We live in a society where it is common for people to ask, "How are you doing?" And... the canned response is, "I'm good. How are you?" When in all truth, we may be very far from "good." We don't want people to know that we are struggling. We assume that everyone else's life is perfect and so there is NO WAY we are going to tell them that our's is not!
I admit that through the trials in my life I have learned to look at whatever "bright side" remains in any situation and that speaking positive statements out of my own mouth leads my brain to a positive conclusion and my outlook will follow. (Col 3:17) This being said, I have also learned that the more transparently I am willing to live my life and share my story, the more others let down their guard and share theirs as well. It is then that healing takes place and we find that we are much more alike than different in the pain and suffering we experience.
Now, I am not advocating that you go "dump your junk" on the next person who asks how you are doing! Be sensitive to the context of the situation, listen to the intent behind the other person's questions about your life, and, if appropriate, don't be afraid to share the truth (briefly). End your response on a hopeful note acknowledging to yourself and them that through Christ you "can handle this" and expect good things to happen! (Phil 4:12-13) Maybe even ask if they have faced a similar situation. You never know what trials other people are facing and how your honesty could break-off the intimidation and overwhelming feelings of failure that their problem weighs on them!
Take a moment to breathe and realize that your struggles (past and present) are "common to man." (1 Cor. 10:13) We all face troubles at different times in our lives. Sharing how you survived them, taking down the "Wall of Perfection," and allowing other people to be real with you is a huge gift of being part of the "new body of Christ." We are one body meant to function together to feel whole! (Eph 2:17-21)
God bless you on your journey and don't forget that you were created to "LIVE A POWERFUL LIFE!"
- Kim Hoff
P.S. Learn more about how to LIVE A POWERFUL LIFE by visiting us on the following websites and upcoming events:
www.Rev2Rev.com
www.BeautifulInsideOut.com (Kim's Bio and June 2012 Event: Bootcamp2Beautiful)
www.Facebook.com/Rev2Rev.KimHoff
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Let Jesus be Your Compass
It is not always easy to go where God wants us to go. Sometimes the journey is uncomfortable and the stops along the way are not very glamorous. Our world is constantly changing and it isn't always easy to do "the right thing." I don't always want to do "the next thing." Sometimes I just want to curl up in a ball with my ipod and leave the world behind for awhile. Hence, Facebook... Hahaha! But, I have found that if I will go where God is leading me the blessings will be abundant and the trip will be worth the price of travel.
To walk the narrow path these days is getting harder and harder. There are so many temptations to avoid and choices to make. And, just because you choose to take the road less traveled doesn't mean that there won't be thorns along the way. Even beautiful garden paths have rosebushes with thorns! Along my journey on the narrow path I have also found that there are many gates and some of them are rusty and refuse to open. I'm a bit tenacious though and have found that you just have to climb over the ones that won't open. It is not always God that closes them, but that's a story for another day! I try to keep my eyes on the purpose for my journey and keep trudging along even if I am afraid of what lies ahead or the path is hidden by fog.
In stepping out beyond my comfort zone and pushing through the muck along the way, I have found that although we choose our path, God directs our steps. One of the reasons I have found for this guidance is so that we don't miss the stepping stones. If we keep our eyes open, seeking Jesus, holding our thoughts accountable to the Word of God (comparing them to what the Bible says), and move forward in faith (no matter how we feel emotionally), then He will show us the stepping stones sprinkled with the gold from the streets of Heaven! I have had a glimpse of glory! I have peeked into all righteousness and experienced the sensation of majesty and peace! Heaven is not far away from us. The treasures we build when we follow God are not kept in some distant place for a much later date! God will show you the gifts awaiting you and allow you to share in his kingdom NOW, if you will trust him.
Choose the narrow path and let Jesus to be your compass! Keep your eyes wide open for all that He wants to show you. Push forward toward your purpose in life and don't let the roses distract you, the thorns entangle you or the gates stop you! You are God's child and he is waiting for you to notice the glorious gold sprinkled along your path. He wants you to know you are loved and he wants to bless you NOW! Don't miss any of it!
God bless you today on your journey. May you find each golden stepping stone Jesus has set before you!
Kim Hoff
Revelation Revolution
To walk the narrow path these days is getting harder and harder. There are so many temptations to avoid and choices to make. And, just because you choose to take the road less traveled doesn't mean that there won't be thorns along the way. Even beautiful garden paths have rosebushes with thorns! Along my journey on the narrow path I have also found that there are many gates and some of them are rusty and refuse to open. I'm a bit tenacious though and have found that you just have to climb over the ones that won't open. It is not always God that closes them, but that's a story for another day! I try to keep my eyes on the purpose for my journey and keep trudging along even if I am afraid of what lies ahead or the path is hidden by fog.
