The Maxwell Minutes kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.com: July 2020

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

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

Where is your focus? We must keep our eyes on something bigger than our circumstances and that is Jesus. God says, “look up, ” “I’m here,” It’s ok." The enemy tries to divert, distract, keep us hopeless, discouraged, weary, fearful, living in shame. We must recognize his schemes and not listen to them.
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?

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

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.