Living in the Kingdom Light

 

 

Living in the Kingdom Light

I rise before the dawn waiting for the sun to make its way over the eastern ridge of hills thick with salted predawn fog.  I turn to the west where the dullness of the sand dune grasses and the flat colored sea wait to soon be transformed.

I catch my breath as the rising sun spreads its fingers of light over the dune grasses turning them to shades of gold and the sea now blue with white iridescent waves.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.

 Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 NIV

 

A little sparrow lifts its head singing brightly as the sun spreads all around him.  And the Holy Spirit prompts me to wonder all over again how God sent His Kingdom Light into a dark world; our Savior, His beloved Son, Jesus.

 “…giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:12-14 NIV

“I will pull you out into the Light again. I will gently cleanse you, washing off the clinging mire. I will cover you with My righteousness and walk with you down the path of Life.” Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

“Living in His Kingdom Light” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries May 25, 2016

Just What We Need Now

 

 

Just What We Need Now

I saw she was limping but her smile distracted me from mentioning it. I saw how she looked weary but her good cheer and kind words spoke a different language.

And then as she came to my table at the gathering of campers for a meal, she hugged me in a warm and sincere greeting and shared all the good things God had done for her since we last met.

“Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will mediate on our wonderful works.” Psalm 145:3-5

The things people will remember the most, the take away of our sharing with one another is not about our real life trials, the troubles of the world around us that seem to be out of control- no, it’s the stories of how good God has been to us and our loved ones.

It’s all about sharing His divine appointments, healings, answered prayers and those splashes of joy and blessings exactly what we need just now more than ever. It brings to others the awareness of how God really loves us and is up close and personal in our every day lives, not far away high above us. It’s just what we need now, it’s exactly what the world needs now the most.

"We are the Bibles the world is reading; We are the creeds the world is needing; We are the sermons the world is heeding."―Billy Graham

“Just What We Need Now” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© May 23, 2016

Like a Child with a Broken Bear



little boy on the beach by Dee Kamp

 

 

Like A Child with a Broken Bear

When my son was still a toddler he had a favorite stuffed animal he dragged around constantly. His constant pal went from sandbox to bed. In this case it was a Pooh Bear.

 

Pooh was mustard yellow, sported a black button nose, button eyes and a sweet stitched permanent smile on his face. Who wouldn't like that Pooh Bear? He was always happy to see you and always liked you, and for an only child, the best companion to share his adventures with every day.

One day he came rushing up to me and handed me Poo Bear saying with tears streaming down his face, "Fix him mommy!"

In those days I always had some sewing in my lap. Either making clothes or gifts and this little child of mine thought I could sew and fix anything with thread, including one Poo Bear now missing its nose by some wild adventure in the back yard.

I smiled and told him, Poo may not look quite the same when I’m fix him you know, his button nose is broken and I’ll have to find a different button.”

 I could see he was working hard on the decision whether or not to hand over his friend and trust me with him. But in the next moment he handed the bear over with a big smile he said, "You fix him, mommy, I know you can.”

 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).

Those things I bring in prayer each day to my Father are well-worn worries, torn relationships, lost hope with some broken promises, and sometimes broken dreams. He listens with great love, and He lets me tell it all like a child with a broken bear. I’m encouraged to remember His promises, and prompted to leave them all in His hands and not pick them up again, just like the faith of a child would, just like a little child I once knew way back when.

 "As children bring their broken toys,

with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God,
Because he was my friend.
But then, instead of leaving Him
In peace, to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help,
With ways that were my own.
At last, I snatched them back and cried,
"How can you be so slow?"
"My child," He said,
"What could I do?
You never did let go?"
Kingstone

 

“Like a Child with a Broken Bear” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© May 12, 2016

God's Surprising Plan 'B'



 

 

God’s Surprising Plan ‘B’

Another Beaver Valley Store Story! 

The Beaver Valley country store we owned back in the 80’s had a spectrum of goods and services. After a couple of hard worked years we still needed something more we could depend on to bring in customers. I couldn’t think of anything what so ever we could add to the many services we had that would help solve this problem. What we needed now-was a plan ‘B’.  I prayed to God right then and there for hope, for a plan of His design.  

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NLT

It came to attention from my meditation as I heard the little bells on the store door chime their notice someone was coming inside. I looked up to see one of the most cheerful salesman we learned to trust and love and look forward to each week. He had stirred us to good stock choices that had help establish our business.

“Hey, how are you today? I’ve something special to share with you. Our company has something for you little stores in these lean times.  It’s what we call plan ‘B’. It the perfect time to add espresso coffee for sale to your customers.”

“Did you say, plan ‘B’?” I said too surprised to hear what else he was saying. “I shook my head and said, “Oh, that’s a new coffee fad for the city folks.”

“Not so! Let me explain show you a few statistics and a way it can be done reasonably. It will surprise you who wants these special coffees, and you’ll be the first in the area for miles to have espresso for sale.”  

I listened, I followed up on facts and before I knew it, a big shiny Italian espresso machine I called affectionately as Goliath, arrived with cups, lids, coffee and condiments and special training for us all. To our delight it was an overwhelming success!

