Joy

You will grieve,

but your grief will turn to joy.

John 16:20

Jesus tells us we will grieve in this lifetime. He doesn't sugar coat anything. But He also tells us our grief will turn to joy. Only He is capable to do such a thing.

Draw near to Him as He turns your grief to joy.

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Keep the faith and you'll see God's grace.

Cheddar Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

Cheddar Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless cooked chicken breasts, cubed
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c. sour cream
1 c. cheddar cheese
1 c. mozzarella cheese
1 bag frozen cut broccoli, thawed

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl, and pour into a 13 X 9 casserole dish
Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top
Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly
Serve on top of cooked rice

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Keep the faith and you'll see God's grace.

Active

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith,

so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

I Philemon 1:6

As you receive much faith through Christ,

may you be bold and active in sharing your faith with others. 

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Keep the faith and you'll see God's grace.

Uncovered

...that he who began a good work in you

will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

Often times we want to add a line to this scripture and have it read something like this:

that I who began a good work in myself will plea with God to help me until what I want completed is complete.

We think we've got this life covered. Who we are, where we are going, what we are to become...we think God just simply needs to come along and bless us and our endeavours. 

I love, love, love Kim Hayes' story. A story of how God has taken a girl and uncovered talents, gifts, and capabilities within her that she never dreamed she had...  

Meet Kim Hayes:

If someone asked me, “who are you?” I would typically start with a list of jobs that I do... I am a photographer, wife, world traveler, missions trip coordinator, and life group leader at my church.

But does that really show who I am? I also like to run, cook, snow ski, swing dance, meet new people, study different cultures, decorate my home, spend time with my husband David, watch NatGeo and play tug o’ war with my two year old Rhodesian Ridgeback, Samson.


Out of all these things, (I’m not anywhere close to being perfect) I most want to follow God with all my heart, soul and mind. This has been, and currently is an on-going process. I struggle with wanting to be in control of my life.

In the past, I put all of my strength into getting a good college degree in order to provide for myself so that I would never have to rely on anyone else. I am a big advocate of education, but my motives reflected a complete lack of faith in God because he was leading me in another direction. I did not truly trust God with my future, even though He knows what I was created to do and wants what is best for me.

Four years ago, God allowed my husband and I to meet missionaries Chris and Lisa Moore and go on a missions trip to Kenya with Chris. On that first trip, my sheltered perception of life was shattered and I was surprised by the abundant joy the Christian Kenyan people had, despite their great poverty and suffering.
 
 

 

 
The words of a young boy who had lost both his parents the previous year were forever imprinted on mind when he said with a smile on his face, “When God is all you have, God is all you need.”
 
 

 
This boy truly has nothing, yet he is happy because he knows that his heavenly father is caring for him. To have such faith and joy... I want to trust God so deeply and completely.
 

 

David and I have returned 3 times to Kenya and will be going again this June. God has developed a passion for photography, media and traveling in me that I didn’t even know existed prior to my first trip.

He led the way for me to start my own photography business http://www.kimhayesphotos.com/ and work with Real 4 Christ Ministries http://www.real4christ.com/ and MANNA Worldwide http://www.mannaworldwide.com/.

I will be traveling to Guatemala, Ukraine and Honduras in addition to Kenya this year. I think that God is looking for people who will make themselves available to be used and once they do, He opens doors that you never would have imagined.

He will put you in situations that you were created for and you will be able to use your specific abilities in a way that is completely gratifying.

I absolutely LOVE being able to go on missions trips, take photos and videos in order to connect others with the work that God is doing around the world and encourage them to get involved!!! That is my purpose and I would have never known that had I not gone to Kenya and allowed God to change my heart through the experience.

I think that everyone should go on a missions trip or do some kind of out reach project. Tell God that you are available and see where He takes you.

It’s a great adventure.

Thank you, Kim, for your story - a story that holds true every word of Philippians 1:6.

He who began a good work in you is carrying it to completion.

All photos by Kim Hayes.
http://www.kimhayesphotos.com/

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

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Keep the faith and you'll see God's grace.

Children

He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress,

 and for his children it will be a refuge.

Proverbs 14:26

For those of us with children, may we as imperfect parents, 
model for our children to take refuge in their perfect Father.

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Keep the faith and you'll see God's grace.

Live, Move, Be

In God we live and move and have our being.

Acts 17:28

As you live, move, and be may you find who you are in Christ, and Christ alone.

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Keep the faith and you'll see God's grace.

A Pair of Shoes

Every man shall give as he is able,

according to the blessing of the Lord your God

which He has given you.

Deuteronomy 16: 17

Today, just simply give what you are able to give.

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Keep the faith and you'll see God's grace.