Rescued Again

A Note from Tara:

At KGM, we are so excited:  We just released our first E-Newsletter!!!   This has been a goal of ours for years. 

In the E-Newsletter, you will find helpful articles and tips pertaining to the 4 pillars of Knowing God Ministries:  Relationship with God; Marriage; Parenting; and Ministry.  

In May's Issue, we reveal:

• Where ISI is?
• Marriage Tip
• Summer Study Discount
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Mother/Daughter Event
• Fun Activities for Summer with Kids
• Save the Date
• Tara's Upcoming Events
• Monthly Treasure

If you did not receive this issue, and want to begin receiving it:  Please send us your email HERE - and we'll get a copy sent to you.

Enjoy Robin's devo!

Nehemiah 9:28 NLT 

But as soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight, 

and once more you let their enemies conquer them. 

Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, 

you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, 

you rescued them many times!

In the last few weeks I have been feeling a little distance between myself and my Lord. Even though I was still studying the Bible and praying!  I have had a recurring incident in my life that has caused me grief and given bitterness a foothold.   In those times I tend to pray:

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

 Restore to me the joy of your salvation.

And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Psalm 51:10-12 , NASB

A few days later The Lord led me to Nehemiah 9. . .  and while I was reading it I sensed a supernatural joy that can only come from Him!  At the beginning of Nehemiah 9 the Israelites listened to God’s word for three hours then confessed their sins for three hours! 

Then the leaders of the Levites stood and asked them to “Stand up and praise the Lord your God, for He lives from everlasting to everlasting!” 

After this the Israelites prayed, calling forth all the history of their people and how God continued to rescue them time and time again.   He is a God of 

forgiveness, 

grace and mercy, 

slow to become angry, 

and 

He's rich in unfailing love. 

• God did not abandon them even when they created a golden calf!
  
• Because of His great mercy He did not let them die in the wilderness! 
  
• For forty years He sustained them! 

Oh - what JOY filled my Spirit when God reminded me of who He is!

Did you see what I prayed in Psalm 51?   Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. 

Last Wednesday He restored my joy!  My circumstances had not changed but the joy had returned!  I started thanking Him for what I HAD instead of focusing on what I WANTED.  Indeed, He rescued me because He is a God of forgiveness; grace and mercy; He's slow to become angry, and He's rich in unfailing love! 

I think I had forgotten that. . . . I didn’t think He wanted to hear my prayers again about the same incident!  

But He does!  He loves us so much that He sent His Son to bear our sins and our sorrows so we can run to Him boldly.  

The bottom line of truth:  

Jesus rescued us once through the cross 

and will continue to rescue us as we turn and cry to Him.

5 Habits to a Better Life, Part 2

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world...

For many years, busyness, over commitment and unwise priority choices controlled my life.

Yet one day I woke up.  The quality of my life had dissipated.   I had allowed the pace of a hectic, chaotic world spill into my life, marriage and family.

Since then, God has shown me practical habits to keep destructive patterns of the world at bay.  Over activity and busyness for any given period of time IS destructive.  Do not be fooled by the pattern of the world.

Last week, I shared Habit's 1 and 2.  Click HERE if you missed it.  Today,  I'll share the remaining 3 habits.  Please know, it's still a daily pursuit.

Habit #3. Wisely invest in Priority Relationships.

IF you are a married woman, your husband is your priority ministry.  Therefore, discern if you are treating your husband as the lowest person on the totum pole.  Do you spend more time with your girlfriends or even your church ministry?  Who gets the best of you?  Who gets the worst?  Your husband and children are your priority relationships.

What other people should be important?   According to the Word, our Mom and Dad are to be part of our priority relationships.  Regardless of where they live, find ways to invest in their lives.  (See Matthew 15.  It's eye opening.)

Say no to the constant temptation to be drawn away by good things at the neglect of best.  Sadly, we can treat our families the worst and our acquaintances the best.  If this is you, wake up!  God has such a better plan for you life.  Come in agreement with Him.

Habit #4.  Have a quiet time each day. 

This is a must.  It's not negotiable.   Our quiet time can set the pace of our day.  Why?  Because we're spending time with Mr. Peace.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  Not only will He comfort your insecurities and strengthen you against them... But He'll also encourage your day with direction and purpose - He'll also set the pace of your day.

I can't find anywhere in the Bible Jesus hurrying His disciples saying, "Come on boys, we've go to go.  Pack up camp and put out that fire.  We've got some preachin' to do."

I used to hurry my family constantly.  In fact, I could lose my temper trying to get out the door for Bible study!  

I'm done with "hurry" mentality.  My quiet time helps me tremendously in this area.

Habit #5.  Choose to trust God when you have no control.  

I cannot control other people.  I cannot control their response to any given situation.

