tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26188362560511945002024-02-07T15:47:00.041-05:00Chatty Kelly...Sometimes Teaching, Always LearningKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.comBlogger728125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-25234775357177504342016-12-31T14:55:00.004-05:002018-01-29T21:25:23.873-05:00The Tale of the Running Man<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Once there was a man who loved to run. In running he felt alive, and free. It was effortless and so he ran often. People loved to watch the man run. They could see his joy, and knew it was a gift from God, so they would cheer the man on, “Run!” And he ran.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">People encouraged the man to run races and he did. Sometimes he won, but mostly he did not. But the people didn’t care, and neither did the man. He loved running, and the people loved seeing him, so the joy was in the running. and in the race. It wasn’t about winning.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">One day the man was in an accident and he was uncertain if he would ever walk again. But he did! And he was happy, just to be alive. He would be out on his afternoon strolls, and people would yell, “Run!” as they once did before. The man would just smile, and wave, and continue on his stroll.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Occasionally the man would be able to sprint just a bit. But it wasn’t like before. No longer was it effortless. And the fulfillment wasn’t the same. He had survived, and just walking gave him joy now. It wasn’t that he couldn’t run. But he was satisfied to walk. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">It had been 3 years since the accident, and still people wondered why the man didn’t run. They loved to see him run, he had loved running, and most of all, God had gifted him with running. But the man didn’t feel the call to run as he once did. He walked. He strolled. Sometimes on a really good day, he might jog. And he was thankful for every single step.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The man didn’t know if he would ever run again, like he once had, but it didn’t concern him. He was still in God’s loving hands as he had always been. God wasn’t calling the man to run anymore. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">One day, God may call the man to run again. But until that time, the man walks. He walks with the Lord. There is peace in the walk. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">**<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I am the runner in the story…except I write. The accident was my late husband’s death. And for now, I no longer write. I know that people want me to write because it brought them joy, and it brought me joy. But I am no longer the same person. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I don’t know if I will ever write again, like I once did, but it doesn’t concern me. I am still in God’s loving hands as I have always been. God isn’t calling me to write anymore. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">One day, God may call me to write again. But until that time, I walk with the Lord. There is peace in the walk. </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1</blockquote></div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-55420174917383723852015-12-10T08:26:00.003-05:002018-01-29T21:25:23.989-05:00"Joy" to the World<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m depressed. Although I set myself up to do everything “right” this holiday season, going to the gym 3 days a week, taking an anti-depressant, and seeing a grief counselor, I am still depressed. And that is okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My husband died on Christmas Eve, 2013. Just 2 years ago. And I am grieving. The songs and the decorations draw me back to the place of watching my husband die from cancer. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I do not want to allow Satan to steal my joy. I am fighting tooth and nail, but losing the battle against grief. Perhaps you too are feeling sadness, depression, or grief this holiday season. I want to let you know it is okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When Jesus came to Lazarus’ tomb, the Bible tells us in John 11:33, “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">When Jesus saw her (Lazarus’ sister, Mary) weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Bible doesn’t then tell us, Jesus said, “Don’t cry, I’m going to raise him from the dead.” He doesn’t say, “Don’t be sad, I’m going to fix this!” </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">No, in a short but profound verse, John 11:35 simply says, “Jesus wept.” He wept. Knowing the Lazarus would be standing with them, alive, in an instant, Jesus still wept. Because he felt the sadness of those with him. And it was okay.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When well meaning Christians tell hurting Christians that we should have joy, the hurting now feel like bad Christians as well. Jesus first empathized with the grieving, and shared their pain. He did not chastise them for failing to have joy.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” It does not say, “Do not weep.” It does not say, “Why are you sad? You should feel joyful.” It acknowledges the fact, that while we may have a season of sadness, we can have the hope of knowing joy is coming.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is echoed in Ecclesiastes, that there is a season for everything; “There is a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” For me, December is my time to mourn.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But in my mourning, my suffering, I can know what Paul says in Romans 3, that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you are battling grief or depression this holiday season, I urge you to share your concerns with a trusted friend, pastor or counselor. But know that it is okay to be sad. We may not have “joy.” But what we can have is hope. We</span><span style="background: #FDFEFF; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> do grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. (1Thes 4:13)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">That hope is in Jesus. The hope of knowing that joy is coming. The hope of knowing He will intercede for us. The hope of knowing this is a season, and that we will dance again. It is okay to not feel joyous in this moment. But hold firmly to hope. Joy comes in the morning.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;">Kelly Combs is a Christian mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></span></i></div></div></div></div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-45058705845879628542014-02-26T08:49:00.008-05:002018-01-29T21:25:24.090-05:00The Game of Life<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On July 22 last year, I wrote a post about long suffering. If you didn't read it, you can find it <a href="http://www.chattykelly.com/2013/07/long-suffering.html">here</a>, but this is a quote from that post:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote class="tr_bq">While I am hopeful that my fruit of long suffering has matured, and I don't need to go through more, I am confident that with Jesus I will not lose heart.</blockquote></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />On that very day, July 22, 2013, my husband came home from a doctors appointment and let me know that he had advanced cancer. If I'm honest, it felt like I had been sucker punched in the gut. I thought I was done with long suffering, but it had just begun, and begun big time. So I had to decide whether or not I trusted God, whether I trust him no matter what. Whether I trusted him throughout the battle with cancer...and even after my husband's death in December.<br /><br />This was not a quick or easy decision. It took much prayer and soul searching. But in the game of life, I decided that I do trust God. Here is why. God is like the coach of a team. He cares about his "players" and wants them all to succeed and do their best, but at the end of the day, the coach's job is to look out for the team as a whole.<br /><br />Maybe you're a batter, who is certain you could hit a home run, but the coach calls you to bunt...or to a sacrifice fly ball. Maybe you're the pitcher, who knows you've got another good inning in you, but the coach pulls you out of the game. You're not ready to go, but the coach takes the ball out of your hand and sends you to the dugout.<br /><br />It's not personal. You may be the coach's best player. But he has to look out for the team as a whole. Your bunt or sacrifice fly helps another player along. Being pulled out the game may be because you'll played such a great game, that the coach can't ask anything else from you, so he pulls you, and sends in a closer.<br /><br />The Coach is looking out for both you and the team. And if you don't trust your Coach, you cannot succeed in the game...of life.<br /><br />God called me to a sacrifice fly, when I wanted a home run. God called my husband out of the game, when he was sure he had more innings left. With my favorite "player" gone, some of the joy has come out of the game. But I've got to keep playing. God will call me to another "at-bat" and I'll have to do what the Coach says. And I will. Because I know God cares about me. I know that God's team wins.