Tag Archives: kellikossel

Love or Money – Kelli Kossel
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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

“Save your pennies. Make your fortune and keep it.” These were the last words spoken to Ebenezer Scrooge by his father before going to prison and they echoed in his thoughts until he was old.

“Let us love ‘till we die and God bless us every one.” Ebenezer’s mother tried her best to comfort and provide hope but she died not long after–so did her positive influence.

Love lived in his heart for a while. He wrote sentimental letters to his sister, courted a beautiful, sweet young lady, Emily, who wanted nothing from him except his love. He even proposed, but his heart grew cold and love of money surpassed his love for Emily.

Ebenezer began working late into the night, leaving little time for her. He wanted to delay getting married until he’d saved up enough money to feel secure. One day Emily gave him back the ring. ”I can’t bear watching you work yourself to an early death.” Rather than running after her, Ebenezer just continued working. Day by day, His sadness smoldered into bitterness and the loving words of his mother drifted away.

The Bible says, “God is love.” Every time I watch Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, I’m reminded of the importance of placing God (love) above everything else. It’s easy to be entranced by the clutches of money. Advertisements bombard us with the message that having enough money will buy security. Money is truly the master of our society. With the current state of the economy, most of us realize that not only does money not bring security, it can disappear very quickly.

I make a daily effort to serve God. When I’m serving Him with my whole heart, His love will overpower any fleeting desires for lesser things. He makes sure my basic needs are met.

What are you working for — God or cold cash? Either God provides for your needs and security or money does. Remember, you cannot have two masters.

Kelli Kossel is a licensed Acupuncturist and, as part of her practice, counsels people about nutrition, stress management, and other lifestyle behaviors related to health promotion and prevention of disease. She has a passion for writing Christian philosophy, Christian living, devotions, poetry, and health related topics. Kelli is known for taking difficult biblical principles and teaching readers how to apply them to their everyday lives. She shares her heart in both her work and writing.
Read Kelli’s devotions.
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Being Thankful Always – Kelli Kossel
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Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Traditionally, my family celebrates Thanksgiving at my parents’ home. Not this past year. My parents were sick and by the time other relatives bowed out for various reasons, we were left with four people.

I felt bad my parents had to miss Thanksgiving dinner. It was the first Thanksgiving without Grandpa too. Rather than feeling sorry for myself, I offered thanks to God that I had other family to celebrate with. There are many who spend holidays alone, others who can hardly afford to feed their family, much less provide a bountiful feast. I thanked God my parents are alive and healthy, suffering only a temporary setback, although the atypical Thanksgiving Day did remind me how much I have to be thankful for.

God calls us to be thankful in all circumstances out of the hope we have in Him. We can be grateful God is always with us, caring for and loving us. A spirit of thankfulness is an attitude independent of circumstances. We are called to offer thanks to God even if our current situation is less than positive. Storms will rage in our lives but God is good all the time, turning even the worst circumstances into blessings.

It’s easy to be thankful when life is good, but it’s difficult to be thankful when the going gets tough. God calls us to rely on Him and He will help us grow stronger in our faith. He cares for His children.

Each difficulty is a chance for me to see God at work in my life. A beautiful blessing has blossomed out of each bud of pain.

May you have a heart of gratitude and give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. May God open your eyes to the bountiful blessings He’s poured out on you.

Kelli Kossel is a licensed acupuncturist and, as part of her practice, counsels people about nutrition, stress management, and other lifestyle behaviors related to health promotion and prevention of disease. She has a passion for writing Christian philosophy, Christian living, devotions, poetry, and health related topics. Kelli is known for taking difficult biblical principles and teaching readers how to apply them to their everyday lives. She shares her heart in both her work and writing.
Read Kelli’s devotions.
Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

Seeking Direction From God – Kelli Kossel
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In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6

If you’ve ever been lost, you know how quickly panic sets in. The more anxious you become, the less clearly you think. Reason and logic fly out the window. When lost, do you stop and ask for directions or try to find your own way?

When I’m depressed, worried, or hurting I sometimes forget to ask for God’s help. This is when the enemy steps in, wanting me to think I’m all alone. Nothing could be further from the truth. God is there. He does care. All I need to do is call on Him.

