Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Understanding and Releasing Heartbreak
Has your heart ever been broken? God is near to the broken hearted and has much to say about your broken heart. Click the link below to listen to this podcast.
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Flipping a negative into a positive with our words, actions
Flipping a negative into a positive with our words, actions
What do we do when those around us are agitated, aggressive, argumentative or angry? Our response and words are critical in times like these, and the Bible tells us there is great power in our words.
Proverbs 18:21 (TPT) states, “Your words are so powerful that they will kill or give life, and the talkative person will reap the consequences.”
This scripture tells us that our words can either add fuel to the fire or put the blaze out. Our words can bring life, hope and peace, or they can bring death, destruction and tension.
I was recently out of town and with a woman I did not know very well. She started venting about how upset she was about wearing a mask, the political situation, media and other things she was not happy about. Everyone needs someone they can vent to, and I am happy to be that for people.
I listened for a while and began to think of ways I could flip this negative situation, so I looked for things I could say to make her laugh and lighten the conversation.
“Well, I never thought of that,” she responded. “That gives me something to chew on and think about.”
Proverbs 15:1 (AMV) says, “A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath, but harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger.”
There seems to be so much tension these days with the political and racial situations, COVID-19 and financial stress. Negativity is running rampant. How can you and I bring peace into these situations around us?
The first thing we can do is not let the negative affect our hearts.
If we are not careful, the negativity can rub off on us, and we can quickly lose our peace and joy and get tangled in anger and an argument.
It is time we arrest tense situations with self-control and peace.
One of my favorite questions to myself in those situations is: “What can I do to change this atmosphere?”
Our actions and our words are always advertising, whether we realize it or not.
What are you advertising?
Are you always trying to prove your political point of view, your dissatisfaction with those in office, anger at a local business or school system and arguing?
You and I have a choice in what we advertise in our daily life and how we show up in situations. We can flip those tense situations with our godly response of self-control, kindness, respect for one another, forgiveness and love.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NIV) tells us, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
We live in days that are tough in many ways. Let’s be a people who flip negative situations and bring reconciliation to our community and nation.
Your positive words and actions carry great power.
I want my words and actions to always carry life, hope and peace.
Will you join me?
Kathleen is a Hill Country native, writer, speaker and podcaster. She is passionate about helping people bring God into their everyday life. You can contact her at kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.com and listen to her podcast at kathleenmaxwellrambie.podbean.com.
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Saturday, July 11, 2020
Lift Up Your Eyes and Focus
This episode will encourage you and help you adjust your focus.
Click link to listen.
Lift Up Your Eyes and Focus
Sunday, July 5, 2020
What happened to our unity?
What happened to our unity?
Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie
copyright 2020
This Fourth of July, and our nation will celebrate 244 years of freedom.
As I’ve thought of this holiday, it hit me how far we have strayed from being the “United” States of America. There is much conflict and unrest in 2020; however, there is great hope for us — if we can focus on why our forefathers fought for their freedom.
Thirteen colonies united together for a common cause, to bring freedom and independence. What has happened to our unity? Today there is much tension, agitation and anger in our nation.
Some of it is due to the pandemic, financial stress, racial tension and political disagreement. For others, the anger is due to fear or unforgiveness.
We have been handed a freedom in our country that many people around the world would be grateful to have. Have we lost our appreciation for our freedom?
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV) instructs us saying, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
If we look for what we have in common, value one another and walk in love, instead of trying to set others straight with our viewpoint, then we fight for a common cause, our freedom and unity.
Recently, I was listening to someone I did not agree with. Walking in love and unity was more important than trying to prove my point of view. Keeping unity and peace brings blessing not only to us, but those around us.
God blesses unity. Psalm 133:1-3 (NIV) states:
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
It is time we go back to what our forefathers did, and look for ways we can unite together. Love those who have a different color of skin, different political view or thoughts of how we walk in the pandemic.
