The Kathleenmaxwellrambie Podcast

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Check out my new podcast! Follow and receive updates when new messages are released. Current podcasts include: 
Wake up to who you are-Where do you get your identity? Work, kids, marriage?
Understanding your value and worth-Do you see yourself and your potential through God's eyes?
Walking in peace-How do we walk with our hearts at peace in times of difficulty?

You are much more capable than you think you are

You are much more capable than you think

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

Copyright June 2019

“There is no way I can shoot 1,000 shotgun shells in a day,” I told my husband, as we were planning our recent vacation to Argentina. Shooting that many shells sounded painful and I did not think I was that interested in trying to shoot that many birds.

 Going to Argentina dove hunting was on my husband’s bucket list and I was happy to go and practice my shooting. We had planned to go with friends; however, they had to cancel and gave us their trip. It was an incredible blessing and I’m always up for an adventure and a fun adventure with Stephen.

Dove are very prolific in Argentina because they have three hatches a year, and shooting 1,000 shells a day is not uncommon. In Texas, we only have one hatch a year and I have only been hunting six seasons. I can count on two hands the times I have gotten my limit of 15 birds, so shooting 1,000 shells sounded impossible to me.

I was the only woman at our lodge and I was determined to hold my own. The first day we went out, I was in awe of the number of birds and opportunities to shoot. Much to my amazement, that morning, I shot 500 shells and hit 110 birds! Somehow, after lunch and a siesta, I managed to hit more birds that afternoon, totaling 219 birds. Stephen hit 1,011 of 1425 shells. It was a fun filled day.

Thankfully, we fished a few days before we hunted again. We caught Golden Dorado and many other fish I had never seen. You never knew what you were going to pull out of the water and catching Golden Dorado was challenging, as they are an acrobatic fish. 

The second day we hunted, there were 20 mile an hour winds and it was much harder to hit the birds. They were zipping by very fast.  I was proud of the 170 birds I hit and much to my amazement, shot 1,000 shells again. That day was very difficult and a lot of fun. The beauty of the land was captivating and the breeze felt good.  

The last day, I hit my stride and shot 1,500 shells and got 531 birds! I could not believe I shot that many times, much less could hit that many. Stephen, on the other hand, broke the lodge record, shooting 1,500 shells and hitting 1,135. Needless to say, you could find me in the hot tub that evening. 

As I pondered the days of hunting, I felt like God said, “You are much more capable than you think.” I thought of how I underestimated myself, doubted, and never saw myself doing what I did. Then I began to think of that in spiritual terms. I have felt God calling me to step out in some new things, and yet I have struggled and doubted at times.

God has a call on each of our lives. There are things He wants all of us to do for the Kingdom of God, people to touch, pray for, encourage, love, speak to, and bless. How many times do we miss it because we do not think we are capable?

Ephesians 4:1-3 shows us that God has work for each of us.  It states, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (NIV)

Your calling will look different from mine, however, each of our calling has equal value in God’s kingdom work. The key is that we seek to know God and hear what He has for each of us and ask Him to show us how He sees us. 

I think the big key for each of us, is to simply show up and say “yes Lord.” Just like in Argentina, I simply had to show up prepared for the day ahead, and trust Him for the strength and everything that I needed. What is God calling you to that you do not think you are capable of? 

I know God is calling me to some things for His kingdom that I do not feel I can do in my own strength. I know He wants to expand my territory, and yet I wonder if I can do that. 

Ephesians 3:20 says, “²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” (NKJV) 

 

You and I are much more capable than we think. Many have gone before us that have failed numerous times, only to later succeed and make a big difference. Abe Lincoln tried many times at many things, before he became a great president and set a whole group of people free. He simply kept showing up and overcoming the adversity that was before him.

I saw my mom and dad, in the last few years and months of their lives, touch countless caregivers, Hospice workers, and those that provided home health care. They bloomed right where they were planted in their home. Perhaps you are sitting in prison, wondering what you can do for God, He has a purpose for your life and a calling. It might be the person in the cell beside you.

Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Never underestimate your ability. 

I want to encourage you to simply show up and say “yes” to a God that loves you dearly and sees your potential. You do not have to be perfect for Him to use you. The Bible is full of people that God used, that had made mistakes.

I challenge you, just like I feel He is challenging me, to show up and be a willing vessel for Him to use. God is our strength and source of life, and that life is an abundant life.