<br /><br />When the game is over, and we've won, all of the players will storm the field, whether they were taken out early or not, together. And together, we will all celebrate!<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a border="0" src="" /></a></div></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-43698045935916473712013-11-01T08:00:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:24.165-05:00Where Do Belly Buttons Comes From? - A children's book<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm pleased and excited to share an interview today with Dr. Jeff Scott. Dr. Scott is a wonderful pastor, and a dear friend who is one of the best encouragers I have met. He recently authored a new children's book called, Where Do Belly Buttons Come From?"</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> How would you describe your new children's book to a parent shopping for their child?</i></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Where Do Belly Buttons Come From” is a family-friendly story of children who love to visit their grandparents and soak up the love and guidance that grandparents can offer. They love to ask questions to stump their story-telling grandfather. This time, they ask where belly buttons come from and the grandfather tells a wonderful tale that you will never forget. In a nutshell, he says that belly buttons are the fingerprint of God to remind each of us that we are special and we are loved.</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> Where did you get the idea for your book?</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story in the “Where Do Belly Buttons Come From?” was originally a children’s sermon I made up in my first pastorate in Texas while working on my doctorate in religion in the late 1980s. I have told it many times since to children of all ages. When I was an adjunct religious studies professor at Radford University and Roanoke College, I even told the story to college students as an example of myth— taking a common everyday object and using it to convey a profound spiritual truth.</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>In the highly competitive book publishing industry, did you have moments of self-doubt, such as "Why would a publisher pick my book?"</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The book is published by CrossBooks, an affiliate of LifeWay. People have always enjoyed hearing this particular children’s sermon. In fact, at Northside Baptist in Mechanicsville, where I am the senior pastor, they actually applauded the first time they heard it. There is great power in story and that is one of the reasons Jesus taught with stories. They draw us in and are the quickest way for us to absorb truth. If I just said God made you and loves you, it would go in one ear and out the other. But if we wrap that wonderful truth in story, we'll welcome it, enjoy it, take it in, and even repeat it. Humor helps as well. When we laugh together, we let down our guard just enough to allow the gospel can spill over into our lives.</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sense was that this story belongs to God and that now was the time to put it in writing to preserve His story for this and future generations of children to enjoy.</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I selected CrossBooks because it was the quickest, most effective path to publishing. They offered me access to some wonderful illustrators that could bring the story to life. The nice thing with CrossBooks is that each of their books goes through a theological check to be sure it is sound. So for me, it was an easy decision.</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>You are a Ph.D., a pastor, a ventriloquist, and now a children's book author! What is next for the extremely talented and gifted Dr. Jeff Scott?</i></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What next? I’ll keep my eyes, ears, mind, and heart open to story ideas that will help me share the gospel in a creative way. When a story is able to communicate the love of God in a way that captures the imagination and wonder of a child, I’ll know I am on the right track. If we can add humor and the themes of faith and family, it will be a winner.</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the way, I am sure you have a belly button. It is there to remind you that He made you special and loves YOU! "You are His workmanship,” says the Scripture. What most folks don’t know is that that phrase can also be translated as “You are His masterpiece.” My wish for you and all my readers is that we grasp the reality of being loved just because we a masterpiece from the hands of the Master! Remember, you are special and you are loved!</span></b><br /><br /><i>Dear Readers, here is a preview video of Dr Jeff's book. (If you receive this as an email, you'll have to visit my blog to see the video by clicking <a href="http://www.chattykelly.com/2013/10/where-do-belly-buttons-comes-from.html">here</a>.) </i><br /><i><br /></i><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/O4i1xLoRnFo?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><i><br /></i><i> </i><br /><i>Dr. Jeff Scott's book may be purchased through<a href="http://bookstore.crossbooks.com/Products/SKU-000679390/Where-Do-Belly-Buttons-Come-From.aspx"> CrossBooks</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Where-Belly-Buttons-Come-From/dp/1462732658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383248451&sr=8-1&keywords=where+do+belly+buttons+come+from">Amazon</a> or <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/where-do-belly-buttons-come-from-jeffery-warren-scott/1117244438?ean=9781462732654">Barnes and Noble</a>. What a great Christmas gift it would make! </i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><br /><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by </i><i>visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-41652533979402136862013-09-17T08:00:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:24.251-05:00When You Need Help<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I don't accept help well. And I wouldn't dream of asking for it. I'm like a stubborn 2 year old, trying desperately to put on her shoes, screaming and crying, yet responding to her parent's offer to help, "I do it myself!" </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But I've come to realize my prideful refusals don't benefit me, and aren't biblical. I love this story in Exodus. Our hero, Moses, is holding up his arms to God, so that his army will win. But his arms get tired, heavy and he can't hold them up anymore. So what does he do? He sits down, and allows his friends to hold him up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">The Amalekites<span style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-1992A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span> came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.<span style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-1992B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span> Moses said to Joshua,<span style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-1993C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></span> “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff<span style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-1993D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></span> of God in my hands.”<br />So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur<span style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-1994E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></span> went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning,<span style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-1995F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></span> but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.<span style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </span>So Joshua overcame the Amalekite<span style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-1997H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></span> army with the sword. Exodus 17:8-13</blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Moses doesn't hesitate to accept the help his friends offer. And as a result, they win the battle. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Even Jesus, perfect Jesus, counted on his friends to help in times of trouble. He didn't go to the garden to pray alone when his heart was heavy. He invited his friends to go and pray with him. Yes, they did fall asleep and let him down, but he forgives them. Even after Peter denies Jesus, Jesus still asks Peter, his friend, for help. "Peter, feed my sheep."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When life sends trouble your way, follow the examples of Moses. Sit down. Accept help. Focus on God. It's okay to let you friends hold you up so that you can win life's battles</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then follow the example of Jesus. Pray. And ask your friends to pray with and for you. And even when you pray "Father, take this cup away from me," follow Jesus' example and conclude with, "not my will but yours be done." The road that follows may be hard and painful. But it's the road that leads to eternal life.</div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-68459726276690416772013-09-10T08:00:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:24.331-05:00Choosing Peace<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><b><i>"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.