Author: Kim A. Thomas

I am a Jesus girl! I'm a Wife, Mom, Author, Poet, and a Cheerleader for Women!

Love of Money and Wealth = Futile

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The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile. Ecclesiastes 5:10

 Ecclesiastes 5:10-20 gives us seven reasons not to devote ourselves to getting rich.  

  1.  Seeking wealth is an endless quest and those seeking are never satisfied.
  2. The more you have, the more consumers around you who care only about your money.
  3. Once you have an abundance, all you can do is look at it.  
  4. Worry and anxiety keep you awake at night, your thoughts are consumed with your money and investments.
  5. The more you have, the more you risk. In one deal you could leave your children with nothing.
  6. You can’t take it with you!
  7. The love of money will leave you in darkness with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.

The bible goes on to tell us that you are better off not to have been born than to love money and wealth. Why? Because when you love money and wealth, there is no happiness. It is a life without joy and a life that is wasted. How sad and how true for many people even believers. 

These verses speak to me and I wonder how much is enough? Am I content with what I have or better yet, what I don’t have? I truly want God to be my focus and if money comes with that, praise The Lord. This is the attitude that I desire for my mind and heart. 

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 Here is what I have seen to be good: it is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God, for he does not consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.

What’s more important, the love of money or wealth or joy in your heart? You cannot serve two masters.  Choose the better one today.

Dry Bones

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I will put My Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. I have spoken, and I will do it. This is the declaration of the LORD. Ezekiel 37:14

This passage is speaking of the Israelites and how God was going to resurrect them. God took Ezekiel to the Valley of Dry Bones and set him in the middle of the valley where it was full of dry bones.  The bones were very dry and God told Ezekiel that he was going to use him to prophesy concerning these bones to breathe life into them. He did just that, Ezekiel commanded the bones and at first he heard a rattling sound of the bones coming together. Then tendons appeared, flesh grew, and skin covered them, but there was no breath verse 8 tells us. God directed Ezekiel to command the breath to come from the four winds and breathe into these slain so they may live and it worked! They came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army. 

There was a time when I felt like I had dry bones. I moved to Texas from another state where I had been very involved in my church. I was leading a bible study and felt very close to God. When we started looking for a new church home, it was not an easy task. I could not find church that felt like home and I felt myself drying up spiritually. Gradually, I began to shrivel and I remember telling my sister and friend, that I felt like I was drying up. I was reading my bible but I needed community and not just any community but a spiritual community. They prayed for me and shortly thereafter, we found our church home. It wasn’t long before life came back into these dry bones and I was leading a group of women in bible study. It was refreshing!

In verses12-14 God says the dry bones represent the whole house of Israel as dried up, hope has perished and they are cut off. God tells that a time is coming when He is going to resurrect the people of Israel, lead them into the land and they will know that he is Yahweh. He will put his Spirit in them and they will live and they will know He is their God!!

Since we live in New Testament times, we don’t have to wait to be spiritually alive. It’s a simple heartfelt decision and action to move toward God through his son, Jesus Christ. If we take one step, He meets us there, ready to breath life into us! 

What are you waiting for?

In His Hands

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A king’s heart is like streams of water in the LORD’s hand: He directs it wherever He chooses. Proverbs 21:1

God directs a king’s heart like streams of water and directs it wherever He chooses. I love this proverb! I think what I love most is that I can trust God without having to worry that He’s got it. Whatever it is….our country and leaders, my church, workplace, family. You name it, God’s got it!

There are a few biblical examples of how God changes hearts for his purpose and plan. One is found in Ezra when The Lord changed the Assyrian king’s attitude toward the people and allowed them to work on the temple.

Ezra 6:22 They observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, because the LORD had made them joyful, having changed the Assyrian king’s attitude toward them so that he supported them in the work on the house of the God of Israel.

Another example is found in Acts when God hardened the hearts of Herod and Pontius Pilate along with others, in order to fulfill the purpose of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

Acts 4:27-28 For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place.

I have to admit, I don’t completely understand but here’s the cool thing, I don’t have to understand. God is in complete control and that’s all I need to know. I need to make sure that my heart is right and pure. I need to make sure that I am allowing God to use me in the ways He needs in order to fulfill the purpose that he has for my life. I totally believe God can use me in spite of me. What I mean is even if I don’t keep my heart pure and clean, God can use me to help others. But listen, I am not blessed and fulfilled when it happens that way. If I make myself ready to be a vessel, then I can blessed beyond words when God uses me for the kingdom.

Seems to me Proverbs 21:1 is a lot like a song I use to sing as a kid.
He’s got the whole world in His hands
He’s got the whole world in His hands
He’s got the whole world in His hands
He’s got the whole world in His hands.

Remember God’s in control you can trust Him, He’s got the whole world in His hands.
Now go live like it!

