Stopping this blog

Dear readers, please see my blog, “Parents on the Move” on blogspot via www.parentsonthemove.com
This blog, Beyond Broken Families on WordPress is just too difficult to log into each time. For more information on this topic, please do see the excellent Wod Press blog, Northstar.

Preparing to Give Thanks

In Beyond Broken Families (Destiny Image Europe Publishers and on kindle) I talk about the fact that when we are learning how to set boundaries for healthy living, few people will be excited for us. How many friends do we have that say, “That’s great. I will really respect your new boundary….”? Those that do are friends indeed.

We need to prepare for any newly set boundaries. While in the book we talk more about this preparation for boundary setting (getting ready to handle the tension that may come), let me say here that we also need to prepare to give thanks.

In the week ahead, those of us with food issues need to have a plan for handling stress as well as menus. Those of us who just know that few of our family can relate to one another, not to mention sit around a table and have a shared meal, need to prepare our hearts and minds to be thankful for just a phone call- or not- this year. Those of us who have made some very healthy choices and had a good start at living out those choices need to prepare to be strong as the holiday season begins.

We acknowledge we were made to want “more,” and pray that we will want more of what brings life and not regret. Join me in taking some time in the upcoming week to consider what nourishes our soul. Let’s put a boundary of protection around our quiet time. Let’s have a little “more-time” of preparation with Jesus.

Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness. Matthew 5:6

Spirit, Soul and Body

Often we hear sermons about “not being angry,” or telling us we should put God first in our life; and that is good. We need sermons that lift up the Name of Jesus, especially in a time when people might want us to believe He shares His throne. We need to hear how we should be living in these interesting times, and a godly sermon does just that. A good sermon sets clear goal posts!

But I have often, in my longing to live according to God’s Word, have wondered “how?” How do I, personally, reach the goal posts in my life? It’s great when we are told that we can live a life in freedom, but HOW?

This past Saturday I had the privilege of attending a Womans Day of Healing at Ellel English Acres, in Lithia, Florida. (near Tampa) The Ellel teaching team, ever practical in their ministry, gave excellent teaching on why we do what we do! They went on to teach how we can change what we do! Do take a look at their website for their courses.

Then, Saturday night my husband and I had a wonderful date night. So, by Sunday morning I was ready for worship at our church! For me, life as a follower of Jesus works so much better when I hear the Word of God in a sermon, and then in teaching, with a nourished spirit in the love that was meant for me.

As 1 Thessalonians 5: 23 puts it, “May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Take a look at www.ellelministries.org/usa

Celebrating Recovery

In 1834, Henry Lyte wrote a hymn that included the words, “ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,” and in my new book, Beyond Broken Families (Amazon Kindle), I asked the question, “… even if we know we are His, where and when do we know we are healed, forgiven, restored? What is it going to take?”

One of the key features of the Celebrate Recovery meetings that I attend; that I like, is the way they structure the first meeting. It’s scarey to attend these meetings the first time. You have no idea if you will be welcomed, or feel like bolting! At “my” Celebrate Recovery the first thing that happens is that you meet with someone who listens to you. Many CR groups have you attend an orientation group, where you are told how things happen in the group meetings and what groups are available. I give thanks when CR meetings recognise that a step of “just listening” is a vital part of the initial welcome.
As I continue to train to be one of the Listeners, I recently had an amazing time of listening to two women who attended CR for the first time. In their love for each other they gained a little courage to seek a faith in Jesus. They described time in prison, and in rehab, and how one of them first read a Joyce Meyer book. Now they wanted to come to church…and CR was the first attempt. As I, and my Listening co-worker listened to them tell their story, another song came to mind. The tune just came into the room, and the words followed me out the door that night; an old song, brought new and made fresh:

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God….

May our Lord, Jesus Christ, give you showers of blessings this day, and a divine appointment just to listen.

Note: The first song mentioned in today’s blog was originally published in 1834 in “The Spirit of the Psalms,” and is a paraphrase of Psalm 103, entitled, “Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven.” “Just As I am,” was written by Charlotte Elliott and can be found in the 1938 Cokesbury Worship Hymnal. My book, Beyond Broken Families was published by Destiny Image Europe and though available now on kindle, will be available soon in paperback at major bookstores.

Beyond Broken Families on kindle!

Order on kindle or in paperback from Amazon

Last night the UPS truck pulled up and delivered five boxes of my new book, “Beyond Broken Families”. Most of the books will be distributed through several of the Destiny Image Europe and Destiny Image distributors; but oh my, the excitement of having this book delivered to our door!
It was a bittersweet moment, as I once again read the dedication I had written to my mother. Mom isn’t here for me to call her and say “Hey mom! Guess what? My new book has arrived!”
Still, I give thanks for all the relationship healing that happened in the final months of mom’s life; and for the healing that continues in our wider family. I have lived and am still living all I have learned in the writing of “Beyond Broken Families;” and it is my hope that you will buy this book and see the healing process for all your family, however you define family these days.