</i></b><br /><b><i>In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have</i></b><br /><b><i>overcome this world." - Jesus</i></b><br /><b><i>John 16:33</i></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As I studied John 16:33 the other day, I realized something. First, the thing I think we all notice when we read this verse. It says you <u><b>will</b></u> have trouble. Not you might. Not your could. But you will. You will have trouble in this world.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But notice the verse before. Jesus is sharing the truth so that in him, we <i>may</i> have peace. Did you notice he didn't say we <b><u>will</u></b> have peace. But we may. It is a choice. How often we wish the trouble were a choice! No, we <u><b>will</b></u> have trouble, but we <b><u>may</u></b> have peace, if we take heart in Jesus. Are you choosing peace?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's hard to do! When trouble comes our way, we have a choice. We can choose fear, despair, disappointment...or we can choose peace. What are some ways we can choose peace?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Dispute negative thoughts with scripture.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are so many scriptures that tell us truth! Instead of letting our thoughts run to the negative, claim truthful and uplifting scripture.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Pray</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">God is in control. He may not change our troubles, but we can believe his word that if we come to him, he will give us peace. Furthermore, we can believe that all things work together for the good of those who love him.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Take time to rest, recover and recharge.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Some troubles are big. Instead of being in denial, or trying to go on with the status quo, sometimes we have to stop. We need to rest. We need to recover from our troubles. Then, we can recharge and start again when we are ready.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In this life, we will have trouble. There is no getting around that fact. But with the help of God, we can choose Jesus; and with Jesus we can choose His peace.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-16221520467258612882013-09-07T09:48:00.005-04:002018-01-29T21:25:24.407-05:00Book Review: Tangerine Morning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBhx5APccHYuMSy8jiCWL6InZD-7Xk61WmmjpeLmbe7neKpncD3gJWDI1LjsqIMzB1ItZ0j9X_qhfW0II9d1qfeEohe_Npow9iEMkLrCtJbRAsCw9SA8vOR1fMGilDsRbTG2wsv9Eh0Q/s1600/TangerineMorning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBhx5APccHYuMSy8jiCWL6InZD-7Xk61WmmjpeLmbe7neKpncD3gJWDI1LjsqIMzB1ItZ0j9X_qhfW0II9d1qfeEohe_Npow9iEMkLrCtJbRAsCw9SA8vOR1fMGilDsRbTG2wsv9Eh0Q/s200/TangerineMorning.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>Book Synopsis</b>: <i>Tangerine Morning, Jezzica’s Story</i>. <i>Book Two of the Serenity Cove Series</i>. Jezzica Leigh, a young widow, struggles in her relationship with Christ and with starting over. She moves to Serenity Cove and purchases the Sea Glass Bookshop on Main Street, in hopes of letting go of the past and moving forward with her life. Detective Zack Johnston, the first man her heart reacts to since her husband’s death, also represents a world that failed to bring her husband’s murderers to justice. The same criminals that now seek to harm Jezzica. Can Dr. Ellie Clarimonde help Jezzica find her way back to Christ and the freedom to love again? <br /><br /><b>Review</b>: I was immediately drawn into the mystery of this book. As a huge mystery fan, I love a "who dun it" and "why did they do it" book. The characters were well developed, and the mystery was exciting. I was disappointed, however, when a little more than half way through the book the mystery was solved. It took a lot of air out of the book for me.<br /><br />Then I realized, <i>Tangerine Morning</i> is primarily a romance novel with a little mystery. Not a mystery novel with a little romance. Armed with that knowledge, I would recommend Tangerine Morning to those who enjoy romance novels; or romance novels with a little mystery. It is a sweet romance, and an enjoyable read.<br /><br />The author, Rita Garcia, is a talented writer, and created a compelling mystery within her romance, and left me wanted more...mystery! But overall, her talents overcame and I really enjoyed the book. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-48111523308256218852013-07-25T08:00:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:24.478-05:00Does Jesus Have a Tattoo? - Interpreting the Bible<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>"And Jesus is going to come back riding a white horse, and with a tattoo on his thigh!"....</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jesus...with a tattoo? Chapel at my daughter's school started out simply enough. I love the Chaplin there, who is a wonderful teacher and the kids hang on her every word. But Jesus with a tattoo? I'd never heard such a thing. I leaned in to the mom next to me, "Did you ever hear that Jesus had a tattoo before?" She hadn't.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Upon coming home I began my research, when I found the verse the Chaplin was interpreting: Revelations 19:16:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><b><i><span class="textrev-19-16">On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: </span><span class="small-caps">king of kings and lord of lords</span><span class="textrev-19-16">.</span></i></b><br /><span class="textrev-19-16"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When Jesus returns he will have "king of kings and lord of lords" written on his thigh. How will it be written? It could be a tattoo. If could be a mark similar to a birthmark. For all I know, it could be written in Sharpie. The fact is, it's Jesus. There are lots of ways it could be "written", but the Chaplin shared her interpretation, that the writing would be a tattoo. And I'm not disputing that fact.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But likewise on the same verse, I could say that Jesus is going to return wearing a monogrammed robe. Because really, if your name or mine were written on our robe, it would be monogrammed, right? So I could interpret that Jesus is going to wear a monogrammed robe. But that isn't what the scripture says. It says his name will be written on it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are lots of ways that we can "re-word" scripture to make it more understandable to us. But we must exhibit care not to over reach. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Whether Jesus has a tattoo or not, I don't know. Isaiah 49:16 has been translated several ways; having our name engraved, inscribed, written and graven in God's palm. Yet, I have heard some folks interpret it to mean God has our names tattooed in his hand.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Some people are strongly against "<i><b>The Message</b></i>" Bible, because it is paraphrased, not a word by word or thought by thought translation. Still others will only read from the King James.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I don't know the answers. Does it matter whether Jesus or God have a tattoo? Does it matter if we read a paraphrase? Does it matter how we interpret, as long as we believe Jesus IS the king of kings, and lord or lords? I don't know. I just pray that God leads me the way he wants me to go. And that when I get the details wrong, not from lack of trying, that he will forgive me and help me find the answers on the things that matter.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>What do you think?</i></b></div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-43493218411741981552013-07-22T08:00:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:24.544-05:00Long Suffering<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first time I heard about long suffering as a fruit of the spirit was in a Bible study. Of course I was used to my NIV Bible translation: "<i>Now the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.</i>" (Galatians 5:22-23)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Patience is hard. Like waiting in line at the grocery store when they're calling for snow. Or worse, waiting at the DMV. Or dealing with a strong willed child. And never, ever pray for patience, cause God will make you wait for something, right? Patience is a virtue.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then someone with the King James Bible read the verse, and instead of patience, she read the word <i><b>longsuffering</b></i>. Longsuffing? I actually said something to the effect of, "Who would want the fruit of longsuffering? That is a terrible fruit!"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several years later, in 2001, my best friend wrote me a letter where she shared the ways I exhibited the fruits of the Spirit. On patience, she said:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 4th fruit is Patience - another translation is longsuffering. The definition is a person who has the power to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint. I have seen you in situations where this definition could have said, 'here is Kelly.' I have been amazed at your ability to 'let things go' when others hurt you. This is truly God's patience manifested in you.