inspiration

Growing Pains

/ Kimberly Fraker / Leave a comment

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8

Throughout my life I have been happy in my work as long as I am experiencing growth – learning and broadening my knowledge, developing skills. I realized a long time ago that this requires me to get out of my comfort zone. You can’t reach for more without stretching … right? 

Don’t believe me? Try it …

In general, growth of any kind is not experienced without some pain or discomfort – physically, professionally, emotionally, spiritually. 

Consider this example: Soon after my son started high school, I noticed he frequently complained about his legs aching. At the time, little did we know that those nagging aches and pains were ushering him into adulthood. It wasn’t until later that I realized he grew 9 inches from his freshman to his sophomore year in high school. That was unbelievable and incredible to me. I had to start looking up to my sweet son who now towers over me. After he endured the physical strain resulting in his adult height, he began to take great joy in peering down and leaning on me to emphasize his stature. I am a bit vertically challenged and this further emphasized it.

I can cite numerous examples where this has been true for me professionally as well. Keeping late nights and long hours, working to complete a task or project, returning to school for advanced degrees. The list could go on and on. I am certain you have your own experiences to highlight. 

So, it really is true. No pain, no gain.

What about our spiritual growth? Yes, the same concept applies to this too. Even when we stop growing on the outside, we can and should continue growing on the inside.

If you are thinking spirituality is comforting, pleasant, and hopeful. You are correct.

If you extend that into thinking spirituality is not painful, uncomfortable, or difficult, I say you are incorrect.

Spirituality is all of the above. Remember: no pain, no gain. 

I said at the beginning I find I am happiest in my work when I am growing. Examining my life, I can see that this is true personally, spiritually too. When I consider times of unhappiness or discontent in my faith walk, those periods clearly coincide with phases of being spiritually stagnant. 

Consider this: If you are unhappy in your faith or questioning your blessings and beliefs (or the lack of), maybe you need to get out of your spiritual comfort zone. 

Set aside time to read the Bible or join a Bible study group. Listen to Christian music or a faith-based podcast. Try a new Sunday school class or a different worship service.

Become uncomfortable by altering your schedule to make time for Jesus and by making it a habit to focus on your own spiritual growth. 

It may hurt at first – getting out of bed earlier for faith-focused thought and reflection, giving up a free weeknight to fellowship with other Christians, taking time to read a devotional series or the Bible instead of the most recent bestseller, kneeling in purposeful prayer on a regular basis. Through these growing pains you are sure to add to the qualities mentioned in the scripture: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.

Imagine the new heights you will reach in your relationship with God and your increasing measure in being a productive, effective, happy follower of Christ. 

Let the Sun Shine In

/ Kimberly Fraker / Leave a comment

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.                     

2 Thessalonians 3:3

With thoughts of floating in the pool and putting our toes in the sand, people everywhere are pulling out the pool floats and swimwear, putting on flip flops and sunglasses, and purchasing sunshades and sunscreen for the summer months ahead. 

Spring is in full swing and we just can’t help basking in the warmth of the sun. 

Bring on the Summertime!

Amidst the excitement of returning to the outdoors to enjoy more fun in the sun, I was given a reality check by a dermatologist. As it turns out, the same sun that warms the soul and provides the body with much needed vitamin D can also cause great damage – not just during the summer months but all year long, rain or shine. 

Now, much older and somewhat wiser, I am adhering to the advice of professionals and applying sunscreen every day to protect my skin- even when its cloudy. 

Spiritually, we need protection everyday too. As revealed in 2 Thessalonians, God is our protection from the evils in the world – the troubles we see and those we can’t see. Just like that sunscreen offers protection to minimize damage caused by those harmful UV rays, God sent Jesus as our sonscreen for life to minimize and manage our troubles. The directions for daily use are easy: Read the Bible. Pray. Repeat.

So, as you head out to spend these spring and summer days in the sun and you reach for the suntan lotion, remember to reach for the ultimate protection for everything life throws your way. 

Dear Lord,

You are my refuge and my shield;  I have put my hope in your word (Psalm 119:114). Thank you for providing me with the protection I need each and every day.

Pa-Paw’s Orchard

/ Kimberly Fraker / 1 Comment

The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.                                                                                 Galatians 5:22-23

Standing over my father’s shoulder, staring down the long, pasture-lined highway, the excitement was building. I couldn’t wait to get there. To that special place with so much to explore. The fresh air, rolling hills, and steak for breakfast – Nan-Naw and Pa-Paw’s house!

My grandparents lived in a different state, so my family visited primarily during summer vacation and Thanksgiving break. I loved it there. Surrounded by my cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and all that space. So much for us to do yet nothing but the land and our imaginations. 

My grandparents owned a beautiful piece of property with a few outbuildings and a small home where they raised their five children. I always wondered where they put all those kids in that meager home. On part of the property, my grandfather had several apple trees. I remember the time and care my grandfather took tending to his small orchard. Making sure the trees were free of pests and disease and gently caring for the fruit they produced. He would even stretch white fabric underneath the trees, elevated off the ground to catch the apples as they fell to prevent damage to the fruit. 

