“God’s Grand Gesture to reach those in the Shadow of Death”

“God’s Grand Gesture to reach those in the Shadow of Death”

by Babs Kincaid

The mastermind beyond all creation, God decided to make the ultimate grand gesture and to reach out to those in the shadow of death. In the Urban Dictionary a grand gesture “usually entails giving up something big in exchange for the gratitude and love of your significant other.” Doesn’t that sound like God sending his one and only beloved son on a mission to a perishing people? Do you not classify that as big? Doesn’t that sound like a supreme sacrifice? Doesn’t that sound like God being born as a baby in a stable? Have you ever heard of a King being born in a stable? All he was missing was a red Merry Christmas bow? For God to wear diapers and learn how to walk and talk just so he could establish a relationship with mankind is a big event!

Jesus left a perfect and loving home in Heaven to come to an imperfect world filled with sin. What an unequal exchange and a vital grand gesture! The word expresses it best, “Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)

The one whose “origin is from eternity” (Micah 5:2) Jesus consented to leave his royal throne and travel to earth. He left an upright paradise to come to an immoral pit. He left a home of love to enter a loveless society. He left a peaceful environment to visit a restless one. He left a hopeful dwelling to live in a hopeless land. He left a joyful atmosphere to reside in a melancholy one. He left a kingdom  ruled by grace and truth to stay in one ruled by insanity and greed. He left an environment of rejoicing to enter an environment of sorrow. He left a righteous world to stay in a wicked world. He made a decision to participate in an unequal exchange because he was motivated by love and obedience to God. Jesus left a city that has" no sun or  the glory of God illuminates it" (Revelation 21:23) to enter a shadowly land. What extensive compassion Jesus had to consent to give up everything to travel to a place where depravity and darkness reigned supreme..  “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11)

         God went to great lengths to rescue us from destroying ourselves. The essence of love, Jesus was sent by God on a mission to show us a better way to live. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Jesus was sent to build a relationship with us. Jesus brought the gift of love which rescues us from our character defects. The word fittingly states “love will cover a multitude of sins.”(1 Peter 4:8b)

Jesus who is also called the Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Alpha and Omega, Bright Morning Star, Dayspring, Good Shepherd, Image of the Invisible God, Savior and Light of the World came to offer us the gift of eternal life. Jesus, the faithful and true witness came to help us rewrite our story from defeat to deliverance. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 God allowed Jesus to leave a world of serenity to enter a world of warfare. God was fully aware of the dangers, struggles and pain that would be inflicted on his precious son. Jesus walked in our shoes and overcame all the trials we would ever face. He defeated all the evils we would encounter one by one! Jesus said “in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b No wonder Jesus is called the Savior of the world!

          Jesus couldn’t bear to see you suffer any more so he was sent to open Heaven’s door. Jesus couldn’t bear to see you struggle in life and continue to make repeated wrong choices. God’s original design was for us to walk with him safe and secure from harm. “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain  salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9) Jesus looked ahead to our salvation even when he endured the cross for us. The word says it best, that Jesus “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,” (Hebrews 12:2a) Jesus was fully committed to see us finish strong believing that we would choose to trust God.   

          So what is my response to God’s grand gesture of sending Jesus to earth? My prayer is that I would grow in love and truth to leave the imprint of Jesus in my wake. My aspiration is to see people through Christ’s eyes. I long to have more gratitude and less attitude. As it is written, I want to “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1) So in short, I want to rise up and shine the light of Christ in this dark world! My heart’s desire is to help others light their candles and shine brightly as well!

Thankful by Babs Kincaid

Photo by NC's most distinguished photographer Alan Ostmann

“Thankful” by Babs Kincaid

Thankful I am safe & secure in God’s love.

Thankful God sealed my salvation from above.

Thankful I can enter God’s peaceful rest.

Thankful that God’s plan was created for my best.

Thankful that God doesn’t treat me as my sins deserve.

Thankful that God’s mercy is an endless reserve.

Thankful for the beautiful majesty of four seasons.

Thankful God’s handiwork is greater than reason.

Thankful God provided family & friends as a great treasure.

Thankful for blessed memories beyond measure.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!”

Psalm107:1

Want to Get out of the Trap of Walking by Sight?

Photography by NC's finest artist Alan Ostmann

“Want to get out of the trap of walking by sight?”

