Lessons from a Goldfish

 My backyard pond has been a really fun place to raise a few goldfish.  I’ve never had goldfish before in my life, so learning how to care for them was a small learning curve for me.

     One thing I learned was; raising goldfish in an outdoor pond can be fresh fast food for the stray cats in the neighborhood.  I started out with 30 small goldfish, and within days was down to five.  Some fishing happy kitties had their fill of fish filet, and were enjoying this fresh entree.   I learned in order for my little gold fish to survive, I was going to have to protect them.  Although it spoiled the beauty of the pond, I installed a net over the pond to keep the roaming fishing kitties out.  This reminds me of how God spreads His net of protection over us, when we come into His pond to live.  Psalms 91:1 MSG says, “You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm…”  God’s divine protection has saved my life many of times from lurking evil that was seeking to destroy me.  Coming under God’s love and protection is a pond worth living in!

    

Runway on My Roof

 

Runway on My Roof

 As I begin, and am adapting to living in a motorhome full time, I’ve experienced a few interesting things that aren’t normal to living in a stick built house.    This morning, as I sat at my table finishing up my breakfast and coffee, I suddenly heard clicky footsteps, or maybe I should say ‘claw steps.’  Some bird was using my roof as a runway.  Prepare for take off, right after landing.  It all made me chuckle.

    I’ve also had a serious conversation with a crow, who was perched on the roof of the building next to me.  He was ‘caw cawin’’ away, and I started to answer him.  He looked around, as if to see where I was, and who was talking to him, and then he ‘caw’d’ back.  Back and forth we talked.  I guess I can speak Crow, I’m bilingual.  Of course speaking Crow is way better than eating crow.

  Just like the unidentified bird who used my roof as a run way, I’m on a journey, and often have to touch down for a landing, to find the next direction.  I want a clear and straight runway, so I don’t trip up.  Sometimes the road can have lots of twists and turns, and for me, who often gets motion sickness, too many curves makes me loose my lunch.  Too many turns can make it easy for the enemy to trip us up and conquer us.  Psalms 6:7 tPt says; “My eyes of faith won’t focus anymore, for sorrow fills my heart. There are so many enemies who come against me!” We loose our focus easily when too many things are hitting us from every direction.

  An encouraging verse in Psalms 5:8 tPt, wonderfully says: “Yahweh, lead me in the pathways of your pleasure just like you promised me you would, or else my enemies will conquer me. Smooth out your road in front of me, straight and level so that I will know where to walk.”  

God in his loving mercy comes in and shows us the straight path, and the right road to choose. 

May your journey of life find that straight and level pathway. Enjoy the journey as you walk with God.

Setting Out on a Coddiwomple Adventure

 Setting out on a Coddiwomple Adventure

The Great Adventure       

By Stephen Curtis Chapman

“Saddle up your horses

We’ve got a trail to blaze

Through the wild blue yonder of God’s Amazing Grace

Let’s follow our leader in the glorious unknown

This is the life like no other whoa

This is the Great Adventure”

     This song has been one of my all time favorites for years, and in fact it’s been the ring tone on my phone for over 10 years.  I’ve sung it, I’ve listened to it, but most of all I’ve lived it, and I am now off on another adventure.  But what is an adventure?  According to the dictionary an adventure is: An exciting or very unusual experience, a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.   I’m setting out in a Coddiwomple way; which means to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination.  That’s what is happening in my life right now. I’m going to begin to travel with purpose but the destination is vague right now.

     Recently I made the decision to leave Kenmare and Alive Christian Fellowship as the pastor.  Now what to do?  I just feel it’s time to for me to do something different and take a new direction in ministry.  I’ve loved pastoring Alive Christian Fellowship and will miss the people very much.  I’ve been here in Kenmare at Alive CF almost seven years.  It’s been quite the ride.  There’s been some highs and some lows, but God has been with me through it all.

     At the time of this writing, my plan is to sell my house here, and then find a motorhome and travel wherever the Lord leads.  I’m available to come preach, sing, do my comedy act, or just help out wherever.  Just like Jesus told Mary at the resurrection, “go and tell…” (Matt 28:10)  I feel compelled to go and tell the good news.  And like Jesus said of himself in Luke 4:43 “I must preach the good news, the Gospel, of the kingdom of God to the other cities and towns also, for I was sent for this purpose…”  I know I’m not Jesus, but I am part of His body.  He declared the purpose of His body, and now I get to do my assignment to complete that purpose. 

  For a season my assignment was here in Kenmare, sharing the Gospel with those in this area.  I gave it my all and poured my heart into it with everything I had.  But now that assignment is over. It’s time to take the next step, no matter how shaky and uncertain it seems, I go out following my Shepherds voice.  Like all things, this traveling about will be just for a season, although I don’t know yet the length of this season.   I do want to eventually have a ‘home base’ and a home/house to live in again.  

    I’m also working on completing my first book, “He Walked with Me Through.”  The story of walking through trauma, grief, and loss.  The book is in rough draft, but I’m hoping to have it published by the end of this year. 

    I’ve updated my blog site.  The web address is still: www.kelleycamera.blogspot.com but the emphasis is more on Unfolding Grace Ministry now.  I will be trying to post updates on where I am and what I’m doing on the blog.  I’ve even attached a way you can partner up and come along side me in the way of giving.  It’s not just money, I covet your prayers as I step out in this adventure.  Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.

    I want to say a big thank you to all who supported me and came along side me in this past year.  It was a long hard road of recovery following surgery, but things are looking so much better.  My year checkup appointment with Mayo went well.  Although the little bit of the tumor that they could not remove is still there, it has not grown or changed.  The doctor called it ‘stable’, I call it, “It must go, in Jesus name!”   The last check up on my eyes was positive too.  They no longer feel I will loose my eye sight!  That is a big Praise the Lord!  

   Until next time, may God’s grace (His divine influence in your life) continue to guide you.  I’ll keep you posted occasionally on how His grace is influencing me.

In His Unfolding Grace

 Kelley Reuer

Glue or Gold

Image taken from Internet.

    I read an article recently about Kintsugi.  I had never heard of it before reading this article.  It is a Japanese form or art, where they take cracked and broken pottery or glass, and ‘fix it’ with gold.  Instead of trying to hide the crack caused by brokenness, they enhance it with beautiful gold and also increase its value.  The pictures I saw of these pieces of pottery were just beautiful.  Here in our western culture we try to hide the cracks, and try to make a repaired or restored piece look like it did before, or as good as new.  But it’s not.  It’s gone through a breaking, and needs a restoration.  It has a history, and a new story needs to be told of it new restored beauty, it actually can be better than before, and more valuable when restored with the gold.

   God can also take our broken cracked lives, and repair it with his gold.  I love how the Passion translation renders 1 Peter 5:10 ““And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up.”

  We all go through some kind of suffering in life, some caused by circumstance beyond our control, some by self infliction.  But no matter how it’s come, God’s grace (His divine influence in your life) can restore that suffering and brokenness and make it better than new.  Let His grace become the gold that puts you back together, a new piece with greater value, because you’ve let that which is broken become something of beauty.

‭