Sticking Tongue

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The tongue is a powerful tool and it can be sticky business at times. Ezekiel found that out when he was called by God at age 30. Ezekiel’s purpose was to warn the people of coming judgment and expose the nation of Israel’s moral depravity and absence of spiritual truth. We read in Ezekiel 3:26 that God made Ezekiel’s tongue stick to the roof of his mouth so he couldn’t talk. One time he couldn’t talk for 7 days (3:15) and another time for 7 years (33:21-22). During the 7 year period, God would only allow him to speak when he wanted him to give a message to the Israelites.

I find this fascinating and have been pondering this for a few days now. You see Ezekiel was a Watchman. The Hebrew word for watchman is zahar. A zahar is someone who is to warn or instruct, to shine, to be clear. A watchman was to warn cities against attack. Ezekiel was a prophetic watchman instructed to warn about divine judgment against sin. God made him a watchman over the house of Israel and told Ezekiel that when he heard a word from God’s mouth, then he was to to speak a warning to the people (3:17-18).

What if we all lived this way? I don’t know about you but my mouth gets me in trouble at times. Have you heard the old addage? You have two ears and one mouth in order to listen twice as much as you talk. There’s a lot of truth in that saying.

As New Testament believers, we are God’s watchman. We are to guide people toward Jesus and warn them about a life without Christ. If God only allowed me to speak when it was for his good, what would my life look like? What would your life look like? This is my challenge, the next time I want to speak and I know it’s not from God, maybe I will let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth until I clear it with God. Will you join me?

A Righteous Man

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Matthew 1:18-21, The birth of Jesus came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of The Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

This morning I noticed something special about Joseph. We often talk about Mary this time of year and rightly so. However, I noticed something about Joseph’s character that really struck me. He was a righteous man! He didn’t want to publicly humiliate Mary. Most likely his peers would have exposed her obvious sin and why not, this was a heinous sin in that culture. But before the angel could appear to Joseph, he already decided to show compassion and mercy. He intentionally decided to show grace even though he was deeply hurt.

What a powerful lesson for us today. When we are hurt by someone, we naturally want to retaliate or defend our position because we have every right. Especially if we are right! But what I see in Joseph is righteousness that only comes from a right relationship with God. We can have that too if we want it. I’m thinking about the next time I’m offended, what if I immediately responded with compassion, mercy and grace. Would the end result be different? I would imagine so.

This Christmas season is a joyous one but also can be difficult for some. Maybe family or friends have hurt you and you have every right to be upset. However, what if you responded like Joseph and extended grace? A right relationship with God through Jesus Christ makes this possible. This is the very essence of righteousness.

Next time, how will you respond? How will I?

Waiting

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I waited patiently for the LORD, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help. Psalm 40:1

As I am anticipating the anniversary of my mother’s death, I am reminded that The Lord hears me and my cry for help. When I am a mess, He is not. When I am sad, He is not. When I am angry for a death that came too soon, He is not. When I am tired, He is not. When I am weak, He is not.

So I wait patiently for the LORD in many ways and areas in my life. When I wait for Him, God is doing a work in me and is always faithful. He turns to me like a parent to a child and says, I am here and I hear you. I see you and I hear you, I am here and will never leave you.

Last evening my church held a Service of Hope and Healing for those who are experiencing grief during this Christmas season. It was a small, quiet and very meaningful service. The Stephen Ministers served Holy Communion, assisted those in lighting a candle in remembrance of someone and were available to offer a prayer. Our Pastor anointed those with oil who needed a blessing and gave a beautiful message of hope through Christ who is our light in the darkness. It was beautiful and I hope those who came felt the presence of God deep within.

In ministry, I see a lot of hurting people for all kinds of reasons. But one thing I have noticed is that all need Jesus. Jesus truly is the bread of life and without him, we are lifeless. Jesus tells us in John 10:10, “I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” Jesus not only wants to give you life for the hereafter, but also for the here and now. Only Jesus can do that for you and me. So if this holiday season is difficult, call out to Jesus. He sees you and hears you.

I close with this thought, in the first New Testament book of Matthew 1:23. The prophet Isaiah is quoted, “See the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel.” The name Immanuel means God with us. Glory to God, for He is with us. Know this dear brothers and sisters, God is with you.

Will you allow His presence to comfort you this season?

Lack of Wisdom = Room for God

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

It was almost 11 years ago when I attended the first ARD meeting for my son. At that time, these meetings were called IEP (Individual Education Plan) meetings. My son was 8 years old and in the second grade. We knew something wasn’t right in first grade so we held him back thinking it was just a lack of maturity. After repeating first grade and moving into second grade, something was still amiss. After the school performed a battery of tests, we had our the first official ARD meeting. As long as I live, I will never forget that first ARD meeting. In that conference room surrounded by seven other people who were educators, some special education teachers and the principal. I found myself listening to test results that were devastating to any mom who naturally has hopes and dreams for her child. As I listened to all the things Levi would never do, I felt myself dying inside and wanting to collapse. However, I did not. Something took over (I like to call it the Holy Spirit) that allowed me to finish that meeting with grace and dignity.

