what really matters in life...

"Mom, I just think that sometimes we make a big deal over things that are not that important to God..." Those words still echo in my ears today. You see, last week, Lindsay and I were sitting on a rock at the peak of a 14,000 foot mountain with unobstructed views of the Rocky Mountains. We were having a wonderful talk...a talk about everything from dating, our wonderful friends, God, grief, and moral issues that we both face every day. It seems that we are constantly bombarded by moral dilemmas around our house. Social drinking, smoking, cursing, going to bars, and how much our culture dictates and effects all of this, is just a few of the issues and questions that keep all of us in an ongoing dialogue.  And I might add, it keeps me on my toes. I have strong opinions about all the issues we talk about. But I am learning to listen. I am learning that these are very valid questions. And I am learning that being opinionated and argumentative is not effective in any way. I am learning to open up my mind a little bit.

You see, at 52, I have walked through a lot. I have faced some issues and problems that many of my friends have never faced. All of these experiences, and my walk with God, have carved out who I am, and what I believe. But it is so important that we all allow God to carve out our individual paths. We must never, ever depart from truth, or His Word. There are so many things that are absolutes. We should never compromise on these issues and sins. However, I am trying to learn to give everyone room and grace to allow God to carve their own path in life. If a person is seeking God with all their heart, then God will be faithful and lead them in the direction He has for them. And their path won't be the same as my path.

What really matters in life is that we love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength. It matters that we realize that life is all about Him and His glory. And it matters that we seek Him and follow Him and the path He has laid out for each of us.

So, today, God still has me on a tight leash. He knows that I need boundaries and regulations to stay on my path. My boundaries make me feel safe. But I am figuring out that the best way to teach people all God has taught me through life is to love them, to live it out in front of them, and to listen, and understand. Then allow the Holy Spirit to guide them the way He wants them to go.

This is the view we had that day we sat on the mountain and talked....my favorite place on earth! :)

Psalm 16:11

¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
   you will fill me with joy in your presence,
   with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (NIV)

 

1 Corinthians 6:20

²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (NIV)

Even when my heart is breaking...

While sitting here in the middle of the majestic Rocky Mountains, I received the most gut wrenching phone call of my life. It was my precious friend of 19 years, Kim. Kim and I have walked through so much together.  Much of it is unimaginable. We have been each others prayer partners, accountability partners, we've laughed together, worshiped together, grieved together, and cried together many times. But nothing in life has prepared me for the phone call I got from her today.
As I listened to the voicemail, panic sat in. Kim said to me, with a shaky voice, "Kim PLEASE! Call me as soon as you can. Adam died today." Adam is Kim's oldest son. He died of a blood clot. I am not sure of his exact age, but he was in his early 30's. Adam was married, and had one young son.
As I called her back, we just cried together. All she could say was "How can I bury my son? HOW CAN I BURY MY SON???" What do you say to that? My heart is breaking in two. I am hundreds of miles away from my precious friend, feeling incredibly helpless. How will she bury her son? What can I say? What can I do? How will we cross through this dark time together? Has God equipped me to comfort my friend through this?
Kim's last words to me on the phone today haunt me as I am writing... "I am not worried about making it through the next couple of days. I am worried about making it through the rest of my life."
Please pray for my beloved friend. Pray for her family. I don't even know what to ask you to pray for them. God will put it in your heart as you pray.
Hold your kids extra close. Enjoy every moment. And don't sweat the little stuff. In the grand scheme of life, all that matters is God. Life is all about Him. Even in this dark time, my lips will praise Him.
I love you all!

Thunder Valley

Here's something that most people don't know about me. I like NASCAR. In fact, my husband, my son and I have frequented a few races over the years. Our favorite track is Bristol. We have had some interesting experiences at "Thunder Valley" over time. There was one race a few years ago where the temperature was in the 30's.  There was snow on the ground all around the track. From our seats, you can view the mountains and they were all topped with snow. Now, let me paint the picture for you. When attending a race at Bristol, traffic is a nightmare. So, in order to get out after the race and beat the traffic, we park our car about 2 miles away from the track. The terrain is hilly. So by the time we hike into the venue, then up all the steps to our seats, we have had quite a work out! Our seats are wonderful though. The higher your seats at Bristol, the better your view of the entire track. So its all well worth it.


On this particular March Sunday afternoon, it was windy, and freezing cold outside. We hiked in to the track carrying several blankets, a cooler, and wearing layers of clothes, plus a coat. Needless to say, the hike in was tiring. But, once we heard those words: "Gentlemen START YOUR ENGINES!", all was forgotten. There is nothing like the roar of those engines. What a thrill! Honestly, just  between you and me, that's one of my favorite sounds in the world! :)

It remained cloudy all day that day, and we felt wind from the cars as they raced past us. But nothing seemed to matter except the excitement all around us. There were a couple of fights between some of the drivers. And when Kurt Busch won, he got out of his car, laid down on the start/finish line and made a snow angel. We had such a good time people watching, and enjoying the race that day!

That's only one of many stories I could tell you about different races we have been to. We've also made it to many football games, (both high school and UT games), basketball games, concerts, several different beaches, many cabins in the mountains, many long drives, and so on over the years. I wouldn't take anything for all those memories with my family. Some memories are wonderful. Some, not so wonderful. But it makes us who we are today.

That's how I view my walk with God. I follow Him where ever He leads. Sometimes its wonderful, and sometimes it doesn't seem so wonderful at the time. But I wouldn't trade a moment of the journey. It makes me who I am today. I attempt to keep a journal, though I'm not always as faithful as I want to be. I want to always remember those monumental times, whether good or bad, where God showed up in a big way, and I came to know Him on a deeper level. As I am writing, I am forming an idea. I think I will start a collection of mementos from the times God does exceedingly above what I could think. (Ephesians 3:20) I want to always remember His grace, mercy, and those times of growth.
I am reminded of the verse in Joshua:
“Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.” Joshua 4:9 (NIV)

Once again, thanks for reading! Feel free to email me (kimweaver77@aol.com) or message me on FB if you need prayer, or have input for me! I expect I'll have a lot of things to tell you when we get home from vacation. Love to you all!