It is now November. We have been busy working on a lot of new programing including our new movie about Sybil Ludington. As we move towards the holiday's I have our Christmas issue for our KidWise e-Magazine before us, more planning for the movie, and the next few weeks we're working on our KidWise productions. KICKS Club has a lot of holiday programming coming your way and a fresh look on our web pages. We have our new shows featured on each of their web pages preparing for production. AND, as I sit here sharing all this with you, KICKS Club is playing in the background and my son, who is going to be five this month, is sitting here with me.

I want to encourage you, this blog may be posted at a very different time than it was written. Things may seem delayed for you or late, or even simply not on time! But the Lord has His time set right before you. I may write my blog early afternoon to post early morning, you may have your time for Thanksgiving dinner and others may eat it at a very different time of day, but none the less, time is shared like an hour glass. Again and again the sands pass. Time is a measurement that is held by special hands of purpose and design. The Lord says, there is a "time to every purpose under heaven". (Ecc. 3:1)

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." Ecc. 3:11

No matter how we try to convince ourselves, no matter how hard we are determined in our own abilities, time is a measurement that God has ordained to "make things beautiful" to fulfill "every purpose under heaven" through His hands.

As you look at time in your life. As you take time to spend with your family, your church, your ministry, your children, and with the Lord, remember this; there is PURPOSE being fulfilled, and the Lord is making 'beautiful' all things in your life as well as your children's! It is all that He has purposed and designed. It is in these very moments that He has made beautiful, everything just for you, every "minute" of every day, in every hour, 'all the time'...

"abundantly simple"

As we've been moving forward, seeing God add to us the great opportunities He has for us to do, it has created some busy days. While standing for the truth that God has given us the "abundantly simple life", sometimes you may find yourself doing and doing in that you could ask, "What did she say? Abundantly simple?"

When the Lord began to minister that to me, showing me the principle of abundance in our lives, He impressed on me that it is 'simple' as it is His plan for us to experience life, full and rich of His blessing to us as families and individuals. As we experience all that He has given to us through Jesus Christ it is as simple as remembering that all that we do comes through our relationship with Him.

Now how do you keep it focused between school, dinner, dirty dishes, diapers, and all that you have to do? Simple... practice, "stop, look, and listen"!

1. Stop... be sure you take the time to stop what you are doing and 'experience' Him and all those He has put in your life, like your family!

2. Look... be sure you look to Him and follow the divine direction He is giving.

3. Listen... be sure you listen to those closest to you and take the time to share all that He is as you be sure to listen to Him through His word.

It may seem more complicated when your in the midst of being 'busy' but it really is that simple! He has a plan for us to experience His "abundantly, simple, life!"

That life is filled with all that He has for us in His word. Just "stop, look, and listen" for a moment and you will experience abundance...

April Showers

One day as I was praying and meditating on God's word I was thinking about the parable where the sower went out to sow the word. This is the one found in Mark 4 where Jesus is talking about the word of God being sown in the hearts of men. He said if you understand this parable you will understand the Kingdom of God.

First, in this chapter, the Lord tells us how the word was sown which was;

By the wayside. Which in the greek means by a course of conduct, a way of thinking, a feeling, and/or a decision(s). Here, the Lord tells us the word will take no root because people are leaning on their own abilities, thinking, and ways, conduct, course, direction, etc. This is where Satan comes and takes the word away because the word is taken casually and for granted and is not taken outside of their own understanding and feelings. (v15)

Then the Lord tells us the word was also sown,

2. On stony ground. Which is a ground or heart full of rocks and hard places. These, He tells us, are places of offense where persecution and affliction from the enemy and circumstances have created these offenses. Here there is no root and no sprout can spring up. (v17) In Hebrews 3 the word of God tells us that hardness of heart is unbelief. Which means believing something else other than what the Lord has said. Israel in the wilderness allowed themselves to become hardened by their situation, persecutions, and afflictions. They never received the promise land because of that.

He stated the word was sown,

3. Among thorns where the word is choked and unfruitful in this heart. (v19) Here it is because the thorns, as Jesus said, are cares, worries, desire for other things rather than the word of God, and deceitfulness of riches. Here deceitfulness of riches can be clearly as the greek word states, "that with which one is enriched". People can be enriched with their own ideals, strengths, abilities to success and climbing the corporate ladder, as well as the things of pleasure that are filled with the temptations that sin has to offer. All these things are filled with the cares of the world, the deceit of the world, which all produce a growth from thorn seeds that create unfruitfulness and produce the double minded heart desiring God at one moment and other things at another.

