• Be Not Consumed….

    ByKathy Stephens

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    There are so many things that I could say about grief… Things I couldn’t say before Dennis Died. Grief is something that changes you, changes the world you live in. Grief brings God forward and You backwards. Grief can tell no time, it spares no heartache, it will make you think you are going crazy at times. There is no time period for the grief process, there is no “Okay, it’s been a year, snap out of it” like most people think.
    As our community heard the tragic news yesterday of this young man ( JK Robinson) my heart was crushed… I felt sick inside and instant hurt for this wife, their children and all the family involved. Having lost my father at a young age, I do know the pain and the misunderstandings that can sometimes come from that. I pray that these children will become Casey’s anchor in this journey and that God will show up and show out. There are no words to really say….. there is ONLY GOD when Grief strikes.
    Grief is a journey all it’s own. It can be consuming…. If you dig deep enough in the process you will find greater things about GOD, more than you ever hoped to learn about your self and truth is you will learn a lot of things about others. This Jesus Calling devotional this morning came at just the perfect time. Thinking upon the Robinson family as they face this journey and thinking on my own journey as I continue mine. Grief can be consuming….In this devotional it highlights the scriptures in Lamentations 3:22-24. Not Consumed are the important words here. As you can see by the photos of my newest T-shirt they mean something to me.
    Be Not Consumed………

    Jesus Calling
    Though I bring grief, I will show compassion. So do not despair when hard times come your way, and do not try to escape them prematurely. Timing is My prerogative! There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Grief is a season, and I use it for your good.
    Unlike the four seasons of the year, the seasons of your life are not orderly or predictable. When you are grieving, you may feel as if sorrow will accompany you the rest of your days. But remember that I have promised to show compassion. So great is My unfailing Love for you!
    When you are suffering, search for signs of My merciful Presence. Even during your darkest days, streaks of Light break through the storm clouds-providing hope and comfort. My unfailing Love shines upon you always. Look up to Me and see My Face shining down upon you. I never run out of compassions. They are new every morning.
    Though [the Lord] brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. -Lamentations 3:32
    There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. -Ecclesiastes 3:1
    The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. -Numbers 6:25 nkjv
    Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him! -Lamentations 3:22-24

  • It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

    ByKathy Stephens

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    This Christmas is different. I’m seeing it from a different prospective this year. Rather than making memories with Dennis this year, i’m reflecting on the memories that i’ve already made with HIM. I can remember many things about the Christmas’ over the past 23 years. Some he was home for and some he was not. ( having worked off shore) I think what we enjoyed most was just sitting in the dark and staring at our tree. Might sound boring but it wasn’t. It would be so quiet and we would snuggle up and just BE. Then usually he would lean over and kiss me on my forehead and whisper “I love you”. There is was. MY BEST PRESENT ALWAYS. The first year we lived in this old house I put up 5 Christmas trees. What man endures that. ha HE DID. HA This photo of us was made about 4 Christmas’ ago and the other pic is my little 9′ skinny tree that I put up this year. BIG CHANGE. maybe next year I’ll get the Big mama jamma back out. ha
    We seem to get caught up in the all the gift buying, the big parties, the food and much more, but if we stripped all that away, what does Christmas really mean to us? What’s really at the heart of Christmas for you this year? I hope that Christ is bigger and brighter than any gift you have gotten or any lights you have hung. I hope He is remembered as the greatest gift of all this Christmas.
    We had candle light service tonight at church and I was quickly reminded of what Christmas is really about. I hope that HE is more real in your life this Christmas than HE was last year. I hope the Real meaning of Christmas for you is still CHRIST. He is the HOPE and the LIGHT of the world.
    Merry Merry Christmas. May you be Blessed beyond anything you have ever known. Hope tomorrow is filled with everything that makes each of you truly HAPPY. !!!!

  • PLAN B…..

    ByKathy Stephens

    PLAN B…..
    Bought this little book of encouragement today cause the title sorta jumped off the shelf at me. PLAN B… I thought for a moment. That’s exactly where I am or so I thought at first. I would describe living without my sweet husband definitely as PLAN B…. Never ever did I think that I would have to endure life without him. He was my rock, my go to , my PLAN A. BUT THEN…..
    As I read Jeremiah 29:11 I am reminded that my PLAN is also GOD”S PLAN. I bet this verse is quoted more than any others. I found that a lot of people quoted it to me during those first hours, weeks and months of Dennis Death.
    It says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. ” There’s that word again…. HOPE, the one word that GOD has been speaking into my ears over and over for the past year and without it we would all perish. GOD knew Plan B was coming, God knew exactly how I would be feeling tonight. He also knows how close I have to stay to HIM to understand, to move forward, to breathe. I hope that if you say to someone, “God has a plan” you’ve been through the PLAN….

    What God showed me years ago about this verse was almost embarrassing. I was actually right in the middle of teaching a bible study at my home and had just quoted this verse and as usual I heard a few Amen’s from the ladies. BUT in that very instant it was as if I heard God say, “KEEP READING”. So I will share it with you now. BUT first let’s go back to Jeremiah 29:11 I’m now quoting from THE MESSAGE VERSION. ” I have it all planned out. plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”
    Sounds personal doesn’t it??? IT IS…..
    NOT listen closely to verse 13 & 14 ” When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I”ll make sure you won’t be disappointed”. WOW !!! there it is. Plan B just became Plan A again. Did you see it?
    The day God showed this to me, tears just began to fall down my face. I use to claim verse 11 for MINE all settled in and self assured BUT he showed me years ago that I have to come LOOKING, I have to SEEK HIM…. I finally know what that looks like.
    GOD has a plan alright…. HE also has a PLAN for YOU…. In your weakest Plan, He is strong, in your saddest plan , he is happy , in your PITIFUL plan, He is the KING OF KINGS and is waiting on you to COME looking for HIM.
    I spent some time at the cemetery this afternoon… That’s the sunset just as I was leaving. That’s PLAN A….

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