Free By Design » Character

Basic Principles: Real Quick

Kimberly Cooley — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:44:03 +0000

Good evening. One thing we can’t hide is our character. When you show up, so does it, so just be-real.

Peace – Kimberly

Basic Principles: Reality

Kimberly Cooley — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:58:15 +0000

Good evening. Today I made the comment to someone that I was a winner. Boy, was I right! I have the finest of character and the best of personalities right in my small, inner circle, and I am so grateful. Yes. I am #winning

Peace – Kimberly

Well, It Must Be God’s…

Kimberly Cooley — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:11:02 +0000

Good evening. Just because something happens doesn’t mean it’s God’s will. Many times we simply choose what we want to happen in the first place. Take responsibility, be accountable, and stop blaming God. God speaks to and guides us, but He also gives us free will, and just because we choose the wrong thing, doesn’t re-align the situation to be God ordained. He is merciful and will not leave us, but we have to be open, receptive, and available to do what He wants us to do.

Peace – Kimberly

Quite Simple

Kimberly Cooley — Sun, 22 May 2011 18:02:54 +0000

Good evening. Intellect, education, and professional status may earn you people’s attention, but neither will ever earn you their trust. Whether a Dean or a Door Man, if you don’t know how to treat people, you don’t deserve to be trusted.

Take a second and mirror your actions and words. Now, what do you think?

Peace – Kimberly

Selective Deuces

Kimberly Cooley — Sun, 08 May 2011 20:21:00 +0000

Good evening. Very few relationships are worth fighting in the trenches for. The others simply require far too much effort for what they return. Don’t worry about trying to figure out which is which. Time, character, and integrity will let you know soon enough.

Peace – Kimberly

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

Rumors

Kimberly Cooley — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 05:51:40 +0000

Good evening, Inaccurate discussions about you should only remind you that “it’s really not about you.” Keep struttin’, keep strivin’, and keep believin’…and let the naysayers keep diggin’ (a hole for themselves.) This thing is so much bigger than us, and our God is so much bigger than it.

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed….All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” » 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 15

Peace – Kimberly

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A Kid Admired

Kimberly Cooley — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 19:56:07 +0000

With things much different and more complex than they were when I was growing up, I absolutely must show love and support to those young adults that are refusing to let “life” keep them from living their lives. Regardless of the pressure, negativity, and politics of this world, they keep pushing forward.

That being said…Much respect to you, DMO!

Devin O.

(H)utty: You’re Annoying

Kimberly Cooley — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 02:24:58 +0000

Good evening. Often times the people who annoy us the most are exactly the people we need to be in the company of most. Those people annoy us because something about them challenges us…usually during a time when we don’t want to be challenged and possibly in an area we care not to be challenged in.

Regardless, don’t push them away simply because you can’t handle it. Now granted some people are just outright annoying in the most annoying ways, but those people that annoy us on an entirely different level could very well make us better. Take the time to know the difference.

Peace – Kimberly

Deuces

Kimberly Cooley — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 04:54:32 +0000

Good evening. Sometimes we have the strongest attractions to people for reasons beyond our sight and knowledge. We know there’s a draw, an attraction, but we can’t put our finger on it. Unfortunately too often we ruin those relationships in the midst of us “trying to figure it out.” We guess and assume, second guess, rethink, and guess and assume again, while they suffer through it all. For a while they stick around hoping you’ll get it right, but then the hoping turns into waiting, and waiting turns into wasting time. Before you know it, you’re done with them and they’re done with you. No friendship or anything. Nothing left to even show for the years of effort, the years of trying.

Nevertheless, we live and move on deeming the entire situation as a lesson learned. Because in the end and as it is with everything in life, the greatest lesson was in the journey itself. We discovered things about ourselves that we never knew – good and bad. We learned what made us tick, what made us cry. What we needed and what we could give. Where we ended up was the person we became after it was all said and done – a person much better than we were before.

Wittingly or not, they made us better and for that we should be grateful.

Peace – Kimberly

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