Tag: blessings

A Different Kind of New Year’s Eve

Published on by Kimberly NovakLeave a comment

2 Corinthians 3:12, 18

“Since we have such hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face….And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Out with the old, in with the new…Bring on new beginnings…Let’s put this year to bed.

Photo by VisionPic .net on Pexels.com

I could go on and on with phrases often said to ring in the New Year. As I reflect on those I hear most I wonder…should we really focus on dumping all that 2020 brought us?  We have faced a lot of common struggles this year and we did this with faces veiled as a means of protection for us and those around us.  In a sense we were transformed into the same image, faces covered with emotions outpouring from our eyes above the mask line.

A fresh new year is a very exciting concept, our reality though is the moment that clock strikes midnight, not much will have changed.  There are however, things that you can do to ensure your 2021 begins fresh, new and blessed! Tonight, the noise makers will be limited, crowds will be via zoom and things will seem eerily quiet and different…an opportunity for “Perfect Peace”?

In that moment why not, open your heart to Hope in God; make a resolution to Act with great boldness in the coming year; look beyond the mask and see the Glory of the Lord in yourself and those around you; pray to our Heavenly Father to allow the Holy Spirit to move and transform you, filling your heart with “Perfect Peace”.

Reflect on 2020 and thank God for everything the year brought you, in the loss, thank God for compassion; in the financial struggle, thank God for Wisdom; in the loneliness, thank God for His Love; and in the Joy thank God for the fullness of your heart.

My heart feels extremely full as I reflect and see how God has used the happenings of 2020 to pull me closer to Him.  As I ring in 2021 I will welcome the year with the grace of God; openness in my heart and mind; and a willingness to surrender my own expectations and walk in the light of His will. 

I wish a brand New Shiny Year to you and your families!  I will be praying for you to look beyond the struggles of 2020 and ring in the blessings that were given to you and carry them with you at 12:01! 

With Love and Perfect Peace,

Courageous Butterfly

Kimberly

Advent 2020 – Christ’s Candle

Published on by Kimberly NovakLeave a comment

Advent – Retreat 2020 – Christ’s Candle

I thought we had better wrap-up Advent in a meaningful way. As a bonus I am providing you with yet another script for prayer and meditation! I hope this retreat brought you into closer moments with God and peace to your heart. God Bless!

Photo by fotografierende on Pexels.com

💜The Christ Candle represents the light that the Son brought into the world when he was born a little baby, God in the flesh. The fact that the Advent candles remain on Christmas Eve puts the focus on this special moment of birth, the moment of transition from prophecy to fulfillment. On Christmas Day and the Christmas Sundays, the Advent candles are usually removed, but the Christ Candle remains. This reminds us that old things have passed away, and all has been made new.

💜Opening Prayer – Reflect on the Graces Prayed For:

To know the Lord more intimately in order to love and serve him more.
     “Here I am, Lord, Here I am”
To Love the Lord more intimately in order to make Him your greatest treasure.
     “I am yours Lord, I am yours”
To commune with God and experience true Joy.
    “My soul rejoices in my God, My soul rejoices”
To spend time with God in Perfect Peace.
    “May the gift of God’s Peace be within me”

💜Reflect on Revelation 22:16-17
“It is I, Jesus who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches.  I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”  
    The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
    And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”
    And let everyone who is thirsty come.
    Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

💜Advent is a time to open our hearts for the coming of Jesus. We spent the last four weeks preparing our hearts and now we rejoice in anticipation for Christ’s birth.  We call out…”Come Lord I am thirsting for you!”  Christmas is the time when we receive the most precious of all gifts, unconditional love and our Salvation.  

💜As we live out our days on earth, God calls us to continually drink from the water of life, by immersing ourselves in His Holy Word; communication with him through prayer and worshiping in community with others.

💜Many this Christmas are isolated, ill and fearful.  God has sent His angel upon us, placing love in our hearts so that we can give these gifts to those around us:
    The gift of knowing Jesus
    The gift of Prayer
    The gift of sharing joy

💜Retreat Reflection/Journal Questions, use your responses as your closing prayer:
How has your relationship with Jesus grown or changed?
How has the meaning of Christmas grown or changed?

💜This Christmas we are faced with uncertainty, fear, illness and isolation.  God will get us through, when these feelings arise…Let us remember why we celebrate this day…Jesus is the Star…The Greatest Gift of All!

I wish God’s Blessings and the Grace of Peace for you and your families this Christmas Season!  

Share your retreat experience, comments, and suggestions in the comments.

Courageous Butterfly,
Kimberly

The Divorce Life Event

Published on by Kimberly Novak2 Comments

infomercial
This was taken 6 years ago…pre-divorce I had just completed a transformation where I was forced to push myself in ways I never thought I could accomplish…but I did it!  And I will continue to grow transformed and renewed in my new life!

If you are a Facebook fan then you are aware of the section where you can choose to post your “life event”.  Most times we see those that are shared for engagements, weddings, and milestone birthdays.  I don’t recall seeing one for divorce, that may fall into the “it’s complicated” category of your status.  Although there is one that says create your own.  I ask you…have you ever seen anyone post their divorce as a life event?

The bigger question is, in today’s society with nearly 45% of marriages failing why isn’t divorce on that list?  Being one of the most difficult life events, to survive I feel it should be recognized.  One of the first three questions on every healthcare form, or job application asks for your marital status and divorce is an option on those forms.

My discussion today in regards to divorce being recognized as a  life event stems directly from this blog.  I took some time to think about why I started this site, what my initial purpose was and is it smart for me to keep it going?  I’ve often wondered if looking back on my past was hindering my healing or moving forward.   I started to reflect on the significance of certain events in life that truly change who you are and the path you were on and placed you somewhere you never thought you would be.  Then I thought about where I might be had that particular life event never happen and I couldn’t see that part of my life.  I closed my eyes and really tried to focus on my past, my marriage and tried to imagine what it would be like today…the mental page was blank.

I was upset at first, but then I sat down and started looking over the comments on this site.  I read so many that started out by saying “thank you for writing this”.  My first post on this site was not my hardest but it was the scariest.  Not knowing how it would be received, would it be helpful to other’s as well as aid in my healing?  Today I am proud to say it has been a very positive experience.  Some posts were very hard and took a lot out of me, but those also seem to be the ones that were most received and helpful to those suffering the same experiences.

I’m a big believer of things happen for a reason, some may not happen the way we want, or how we ever imagined, but there is always going to be a reason.

I will never regret sitting here and typing my thoughts, fears, feelings, and sharing my tears, knowing that I may be offering someone out there a virtual hug, a listening ear, or just a calmness in knowing they are not alone.

So why not celebrate the life event that got me where I am today?  I have a great job, family, a roof over my head and many new friends that were strategically placed on my path because of where my life took me.  I found my passion for writing, which I never would have had the confidence to do without going through that life trial.

Mr. Mark Zuckerberg I would like Divorce to be placed on the Life Event section of Face Book please. (end of relationship doesn’t count).

Do you believe, the greatest trials of this life can also be your mercies in disguise?  Please comment.

Kimberly

Courageous Butterfly

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