At eighteen I was getting ready to graduate from high school, and I was worried because I did not have any real plans for what I would do next. I had always assumed I would go straight from high school into college, but as the time drew near, I became more and more unsure if college was the right choice for me.

Soon after graduation I got my first job and started working full time. I was a bit burnt out with book learning and decided to take a break. Though, the break from school was nice, I never stopped worry about what I should do about college. I looked at many colleges and many degree plans, but nothing seemed to be right.

I prayed and prayed asking God to show me what it was He wanted me to do. I always received silence, which I interpreted as a signal that I was to wait. So, I waited, worried, and worked. A year passed. "God, surely now is the right time. I am tired of not knowing. Won't You just give me a hint." Still nothing.

I kept working and I kept looking. Several times I thought, "Oh, this is it. I have found it!" Then as I pursued that path further every door was closed. This kept happening until I came to the point of, "You know what, Lord? I am not going to worry about this any more. This is Your deal, it should have been Yours all along, and I am not going to worry about it any more. I trust You. I will wait on You another ten years, just walk with me."

Then one day, almost two years after I had begun working, I knew. God showed me the perfect path, and not only that, but He also made a way where I thought there was no way. He proved to me again, that He is an awesome God. He knew His plan all along. He just wanted me to learn a lesson in trusting Him. Think of all the time and worry I could have saved if only I had trusted Him from the start!

In the next few months I will begin a new journey, called college. I know that there will be tough times, but I also have peace because I trust that my God can, and will, see me through.

This is just one more story about how God has revealed Himself to me. This is just one more reason why I know that God is real. It feels so good to say I have no worries, because my God is in control.

Valentine's, A Few Days Late

Due to my being busy with work, I was unable to post this on time. Hopefully it is just as enjoyable a few days late. :)

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Let me ask you a question. What is Valentine's Day about? Is it about getting flowers, candy, and sweet little notes? Are you single and pitying your plot in life because you have no lover, flowers, candy, or sweet notes? Let me shoot straight with you. You have got it all wrong. Valentine's Day is not about what you receive. It is all about what you give. It is a day to celebrate your love for others, especially your sweetheart or spouse. Valentine's Day is all about showing others how much you love them.

As a single it is easy to get all wrapped up in what you do not have. You fantasize about how your future spouse will bring you flowers and write you poems. It is so easy to get lost in dreams about "then." Sometimes it easy to forget that when "then" comes along things will not be perfect. Your love may not have money for dozens of roses or diamond necklaces. He may not be able to write a rhyme, much less a poem. He may forget about Valentine's Day all together. But those things will not mean he does not love you. Love is not about one day of the year when your man feels pressured by the world to buy you flowers. It is not about what he does or does not give you. It is not even about whether or not he remembers Valentine's Day, your birthday, or your anniversary. It is about his being there when you need him, and sticking by you no matter how hard things may get. It is about those little things he does for you, like washing the dishes when you have had a super long day, or holding you when you cry, or praying with you when you are worried. Love is not something measure in gifts, it is something measured by words and actions, and not just for one day of the year either, but for every day. I know it is tempting, but do not over fantasize about "then." Instead, focus on now.

Yes, I said now. Think about what you do have, not about what you wish you had. Think about how much you are already loved. Even without "Prince Charming." There is family, friends, and God. Even if no one else loves you God does. In fact, He loved you so much He sent His Son to die for you (John 3:16), and that is being loved more then you can even imagine. Dwell on that.

Are you smiling yet? No. Then it is time for step two. Think of ways you can show those around you how much they are loved. In loosing yourself in efforts to show others you love them, you will forget about how lonely you are. After all it is more blessed to give then to receive (Acts 20:35). When you get busy doing for others you forget about yourself in the joy of bringing them joy.

If you are still feeling a little down, pray. Pray for yourself, pray for your family and friends, even pray for your future spouse. Tell God all about the loneliness in your heart. Share all your dreams with Him. Ask Him to be with you as you wait. God is always faithful. He may not always give us everything we ask for, but He always answers prayers. And He will always, always be with us because He loves us.

