Kristi Woods

Encouraging Women to Walk Deeper with God

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When You Don’t Feel Loved Lean On This

January 22, 2019 by Kristi 8 Comments

Lean on this when you don't feel loved

This post may contain affiliate links. 

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you didn’t feel loved? I have. My guess is most of us can raise our hand to that question.

How do you handle those situations?

 

(Don’t miss our newest memory verse below!)

 

My love language (from the Five Love Languages) hovers somewhere between acts of service (Whoops! I almost called that “works.”) and words of affirmation. Whenever harsh words from others slice at my heart, I crumple a bit–okay, ALOT– and love flies right out the window.

I feel unloved.

Honestly, it takes me a bit to rebound.

But Jesus remains patient as I learn that my feelings don’t affect God’s truth. Ever.

Neither do yours.

How about that?!

We serve a God of love and truth, a Father who desires to see us rebound with His strength.

 

When the world stands against us…God loves.

When we land with a crushed heart after our spouse’s affair hijacks our marriage…God’s loves.

When our kids walk away from faith and us…His love remains.

When words land heavy…His love steadies us.

When our dream of marriage never materializes, true love does.

Whatever our “when”, God loves.

 

John 3:16

Once a week, Mrs. Kempher floated into the public elementary school for religious ed. I always looked forward to time with the twinkling blue-eyed woman. Her smile advertised sweetness, her quiet voice too. That petite, beautiful woman taught me my first Bible memory verse.

In an upstairs classroom, she fed John 3:16 to us students like baby food to an infant. I can still recite John 3:16 from memory. Thank you, Mrs. Kempher. I hope you can hear from heaven.

Even more so, thank you, God for your Word and love.

 

Thank You, God – A Prayer

Thank you, Father, for propping us up with your Word–even when we don’t feel loved. Thank you for giving us truth that trumps feelings, for being a Rock on which we stand solidly. Thank you for loving us, SO loving us, even though we don’t deserve it. You are a good, good God, and we love you.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Who Am I? 2019 Memory Verse Program

The words of John 3:16 on a white background

Now for this week’s memory verse: John 3:16. Pin it, print it, share this post with someone who might not feel loved right now. Whatever you do, grab this verse and run with it.

Verse number 2 of 22 sits full of promise–love.

You are loved.

The previous memory verse, John 1:12 reminded us, if we believe in Jesus, that we are children of God.

I am a child of God.

Look for following memory verses arriving in your inbox every 1st and 3rd Tuesday–if you’re a subscriber. (Not one yet? Don’t miss out. This year’s program centers on our powerful God-given identity–something temptation and darkness attempt to skew. Sign up here.)

Want to print these graphics? Go ahead! (Personal or church-related use only, please.) Simply right mouse click over the graphic. Viola!

I Am Enough Free Download
And don’t forget to download your copy of I AM Enough: Truth and Declarations to Squelch the Voice of “Not Enough” in the subscriber’s library. This free printable goes beautifully with this year’s memory verses.

 

Lastly

If scaling a mountain in high heels appears easier than memorizing scripture (hand raised), then check out these 3 ideas or this post from our friend, Betsy at Faith Spilling Over.

Have a beautiful day.

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God, Why Am I Feeling This Way? How to Go Beyond Feeling Left Out

October 30, 2018 by Kristi 12 Comments

God, why am I feeling this way? with leaf and water in the background

God, why am I feeling this way? Have you ever asked the question?

Better yet, have you ever used a cookie cutter?

They’re related. Trust me. Read along, and you’ll see.

Each December during my younger years, Mom whipped up a batch of sugar cookie dough. Man, she made THE BEST Christmas cookies! I suspect the touch of lemon somehow worked magic.

We rolled out a clump of dough, positioned cookie cutters “just right”–to fit as many as possible in one roll-out (because who needs extra work, right?!), then we baked the little guys till their edges cried, “Crisp!” Once those bits of sweetness cooled, we added the sugary wonderland of colored icing and dancing sprinkles.

