To Destin with my daughter

Another beautiful morning! My thought this morning was on a trip with my daughter and grandchildren last summer to Destin, Flordia. My daughter and granddaughters drove all the way to and from Destin, not wanting to burden me with driving, a wonderful gift of love! We stayed at a condo on the beach, with ready access to a time of sitting on the beach or entering the water. We had meals at the condo, we ate out, we played a game of laser tag! We found a place that sold little ice creame dots and places to shop. We rented a boat, went out into the bay and watched the dophins play.

It was also a time of rest, siiting on the balcony or on the beach, reading, listening to the ocean as the waves came to the shore. It was such a wonderful gift of love from my daughter and her children, Then it was time to come home1

As I was riding in the front seat, my daughter driving, I was watching the clouds, my mind on Father’s wonderful beauty when all of a sudden, I saw something miraculous and not being sure that it was not just me, I pointed it out to my daughter, who responded “Oh, my!” There as clear as day, were three clouds, one straight up and down, one in the shape of heart and the last in the shape of a U, a message from Father saying “I love U!”

I still marvel of what I saw that day and can still vividly see it in my mind. That message hand written by Father, Himself, just for me! In Genesis, we read that God created the heavens and the earth, then he created man and placed him in the garden. There He spent time with him, as a Father. Father is a father first and as a father, He always finds ways to let us, His children, know He is thinking about us, watching over us and most of all, He loves us!

Just a memory, a thought, just saying!

by Jim Kennedy

Going back in memories

Oh, what a beautiful morning! I had a dream last night that took me back to my childhood spending time at my grandpa and grandma’s house. What a joyous dream! As I was sitting enjoying my coffee this morning, my mind dwell on my childhood with my grandma and how I loved spending time with her.

I have one really vivid memory of when I was about five or six years old. Being the youngest, my siblings were all in school, my mama at work and I was at my grandma’s house playing outside, trying to entertain myself and on the front porch I found a rope, probably left there by my grandpa. Now a rope for a young boy five or six means an adventure and I started looking for a mountain to clilmb.

Now my grandparents had two trees in their front yard, one straight and branches were high, completelly our of reach for such a small man, oh but there was the other one, the perfect mountain to climb. This tree branched off about a couple of feet off the ground and one limb protruded up and out just the right length to sit on, becoming the king of the mountain with my rope at my side!

So I conquered the mountain, still on my venture but what next? Oh, yes, the rope! I decided I could tie the rope to the limb and make a swing out of it, but then I realized I couldn’t swing on without slipping off and falling thus ending my adventure in doom. Was there another way? Ahh, the true man come out of me when I decided I could tie the rope around my ankle, then slide off the limb, swing up side down then reach up and grab the limb and pull myself back up to safety, yes! I had a plan!

So this brave little me did just that, I tied the rope around my ankle, slid off the limb and there I dangled seeing the world upside down, what a climax to my adventure! After hanging there a couple minutes, I decided it was time to pull myself back up and that’s when disaster happened. I couldn’t pull my body back up high enough to grap the limb! Now what was I going to do? As I struggled to reach the branch, the rope tightened on my ankle, causing pain to shoot up my leg. Fear filled my heart, am I going to die? Not being able to hold back the tears, I cried out as loud as I could, “Grandma”!

In an instant, there she was standing behind the screen door and seeing the situation, she was at the tree in a flash. She lifted my up, untied the rope and now I was again that little five to six year old boy, safe in the arms of grandma, smothered in love. A tragic adventure saved by love!

How many times does this very thing happen in our lives? We go out and do stupid things, thinking I’m in control, I’v got this, only to realize it’s headed for disaster and at the last minute we cry out, “Jesus help me!” And there He is, in a flash, with open arms of love, untying the ropes of bondage, freeing us saying, “Come unto me and I will give you my rest, peace, joy and love!

Just a true story, a thought, just saying!

by Jim Kennedy

Take the Alternate Route

I saw a notice this morning of a lane closure on a street near my home. To avoid traffic congestion find an alternate route. Now this particular street is heavily used, especially in the early morning and late afternoon, those going to and coming home from work. It can be very trying to one’s self discipline when wanting to enter this street from the neighborhood! The alternative, use the other street where the street lights are. It may be a little inconvenient but may save you some time and help maintain peace of mind, your joy!

Isn’t this similar to the life journey we walk in,? We have all these streets, roads and paths laid our for us and if you want to go to this place, use this road but if you want to go to that place, use that street! But when you try and eventually get on one of those streets or roads, it is so heavily used and congested, it takes forever to reach your destination. And on these roads are those aggressive people, angry at the world, wanting you out of their way and you finally lose all the joy you thought this trip would bring!

