Come.

Yesterday was just one of those days, you know, the ones where the sequence of events are a mess over and over during your day. The countless errands and mundane chores beckoning for my attention. I was just mentally and emotionally drained.

Once a month, the church I attend has a ladies night, and even though yesterday I had just had it up to here, I threw myself together and gave myself the push to go. As I sat there during worship, I looked around at all the women praising. There was an elderly lady on the opposite end of the row I was seated in, face in her palms, kleenex clutched hands and crying. I felt this overwhelming sense of prayer in my head, I just had to sit down. I grabbed the notepad I had brought, and with pen in hand, in the middle of the singing segment of the night, began writing the prayer in my head for this woman. In the middle of writing it, I scooted down to the end where she was sitting, put an arm around her, and told her she wasn't alone. She briefed me on a little of what she was going through, her son was put back into jail that morning, and her two little granddaughters were shuffled over to her house. She was distrraught, broken, and burdened at the news of her son, from what she had said he has been in and out several times for drinking charges. Mind you, I had never met/talked to this woman before, but I immediantly felt a sense of compassion for her. She came to church more raw and broken than I had, and looking around it made me think how many other women had came in the same condition. At the end of the service I handed her the prayer I had wrote down, and my email/phone number if she needed it. She gave me a hug, and thanked me.

The reason I share this is because so many times I think in our walk of faith, we tend to get tunnel vision. We just see that A/B relationship we have directly with the Lord, when so many other hearts and lives are connecting with Him as well. As I stepped back and looked in on my "stress", I gained a sense of humility and gratitude that my stress was merely arguments and a busy schedule. In church, whenever there is worship, I like to think of the songs as prayers to the Lord. Last night those prayers were over that sweet lady, Elaine. I think sometimes we need to worship for others who are too broken or cannot stand and worship in their lives. Maybe they are fighting huge battles nobody can comprehend. Maybe they have had a shattered, messy life. Maybe they need OUR prayers and worship when they are too weak to have their own prayers and worship.

While writing that prayer, I also had a prayer come into my heart, and I jotted that down too. Last nights service was about coming to the Lord, and having the Lord come into your life. So this is a prayer I wrote for me everyday.

Lord,
Come into my heart,

Come into my mess,

Come into my day,

Come into my life,

Come into my soul,

Come into my marriage,

Come into my home,

Come into my job,

Come into my words,

Come into my relationships,

Come into my mind,

Come into my actions,

Come into my parenting,

Come into my stress, 

Come into my joy,

Come Jesus come. 

XOXO, Kess

What's the word?

As this new year started, there were lots of resolution articles, ideas, inspirations, but something that caught my attention was the "What's the word?" posts. Not really knowing what it meant, I looked into it and sure enough it was a really neat idea. “What’s with the one word thing?” my co-worker asked, “And how can you know what your word will be before the year even gets started? I usually don’t know until the end!” We laugh and I nod in agreement.

The "What's the word?" kick everyone has jump started for the year is in fact, pretty self explanatory. You pick ONE word to reflect and live out during that year, and that's your resolution. It's so simple but so general that you have full reign on any and every way you can live that word the whole year.

Yes, God is full of surprises and 2014 is sure to be too. Then I share why I think I'll love choosing one word for each year. And it really comes down to this…

One word lets me have a filter when you have opportunities come up.

One word gives me focus instead of going in a lot of different directions.

One word helps my friends and family know what I want to intentionally pursue so they can cheer me on and help me stay on track.

My word for 2014 is CONNECT, and I was inspired by this verse: Live a life of love {Eph. 5:2}. As a new mother, living in another town away from family and friends, and working part-time, it's somewhat of a challenge to connect with others and keeping up relationships is unfortunately difficult sometimes. It has taken me awhile to find confidence in my new role and to find ease in ways that I can spend time with friends. I feel like I started finally getting there before Henry was born, but then I was quickly thrown  into the non-rhythm of treading water that is having a newborn, especially a colic one. I am once again in a place where it is easier to go places, either with my babe or in the evenings, and my goal is to say “yes” more often to spending time with others and building relationships. I want to have more phone conversations and coffee meetings with girlfriends and find ways to love on friends who are having a challenging time now that I have some opportunity.

What about you? What are your hopes for this year?

Would you like to join me in choosing a word for the year? What really resonates with your heart?  

I’d love for your to share your word and why you chose it by leaving a comment, or even texting me :)

Let’s encourage each other as 2014 gets going….one word at a time.

XOXO, Kess

Hello 2014.

2014, hello...and welcome.

This time last year I created my blog and began my entries, began writing...connecting and empowering myself to share my highlights, and even my struggles with you.

 To uplift you with words of encouragement, and reminders of who you are in the eyes of the Lord.

In some way I wanted to BLESS YOUR MESS. Bring light into the messy day to day life you are living and conquering every single day, just as I am.

I've already geared up my New Years goals, and I am feeling equipped and anxious for 2014. I'm ready for a fresh start, a clean slate if you will. Although 2013 was Henry's first year of life, it was by far one of the hardest years yet for me. Mentally, financially, emotionally, it was a rough year.

I'd like to send you off on your new year with a prayer, and I hope 2014 treats you so wonderfully.

Lord,

There are many uncertainties in our world

but what matters most will never change.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday

and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

We believe You are with us, for us,

and surrounding us with Your love.

So do not fear, for I am with you…

I will strengthen you and help you. Isaiah 41:10

No matter what happens, You will guide us and fulfill Your purposes for us.

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Even in hard times we can be confident that we will have victory through you.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

We trust you will take care of us and bless us in more ways than we can imagine.

God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

We give each moment and every day to You.

Most of all, we give ourselves too.

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

Amen.

Happy New Year dear friends. Know you are loved.

-Kess