Good Morning Girls!

 But reject profane and old wives' fables, 

and exercise yourself toward godliness. 

For bodily exercise profits a little, 

but godliness is profitable for all things, 

having promise of the life that now is 

and that which is to come. 1 Timothy 4:7-8

As I read these verses, I couldn't help but reflect on my own personal fitness journey as of late. Over the last 2 months, I have made a serious effort to exercise, eat right, just plain get healthy. It is profitable, but not always what my flesh wants to do! The same is true for our spiritual man. A few things come to mind:

I have to get up early.

 If I want to exercise, I must get it done before my kids wake up. If not, daily responsibilities take over and it just doesn't happen.

The same is true of my quiet time. I must rise early and choose to exercise my spiritual man.

I have to be prepared.
When I first started to run, I was using my old running shoes. Turns out they were doing more harm than good. I got a new pair, so I could get the most out of my workout.I also have to plan all of our family meals out ahead of time so I am not caught off guard, and compromise in my eating.

As we exercise toward godliness it is vital to be prepared. We may have to give up some old habits, and gain some new ones, in order to benefit fully from God's Word. We must daily put on the armor of God, so that the devil does not catch us off guard.


I have to see the big picture, & be thankful for the small victories.
I have set a goal for myself- I want to run a 5k before I'm 40. Over the past 2 months, it has been a (very) slow process. I would love nothing more than to just lace up my running shoes, hit the track, and just run 3 miles right off the bat. But it just doesn't work that way (for me anyway...hahaha). I am making progress. I run farther now than I ever have in my life. I am thankful for the progress that is made, little by little, day by day. I can see the difference in my body, and in the way that I feel. But I know I am not there yet!

As we exercise our spiritual bodies towards godliness, our ultimate goal is eternity. Each day, we are making progress toward that goal. It is easy to get frustrated when we fall into the same old habits and we wish we could just jump ahead to the end of the race. But rejoice in the small victories each day. We are farther now than we used to be! One day we will stand before our Lord, and He will utter the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!" Until then, exercise toward godliness.

In His Love & Mine,
~Kimberly~

Crucified With Christ

Good Morning Girls!

I finished the book of 2 Corinthians and moved into Galatians 1 & 2. It never ceases to amaze me how God speaks to us on a personal level through His Word.

There is a recurring theme in Paul's letters- love for God and love for the church. His love compels him to admonish the church gently. To steer them gently back onto the right path. And he continues to stress humility. That we should never boast in ourselves. But for the grace of God we would be nothing!

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.  

                                                         Galatians 2:20-21

We are no longer bound by works. There is nothing that you have to do to earn God's love or approval. There is nothing that you can "do" that will make Him love you more than He already does! That is what grace is. I don't know about you but I am so thankful for that grace at work in my life. It gives us freedom as women, and as believers, to worship God in spirit and in truth, knowing that Christ's crucifixion set us free from the law. We should never "set aside the grace of God" by falling prey to the thinking that we must earn God's love through our good works. It would not be grace if we could do anything in ourselves to earn it.

The same is true with our personal relationships. We should love unconditionally, just as Jesus did. Love freely, without expectations. Love, without the need for approval from others. People disappoint us, but God never does!

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me! 

In His Love & Mine,

~Kimberly~

GMG Devo: Thorns and Grace

From My Good Morning Girls Devo: 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

And He said to me,

“My grace is sufficient for you 

(insert your name here) ,
for My strength is made perfect in (your) weakness

(your name here).”

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities,that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Any of you ever had a thorn? I know I have! It is so irritating until you just get it out! I have also experienced those spiritual thorns that Paul mentions here. They can be just as irritating, but are necessary, "lest we be exalted above measure". I think God allows things in our life sometimes to keep us close to Him.

The next verse sums it up-My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in your weakness. I added the parentheses, because this verse is so personal. We all struggle, go through trials and adversities which make us feel weak or hopeless. The key is to allow God's strength to carry you. So often we just want to do it our own way. That's when we lose the joy of the Lord in the situation.

Allow God's strength to be perfected through you. When you do, those around will see God in you.

A lesson in Multiplication

From my Good Morning Girls devo:

Today I read 2 Corinthians 7-9

chapter 9 vs 10

"Now as He supplies seed to the sower, and bread for the food, supply AND MULTIPLY the seed you have sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness." (caps mine)

Each morning you are sowing seeds of LIFE through Gods Word. Be sure that the effort that you put forth will be multiplied, and applied exponentionally in your own life and in the lives of others. So often we think of financial blessings when we read of sowing and reaping. No doubt that those blessings are there, but even more important is the sowing of our time, and the sowing into the lives of those around us. Every time you plant a seed of hope in the life of someone, the word is plain...it will be multiplied. No matter how small or insignificant it may seem at the time, it will be multiplied. So look for those opportunities today...SOWING opportunities. Whether it is into the lives of your children, your coworkers, or a perfect stranger.