Use the alternate route! These is another road we can use, a road that brings joy, happiness and life. It may be off the beaten path, not one of world popularity, but there is certainly a great reward at the end! I’m not saying it’s an easy road, it’s straight and narrow, hills and valleys, a lot of difficulties, but few are on this road. the difference of this road is, it comes with a promise, and a guarantee, eternal joy!

Matthew 7:14, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Just a thought, just saying!

by Jim Kennedy

What's for breakfast?

What’s for breakfast? I woke up this morning hungry and as I was cleaning up and getting my bed made, I was thinking about eggs, bacon and toast, yum! Fry the bacon first, then use the bacon grease to cook the eggs, I like mine over easy, and wait for the toaster to pop, then my breakfast is ready! After blessing it, I’m ready to take that first bite, oh yess, no, I forgot to season it! A little salt, a little pepper and it is just the way I like it, yes, yum again!

You know, sometimes this how we try to share God’s love. We tell how great His love is, even quoting scriptures like “oh, taste and see that the Lord is good” and describe it so deliciously that they are ready to take that first bite but then as they watch us and don’t see it in us, living the love we’ve been talking about, they turn away because there is no seasoning to taste! Matthew 5:13, says we are the salt of the earth but if there is no saltyness, what good are you!

Our real message is how we live own lives, the example we set! Does it line up with what we share?

Just a thought, just saying!

by Jim Kennedy

Age is not the end!

The older we get, the less we live toward the future and the more we live in the past! To me, that’s almost a curse. We, the older generation, still have plenty to offer! It’s our own mindset that hinders us and we let ourselves believe the lie “I am useless!” Believe me, there is a younger generation who is searching for you and me, seeking advise, direction, encouragement and even a mama or daddy as they plod on in their journey of life. Step out, look for them, be available, they’re looking for you!

Just a thought, just saying!

by Jim Kennedy

Bad News

Good morning, and it is a good morning!

I don’t know about you, but I come to the point of not wanting to watch television news, especially in the morning. It’s like the media’s view of news is anything and everything than has to do with what I would refer to as evil, depressing and most certainly an effort to cause fear! I’m saying it is unbalance on good vs evil and just once in a while at the end of the telecast, they might throw in a tidbit of Oh, by the way, it’s so and so birthday! I don’’t like starting my day out this way!

I want to start my day off with joy in my heart. I want to listen to the birds singing, watching the squirrels chase each other up and down the trees. I want my mind on joyful and happiness and celebration. like with someone who has defeated cancer or someone who became a conquer in their battle with drug addition!

It’s not like I am trying to ignore that bad things happen, but to open my eyes and my mind to the real truth, looking to the good things that are happening and a joyful world. We were not created to live in fear!

Reading from Romans 8:15, “But you have not received a spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received a Spirit of adoption by whom we cry, Abba, Father!” It goes on to tell us that we are the sons and daghters of God!

When giving our hearts and lives to Father, we break loose from the bondage of fear the prince of evil of this world wants chain us with, but we have the choice to stay free or be bound again. I choose life, happiness and Joy!

Fear is the enemy and it’s purpose is death but love, joy and peace bring life though Jesus! That’s what I want!

Just a though, Just saying

by Jim Kennedy

Nicknames

I woke up this morning thinking about nickames. You know, those names you are tagged with when you were little, meant as a sign of endearment. I remember my grandma always called me Jimmy and it became so familiar my mother and siblings used it too and sometimes I forgot what my real name really was. When I was in the first grade, Mrs. Delbridge would take roll and always call me by my real name, James. On my first day in her class, I didn’t realize she was calling me when she said James so I didn’t answer until she came up to me and said aren’t you James?

Now, I think there may be a couple of reasons why I woke up thinking about nicknames. I had received a message for prayer for my nephew a few days ago and his name is Anthony, but I have always called him Tony and last week, I was trying to remember the name of a young woman I haven’t seen in a few years. I knew her last name, so I tried to find her on Facebook and finally located her site by her last name and picture, but I found out that the name I knew by was a nickname.

I started using my real name about the fifth or sixth grade, through high school and into college, but then reverted back to a modified form of the original name of endearment I was tagged with, “Jim”.

Now it’s very seldom that I’m referred to as James. Mostly it’s papaw, papa, papa Jim and maybe Jim without the since of endearment on it! But James is the title my mother gave me and I know the reason was because it was the name of someone she loved, she respected and trusted in her life. James meant someone special to her and I am honored to bear it!