Happy Valentine's Day! Share the love.

Kaomi

Happy Valentines Day!

Love is something we all need, want. Love is something
we all long for and, consequently, strive for.

We all know that we do not deserve God's love, and that it is the greatest love we could ever experience. But I was reminded the other day that we don't deserve any love. I have
heard all my life that there is nothing I could ever do to deserve
God's great, unconditional love. But don't I deserve to be loved by
my family and friends? C.S. Lewis said:

"There is something in each of us that cannot be naturally loved. It is no one's
fault if they do not so love it...You might as well ask people to like the taste
of rotten bread or the sound of a mechanical drill...All who have good parents, wives,
husbands, or children may be sure that some times and perhaps at all times, in respect of some one particular trait or habit, they are receiving [love]. They are loved not because they are lovable, but because Love Himself is in those who love them."

Wow! I love the way C.S. Lewis said this! I am not lovable, but Christ love, through my family,and friends, helps them love me. The opposite is true as well. Even those people that may seem hard to love, I can love because Christ loved me first. Even though I am so unlovable! Love loves not because of...but in spite of. Happy Valentines Day!

Hot Hats

Hot Hats

4 c. flour

1 c. scalded milk

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 large egg

3/4 c. oil

1 tbsp. dry yeast

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup of warm water. In separate bowl, mix 2 cups of flour, salt, oil, and an egg. Add dissolved yeast and beat again. Pour in scalded milk. Beat while slowly adding the remaining flour, until dough is the consistency of stiff biscuit dough. Divide dough in half. Roll into rectangle, or just spread on greased cookie sheet with hands. Put spaghetti sauce and other pizza toppings on dough. Roll up ends and seal edges. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. Slice and serve. Quick, easy, and a good way to use up left over spaghetti sauce.

There Will Be Pain

Things weren't going well, for Kelly Callahan. Everything in her life seemed to be falling apart. She had just lost her job, her grandmother's health was going downhill at an alarming rate, her college classes were overwhelming, and worst of all, at twenty-three, there was still no prince charming in her life.

"God, why is everything falling apart? Why does life have to be so hard? Why can't life be perfect? I mean, would it be so bad if everything went right for once, if I could always be happy? I don't understand. Why must we hurt so much? What is the purpose of living just to die? God, I have so many questions, but right now I just want to know, why must I hurt so much?"

Kelly was at her wits end. She was exhausted, and feeling so helpless. All she wanted was for things to be good again, for life to be full of joy. Tears ran down her checks as she cried out to God.

"I believe in You Father. I know You have everything under control, but why must life be full of such sadness and pain?"

Kelly sat on her bed rocking back and forth and hugging herself. She wanted to be strong, but she was so tired, so worn out, and she felt so helpless to change anything. She longed for the joy that she had once known, for the seemingly perfect life she had once lived. Now that her world was in shambles, her faith was shaken. She still believed in God, but it did not feel like enough.

~*~*~*~

We have all been in that place. We have felt so pushed down and abandoned, that God seems so far away that we fear we will never reach Him again. Life has a way of testing our faith. Sometimes it is all we can do to hold on and believe. I do not know why life gets so hard, or why hardships are so much a part of life. I do not have all the answers, but the other night as I sat pondering a situation much like Kelly's, I had a thought that put a little sunshine into my day.

If it was not for hard times, my joy would never be so full as it is when I have just come through some great trial. If it was not for tears, I would not treasure those moments of laughter so much. If it was not for doubts, certainty would not feel like such a victory. If it was not for pain and sickness, being well would not be such a blessing. If it was not for death, life would not be such a gift. If life was not so hard, we would not look forward to Heaven with such great anticipation. And if life was "perfect" we would still want more because that is just a part of our human nature. If things are good, we want better, and if things are better, we want best. We will never be satisfied here on earth, because we are always seeking that which we will only find in Heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

If you are going through a tough time, let me remind you that better days are ahead. If not in this world, then in the next. We will never understand why so many must suffer, but we can look for the sunshine in every dark valley.