I went home to my husband and prayer closet. After sharing this news with my husband, I spent three days in my prayer closet praying and crying out to God. The bible tells us in James 4:8 to draw near to God and He will draw near to you. I felt God speak to me during those days with a message of hope. God didn’t speak in an audible way but in a spiritual way. I felt him say, “Levi will be just fine. He will be a leader for my kingdom”. Now to this day, I don’t understand the last part but I am believing God for all of it. You see I have been steadfastly praying for my son ever since those days in the prayer closet. One scripture that I have prayed many times is James 1:5. I insert Levi’s name in the text asking God to give Levi wisdom and I believe God has done that and will continue to do that over the coming years.

Last week I attended the last and final ARD meeting for my son. My son will graduate next May and today we are going on a college visit. It isn’t a big university but it’s so much more than I was told nearly 11 years ago and I am thankful for the opportunity.

I have learned a big lesson to always leave room for God in the midst of my circumstances. This is where He shows up most if we let him.

Where are you leaving room for God in your circumstances today?

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God Dependent by Tera Rabe

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Tera Rabe is my little sister. She recently wrote this devotion and it’s just too good not to share with you. I know you will enjoy.

This month marks 26 years since I accepted Christ. I can’t help but reflect on my journey with the Lord. We all look back and reminisce during lengths of friendship, marriage and employment. Why not stop and think about our journey with our Lord?

When I was fourteen, I had scoliosis surgery. I did not fear the surgery or the possibility of something going wrong. My trust was in the Lord.

In October 2001, my Mom got sick and needed constant care for a while. I left college during mid-semester of my junior year and moved back home. I knew God was calling me to do this. Looking back, I am so glad I obeyed.

Then, a year later, Mom passed away three days before Christmas and just three months after I was married. God carried me through that intense season of grief. It was during this time that I truly fell in Love with Christ. I felt such an emptiness in losing my Mom that He was the only one who could fill it. I was twenty five years old. I felt robbed. I still had so much of my life to live and she would not be there. My relationship with the Lord was never meant to be an after-thought and that’s exactly what it was until that moment I let him become my everything. That was fifteen years after I had decided to follow him.

There seems to be a common thread with those who allow Christ to be their everything. The reality of it is not IF they get to that point, but WHEN. The when is usually followed by a life changing, life altering event. I have often wondered why that was.

Then, this past January, I was at an all Women’s Night of Worship at church. A woman got up, told her story and an at the end, passed out index cards and told us to write down our “take-away” for the evening. I sat there silently, feeling like I didn’t have anything to write and then all of a sudden, I found myself writing “GOD DEPENDENT.” Be more God Dependent! It’s about being God Dependent! It all made sense. I now understood a little bit of why I had to go through the painful grief process and it also set the tone for what was coming later this year.

This past summer, I had another surgery for scoliosis and I knew that the only way to get through it was to be 100% God Dependent. He was there, every step of the way. I am so thankful that He is mine and I am His. My prayer is that you allow him to be your everything.

“I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.” Psalm 63:6-8 NLT

Self Evaluation

The slacker craves, yet has nothing, but the diligent is fully satisfied. Proverbs 13:4

Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Does anyone despise workplace self evaluations like I do? I really do not enjoy completing a form listing all my accomplishments over the past year. I understand the necessity, especially when the people you report to are new to the workplace. However, it just feels bad! And I am taught by God word’s to carefully watch my pride. Pride can swell up as I start thinking about all that has been accomplished through my work and it just seems like dangerous territory.

I was recently sharing with a friend that a few years ago I was cleaning houses. This was a good way for me to work part time making some money while my son was in school. I love to work and have always worked over the years even while I was a “stay at home mom”. I believe God had me cleaning toilets for six years to teach me a few things, one of which was to be humble and serve others. To appreciate all the jobs I held in the past from an Assistant Vice President of a bank to a Employee Benefit Coordinator of an insurance company as well as becoming a licensed insurance agent. I have always sought the highest position available to me in the companies I have worked for in the past. What position could I possibly accomplish in cleaning toilets? I found myself praying over the families I worked for and prayed for the children while cleaning in their rooms. As my heart was positioned in a place of humility, ministry birthed out of housecleaning. I had no idea this would be such a sweet time in my life and my walk with God.

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically as something done for The Lord and not for men knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from The Lord.

What a good reminder to work hard for The Lord and not for men. God has the very reward needed to do the work before us so let’s go do the work with enthusiasm. And now that I have positioned my heart toward God and all He has accomplished through me, I am ready to complete that employee self evaluation.

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