Worldly Passions

I love everything about the cattle industry – I love the people, I love the lifestyle and I love the product! Up until this past January, my life revolved around cattle. All of my projects for my classes, my extra-curricular activities and my hobbies related to cattle and beef.

In January, at a small Bible study, we discussed our passions and what we spent the majority of our time focused on; it was easy for me to know my answer. I realized, however, that the cattle and my future career industry was #1 in my life, not God. Then, as a group, we discussed how God has to be our number one and the things we invest our time in need to reflect Him.

Exodus 20:4, part of the Ten Commandments, says ~ You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

I prayed that night that with God’s help I would place Him as my number one and the cattle business where it needs to be.

The next week I was an intern for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association at their annual convention in San Antonio. Normally, I would have soaked up every minute of it and been consumed by all the information. However, my heart wasn’t there.

Over the past 10 months, He has helped me overcome my captivation with the cattle business. I even got to the point where I didn’t want to hear anything about it cattle.

Before January, I didn’t think I could ever be happy with a job that wasn’t related to cattle and beef. But in the last month, I have come to peace about whatever God has in store me, whether it be in the industry or not.

And it’s ironic now because just this week I have had an opportunity come up with a cattle magazine, which I’m very excited about, but it’s not the same kind of worldly passion I used to have. I know that God’s hands are all over my work and I want to be a blessing through my writing whether it be religious based or about the cattle industry.

Shine God’s light everywhere you go and to everyone you meet.

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!

More Like Falling in Love

I don’t think I understood God’s love until recently – not that I understand it fully now, but I feel like I have a better grasp of our relationship.

I have known for as long as I can remember that God is good and that it’s important to have a connection with Him. I knew this in my mind, but the connection with my heart seemed to fade in and out.

The way that I have come to a new realization about my love relationship with God is by loving another person.

I have always loved my family very much and I love my friends as well, but this is a different kind of love – a love that I have never felt before and to be honest, wasn’t quite sure it existed.

It’s that kind of love that creates a warm feeling that fills your heart, the kind that when you are with them, everything is okay. They are the first one you want to tell when something good happens and the one you run to when life gets you down.

When you hear their name a smile that can’t be hidden spreads across your face. Their voice brings peace and comfort to your soul.

Jason Gray, a Christian singer has a song titled More Like Falling in Love. Part of the lyrics say “It’s gotta be more like falling in love than something to believe in, more like losing my heart than giving my allegiance. In more than a name, a faith, a creed, falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me.”

Falling in love with another person has brought my relationship with God to a new light. I look forward to spending time talking to Him. When I feel His presence, it fills my soul with peace and I’m comforted in knowing He is my guide. I’m able to take Him with me through the great times as well as tough trials.

I pray that God moves in your heart this week. Spend some quality time seeking Him – it’s good to know God’s love in your mind, but it’s amazing to feel it in your heart.

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!

Be a Blessing

When you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it. Then it will be a private matter. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. ~ Matthew 6:3-4

The following are some ideas of ways to be a blessing to others:
Hug a friend or family member.
Clean up litter on a street in your neighborhood.
Drop off a plant or some home-made baked goods to a neighbor.
Say something nice to everyone you meet today.
Leave a kind note for a family member or friend.
Tell kids why you love them.
Cheer-up a friend.
Donate blood.
Smile and say "Hello" to people you don't know.
Offer to babysit for free.
Offer someone behind you in the grocery check out line to go in front of you.
Open the car door for your passenger.
Take a neighbors newspaper laying out on their driveway to them or leave at their front door.
Tell the mail carrier thank you for all their work.
Let a neighbor know how much you value their friendship.
Let a manager know you compliment a sales clerk for their pleasant service.
Leave your change in the soda machine for the next person. It's a nice surprise.
If you’re a boss of a company - allow your employees to leave a half hour early as a surprise.
Pay for the persons order behind you when in a drive through line.
Run an errand for someone.
Call a parent just to say you love them.
Help an elderly person care for their pet(s).
Take a meal to a family you know.
Stop into a nursing home just to spend a little time with the residents.
Send flowers to a teacher who has dedicated their life to educating children.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ~ Colossians 3:17

Shine God’s light everywhere you go and to everyone you meet.

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!

Who do you serve?

There are those people you meet in life that not only come into your heart, but they leave their footprints.

Barrett McCormick and I were officers for the Northwest Texas Conference Council of Youth Ministries together my senior year of high school. I have never met another young man who was so full of God’s love. He is now in college also and sends out really good text messages occasionally. The following is a recent one that provoked a lot of thought:
“So my question for the week is – Who do you serve?