And finally,

Jesus talked about the good ground where the word is "received" and produces fruit. (v20) You can think of ground as a foundation for building and constructing and as a place that is inhabited. You can also see ground is a place where it is generally tilled, yielding, and producing sustenance when planting seed is involved. Above the wrong things were being built on 'unfruitful' ground. Jesus promises in the verses to follow that there is a harvest of God's word in 'good' soil and a great building of His kingdom on this ground.

In verses 27-29, He makes it clear that when the seed is planted that the seed grows as you go about your daily business without your help or you knowing how. Then within time, you see, eat of, and experience the harvest and He produces in your life great things. Then He states in verses 30-32, that the seed of God's word and His kingdom's ways are likened to the smallest seed, a mustard seed, but, it grows to a mighty harvest and even others will benefit from it.

He made it clear in verses 21-22 that a candle or light cannot be hid and is not meant to be hidden. He said nothing can be hidden that will not come forth. A seed is planted in the ground but will burst forth like light through darkness and, His word will manifest the same. His word is a lamp unto our feet, a light unto our paths. (Ps 119:105)

Which brings me to April showers...

The term, "April showers bring May flowers" is one I'm sure you are familiar with. I had asked the Lord about the soil, the ground, and the heart, and how does ground become 'good' for that 30 fold, 60 fold, 100 fold harvest found in Mark 4? He said to me, it is through the 'rain', or as rain is, 'water'. Water softens ground and brings growth to seed.

Hebrews 6:7-8, "For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned."

Rain? Water? Throughout the word of God He refers to the Holy Spirit and His word as waters, rain, gushers, and blessing. He refers to rain in Proverbs 16:15 being His favor coming from the light, (word, glory, and character) of His countenance.

"In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain." Proverbs 16:15

Here we can see that the harvest of His word in our lives brings life and light. His glory and His blessing. Just as Jesus said in Mark 4 along with the parable of the sower, 'you can't hide the light or candle of God's word, which is His favor, presence, and personhood, under a bushel.'

So what's the key to being good soil and bringing your children into the position of the harvest of God's word in their lives?

1. Don't keep yourself or your children in a course of conduct or thinking that is contrary to God's word.
2. Don't get caught up in anger or offense at circumstances or people. Choose a positive outlook and forgiveness.
3. Don't let yourself or your children get caught up in what sin has to offer and follow the temptations of the world by offering them opportunities through the thorns of Godless ideals, self achievements without God's design, and empty, vain philosophies that cheat them and yourselves out of the rudiments of Christ and the blessings of God.

Most importantly,

4. 'Receive' God's word like the ground receives April showers. Be thirsty for it and embrace the rain... Looking to His ways and expecting your harvest for you and your children. You will find so richly, God's greatest and His increase in your lives. In this mighty harvest, it says in Isaiah 55, you will find more seed, that even you may spread around and sow into the lives of others.

God's richest,

Isaiah 55:9-11,

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

"Prayer", When you're so Busy?

"Prayer"... You think you know how important it is and then you don't do it because you're so busy. Can you image having a million dollars in your back pocket and never using it? I once heard a story of a man who shoved his mattress full of money and starved to death. When he was found, they discovered almost a million dollars in the bed mattress he was laying on. As absurd as that was, he never tapped into the reservoir that was right there accessible to him. Well, there is a reservoir of wisdom, greatness, glory, and abundance from heaven's 'open' doors that we can tap into each day, but, to often we find ourselves caught in between the spiritual and the natural. So what's the deal about prayer, and how can our natural persons tap into this glorious reservoir?

It comes by understanding and knowing that prayer really does make a difference. If that man knew the money he was using to make a difference in his sleeping, would also make a difference in his living, I don't think he would have ignored reaching into the source He needed to tap into for existence.

First; Once you have a revelation of prayer's power you will not want to be casual about it.

Second; Once you realize it's not how long you remain in prayer, or how much prayer you do, but its how often that matters most and what you believe when you pray, you won't be casual about it.

Third; Once you come to the understanding that your prayer life is an attitude of connection with the personal God who desires to express His glorious abundance of essence in your life, and not an hour a day connection, then you will not let go of your moment by moment communication with Him and His word.

God is not One who is experienced by casual seekers but rather, 'steady seekers'. As a young adolescent you can remember the term, 'going steady'. It meant you were committed to that one and no one else. Your devotion was directed to them alone and your thoughts and time was focused on experience with them. If in the adolescent life, the fickle ideals of flesh can be determined with a 'steady' commitment for even a short period of time, what more can we do with the Spirit and a 'steady seeking' with our Lord? That 'steady seeking' meaning a steady meditation and communication all day long with Him.