Once I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, He guided me to the Father. Life isn’t always smoother, but the trail was blazed by Jesus. He’s cleared away my sin so I can walk unencumbered past the roadblocks sin creates.

Life isn’t easy. There’s always twists and turns. But Jesus will walk with us every step of the way. Life is more rewarding and purposeful when we follow Christ. We experience immense joy and freedom once we have Godly direction. He’s guided me to places I would have never found on my own.

When I take a wrong turn, I stare straight ahead and think of Jesus. By turning my thoughts to Him, my sin is left behind. The more I focus on Jesus, the straighter my path becomes. Rather than succumbing to the temptations of the world, I focus on Jesus. Rather than allowing myself to become irritated, argue, or say things I’ll regret, I turn my thoughts to Jesus. Rather than giving in to fear and anxiety, I march boldly ahead to Jesus. Momentary temptations and stress fade away.

By following Jesus, you’ll be on the right path. What direction are you headed?

The Path

Our time in this world is as
Fleeting as a footprint in the sand.
Just how you spend your time,
Is in your hands.
You can choose to live your life in the light,
And brighten others paths in the night.
You can choose to live your life in the dark,
And not care whether you’ve played your part.
But know the path you choose today
Determines what direction
You’ll go on your last day.

Kelli is a licensed acupuncturist and, as part of her practice, counsels people about nutrition, stress management, and other lifestyle behaviors related to health promotion and prevention of disease. She has a passion for writing Christian philosophy, Christian living, devotions, poetry, and health related topics. Kelli is known for taking difficult biblical principles and teaching readers how to apply them to their everyday lives. She shares her heart in both her work and writing.
Read Kelli’s devotions.
Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

In God’s Time – Kelli Kossel
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Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7

“Are we there yet?” What adult doesn’t cringe at this question when traveling with their children?

I’m impatient when it comes to waiting on God. It’s an area of my life that never seems to go fast enough. I find myself waiting in eager anticipation of His response—wanting God to answer right away. Fix the problems now. “If only you would do this one thing for me, God, I promise to…” or, “If you really loved me, you would…”

God’s idea of time is vastly different from ours. To Him, the entire span of our lifetime passes in the blink of an eye. God isn’t slow answering our prayers. He has a plan and His timing is always perfect. He wants us to be patient just as He is patient with us. The lessons I may need to learn may take some time. I learn to wait patiently for Him as my trust grows. He knows what is best for me — obedience.

God has us wait for His answers for several reasons. If our prayer is selfish or has the wrong motive, God may fill our heart with compassion. He always has our best interest at heart and will not grant us something that isn’t good for us.

Out of trials, pain, and temptations grows patience and dependence on God. Sometimes we need to endure hardships long enough to come out stronger in faith.

We must learn to rely on Him. God sometimes answers in unexpected ways. I’ve sometimes found an answer revealed in the midst of a surprising response.

Be assured, God hears your prayers and His answer will come, even if you feel like He has forgotten. Remember His goal is to bring us closer to Him.

As you await God’s answer to your prayers, be patient and trust Him.

Kelli is a licensed Acupuncturist and, as part of her practice, counsels people about nutrition, stress management, and other lifestyle behaviors related to health promotion and prevention of disease. She has a passion for writing Christian philosophy, Christian living, devotions, poetry, and health related topics. Kelli is known for taking difficult biblical principles and teaching readers how to apply them to their everyday lives. She shares her heart in both her work and writing.
Read Kelli’s devotions.
Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

Words Aptly Spoken – Kelli Kossel
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The tongue has the power of life and death… Proverbs 18:21

It was a life-changing New Year’s Eve when the movie left the television screen and I became the lead. I was enjoying a movie and popcorn with my parents when suddenly, my own movie began to play in my head. Every unkind word I’d said to my boyfriend over the past few years flashed on the screen.

The “movie” played sporadically for hours. I couldn’t  pause or stop it; instead, it haunted me like an old Alfred Hitchcock thriller. I still remember the shock as I watched myself. Tears poured down my cheeks as guilt and sadness became disgust. My heart raced and it felt as if I had an elephant on my chest. How could I have uttered such hurtful words to someone I loved?

God spoke creation into existence. If God’s word is powerful enough to generate life, how can we think our words are unimportant? Scripture tells us words have a profound effect on our health. Words affect us deeply; they can make us sick or heal us. We are fragile creatures and words can cut deeper than an act of physical aggression or be sweeter than honey.

