'Kimmie Sue's "LIFE LESSONS"'

     PEACE (noun)...freedom from disturbance;  quiet and tranquillity.  In my humble opinion, a "price tag" cannot be placed on PEACE, especially, peace of mind.  As Horatio Spafford's inspirational hymn lyrics express:  (vs. 1)..."When PEACE like a river, attendeth my way...When sorrows like sea billows roll...Whatever my lot...Thou hast taught me to say...It is well, it is well...with my soul...!"  PEACE concerns the human heart's deepest, need and desire, to have an overall sense of, satisfaction and contentment, within oneself, about life. One of the names of God that is found in 'The Bible,' is 'Jehovah Shalom,' which is translated, 'The God of Peace.'  'Jehovah' (LORD) (Truth revealer, righteousness, redemption), and, 'Shalom' (PEACE - translated 170 times) (Judges 6:24).  In Isaiah 9:6, it was prophesied that, 'The Prince of Peace' (Jesus) would enter this earthly realm, and, HE did!  Romans 5:1, tells u...

     As of today, I have made the decision to try and LIVE COMPLETELY, wholeheartedly, saturated in the undeserved (through Christ, my Lord) GRACE OF GOD (2 Corinthians 12:9)!  After dealing with this current "rut," in which I find myself, which has been continuing on now for a couple years, just this morning - I finally surrendered - within myself!  I surrendered to the reality that, I am "weak," in various areas of my, being and life, and, in order to not torment, harass, condemn, etc., myself - any longer - for being SO imperfect, right at that exact moment, I deliberately came to a conclusion in my mind.  I made the decision, and commitment, to myself, that I would be determined to:  "REST IN GOD'S GRACE," trust in HIS, finished work and victory, in which HE purchased on 'The Cross,' and, believe that I am who HIS WORD says that I am (IN CHRIST), ETC. (Hebrews 4:16)!  And IF, as 'The Word' states, His Grace IS literally made perfect...

    Family vacations, or "vacays" (in today's slang), and, family reunions, are sort of a "sample" of what Heaven is like, minus anything sinful, in my thinking.  After all, the family is together - in one place,  happy (more often than not), celebratory, being kind and loving to one another (mostly - hopefully), etc.  Typically, I often have an overwhelming, sentimental feeling, of happiness, contentment, joy, etc., whenever I'm on a family vacation, at a family reunion, and, other similar celebrations with "loved ones!"  Many times, while at these family "get togethers," I find myself thinking about how very blessed we are, and then, compulsorily praying, willful, silent, prayers of, thankfulness and gratefulness, to my glorious Father - for the magnificent gift of my, family (the good, the bad, etc.), loved ones, and friends!  Family is supposed to be a wonderful entity - to be celebrated, and, a family, vacation and reunion, are both ...

     MEMORIES (good ones) are treasures!  Like the stanzas in the song 'The Way We Were' say, "MEMORIES - LIGHT the corners of my mind, Misty water-colored memories...of the way we were!" I thank God for the memories that I have (good and bad)!  There are people who, for a number of reasons, have lost, many and/or all, of their memories, and this reality serves as a reminder for me to be, grateful and thankful to God, that I still have mine, and, to choose to never take for granted that I do.  I believe that my favorite "HAPPY" memories are the births of both of my children (physically), and, whenever I got "SAVED" by Jesus (spiritually)!  I really hope that whenever I get to Heaven, I'll still have the memories (at least the "good" ones) from my days on which I've lived here on earth!  I have never done a study on this subject, nor, have I ever heard a, sermon or lesson, concerning it, however, writing this post is giving me a de...

     The "RUT" in which I find myself at this "moment" in life, is deep, and, it took me quite a while to slip and slide - all the way down in it, and, although, I "feel like" I'll never get out of it, I believe that "my precious Lord," shall get me out of it, in HIS, time and way!  It took, some bad decisions - without waiting for God's answers, leading, and, peace, etc., situations, circumstances, and the such, and then, step by step, slip and slide, etc., to get here, lying on this cold, hard, rock, bottom.  But, because HE has already delivered me out of many "ruts," in my past, I have confidence, that, HE shall not fail me this time, either!  The REALLY COOL FACT about this situation, is that, whenever I DO come out of this "rut/pit," I'm going to be better than ever on the inside, because, I am letting God make this happen in me, for HIS, honor and glory!  Once again, I struggled to get myself ready for '...

     Gary Lee Hill, my father, loved growing up, a "country boy," right outside the tiny, charming, town of, 'Otway, Ohio,' on, 'Rocky Fork Road,' in the lovely house, his mother, Flossie, made a home, and that, his father, Roy, built, with his bare hands, working from the saw mill, that, he had also, either purchased, and/or, constructed, himself.  Dad's parents were in their thirties when he came along, in "1945," around twelve years after his sister, Bessie Ann, arrived, who mothered him from the day he arrived at their home, until the day of his untimely passing, sixty one years later.  His death broke, her, mine, and, several other family member's, hearts, because, we all believed, that, his life was literally "cut short," due to, having a hip replacement surgery - without getting the approval from, and, the peace of, God, on having it, post surgery complications, and, medical negligence!  It was a, nerve racking, heart breakin...

        LIFE never ceases to surprise me, despite the fact, that I am constantly, thinking and saying, that, "NOTHING SURPRISES ME, ANYMORE!"  None of us know WHAT each approaching second shall bring us!  I was already beginning to ponder these realities, all the way back in "1988-90" (not sure of the exact date), whenever, the incident about which I am writing, happened, so, I was around twenty four to twenty five years old.  This post is already proving to be a tough one for me to write!  The "demon of depression" had already gotten its terrifying grip on me, and, all of, mine and David's, tests, troubles, and trials, many that we brought upon ourselves, through unwise decisions, and, sinful behavior, only strengthened it, for me.  And, along with the depression,  I was also dealing with nervousness, which, was a new problem, for I had always been able to deal with life's frustrations and aggravations, fairly easily, until they began r...

     This 'blog post' is about one of the sweetest, most precious, twelve year old boy/"grandangels," whose big, beautiful smile, lights up any room, and, with whom, I have the tremendous joy of, knowing, and, being his grandmother!  This handsome, blue eyed, little guy's name is Boston (first), Grant (middle), Boston Grant, or, as I, nanna Kimmie, call him, Bossy Gant.  He is one out of four of our male family members with Grant as their middle name. My husband, David Grant, started it, well, his mother, actually did!  If I'm not mistaken, she named him after the great, Ulysses S. Grant (18th. president of the USA)?!  Our son, Jeremy Grant, is named after David Grant, and, Boston Grant is named after Jeremy Grant.  Then, who would have thought that, our "surprise" "gift," "grandangel," Damond, would enter our family a couple years ago, unplanned by his parents, but, not God?!  Guess what his middle name is!?  I bet that you guess...

     The following account is surreal to me, because, in my mind, I still think I'm a teenage girl,  but, in reality, I am fifty four, and, have already raised my son and daughter, who are both married, with children, and through them, 'The good Lord' has, mercifully and graciously,  blessed me, with nine grandchildren, or, as I call them, "grandangels!"  One of the nine grandchildren, is a blessing, from an adoption, which fell through, but, nevertheless, I still consider him a grandchild, although I very seldom see him, being that he's in another foster home.  Then, there's a step granddaughter, whom I've never met.  She lives up north.  Hopefully, one day, we'll meet!  I am very thankful to God for my children, grandchildren, and, ALL of my family, loved ones, and friends!  I strongly believe that EVERYTHING God puts in, and/or, allows to happen, in my life, has a divine purpose, although, this often confuses me, because, I am NO...