Stepping Out

One of my all time favourite devotionals is called, “Jesus Calling.” I first heard of this devotional at my local Celebrate Recovery meeting. Today’s reading says, “Attune yourself to My Voice (Jesus) and receive My (Jesus) richest blessings.”

Then, the scripture that accompanies this is Isaiah 50:4, which says (KJ) “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him (or her) that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.”

I have added the “(or her)” as this verse speaks to me; and I have capitalized the “H” when referring to Our Lord. Destiny Image Europe publishers ask their authors to lift up the Name of Jesus and Our Father God and The Holy Spirit with respectfully using capitals. I am in total agreement with this writing practice, so that is what I will do in these blogs.

Last week I met with the artist Maryanne Jacobsen for coffee and we talked over what the Lord has been saying to us regarding work. Maryanne is an artist. I am a writer. We looked at our schedules and reminded ourselves that we need to not get caught up in the business of life, including church life unless the Lord tells us to do something! My nature is to hide away and in quietness seek Him, and yet I have let myself get too busy again. This week I am drawing away, purposely heading back to that abiding place with my Lord. He is calling me to head out to speak this Friday evening, but I need to speak from the quiet place. I need to speak from the resting with Him place.

Take a moment to look at Maryanne’s blog and paintings, and may the peace of the Lord be with you today.

In verse 5 of isaiah 50, it says “The Lord opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.” Thank you Lord for scripture, devotionals and friends; who over coffee, remind me that You are my first love.

Coming Soon!

Beyond Broken Families

My new book, Beyond Broken Families is out soon, published by Destiny Image Europe.

The birth of a new book is exciting indeed. This upcoming Friday, September 30, I will be speaking at the Sarasota Christian Bookstore in Sarasota, Florida. It’s a “Girl’s Night Out,” and I am looking forward to sharing some of my stories!

While I very much want to promote my first book, “Parents on the Move!” I give thanks that Father God has given me a fresh word for the women gathering this night. I am longing to also tell them all about this new book, “Beyond Broken Families,” but I will not yet have the new book in my hand. So much to look forward to as I listen to the call the Father gave me years ago to tell His story.

In the meantime, I will be starting a new website, Faith, Family and Friends (co.uk) that will include links to both my blogs, Beyond Broken Families, and Parents on the Move! This theme of faith, family and friends are the words I choose to live by, putting God first in my life and attempting to follow His lead in all I do with my family and friends. Please email a book order: Kathy77smith@gmail.com

Beyond Broken Families

Healthy Families

Father God has some good news for healing our families, every member of our stretched out, blended, separated but coming together families. “And so our testimony and our service to the watching, listening world will be holistic,” says Mark Greene in his essay, “The Great Divide.”*

This isn’t a new age “holistic,” but a wholeness where the mere fact of coming together is a miracle in itself. Who would have thought you could have a pleasant dinner with your uncle? Coffee with your brother? Shopping with your daughter?

There are many symptoms of the sacred-secular divide and I believe

Let's look for the fruit!

the core issue is that we are challenged to commission our gifting out of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our spirit.**
What is the fruit of the spirit that we see in our family life? Are our gifts developing out of that fruit?

As I ponder this question, I remember the words from the Anglican prayer book, “Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.”
Amen.

*The essay by Mark Greene is entitled, “The Great Divide” and is published by the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity   www.licc.org.uk

**Jim McInnis, in his sermon on love a couple of Sunday’s ago said,

“Without the fruit of the Spirit(Gal. 5:22)  the gifts of the Spirit cannot operate except in the flesh, in which they become counterfeit and counterproductive.

Through the fruit of the Spirit God gives the motivation, basis and medium by which to minister the gifts of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit comes only from walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16, 25).”

Amen and Amen.

Family Recovery

Is your family broken?

I don’t mean necessarily that you have divorced, but the relationships in your family are just not working; or if there is divorce, you wonder if there is hope for God’s plan in your life?

There is hope! Coming soon is my book, “Beyond Broken Families;” where you will see that there is hope, indeed. In the meantime, have a look at a devotional provided by an inspiring Christian recovery mission, Northstar. http://northstarcommunitydevotional.wordpress.com/2011/08/13/august-13/

Beyond Broken Families

Announcing my new book, “Beyond Broken Families,” soon to be published by Destiny Image Europe!

This blog will be in support of families who face the challenges of broken family life in this 21st century. There is hope!

In this new book, “Beyond Broken Families,” we look at the challenge of the prophet Ezekiel and see how Jesus is the answer to every issue in our family.

Check out the new Destiny Image website today, for more books to inspire you and your family.
www.destinyimage.com