Free By Design » Being the Best

Open

Kimberly Cooley — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 14:21:30 +0000

Good morning. When I first thought about writing this, I didn’t know exactly how I needed to do it. I knew what I wanted to say, but didn’t know how to say it or deliver it. So I decided to write an open letter to God.

Father, a lot of things have been on my mind the last few months. Mainly things about myself. You know, quirky things or character flaws that may not be so appealing or likable to mankind and more importantly, You.

For starters, I’ve become easily annoyed by people lately even more so than before. I’m not sure why, but these days it just doesn’t take much at all for me to shut down and keep to myself. I’d like to say that it’s a good thing because then I can focus on more but I’d be totally lying. My annoyance does absolutely nothing for the Kingdom. In fact, it’s hard for me to share about “You” if I’m counting down the minutes when I’m talking to people.

Another thing I’ve noticed lately is that I feel used a lot of times mainly by some of the very people I call “friends.” Why is this? Did I cause it? I’ve backed completely away from certain people because of this. I’ve also hurt some. What’s scary is that some of these people used You to connect with me only to never mention You again. Can you help me to discern these types of relationships?

Now this next thing, I probably will regret asking for after going through what I need to go through to get it, but I need more patience with people. (Please don’t be TOO hard on me Not just in general, but in certain situations. Like for instance, I get ultimately frustrated when people don’t love as hard as I do. I know it sounds silly, but I don’t give people time enough to get to know me before I write/cut them off because they’re not moving at my pace or out of fear of what I mentioned earlier about being used. Every time I seem to always fail to 1. recognize where they emotionally, spiritually, etc and 2. give them time. And it’s not just in that situation. There are other’s too. You know how I can see the good in anyone? Well sometimes that quality is a burden because many times I can’t convince people of what I see in them and it frustrates me. So much that I am angered. I surely can’t help them like that.

Since we’re on relationships…I’ve found myself withholding “me” again. You know how people so quickly and easily invite me into their lives? Well I don’t do the same in a lot of cases. Correction: make that MOST cases. I’m just really afraid to be vulnerable to more than just the VERY few in number, “tried and true,” people. Part of me feels like I’m supposed to be the “issue-less” being who is expected to always be ok. Well, the fact of the matter is that I’m not always okay and I need to vent, and cry, and be held too. But I have an issue with trusting people to that extent. Past relationships and life experiences undoubtedly make me feel this way, but I need to move past this. I love to love and when I love, I love, but I also need to be loved. I’m totally trusting You to protect me and my heart. When other’s come to me in confidence, give me the right things to say even if the right thing to say is said in silence.

Direction. Geographical direction. I need to know what this “draw” is and if it’s You or me. One thing’s for sure is that it’s strong. You know exactly what and where I’m talking about. In fact, you probably saw me tear up last week when a friend merely mentioned “taking a leap of faith and trusting You” when I shared with him how I felt. Guide me.

God, there’s so much in me that I desperately need to get out. Please help me to find the medium or outlet to do just that. I want to use my life to help build the Kingdom. I want to give strictly under Your direction and in ways that You will be glorified. I want to serve. I want to love and have meaningful relationships, so that You and Your love will be seen. I want to be compassionate and patient. I want to be brave with a heart like Yours. I want to be the “me” You created me to be. I want to trust; I want to love. I want to be compassionate and patient. I want to walk like you. I want to be free.

In Christ’s name, Amen.

Peace – Kimberly

Better Than Me

Kimberly Cooley — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 00:04:58 +0000

Its a HUGE difference between inspiring someone to be their best and inspiring someone to be like us. The only person that can do the latter is Christ. In fact, even Christ inspired us to do greater things than He. John 14:12-14, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”The rest of us should inspire with intentions of them being better than us.

Peace – Kimberly
Sent from my Cellular South BlackBerry® Smartphone

Play The Role

Kimberly Cooley — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:28:13 +0000

Good evening. When life goes left field, never expect what’s around you to change. Instead, focus on how you, yourself can handle what changes. Introspect; start at home. You never know. You just may prove to be quite the trend setter for doing better!

“Never allow a negative situation to influence you, but rather you influence a negative situation, positively.” – Bishop A. Barnes

Peace – Kimberly

Literally Nothing But A #

Kimberly Cooley — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:11:38 +0000

Good evening. In order to be considered “old,” one must willingly give a simple number precedence over the youthfulness that naturally lies within. It’s your choice. Cut it short, or rock it out.

