by Kay Simpson | Apr 4, 2019 | blog, encouragement, Uncategorized
Who is your guide?
My husband recently went on a fly fishing trip with his work group. This was uncharted territory for him as he had never had this experience. Come to find out you can’t just plop down in the river somewhere and throw out a line. You need all the right equipment and skilled guides. So it’s going to cost you some things. Time. Planning. Money. Pride. There is a method to the madness.
God has recently wooed me back to more dependency on His word. I need some semblance of a plan for my life and there should be order to my days. I’m to seek Him first. So He can guide my day. My guide book is His word. All instruction I need is available there.
Who is your guide? Who leads your day and agenda? Does your day just happen to you or is it laid at the feet of Jesus each morning. I used to balk at the “first thing in the morning” idea. No hard and fast rules for me, the renegade. But if we don’t first drink from the cup, the direction of our day is unsure. Blown by the wind perhaps wherever circumstances take us. But if we center first, then no matter the circumstances our compass is set and we can rise above what is presented. The guide knows the way.
So my encouragement to each of us, always myself included, is to set a plan in motion of sitting with your daily guide, each morning upon rising. No matter how simple or complicated that needs to look. Start with a small devotion book if needed but never hesitate to actually open His Word and give Him your day!! See what and difference your day holds. Happy Fishing.
by Kay Simpson | Mar 6, 2019 | blog, encouragement
Inspiration over Aspiration. What comes more naturally to you? For awhile now I have been working in my own strength, my own power, in a sense striving! Trusting only myself. I was struggling with panic and anxiety . I came across these two words in a devotion book.
Inspiration. Aspiration. They struck me!
I started searching for meaning in them. One meaning of each word is very similar. Inspiration- the drawing in of breath, plus divine influence, mentally stimulated to do or feel something creative. Aspiration- The action of drawing breath plus strong desire to achieve. What struck me and what I believe God is trying to teach me in many different ways is this: Although they may seem similar there is a subtle difference. One seems more of a natural step that happens without much effort on our part. The drawing in of breath. It’s natural and vital for life. The other is an action we perform. It requires effort we sometimes don’t have to give.
I am exhausted from performing. After a recent session with a counselor of sorts, she spoke to me about trust and being still. Letting God handle what I had been trying to shoulder. To not keep forcing and pushing because I indeed can’t do it all. Pushing through is not a healthy coping mechanism. Feelings need to be felt and processed. I have a limited amount of energy. I am a human being and I need to learn to be. Be still. Soak in peace. Deep breath and inhale the good and breath out the bad. I need to just believe and trust that God is who He says He is. He brings Peace. I learned I am in fact mistreating my body by lack of sleep, pushing myself, punishing my being: causing chaos and confusion in the process of being overwhelmed and resisting what comes naturally. Holding my own breath in fact. Or breathing so fast and shallow that nothing is served. Panic prevails.
I was instructed to think of tending a garden. Sometimes it needs pruning, sometimes water is required, there are dormant
seasons and fertilizer needed for healthy fruit and flowers in due time.It can’t be rushed. It must be a natural process. We need to save our strength at times to weed, to harvest, to be able to pick up the trowel and plant. Sunday Pastor even shared Proverbs 5:15- Drink water from your own well, The Holy Spirit in us. Not looking at others to be wells for us. Not in our own power or might but the indwelling we have available to us. At times it may look like we are trusting God but unconsciously picking up the things we had once laid down and trying to tote them again.
I am learning to trust Jehovah Jireh- God will provide. When I look back, He has proven faithful again and again. How easily we get distracted and forget! I am making a goal to invite God in. He wants to handle our stuff. He wants us to have hope and joy in our circumstances. He is the source of power. Favorite word today from Pastor- Don’t let the presence of the battle make us question the presence of God. I am desiring His presence and inspiration over any of my aspirations. Have you ever tried to do life in your own power, rushing ahead of God our creator. Then asking for Him to bless our crazy mess? Maybe I am the only one, but I sure have stuck my fingers in my own ears many times. So I am counseling myself that now I know better and I wish and pray to do life His way. Hope this encourages someone in some small way! Rest, Peace, and Presence to you all.
Big Hugs Beloved,
Kay Simpson
by Kay Simpson | Feb 6, 2019 | blog, encouragement
So many confirming nuggets from Sunday’s sermon. I constantly pray that I will never be the same when I leave His presence. That daily I am changed. I desire to be transformed. It’s uncomfortable. It’s messy. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Most days. I’ve been on a journey for at least 4 years to be made new. Never the same.
