My Friday Fall

This is Sabari. He is a 10 year old Arabian gelding that was given to us because his previous owner could no longer ride him. He has been the source of much joy and frustration in our house and this past Friday was no different. I must explain that Sabari has been professionally trained and is a very well-behaved horse, or he was about three years ago. Since then, no one has really ridden him at all, but since we have got him in April, Brian and I have been working with him. He can be very moody and stubborn, but he is recalling his training very quickly.

He does great if you are in front of him,
but if you stand behind his head, look
to do a lot of walking...backwards,
sideways, any way so that he can
see you!

On Friday, I put his saddle on him for the first time (well the first time with us)! He did great. He hates his bridle, but we got that on as well. Up onto his back I went without even a side-step from him! He did amazing. Around our back yard we walked and it was turning out to be such a nice break from laying tile in the bathroom…or so I thought!

Brian calls to me to make two more passes and then put him up to get back to work. L Ok, I knew that we had to, but I didn’t want too! Sabari had been doing so well! I finish my first turn without a problem and decide that Sabari needs a little exercise, so I encourage him to pick up the pace. Well, pick up the pace he does! You would have thought we had heard the gun shot for the Belmont because he took off…straight for a T-post! I pulled on his reigns to turn him (oh, did I mention he doesn’t really like his bridle…at all!!!!!). He starts side-stepping, as we are running, and I pull back to reign him in to a stop. He is having none of it and starts to buck, still heading toward the T-post. I decide (because of course there was plenty of time to reason out all of the options on the back of this bucking horse) to dismount before I end up impaled onto the T-post. I slip my right foot out of the stirrup just as Sabari is coming down from bucking and I feel the impact all the way through my spine...talk about pain! Phew…I throw my right leg the rest of the way over and dive off, knocking the wind out of myself.

This was before the "oh, so graceful" 10 out of 10 dive! Doesn't he look good?!

I laid there for no more than a milasecond before I begin to processes the panic in Brian’s voice. I am gasping for my air, but managed to squeak out, “air…knocked…out” and wave my hand to him so that he would know why I wasn’t going to carry on a lengthy conversation with him at the moment. I laid my arm down to my side to rest and touched the cold metal of the T-post. With my arm at my side, elbow bent, I could grasp the T-post that had spooked the horse and propelled me off of the horse. It’s about this time that I feel the need (after having my own little praise service to the Almighty) to get up because of course, someone has to get back on that horse. I pull up on the T-post and my right side feels like I am in prison and someone is grinding a shank into my hip and spine. The pain was intense.

Long story short, here I am on Sunday night in bed blogging when I should be cleaning and finishing the bathrooms floor. Brian took me to the VA Emergency Room that night and, after x-rays, the doctor says that he doesn’t see anything (which worried me because he was supposed to see a hip in those shadows! Come on…a little humor to lighten up the mood here). He told me to rest in bed for the next few days and only do what feels comfortable. The nurse comes in and tells me not to be laying around in bed for the next few days, to go about my routine as normal.

J Truly, one must love the VA! J

So Brian and I have combined the two directions and are trying to listen to my body, which is saying that it needs chocolate and a massage in Hawaii! Seriously, my back and hip hurt extremely badly. However, progress is being made and Brian and I are hopeful that Wednesday will find me up and able to do things on my own. Until then, we are going to be patient and content with the blessings that Christ gave us in such minor injuries!

Life is challenging...take the challenge!

This past week Brian and I have been on a roller coaster! We are so ready to have the children that we are adopting in our home and to begin a new "normal" of changing diapers, doing homework, running around like crazy, and enjoying the never-ending noise. There are times when I sit in my now extremely large, empty home in silence. I dream of the day that I cannot get quiet anywhere. While I know that most moms would say "enjoy it while you can", I have done my best to be content and enjoy my non-child years. My heart now beats adoption every minute.

For the last few months, I have done my best to quiet that beat. I have told myself that Christ is my portion and to want more is wrong. But God is teaching me a new truth. When He is "giving you the desires of your heart", meaning that He is placing those desires in your heart because He is the One in control of your life, He doesn't require us to put them out of our minds. People tell me to focus on what is in front of me right now and let God handle the rest. While I agree worrying is sinful, I think that God lets us dwell on things yet to come to bring us to an ever fresh awareness of just how much we need Him.