By Babs Kincaid

Do you ever fall into the trap of walking by earthly sight and not God’s light? There is hope for breaking free from walking by sight. When that happens to me I often engage in negative thinking and unrealistic expectations. In my experience that relates to negative thinking regarding people, places and things.  These two character defects pull me down into the ugly mental state of disappointment and discouragement. In addition, I find myself projecting negative thoughts and unrealistic expectations on God. This deteriorating state of affairs is like swimming into a tangled mass of horrid seaweed with jellyfish! Now that’s a painful place to be! Can you picture it? I’ve been stung by jellyfish and I cried!  Can you think about a time in your own life when your circumstances seemed to overwhelm you with darkness and you couldn’t seem to find the light?

               One of the problems with walking by earthly sight and not God’s light is it keeps God out of the equation. My walking by sight limits God and I become focused on the natural world of limited sight. God’s light engages the supernatural power of infinite possibilities that defy time and space. The Bible best describes how I truly see all things: “For now we see in a mirror dimly,” 1 Corinthians 13:12. So the truth is my vision is really distorted.

               When I am walking by sight, I find myself listening to Satan’s lying voice in my head which crushes my spirit. He is notorious for telling me “if God really loved you your situation would improve and God would answer your prayers.”  The voice of darkness is still the voice of deception whose role is to steal, kill and destroy my faith in God.  If I am feeling hopeless it is a strong possibility I have let my guard down and have let the enemy’s voice influence me.

               It is good for me to recall who God really is. God is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the creator of the universe, the mountain mover, the Master healer, the one who raises the dead, the one who parts the Red Sea, the Good Shepherd, and the one who died for me. Now that is truly exceptional and extraordinary! God is the one who perfectly placed the sun the precise distance from the earth so we would not get burnt. In reality, when I think about my life being in God’s hands I feel relieved and grateful!

Do you want to get out the trap of walking by sight and overcome your negative mind set? I have to seek refuge from the storm by reaching out to God in prayer and reading His love letters to me.  I have to journal and meditate on God’s word. God reminds me, “For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” Psalm 56:13 God reassures me my blessings come from my union with him “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD.” Psalm 88:15 God restores my heart and mind to remember this truth: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 God loves on me and encourages me that my true identity is being a follower of Christ and he will help me to continue on the right path and meet my needs. 

With God the sky is the limit for helping his kids! Yea God! “He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all-How will he not also graciously give us all things.” Romans 8:32

         

Spotlight on a Heart After God

Photo by North Carolina’s most distinguished photographer Alan Ostmann

Spotlight on a Heart after God by Babs Kincaid

         Along this colorful journey called life, I have encountered some beautiful people that have a genuine heart after God and some who have a candid heart after themselves. For simplicity, I like to call those who have a heart after God as divine Star Gazers and those who have a heart after self as earthly Navel Gazers. What I have discovered is that that the unusual people I like to call Star Gazers see lights and Navel Gazers see limits. Lights are possibilities to me that represent hope. Limits are boundaries to me that represent despair. Navel Gazers see restrictions and barriers to their goals and aspirations. Star Gazers see freedom and expansion to their goals and aspirations. Star Gazers are fueled by positive thinking from the words of their Heavenly God. Navel Gazers are powered by negative thinking from the words of worldly men.

          Star Gazers strive to look up to up and Navel Gazers endeavor to look down. Star Gazers are inspired by God’s limitless resources, power and redemptive support. Navel Gazers are stuck by constrained resources, weakness and qualifying support. Star Gazers attempt to focus on God’s everlasting love and care to see them through their unending challenges. Navel Gazers try to focus on their self-efforts to meet their relentless challenges. Star Gazer are continuously renewing their minds with God’s word to stretch their thoughts to adapt to Heavenly truth.

Navel Gazers are looking down and unwilling to change their perspective by flying solo without God’s wisdom.

          Star Gazers have faith in a higher power namely God. Navel Gazers have faith in themselves. Navel Gazers are optimistic thinkers believing that while man can flip a house, God can flip a life! Navel Gazers remain docked at the shore focused on problems rather than solutions. Star Gazers have left the dock in their boat with God as their captain! Star Gazers are confident that reliable solutions will come because God is navigating their boat and His love and purpose never fails!

          In the beginning the first thing God created was light. No wonder God placed such a high value on us acquiring it. I believe a Star Gazer would believe this verse would describe their path: “is like the morning sun shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” Proverbs 4:18 So picture this scene of a new day with a boat fully loaded and ready for takeoff with God as your captain. Are you ready to let Him rewrite your story or continue to write you story for a better ending? I must be honest by saying that in my life I fluctuate between being a Star Gazer and a Navel Gazer but my passion is to be known by all as a divine Star Gazer. I would love to leave a legacy of one that I had a “heart after God.”