Mom's and Dad's, I know how busy you can be. I never thought through the years I could ever be so busy with the 'natural' things of life that I have find myself busy with since I have had five children under the age of four years. These last four years have been amazing and humbling at the same time. As the head of a world wide, international ministry I have found my time for what used to be, 'spiritual', has completely changed. I have come to learn that God desires me to share with others the 'simple' things that He sees as well as the 'rich' things and 'deeper' things. Walking with the knowledge of Him beside you and with you, brings a 'steady seeking' attitude or gratitude of His all knowing wisdom that comes through 'walking with Him and simply talking with Him' along life's way all day long. Knowing He's there and walking side by side with me, abiding with me makes life rich and simple. The main problem is 'remembering' He's there when you're soooo busy...

As you become God conscious, and remember that He says, 'Whoever asks, believing in their heart, they will receive 'when' they ask', and, 'I Am the vine and you are the branches', meaning you are grafted into me every minute of every day, you will begin to experience a knowing of the simple connection with Him as He fills your life with His presence.

'If you abide in Me, and My word abides in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7

The greek meaning of 'abide' would be important here. That word 'meno' (3306) means, to tarry and not depart. To be held continually and be kept. It means to live in and references to abiding as a condition, a position or meaning a 'place'. It means to remain as one, and not to become different to and to wait and sojourn there in that place of keeping.

In other words, to abide in Him means to tarry there all day long and live in that condition and position. As you remain in that 'place' sojourn there and wait. He then goes on to say that His word will 'remain with you, tarry with you, position itself with you and be in its place with you. He is saying his word will wait on you, sojourn with you and remain 'one' with you as it keeps you!' What a wonderful thing to realize and be God conscious of. In this place of 'abiding', He says, whatever you ask will be done for you!

Is that difficult to comprehend? It will be done for you... whatever you desire... Those are red letter words! Abide there for awhile and meditate on them. Let those words remain in you and keep you, and as you go after His word, don't try and grasp tons a day, just grasp what He is saying to you through His ever-present word and ever-present communion with you 'all day long'....

A New Year - My personal direction?

How fast time has past. I know its been awhile 'again' since I've posted. I was just telling someone how amazing it is that we are almost into Spring. Our spring edition for 'KidWise' is getting ready to be published and there has been so much to do. We've been setting KICKS Club in motion with HD taping and things are moving forward and change is happening. Yet, personally, one of the biggest things I have experienced as change this year is with moving. We have been so busy moving everything in the ministry from one place to another since the end of '07. We've had to move, offices, television studios, recording studios, our editing suites, our home, and my five children. What a change!

I have moved from Ohio to California, from California to Ohio, from Central Ohio to Northern Ohio, from Northern Ohio to Central Ohio, and more and never found I was more pushed in moving than this last move. "I even had movers for some of the move!" Yet, I have found just 'one' of the greatest changes in my life has been, after having five children, now pre-school age, has slowed down every process that I do. I use to be this, "plan it and do it at the last minute" person. I was so organized I could pull off everything at the end of the race, at the final flag, and cross over the 'finish' line all in one hurdle. Ha, ha now, what an adjustment! Now, I realize what took me 3 minutes to leave my home, get in the car, and be on my way now takes 45 minutes to an hour! Isn't it funny how we face change so many times and sometimes wonder, 'How can I change?' It seems a required change in our lives is when we think we can trust in the 'arm of the flesh' we need to change and trust in , 'the ability of the Lord'! That's a truth for all of us, even my five pre-school children as they learn their ABC's and 123's in their everyday life.

What we have to remember is that 'change' doesn't always come easy but, 'new' has come. That's why people love a 'New Year'. They get a sense they can leave old things behind, good and bad, and start something new. Often times we want to try to hold on to the old because it feels secure, familiar, or is a part of who we think we are. I often wondered throughout the sale of our home if when I left would it be a difficult thing. I found the biggest battle wasn't when I left, it was in the decision to leave and trust the Lord to move on to His new thing with the decision to leave the old.

It is an awesome thing to remember that the Lord never changes. When we are required to make a change, it is the Lord's design that the change bring better into our lives. He tells us that the 'path of the righteous grows brighter and brighter'. His direction always brings His glory in our lives and we can rest in His unchangeable character as we decide to submit to His plan and divine change. Making our decisions to move forward to the new, is often times more of a battle of our changing emotions than the willingness to go there. Human emotions can go up and down like a roller coaster yet, God's emotions are set in glorious stability and wisdom.