Kathleen is a native of the Hill Country and is a writer and speaker. She is passionate about helping people discover their value and worth. Beginning September 2019, at 6:30, she will be leading a Bible study at The Kroc Center called, The Gathering-Bringing God into everyday life. You can register for the event and reach her at kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.comor visit her blog at www.theMaxwellminutes.blogspot.com

Visit her podcast at www.kathleenmaxwellrambie.podbean.com

Who needs kindness and why should we practice it?

Who need kindness and why should we practice it?

May 2019

Kathleen Msxwell-Rambie

copyright

Stephen and Kathleen

The hot Texas sun was beaming down highlighting the green rows of cotton, corn, and melon that lined the road. I was driving down Highway 90 on my way to Uvalde, Texas thinking of how I love seeing all the fruits and vegetables this part of the country produces. My husband was a farmer for several years in the 80’s and it is always interesting to hear his farming stories. He tells about the long hours each day he invested to produce a good crop and some challenges.

There were years that he made good money and then there was the year he was ready to harvest onions, and the night before the harvest, there was a hail storm that destroyed the entire crop. Then there was the story about the beautiful bell peppers he grew in October that were plump and full of color.  He woke up one morning, and much to his surprise, snow covered his crop and lost every bell pepper.

Growing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is not always easy and takes a lot of hard work and practice. Often times, it is in the difficult soil of life that we have the opportunity to plant the seeds and cultivate them. 

Galatians 5:22 states, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such there is no law.” (NIV) Basically, this is saying when you practice these fruits, they will always work for you, not against you. Practicing these always puts you in the winners circle and will benefit not only you, but others.

I have been studying about each fruit, to cultivate them in my own life and see what God says about each one and what He requires of me. Recently, I have been looking at kindness.

What is kindness? Who should we be kind to? What are the benefits of kindness? 

Kindness is the quality of being considerate, friendly and generous, thoughtful and loving. Kindness considers where someone’s heart is and acts accordingly. It is also showing superior qualities of grace. I think we would all have to admit, we like it and it makes us feel valued when others are kind to us, especially when we really do not deserve it. 

I have asked God to open my eyes to His kindness in my life and I am amazed at what I have discovered. Day after day I have seen God’s kindness and it has caused me to have a deeper desire to be kind to others. It has begun to change my heart and made me want to practice kindness to a greater degree on those around me.

Jesus tells us in Luke 6:35 that he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. It is easy to be kind to our friends, but a little more challenging to be kind when others are ungrateful and ugly to us.  I think those are the people that need kindness the most. I have to admit; God has given me the chance to practice kindness recently on some ungrateful and unkind individuals and it has taken every bit of Jesus in me to persevere! The good news is God has helped me and I it is actually getting easier!

There was a situation I was involved in where I was doing a lot of work and had to make some decisions for others. Often times when we step up to the plate to make a difference and do what is right, there will be those who are insecure and oppose us. I encountered this, and the opposition was challenging. I was determined to practice kindness because Jesus is kind. It was not easy, however, over a course of months, the kindness paid off and I saw God work in the situation and totally change the heart of the person that was using so much difficulty.

Proverbs 16:25 says, “kind words cheer up an anxious man.” Just today I was talking to a woman and she was very fearful and anxious. As I spoke kind words to her in a soft voice, I saw her countenance change right before my eyes and she left our meeting with a smile on her face.  Her circumstances have not hanged yet, but I watched kindness cheer her up. 

I Thessalonians 5:15 states, “Make sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” (NIV) That about covers anyone you will encounter each and every day! 

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 11:16 &17, “A kind woman gains respect and a kind man benefits himself.”(NIV) If you want respect, the answer is being kind. We win when we are kind and there is power in our kindness, to change a situation. Kindness makes us a hero.

Baby Vega, one of our grand girls

I still have much to learn about kindness and the rest of the fruit of the Spirit.  I want to challenge you to join me and practice kindness in the days ahead. Sow good seeds of kindness to the difficult people in your life and all others around your home, workplace and community. Ask God to open your eyes to how He is kind to you and let his kindness change your heart. I am now seeing his kindness each day in my life. Most of all, enjoy the wonderful blessings and benefits that being kind will reap in your own life. You will not only bless others but will receive many blessings yourself.