 People began to calling in their orders from home to be picked up one their way to work. Big burly log truck drivers asked for it to be extra hot for those cold morning starts. In summer came the fishermen, hikers, and bicyclist, and the local farm hands who were haying and very surprised tourist from the city too.

 When someone would ask about the Italian espresso machine we had, I would smile and say, “Oh, Goliath is God’s surprising plan ‘B’”.

“If we have God’s assurance behind us the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days of our life.” Oswald Chambers- My Utmost for His Highest.

“God’s Surprising Plan ‘B’” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© May 5, 2016

 

 

 

Carry Our Inability to the Ability of God

 

Carry Our Inability to the Ability of God

 I was about fourteen years old and I was standing alone in the hallway of the clinic shaking all over from what had just happened and wondering , was my brother going to be all right?

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” Ephesians 3:20 NIV

 I was the oldest of my siblings and taught well by my mother how to care for them. When she was away on an errands I often was left to take care of them for a short time. In those days you had neighbors watching over you all the time too. But on this particular day I had more than neighbors watching over me and my little brother.  

 It was a sunny summer day and my two little brothers were playing in what we called the woods. In fact it was nothing more than several acres of over grown scotch broom.  In this natural playground was a gigantic rock the kids called big rock and it was the major point of many climbing challenges. It was a rite of passage to be able to climb up to the top of it and all the children tried and tried until one day they mastered it.

 On this day particular day, when mother was away, that’s exactly what my youngest brother was attempting to do when he slid down the rock in a flash and a thick branch growing nearby caught him in the throat cutting him deeply.

 I heard kids yelling, I ran outside our house to find a group of them jumping up and down frantically. “Hurry up, he’s cut himself bad!”

My heart was pounding and I pushed back branches and fled to big rock. I saw my little brother lying on the ground with a gash across his throat. That’s when I realized that when I went out the door at home I had grabbed one of mother’s freshly cleaned and ironed dish towels and now I got the sense I was to press it tight across the cut. I put his hand on it and told him to hold it there and carefully I lifted my brother up into my arms and ran for home. He weighed half my weight, but I never noticed it all as I hurried along.

A mother from next door was already there when I arrived, having heard the story from the children on the block. One look at my brother and she threw open her car door and said “get in now- we need a doctor.”

“One nick closer on his throat and it would have been a disaster,” the doctor said to me in the hallway later. “Good thinking on the pressure from the towel, but how on earth were you able to run that far carrying your brother- you're such a little thing?”

I had nothing to say, but I’ll never forget what the mother who brought me there said, “It wasn’t her strength, but it was the strength of Lord who made her able to do it.”

 “Able is the Greek word dunatos, related to dunamis, meaning ability, abundance, capability, mighty works, miraculous power, prevailing strength. “God is able” means God has the mighty power to do a miraculous work out of His abundance and strength…Let us bring our inability to the ability to God.” Sylvia Gunter-“The Father’s Business”

“Carry Our Inability to the Ability of God” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© April 27, 2016

Tune in First

 

 

Tune in First

Daily I enjoy the bits of humor, the quotes, and things written to encourage a person that I receive on the internet. But I ponder over them and I often question their sources, as well as their truthfulness.

When I shared my concerns over these quotes in a mixed crowd of people recently, I was heard a great question from one person in the crowd, “Where then can we really find the truth and real wisdom these days? It’s all too confusing.”

“Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal….But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? ….God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found…And this is what he says to all humanity; ‘The fear of the LORD is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.” Job 28 NLT

To fear the Lord, is the key to wisdom and wisdom can always be found and trusted in the Word of God.  It means to have respect and reverence for God and to be in awe of His majesty and power, first and foremost.

 This truly is the starting point to finding real wisdom and it’s important, it’s paramount more and more today that we always take what we hear, read and see back to God. Then let the His Holy Spirit impart to us through God's Word the wisdom we need to stand firm in our faith and be true to God.

God is always faithful and He will never fail us when we come to Him in our need for wisdom, discernment and the strength we need every day. Before we read the paper, before we check the internet, before we watch television, let us tune in to God first.

“Do not have your concert first and tune your instruments afterward. Begin the day with God.”-

J. Hudson Taylor

“Tune in First” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© April 25, 2016

Love Binds Them All Together



Love Binds Them All Together

Getting dressed for the day requires many components to be an outfit, presentable and functional for the day. But we also need to consider how we will put on the right outfit that is more than functional but an outfit of a positive attitude which expresses our faith in God through the many designs of love.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:14 NIV

Compassion, kindness, and humility, are tucked in together with patience and gentleness and bound together with love. More precious and important than faith is heavenly love. Without love even the faithful will falter. Many faithful workers for God, have, after a time, lost their way― because they lost their spirit of love.

Love is the crowning glory of grace of our Christian character. It is the finer touches in the many variables of love in which all the light, love and glory of God is revealed to the world.

 “Why is Love greater than faith? Because the end is greater than the means. And why is it greater than charity? Because the whole is greater than the part." Henry Drummond

“Love Binds Them All Together” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© April 20, 2016