Cling to the hand of the Master, never let go. Be mad at Him if you must. He is a big boy and He can handle your anger, but do not let go of His hand because you cannot handle this life alone. You need Him like you need air. Life may be hard, but it is better, and easier, with God.

"We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;

we are perplexed, but not in dispair;

persecuted, but not forsaken;

struck down, but not destroyed."

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Waiting, Not Dating

I am concerned. Yes, I really am. I see so many young girls who are all wrapped up in their boyfriends. That is all they ever think or talk about and you can tell that they have lost their hearts to these boys.

As long as I can remember my uncles and aunts have asked me, "So, do you have a boyfriend yet?" I always laughed and said, "No." I knew that it was stupid for an eight-year-old to even think of such things, for to my way of thinking if you had a boyfriend that meant you were dating, and if you were dating that meant that the next thing in line was marriage, and at eight, getting married was a long way into the future. But so many girls and boys feel pressured into this mode. It is supposed to be something cute and amusing, and maybe it is for the grown-ups watching, but those poor little girls are getting hurt. They feel that if a boy breaks up with them they have a problem. Something is wrong with them. Their hearts are being scarred, and for what?

I recently have been hurting for a friend of mine. She isn't even eighteen yet and she is very emotionally involved with a young man. He is nothing more then and boy. He is not capable of giving her the love or support she is looking for, neither is he ready to make a life-long commitment to her, yet she has given her heart to his keeping. I hurt for her because I see heartache in her future. Yes, he seems like a really good kid, but he is just that, a kid. It will be years before either one of them is ready for marriage. So much could happen between now and then.

Why do parents allow, and even push, this type of harmful behavior? Do they not see what it does to their daughters and sons emotional well-being? And think of how many teens could be saved from poor mistakes if they just did not date until they were ready to consider marriage.

I wish I could talk to every girl in the world about this. I wish I could tell them to wait. To guard their hearts, to wait on the Lord, and to use their energy to serve Him.

So, for those of you who agree with me, that waiting and not dating is the key to greater future happiness. Join me in getting the message out. Talk to your friends. Encourage them to wait. If this concept would catch on, I think our world would be a better place.

For those of you who are waiting and not dating. Do not loose heart. You are not alone. Keep your eyes on The Prince. Waiting can be hard, but in the end, it will all be worth it.

In Christ,
Kaomi

For the Rest of My Life

As has always been the case, when the end of an old year draws to a close and the beginning of a new year is hovering closely on the horizon, I began to think about all the things I did, or had left undone in the previous eleven months. Honestly, my list of the undone is always a whole lot longer then my list of the done. I am never totally satisfied with my efforts, because I always know that I could have done better.

I could easily allow myself to get all wrapped up in the grief and mourning of those tasks left undone, but what good would that do me? The only thing wallowing in sorrow would do for me is waste more of my time and so when I reach the end of next year I will have just as long a list of things left undone as I had the year before.

I decided a while back that New Years resolutions where of little consequence, and since then have not bothered to write out the long lists I used to be in the habit of writing. Instead I have made one resolution. It is not just a resolution for the coming year, but rather for the coming years. It is a life resolution. And that resolution is to live my life for the honor and glory of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To me this means, seeking Him through His Word, through prayer, through godly counsel, and it also means striving to always put Him first before all else in my life. I know that this is a resolution that will be harder to keep then any other I could make, but it is also the only one that will ever really matter.

These last few weeks I have really been asking myself about what God's purpose is for my life, and I have come up with one answer and only one. God's purpose for my life is for me to serve Him with everything I have got. That may not seem like much when you read it, but when you get to thinking about what it means, that is when it hits you. That is when you realize that this is a really big deal.