Peace – Kimberly

Who I Am.

Kimberly Cooley — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 04:05:33 +0000

Good evening. How can we set goals when we’ve yet to determine who or what we want to be? I mean, for the last 3 weeks, all I’ve heard is “New Years Resolution this” and “New Years Resolution that. Are our lives no more important than a few weeks every year? My pastor encouraged us a few weeks ago to make “New Life Resolutions.” This makes soooo much more sense. We spend all of this time chasing after things that really don’t matter like losing weight, quit smoking, paying off debt, etc. Sure these things are good; don’t get me wrong. But if our character is not in a position to live up to the goals we set, then we fail before we even start. I think that’s why so many celebrities do the dumbest things that hurt their careers and makes them “normal” again in our sight. Their character simply can’t handle where their goals and aspirations have taken them. Not to say its wrong to be a celebrity but sometimes the fame and success comes long before the maturity needed to handle it. Why do you think there are so many wealthy people that are spiritually and emotionally unhappy? T.I. said it best, “Your values are in disarray. You’re prioritizing horribly. Unhappy with your riches cause you’re poor morally.”

We wanted and planned to get the house, to get the career, to get the husband/wife but failed to ASK AND RELY on God to prepare us for those things and what they bring…and sometimes even what it takes to get them (introspection).

Dig this. I have nothing against setting goals. Goals are good. I have nothing against success and recognition; all of that is good. However, my first priority in goal setting is making my mind up to be the person that God has called me to be. That’s #1. Number 2 is embracing the journey of becoming that person. Number 3 is seeking every opportunity to give, to serve, to love, and to sow good seed in great ground. Next thing you know, I’m walking in God’s will with a harvest on the way and character that has been both tried and refined. And when that harvest comes, albeit success, recognition, or simply just a peace of mind, I can’t count it up to a list of 5 things I did better in the new year. Instead, I can only chalk it up to the one life changing decision that I made in faith – to accept Christ, live by His word, and walk in faith believing in only HIM as He works on and through me.

A wise man named, Bishop Anthony Charles Barnes once said that God will never give us anything that He has to compete with. Wise man.

Peace – Kimberly

And The Rush Is?

Kimberly Cooley — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:50:32 +0000

Good evening. When we make personal commitments, why do we try to rush to get results. Anxiety is what landed us in certain situations in the first place. Slow it down; take your time. Rushing only fulfills the need to prove to the world that you’ve changed when the only person that needs assurance is you.

For once, take care of you. If you’ve set a goal, don’t rush to complete it, rush to get yourself on track to complete it. If you’ve made commitments where relationships are concerned, forget about finding that perfect person, and rush to bring to surface the perfect person in you.

*See, the Bible speaks of pouring old wine into new wine skin. It won’t work.* Real change works inside out and takes time. Overnight transformation is nothing more than hiding what’s on the inside, and can cost you forever.

*Matthew 9:17 (NIV)

“Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Peace – Kimberly

This post was created at this location.

Humbled.

Kimberly Cooley — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:10:48 +0000

Good evening. Ever been so excited that you can’t sleep nor rest without thought of the reasoning behind your excitement? Yeah, me too! Everyday actually. Nothing or no one in particular, but rather the idea that, in this moment, I have at least one more opportunity to play a part in God’s will. Pretty exciting, huh? Yes, indeed.

Peace – Kimberly

This post was created at this location.

Never Throw Out Your Defeats

Kimberly Cooley — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:54:00 +0000

Good evening. Every success began as a failure at some point. Keep pressing because with each attempt, you become better conditioned. Stay the course and you will find that victory is not only sweet, but also filled with sweat, pain, tears, and emotion…and that makes it just that much sweeter. But even better, that makes you that much stronger.

Peace – Kimberly

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

www.twitter.com/kmcooley

Atta Boy, AJ!!! (Correction: All A’s and No B’s))

Kimberly Cooley — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:04:00 +0000

Some news on the home front. I received this yesterday from Alex. This Sparkle Gram for Preparedness was also accommodated with another Sparkle Gram for Good Behavior and an All (A’s) report card…..For those of you that don’t know, AJ is my 8 year old God-son.

My Greatest Loss

Kimberly Cooley — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:46:00 +0000

Good evening. “Death isn’t the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside of us while we live.”-Norman Cousins

Peace – Kimberly