Oh.my.heavenly.sweet tooth.word.

I popped one or two–okay, a FEW!–in my mouth. (And that’s probably why my weight mocks me today.) A treat like that dances in the mouth.

Scrumptious!

 

The Other Day

I thought about cookies and those cookie cutters just the other day. But thoughts swirling around them didn’t include the scrumptious or delectable. (Does a 9-year old call anything “delectable”? Probably not, but you get the picture.) No, it carried a tinge of hurt.

In a situation recently, I felt like a glob of dough, small and pitiful, staring up at the sharp edges of a giant, mean ‘ole cookie cutter. The metal baking gadget eyed me, I’m certain. (It probably even grunted and released puffs of smoke from its nostrils…or maybe that’s an imagination simply going wild.) Then, it set its borders–fencing in a select piece, calling me it its own–then the blasted thing press downward, slicing straight through…

I’d been left out.

Coralled and cut by the sharp edges of, What about me? Am I not important enough? 

 

Sigh.

 

It’s never fun when the switch flips from “you” to “not you.”  It feels as though we’ve been cut straight out of the picture, doesn’t it?

And when we’ve given our time, effort, money, emotions–whatever–oh, friend…

 

Sigh #2.

 

Call it a form of rejection. Of being tossed aside, unwanted, maybe even–or simply–forgotten.

Whatever its name, it hurts. It hurts the ego. It hurts the heart. It hurts relationships. And sometimes, it hurts faith.

As I sat in the chair, crossing my legs, then uncrossing them again, shifting from one hip to the other, I whimpered a silent cry for help.

 

“Lord, why am I feeling this way?”

 

“Left out” and “not important enough” caught me off-guard. Wisdom from God, a verse I’ve studied in detail–and how “funny” its imminent need–assured those emotions proved mine to corral.

 

Proverbs 4:23 in black letters with driftwood in the background

 

For goodness sake, I knew the person didn’t leave me out intentionally. Even if they had, where was my hope? Did I really need their assurance or reassurance for my security? Why was this misunderstanding such a big batch of internal hoopla?

My head knew I shouldn’t get upset. But in all honesty, I wrestled.

Emotions cut and clawed in my heart, assuring a sprint elsewhere, anger boiling over, a grudge held like a big batch of sucked in air, or an offer of a solid slice of silent treatment–whether in small form or large fashion–presented safe escape.

But none did. God’s Word assures differently.

 

Opportunity

This place in which we feel corralled and cut straight to the core is not a foothold for rejection–it doesn’t have to be, at least. The choice remains ours. What will we do with these emotions and feelings that flare?

Call it opportunity, a heart issue God desires to heal.

Consider it maturity.

As we flex muscles of faith versus feelings, we find healing. We find God.

 

Start Here

When rejection rears, start by simply asking, “God, why am I feeling this way?”

Then search Him, rest in Him, and wait on Him until our Father makes clear the answer.

Because by golly, when we feel left out, we’re setting hope in people–not man.

As the words Edward Mote scribbled, my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

(For a little soothing music, click here.)

He is our meter, our cookie cutter of the scrumptious kind. He is the heavenly ever after.

Friend, a life wrapped in rejection ain’t our gig. God deemed us accepted.

So refuse offense, okay?

Hold forgiveness close.

And let faith lead the way.

He died for all written in black with a white backdrop and stone and a puddle behind it

 

So if you’re feeling left out….

Start with God, not the gut. Journey with truth, not feelings running rampant.

Remember, when you are drawn, you are not cut away. You may be set apart, but in Christ, you, my friend, are accepted.

 

 

Halloween hits this week.

So does the 3rd anniversary of my father’s ascent to heaven. (Read more about the journey beyond his death here or here.)

I loved Halloween as a kid because of the candy. I didn’t trust it as an adult. Three years ago it became a bad taste in my mouth. After all, who desires to mark a loved one’s death date on a day of ghouls and goblins? But love conquers all. And my dad’s assurance to me of his salvation brought hope that neither death or Halloween could hinder.