To serve God with all I have means: Loving my neighbor as myself. Loving God with all my heart, soul, and mind. Sacrificing my comfort, my dreams, and maybe even my life. Being a light to a fallen world. I have got to keep pushing forward when things seem impossible. I have to completely surrender my life to His will.

In the year ahead, I will come across hardships, sorrows, and even enemies, but God will see me through if I am faithful to Him. It seems like an impossible resolution to keep doesn't it? Well, it is not, because God is by my side all the way.

What are some steps I am taking even now to reaching my goal. First, I am starting out by disciplining myself in those basic areas where all Christians must discipline themselves if they wish to reach the goal. I am digging into God's Word, the Bible, spending more time in prayer, and identifying and removing those things which I know are distracting me from giving God my all.

I would like to challenge you in joining me on a life changing journey. Do not make a commitment that will only see you through the next year. Make a commitment that will see you through the rest or your life. What good does it do to commit to excellence for tomorrow, if you live out the rest of your life after that in the mode of mediocrity?

Make a resolution that will count.

In Him Who was, is, and always will be,
Kaomi

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,

I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).

"Being diligent to present yourself approved to God,

a worker who does not need to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength

is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

"Blessed is every one who fears the LORD,

Who walks in His ways" (Psalm 128:1).

Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal Cookies

3 c. flour
4 c. oats
1 t. baking soda
5 t. cinnamon
1 t. salt
2 eggs
2 c. sugar
2 c. butter
2 T. molasses
1/2 c. milk
1 c. pecans

Mix. Drop. Bake (350 degrees, until done).
How easy is that? My recipe card says to bake the cookies 15-20 minutes. That sounds a little too long, but I don't really know. You will just have to play with it and find out for yourselves. My sisters do a lot of the cookie making around here and I haven't made these in a long time, if ever. I hope they work out for you. Enjoy!

In Bethlehem That Night

"She brought forth her firstborn son,

and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid

him in a manger; because there

was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7).

Mary, Mother of Jesus

In the business of this month it is so easy to forget to stop for even a moment to ponder why we celebrate Christmas. To think of how Mary felt when she learned that she was the one God had chosen to give birth to the Messiah, and later how she felt as she held her firstborn son for the very first time!

It is so easy to forget that Mary was a young woman like me. She had dreams and hopes for her future. Never once could she have guessed that God would choose her to be the mother of Jesus. Never could she have imagined the joy and sorrow her life would hold.

I like to imagine that it was just another ordinary day. Mary was joyfully doing everyday chores. She may even have been dreaming of her soon to be marriage to Joseph and how her life would change when she became his wife. I can see her now. She was humming a sweet little tune as she swept the floor. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and her eyes held that sparkle. She may have been dreaming of holding her first child. Rocking the wee one and singing a lullaby. She cared not whether she had a boy or a girl. She knew she would be overjoyed with either. Right in the midst of these thoughts Gabriel arrived on the scene.

Mary must have been shocked and confused about why Gabriel was and there, and who he was. Imagine her further shock when Gabriel said,

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son..."

"What? What did you just say? A baby? Me, have a baby? Me? Are you sure you have the right Mary?" I can just imagine her saying. "Why me? Of all the women in the world, why me?" She must have wondered.

What impresses me is that she did not throw a fit or complain the least little bit about how this news would ruin all she had planned (as I feel sure I would have been tempted to do). No, she stood back in awe and said:

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever" (Luke 1:46-55).

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There is so much unsaid. So many aspects of the story that are not covered. Every year when I re-read the story of Christ's birth I come away with so many questions. What was Mary's parents reaction to the news? What did they say and do?

It seems likely that Mary would have been shunned by certain groups of people because only the worst sorts of women became pregnant out of wedlock. When I think of all that Mary had to go through. All the hardships, all the sorrow and pain, I am determined that she was indeed a woman of great faith. A woman who leaned on the Lord through it all. How else would she have been able to bear it?

I sometimes wish that the Bible's account would have been longer and more detailed. For surely there is a lot that we could learn from Mary, mother of Jesus, chosen by God.

