Need a new life?

Need a new life?

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

Copyright 2016

As I looked around my deck with all the different colors of new flowers and bright green leaves popping out on the trees, I could not help but enjoy spring.  I love seeing new life emerge and the change and adventure that it brings. Like anything new, you have to practice to figure what works and what does not but the key is to not get frustrated and keep practicing on the new way of life.

Our spiritual life is the same way. When we ask Jesus into our hearts, we get a brand new life in Christ. The problem I see with myself and with others, is we need to think differently about ourselves and practice the new life God has given. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (NIV) This passage does not mean we walk around in a holy cloud all day thinking about heaven; however, I feel it does mean we need to constantly train ourselves to think differently and act differently in life situations. If we are going to change our actions, we first need to change our thinking to practice the new life God has given us. The more our actions change and we walk in righteousness, peace, kindness and joy, then others will see the new life that is in our hearts.

Colossians 3: 9 states, “Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (NIV) In this passage we are told that we have a new life and are reminded that being dishonest, the old life, is gone. We are also instructed to practice putting on the new way of living, Christ’s way, of telling the truth. Scripture tells us that Jesus was full of grace and truth. His design for our life is that we are like Him, and full of truth also. Again, practice makes perfect. 

The problem I see is we often work on cleaning up the old life instead of just practicing the new. Instead of working on not lying, we just need to keep practicing telling the truth.   

Instead of working on an anxiety problem, we need to practice walking in peace, keeping our heart settled, reminding ourselves of the truth that God is with us will walk us through any situation. (Psalms 73:23) Instead of working on an anger issue, practice choosing to forgive and asking God to change our heart. Anger’s root is often linked to either fear or unforgiveness. The greater the hurt, the more we have to practice forgiving.

One of the ways I practice my new life in Christ, is by asking God to help me see the circumstance the way He does. Our thinking needs to change first. Our actions follow our thinking. I practice is reminding myself I am walking in newness of life. Sometimes I have to even preach to myself and say out loud, “I am walking in newness of life.” Reading the Bible, our guide for our new life in Christ, will show us all God has provided for us in our new life and will encourage us. God has dealt with your sin on the cross, and will not  hold your past against you. He is standing right there, ready to hold your hand and help you discover the new life He has provided.

All of life’s circumstances are designed to work for us to change us into the image of God if we cooperate with Him. Bad things happen to good people; nevertheless, those circumstances will be opportunities to practice our new life in Christ.

Will you join me in practicing your new life? Do not get discouraged when you fall. Get up and keep practicing, today, tomorrow and the next day. If we do, you and I will become more like Him.

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie is a native of the Hill Country. She is passionate about helping others to discover their value and worth. You can contact her at kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.com or visit her blog at www.themaxwellminutes.blogspot.com  
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Love takes sacrifice and isn't always easy

Love is not easy and takes sacrifice

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

March 2016

Copyright

     Several years ago I walked into the gym to workout and wondered if I had enough energy to exercise. As I began exercising, a gentleman walked by wearing a t-shirt that said, “Never give up.” God had spoken those words to me years ago when I was about to tell a client she had exhausted all the grace I had. “That was it; she was dismissed from participating in the program,” I thought. 

     As I drove to her house and prayed, I felt God’s presence invade my vehicle and God firmly spoke to me and said, “Kathleen, never give up on people because I don’t.” I knew that if i did what I wanted to do, it would be contrary to what God wanted for this woman. I obeyed God and extended mercy and grace, with firm boundaries to this young woman. I treated her with love and respect. I am happy to say that years later she is highly successful and living a godly life. That experience taught me a valuable lesson that I live by today.

     The words, “never give up” on the man’s shirt  reminded me of how God never gives up on us. He never stops loving us or believing the best about us. That simple t-shirt reminded me of the scripture in I Corinthians 13:8 which says, “Love never fails.” (NIV) It reminded me of how God loves us so much he gave his only son, Jesus, for us. God let go of what was dear to him so we could enjoy life abundantly no matter what. The beauty of the Easter story is that Jesus never gave up on God. Jesus’s love for his father never wavered, even as he hung dying.  I am sure he didn’t understand because how on earth could a good father allow such a thing? Loving isn’t always easy but it never fails.