In reality, everyone is trying to figure out COVID-19, and I’m not sure anyone really knows. Things change daily, so we must extend grace and forgiveness to those around us.
Mark 11:25 (NIV) says, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Unforgiveness is bondage, not independence and freedom. We don’t have room for hatred and grudges. I believe we
need more unity, which God blesses.
This Fourth of July, let me encourage you to seek unity, love those around you and forgive.
We need to pull together, not apart. Many in the world would love to live in a place where they are free. We must value our freedom and one another.
Choose to forgive those who have hurt you. When we hold bitterness, hatred and anger toward others, not only are we not united, but we are far from freedom and independence because we are the ones held captive.
Forgiveness sets you free, brings unity, peace and blessings into our lives.
Now more than ever, God is looking for people to partner with Him and bring hope and freedom to our community and nation.
I pray we will all work together to truly be the “United” States of America.
Kathleen is a Hill Country native, writer, speaker and podcaster. She is passionate about helping people bring God into their everyday life. You can contact her at kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.com and listen to her podcast at kathleenmaxwellrambie.podbean.com.
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Come Up Higher-A Father's Day Truibute
Come up higher- A Father’s Day Tribute
Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie
Copyright June 2020
June is a month we celebrate fathers and although my Dad is not here anymore, I have celebrated my husband. He has been a good father to his two children and in the last seven years, to my three kids and grandchildren. He has loved well and I am grateful.
| A father’s delight in his child. Kathleen and Landon Jones, October 27, 2012. |
I miss my Dad and have many fond memories of him. He loved the Lord and taught me to love Jesus. He was a strong man, stern, but always making time for people and making them laugh.
One of my favorite memories was sitting on his shoulders when I little. I felt on top of the world because I was suddenly bigger than everything. I felt special. Things that looked huge to me, suddenly were not that big when I was resting on his shoulders and had a higher perspective.
Deuteronomy 33:12 (NIV) says, “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.”
When we have an understanding that God really loves us and is for us, we can rest in the middle of any storm in life. It is easy to focus on the storm or the problem but when I focus on the fact that I am dearly loved, His love acts as my life jacket. It helps me ride the waves and sustains me.
God’s heart is for His kids to rest and know they are loved. When we climb up on His shoulders, resting in His love, then we can see our lives from His perspective. God’s viewpoint is always better than mine. He issues us an invitation to rest and come up higher.
Years ago, I took my three-year-old nephew, Taylor, out for a special fun day with Aunt Kathleen. He was a child that enjoyed life and was dearly loved by his family and me. He was singing the top of his lungs as we drove in the jeep that morning. As he sang, I felt God speak to me, that Taylor was free to enjoy each day because he knew he was loved and every need was provided for. Then I felt God say, “Kathleen, I want you to live as my much-loved child.”
I have felt so much more freedom from stress and anxiety as I have been learning to live as a much-loved child of God. When we really believe God is a loving father and will take care of everything that concerns us, we are free to enjoy every situation we encounter. I am learning that when I am stressed or anxious, I just need a greater revelation of His love for me and I ask God for that. He always provides in various ways.
I pray this Father’s Day, healing for your heart if your is not here anymore and are missing your dad. Father’s Day can trigger grief. God is so gracious to provide for us in every circumstance of life. He is truly a good father. Psalms 27:19 (NIV) says, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up.”
I also ask God to heal your heart and memories if your father was absent from your life or did not know how to love you well. Maybe can honor your dad this year by forgiving him. Forgiveness brings freedom. If your dad has broken your heart, remember, God heals broken hearts, so give Him the broken pieces. Let Him be a daddy to you.
You are God’s precious son or daughter so rest on His shoulders and see your life from His perspective. You’ll be glad you did, as He is a good father and always faithful.
Kathleen is a Hill Country native, writer, speaker and podcaster. She is passionate about helping people bring God into their everyday life. You can contact herat kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.com and listen to her podcast at kathleenmaxwellrambie.podbean.com-
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