This Christmas I encourage you to make your own study of Mary. To put yourself in her shoes. To imagine all that she went through and ask yourself if you could have had faith such as she did. Ask yourself how you would have dealt with raising a Son that others would mock and scorn, a Son who would be unjustly crucified. Read between the lines and learn about a woman who was truly strong.

Merry Christmas!

Is It Okay If I Scream Now?

I have felt like pulling my hair out more then once this last week. Between working and trying to get numerous Christmas projects done, and feeling more then a little tired, I am sure you can understand any motives I might have for yanking out every one of my hairs. Thankfully, God has been a with me through it all, though I must admit to pushing Him onto the back burner more then a time or two, something I am not proud of.

The other night I was stressed out. I was asking myself how I was ever going to get done all the things I want to do, and need to do, and still keep my hair in place. I moaning silently to God, "I cannot do this anymore. I am too tired." Then verses came to mind reminding me that I have had my priorities all mixed up again. I had been allowing things to come between me and God, and until I pulled my focus back to Him, things would continue to be stressful and would continue to give me the desire to scream and pull my hair out.

Time and again since I began blogging I have written on this very topic. On how nothing in life goes right if God is not only in it, but the center of it. When I read over my passed posts, I laugh at how I can say the same thing in so many different ways. Anyone who has been following my blog will see very quickly that the one thing that bothers me most is my inability to keep my focus on God all the time. I know it is only human to sruggle with this, but that does not keep it from bothering me, or keep me from striving to do better in keeping my focus on Him more fully.

Like I was saying, my life has been rather hectic, but when I look at these last few weeks, I realize that many of those hair-pulling moments were of my own making. I would put something off, or try to do a hundred and one things all at the same time, when I did not need to, or I would push my quite time to the back burner, when I knew my day would go horrible if I did. Now I am sitting here writing and shaking my head at myself. Why was I so foolish? Why did I cause myself so much stress and worry? Answer: I do not know, other then I am a human being who has a very small brain that does not function half as well as I like to think it does.

I stand in awe of the mighty God I serve, and am thankful anew each day that He has His hand on my life and is always, always in control of everything that is happening in our crazy world. Once more I am placing my life, all this craziness, all the worries, in His hand. I am thanking Him for His grace, His love, and the way He makes everything better if I will only give Him the chance.

I have been very bad this last little while about writing to you, and for that I am sorry, but as I said, things have been crazy, and even if it was partly my own doing, what was, was, and it cannot be changed now. I hope you will all be understanding if posts are a little more spread out this month, because no matter what, December is always a busy month for me. It is probably my favorite month of the year. I love finding extra ways to show my family I love them, I love helping set up the tree, wrapping presents, and all those little things that make remembering Christ's birth so special. I love celebrating God's gift to us all month long and remembering (and reading) the story of Christ's birth. It is all our family traditions, those things that remind us of what love is, that help me realize what a wonderful gift God gave to us.

I hope each of you has a wonderful month, and that in all the business we will not loose sight of what Christmas is all about. It is about how a little baby was born in a stable and laid in a manger, it is about Christ coming down to earth as a little baby so that we might be saved and so that a bridge would be built so that we could reach the Father.

Have a Merry Christmas,
Kaomi

Lime Jello Salad (Green Stuff)

Lime Jello Salad (Green Stuff)

1 pt. cottage cheese

1 pt. cool-whip

3 oz. lime Jello (dry)

1 lg. can crushed pineapple (drained)

This is the way my mom does it. She puts the drained pineapple in a bowl and then mixes in the Jello powder and makes the pineapple all nice and green. The she adds the cottage cheese and cool-whip and mixes it up really well. Then it is ready to serve.

It is our family's all-time favorite. It just isn't Christmas without "green stuff." One tip though, make sure the pineapple is drained really well. If there is too much pineapple juice the "green stuff" is runny and doesn't look good at all. Enjoy! Um, I can hardly wait. :)