Finding Grace when Hearing the Truth

For those of you reading this that know me,  you know that I am LifeChurch.tv's biggest fan! I am a true advocate of the amazing things that LifeChurch offers to all they encounter! For those of you that don't know me, by the end of this blog you will want to check out what I think is the best church around! 

There is a place I go weekly that when you walk in the doors you automatically feel the GRACE of God.  You feel his presence abundantly and you feel extremely encouraged!  You're not stepping into a carpeted room with dim lights and candles lite. There are no ushers in suits or ministers in long robes, and rarely will you see men in 3-piece suits or ladies in long dresses but you will see loads of smiling faces and be greeted with open arms! You won't see an unfriendly face and you can almost guarantee to be introduced to someone! You can grab coffee, tea, or cappuccino to drink and chips or pretzels to snack on.  You are offered a mint, talk notes to journal on, and the door is opened for you! All of this is just in the lobby of the place offering PURE GRACE!

After you grab your  "liquid courage" and "comfort food" and yet another set of doors are opened for you, you are welcomed into a room of TRUTH! You are escorted to a seat no matter how many of you there are, just move to the center of the row so others can join you! There are pens there for you to use and music to draw you in! The band plays songs to get you in the spirit and then after 4 beautiful songs speaking of his AMAZING GRACE you just experienced in the Lobby, Craig appears to speak about JESUS!! This is the room of PURE TRUTH! In this room as Craig starts to speak many feel as if he had "bugged" their conversation the night before.  As Craig speaks the TRUTH of God many aren't prepared for what he says or how it is going to affect and change their lives but he does just that!  The passion in his voice and constant look on his face exemplifies the faith he has in Gods word! He speaks PURE TRUTH and explains The Word in 21st century wording! Craig tells us week in and week out that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light and our Father speaks Truth and Grace and that when you hear the Truth from Jesus he is speaking with Grace!  Truth with no grace leads to legalism and grace with no truth leads to society doing as they please with no repercussions!  Knowing the truth will set you free, so listen to the truth, feel the grace of God and share both with those you encounter! And visit LifeChurch.tv to experience more of God's AMAZING GRACE and FAITHFUL TRUTH!

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.....The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-2,14

Waking up on the wrong side of the bed is just a nicer way of saying "the devil is trying to have a strong hold on me today." Well that is how I have felt for 6 days now!! A friend of mine told me that once you commit fully to God and you start making outward signs that you are totally in, on fire, and just fanatical about God, I was going to get attacked hard! Man, apparently I should have really listened to that! I knew that the Devil was going to find me more desirable now but I didn't think he would start knawing already! I mean geez pour some A1 on me first!

I woke up Friday morning with a pep in my step, raring to go and ready for whatever God threw my way, but as the devil tends to do, he threw a stick right under my rollerblade which started a prepetual fall into the middle of the swampy waters of the river! The muddy waters continued on into the night and progressivley followed into the next day! I tried not to let it get my spirits down and flittered on as if I was just fine,  never wanting people to think that I was being held captive.  I want people to see the way that I feel inside and not allow it to look like the devil is taking over!  However, Saturday came and went and I still had a bad taste in my mouth! We tried resolution but there was just no reconciliation! It is like one of those moments in a movie where you see the devil on the right and the angel on the left!  Sunday showed up earlier than planned and this was my day for the glory of God to shine like never before, the day my lifegroup started and yet there was yellow water in my wheaties!! The day just went from bad to worse leaving my with questions! So it was time for quiet time, so tucked in my bed I closed my eyes and said, "Lord today is your day, you have brought me from the rummage and have made me a new creation in you. Lord, help me to see you daily and remember where I have been and the work we had to do together to get me here! There was blood, sweat, and plenty of tears shed for this transformation and nothing is going to stand in my way of letting you shine through me." And at that moment I was off!  

Jesus reigns!! God is full of AMAZING GRACE! Eight ladies showed up to The Deux Krew meeting!! Our very first one, and all of these ladies came together for an ordained purpose! I took a few hours and just spent time in the word, knowing how amazing our Lord God is and after a long text of apology, i closed my eyes for some me time! 