He doesn't want us to follow the ride of our emotions, He wants us to follow His direction, plan, purpose, and His word. He wants us to set our minds on His word and our emotions will follow and get in line and accept the change. Emotions are always changing, they never remain the same. Did you know that you never experience the same emotion twice? Well, your next emotion, whether it be a high or a low consists of all the emotions you've experienced before it. One emotional experience after another brings new emotion to surface so, even your emotions are always new. As you take on the mind of God's word and His thoughts, you will find the strength of His unchangeableness in a forever changing world. His thoughts, (found in His word), that are above your thoughts, will bring unchangeable balance to emotions and reasonings if you meditate them and confess them. He brings us guidance for change in His word. Like as Isaiah 43:18-19 says,

"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way..."

How we can draw from HIS design and the stableness of HIS word. When you let God be the author of change in your lives and follow Him, you can 'rest' and trust that in His solid unchangeableness, He is the One you lean on and embrace. Change comes to us all because the Lord brings us better things all the time. "Do you not perceive it?" God's unchangeable love and blessing in our lives is rock solid, and that's where we should be unchangeable, "Standing on the solid rock of Christ" while we allow His direction to spring forth those glorious and 'new' wonderful things.

I hope you are having a great 'new' year!

Pastor Kim

"Old Wineskins?"

I stopped and jumped up to my blog and I was amazed that my last post was so long ago! I have had such good intentions to keep up at least once a month and desirably once a week yet, here it has been so long. Have you ever had plans that seem to have been set to the side by such a busy schedule like this?

I can remember when I didn't have five children 3 years old and under. Well, actually I don't even know what I did with my time then! I use to think I was busy... so.... what did I know? I was busy then but now my life has changed so much from where I was to where I am today. It's been a great change but not always easy to do because it seems we can all get set in the 'tradition' of doing things a certain way. Those 'traditions' can become habitual and then, I have found, I sometimes even have difficulty finding out what 'tradition' I had created so I could let go of it.

This all makes me think about the scripture ,Mark 2:22, where the Lord tells us about 'old wineskin'. He tells us that you can't put new wine in old wineskins because the 'new wine' will cause the old wineskin to burst. Have there been things that seem to be bursting in your life? God is pouring out new wine and those old ways we all may have that we have been holding onto have become those old traditional things we think we need to continue to keep. Well, they are 'bursting' because of His 'new wine' and the Lord is removing those things and bringing in the new way of doing things HE has planned for us. That's what I have found He has done in my life, He has caused things in the natural to 'burst', and He has caused so many things to change for us and take on new direction. God is so good!

You ask, "What does that exactly mean?" Well, it certainly doesn't mean He has caused bad things to happen to bring new wine into our lives. It means we, for example, are bursting out from our seams! We are increasing and increase is not always comfortable. When you increase you will have to take what you have and allow provision for new to change the 'old way' of doing things. That's not always easy for us since we sometimes tend to act like flesh creatures.

For example, if you become a larger family you may quickly burst at the seams as we have and you will find you will have to believe for a new house. If your church Pastor, grows so quickly and you don't know where everyone came from or exactly when they got there, you will have to find a new building quickly! As with KICKS Club, we have grown so quickly that we are having to learn a new way of keeping up with our mail. Although packets may be slow at getting out, we are finding those 'old wineskins' have burst and the new is being ushered in and God is doing great things for us!

Growth and change, increase and being changed from glory to glory, is not always easy because you have to lay aside those old wineskins and take on the new. Old ideals, thinking, feelings, doing, seeing, and the more, are not always easy things to do get rid of, but be encouraged, the Lord has said in Isaiah 48:3,5,and 6,

"I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass... I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them. Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them."

Here the Lord is telling us that He declares the former things from the beginning therefore, out of His mouth He will also declare the new. He says He brought the former things to pass, and He showed them to us so that no man could say something He has done in our lives for us could be credited to other things other than our God. He tells us we can hear this new plan and direction and that we can see it, as well as declare it, because He has not only done the old things for us in the past, but He is showing us and doing NEW things that don't have to be hidden from us now. We can know His move and His doing and make it very different than those He was talking to in the book of Isaiah here and "know them".

Allow God to declare and bring those new increasing things in your life. It will cause the 'old wineskins' you may be holding onto to "burst", but go for it! God's new is great and we can declare it as He does 'show us' how to, when to, where to, and what to do with His gracious 'new wine' in our lives~

God's richest increase to you and your family,
Pastor Kim

Is it Still Snowing?

I look out my windows today and find it snowing again. What a sight it is, even after we have just returned from Texas. On the way there we traveled through steps of progressive warming. By the time we reached Texas we discovered temperatures warm enough to sit by the pool with the kids (but with no swimming) an enjoy the weather. Now we've returned to our Ohio and find it is still snowing :) But, I am so glad to be home.