I looked up the name James in biblical reference and found in the Old Testament it to mean Jacob and in the New Testament is was the name of Jesus’ brother. Now, the name Jacob means deceiver but Jacob was renamed Israel, I would say for good reason! James, the brother of Jesus, along with his brothers and sisters actually thought Jesus was crazy and had become an embarrassment to their family and didn’t believe in Him until after His resurrection. So, I guess by my namesake, me being under the New Coveant, I am the brother of Jesus and a true believer in Him.

I still go by the name of Jim! Why? I would guess at my age, if I sent out anything under the name James, those who received it would respond, James? Who is James? But I feel one day, I will be called James again, when I walk up to Jesus and hear Him say, “Welcome home, James, My good and faithful friend!”

Just a thought, just saying!

by Jim (James/Jimmy) Kennedy

Saturday Already!

Satuday is already here? What happened to Monday thru Friday? Wow, it’s like I blinked on Sunday and boom, it’s already Saturday! So, did I get done with all those things I was planning to do this week? Have you ever had one of those week? You make all these plans, priorities that need to be accomplished and yet, all of a sudden something else became more important and boom and things just don’t get done.

Now I can understand those having little ones. It can really be a chore to accomplish things, well even when there are bigs around, but how does it happen? I don’t know!

Well, maybe some of those things weren’t as important as my mind told me they were. Maybe I just seup the wrong priorities. I’m able to keep my house clean, keep my laundry done and cook my meals and there stills seems to be plenty of time of most of the things I want to do. But there are some priorities that I won’t bend on! I mean, I will make time to pray and talk to my Father, Abba, I will make time to read my bible and I always make time for my biological and spiritual family!

And just maybe, I shouldn’t go to bed so early!!! What about you? What are your prioities? Do they need to be adjusted?

Just a thought, just saying!

by Jim Kennedy

My Hometown

I was raised in the town that I still live in today. I say town which is not the right description now having a population of nearly 100,000. Wow, how big it has grown over my life time. It’s certainly not a town anymore.

I remember back to the home I was raised in, we had an open field in front of us and a wooded area just across the road from the field. When the sun dropped and the moon shined it’s yellowy light at night, we could hear the coyotes yelling at each other. The air wa fresh and we would lay under the stars on our blankets trying to cout them. My mama would sit with us telling us stories of what it was like when she was a kid.

Oh how things change. I could walk from one end of town to the other in thirty minutes, now with all the traffic, all the congestion, it is hard to drive across thown in thirty minutes. But that’s progress, isn’t it?

So why am I going down memory lane? I grew up! It seemed nice to think back of how great things were when I was little but when I really start thinking about it, maybe they weren’t as great as I would like to think. Oh, don’t get me wrong, there were some good times, but I’m really thankful that we have a lot more available to us today than back then. I mean the city picks up our trash instead of burning it in a barrel in the backyard, we have air conditioned homes instead of a electric fan that oscillated on the table and five of us trying to get the best seat to cool down. One telephone with a party line, certainly no privacy there. I could go on, but you get the picture.

It’s nice to remember sometimes, it makes me appreciate what I have now. You know, I kinda do the same with my Christian life, head down memory lane. I can remember the day I gave my heart to the Lord, on my knees in tears of joy, feeling a sense of love and security I had never felt before, my wife at my side cheering me on, wow, what an experience. But now there is so much more!

You see, I have learned what it really means when I hear the verse “For god so loved the world, that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not parish, but have everlasting life.” He gave! It’s a gift, and after the journey starts, it only gets better and it turns into a celebration because it never ends! God is Love!!

Just a thought, just saying!

by Jim Kennedy

Cold Outside!

I woke up yesterday morning and it was cold! I looked at my clock and realized I slept longer than I planned, but instead of getting up, I pulled the covers up over my head and laid in the warmth of my heated blanket. I kept peeping out, looking at the clock knowing I needed to get up and finally, like it took great courage, I threw off the covers, walked briskly to the thermostat, raised the temperture in the house and put on some warm clothes to face the new day!

Isn’t it something, to want to stay in that comfortable place that is secure, warm and familiar. That place where we can hide from the world, not having to worry about anything! Hmm, well I guess that is only a fairytale land, not the real world. The real world is full of coldness, harshness, insecurity, unfamiliarity and lack of love. Hmm!

But no, that’s not the end of this story, you see there is a “place of peace” and it comes when we give our hearts and lives to Lord Jesus and His Holy Spirit comes to live inside us. There we grow through relationship with Him that brings the peace, love, security, warmth and joy that we all long for! There I can wrap up in the arms of Jesus!!

If you haven’t tried Him, you might be surprised. He loves you just the way you are!!!

Just a thought, just saying!

By Jim Kennedy