The Devil shows up at the time when he knows he can sneak in and steal you! However God is with you always! Even when it doesn't feel like it, if you give your mind, body, heart, and should to our Lord Jesus Christ, he will carry you! Know that even on those days where you just don't feel like you can make it any further God has your back!! He gives you more than you can handle so that you will lean on him through the rough patches!! 

Jesus you are Lord, as I wake up every morning keep a watchful eye on me, guide me through the day and carry me through the muddy waters! Lord  you have brought me through this far, whatever your will is I am willing to do, you are an amazing Lord and I thank you for my opportunity to wake up every morning! 

A New Year....

As I sit and think about a NEW YEAR there is a bit of a jitter in my tummy! I cannot figure out if is a nervous jitter or just a jitter saying that I get to start over, and if it is a jitter of getting to start over...DO I REALLY?? Do you really get the chance to start over, I mean there are still people from your past that are around to remind you of where you have been and what Good or Bad you have done. There are still those people that went through things with you that can eaily pull you back into the mud! Over the years I have vowed to "start over" as of January 1, only to realize that January came and went as well as the following 11 months and I had still never made a change! I still hung out with the same people, still went to same places, still did the same stuff, spoke the same way, and still lived as if I did not believe in myself or anything else for that matter. However on December 31, 2008 at 11:59:59 I kissed the man of my dreamed and truly vowed, before God, friends, and myself that 2009 I really was going to START OVER! I started first with a belief in my Lord and Savior. I know that without Christ my new life would not be possible! I started with new friends who support me fully, love me unconditionally, and want to see me succeed. I have a new relationship where I have the opportunity to partner with him in my walk with Christ and together we build each other up and help each other grow with eachother and with our relationship with Christ! I got baptized as a new creation in Christ and I am starting over!
So in answer to the question above, YES, you can most definately start over! However, you have to be willing to make the changes that it will take, accept Christ in your heart and allow him to drastically change you! You amy not understand why all that happens to you but in the end all the puzzle pieces will fit together to make the most beautiful picture you have ever seen! So LET GO and LET GOD make the changes WITH you and fully believe that HE CAN!
Faith as small as a mustard seed is still FAITH!

Ringing in the 2009

JANUARY 2008 started with a POOF, I was looking for a BANG but received a POOF!  I blamed everyone around me for the POOF and failed to realize I was about 93% responsible for NO BANG!! I found myself searching for unrealistic goals and trying to obtain the attention of unhealthy people! I knew I needed to BEGIN AGAIN! Then I found myself ready to make some major changes and I found myself succeeding at those changes!  FEBRUARY 2008 I noticed the changes were hard to keep but well worth the pain! I found new "friends" that taught me once again that few people are WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE! I caught myself jumping down memory lane only to find myself at a fork in the road and having to make a huge decision. And I saw God for the first time in my life! Real as he could be and full of grace!   MARCH 2008 my world finally felt like puppies and candy! I finally felt my dream and prayers coming true! I smiled more than I had in a long while and found a man that proved to me that not all men were out to hurt me, some were here to love and care for me as I deserved! And I found myself believing in the possibility of HAPPILY EVER AFTER!   APRIL 2008 I saw great things! I saw God save my sisters life and grace my family with the first baby! I saw my Dad for the first time be THE MAN of the family and embrace my mom and I as we cried in the hospital when the doctors told us my sister may not make it! I spoke to God and heard him answer my prayers!   MAY 2008 I saw my nephew play in the pool and love every minute of it! I saw my sister TRUST me! I felt compassion and love!   JUNE 2008 I fell in love deeper than I ever thought possible and I realized God had blessed me with the man I was going to marry when the time is right!   JULY 2008 I got to see my first Beach EVER!! I felt sand in between my toes, wind in my hair, salt water in my eyes, and one of the most beautiful peaceful feelings in my heart!! AUGUST 2008, Came and went but again I drew closer to God! I experienced the one year anniversary of still being given a second chance at life!   SEPTEMBER 2008  I felt God pulling me to get more involved! I took a part time job and starting getting more involved at LifeChurch.tv and other places! I started reading to 2nd graders at Celia Clinton Elementary School and getting closer with friends I realized were never going to leave my side!  OCTOBER 2008  I got given a bunch of clues for my 28th birthday and then got to go on an amazing trip to San Antonio with the man of my dreams!! I had someone steal from me only to find God's love on my heart more intense that ever before! I fell in love with Todd(my perfect 4 me) all over again, WOW what a great feeling! I listened to Gods whispers and followed what he was telling me to do!   NOVEMBER 2008 I met God half way on a decision and made a real change! I committed to lead others to Follow HIM!! I leaned on others for help and found out that eventhough it may be hard to do, if you pick the right people they will do it for the right reasons and not constantly remind you of it! I met Todd's dad for the first time and built my own opinion of him! DECEMBER 2008  I watched God's love pour out of a group of single women struggling to take care of themselves as the handed out money for a few people whom without their help wouldn't have had a Christmas! I watched my friends pull together and pour love out to one of our own who had just lost her mother! I watched 1300 people show up at LifeChurch to see what God had to say thru Craig G.  I felt Todd and I growing closer together in our relationship with each other and with our relationship with Christ! I saw God move mountains! I watched my father realize he wasn't the only person in the world and I watched him be overly generous and kind to my mother! I witnessed lives being changed thru the grace of God! I felt my faith grow stronger! AND I DROPPED MY "ROCKS" IN THE WATER AS I GOT BAPTIZED AS AN OUTWARD SIGN THAT I AM A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST AND NOTHING IS GOING TO MAKE ME GO BACK TO MY OLD WAYS! I AM KIMBERLY BUTTS GOD'S DAUGHTER AND I AM GOING TO MAKE MY FATHER PROUD!