Taking a nine day trip with five children three years and under in a motor-coach was exciting to say the least. The 'closeness' you find as a family can be warmly welcome if you take advantage of the time. We had to get creative with sitting time, table time, and sleeping. Singing and talking, puzzles and coloring all filled the miles as we went to Daystar and returned home. The challenges along the way seem faded in the sunlight of purpose and returning home. Knowing we all learned so much and we were 'all' changed by God in positive ways. My 18 month old came out to new horizons on this trip. He flourished in talking and 'knowing what HE wanted'. Of course it was often quit different from his brothers and sisters and ourselves ;)

As we reach out and minister, I rely completely on God to pour out that same anointing back to us in a harvest for our family as well as yours. God is God and without Him all would have nothing. We all need His touch, we all need His grace, we all need His mercy, we all must have His blessing and His outpouring. The most wonderful thing about that is, we 'ALL' have it because He has freely given it through Jesus Christ! That we can be grateful for, especially because He desires our children to receive it and have it too.

I know for the days we were on the road and the hours of time we gave to travel to Texas to be on 'Celebration', our travels were seeds planted for others and their families. We believe and trust that our time with Daystar has touched the lives of people and made a difference for God's plan for kids. Without believing that I would feel that our time given was without purpose. I'm ready to receive my 100 fold return! Just remember as you give your time to others, you can know that you're not forgotten in the harvest. Even though that time given may cause an inconvenience to you in some way, like traveling 3000 miles round trip as we did with five toddling children, you're harvest is coming and you can receive a special blessing as you give it. God has a plan for your blessing as well as those He has used you to bless... Receive all that He has for you today! And, receive that harvest He has for your family, for you, and for your kids.

By the way, 'the snow's beautiful as it sets on the empty trees'. As I write in this blog, I can reflect on His glorious creation and know that He has adorned us with His beauty by making us white as snow. He has forgiven us and He has caused us to be the righteousness of God through Christ. Those barren areas in your life, He has covered with His glory and brought great increase as you believe Him at His word. As my toddlers awoke to see the freshly fallen snow this morning one of them said, "Look mommy, it's Christmas snow!" May you remember that Jesus came to bless you and your family so you can 'Celebrate" Christmas all year long.

"Consider the Sands Abraham"

Abraham knew the 'I AM' of his life and he became a friend of God. Do you know your kids can know the 'I AM' of God? To think, who did Abraham know? Abraham had an encounter with the one who made the stars, the sun, and the moon. The Bible tells us that he is a friend of God because he believed. He believed in the 'I Am', the Elshaddi, the one true God.

Abraham lived in a land that was full of idolatry. It was full of worship to other 'gods'. Those of whom were made of stone and wood, who were images of things rather than the creator of those things. In that land, he heard God speak to him personally. Your kids can hear God personally speak to them in a land that is filled with the noise of other things that call for their attention. God is God, and He is the 'I Am' in their lives as well as ours.

God says He is the 'I Am', who is the all that you need Him to be for you. When Moses asked God, 'Who shall I say sent me?" God answered Him from the burning bush and said to tell them that 'I Am'. That in Hebrew is 'Elshaddi'. The God who is the answer to everything in your lives. As Abraham heard God, he followed God. In a land where the allegiance of the people were towards other things, Abraham's allegiance was to his God and he became as we know him, 'The Father of Faith!". If you want to understand some things about faith look at Abraham's life. Through Abraham's faithfulness to God in his life, God made a promise to Abraham that comes our way through the blessing. God stood by that promise He made to Abraham and He brought Abraham into relationship to know the things of God. In Genesis 18 verses, 17-19, we find what the Lord says about it here:

"And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."

What a beautiful promise. Through God's promise He made Abraham a mighty nation. A nation greater than the sands on the sea shores and the Lord has blessed the nations, and us personally through him. As we see from Abraham's example, we can see that God expected him to command his children and his household to keep the way of the Lord! That through Abraham teaching God's ways that justice and judgment would be done in his life and all that the Lord had spoken to Abraham could come. As we teach our children the same and command our households in the ways of God, His word, and His way of doing things, we will see the promises of God made manifest not only in our lives but also in the lives of our children.

"Consider the sands", and you will find the great 'I Am' coming to you in magnificent ways of promise and blessings. Those sands not only represent every promise in the blessing of God to bless the families of the earth through Jesus Christ, the lineage of Abraham but, they represent the very number of God's household who He has adopted in through His mercy and grace... Our children are a part and our families are blessed in ways more numerous than the sands on the seas shores.