</span></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From her letter I was able to look back at my relationship with my mom. A childhood and early adulthood filled with longsuffering. (Also defined as patiently enduring wrongs or difficulties; patient endurance.) While I was in that phase, I didn't realize it was longsuffering. It just seemed like life. But in hindsight, I see it for what it was. Now I am able to see other times of the fruit of longsuffering in my life, and there are several.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />What I've noticed is that longsuffering without Jesus produces bitterness in people. But longsuffering with Jesus makes us hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I may have felt broken at times, but I am stronger because of my longsuffering. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I can't imagine ever praying for the fruit of longsuffering in my life. But I am thankful to have come through it with Jesus. While I am hopeful that my fruit of longsuffering has matured, and I don't need to go through more, I am confident that with Jesus I will not lose heart.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />When you experience times of longsuffering in your life, I hope you know that Jesus is walking through it with you, and that together you are achieving eternal glory.</span><br /><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Corinthians 4:16-18</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-61516941145875271332013-07-16T15:00:00.007-04:002018-01-29T21:25:24.613-05:00Book Review: A Thin Film of Lies<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVbn2dW_NdIQjKI8rwZEJpGftnWjjwJLTNCw468onAd_SvVObgB2jHqIwrFbYmtf1tQrRIjur_XS5YPzqcdwO2ieNv6XSnP7tFvMDzw2d0RsLWOI4Ra-4j2tZFAjzJSCBLPR1Wn0bGZ0/s1600/TFOLcover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVbn2dW_NdIQjKI8rwZEJpGftnWjjwJLTNCw468onAd_SvVObgB2jHqIwrFbYmtf1tQrRIjur_XS5YPzqcdwO2ieNv6XSnP7tFvMDzw2d0RsLWOI4Ra-4j2tZFAjzJSCBLPR1Wn0bGZ0/s200/TFOLcover2.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>A Thin Film of Lies</em> is a Christian crime novel. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you like suspense and crime novels, this book is a great Christian option to that genre. Still packed with the crime and action, we see a police woman who follows God, and listens to his nudge. No, He doesn't help her solve cases, but His presence is presented true to life in His still small voice to follow Him.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Full of intrigue this is not only a "who-done-it," it is a "why did they do it" that keeps you wondering how it will end. A fun summer read for the beach, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summary:<br style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">The story tells of a homicide detective, Fran Anders. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Fran is a dedicated, no-frills cop who takes her job seriously but with a wry sense of humor. A middle-aged, divorced, single parent with two teens, Fran hopes someday to find a great man and remarry, but she’s not holding her breath. Right now, she just wants to be a good cop and mother, and use her faith to help those she encounters in her line of work learn there’s someone “up there” who truly cares for them.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Her next case throws her into the lives of Mike and Alisa Jepson, a couple whose marriage is disintegrating fast. As leads come into the precinct for a recent murder case point at Mike Jepson, Fran watches the damage wrought on this couple, yet is unable to ignore the incriminating evidence. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Although Fran reaches out to Alisa during her crisis of faith, she is unable to stop events from barreling toward a crash. Yet, despite the tragedies to follow, Fran sees how God has used the Jepsons’ trials and pain to bring Alisa back into His arms, with hope that Mike might follow suit.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Note:</strong><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"> This novel is a suspense, crime fiction novel, faith-based but an intense exploration of human failings. </span><strong style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">It is spiritually uplifting but does have some gritty characters.</strong><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"> This book would be best suited for readers who like to read mystery/suspense and like relational drama.</span></span></div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-88037860421806529522013-07-12T15:45:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:24.688-05:00The Tape<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><div style="text-align: left;">I was late. And tardiness is one of my biggest pet peeves!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The day started out well enough. I was speaking for a women's luncheon, so I was busy prepping and praying. As I began to get dressed I remembered I needed my Bible. The day before my 9 year old asked if she could read my Bible - and when your kid asks to read your Bible YOU SAY YES! But now, the next day, she didn't know where it was. So I sent her on a seek and find mission.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Soon, I enlisted the help of her sister, and finally after I was ready I joined in, but the Bible was gone. Finally, I had to leave, so I grabbed another Bible and headed out the door. However, if you are in YOUR Bible often, you know that "another Bible" is a foreign place. You can't "feel" you way to verses, you actually have to look them up. But - I had a Bible and it was time to go.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I jumped on the interstate and started practicing my talk. About 15 minutes later I noticed an exit sign. A distressing exit sign - because it was an exit in the opposite direction of the way I was supposed to be going. In my stress over the Bible situation, and speaking in general, I had gotten on the interstate in the WRONG direction. Now, I was 15 minutes away, in the wrong direction, and I was going to be late!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Immediately the tape started. You know the one? The negative self talk tape. Maybe you have one too, it's always on standby ready to play. It starts with a true fact, "You're going to be late." But from there it turns into all fiction, "How could you be late, how stupid! You are an idiot. What kind of person gets on the interstate the wrong direction. They'll never respect you if you're late. And what makes you think they want to hear anything you have to say anyway?" and on, and on.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But this time, I hit the "stop" button. And I started to pray. I thanked God for loving me just as I am, and for sending Jesus for filling the gaps by my failures.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of my favorite contemporary Christian praise songs is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKvmifaUi-Y">Redeemed, Savior, Friend</a>. I love the lyric that states, "You're familiar with my weakness, devoted to the end." Jesus knows full well all my weaknesses, but he loves my anyway. He doesn't expect me to be perfect, he died because I can't be. He knows my weakness, but he is devoted to me anyway.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Next time you "mess up big" like I did, stop the tape! Don't let the recording in your mind remind you of all your faults. Instead, remember your Redeemer. He knows your weakness, and he loves you anyway.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And as for being late...I was indeed 15 minutes later than the time I wanted to be there. But still 15 minutes before the event began. Because I hate being late. :-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">A</span><i style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">s a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14</i></div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href=""><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-50561744322872628922013-06-27T10:19:00.006-04:002018-01-29T21:25:24.758-05:00The Devil Made Me Do It<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><div style="text-align: left;">Vacation Bible School has ruined my diet. This week, my church hosted their annual Vacation Bible School (VBS). In addition to kids, my church also holds adult VBS. The adults have a time of praise, a lesson, a drama, and of course food, lots and lots of food. Meatballs, barbecue, ham biscuits, casseroles of every kind, dips, cheeses, crackers...and that's just the meal table! Next comes the dessert table, filled with cookies, cakes and pies of every type. Yes, VBS has ruined my diet. Or did it?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Truthfully, I am the only one who controls my diet. I have the free will to choose to eat a light dinner at home before VBS, or to go through the buffet line like it's my last meal. I made the decision to "sample" 3 different desserts. VBS didn't ruin my diet. I did.