At the beginning of this week, I would have said that life is hard. It is full of opportunities that require waiting and dreams that demand focus and attention. It is a struggle to stay consistent and content with the life that God has put before us. But how can I say that life is hard when we all know that it is a precious gift of God? Life is not hard, but challenging. Our society is pushing us to continually be looking and open to challenge. "Don't back down from a punch!" "America Strong" "Push the limits" Why do we view our Christian walk any different?

I challenge you to take us that cross and walk run daily with Christ. Moms, "be all that you can be" (Army) in your homemaking this week. Dad, "Just do it" (Nike) at work and then come home and do it again, but don't just sit down on the couch and veg while your children and wife beg for your attention! Christian, "Impossible is nothing" (Adidas) because Christ is by our side!

Taking every moment and utilizing every encouragement, live for Christ, dream and strive for dreams this week. Be content with Christ, but not complacent! Work toward the calling that Christ has given you, even if you know that it is months away.

Confidence in the Caller

When I was younger, my dad would call out to me. “Jump”, he would say, and down I went. No thought of the danger. No concern for what I would encounter should I hit the ground. I wouldn't. Dad was calling, so it was safe. As I grew, I gained more and more confidence in my dad. He was strong, able, and safe. This confidence was big. I would have followed him anywhere he called and done anything he asked. We lived in an area of bluffs my first six years of life. Our family would take walks on those bluffs and dad would walk right up to the cliff’s edge. He would call, “Come here.” Then he would pick me up, turn me upside down, and hang me over the edge. (Yes, even now he thinks he was crazy for doing it!) The view was great, and the rush through your stomach, catching your breath…it was incredible! Why, though, did I know that he wouldn't drop me? Why did I have confidence in him?

     Confidence is a prior experience or knowledge of faithfulness by someone. I had confidence in my dad because he had been faithful to keep me safe in the past. However, I didn't place my confidence in the idea or path that he was calling me to. He called and, because I placed confidence in him, I was obedient to his calling.

     In life, our confidence cannot be placed in the decisions and callings that Christ directs us too.  We can, however, put our confidence in the One doing the calling. Like David said in 1 Samuel 17:34-37,

“But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!’”

     The Bible never says that David had confidence in his calling…he wasn't sure how everything would work out. It doesn't say that he wasn't nervous or scared. Maybe he had got the calling wrong and maybe he wasn't sure what the next step was. On his way down to the battlefield, he might have even second guessed the calling. BUT…he never questioned the Caller. He knew of God’s faithfulness because of his prior experience with the lion and the bear. Those were huge problems and events in his life. At that time, he might have thought that they were the hardest thing he would ever do. Looking back, while staring at Goliath, they probably didn't seem that big. They were confidence builders for his battle. David knew the calling and had confidence in the Caller. He completed his portion of the task, which was to kill Goliath, and then stepped aside as God called others to finish the battle.

     We should react no differently when we are feeling called to something. No matter who believes in the calling or who doubts our feelings, we must take that step forward. Knowing that He has been faithful in our prior experiences, we obey the calling with our confidence placed in the Caller.

Food for Thought:

What prior experience gives you confidence in the Caller? What is the Caller pushing you to do to continue building your confidence in Him for those bigger experiences that are coming?

Hello...anyone still out there?

It has been quite a while since our last blog post. Isn't it crazy how life can get so out of control busy? I think that over the last year we have learned some lessons that will stick with us for life.

To catch you all up with where we are today, the Kingston’s have moved!!! Wait…let me back up.

First, to borrow from Paul Harvey, here is “the rest of the story”….

Brian and I are working on adopting from the state’s foster care system. We began this process last September…yes, as in 10 months ago. :0 Since then, our house has flooded because of an A/C leak (who knew that an A/C could produce enough water to ruin three bedrooms!). We got those repairs done…only to find a house that was going to accommodate the number of children we want. So we moved about 20 minutes away from Conway to a town called Mayflower…

Ahh, I can feel the light bulbs going off with just the mention of the name. Yes, Mayflower was one of the towns effected by the recent tornados in Arkansas. Brian and I were extremely blessed to have only minor damage, but God never brings us to a place for our own plans. The tornado created many opportunities to meet people because we began handing out breakfast to workers, survivors, and helpers, which many of you contributed to…thank you! Those relationships that were formed are being cultivated and Brian and I have gotten the opportunity to share the Gospel several times.