Oh, how I loved it when he would pick a fresh apple, cut it with his pocketknife, and offer me a slice. What I didn’t fully comprehend or appreciate as a young girl was the fact that more than one type of apple was produced from a single tree in my grandfather’s orchard. But how could that be? How is that possible?

My grandfather would graft a branch from one tree onto another of a different type. As a result, an individual tree would yield different types of apples. How neat is that?! 

In the same manner, the fruit of the spirit is not limited to one type. When reading Galatians 5:22-23, I began to wonder, “How can this be? … How can such a variety of fruit come from one source? Then, I remembered my Pa- Paw’s orchard and the answer seemed clear and simple. 

When we allow the Holy Spirit to become part of us, we yield a variety of fruit. We continue to produce fruit as before, but it is enhanced and increased. The fruit called love being of primary importance. I Corinthians 13:13 states, “But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

From love through faithfulness, we will find joy, peace, and patience. As a result, we produce kindness, generosity, gentleness, and self-control.

By allowing God to work in our lives, grafting the Holy Spirit to us, we are able to bear all of the fruits of the spirit.

As tasty and satisfying as the apples were from my grandfather’s orchard, so is the fruit of my life and yours when enhanced by the Holy Spirit.

Just Keep Swimming

/ Kimberly Fraker / Leave a comment

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

I love swimming. Quite frankly, it is the only exercise I don’t hate.

As a young person, I took every lifesaving/water safety class offered at our local swimming pool leading me to develop this love of the water. I appreciate the physical benefits, and I love the versatility too. With this skill, you can swim for exercise, leisure, cooling down, or to save a life (possibly your own).

During the summer months, I try to swim 50 laps a day. Well … on the sunny days. Sometimes, I even push myself to do more. Most days when swimming, I am moving along, gliding through the water on a mission to complete a workout. When I’m done, I float enjoying the warmth of the sun watching the clouds drift by. However, there are times when I find myself treading water, dog-paddling to keep my head above water, not making much progress.

Life is a lot like swimming. There are moments/weeks when I’m making great gains. Moving forward toward my goals. Then, I find myself treading water. Kicking like crazy under the surface, struggling to keep my head above water. 

As reflected in the scripture above, I discovered when I push myself … one more lap, one more set, 10 more minutes … I become stronger. When I don’t give up on my goal, I feel so much better when I’m done. Then, I can float – bask in the sun. Over time, I reap the benefits of perseverance. 

My advice for you today is – Just keep swimming.

Encountering difficult circumstances – Just keep swimming.

Feeling like giving up – Just keep swimming.

You must keep pushing through the rough waves to reach the calm waters. Don’t become stagnate or get stuck treading water.

Just keep swimming.

Where are you today? Is there something that is good for you that you laid aside? Did you abandon a goal? Do you think that the peace you seek is unattainable? 

No matter where you are in your workout of life – toiling through the laps, floating in the sun, or treading water so you don’t drown … Remember, just keep swimming.

You, too, will reap the reward for not giving up

Begin … Again

/ Kimberly Fraker / 1 Comment

But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty,if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state. Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.   Job 8:5-7

After my last post (December 2024), I decided to take a month-long hiatus from my regular writing.

Now, one year – not one month – later, I find myself here. Ready to begin … again.

2025 was complicated and challenging in a variety of ways. Navigating a new phase of life and changing family dynamics put me a bit off balance and I struggled to find a new rhythm. 

As an educator, I appreciated and anticipated the ending of one school year and the beginning of the next, viewing it as a chance to wipe the slate (or desk) clean and start new and fresh. Erasing the things that did not work or I did not like and carrying forward only those things that were successful and positive. 

I imagine this is how many or most people view the new calendar year, making resolutions and promises of improvement or vowing to leave behind the bad habits and destructive patterns of the previous year to enter January with a clean slate. 

But do we, really?

We don’t or can’t truly leave it all behind. 

Real life doesn’t stop and start like that. Real life is To Be Continued … much like your favorite binge watch. When whatever show your streaming ends a season, the next season picks up where it left off. Sure, some story lines end all neat and tidy but there is always something from the past that surfaces driving the storyline in the new season.

So here we are entering 2026, right where we left off in December. 

What was “so last year” is very much still right here with us. Those missteps and mistakes and those questionable choices and bad breaks didn’t disappear or miraculously vanish. 

It is all still here lying heavy on the heart. 

This new year is not the blank slate it is hailed to be. It is, however, an awakening. A calling to begin … again. January is a fresh start, an inhalation of hope and a renewal of self and spirit.

Whether your entrance into this New Year was accompanied with great fanfare and excitement or entered into as a whisper in the wind, there is encouragement ahead. No matter your circumstances coming into 2026, God is here for you and with you. HE is ushering us into this time and space as we begin … again – continuing our walk with Him.

When Job was at his lowest and humbled in ways we cannot fathom, he was reminded of God’s mercy and faithfulness. God longs to restore each of us in the same way – as often as needed. 

This year let’s seek God earnestly and prosper through what He has in store for us.

To Be Continued …