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Why do we always try to blame something or someone else for our poor decisions? Whether it be a simple misdirection, mistake or full blown sin, we point the finger anywhere but to ourselves. "She gave me bad advice." "Everyone else was doing it." "He started it." Or even, "The devil made me do it!" </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">No one, not even the devil can control our behavior. God gave us the free will to make our own decisions. And thankfully, he gave us Jesus to pay the price for our bad decisions. But we have to <i>confess</i> them, not make excuses, or point our finger the other direction. We have to repent (change our behavior). And we have to accept the forgiveness God offers through Jesus' sacrifice.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, I ruined my diet this week. But next week I will make better decisions. Because, I can do all things through Christ...when I chose to. And when I don't, I only have myself to blame.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><b>No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13</b></i></div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href=""><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-18013229943682022152013-06-17T13:59:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:24.835-05:00Counting the Costs<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><div style="text-align: left;">Last September I joined Weight Watchers. I counted points with great dedication, and by November I'd lost 15 lbs. In January, by keeping the weight off I achieved "Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers." And by staying within 2 pounds of my target weight, I've maintained that goal.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fast forward ahead to May. I became complacent in my weight management system. I stopped counted points, and estimated in my head. Suddenly it was the last day of May and I had to weigh in. And there it was. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">.04 lbs over my 2 lb weight gain limit. But then the weight counselor said, "I'm not going to charge you. Just get it back down by next month's weigh in." I couldn't believe it! She gave me grace, even though I'd stopped counting points.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But now it is up to me to get back to counting, and back to my goal, for this month there will be no more grace.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Most people don't set out to sin. No, initially as Christians we are vigilant in our plan to follow Jesus. But at some point we become complacent, and we stop counting the costs. We slip into sin, accidentally. Suddenly we find ourselves weighed down. Thankfully, Jesus too offers grace! He forgives our missteps and slips into sin. When sin increases, grace increases all the more. But does that mean we should keep on sinning?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As the Apostle Paul states, "By no means!" We are dead to sin, and need to live a life of righteousness.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So I'm back to counting points, trying hard to stay on track so that when I weigh in this month I reach my goal. And in the same way, I'll keep counting myself dead to sin but alive in Jesus. Because following Jesus is what counts, most of all!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><b> In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Romans 6:11,12</b></i></div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href=""><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-36291207959991911602013-06-06T08:00:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:24.919-05:00My Promotional Video<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I'm so excited to debut my new promotional video for my speaking and writing ministry! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" height="243" id="vp1E4nF1" width="432"><param name="movie" value="http://static.animoto.com/swf/w.swf?w=swf/production/vp1&e=1370442788&f=E4nF1EvM7yl7XdURUAXNFQ&d=0&m=p&r=360p+720p&volume=100&start_res=360p&i=m&ct=CLICK%20HERE%20TO%20LEARN%20MORE!&cu=http://www.kellycombs.com/&asset_domain=s3-p.animoto.com&animoto_domain=animoto.com&options="></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed id="vp1E4nF1" src="http://static.animoto.com/swf/w.swf?w=swf/production/vp1&e=1370442788&f=E4nF1EvM7yl7XdURUAXNFQ&d=0&m=p&r=360p+720p&volume=100&start_res=360p&i=m&ct=CLICK%20HERE%20TO%20LEARN%20MORE!&cu=http://www.kellycombs.com/&asset_domain=s3-p.animoto.com&animoto_domain=animoto.com&options=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="432" height="243"></embed></object><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />(If you are reading this via email, you may have to <a href="http://www.chattykelly.com/2013/06/my-promotional-video.html">visit my blog to watch the video</a>, so come on over!)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">As a member of the Christian Women Affiliate, and their "Review Crew," I got this video in exchange for an honest review, and I can tell you I honestly cannot be happier!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The <a href="http://christianwomenaffiliate.com/page/promotional-videos-and-book-trailers">CWA Video Service</a>, and the fabulous Evonne Mandella, work with you to make the perfect video for your needs. (Evonne has a Master’s Degree from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bethany</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Bible</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place>and Seminary. She currently enjoys working with Christian Television Network to provide uplifting high quality videos year round. She has made Cinema Quality Videos for leaders in the Christian fitness, Magazine, and Christian television industry.)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">All you have to do is send her whatever photos or graphics you need, as well as a video or audio clip, and she puts together something fabulous (as you can see).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I sent her a few things, and she took the initiative to visit my website, and get a feel for "who I am" and used some additional text from there. She worked with me to make the edits I wanted (you all know I am picky). And she worked tireless with me to find just the right music. (Let's just say I was particular here too).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">And each time Evonne came back immediately with something to put a smile on my face. She was so wonderful to work with, I can't recommend the CWA Video service enough.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">So if you need a promotional video for your ministry, book, etc., etc, check it out. Here are some details:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>For Only $50 you will get:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>A custom made, high resolution video, specifically created with your taste and customer base in mind.</li><li>The highest quality of music in the industry to find just the right song to match your product.</li><li>High resolution video clips to further enhance to your product.</li><li>Your own download-able mp4 version of the video to share, email, post to youtube, vimeo, whatever you like- it is yours.</li><li>You will receive an embed code and link to your own personal video page. </li></ul><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I hope you will check out the <a href="http://christianwomenaffiliate.com/page/promotional-videos-and-book-trailers">CWA Video Service</a>. I think they’ll make you as happy as they have made me.<span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-64955278316324406122013-06-04T08:00:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:24.985-05:00Seal of Approval<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvF-rBjOg-22LRmO6RVK-hZ5odsSv7rEFRA5RaDHvltgzZYio8yAntlSMIEyLXv_qwS85lGOCPCyj2tvAmDG0OLaFmm8rKE_48TYhk3pb0QTMCZYMJ4Pzc5RxmKaTE9IYD59hfwMbK90/s1600/goodhousekeepingseal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvF-rBjOg-22LRmO6RVK-hZ5odsSv7rEFRA5RaDHvltgzZYio8yAntlSMIEyLXv_qwS85lGOCPCyj2tvAmDG0OLaFmm8rKE_48TYhk3pb0QTMCZYMJ4Pzc5RxmKaTE9IYD59hfwMbK90/s200/goodhousekeepingseal.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">The <a href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/product-reviews/history/welcome-gh-seal">Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval</a> has been reassuring consumers about their product-purchasing decisions for over 100 years and is one of the most recognized consumer emblems in the market today. The Seal is an emblem of the magazine's Consumer Policy, which promises a refund or replacement for defective products within two years of purchase. As consumers, we know we can trust things with the seal of approval.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Did you Jesus has a Seal of Approval? Not by Good Housekeeping (GH) magazine. But by God himself! John 6:27 states, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his <i><b>seal of approval</b></i>." (Emphasis mine).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">God's seal of approval tells us many things. It tells us that Jesus was tested and found to be the best. Just as the a GH sealed product has been tested against other products to prove it is the best and earned the seal, we know that Jesus too was tested. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tested by the devil. Each time the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus was able to refer to scripture and reject the temptation. No other person on earth has ever been able to live a sin-free life. So we know that Jesus earned the seal by being tested.