This is awesome

"And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory shall be a defence:" Isaiah 4:5

Imagine living under the cloud and the fire....symbols of God's presence.....in the Kingdom of Christ to come.

Wow. Let me live in His presence today as well.

This is who I am....

Here I am, struggling and happy and living the life. Someone once said that God just wants us to live our lives out in obscurity, simply serving Him. Perhaps this is true. I have so many goals, so many things to accomplish, that it's overwhelming at times. The prominent truth that keeps pounding in my head is that "it not about me, it's about Him." Everything I say or do, must be about Christ. Otherwise it is worthless.
I got three rejections in the mail last week. Why do I pay people to send back my stories with a little note that says, "We're sorry but...." (Sigh) At least, they're not rejecting me, just my laborious efforts in storymaking.
So this week lies before me. I'm helping with Bible School at our church. Yes, even in Germany, we still have Bible School. Three nights of labor and fun and hopefully children accepting Christ. I did when I was little....maybe they will too. Also have piano lessons this week probably....and another babysitting job. That doesn't thrill me, but it makes me a little money.
I've got a Bible course all lined up to take and maybe teaching English as a foreign language. English is the only language I most likely will ever master. I mean, I know German, and a smattering of Spanish, but English is a piece of pie with ice cream compared to those languages.
Mom and I sold some stuff at a yard sale on Saturday with two other ladies from the church. Whew! Reminder to self: never again rise at 5:45 to go and have your stuff picked over and people trying to rob you blind and get something for nothing. I was never so glad to see the end of an affair in my life!
Never again.

Later,
Kath in Germany

Who I am

Contrary to some belief, I am not trapped. I am not a slave to other's wishes. I do not do what I do because I am forced. My life is guided by a higher principle than this.
I am in the will of God. I answer to Him. If He gives me peace in a certain direction, then I go there. If He speaks to my heart, I heed. Obedience leads to greater understanding. If I did not believe I was obeying Him right now, I would flee to my knees and beg forgiveness. Then I would seek until I knew His will.
But I'm in it.
So what if I did not take the usual road--the road of expectations of other people, the road of the status quo for single women, the road of mediocrity? I have chosen the road less traveled....the road of God's plan for my life. "I know the thoughts I think toward thee, saith the Lord, thought of...peace....to give you an expected end." The expected end means a future and a hope. He is thinking about me; thus He has plans for me. Plans so great, so wonderful, so awesome, that they exceed my wildest imaginations.
Why shouldn't I trust Him?
Why shouldn't I be here?
Why shouldn't I write for Him?
Why shouldn't I help in His work?
Why shouldn't I be in His will instead of following the crowd to college to fufill an MRS degree?
I seek the degree, A.U.G., as Jim Elliot did.
It's far better.
A.U.G. = Approved Unto God.
His will, my fulfilment. His Word, my fire. His Work, my passion. This is who I am, nothing else. I will follow the path He has directed with childish faith and trust in the Hand that holds mine. Believe me, there's no better place on earth.

Hey, Aunt K-K, I'm the coolest little girl in town! 

She's cute, ja? I'm too proud..... 

I'm published...again

July 4, 2005
Independence Day....I danced a writer's dance. When the mail came, I receieved an acceptance letter with a paycheck for my writing. Is there any greater thrill for a writer than to know she is being published? Maybe the only other thrill is knowing your writing encouraged or blessed someone else.
"You have to get a million words on paper before you can be a good writer." New York Times Bestseller.
I don't have a million words yet......so let me get back to work, and start writing more!

Nothin' much

I'm just chillin' out after a busy day of doctor's appointments and work at church. Mom and I set up for a 4th of July breakfast on Sunday. We used patriotic hats to put flowers in and stuck flags in raffia to spice up the tables. It looks fabulous. I also was treated to a cup of chai tea at Starbuck's and we explored downtown Wiesbaden. It's a beautiful city with little nooks and crannies everywhere. Tiny side streets hold shops and things, just waiting to be discovered. I like the German toy shop with their wooden toys. I love wooden toys so much better than plastic. Dad took his ladies to lunch at a new Italian restaurant. We sat outside, covered by a grape vine roof. I ordered salmon penne pasta....it was absolutley incredibly delicious. I finished every bite.

