Amazing Grace



I struggled with that title....mostly because it seems so.....used.
Amazing Grace, while profound, when you truly accept it...sometimes can lose adoration, mostly because I believe we take it for granted.

Wow, that's another struggle...taking things for granted. Tell me is there a fine line between taking something for granted and just expecting...because we trust and believe?

Think about it....when we experience miracles(and we do all throughout our day) Should we be in awe-thus risking that we didn't really believe the Lord had it in Him....or do we have the attitude of expectant... where we just sort of nod(as guys do when they acknowledge each other) You know the nod...just ever so slightly, the raising of the chin.

Anways, quite a quandry to be in... Which I find myself in often.

Well, I mostly model excitement and thrill.....hold on... while that may seem spiritually sweet.... let me tell you....
My husband claims that Iam the same way for blowing a huge bubble, seeing a friend for third time in one day, as well as if I haven't seen them in 10 years, or winning the lotto. or finding a spider...etc...

Anyways... I vote we celebrate being thrilled and excited.. screeching often...because that one is easy for me!

That reminds me of a quote by Bishop Fulton J. Sheer
"Time is so precious that God deals it out only second by second."

Now that I have rambled on and on and on(which I can because it's my blog!)
By the way I love this thing because it's a journal and journals are not subject to proper writing rules! (ie: commas, periods, plus also I can use unlimited adjectives)


I would like to get to the real issue on my heart.

I'll start by asking this question...... Do you commit "misdemeanors" or "high crimes" ?
While you contemplate your answer, let me elaborate a bit more...

Sin....take the most appalling sin....one that you would never commit .........

Now, assess your attitude. Do you possess one that reflects my sins are not as bad as those sins?

Well, if you have ever had an angry heart, gone to church more focused on what you looked like than on receiving the message or delivering service, if you have refused to love, forgive, avoided people, miss managed time-Money-love, have ever gossiped etc...
(that's just to name a few!)

I bet quite a few of those didn't make your appalling list! Maybe because you feel they are not really aknowledgable
well, certainly not like the appalling ones!


Let me remind you as I am reminding myself, The Bible rejects any double standard sinfullnes. The Bible says "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" God says we have all rebelled against Him and unless we repent, we will perish.

You can rest assured your sin...is just as appalling...to God! It too help nail jesus to the cross!

God does not distinguish between big sinners and little sinners....like we do!

Without Christ's intervention, every one of us are in desperate trouble!

Jeffrey Dahmer....he was many things to many people:

A mother's precious joy
A father's pride and honor
A trusted companion, to many unsuspecting victims.

But later in his life he became other things:

A forgiven sinner
A brother in Christ
Profoundly a testimony to a grace so so so so amazing, that it can save any repentant sinner!

Still today, even long after his death. he remains an unforgiven, unaccepted Christian.

By who?...well by me for one...until two nights ago.

That night in a moment of spiritual awakening, I found myself in an absolutely horrific realization, that I was indeed
one of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20)
The early morning worker who had issues with the last hour workers getting the same pay!


There is not one person ( I hope) who would disagree that what Jeffrey did was indeed extremely heinous!

But, how much more are we less sinners if we choose to harbor our sins repentlessly? Remember when we(I) look down on someone else's sin, we are repentless!

Jeffrey Dahmer is a modern day parable for us Christians.

Do you remember Paul? He was once a man who actually persecuted and murdered innocent Christians.
Later, to his horror, he realized his wrong and repented. To his everlasting wonder, God reached down and saved him!

I'm sure we will all agree that Paul has inspired us all in stories and sermons we have read or heard preached.


Jeffrey Dahmer read his Bible, he took the message passionatly serious.
He confessed his sin, changed his life, and was baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of his sins.

Should we be surprised or expectant?

Do we truly believe what we profess?

Didn't he decide to trust the way we all did, in order to enter a relationship with God?


I wonder.....How much more is his appreciation and adoration for our Lord than mine.....

How impactfully profound would it be to have Christians rally together, in what could quite possibly be the most radical place to disciple the great command, and profess it in song "How deep the Fathers love"
at executions of prisoner's who have become Christians.


While I certainly do not want to discount any tragic sorrows people have endured from these people's horrible crime.
I do believe we should celebrate God's victories in His redeemed children!


I would like to close with the words of the song "How deep the Fathers love"



How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure

that He should give His only son, to make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turned his face away

As wounds which mar the chosen one, bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there until it was acomplished

His dying breath has brought me life; I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything: no gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ; His death and resurrection

why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom




I hope you have a powerful day impacting lives and expanding His Kingdom, bringing all glory to God!
Kim Q

(thoughts from reading John Ortberg's book...If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat)


What would your guess be for the most common command in Scripture?

My guess would to be more loving, or even more obedient. I believe that probably is the core-foundation of His desire for us, but that isn't His most frequent instruction.

Pride is often marked as the main character of leading us straight down. (to the ground, not neccessarily hell, but....)
You have heard the saying, "Pride goes before the fall" (something like that)

Well, according to my reading, the Bible's most imperative doesn't have to do with avoiding pride, gaining humility(although I seem to be heading down that path pretty fast and furious!)