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The seal tells us that we can trust Jesus. Products with the GH seal are guaranteed. If they fail, GH stands behind them to replace them. As sinners, we fail every day, and because of the failure, we are separated from God. But Jesus is that guarantee, stating that when we fail, he replaces our sin with his perfection (by his death and resurrection) so that can spend eternity with God in heaven. Jesus is a guarantee of eternal life.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Finally, the GH seal produces peace of mind for it's consumers. Jesus too offers peace of mind. We know that when we believe in and follow him, that we will have the peace that passes human understanding! We find hope in Jesus, when there is no hope. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jesus has God's seal of approval! And we too have been marked with a seal. Because of Jesus, we have been marked with God's seal of ownership - providing us the ultimate lifetime guarantee.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>2 Corinthians 1:22</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-79364320234064478002013-05-31T08:01:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:25.050-05:00Mediocre Mothering<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJYZkMCQRlAIOVRC8a2pXZ0hnfElaGwqHoqaMIxAXrVIC1eutbIwu2WkN9cL1Eyc9KlzHCTFzyJo-KvU_XIUj2I5RoOI0R9GU8xeNr_n1cbVXUQ6szqP8f-QvSveJK4BP73JQVT_mnQ8/s1600/9pinterest-soap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJYZkMCQRlAIOVRC8a2pXZ0hnfElaGwqHoqaMIxAXrVIC1eutbIwu2WkN9cL1Eyc9KlzHCTFzyJo-KvU_XIUj2I5RoOI0R9GU8xeNr_n1cbVXUQ6szqP8f-QvSveJK4BP73JQVT_mnQ8/s320/9pinterest-soap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I read a popular "mommy blog" the other day. She had great writing, a funny topic, and was completely relatable. But that smart, savvy, writer mom dropped the *f-word* three times in her blog post. Three! And it made me very sad. Not because I know her or even know anything about her, but because I didn't understand why.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Don't get me wrong. It's not like I've never heard the word before. I may have even said it before, so I'm not judging. I just think motherhood deserves more. We should be in awe every single day of the gift we have in our kids, and show motherhood a little more respect.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another popular Christian blogger recently blogged about her failings as a mom, and how she "used to care." She's tired. And I <i><b>SO</b></i> get that, because I am exhausted and she has more kids then I do. But I can't stop feeling that motherhood is sacred.<br /><br />Then we post funny graphics like the one in this post, and we all laugh. Because "keeping the kids alive" is the new standard. When did we embrace mediocrity in motherhood? It likely all started innocently enough. Someone pulled down the veil behind us trying to achieve perfection -and failing every single time - and shared that they were messing up. And we all breathed a sigh of relief, because we could relate!<br /><br />But somehow the sharing of our failures stopped being about encouraging each other to keep striving for the good, and became an acceptance of mediocre mothering. And I think it's time to stop. Because our kids deserve better. <i>(<a href="http://clicktotweet.com/22W4C">Click to tweet this</a>.)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I mess it up sometimes. I forget to send in items to school. I forget to check the homework folder. I yell at my kids. I mess up and I feel bad about it...because I never forget how important I am to my kids. And how important they are to me. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Motherhood can be hard...almost every single day! But there are so many women with empty arms and hearts who would readily dive right into my situation and take it over. I can't forget that. They'd love to have one "hard" day with kids, then all the hard days without them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And so I mess up, and I get up, and I keep striving to do better. I'll never be perfect, but I refuse to accept mediocrity. Because I am a mom. I'll never forget what a precious gift that truly is.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Psalm 127:3</i></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-83110470521467644182013-05-20T09:40:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:25.122-05:00Legalism or Training<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As a recovering perfectionist, I try to avoid legalism. Legalism is defined as an excessive adherence to the law, or dependence on the law rather than faith. Growing up trying to "earn" love, "earn" forgiveness and "earn" acceptance, has forced me to really work (no pun intended) to realize that MY work isn't what saves me. The work Jesus did on the cross is all it takes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Recently I was in a Bible study, and the week's "homework" was to set several alarms on your phone, and pray when the alarm went off. This smacked of legalism to me - praying at a certain time, versus as the spirit leads. When I shared my thoughts in class, the leader gave a different perspective.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Are there any TV shows you watch regularly?" - the leader asked. Of course there are. She asked if I found it "legalistic" that I set aside a certain time each week to watch that particular show. Of course I hadn't. Somehow saying "Every Thursday at 9 I'm going to watch Person of Interest" was okay. But saying, "Every day at 11 I'm going to pray" was legalistic.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now I realize that there is a difference between training and legalism. Setting aside a regular time to have Bible study or prayer isn't legalistic. I set aside time to make dinner, watch TV, play with my kids - all the things that I want or need to do. Even if I don't "feel" like it - I still make dinner. The same principals can be applied to being faithful in Bible study and prayer!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I still need to watch myself that I don't just "check off" my prayer and study time as things on the to-do list. I need to apply them through out my day. I need to live out my studies and prayers.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I understand that these things don't "save" me. It's not my works, but the sacrifice made by Jesus. But I can still train myself to spend time in the word and prayer - without being legalistic. After all, if I make time for a TV show, I can certainly make time for Jesus. Can't you?</div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-70865899234541355122013-05-13T08:00:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:25.183-05:00Accepting Grace<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><div style="text-align: left;">One of my job duties is to prep the newsletter for my boss every Friday, for Sunday distribution. The past Friday I dropped the ball. A family emergency came up, preoccupying my thoughts, and distracting my focus. I never even considered the newsletter until Sunday morning, when I saw the completed newsletter come into my inbox - prepared -but not by me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I immediately emailed my boss, apologizing for the error and explaining what had happened. He immediately responded, "No worries, at all." And I have no doubt he meant it. After 7 months of working together, and me not missing a newsletter yet, he knows my work ethic. Yet, as I sat there (in church no less), I couldn't accept the grace he so freely gave me. Instead I sat there berating myself for my mistake.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The irony of the situation isn't lost on me. Jesus died to pay the price for my sins. <b><i>In full</i></b>. Yet, how often do I, instead of accepting His grace - and the peace that comes with it - instead continue to berate myself over my failures? As if Jesus wasn't enough.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is a constant battle for me. Is it for you too? We try to do our best. We want to be known by our actions, not our "intentions." Yet, we aren't perfect, try as we might be.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jesus paid the price for our failures, not that we shouldn't try to do our best, but that we accept His forgiveness (not to mention the forgiveness of others). There is freedom in His forgiveness and grace. There is peace.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I will continue to do my best for my boss. But, undoubtedly I will mess something up again in the future. I'm human. I'm thankful that I have a Savior who paid the price for my failures. (Not to mention a boss who doesn't expect me to be perfect.) Now, I need to accept that grace, and keep moving forward.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6</b></i></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href=""><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-12524194923776611662013-05-09T08:00:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:25.248-05:00It's Better With the Father<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><div style="text-align: left;">I love eating at my dad's house. Even the simplest things just taste better there. I can make the same recipes that he does, yet his still taste better. I finally figured out why! We may make the same dip, but I use low fat sour cream, and he uses the "real" stuff. Of course, his ends up being richer, creamier and more delicious! That sandwich? While I use 100% whole wheat, he uses a thick white Italian bread. Yes, the whole wheat may be "better" for me, but his definitely tastes better.