I got a digital camera a few days ago....so expect to see more pictures on this blog.

I'm thinking about a few of my favorite websites.....

www.family.org
www.thetwosisters.com (good recipes. I have the book too, and love the recipes in it.)
www.amazon.com (yeah...books)
www.briomag.com (okay, a little junvenile, but I want to write for this prestigious magazine)
Please check them out and then tell me what you think.

Cross your fingers...I sent out manuscripts this week! I hope editors want my stuff. I already received an e-mail rejection a few days ago. Sometimes I wonder why I do it. Then I remind myself of the passion within me to write.

It is most gratifying to see your words printed on the page......

Check out your Family Christian Stores this month! Look for Pray magazine. In the PrayKids! insert, you will find a story about Joshua and the Gibeonites. Glance at the byline and you might recognize the name of yours truly. Praise our God Who reigns above! It's me!

The Christian and the Sabbath

Know what you believe and why you believe it. It is so important, so we are not as children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and sleight of men and cunning craftiness. Here's something to chew on about the Sabbath day.......

Scripture is the best weapon against Satan and false teachings. First, it must be understood that the Bible is the inspired word of God. Nothing in it was written by man or is man's opinion. It is not a collection of man's ideas. It is all God-breathed and came from God. See 2 Peter 1: 20-21. The Bible is also a whole book, and cannot be read in sections, or interpreted in only parts. It is also necessary to note that some things in the Bible are written specifically to the Jewish people and not to Christians. The Bible is made up of two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament deals a lot with Israel and God's special covenant with them. The New Testament is for Christians today and Jesus is the mediator of it. See Heb. 12:24.

The law to keep the Sabbath day holy is found in Exodus 20:8-11. It is repeated again in Deuteronomy when Moses gives the entire law. This law, containing actually over 700 different commandments, was given specifically to the Jewish people. Exodus 31:13; 31:16-17 to notice references to the children of Israel. They were not only to keep the Sabbath day, but also various other feasts, such as Passover and the feast of Firstfruits. All of which you will find detailed in the book of Leviticus.

In Matthew 12:1-8, Jesus makes it clear that He is the Lord of the Sabbath day. In other words, He is Lord over it, meaning the ritual is not so much of importance, as worshipping Him with all our hearts. The Pharisees prided themselves for their observance of the Sabbath as well as all Mosaic commands. The Sabbath was merely a sign for Israel to distinguish them as God's peculiar people. The Law of Moses is full of signs and symbols and shadows of what was to come. It was also given to show men their need of a Saviour because no one could ever keep the whole law.

Go to the Book of Romans. Look at chapter 3:20-24. Christ came to free us from the law of God. No one could ever keep all those commandments. Even if they tried, and failed in one small point, God would hold them guilty for having trespassed the whole law. See James 2:10 The point is Christ came to fulfill the law and do away with the rituals and holydays. He is the completion of God's law. We are no longer under it because of His redemptive work. To go back under the Mosaic law is not only to embrace the religion of Judaism, but also to spit in the face of the Redeemer of all mankind from the law. Look at Romans 7:5-6. We are to serve in the newness of spirit, not in the oldness of the letter. You should read the entire book of Romans. The Holy Sprit's words on the definition of law and grace are powerful and will help you in your study.

Now go to the book of Galatians. This book was written in response to believers in Galatia who were saying that salvation not only depended on belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, but also on abiding by Jewish Law. Plus they believed that living a separate Christian life required the keeping of the Law as well as Jewish rituals and the help of the Holy Spirit. This is a false mixture of law and grace. See chapter 3:1-3. They were being foolish to start out in the Spirit and try to continue in the flesh. Look at chapter 2:16. Jesus Christ justifies, not the works of the law. The conclusion is summed up in chapter 3:10-13. The law was a curse to those who could not keep it perfectly (no one could) and Jesus died to take away the curse of the law from our lives. Read this entire book of Galatians. See in chapter five, verse one, we have been made free in Christ and are not subject to the law.