Sunday’s word shed light on a familiar verse. We were in John 5 with the lame man. The lame man who had been lame for 38 YEARS!!!! The in-firmed rested on porches around the pool that the angel stirred on occasion. Once stirred it was first come first served for the healing swim.
On the porches the plight was the same. Lame. Blind. Paralyzed. {Most information to follow here is my take on my Pastor’s 
words. I was dumbstruck.} They had all congregated on the porch with people similar to them. Same issues. No one to challenge them/us or push them/us to change. Comfortable in their infirmity. Comfortable with the others who made it all seem normal. Not challenged. Not changed. Not dead. Not alive. Surviving. {Martyr of the cause perhaps} What’s easier? Make the best of our “lot in life” rather than challenge it and see it changed. See ourselves healed.
What if instead of complaining that no one else took him to the water, he drug himself thru the mud to the pool! No excuses. Knuckles scraping. Sweaty. Crowded. What if he/ we believed enough to make our way towards His healing presence ourselves. It could be if we step out enough the mud will slide us the rest of the way. It’s been raining here too much can you tell?
Fighting. Overcoming. Transformed. Believing we have in us what it takes and it’s no one else’s job or fault where we are. And we don’t have to stay where we are. The porch dwellers couldn’t drag the man to the pool for an obvious reason I’ve always missed. They were in the same boat!!!! He was looking for love in all the wrong places. Looking at people who couldn’t be for him what he thought he needed.
I knew several years ago there had to be a better way and that I wanted to start showing up as the best version of myself. Who was in charge of taking the first step? Me. And who was my Helper? The Holy Spirit that was indwelling in me all along.
I had the option to say I’m scared. I’m not enough. I have this diagnosis. I’ve never been good at math. I’ve been hurt. I’m flawed. This is who I am and what I’ve always been. Hold onto my labels like a security blanket. It’s their fault. I need someone else to carry me. Take me. Tell me what to do. Give me a step by step. Tell me how this all will look.
But instead, what if we start crawling towards the pool. Looking like a fool. Leaving a trail of mishaps, missed footing, and slip ups along the way. Take the first big move. My favorite quote from the Wizard of Oz “you’ve always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.” Always His power, Holy spirit power, available to us! 
Jesus told the man to get up. He didn’t carry him to the pool. The healing was inside of him all along. In the presence of Jesus. The wellness we seek is available anytime. It doesn’t depend on the pool or it’s water. Maybe we are the pool for others. Speaking wellness and healing. The pool goes with us.
Be the pool. Speak life. Wouldn’t you regret being the reason another stumbled because of your cross words. Your snippy comments. Your unhealed wounds. Stop. Hold your tongue. Your thoughts. Step toward healing first. It’s found in His presence and He’s capable of writing a new story. Not better but completely healed and changed. Is the thought of your responsibility in the exchange daunting? Can you receive His love, His spirit in order to share that love to others? Love changes things in the church. In the pool. Come on in. The water is fine. Scoot yourself down close enough and I’ll grab your hand. I need you. I need the people in my life to show up as the best version of themselves. The God breathed, whole, self God planned.
Cheerful Hearts offers a variety of Healing services. One on Ones. Bible studies. Yoga. Emotional freedom with essential oils. Retreats. Take the first step of faith! I did! It’s worth the work.
by Kay Simpson | Jan 19, 2019 | Uncategorized
I’ve been in James, mainly when I think of it, which is most days. I’m not hung up on a daily anything of “having to”. My bright and insightful friend posted recently about self-care. She received some not so gracious comments stating that it wasn’t biblical. So, the Lord showed up in his wisdom in my reading. In James I found a small treasure tucked away that I don’t recall unearthing before:
James 2:8 “Yes Indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
So that brings us to the point- how do we love ourselves? I’m going to boldly suggest using the word self-love over self-care as I see the word in the scripture, because we must LOVE others as we LOVE ourselves. In today’s world our minds swiftly think of retreats, naps, baths, and yoga, time alone or Netflix with wine and a warm blanket when we think of self-love. Is this truly the wisest journey to loving ourselves (asking for a friend of course)?
What if we actually allowed the Holy Spirit to enter the equation? What if we went beyond the Calgon commercial and got down to the nitty gritty deep soul work required in order for us to love ourselves or even deeper to allow the Holy Spirit to stir where we can accept the love of Christ himself? These principals have manifested themselves to me in my self-love journey at Cheerful Hearts through a Raindrop Treatment and a session using essential oils for emotional release and freedom.