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There is also the joy of "being taken care of" by my father. As the person who takes care of everyone else in my daily life, it's nice to have someone take care of me for a change. (But don't worry - I do a lot of things to take care of him too!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My Christian walk can mirror that example. I can look to other things to fill me instead of my time with Jesus. And even when they are "good" things, like volunteering, exercising, or even writing a blog post, nothing really fulfils as much as Jesus. He is the "real stuff" that is definitely better.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Not only there, there is joy in being taken care of by my Father - my heavenly Father. He knows too well the time I spend caring for everyone and yet I am always in His sight and His is always there for me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's better with the Father! The biggest problems are smaller when you have the hope of Jesus, and the best days are better when you know Him. Spend some time creating the <i>real</i> relationship with your heavenly Father. It will be noticeable different than just knowing about Him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you don't have a relationship with your earthly dad, God can fill the role of loving Father for you. But if your earthly dad and you have a good relationship, why not give him a call, just to tell him you love him. And remember, God is always on call to hear that you love Him too.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>See what great love the Father has lavished on us, </b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>that we should be called children of God!</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><b> And that is what we are! </b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>1 John 3:1</b></i></div><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href=""><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-30463746597513872842013-05-06T08:00:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:25.312-05:00The One Thing That Makes My Marriage Last<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDELOC3YNZh4mZt6BJt65wIKVNt4-nbOJHJOPzmhsZIRYDo8DWKsJybbCSGpHr194mdRMEGK87oNXF-tuMUT9gZM5mjaZJy89flzu9kHJqQM_ZCN3fhzWUto0-mevKDqYxOpOtdcKYbgM/s1600/johnkellywedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDELOC3YNZh4mZt6BJt65wIKVNt4-nbOJHJOPzmhsZIRYDo8DWKsJybbCSGpHr194mdRMEGK87oNXF-tuMUT9gZM5mjaZJy89flzu9kHJqQM_ZCN3fhzWUto0-mevKDqYxOpOtdcKYbgM/s200/johnkellywedding.jpg" width="139" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Saturday, my husband and I celebrated 17 years of marriage. There are a lot of reasons why our marriage should not last. Here are just a few: </span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ol><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We both come from dysfunctional childhoods, bringing a lot of emotional baggage into the marriage.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are both previously divorced. The divorce rate for 1st marriages is 50%, but rises to 67% for 2nd marriages. Statistically, our chances of staying together are low.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have over a 20 year difference in our ages.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are both strong leaders. Individually this is a great thing, but joined together it can create some dynamic power struggles. </span></li></ol><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But there is one reason that we are able to stay together that is bigger than all the reasons we shouldn't be able to. That reason is:</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ol><li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus.</span></b></li></ol><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's it. Jesus. You see with God on our side, He makes a huge difference.</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus fills the empty spaces left by dysfunctional childhoods, allowing us to be filled by Him, instead of creating the unrealistic expectation of our spouse to complete us.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus shows us grace and mercy for our tremendous short comings. By His example, we are able to forgive one another.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus modeled servant leadership. That allows us both to not only lead lovingly, but to also die to self for one another. He also modeled marriage. Just as He is head of the church, He ordained that my husband is head of the family. I am learning to not only allow that as God leads, but also to accept the freedom that comes with it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My husband and I may have started our relationship on "shaky ground." But now that we're standing firmly on the Rock, we can experience the abundant life Jesus offers us. Our marriage is not perfect. We still struggle in some areas. We are still sinners. But with Jesus on our side, we are more than victorious.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ask Jesus into your marriage today. When you join with Him, despite what the world predicts, your marriage will not be easily broken.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12</b></i></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-57019873418323925842013-05-02T08:00:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:25.386-05:00God's Protection<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AX_OIpkP5cPO6Q0YSay6s3pEZHJUUp0tG-5FKhzeLSy9Aw-uHiWkcFxQb-TFoT2GkTpBYe5nXd1RX6UnbyhFhUfYFfiuazPV8K_8Nsis6ZsmuwU_MxaEGtUbpvaNVhP8ieE19tGbKhU/s1600/alarm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AX_OIpkP5cPO6Q0YSay6s3pEZHJUUp0tG-5FKhzeLSy9Aw-uHiWkcFxQb-TFoT2GkTpBYe5nXd1RX6UnbyhFhUfYFfiuazPV8K_8Nsis6ZsmuwU_MxaEGtUbpvaNVhP8ieE19tGbKhU/s200/alarm.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">My home is protected by an alarm system. The first thing the alarm company did after installing the alarm is to put up a yard sign, so that everyone would know my home is protected. My home is now protected in two ways. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The first is just the knowledge that my home is armed with an alarm will deter many would-be thieves not to try to break into my home. They might decide to try another home without an alarm system.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The second way my home is protected is with the alarm itself. If someone would to break into my home, the alarm would immediately call the police department and have the police at my home in minutes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Did you know you are marked with a sign? Believers in Christ have his seal of ownership on us. "He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Corinthians 1:22) Like my alarm system, that seal protects us in two ways.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The first is that it may deter some dark forces, whether earthly or spiritual, from coming against us. There is an awareness that we belong to Christ, and that we will be a hard sell on sin.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">However, we know that Christians are not exempt from spiritual attack. And that is where the second protection comes in. We are armed, like an alarm system, with the word of God. With his seal, comes the spiritual armor of God, that we can put on daily to protect us. We literally have angels to protect us where ever we go (Psalm 91:11). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I sleep better at night knowing I am protected by my alarm system. But true peace comes by being protected by God. May God raise a hedge of protection around you, as you fully believe him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><u>Psalm 91:</u></b></i><br /><i>Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.</i><i>I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”</i><i>Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.</i><i>He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.</i><i>You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.</i><i>A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.</i><i>You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.</i><i>If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,</i><i>no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.</i><i>For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;</i><i>they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.</i><i> You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.</i><i>“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”</i></blockquote><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-58029447542032198482013-04-29T12:24:00.006-04:002018-01-29T21:25:25.455-05:00"It's Just a Season"<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><div style="text-align: left;">I can remember those really really hard days of mothering a preschooler. Some days I thought God must have been crazy to give me a child - because clearly I had no idea what I was doing! During those crazy, chaotic moments, someone would always come beside me and say, "Don't worry, this is just a season." And low and behold, right before I lost my mind, something would give and it would get better. And I'd think, "Whew, they were right! It was just a season and now everything is<b><i> all </i></b>better."