mistakes ~ daily & a lot. {ask my hubby ~ he forgives me 70x7 daily ~ love u baby}

These comments didn't rock my world and make me crazy -er. But they did make me stop and do an overview of my life. Here are the questions I had to ask myself and seek out the truth of:
*Where can someone say that I am not Christian enough?
    *Does Jesus say this in His Word?
    *Is this something that is a hindrance for the Gospel's sake?
*Where can someone say that I am too Christian?
    *Does Jesus say this in His Word?
    *Is this something that is a hindrance for the Gospel's sake?

I felt God impress on me through this process that as I live out the rest of my life, there will always be need for improvement. {yes, I already knew that ~ but, He said that in a very freeing way ~ not in a "duh, you should know better" ~ there will be more about this another day} 

Also, to take heed. Some people are all about judging ~ and this is done under a mask of scripture to make them seem spiritually minded. So for me, I need to take what they say and instantly go to Him to see if He is indeed saying that to me ~ no matter who it is that makes the comment.

And as for the "too Christian" it's like this ~ there are people who don't want to ~ don't know better ~ don't fully understand that we need to be daily living like Jesus ~ not living like freaks, but living wisely just like Jesus did ~ living a life of compassion; living a life of service; entertaining grace-full thoughts for one's own good; maintaining grace-full deeds because that is right; not living to seek one's own fulfillment; etc.

A scripture to ponder for today:
8 For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. 10 So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God's family with you, the believers]. Galatians 6:8-10 (AMP)

Think this section of scripture over and join me in making our aim to be obedient to Him. May He be seen in and through us ~ for His name's sake.
 
Love you fellow sistas!!!
Laurie Kay
 

Misfit OR Miss Fit

Do you know the song from Rudolph ~ "We're a couple of misfits"? This particular line has been rolling around in my head all summer long.

Why am I such a misfit?
I am not just a nit wit!
They can't fire me.
I QUIT!
Why don't I fit in?

Let me back track for a spell here. When I was about 3 or 4 years old, my big old Italian family got together at my grandmother's house for our Christmas celebration. All my aunts, uncles, and cousins were there. We had a grand & loud time celebrating!! Someone had this great idea to take family photos. Since there were 4 sisters and 4 brothers that means there would be a lot of pics.

So bring it on!

Everyone and their children sitting down in their nice Christmas outfits & smiling big for the camera. Aunt Janet and her crew ~ boom bada bing ~ next family; Uncle Joey and his crew ~ boom bada bing ~ next family; Uncle Butch and his family ~ boom bada bing ~ next family: mine ~ and on we go getting all the families done.

Well, the photos are all developed ~ because this is back in the day when you had to wait until the film gets developed before you get to see the actual pictures. Boom bada bing ~ there I am in every one of the "individual family" pictures!!!

Where did I fit in??? Many times as a child I thought I was adopted ~ this must be what I was thinking that Christmas. CRaZy ~ I know!!

So many more times in my life I have felt that I didn't fit in where I was ~ too many times to recount here.

This summer ~ WOW ~ I have been told that I am too Christian by some Christian friends and not Christian enough by some others ~ where do I fit in???

When I have gone to God in prayer over these and other comments ending with my question of "where do I fit in?" ~ the word that has been impressed upon my heart this summer has been, "My little Miss, you fit in right here."

Where?? Right here:
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Isaiah 49:16 (NIV)
He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. Psalm 91:4 (NKJV)

I am His Miss and I fit in just right with Him.

You do too ~ no matter who you are!!

I hope you have a very blessed day ~ you misfit ~ I mean Miss Fit!!!
Laurie Kay

Back 2 Blogging

Hello Blogging world!
I'm back :o)

It sure has been a long time since I was on here and so today I thought I would not only start Blogging again...but also change the whole look of it!!

I hope you like it.

The trend lately is to have a "cool & hip" black background...but our Ministry colors are pink, white, chocolate, and caramel. So, that is why I went with what you see.

I know that my male friends are thinking "too girly". Sorry, but we girly girls LOVE chocolate!!! And it is kind of calming to look at ~ at least I think so. OR ~ yes, I am just CRaZy!!!

CRaZy doesn't bother me ~ anymore.

What has been on my mind lately??? Boy o boy ~ that is a loaded question and it will take days to share it all.

I have had a summer of painful growth. In the growth I have fallen more in love with God. He has shown me things within my heart and mind that need changed ~ cleaned up ~ made better ~ refined ~ taking former layers off to go to the next layer or step in my life's journey.    *painful*

However, I am filled to overflowing with joy & thanksgiving.
God ~ You are wonderful! You don't just do wonderful things for me or to me ~ You ARE wonderful! I love You!

I am filled with wonder over how much He cares about all the details in my life ~ the big things and the small.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)

Things don't have to be a sin to be told to stop doing it. Some can just be; "Hey, kiddo, that is a stumbling block for so-n-so and so I am going to need you to stop that...thanks!"

Sometimes it seems that "sinful" things are easier to stop doing and break free from than "other" non-sinful things. Habits are hard to break ~ taking time and a lot of heart work. *painful*

So, it sounds like I am leaving you on a "downer" ~ sorry ~ not my intent, rather know that while it has been painful it has been necessary & good ~ and I am truely thankful for it. And so, good day to you, I hope it is very blessed ~ Laurie Kay