     I Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter in the Bible and talks all about real genuine love for others and how we are to love. I won’t quote the passage but if I were a Bible translator, which I am not, I would translate it like this:

 “If I am a wonderful eloquent speaker but do not speak with kindness and a heart of love, I miss the drum beat and the all my notes are sharp and flat.

     If I am  smart, educated, and can see into the future; and if I believe in God so much I can move Mt. Everest, but do not daily love others well, I might as well go back to bed and forget the day.

     If I am generous and good at giving to the poor, if I sacrifice my body for others but don’t do it with the right motive, I have wasted my time and money.

    Real love never gets in a hurry, it waits and doesn’t push others. Selfless love is gentle and looks for what it can give; mature love makes others feel more important than oneself. it makes others feel valuable,important  and wanted and does not have a high opinion of oneself. A person walking in love, walks in humility.

     Loving like Jesus is not sarcastic or and does not put others down; it always looks for the best in others and sees what is good about them,  getting angry is the exception, not the rule. Love does not keep remembering when others hurt them. It makes a conscious effort to put the hurt and bad memories behind them.

      Love does not go around telling of others failures, it covers their failures. Love tells the truth.

     Love does not ever quit. it believes and looks for the best in others, love always has hope for others and restoration. and endures the roughest seas and the hottest deserts to make the relationship a good one.

     Loving will help you win the race every time. You can loose your ability to do your talent, you can forget the things you studied for years, 

     We can all learn, none of us know everything. We need each other.

     When I was young, I could get by with being immature, unforgiving and mad at others but it is time to grow up. 

     At the end of the day, three things hang around, faith, hope and love. But you will be a winner in the eyes of God when you walk in love; love is all that matters.” 

      Real love takes sacrifice, it isn’t easy, but it is worth it. I challenge you to read I Corinthians 13 daily for a few weeks and let the words wash over you and speak to you. Ask God what he wants to speak to your heart about His love for you and how you are to love those around you.

     God and Jesus both demonstrated their love for us in the Easter story. Love, forgiveness  and overcoming are the basic message in Christ’s death and resurrection. Before his death, Jesus was asked a question in Matthew 22:36-39,”Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it; Love your neighbor as yourself.”

     All of us will die one day. What will really matter to God and others, is how we loved. Do you love God with all your heart? Do you love others well or do you need to keep practicing? Do you daily tell God you love him and daily tell others you love them with your actions and words? Pride is often what keeps us from telling others and God we love them.

      I challenge you to open your heart to more of God’s love for you and daily tell God you love Him. He wants to hear those words from you. Join me in daily telling those around you that you love them. They need to hear it. We all do. And never give up on loving others because God never gives up on you.

    

Overcoming and Easter-What They Have in Common

Overcoming and Easter-What They Have in Common
Copyright March 2016
Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

Have you ever thought of how people in Heaven see you and how God sees you in situations? A few years ago, I felt God challenging me with this question as I found myself in the middle of great loss and feeling weaker than I had ever felt in my life.  

My view of the situation and my sudden single life was not positive, to say the least. It seemed to me all my dreams of what I thought life would be, in this season, were washed away. I realized, if I continued seeing my life in a negative light it would lead me down a path I really did not want to go down. So, I began to ask God how He, and the rest of heaven, saw me and my life. He took me to I John 5:4 which states, “whatever is born of God overcomes the world. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes Jesus is the Son of God.” That scripture states that, as children of God, overcoming power resides in us to overcome any situation we face. 