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But then a funny thing would happen. Right when I was getting comfortable in my new reality of perfect parenting, something would slip and a new problem would arise. What the heck? And I'd be right back to crazy and chaotic days (albeit with different craziness this time). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then I came to realize something. <i><b>It's ALL a season</b></i>. Not just the bad stuff, but the good stuff too. And it's not just about parenting. When your job is going perfect - watch out - because that's just a season, and things are going to get tough. But that's okay, because the tough stuff is just a season too.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And your marriage - look out friends, the bad season is coming. But if you can just cling to Jesus, know that a good season is around the corner. But good or bad, it's not forever. It ebbs and flows.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Life has it's good and bad days, it's good and bad seasons. And one thing I've learned is that the seasons always change. And that's okay! We learn, and grow, and become stronger in the rough seasons. And we rejoice, and relax, and renew during the good seasons.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think sometimes we wait for the time to come when everything will be alright, and we don't have to experience any more bad seasons. Friends, that isn't going to happen on earth. But if you know and love Jesus, when the seasons of life end, you'll go be with Him, and the seasons will end and our perfect eternity will begin. But until then, on earth, one thing I know is "This too shall pass." It's just a season.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ecclesiastes 3:1-3</b></i></div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href=""><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-20111464578569547022013-04-24T15:34:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:25.525-05:00What God Gave<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;">John 3:16 is the most widely quoted verse in the Bible, and has been called the most famous Bible verse.</div><div style="text-align: left;">"<i>For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son</i>," it begins. God gave his son. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That verse sounds so innocent. Like I gave my kids dinner last night. You gave a friend a gift. We gave a concert performance at church. Gave. God gave his son...to die for us. I don't know, I feel like that verse should say more. God <i>gave</i> his son's life. God gave away his heavenly relationship with his precious son. Jesus gave away paradise to walk the earth, full of sinners, and to be falsely accused and murdered! "Gave" just seems like such a weak word for all that happened.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The rest of the verse says, "that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." Whoever. You. Me. Them. Whoever. God gave the greatest gift to us of all times. He gave us his son, to pay the price for our sins, so that we would have eternal life. And he did it for everyone. And that word, "believes," isn't just talking about head knowledge, but heart knowledge.<br /><br />Sometimes when we are very familiar with something, we just spout it out without thought, and I think John 3:16 qualifies in that category. So the next time you are tempted to quickly recite John 3:16, remember what was truly given, what that belief entails, and what you have received as a result.<br /><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><sup class="versenum" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">For God so greatly loved </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. John 3:16, Amplified Bible</span></span></i></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-56994776166054476882013-04-15T08:42:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:25.586-05:00Mental illness and the Church<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Recently mega church pastor Rick Warren lost his son to suicide, after years of his son fighting depression. I understand all too well what it is like to have a family member with depression. My mom battled mental illness my entire life. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My mom has tried to kill herself more times than I can count. It feels like it must be hundreds of times, but likely it's only in the 20s. Her method of choice was drug overdose, but on several occasions she slit her wrists as well, never caring who may find her...whether it be her child or not.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Aside from the suicide attempts are the numerous times she threatened, but did not attempt suicide. The calls to me, as an adult at work, stating, "I think I'm going to kill myself." But of course meaning, <b><i>if you do not stop me</i></b>, I am going to kill myself - somehow the weight of her life or death weighing on me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I can't imagine a depression that oppressive. And for that I am thankful. Because I don't battle depression. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But I do battle well meaning Christians who say things like, "You just need to pray for your mom." Or "If you'd just have faith, God would heal her." Again, the weight of her illness weighing on me. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>I didn't cause it. I can't cure it. I can't control it</i></b>. Those are the three C's of al-anon, and they have taken the burden that my mom, and so many other well meaning people tried to put on my shoulders. I wish I could cure my mom. I wish I could control the alcoholism and suicide attempts. I wish I could control the mental illness.But I can't.<br /><br />I feel sorrow for Rick Warren having to deal so publicly with the loss of his son. No doubt, there are people asking him what <b><i>he</i></b> did, as if he could control his son's situation - which he of course could not. To Rick, I would say, remember those 3 C's.<br /><br />And to all the well meaning people wondering why "<b><i>we</i></b>" - the family and friends of the mentally ill - don't do more to fix the situation, I invite you to look to God. He gives us all free will. That includes the free will to make bad decisions.<br /><br /><b><i>If God does not control human behavior, what makes you think we could?</i></b><br /><b><i><br /></i></b></div><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618836256051194500.post-44606653600296294662013-03-14T08:00:00.003-04:002018-01-29T21:25:25.654-05:00Knowledge versus Knowing<div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If I asked you to tell me what you know about George Washington, you could likely share many facts about him. He was our first president, married to Martha, and lived at Mount Vernon. He was a General in the army and founding father. You could probably share some folklore with me as well; perhaps the story of him cutting down a cherry tree, or throwing a silver dollar across the Potomac river. If you are a history buff, you likely know even more. But here is the thing...You don't know George Washington.<br /><br />You know about George Washington. You have knowledge of George Washington. But you don't know George Washington. My fear is that many of us are the same way with Jesus. We can tell facts about Jesus. We spread folklore about Jesus. But do we know Jesus?<br /><br />Knowing Jesus takes you beyond the religion and into the relationship. It involves not just talking to him in prayer, but listening...a much harder objective. It involves study of the Bible, certainly, but not just as a historical text book, but as the foundation to help you build the relationship with your Savior.<br /><br />In my early years as a Christian, I knew a lot about Jesus. But only in the past 10 years have I gotten to <i>know</i> Jesus. I have learned to listen more, and understand he's more about the eternal than the temporary. The more I get to know Jesus, the more I realize how little I know about Jesus. Because we can't define him in a Bible story. He is a living God. His desire is to grow and teach us. He loves us.<br /><br />It's important to know about Jesus. That is how we get to know his personality, his will and his character traits. It is imperative to study the Bible and to learn about God's law, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But don't confuse knowledge with knowing. Because once you know and love Jesus you move from religion to relationship. From history buff to humble believer. From enlightened into the Light.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>1 John 2:3 (NLT)</i></div><br /></div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at <a href="http://www.kellycombs.com/">www.kellycombs.com</a></i></blockquote></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><br /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2618836256051194500"><img alt="Chatty Kelly" border="0" src="" /></a>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232noreply@blogger.com4