It is not the command to walk with integrity or purity in it's every sense ( sexually, drugs, alcohol, smoking, eating etc...)

The most profound scriptual command more often repeated than any other- with God's direct authorityand conviction- is made up of two words:

FEAR NOT.

Do not be afraid. Be strong and courageous. You can trust me. Fear not.

Why? Why is it that God says "fear not" more than anything else? Well, it certainly has nothing to do with keeping us from emotional distress! In fact, His "fear not" usually leads us into something of greater fear!

I really believe that fear is the root (not the love of money) of all evil!

Think about it.... it is probably the fear of not having money that makes us not want to be without..thus appearing it to be the love of. Look at the parable of the talents....the one guy feared to lose it so... he just burried it.

I truly believe that fear is the breeding ground for every sin committed! (wether you commit the sin by blatonly doing or not doing). Sometimes you have to look deep, other times, it's just lying right there on the very top!

It has been noted that "fear not" appears in 366 verses in the Bible. That is one for every day of the year, including
one for leap year!

Fear disrupts faith and becomes the biggest obstacle to trusting and obeying God.--John Ortberg

Trust says to jump!
Fear says Not to!

Which one do you choose?

Today.... I choose trust!

Fear not, for I have redeemed you:
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overwheilm you...

For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...,

and I love you. -Isaiah 43:1-4


I pray you have a blessed day walking with the Lord!

Remember, today is a gift from God....don't forget to unwrap it.

In His name and with His love, Kim Q

For what it is worth to you....


"my yoke is easy and my burden is light" -Matthew 11:30



"...to those who have no might he increases strength" -Isaiah 40:29

The Easter Bunny

Where does the Easter Bunny come from?

The story really goes back to the Easter Hare. A hare is a realative of the rabbit, with longer ears, large hind feet, and long legs-- perfect for jumping.

In the early years of Easter celebrations, hares were compared with Jesus. They were known for being gentle. They have no burrow or home (Jesus wandered through the countryside, and he said that He had no home in this world).

And they symbolize the new life that comes every spring and during Easter.

Nowadays, the once-kingly hare is usually pictured as a cute little bunny that delivers eggs.

Most people don't think of it as having any religious meaning or history at all.


An excerpt from " The Mini Easter Activity Book" By Robin Currie
--Lion Publishing

Friday at noonish, my daughter Laura and I were involved in a head on collision. PRAISE THE LORD we and the other guy invovled all walked away pretty much unharmed. He received a minor bump on the left side of his forehead. Laura was completley uninjured. I, other than a extremely small burn from the airbag, and a huge dose of humility am fine.

Laura and I were going to Joels' office to get a check for Laura's ortho appt. We were heading south on tenth stopped at the light at the intersection of Pine and tenth. The light turned green, so I started to proceed, but the white Ford Explorer to my left caught my eye, it didn't look like she was stopping. After I made sure she was stopped I continued on to make a left turn onto Pine street. Well, I was so preoccupied by the other vehicle, that it took Laura to panickly tell and show me the other car RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!!!! Bless his heart! I just completely changed his agenda for the day!


I was a little relieved when he said he was worried about that white explorer as well. But it doesn't erase the fact that it is still my fault. How crazy....I am driving cautiously and still end up in an accident! Life is just confusing to me!


I asked Joel yesterday...Do you think I need to be more humble? Of course his reply was quick and strong, NO!
I sure love him, but, he only sees me through a husbands eyes. I do agree that I walk pretty humbly, but just in that statement alone, shows there is PLENTY of room for growing!

This wreck has certainly forced me to be more humble!!! I think I forced the other driver to taste a little humble pie as well. He was driving a friends' car. Imagine that...you borrow someones car and wether it's your fault or not, their car is now wrecked!

That made me feel even more horrible! I've just thrown these people's day off BIG time.
I have received numeorous e-mails,cards, and calls filled with love and concern. All wonderful blessings!
AND lovely reminders of accepting humility so that I might walk more humbly.

I am so thankful and blessed to have an outrageous amount of friends and family who generously pour out love and forgiviness! It has been humiliating for me to repeat my story over and over, because it was my fault


Humility, I believe is a virtue often undervalued by the world in which we live. As much as it can sting it also can teach.
And teach it does....IF YOU LET IT! Well, I for one am going to let it teach me!
I cherish the people in my life who have chosen to rally around me inspite of my mistake, and support me with encouraging
words, prayers and offers of cars.


Jesus has reminded me that not only did He teach us about humility.... He lived it out!
Born in a manger.... unaccepted by so many....dishonored by those of us who did accept him.....betrayed......
abandoned.... and died a unglamorous death.


While our experiences are radically different, the simple lessons of humility learned are the same!
What a blessing to be chosen to learn the same lessons as our precious savior!

Remember that today is a gift from God...don't forget to unwrap it!
May you have a blessed day living in the presence of the Lord.

In His name and with His love, Kim Q


"There must be feelings of humility, not from nature, but from penitence, not to rest in them, but to go on to greatness."
-Pascal,1670