Kathleen is a native of the Hill Country and is a writer and speaker. She is passionate about helping people discover their value and worth. Contact her at kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.comor visit her blog on www.themaxwellminutes.blogspot.com  106,196

Practicing the art of waiting

Practicing the art of waiting

May 2019

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

copyright

     Where are you right now in your life? Are you in a difficult situation or a low spot? Are you trying to just keep your head above the water as the storm rages? Do you feel all alone and caught in the waves? You are not alone, trust me. 

     I am 59 and do not know much, but I do know there are seasons in all our lives that challenge us. It is just part of life here on earth.

     I recently came across a passage I memorized years ago when I was waiting for God to bring sunshine into my life again. The clouds seemed dark at the time and the storm seemed to rage. 

     Psalms 130 was chapter I hung on to while I waited for the waves to subside. The good news is that the sun did shine again in my life but it took a while for the clouds to break and dawn to come. In the time in-between, was called waiting...

     Psalms 130 begins with, “Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord; O Lord hear my voice. Let your ear be attentive to my cry for mercy.” (NIV) 

     The Psalmist was in a dark place and I believe was verbally processing where he was, reminding God of his plight; like Almighty God didn’t know. I am a verbal processor so I understand the conversation. He was reminding God that he was in a dark place and was waiting to see the kindness of God. I have had some of those same conversations with God myself; I just said it a little differently. My version went something like, “Seriously God, I don’t think I can make it much longer. I know you love me and are kind but I am tired.” 

     I believe God loves it when we are honest with our feelings and tell him. He loves relationship with us. I have three adult children and two stepchildren. I love it when they share their hearts on a matter and tell me how they see things.

     Often times in adversity, people blame God or feel he is punishing them when things are difficult. God gets blamed for a lot of things he did not do. Adversity can draw us closer to God, help us understand His ways, and strengthen us.

     Psalms130:3 is a reminder that God does not hold our sins against us when we confess them. I love The Message interruption of Psalms 130:3-4, “If you God kept records of wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshipped.” (The Message Bible) 

     When I read this passage, I had to ask myself if I had a good habit of forgiving people. It was a good reminder to make it a habit, not an occasional event. Right there is the reason we all need to worship God more; simply because he does not hold our past against us. When we receive His forgiveness for our sins, it gives us freedom. Many people walk in bondage and torment because they do not turn to God for forgiveness. 

     Do you daily thank God that he does not hold your past against you? How do you treat those that have wronged you? Do you treat them with kindness or contempt? Do you hold the past against them?

     Psalms 130: 6 states, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word, I put my hope.” (NIV)

     I feel the Psalmist is preaching to himself. I do that a lot. In the stormy times we have the word of God to hang on to and we need to remind ourselves of the truth.  Waiting in this passage is translated “to bind, to twist, to expect, to collect.”  In the waiting time we have the opportunity to bind ourselves to God, to develop faith, as we put our expectation in Him and collect things necessary for the next part of the journey. Waiting is a gathering time.

     Then the writer of Psalms reminds us to put our hope in the Lord for with Him is unfailing love and FULL redemption. What a promise to hang on to! 

     Redemption means recovery, saving, or honoring. Sometimes the salvation in the storm comes as God guides us through the rain. Other times He rescues us. One thing is for sure, He is always loving us and right there. 

     The longer I walk with God, the more I am aware of His presence with me. His presence has become my security blanket and gives me confidence to step out and walk on the water. An awareness of God’s presence did not just come from reading the scripture. I have studied the Bible for years. It did not come from listening to a good sermon. I knew the verses and had them memorized. An awareness of His presence came as I waited on God, looked to Him to guide me through the storms of heartache, betrayal, disappointments. It came as I faced life altering illnesses with loved ones and as I put my hope in Him. An awareness of His unfailing love came as I poured out my heart in anguish in the depths of despair and wondering if I could survive. Sermons, memorizing, reading often does not change us. It is as we take God’s word and apply it and develop an experience with God, that the word becomes life and truth to us.                                                       

     Experience makes us rich. When you experience something, you really begin to know what the situation is like. 

       Isaiah 30:18 sums things up and declares that we are blessed when we wait on God. It says, “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion, For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!” (NIV)

     Crying out to God, hanging on when we want to give up, and reminding ourselves of truth, strengthens us. Waiting on God’s redemption and putting our hope in Him is good for us. It strengthens and enlarges us; therefore, our challenges become our opportunities to grow. The growth is often not easy, but one day we will experience His full redemption of the situation. Sometimes I have had to wait years for the full redemption, however, it always comes because God is faithful.