Eyes are Everywhere....

When you take the role of leader you begin to realize the eyes that are everywhere and how closely they follow you! In the line at the grocery store when the cashier is slow and you are in a hurry they think, "How will she react?" At the gas pump when it is really cold out side and she just realized she forgot her gloves they say, "What will she say?" On the highway when traffic comes to an immediate halt and she is late to a movie they watch to see, "What finger is she going to extend?" When her good friends mother passes away and her friend is questioning God's faithfulness they think, "How will she comfort her?" When she goes someplace to watch a ball game or a UFC fight with friends they look to see, "Is she going to order a drink?" At work when things don't go her way they listen to hear how she speaks!  Everywhere she goes and everything she does people are watching to see if the transformation is real and if she really is going to be the leader they hoped she will be! Some watch to see of she is going to fail and hope that she will, some watch in awe of the amazing things that God can do and pry that she is successful, either way there is something to prove! But all in all the one person that I am doing this for is Christ! My amazing Lord and Savior who gave me a second chance at life and what an amazing life it is going to be! 

Appreciation

It's a daily struggle to remember that all people function differently, there are those ones that at the end of the day invite you in to their home for a glass of water to show their appreciation for what you have done, or give you a gift card for steak to say thank you for cutting down trees. There are those ones that call you back to do a second or third building because they were impressed with the first one. There may be those that recommend you to their neighbor or friend, but there will always be those ones that think a paycheck it a strong enough way to show their gratitude and those are normally the ones that makes us forget about all the kind things done for us before. We have to remember that God is proud of our good works and that each person we encounter is for a reason under his divine power. He sees the good we do for others and he knows just how to show us graditude...we are given another day to live in his glory.
So remember to hold you head up high, stand by your work, and know that if "Joe" doesn't smile and say thank you...God already has! And that is the only THANK YOU you need!!!!

Just getting started

So I decided that I would start a blog and let it be somewhat like my daily journal.  God has done such amazing work in me and I feel like it would be a dishonor to not share his amazing grace with others.  I have had the privilege of being transformed into the person I never thought I would be, and now I know to Never say Never.

I hope that people can read my blog and walk away with Restored Hope.  Daily we all come into contact with things that frustrate us, slow us down, cause a mess, make us angry, just plain weren't in the plan; but you have to remember that everything that happens comes with reason and that reason comes from God.  So embrace those moments and be thankful, God has blessed you with a day worth living and worth sharing...Do life together it's the best way to trudge thru the mud!!

More to come