S4 Episode #4- Kaley Thompson
THE ONE WITH KALEY THOMPSON
Today we are so excited to welcome Kaley Rivera Thompson to the show! Kaley is an author, copywriter, and worship leader. Her passion to see women love God and each other authentically has led her to lead worship for ministries across the greater Charlotte area and write devotional books for over a decade. When she's not writing or playing her guitar, Kaley loves to sip strong coffee, go on hikes, or take a day trip to the mountains with her family. She is the wife to TWELVE sports ministry leader, Gage Thompson, and the mom to two little girls, Lina and Lili. You can follow her on instagram at @kriverathompson and find out more on her website at www.kriverathompson.com.
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Our culture tends to glorify busyness and it can be easy to get caught up in an achievement oriented lifestyle. In high school, Kaley struggled with an eating disorder as a way to gain control of something in her life when everything else felt out of control. It was in her season of recovery that everything was stripped away from Kaley except from church and worship. The Word of God saved her life, and in this season it changed from just being head-knowledge to being true heart-knowledge.
Our words have power– the Bible tells us that life or death is in the tongue. Speak the Word of God over your life and your family. Speak life over your situation.
“This is what the LORD says to you: `Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them. ... Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem.” - 2 Chronicles 20:17
There is a core principle of suffering in the Christian life, but God reminds us to “take heart” for He has overcome the world. Christ is still there, no matter what we are walking through.
The Character of God
God always uses our brokenness and creates beauty out of it.
We want God to be Santa in the sense that we desire the good gifts and blessings from Him. What we don’t want to accept at times is that the gift might actually show up in the form of a hardship or a struggle.
God is not Santa, He is sovereign.
In the Narnia series, there is one part where Aslan (the lion) wounds the children. This keeps them in hiding and is the very thing that provides their protection. The lion was actually saving them by wounding them.
Advent
The world was in total darkness, and when Jesus came, he brought light to the darkness. In our weakness, He is strong. Even in our darkest, worst days, there is a good God in the middle of it.
The goodness of God is that he can bring beauty out of our darkness.
The hope of the world– the light of the world– stepped down when the world was in complete darkness. There was 400 years of silence leading up to the birth of Christ.
Sometimes good things take time
Advent started as a time of waiting to be baptized. Now it is a time of reflection leading up to the days of Jesus’ arrival.
Matrimony, Motherhood and Me Devotional Book
How can marriage and motherhood be done well?
The “we” vs. “me” mindset.
Sifting your focus– stop looking at how dirty or stressful a situation is. Stop looking at the “messy screen door”, and allow yourself to see the beauty of what is happening in your home/life.
The book addresses the hard alongside the good.
Finding things in each season to enjoy, instead of wishing away your current season.
Ask yourself, “What is God doing right now?”
Our home is in the Lord, so no matter where we go or what season we find ourselves in, The Lord is right there. He is working in the middle of the wait and the middle of the struggle.
Final Thoughts
Jesus is The Light of the World. Jesus has come and He is still here.
Picture Jesus standing you in front of a mirror and saying, “You– it’s you. You are my light in the world, you are the city on the hill. Go and be the hope of Christ in your world. Shine a light in the darkness.”
May the hope of Jesus infuse your situation this Christmas! May you have eyes to see all the ways God is providing, even if you’re not in the place you expected to be.
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” - Isaiah 9:6
He is all of those things! Whatever you are in need of this holiday season, He has it.
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The Collected Podcast is produced by Jes Biondo and edited by Jacob Early. Cover art designed by Ben Biondo.