In stepping out beyond my comfort zone and pushing through the muck along the way, I have found that although we choose our path, God directs our steps. One of the reasons I have found for this guidance is so that we don't miss the stepping stones. If we keep our eyes open, seeking Jesus, holding our thoughts accountable to the Word of God (comparing them to what the Bible says), and move forward in faith (no matter how we feel emotionally), then He will show us the stepping stones sprinkled with the gold from the streets of Heaven! I have had a glimpse of glory! I have peeked into all righteousness and experienced the sensation of majesty and peace! Heaven is not far away from us. The treasures we build when we follow God are not kept in some distant place for a much later date! God will show you the gifts awaiting you and allow you to share in his kingdom NOW, if you will trust him.
Choose the narrow path and let Jesus to be your compass! Keep your eyes wide open for all that He wants to show you. Push forward toward your purpose in life and don't let the roses distract you, the thorns entangle you or the gates stop you! You are God's child and he is waiting for you to notice the glorious gold sprinkled along your path. He wants you to know you are loved and he wants to bless you NOW! Don't miss any of it!
God bless you today on your journey. May you find each golden stepping stone Jesus has set before you!
Kim Hoff
Revelation Revolution
Saturday, October 9, 2010
The Confidence Crisis - A Journey to Loving the Beautiful You
After talking with a good friend at our children’s high school football game last night, I began to watch the interactions of the people around me. I watched the teenagers trying so hard to fit in with one another and thought about some of the people I’d seen around town this week; our politicians, drivers on the road, people kidnapping children, elder abuse, even the T.V. shows bombarding our children on the so-called “safe” networks. Adults are no longer polite to eachother. Children are “mouthing-off” to their parents and teachers. Most everyone seems to carry a sense of “entitlement” to have the best of everything whether they have worked for it or not. The bottom line is that we have lost our self-confidence and we are constantly fighting to prove our self-worth to others and ourselves. Our society is such a mess because most people are suffering in silence. They don’t realize who they are and why they were created…Because I feel that this topic is a huge part of the call on my own life, this will be an on-going topic on my blog. My hope is that as God enlightens me more I will be able to share it with you and that some part of this will encourage you in your life. My experience is that confidence is like a pebble being thown into a pool of still water. The initial circle of water hugs the pebble when it enters the water and then ripples outward into the pool. When a person feels good about who they are, that goodness moves to those around them and the cycle continues grow!
Confidence is an inner gift designed by God that allows us to understand our worth as His child; being created in His image. The world that we live in is so competitive that over time we have lost our ability to refocus our energy from within ourselves. We look constantly for outside sources to give us our perception of self-worth and to regenerate our energy. We are bombarded by “the pretty people” on magazine covers and television, professional athletes, and constant elbows to our sides from people just trying to “get ahead” at work or even at the grocery store.
The exciting part of all of this competition is that each one of us is designed to “win.” We are children of the King, the One True God, the Creator of All the World and “the Kingdom belongs to such as these!” It is time to realize our potential, our power, our purpose and to claim the inheritance awaiting us. The glory of Heaven is not for later in a place far away… The joy of our Lord is here and it is for us to experience now in this life! Walk with me on this journey of recovery. All of your hurts and insecurities can be handed to our Healer. He is strong enough to hold your pain, heal your wounds, and make you whole! Take refuge, my friends. His glory was created to be manifest in you. The path ahead is bright and His plan for you is magnificent! You don’t have to wait any longer to open the gifts he’s placed within you. YOU are beautiful and YOU have much to share… Put on your seatbelt for a very exciting adventure. Your life won’t be the same and you’ll be glad you took His hand for the ride!
Living in my Happy Hour,
Kim Rev2Rev.com
Confidence is an inner gift designed by God that allows us to understand our worth as His child; being created in His image. The world that we live in is so competitive that over time we have lost our ability to refocus our energy from within ourselves. We look constantly for outside sources to give us our perception of self-worth and to regenerate our energy. We are bombarded by “the pretty people” on magazine covers and television, professional athletes, and constant elbows to our sides from people just trying to “get ahead” at work or even at the grocery store.
The exciting part of all of this competition is that each one of us is designed to “win.” We are children of the King, the One True God, the Creator of All the World and “the Kingdom belongs to such as these!” It is time to realize our potential, our power, our purpose and to claim the inheritance awaiting us. The glory of Heaven is not for later in a place far away… The joy of our Lord is here and it is for us to experience now in this life! Walk with me on this journey of recovery. All of your hurts and insecurities can be handed to our Healer. He is strong enough to hold your pain, heal your wounds, and make you whole! Take refuge, my friends. His glory was created to be manifest in you. The path ahead is bright and His plan for you is magnificent! You don’t have to wait any longer to open the gifts he’s placed within you. YOU are beautiful and YOU have much to share… Put on your seatbelt for a very exciting adventure. Your life won’t be the same and you’ll be glad you took His hand for the ride!
Living in my Happy Hour,
Kim Rev2Rev.com
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