by Kay Simpson | Dec 14, 2020 | encouragement
Lord Help us believe the truth about ourselves, no matter how beautiful it is.
How does that statement make you feel? When I read it I paused. It stunned me. But why?
Has the world told us we are unloved, unworthy, don’t belong?
Why have we believed the lie of the enemy?
Friends let’s take hold of the truth that He made us unique and on purpose for all the things He has planned for us. We are loved. We are beautiful. We belong and have every right to be heard and used for the Kingdom.
Can we make room for that thought today?
Sit in it?
Soak it in?
What new thoughts can we think starting today?
Carve new pathways for His Glory.
Today is a new day. Go deep. Wade out into the deep and drop a line. See what you find there. We have spent enough time in the shallows. When the fisherman came up empty handed He commanded them to recast and this time to go deep. We should follow their lead.
Go engage in your beautiful life today.
We have control of our thoughts. Rethink what He says about you. Go dig deep in scripture and treasure hunt for yourself. It’s worth it. So much love for you all.
by Kay Simpson | Jan 14, 2020 | blog, encouragement, Uncategorized
Here is a fresh year. A fresh chance to get it right? Or perhaps a fresh chance to extend love and grace even to ourselves. To embrace that the journey has been for us. That the road was just as it needed to be and every lesson was required to walk us closer to Jesus. Closer to resembling Him. That there is nothing to fix and we are exactly where and how we should be.
The one who created us and walks beside us, loves us. We have nothing to prove. He isn’t waiting for us to get it right to love us. Bless us. Accept us. His love doesn’t have conditions. He will leave the ninety nine for us. So if we are in a rough or stuck place, we can stand tall knowing He loves us too much to leave us there and wait expectantly for a way out. Look for the door to walk through. In the kingdom there is no shame or guilt required. There is a loving Father running to welcome us home.
Perhaps the biggest gift of the new year would be to live in His lavish love. That what we have to “get right” is simply letting Him love us and live like we believe it. Focus on Him and not what our neighbor has or what they are doing or how they are living.
He loves us with mistakes, mess ups, and flaws. He wants what is best for us & believes in us. He is for us, not against us.
He’s so trustworthy and will send others across our path to guide us if we are open. He knows us, all of us, our thoughts and feelings and unhealthy addictions. He knows we need Him. It’s a gift to Him when we acknowledge our dependence on Him and walk in the light of His love.
Let’s Be Loved. Let’s give up focusing on getting it right and fixing our lives and soak in love. Every cell of our body needs it, craves it, and lives for it. Let’s live loved. Accept His love. Being loved is all that is required. ❤️
by Kay Simpson | Nov 4, 2019 | blog, encouragement, Uncategorized
1 Peter 2:9
But… You (WE) are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you (we) may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you (us) out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Recently the staff, leaders, volunteers of Cheerful Hearts retreated to Christ Walk in the Valley together. We were all asked to bring a ministry offering for just one chosen hour. Because…we are all priests. God has chosen us to share and proclaim to one another the goodness of God. Because He is God, there was a thread throughout the weekend. Stones…. Cornerstones and living stones. Spiritual markers. We asked God to walk us through the significant times in our lives where we saw Him show up and deliver us, save us from ourselves, times we knew He was working in our lives and things changed. We could look and see the before and after affects of the movements of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The word but is a transitional word in scripture. These spiritual markers are when we knew we had arrived at a crossroads of significance. But God…decisions were made with His direction and His hand guided us through water, desert, or however the trial looked in our lives. Maybe now is a good time to review the spiritual markers in all our lives. A new year is approaching and there is no better time to look back and take inventory and offer thanks for His marvelous light as we wait with heart felt anticipation for His new move, free to be future focused.
We were called to anoint our lips with Frankincense, knowing as priests our words have the power of life and death. We found ourselves with sparkly black rocks from the woods as a reminder of the coal used in Isaiah 6. “Look this coal has touched your lips. Gone your guilt, your sins wiped out” And then I heard the voice of the Master: Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” I spoke up, “I’ll go. Send me!” We shared the need to open our lips and speak our words and share our stories. Be encouraged by this-They triumphed over (the accuser) him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Revelation 12:11
The wrap around presence of God was there. A new concept to many. His shield protects us and envelops us and His mighty arms are over us. The passion translation of the Bible uses this reference over and over with such tender sweetness. Go and explore for yourself. He is everywhere around us. Take some time to sense His presence.
Sisters, we are His mighty oaks of righteousness. There may be seasons of interior growth that cannot be observed in the tiny acorn. But…don’t think for a minute that it’s not happening. …Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness” planted by God to display His glory. Isaiah 61:3. We are called to stand tall in whatever season we find ourselves in knowing that He already has the answers.
We hope and pray that Cheerful Hearts will always be all the above in the community where the Lord has seen fit to plant the ministry.
by Kay Simpson | Sep 30, 2019 | encouragement
So, the Lord showed me a picture. Me sitting on the couch. On my hands. I had heard of this technique before from a friend. And also, Joseph Prince. Not a new concept.