         

“Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

MORE, MORE, JUST GIVE ME MORE

     

        I remember when I was in my twenties I thought I deserved to wear the finest clothes. If I was going to attract a prince then I should be entitled to dress like a princess, right??? Did you catch the deadly word that trapped me into a bottomless pit…..entitled! I felt I deserved it pure and simple! The fact that my bank account didn’t support my frivolous spending was irrelevant. Seriously, I spent a lot of money on designer underwear! Some of you are laughing and some of you know this familiar tune all too well!

          I wanted to physically stand out and the cost and consequences just seemed unimportant.  My motto was “Live for today” and don’t worry about tomorrow, right?  That’s why my plastic cards were so much fun! The more the merrier and just spread the good cheer I thought. I never thought I would end up with a huge stack of bills I couldn’t pay! Duh!!! Life was good and I was living it like a true princess. Wiser professionals have called my behavior “shopaholic.” I could literally shop until I dropped!

          My detour into fantasy land had some painful outcomes. My spending was way out of control. I thought budget was a nasty word only meant for accountants. Who needed that dull and boring life I thought! Who wants to be a bean counter anyway? Didn’t I feel truly significant wearing all my brand name clothes??? How insecure was I to think my worth was only attached to expensive clothes??? I had a serious insecurity issue!

          I had been rapidly feeding my shopaholic habit for years without a break. I was getting an adrenaline rush off of spending more and the addiction kept me satisfied until my next craving for more rose up and I needed to go shopping again! There was no end to my appetite for more.  It reminds me of a clip from the movie “Confessions of a Shopaholic” when Rebecca Bloomwood a true shopaholic said “a store always smells good. A store can awaken a lust for things you never even knew you needed.” In another classic line Rebecca says, “When I shop, the world gets better and the world is better, but then it’s not, and I need to do it again.”

          Now I remember why I didn’t like math in school with so many rules and many more problems to solve. I had locked myself in one gigantic financial mess by the time I needed help. Duh!!! Doing a budget reminded me of doing another boring math problem. Yuck!!!

          God woke me up one day out of my fantasy coma and I realized that if I continued down this cancerous trail my quality of life would look like a train wreck! I was so stressed out I knew my health would be deteriorating and I would be enslaved to debtors. Wasn’t I getting worried about how to juggle so much debt??? I could so relate to the feelings of Rebecca Bloomwood who said in her movie “They said I was a valued customer.  Now they send me hate mail.”

          Fortunately God intervened in my desperate financial situation. God provided me an enthusiastic, Godly, wise and witty budget counselor. Yea God!!! God knew I needed a special person to keep my attention and encourage me to make the next right decision.

          I had to learn lot of new financial lessons. I learned I couldn’t spend more than I earned.  That was huge for me to start off with. Duh!!! I had to learn plastic cards were meant only for emergencies and had to be paid off monthly or I couldn’t use them. I had to learn I had to pay God first (10% of my income=tithe), my bills second and then save some. Once my budget came out of the red I could give some $ away. I had to learn to list my expenses and make sure I could cover them. I had to learn to list them on a calendar and keep them in a stand up sorter by date due. I had to learn I would have a better future if I saved some $ today. I had to learn my worth wasn’t attached to my clothes. I had to learn to become skilled at coupons and be proud of myself for saving money. Less is more. Less spending leaves more in my pocket for a later date and emergencies. I had to learn to save because emergencies come up that require extra $. I had to learn people were more important than stuff. I am still learning and being challenged. My only regret is that I didn’t become wiser at spending earlier in my life. You my friend can benefit from my mistakes and take the wiser path.

          You can see your true value and identity is in Christ and know he is well pleased with your good stewardship!

          Today is a great day for a do over. Treat yourself! After all you are entitled to a better life….God’s style and not yours.

P.S.  I no longer feel significant with fancy stuff but my new significance is with my Savior.

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.” Romans 13:8

Heaven Drops

Photo by Asheville's finest photographer Alan Ostmann

“Heaven Drops” 

by Babs Kincaid

Dare to miraculously dream.

Discard Satan’s schemes.

Dare to follow Jesus & soar.

Refuse to open Satan’s door.

Dare to completely believe.

Heaven drops you’ll receive.

Dare to let your Spirit rejoice.

Silence the Devil’s voice.

Dare to look up.

Reject the liar’s cup.

Righteous desires end only in good.

Jesus will supply your livelihood.

“The desire of the righteous ends only

in good.” Proverbs 11:23