But I can control me.  And I can control my responses.  And because I've not neglected my quiet time, I have spent time with Mr. Self Control.  So I pray for "self control" to rise up within the storm of my heart when hard things happen.

I then ask the Holy Spirit what He wants me to do?  If I sense direction - I act.  If not, I stand in trust.  I can be at peace - trusting God and His infinite resources to act on my behalf.   "When I am afraid, I will trust in You."  Psalm 56:3

You can do this too.  It's not always easy - but it's a choice.

These 5 habits are simple.  But from personal experience, they will not become habitual by accident.  I still work on them everyday.   Most days I'm successful.  Other days, I fail.  The days  I do, I just start again the next day!

You will have to be intentional.  But the end result is the reclaiming of life quality Jesus purposes you to have.    (John 10:10)

5 Habits to a Better Life, Part 1

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world...

When you see a girlfriend or an acquaintance, how often does the greeting go as follows:
Friend:  "HI friend, how are you?"
You:  "Good - just BUSY.  How are you?"

This is the conversation used to be my life!

For many years, busyness, over commitment and unwise priority choices controlled my life.  Yet one day I woke up.  Though my life looked like many of my friends' lives, the quality of my life had dissipated.   I had allowed the pace of a fast-paced, hectic, chaotic world spill into my life; into my marriage; into my family.

Though it may have looked fine on the outside, the quality of my life was yuck.

Over the last few years, God has shown me practical habits to keep the destructive patterns of the world at bay.  Over activity and busyness for any given period of time IS destructive.  Do not be fooled by the pattern of the world.

Over the next 2 posts,  I'll share 5 habits that have changed my life.  These habits are simple yet will not become habitual by accident.  You will have to be intentional.  And be warned:  your friends may think you're dissin' them.  But you're not!  You're just reclaiming the quality of life Jesus purposes you to have.  (John 10:10)


Habit #1.  We must create margin in our schedules.

I'm a recovering addict of not giving myself enough margin in the day.  I'd tell someone I'd meet them only to be 10 minutes late because I've squeezed into an already full schedule that one last thing.

One more errand...
One more chore....

Not only did I squeeze in one more thing, I didn't allow time for traffic.  Now I'm stressed out and my head's spinning.  Never mind, arriving frazzled and frustrated.

This bad habit will steal the quality of your life.  Take control of your schedule.  Give yourself time.   Don't stack one thing after another day in and day out.  Yes, some days will be busier than others.  But you must draw a line in the sand and give yourself wiggle room.  Tell yourself, "No more!"

During busy weeks, I take NO outside appointments other than my priority relationships.  Yes, I may offend some by not making myself available, but I can tell you this:  Relationships with my priorities are maintained and do not suffer during weeks of busyness because I've learned to give myself margin and I've learned to say NO!

Habit #2.  We must learn to say "NO!"

Sometimes I feel like the Queen of the land of  "No."  But that is okay.  My marriage is good.  My relationships with my children are good.   My family relationships are good.  We aren't barking at each other and running around like a bunch of crazy people.

Our days will become increasingly crazy if we over commit ourselves and our families.  Do you have your child playing in multiple sports or activities from season to season?  Never mind that you have multiple children doing multiple sports/activities in the same season.

Girlfriend, your marriage and your family WILL suffer if you choose to live this way.  AND IT IS A CHOICE.

Are they training for the Olympics?   Are they preparing to play professionally one day?   If not, stop the insanity.  It takes away from the quality of your priority relationships and ultimately your life.

If saying no is too hard for you, schedule the appointment several months out.

For example:  I'm getting ready to enter a busy season during the month of May.  If Sally Sue emails me and wants to have lunch or coffee, I have to determine if Sally Sue is a priority relationship.  If she's not, she's not getting scheduled.  I'll most likely eventually schedule her, but it'll be when my schedule opens back up in mid June. And that's on a Thursday or a Friday.  (These are the days I've pre- determined I'll schedule people.  Monday - Wednesday are typically busy work days.)

All of this may sound harsh, but think about it:  If say yes to Sally Sue - my job and priority relationships will suffer. I've said "yes" too much.  And when I do, life stinks.

Learn to say NO.

Next Week:  Habits 3 -5 to a Better Life

Mother Daughter Event  
17 More Days - Get your tickets now!

Based on your package, the Event includes:

• Backstage passes are available with the VIP package!
• Concert 
• Speaker (Me!)
• Photo Ops with the band -  Your daughter will get to meet them!
• Makeovers
• Cupcakes
• Shopping and More!

The event is a fundraiser for Education = Hope.  All proceeds goes to support this ministry.

VIP Experience:  $35 - (3:00pm - 6:30pm)
General Admission:  $25 (4:00pm - 6:30pm)
Get your tickets today HERE  

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