The Lord wants me to sit and wait on Him. Sit and be quiet. Sit and lean in. To be OK with just me and Him. Silent. Not alone. Not left out. Not too much. Not unsupported.
But sitting on my hands is labor. Because I would rather phone a friend, eat the cake, drink the drink, phone another friend, cry,stomp my feet, scream out loud, eat a bag of chips, place blame on others or my past, surround myself with busyness, and cause chaos. Seek sympathy.
I would rather have my own goals, ideas, dreams and solutions. Worldly and self-focused and perfectly sensible.
But He says sit. Be intentional with your hands clearly tucked away. Ask Him first. Bring it all to His feet. Much more than just laying it down but, bring it to Him. His attention!
The focus is key. Focus on the relationship with Him and let Him be my first thought. My first call. My first choice. It can be hard guys Resting in Him takes thought and intention. That’s why He calls me to practice.I want to be a healthy Christ follower in every aspect, so I choose to listen. Lord help me focus my ears, thoughts, heart, and soul on what You have to say!!
by Kay Simpson | Sep 4, 2019 | encouragement
How fast weeds grow! I drive in the car. A lot! Back roads. Dirt roads. Distances. Lots of time to think. Too much time to ponder.
Today I passed a beautiful fancy wrought iron gate closing the entrance to a long driveway and noticed vines had started to take over. Woven all in the fence. Fresh and green. Fairly new.
I’m sure there was so much hope and planning when that gate was first installed. Like a new start. So many plans. So full of hope.
It reminded me that we must constantly tend to the weeds in our lives. If we are distracted by the world {I call busyness distractions} and just let life happen to us, tiny unwanted seeds will take place. Unworthiness. Not enoughness. unlovedness. Selfishness. Anger. Resentment. Weeds serve no purpose and choke out the good stuff.
We must constantly stand close to the master gardener. Douse the weeds with scripture daily. Pluck those ungodly thoughts out by the roots at first sight. It’s a daily task.
Especially in a stormy season. I don’t know about where you live but out here at the lake after a good rain it’s weedmagedon. Even when we are distracted by our circumstances, we can’t let up meeting with the Lord. Never grow weary.
Take every thought captive. Be purposeful. Make a plan to meet with God every single day and show up. Stay vigilant. Bring your gardening tool, glove up, and learn from the gardener! He will show us how to plant, when and where to sew and water, and what tools are needed and how best to use them. Without His lead there is just chaos.
Snatch those weeds from your mind, your heart, your daily schedule. Stomp them if that’s all you have. Run them over with your car. Phone a friend to help if you must. Pray fervently. Be a good and faithful steward. Servant. Don’t leave your garden unattended. Lay it all as weed pile at the foot of the cross. What’s your weed killing plan today ?
Maybe a better plan would be to prepare the soil where they wouldn’t grow in the first place. Ask Him how to proceed!
by Kay Simpson | Jul 1, 2019 | blog, encouragement
Have you ever searched the scriptures for all the “but God” verses? Depending on the translation, you will find about 43 of them. You and I know when God repeats himself He is definitely speaking for a purpose and He is serious! I say that 43 repeats is worth paying attention to. I think He means business! I have themes and patterns in my life that catch my eyes and these two words kept popping up. Even today as I write this post. Now that you have read this you will also be more aware of the But Gods in your life as well. 
Do we hear ourselves approaching our days and our problems? “But this is wrong, but that is a disaster, but they never. Oh the dreaded never, it’s a tricky one, I don’t know, I don’t know how or I have never” are jewels as well. Our words, language, and mindset matter.
The world may be telling you all is lost, cancer, divorce, trauma, loss, addiction, and unforgiveness. Here is a good reminder friends, we are powerless but God has power and He gives it to us through His Holy Spirit. We are weak but He is strong (yes Jesus loves me, remember) We are human but God is not. We can stop giving Him human attributes that we are familiar with. He is mysterious and supernatural and we are not meant to know and understand it all. God is not bound by earthly knowledge and our past choices and experiences, .
The world is all about holding grudges, isolation, self focus, unmet expectations, judgement, offense, disobedience, anger, works, death, and distrust. BUT GOD…is forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, community, God focus, dropping expectations, not looking for offenses, mercy, love, grace, trust, belief, life, and joy. What would happen if we showed all our “buts” to our God? This may make you giggle and I didn’t think of this as I wrote it, but you seriously get the picture right?
Let us go read Ephesians 2:1-9 for starts. WE used to be dead in sin, But GOD, who loved us so much, gave us life in Christ and He seated us with Him. Friends, He is right there in all of our doubts and circumstances. He is real and kind and can be trusted to work something out in ways we could not even have imagined. Are you looking for Him to move? Are you waiting expectantly for the gift? He has a plan and it’s time to be about the Father’s business. Go start your own scripture search and be encouraged.
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