Now most of us are going to blurt out instantly – God! But now I want to ask you this question – How many hours a week do you pick up your bible and read or just spend time in prayer?

Now how many hours a week do you spend doing hobbies like sports, hanging out with friends, or watching TV?

So now that we have studied our weekly schedule, I ask you – “Who do you serve?”

Imagine if we spent our time wisely. Picture how much we could do through God if we served him ALL the time!

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. ~ Matthew 6:24.

So I ask you – Do you serve God, or your worldly desires?”

I used this same verse from Matthew two weeks ago in my column about not being a luke-warm Christian and Barrett’s questions take it a step further.

I encourage you to sit down, grab a sheet of paper and jot down what you have spent your time on over the previous week. Pay close attention to your down time or the time you’re not at work or school. What are you doing? Maybe instead of watching TV, you pick up a devotional book. Physical activity is great, but eternal activity is very important!

So my questions – Who do you serve?

Shine God’s light everywhere you go and to everyone you meet.

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!

Goal VS. Mission

While taking a Strengths Test, I had to choose between the following: “I have a goal in life.” or “I have a mission in life.”

In the 20 seconds I had to decide, lots of thoughts ran through my mind. What is the difference between a goal and a mission? Is there a difference between the two?

According to dictionary.com, the following are the definitions for the two words:

Goal: the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim.

Mission: an assigned or self-imposed duty or task; calling; a sending or being sent for some duty or purpose.

So then I ask myself, “Do I have a goal in life, or do I have a mission in life”?

Overall in life, I want to be mission focused. I want to strive to do God’s will and follow His lead. I do, however, think it’s very important to have goals.

I had the goal of winning lamb, goat and pig showmanship my senior year and with tons of work, I did. However, I’m not a professional showman.

One of my current goals is to graduate from college, but just graduating with a bachelor’s degree isn’t my calling in life.

I believe that God has a purpose for each of our lives but how do we discover His path? We read His word and grow in our relationship with Him.

If you have not read The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, I highly recommend it!

Warren goes through and answers the question “What on earth am I here for?” in a 40 day process.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who words out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory. ~ Ephesians 1:11-14

Shine God’s light everywhere you go and to everyone you meet.

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!

Road Kill

I heard an interesting analogy on the radio – We, as Christians, are sometimes like animals that hang out on the side of the road. We can’t make up our mind which side we want to be on. We flirt with danger by spending time in the gray zone.

Revelations 3 says ~ To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

It’s hard to not live in the world with today’s society. It’s hard when mean people drive brand new cars and have fancy jewelry and shoes. It’s hard when life seems so easy for those who party all the time and live without any consequence. It’s hard when temptations of this world arise.

However, I know, without a shadow of a doubt that my God loves me. And in that fact, I find the joy and peace that help me strive for the ultimate goal of being with Christ in Heaven.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourself treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness.

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. ~Matthew 6:24

Shine God’s light everywhere you go and to everyone you meet.

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!

When the Skies are Gray

Here are some words that were shared with me back in July –

I saw a little bird one day,‘Twas sitting on a wire,
The air was cold and frosty and one longed for the fire.

The little bird stretched wide his beak and melody flowed out;.
He didn’t seem to mind the cold, just sang and looked about.

From out his feathered throat, there came a song of pure delight.
The wind blew hard, the snow swirled by, he sang with all his might.

I bowed my head and said, “Dear Lord, make me like that small bird, when things are cold and drear, oh Lord, please make my song be heard.

If I can sing when harsh winds blow, and things are drear and cold, I’ll be of help to kindred hearts who’ve almost lost their hold.

Lord give me the courage to sing out though skies above seem gray and may I, like the little bird help make a happy day.” ~ written by Glenn E. Wagoner.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. ~ Deuteronomy 31:6

I love the words by Mr. Wagoner and the verse from Deuteronomy! It’s such an encouragement. I do pray those words, “give me the courage to sing out though skies above seem gray”.

Let us not become wearing in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don’t not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. ~ Galatians 6:9-10

My Uncle Kyle shared these verses from Galatians with me when I was a sophomore in high school and they have stuck with me.

It’s so easy to become overwhelmed with negativity and problems. It’s not hard to complain when the storms of life are raging.

But how amazing is it when you can take that moment, when the skies are cloudy and the waves are crashing, and use it to encourage someone!

Shine God’s light everywhere you go, to everyone you meet.

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!