     Psalms 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (NIV)

     God is in the waiting and is developing many things in us in that time when we wait. Waiting and hope is not wasted when we wait on God.

    What do you need to do? Cry out, wait, make forgiveness a habit, preach to yourself or hope? Pick one and get started! Just do it... He is waiting on you. Are you just waiting or are you waiting on Him?

     

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie is a native of the Hill Country, a writer and speaker. She is passionate about helping others discover the joy of walking with God and their value. You can contact her at kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.comand on her blog www.themaxwellminutes.blogspot.com
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Looking for God when things do not go as you expect

When things do not go as you expect, find God

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

copyright March 2019

Parana River Sunrise

Recently, I have had several friends that have dealt with some difficult, unexpected news and things not going as they had planned.  My heart has hurt for them, as I have been in similar situations in my own life; however, it was in those challenging places, I found God right in the middle of the  big challenges, as well as the little ones. It was also in that place, my faith and trust in Him grew, forever shaping and changing me.

My husband and I were fishing on Lake Amistad. I love spending the day with him at the lake and having the opportunity to just be with God on the water. I frequently pray and ponder things in the peaceful setting as I try to learn to fish.

Golden Dorado in Argentina

“Lord, I commit today to you,” I prayed as I looked at my surroundings and then picked up my fishing gear. I have been working on improving my casting and could not wait to practice with my new rod and reel. As I gazed out over the water, I selected the spot I thought would be perfect to catch a fish. Right as I began to cast, a huge gust of wind swept across the water and my cast went totally opposite of where I wanted it to go.

“Well that did not go as I expected,” I chuckled as I quickly began to reel my lure towards the boat. "What a waste of time and energy," I thought. About that time, I felt a hit on my bait, set the hook, and much to my surprise, I began to pull a good size fish closer to the boat! 

The very place that was a disappointment and I thought would be a waste of time and effort because my cast did not land as expected, had been productive after all. I think that is true in many other places in real life, in big and small daily life events.

Psalms 37:5 states, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and he will do this.” (NIV) When we commit our day and way to the Lord, we can trust that God is in the middle of events of the day and can trust him even when things do not go as we plan or expect. I have found the adventure in each day, as I try to find God in the middle of whatever is unexpected in my life. When we see God in our circumstances, somehow it makes the unexpected okay and peaceful.

Grant, Anna, Truett, Ellis and Collins

I have had my share of sudden unwanted surprises in my life-my late husband battling cancer, my grandson was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, my dad was in the hospital with a 90% blockage in his heart, my other grandson was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome, crisis at work, are just a few I’ll name. In each of these situations, as I’ve committed them to the Lord and ask for His perspective, my heart could rest and I have had encounters with God in amazing ways. I have found Him in each of these situations and that is a treasure.

One of my daily prayers is, “God, give me your perspective of this.” “I want to see this as you see it because often my natural thinking needs some adjusting. God is good and he is faithful to always give me a better perspective, change my heart, and help me to be more like Him.

Several years ago, Stephen and I were traveling with another couple. On our way to the airport, we encountered some road work that caused a detour we had not counted on. This made us a few minutes late for our flight and we were bumped to another flight. As my friend apologized because we had to sit at the airport for four more hours, I smiled and said, “It is alright, I am going to find the divine appointment God has for me.” I had prayed that morning, “God I commit today and my life to you; it is all yours.” I could be at peace in the delay and look for God as my life and time belong to him.

As I sat down in my seat on the plane, a young girl that was 20 years old sat beside me. We began talking asking each other casual questions and then began talking about God. For 3 1/2 hours, I visited with this young lady, answering question after question she had about a deeper relationship with Jesus. It was such an honor for me to invest in her life. I found God in the middle of our flight delay and even though we got home much later than expected, it did not matter, God was in the delay and my life belongs to him. 

I challenge you to commit your day and situations to God and look for him when the unexpected knocks at your door. God is a relational God and loves to partner with us each day. Go on the treasure hunt of finding Him in your situations, and you will find peace. Faith and trust are outcomes of taking His hand and walking with Him. Life does not always make sense but we can have fun in the journey when we find Him in the unexpected.

Kathleen is a native of the Hill Country and is passionate about helping people discover their value and worth. Contact her at kathleenmaxwell1@gmail.com or visit her blog on www.themaxwellminutes.blogspot.com
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