The Holy Spirit gave me specific instructions one day to put my heart into the day. Graciously, He did not say, “Instead of murmuring today, try living like it connects to My good plans for you.” Whether we can see past the smoke of the fire we are in or not, we can decide to persevere each day with the confidence that it truly is an investment toward tomorrow. (Mt.6:34) —Kathy
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A Sheer Gift
James 1:2 says “Consider it a sheer gift, when tests and challenges come at you from 
all sides.”(Msg) So on those days when your spouse, children, mother-in-law and cocker-spaniel are all screaming for attention at the same time a check is missing in the check register and the fridge is dying and melting all over the kitchen floor…you need to think,“sheer gift”. Uh-huh… this is obviously going to take some practice! —Kathy
(Kathy is speaking at Kingdom Congress March 6, 2020. All info: martygabler.com/kc2020/)
Feet to the Path
As we persevere through trials God
will not be manipulated or blackmailed
or bribed into shortening the time needed
to mature our character. Ps.66:8-9 says
that He holds our lives in his hands and
He holds our feet to the path. Evidently,
God not only intends for us to outlive the
heat of trials, He intends it to transform
us on our way through it. —Kathy
Timing is the Key
I encourage you not to get frustrated if a dream has to wait and open over time. There may be elements in it that are in process and not yet reachable, but the dream can still be a landmark or confirmation later. One dream I had over 25 years ago just opened to me the first week of September this year. In the dream, Marty and I turned off a major four-lane road onto a dirt road. It led to an old country house. There was an elderly lady sitting in a rocker on the porch. No 
words were spoken but we knew the old home place was ours and that she had been overseeing it and waiting for us to get there. She was a watchman (angel) guarding our destiny and heritage.
When I got out of the car, there was a wooden fence a few feet from me and a huge bull was standing on the other side of it. He came as close to me as he could get with only two boards separating him and me. He lowered his head and glared at me. My legs felt weak as water. I sensed the bull and I were facing off and I could not cower to his silent bullying. I took a deep breath, crossed my arms to stop the trembling, and I stared into his eyes and said, “I’m not afraid of you.” I turned my back on him, let my breath out slowly and walked away.
There was a bag that was full of seed when we got up to the house. The bag seemed to be moving as though the seeds were active and alive within it. Marty was suddenly urgent to get the seed planted, and I felt compelled to help him. There was a tangible sense of sowing for a specific harvest that would be fruitful and have powerful impact in the future. As the sun set, we ended up in the house, sleeping in a small room, like a parlor off the living room (where the lady now sat). Melissa was also there with us then. I remember thinking she must be part of the ministry call we were realizing in this destined time and place.
The whole dream was an allegory about our family and how our calling and purpose and heritage is pre-destined by God and already in place. However, the dream was a loud message for me personally to keep in mind the potential danger of my strong will (the bull). While I am not to yield in fear of its strength, neither can I ignore it. The bull didn’t just lie down or go away because of that face-off, but neither did it break out of bounds. I’m sure the Lord intended my will to be an asset and would not want it weak or useless, but neither should it be allowed to do damage or dominate my life if I am to walk out the destiny God has planned.
I had never forgotten the dream and often wondered why it did not open in my understanding for so many years. Now I see that timing was the key. Had I squared off with my will at the time of the dream, I would have been determined to conquer it in my own strength. Ironically, that would have built more muscle in the “bull” and beefed-up the problem in the process. Instead, the Holy Spirit has been saving and sanctifying my soul and that strong will for 25 years, and that was the wise way to keep it within necessary boundaries. I am grateful for this understanding now and so very grateful for His faithful tending of my soul.
I pray 2020 becomes the year of clarity and courage to walk into God intersections and see His Kingdom come on earth as in heaven. —Kathy
The Lord is our Refuge
As the people of God assemble today
may they not be afraid of the terror
by night nor the arrow that flies by
day and may they not rehearse those
matters but rather encourage one
another and say that the Lord is our
Refuge, our Fortress, the One we lean
on and confidently trust in. (Ps.91:2)
Watch Outside by the Fireside
Outside by the Fireside with Marty Kathy and Melissa Gabler.
They discuss Psalm 91 and the One Who is our Refuge from
the terror by night and the arrow that flies by day.
Click on the video below:
Cuppa Cocoa by the Fireside
Grab your Bible and a cuppa cocoa. Throw an extra log on the fire (I’m gonna throw on a couple of pine cones too) and let’s see what the Word of God says about what we and our families can expect at this time in world events. Kathy will be joining me Outside by the Fireside.