Jesus overcame the grave and conquered death. He rose above His circumstances. The definition of overcoming is to get the better of, to get the victory over. I felt God say, “Kathleen, I see you as an overcomer. You have My power within you to overcome the heartache you feel. You have a God-given right to get the better of this situation and make a profit from it.” I had to admit that was not exactly how I saw my situation and asked God to change my thinking to see myself as an overcomer. I knew that only God can heal my heart, and I also knew I had choices.

John 16:32 says, “In the world, you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”(NIV) The word for tribulation here is translated as pressure. Yes, this world brings plenty of pressure. Jesus says we will have trouble in this world, but not to stress about it because His power in us will help us to make a profit from any trouble. God is too good to let us encounter problems without providing the provision for us. What I have discovered is life is more about finding the provision in tribulation instead of fixing the problem.  
I John 4:4 says, “You dear children are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” Nothing is greater than the power of God in us to overcome any situation. You and I never have to settle for defeat. The power to overcome is more powerful than any force that comes against us. Now, that is good news.

Jesus gave His all to His disciples and those around him. He loved when I’m sure He did not want to, but did out of obedience to God. Then, some of them turned against him, complained, betrayed and helped crucify Him. He overcame the grave, He is an overcomer, and we are made in His image; therefore, overcoming power resides in us. Overcoming is God’s Easter gift to us and part of the new life He gives to us.
Sometimes, our overcoming looks different and takes longer than we might think. Making a profit from a difficult situation is sometimes seen as growth in our character. Who are we and how do we show up when the cards are stacked against us? Other times, overcoming and healing can take a long while. Recently, I had someone come to me that, years ago, there had been a rift in our relationship and, at that time, I felt misunderstood. I continued to love and trusted God for healing. This person began to share a personal experience they had encountered that opened their eyes. They now saw things differently from how they saw it years ago and stated they admired my character and how I walked through the situation. The words were healing to my soul, and my heart smiled at God’s goodness, healing and overcoming power. Overcoming took much longer than I liked, but it finally came.
This Easter season is your new beginning to begin to enjoy and walk in the overcoming power Jesus provides. Begin today by asking Jesus to come into your heart and ask Him to open your eyes to the overcoming power that is in you. If you know Christ, I challenge you to daily ask God to show you situations through His eyes and wear your overcoming clothes. You are not a victim, you are an overcomer. We have an awesome opportunity to grow in our walk with Him and our character. He overcame His adversity, so you and I can overcome things that come against us.

 
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Love is who God is

“Wow, you have been busy,” stated the clerk at the local post office, as I set all my brown envelopes on the counter. 
“Yes I have,” I replied. “These are Valentines gifts for all my kids and grandkids. I guess, at some (point), I will have to make some changes as our family keeps growing. I have gone from getting valentines for three kids to five since I remarried, and now we have three grand babies,” I said as I smiled. 
Letting people know that they are loved is very important to me, and I not only want to be good at it, but want to become excellent at loving others. Every person has a need to be loved and valued. I enjoy putting deposits in the emotional banks of people God puts in my path. When I am gone from this earth, I want it to be said of me, “she loved very well.”
God is the best at loving us as it was His idea to begin with. I John 4:8 (NIV) says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love.” 
Love is the essence of who God is. He absolutely adores each of us. He tells us that over and over in His word, but, more important, He has demonstrated love by sending His Son so we could have everlasting life and a new life, instead of a life full of sin, guilt and regret. 
It is our God-given privilege to go through life fully loved. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love and, with loving kindness, I have drawn you.” You are special, precious and loved. Do you know in your heart that you are incredibly loved?
How good are you at showing others that you love them? When I was younger, I did not often tell anyone that I loved them. In my early 30s, I discovered that the reason was because I was insecure in God’s love for me. Insecure people have a hard time letting others know they love them. I totally believed God loved other people, but, because of past hurts, I had walls around my heart that prevented me from receiving love, even His love. As I admitted this to myself and a few close friends and prayed, God graciously removed those walls. Since that time, the more I have opened my heart to God’s love, the better I feel I am at loving others.
When we love others, we prove our love for God. Some people are easy to love and others can really challenge us. What I have come to discover is that dealing with others gives us an opportunity to practice love. I have a phrase I often repeat to myself when dealing with difficult people and it is, “Kathleen, you have to love them.” We have all heard the saying, “practice makes perfect,” and I often think God allows situations in our lives to give us practice at loving like He does. One of my life sayings is, “I am what I love, not what loves me.” This keeps me grounded in difficult situations.
I John 4:12 instructs us in love by saying “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but, if we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is made complete in us.” 
Let me encourage you to begin the day receiving God’s love for you. Verbally tell God you love Him and that you open your heart to His love. Ask Him to help you love others well. The Texas Hill Country is full of people needing to hear and be shown that they are genuinely loved for who they are, not what they do. Ask God to let you be His gift to those around you. He is looking for people to be His hands and feet every day. And always remember, love wins and never fails.


Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie is a native to the Texas Hill Country, a writer and speaker. She is passionate about helping people discover their value and worth and God’s love, You can reach her at kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.com or visit her blog at www.themaxwellminutes.blogspot.com.

Resting in God's love and on His shoulders

Resting in God's love and on His shoulders

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

copyright 2016

You are never a failure unless you fail to see God’s love for you.   Living in the Bible Belt, we frequently hear “God loves you.”  I encounter many people, that don’t  live like they believe it. I must confess I’ve lived most of my life as a Christian and did not really believe in my heart the fact that God really loved me dearly.

 I will never forget the evening about twenty years ago, my late husband and I finished leading a bible study on trusting God. In our study that statement was made that a person could not really trust God fully if they did not really believe He loved them.  I broke down and confessed to my husband and another couple, that I struggled with trusting God and really believing He loved me. I had plenty of head knowledge but needed that moved to my heart.  It was a humbling moment for me as a Bible study teacher to confess that but it was true. My problem was that I looked at my circumstances and things I had been through and had doubted God’s love. My confession and honesty opened the door for God to erase those doubts forever.

I asked God for a revelation of His love.  In His kindness, God began to open my eyes to His love for me step by step. I know He loved the day I offered up that prayer and my journey began in experiencing God’s love.

 In February of that year, I was coaching gymnastics and one of my students brought me a valentine that had a scripture on it.  I knew God was speaking through that little girl’s gift.  The scripture was  Jeremiah 31:3 which says, “I have love you with an everlasting love.  I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”   It quickly became a treasured scripture because it  is a constant reminder that God’s love is unending for me.  His love will never cease. Everlasting means now and always.  I also love it because it also shows me that God tenderly is drawing me to himself.  His kindness is birthed out of a heart of love for me.

Not long after, God took me to a scripture found in Deuteronomy 33:12.  It 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.” I remember when I was little and sat on my dad’s shoulders. I felt on top of the world because I was suddenly bigger than everything. I felt special. Things that once looked big to me suddenly were not that big. 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 beloved, His love acts as my life jacket. It helps me ride the waves.  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.  

Taylor and his brother

About 10 years ago, I was taking my nephew, Taylor, out for a special fun day. My sister and her husband waited a long time for Taylor and he was not only very special to them but to me. He is a child that wakes up each day full of energy and excitement. Each day he is ready to enjoy and conquer life. 
Taylor was in the back seat of the jeep and was singing and enjoying his day with Aunt Kathleen. As we drove, I felt the Holy Spirit invade the jeep and I began to weep. I felt God speak that Taylor was free to enjoy each day because he knew he was dearly loved by his parents as well as me. Taylor knows we will take care of everything that concerns him, protect him and he knows that we enjoy him as a person. 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. 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.

 I John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Who am I? I am a much loved child of God. Who are you? YOU ARE A MUCH LOVED AND WANTED CHILD of God and you are never a failure unless you fail to see God’s love for you.

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie is a native to the Texas Hill Country, a writer and speaker. She is passionate about helping people discover their value and worth and God’s love, You can reach her at kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.com or visit her blog at www.themaxwellminutes.blogspot.com