I think of the woman in a broken relationship, maybe there are physical wounds and for sure spiritual ones. What is her first thought of self-love? Getting out and getting to a safe space comes to mind, but how does she reach a level of self-worth to become willing to retreat? I think of friends who have father wounds and can’t let anyone close enough to show love, including God, THE Father. Where is the “overflow” for her neighbor? What about the woman walking around with a load of shame, while those around her are being strengthened by social media, keeping the shovel of guilt full? What if loving yourself isn’t fun or dreamy or fairy tale wishes after all? What if the best way to show yourself love is through healing and wholeness. After all, the bubbles in the bathwater are fleeting and they burst. Once the water gets cold, the scent evaporates, and the drain is opened, the only thing washed away is surface “dirt.”
We may feel a temporary release, but if the underlying scary stuff isn’t faced head on, it will still be swirling around in our thoughts and hearts come morning. We haven’t truly wrestled anything loose. Society still puts a stigma on “getting help” of any kind.
Today we want it fast, painless, and done for us, rather than to or through us. It’s hard. It hurts. Therefore, we want others to bleed like us. One of my goals has been to show up as the best version of myself for God’s glory. Wow has it been a humbling journey through counseling, being life-coached, being mentored, and icky talk about embarrassing shadows. Did I mention it wasn’t fast or that it is a battle that can last a lifetime? Despite these things, growth happens in the dark unnerving moments when we sit with ourselves, because the supernatural truth of it is that we are never alone. So, the challenge in loving our neighbor is to first embrace self-love. We don’t have to search alone. Ask the Father who has the power to produce the miracle you long for. Seek relationship with Him above all else. Let’s stop focusing on what we produce, the taste of our chocolate chip muffins or how many friends are around the table, because in reality we are exhausted with all the burdens and baggage we fumble to carry. He is the true rest-maker, burden-taker, and lover of our soul.
Matthew 11:28-30 in the Message: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly”
It is work friends, but with Him we can do the hard things. Who do you know that might need your loving overflow in their lives? Your partner, family, friends? Who is your neighbor? Perhaps the ultimate sacrifice is taking responsibility for making our own life the best it can be and part of that responsibility is being open to let God move the mountains in our lives rather than trying to move the earth ourselves. The power of healing comes from Him and only Him, but we must be a vessel willing to have our hearts healed so that we can love others. It’s a hard but beautiful journey. One I highly encourage.
Just dropping this here so we don’t forget: 
Ministry takes place when…divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God. -Warren Wiersbee
Shalom-
Kay Simpson
by Kay Simpson | Jan 10, 2019 | blog, encouragement
A note from Hilda, Our Founding Director:
I am so delighted to welcome my dear friend Kay to this space. Kay will be blessing us as our Blog Editor. A dear dear soul, a long time friend of both mine and Cheerful Hearts and a lover of Jesus will touch your heart with her wit, wisdom and unfeigned self. Kay, I am thrilled at your agreeing to join us in this role! Thank you.
Hi Friends Let’s get to know each other. I’ll go first!
I was raised as a Methodist, trained as a nurse, and love being a mom. My husband and I have been married for 26 years and have two children: Tray who is 24 and Sophie who is 20. I’ve been humbled to my core by parenting.
I have worked in the operating room, served at a church preschool, been a stay-at-home mom, and started a creative sewing business with two friends that morphed into a ministry for women- The Lydia Project. I love a full table at my house, thrifting and junking for amazing deals, eating wings (no breading), and ethical fashion.
Until I was well into my adulthood, I didn’t have good, deep friendships. Mainly it was not knowing how to maintain this important part of community. It has taken years of work to show up as the authentic, God-given version of myself. I’ve been a rebel and a mess-maker from the beginning. God in his Grace has never stopped pursuing me.
During my life I have been in and out of several churches. I feel I am showing up where God calls. Lately life has involved beauty and chaos in the same season. I have known the ladies of Cheerful Hearts since its inception. I have spent many hours at Hilda’s feet and she has been a vessel to save me from myself.
Currently I am still nursing one day a week, commuting from my far away lake house in Lincolnton, GA. I am beyond blessed to be a part of a wellness community under Dr. Edie Wadsworth on her Young Living team and I am a Gold Leader. As of late my thoughts and words have found their way out of my mouth and brain and onto social media. I have never been good with boundaries and what to say and not say. Some good and some bad. Still learning. But I always strive to bring Hope and give God the Glory, because the bottom line is Jesus is the way. I embrace this with my whole heart.
I look forward to getting to know you and us learning from each other. You are invited and welcome in this place! My heart’s desire is that we just keep showing up for each other.
Be Blessed friends.
Kay Simpson, Blog Editor
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