          Since the tornado, Brian and I have been working diligently on our home. I have resigned from my position at City of Hope Outreach. It was a hard decision to make. The people that we have met and the relationships that we have formed will be with us forever, but when God directs, we move, no matter how crazy those directions seem to others. We are two bathrooms and one broken window away from having our remodeling done! (We will be posting pictures soon!)

Though this process has been long and hard, God has continued to motivate us with new and unique opportunities. We will be sharing pictures and stories in the weeks to come. Check back soon!

Erin

Letting the Lion out of the cage - By scripture alone

This article today is driven by my readings in the Westminster shorter catechism. I was reading the second question that is posed which states: What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him forever? and the answer to this question is this: The word of God which is contained in the scriptures of the old and new testaments, is the only rule to direct on us how we may glorify God and enjoy him forever.

This was for me a reminder of how the Lord does not wish to keep his children in the dark about who he is and the might of his glory. We have been given 66 books of the bible which explain of his love for his creation, even when his creation has not loved him in return. As I have read the scriptures I have learned more of myself and my sin, and my hopelessness without Jesus Christ my savior. who is my comforter and my sustainer when I am weak.

 I love how in 2 Timothy 3:16 we see that all scripture is God breathed and profitable for doctrine, reproof and teaching, for instruction in righteousness. Again God calling out to his children and explaining why we have been giving these scriptures.

So my challenge to you Christian is that you take up the bible and read and be feed on the milk and meat of the scriptures that you may not become spiritually anorexic, and in need of nourishment. As Gods children will find refuge in the word of God and in nothing else. For we serve a faithful father who cares for us and he has not left us here to blindly fumble around in the darkness of this world, Just as he provided a column of smoke by day and pillar of fire by night for his chosen people Israel in the Old testament he has provided his chosen people of the new covenant with his scriptures that lead us to Jesus Christ.

So next time you find your soul weary and tired of the trials and challenges of this life open the word of life and drink deeply in the promises and warnings of our heavenly Father and rest in his word.


May God Deeply bless
Brian Kingston

Letting the Lion out of Cage- God Is Good

Today we are going to a look at the Nahum where the prophet is taking us through God's wrath toward the city of Nineveh. Then in verse 7 Nahum says " The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him." I have read this and reread this it blows me away in the midst of telling the people of Nineveh of the coming wrath he takes the time to give a call to those who hear him to repent and take refuge in the almighty. This speaks to God's faithfulness and goodness to his people, which should lead us to worship.
The other side of this is that he is faithful in carrying out the judgment of his wrath on his adversaries, which should also lead us to worship for it shows us he is a just God.
So for us as readers of this text as believers this should lead us to repentance and worship of our God. we need to understand that Christ is the refuge of God, our belief in and relationship with Christ is difference between us and non-believers. when we are in Christ's Righteousness is what frees us from the wrath of God.
 For the non-believers it should also lead to repentance for apart from Christ he is exposed to the wrath of God which leads to destruction. The same faithfulness he has to his children he has the same faithfulness in carrying out his judgment on his adversaries. It is important that we define who his adversaries are, they are anyone who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ which exposes them to the wrath of God.
 So for me this text leads me to repentance, and  worship of my Good, Faithful, Just King My Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture is God's gift to us to reveal him to us more and more of his attributes as we read. For those who read this post I pray that it leads you repentance and worship of our Mighty God.


Sola Deo Gloria
Brian Kingston

Letting the Lion out of the Cage

Hey everybody! This is Brian and I am going to start putting a biweekly post titled "Letting the Lion out of the cage". This will be a post talking about what scripture says about God's character or namely his attributes that show us his character and purpose for us as his creation. This title comes from a quote from the sermon "The Lover of God's Law Filled with Peace" by Charles Hadden Spurgeon

"The Word of God can take care of itself, and will do so if we preach it, and cease defending it. See you that lion. They have caged him for his preservation; shut him up behind iron bars to secure him from his foes! See how a band of armed men have gathered together to protect the lion. What a clatter they make with their swords and spears! These mighty men are intent upon defending a lion. O fools, and slow of heart! Open that door! Let the lord of the forest come forth free. Who will dare to encounter him? What does he want with your guardian care? Let the pure gospel go forth in all its lion-like majesty, and it will soon clear its own way and ease itself of its adversaries."ve

So my prayer for you all as you read these post is that the gospel will be unleashed on your life as we learn together more and more of this Great King and Lord we serve.

Soli Deo Gloria
Brian Kingston