How can we control what comes out of our mouths? We can’t. But God can. With God’s help, we can change from being abusers of words to using them for good. When I’m about to say something I know I shouldn’t, I pause and pray—asking God to help me hold my tongue. And He does.

Proverbs warns us of the power of the tongue and the importance of using its power for good. Within the wisdom of the Word lies the path of good and righteousness.

Don’t let a day go by without saying “I love you” to your loved ones. There is no guarantee you will see them tomorrow.  Don’t let your last words to a loved one leave a scar on their heart. Use the power of words to heal, not hurt.

Kelli is a licensed Acupuncturist and as part of her practice, counsels people about nutrition, stress management, and other lifestyle behaviors related to health promotion and prevention of disease. She has a passion for writing Christian philosophy, Christian living, devotions, poetry, and health related topics. Kelli is known for taking difficult biblical principles and teaching readers how to apply them to their everyday lives. She shares her heart in both her work and writing.
Read Kelli’s devotions.
Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

Following the Good Shepherd – Kelli Kossel
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My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

It’s one of my favorite things — going to the park to watch the cute, downy ducklings follow their mother. In the first hours of life, ducklings bond  and learn how to behave by watching the parent they meet at birth. This genetic phenomenon is called imprinting. Ducklings will die if they do not have an appropriate model to imitate.

The Bible likens Jesus to a shepherd and us to His flock of sheep. Sheep can die if left to fend for themselves because they rely on the shepherd to lead them to food and keep them safe. Just as sheep follow their shepherd, I follow Jesus who protects me and gives me eternal life. There is no substitute for Jesus. Should I follow anyone or anything else, my decisions are not always wise and I’m easily lost. Jesus not only knows me by name, but He also knows every little thing about me.

When I make the choice to follow Jesus, I choose to follow His ways rather than the sinful ways of the world. Now I study how Jesus lived while here on earth by reading the Bible and making every effort to imitate Him. Like the ducklings, I need the guidance to be the person God wants me to become and He is always there to guide me.

Who is your shepherd? There is only one who leads to eternal life.

Kelli is a licensed acupuncturist and, as part of her practice, counsels people about nutrition, stress management, and other lifestyle behaviors related to health promotion and prevention of disease. She has a passion for writing Christian philosophy, Christian living, devotions, poetry, and health related topics. Kelli is known for taking difficult biblical principles and teaching readers how to apply them to their everyday lives. She shares her heart in both her work and writing.
Read Kelli’s devotions.
Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

Heavenly Treasures Versus Earthly Pleasures – Kelli Kossel
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For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

One Sunday the pastor challenged us to look at our checkbooks and credit card statements and see where our money was going. Are we spending more money on ourselves than we’re giving to God?

I’m reminded of the pastor’s message every time I’m tempted to go shopping. Do I really need another sweater, book, candle… Most of the time I avoid going altogether.

Where we spend our money is where our hearts are. Do I want my heart to be amidst worthless possessions or with God? I choose the treasure of God’s kingdom. The inheritance waiting for me there will never perish or fade, unlike everything I own. There is nothing I wouldn’t gladly give up to follow God. None of my possessions mean anything compared to Him. The Bible is full of examples of people leaving behind everything they had to follow Jesus when He said, “Come, follow me.” Their hearts were clearly with Jesus.

I’m careful not to spend more money on clothes or frivolous items than I present to God. He has given me everything. If all I have has come from God, why should I think it belongs to me? God provides richly for me when I give richly back to Him. My gifts of money to church, relatives, friends in need, and charities are accumulating as treasures in heaven. God uses my donations in ways reaching far beyond my meager intentions.

Is your heart set on the treasures of heaven or on the pleasures of this world? Remember, you can’t take anything with you when you leave…

Kelli is a licensed Acupuncturist and, as part of her practice, counsels people about nutrition, stress management, and other lifestyle behaviors related to health promotion and prevention of disease. She has a passion for writing Christian philosophy, Christian living, devotions, poetry, and health related topics. Kelli is known for taking difficult biblical principles and teaching readers how to apply them to their everyday lives. She shares her heart in both her work and writing.
Read Kelli’s devotions.
Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!