The Anchor of Hope

Do you ever feel hopeless in situations? Need encouragement? I have found many people struggle with hopefulness, and yet don't admit it. This podcast will show time and time again from scripture and  life experiences, how important hope is in everyday life and how to find it when we have lost hope. God has so much to say about putting our hope in Him. Check out my latest podcast! Click the link to listen.

The Anchor of Hope

Unraveling Lies We Believe

Check out my latest podcast! Click the link!

Unraveling Lies We Believe

Removing Walls for Love

Removing walls for love

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

Copyright February 2020

It was a sunny day and I walked into The Dove’s Nest, a Christian book store in Kerrville, Tx.

“Hi Kathleen,” said the clerk. She was a lady that went to my church and was a friend. About that time, she wrapped her arms around me and gave me one of the biggest bear hugs I had ever had. 

I froze as she hugged me. This was a kind gesture and I knew the hug was genuine, however, for some reason, I had a hard time receiving it.

“It is good to see you,” I stated, as I pulled away. We visited, I shopped, and then left.

As I drove away, I pondered my response to her hug.

“Why did I respond that way, God?” I whispered.

In the days ahead, I felt God show me that I had a hard time receiving love because of past hurts and rejection from others. I also felt He showed me that I had erected walls around my heart to protect myself. These walls kept me from getting close to others and being vulnerable. They also kept me from receiving love from people that loved me.

Days later, I humbled myself and went back to the store. I told my friend I had a hard time receiving her hugs, but it had nothing to do with her, it was my problem receiving love.

She smiled and, “I know and it is okay, Kathleen.”

I asked God to take down the walls and opened my heart to receive His love.  I had an intelligential understanding of God’s love, but somehow, I needed that move into my heart. 

A series of events happened and those walls I had around me for years, came down. It was not an easy time, but I am someone forever changed for opening my heart to God’s great love for me and opening my heart to those around me.

Psalms 145:8-9 (NIV) says, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” 

Each of us is loved by God because He is love. Often times, in our performance-oriented society, it is challenging to realize we are not loved for what we do or do not do, we are simply loved.

 Do you realize that He really loves you just the way you are? He is compassionate to what is going on in your life. Ask Him to show you His love and open your eyes to His compassion for you. You are precious to Him and He cares about you.

Maybe your heart has been broken. Psalms 147:3 (NIV) says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” 

 Can you give your broken heart to God? He is the healer of broken hearts. Isaiah 61:1 also tells us that Jesus was sent to bind up the brokenhearted.

In the days and years that followed my late husband’s death, I continually gave God my broken heart and asked Him to heal me. My healing did not come overnight or as quick as I would have liked, but God was faithful.  Whatever heartache you have, continually give it to God as He is the only one that can truly heal broken hearts. 

Ask God to show you more of His love for you and remove any walls you have erected around your heart. Give Him your broken heart, let Him fix it and enjoy the fact that God takes great delight in YOU.

Kathleen is a Hill Country native, writer and speaker. She is passionate about helping people

discover their value and worth. She leads a community Bible study related to articles she writes on Tuesday, 6:30-7:45 p.m at The Kroc Center, called The Gathering: Bringing God into Everyday Life. To register, email kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.com or call 830.377.8061. There is no charge for the class.

God of the Hills and Valleys

God of the Hills and Valleys

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

copyright January 2020

Vega, our granddaughter, turned 1!

January 2020 has come in with a big bang in my life. Maybe your year has started slow and easy. I hope so, but for those of you that have had some challenges, you might be able to relate to my 2020.  Since the new decade began, I’ve dealt with hospitals, water damage in my home, physical therapy, the insurance company, construction crews, deadlines with my publisher and other commitments. The good news, is God has been faithful and these obstacles have been opportunities to practice my peace, and find joy in a hectic and stressful time.

In late December, I wrote the following scripture in my journal. Little did I know, this was my promise, to steady me in the days ahead. 

2 Corinthians 9:8, (TPT) states,  ^“Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything^[e]—every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.” 

Often times, we can have our plans, but the unexpected happens, which can create extra pressure in life. These are times and opportunities to depend on God. 

I oversee care for my father-in-law and on January 2^nd, he was hospitalized for five days. The day after he was released, I was called by assisted living, as they thought he had shingles, which meant another doctor’s appointment. Fortunately, it was a drug reaction and he is better now.

My father-in-law and his wife

It is an honor to serve him, but these events hijacked my schedule, as he lives out of town, and it put me behind on getting things ready for a community Bible study I will begin, January 28^th called, The Gathering-Bringing God into everyday life. 

While I was gone, the valve on my ice maker and refrigerator broke, and caused water damage in my kitchen, laundry, living room and ruined my new carpet. This has created appointments with water mitigation, construction and the insurance company. 

I am also recuperating from a torn hamstring, and have physical therapy several times a week, in addition to meeting deadlines with the publishing company that will release my new book this summer. 

As I looked around at my upside-down house, busy schedule, and hijacked plans, I took a deep breath and gave it all to God, asking Him to lead me step by step. Obviously, I am not in control and felt like all these things were more than I could handle at one time. 

Psalms 23:4 (TPT) states, “Lord, even when your path takes me through
the valley of deepest darkness,
fear will never conquer me, for you already have!
You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way.
Your authority is my strength and my peace.”

This was another opportunity to practice peace, exercise trust, as I walk through the hills and valleys of life with Him. 

Letting go of our plan, turning to God, and learning to roll with life’s challenges, pushes stress away and is key to peace in our hearts. We do not have access to all the variables in life, however, when we look to Him, with childlike faith in a God who loves us dearly, we will see Him orchestrate a beautiful song in our lives.  

God’s grace gives us strength to do things we cannot do alone. He is with us every moment of every day, and each of us has the opportunity to walk and talk with Him, as we transverse the hills and valleys of life.

Please join me and my team at The Gathering-Bringing God into Everyday Life, and we will discover together, the joy of walking with an incredible God, that loves us and redeems all things.

Kathleen is a Hill Country native, writer and speaker. She is passionate about helping people discover their value and worth. Beginning Tuesday, January 28^th, from 6:30-7:45 p.m. She will lead a Bible study at The Kroc Center, called The Gathering: Bringing God into Everyday Life. To register, email kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.com or call 830.377.8061.  There is no charge for the class.