Flip over to Colossians 2:13-17: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."
Christ is our peace. He is the perfect fulfillment of the perfect law of God. He repeated some moral laws in Matthew 5-7; but the ritual laws and ceremonial laws were abolished by Him. Look at Ephesians 2:15, "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments, contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace." Those rituals and holydays were just a shadow, a picture of what we were to receive through Christ Jesus.

Read the book of Hebrews, starting with chapter 7, and verse 22, and continue through chapter 10. You will see the rituals of sacrifices and feast days fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Just as we, as born again believers, do not observe the Passover or sacrifice a lamb, so we do not hold the Sabbath day. In the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath command summed up the ceremonial laws. It is not a moral law, was never commanded to Gentile Christians. It was never commanded in the New Testament. So the Sabbath was not changed. The Sabbath is still Saturday, but it is for Jews, not Christians. It is a ceremonial law, not a moral law.

Again, I say the Bible is the Authority on all things. To say that human men of God changed the day of worship at their own will in the days of the early church after Christ's Ascension is to attack the word of God. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God...:" 2 Timothy 3:16-17 We meet on the first day of the week, Sunday, for a reason. On Saturday, Jesus, our Risen Lord in Whom we put our trust, was still in the grave. He arose on the first day of the week. See Matt. 28:1 and see 1 Cor. 16:2 and see Acts 20:7. It is not a mere tradition of believers to meet on Sunday at church, but a privilege we enjoy as those whom Christ has called to liberty. See Galatians 5:13. Christ died for the church. See Ephesians 5:25-27. It was important enough to Him that He gave His life to establish the church. He also commands us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Hebrews 10:25. On the first day of the week, Sunday, Christians are privileged to gather for worship of the Risen Lord and Savior and to hear the preaching of God's world. It is Christ and Christ alone. Not Him, plus keeping certain days or commandments. Romans 6:14: "For ye are not under the law, but under grace." Grace came by Jesus Christ.
Amen, and amen, and amen.

Change slow...

I'm a nice and slow changer......not all at once....so give me time here, people, to change my diet, my exercise, and my life. By the grace of God, I am what I am....give me time to see the changes in my heart, attitude, habits, and life for His glory. Let the Holy Spirit nurture me along.
Patience, patience, patience......

The Rodelbahn

It was the Saturday of the singles retreat. I had already bypassed the indoor wall climbing on Friday night. I knew that the Rodelbahn was a must in order to hold my head up in front of my peers.

The Rodelbahn. Florine noticed the lift going up the mountain as we approached. It looked steep and I began to have second thoughts. Dave kept calling it a “suicidal run down a mountain.” We all paid and then got in line. I took a deep breath and got in the contraption, kind of like a sled, and headed up the mountain straight into the blazing sun. I could feel the burn on my arms and knew I was in for some major sunburn. The ride up lasted about 5 minutes. Then I jumped out to the right, circled a building, and stood in another line to fly down the mountain. Let me say, the view was gorgeous of the valley village and the landscape. An ice cream stand, a small restaurant, and Biertische were situated under some lovely shade trees. It was very "gemutlich", or cozy for conversation.

I took a deep breath and climbed in my sled. I figured out that I was in control of the speed and the brakes. The route went winding down the mountain for a kilometer and a half. Pushing forward on the controls let me go faster. I hollered like Tarzan…or maybe Jane. It wasn’t scary. It was just fun like the thrill of speeding down a hill on your bike with the wind in your face and a crazy feeling bubbling up inside you. I screamed again.

Michelle and Carla zoomed in behind me. We all were laughing and whooping and saying, “Let’s go again!” So we got in line once more. I ended up doing it four times. Each time, the zing and the zang of careening down the slide while being perfectly in control caused an addiction. I was addicted to this crazy thing.
The only part missing from the sled was a bug screen....I almost swallowed a fly or two. Keep your mouth closed, please. The two and a half hours passed too quickly....I honestly could've stayed longer, but a meal was waiting and the preacher had another sermon to preach. I guess one can have to much of a good thing. So, everything in moderation and in balence. A little fun...a little preaching...it combined into a great weekend.

Listening with open hearts...as sisters in the Lord. 

Speeding down the rodelbahn..no this is not me...