So it’s Halloween, and I’d love to shed the light on hope.

 

If you died tonight, would you land in heaven or hell? Why?

 

Won’t you allow Jesus to save you from your sins today? What better anniversary? He’s the key to heaven, to an eternity of love and goodness. What better way to spend Halloween then by spreading light amid the darkness?

If He’s drawing you, if life isn’t going well, won’t you come close? If something seems missing, won’t you allow Him to fill it? Scroll to the bottom of this page. (I cringe a bit typing that, but since we’re not face-to-face…) Offer God your prayer if you’re ready of heaven’s assurance, if you’d like eternal forgiveness for your sins. One name is your key: Jesus.

Happy fall, y’all.
xo

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Is Something Missing in Life? Grab This.

March 27, 2018 by Kristi 5 Comments

 

The little, white church pleaded with me every time I drove by its quaint steeple, clad with a big, ‘ol bell, and its colorfilled, stained glass windows.

 

Something was missing.

 

Putting a finger on it – filling that void – seemed elusive.

 

Folks walk around all the time filling their own vats. They – we – have empty spaces, and we’ll toss all sorts of nonsense in there.

 

  • Money
  • Leisure activities
  • Dating relationships
  • Cars
  • Botoxed bodies and more.

 

It wasn’t until I walked through the little, white church’s doors that the plead and need in my own life filled.

Amid its pews, I found Jesus.

 

I grew up a “good girl.” My perfectionist bent appeased teachers and parents alike. It filled the grade cards nicely, too.

Fast-forward to adulthood.

When my pastor’s wife challenged my salvation, I got a little toasty under the collar. Call me a card-carrying good girl member. How dare she challenge that?!

 

“Kristi, are you sure?”

“Of course I’m saved.”

 

I’d been raised in the pews of a Methodist church. I’d even participated in a musical trio that traveled to nearby churches, tickling the ivories with Christian songs. I followed life’s rules and fit the “good girl” category nicely. (Sounds a little like Paul, doesn’t it? Read his story here. )

 

But good gets no one to heaven.

 

Paul’s life pleads that cause fully.

“Good” stands on the trophy of our own works – not God’s.

 

Only Jesus saves. Believe in him.

 

So today, I challenge you.

If your activities, abilites, involvement – those things based on your strength – determine your salvation,

please think again.

 

Good is not biblical.

 

Paul, a religious of the religious, was headed straight toward hell without the intercession of Christ.

 

Make certain heaven is your eternal terrain.

Jesus – Savior for the world – is key.

Through Him alone, man is saved from our filthy sins.

 

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 NLT

 

I’ll whoop out a big ‘ol yes – I am saved.

What about you?

Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins, to wash you clean?

Is Jesus your Lord?

 

They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31 WEB Click To Tweet

 

 

Easter, the time we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection is upon us. Like Paul, let’s allow Him to resurrect our life here on earth.

Why delay?

Jesus saves.

 

 Here’s a prayer for salvation. If you’re not 100% certain that Jesus is your Lord, grab belief then this prayer. Feel free to use it for your own.

 

Dear Jesus,
I surrender my life to You. Thank You for welcoming me. Please fill the empty spot in my heart, Lord. I confess that You are Lord and ask You to forgive my sins. Wash me white as snow, Lord. I want to be clean. Thank You that I can count on spending eternity with You in heaven, and thank You for putting the “old” behind me. I love You, Lord.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen

 

More…

Interested in memorizing Scripture? We’d love to have you join us here! 

Have a desire to pray for your spouse, but starting seems to be the problem? Check out this piece I wrote for iBelieve.com called 10 Scriptures to Pray Right Now for Your Spouse. 

 

Happy Easter, friend! 

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Welcome


Welcome! I’m Kristi. And you are…?

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Be forewarned, however. This is a space for Sunday pewsitters becoming Monday through Sunday worshipers – a place where women walk deeper with God.  xo

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