If Eve would’ve just asked…

How would the Genesis story be different if instead of Eve listening/engaging the serpent, Eve had the discernment to ask God about WHY the tree was forbidden… What if Eve was to have asked for more knowledge… would a loving Creator withhold TRUTH? This makes me think that if we ask The Divine for answers, He/She will reveal them.

If we struggle with discernment on anything - may we spend time in the ways we best connect with the Divine to uncover what it is we need. I believe questions are one of the best ways to navigate life.

I spent an hour of so with Emily P Freeman’s reflection questions yesterday as I looked back on 2025 (I’ll share the questions below in case you want to do the same).

Also, this makes me think of Jesus in the New Testament. Jesus asked many questions in his ministry. I believe there is power in questions, it gets us thinking, discerning, and… #discernment2026 #wordoftheyear

Matthew 7:7-8

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Unrecognizable.

Unrecognizable. Today I saw a patient that I had visited this last summer and today, it’s heavy to report I was visiting them at the end of life. They were unrecognizable. The first visit I had with this patient was memorable. Their faith was very vibrant. They spoke of Jesus and even pulled out their phone and played me one of their favorite songs. The song was “Grace Wins,” by Matthew West. Both off key, we sang it along together in a hospital room. It’s only been about six months. Disease and death has come calling. Spending time with the family they told of the patient’s strong faith and witness.

I keep coming back to the word - Unrecognizable… I hope and pray I am unrecognizable regarding my “old self” my “duplicitous self,” my “rotten self.” I don’t know the life sketch of this patient, I only saw a snippet of their story - I saw a person’s whose favorite song says, “GRACE wins every time.”

So, when we are unrecognizable in snippets of our character, our calling, or our Christianity may we remember that grace truly does win every time.

May we be open to the reflection process during the closing of this year. Looking for the things we are to be grateful for, the things we may need to confess or apologize for, and the places where God miraculously answered prayers.

May OUR EYES remain fixed on Jesus, the AUTHOR and PERFECTER of our faith. WE are not doing this alone, THE HOLY SPIRIT will lead us, shape us, and change us. May our hard, ugly, and awful parts become dimmer and dimmer - and may our Divine Determination and Light glow so brightly we are unrecognizable in the new year. God bless each and everyone of us.

Here’s a link to the song - an oldy, but goody. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a1WKcB7umU

To quit or not to quit.

I was dreading going to the hospital this week. The wavering continues when it comes to chaplaincy. However, the things my patients say to me continually remind me why I do this work called chaplaincy. Some of my favorite visits happen right when I get to work at 7am… pre-surgeries. A lot of patients request a chaplain to come pray with them before going into their procedure. Many are anxious - understandably so. The prayers prayed over anxious hearts and minds are special. The very first person I saw today said to me with tears in their eyes, “Thank you for being here.” Well, I needed to hear that more than that person ever might have known. Faith is a gift and I believe it is a gift to be shared. Generations of my family had the gift of faith and I often wonder how far back that gift went? Part of me feels it is my responsibility to share it and give it to others who are seeking or lacking in some way. Today, every patient I saw reminded me of the call. Art feels far away from me right now, but I know that it won’t be that way forever. It’s coming on Christmas, only two days to go. All I can think is, “Jesus come back and get us.”

December

Creativity seems to have dried up somewhere along with the color of the season’s change. I ventured into my studio this evening hoping for some sparks to fly only to be met with cobwebs and remnants of what it felt like to be full of inspiration. So much of the last two years has been going through the motions. I dream of moving into the forest and being a hermit - isolated to just writing and painting. However, I know myself and I long for connection too. There seems to be no balance in the modern world. Technology has been a real detriment to my insides. A numbing agent all too readily available. If I even attempted to sit down and paint, I don’t even know where I would start. It feels as if there is nothing inside me. I catch glimpses of beauty on my daily walks and do my best to document and soak it in. Really… I think I’m lacking adventure and change. There’s a peace that comes with being comfortable and I am doing my best to be content with where I am. Grateful for the most part and looking for inspiration.

November

The hopeful yellow of gingko leaves is on the ground now. The metronome of wind shield wipers that will keep us company on the wintery roads is almost here. I wonder what this dark season will hold, but for now I soak in the November sun and am grateful for patches of color that still remain scattered about.

Innocence + depth

Innocence and depth will you please learn to hold hands? Will you dance for me?

Depth, my complaint stands - you only seem to mingle with grief and knowing.

Your weighted gifts are quite priceless however - understanding, empathy, compassion, grace.

Deep wrinkle lines of the heart are more beautiful than a young face.

#thoughts #prosepoetry #prose #kandycekingwrites #innocence #depth #heartandsoul #growth #grace

Alarm clock bird

Did God send you? You alarm clock bird

He’s calling me to meet Him in the mornings again..

It’s been a pattern a song in the head or one out the window..

Yours wasn’t particularly a pleasant hymn more of an alert 🚨

get up get up get up get up get up

Squeaking and squealing as if your little feathered life depended upon it. You did a good job, I got up.

A date with the divine - what does that look like with melted makeup and a stiff neck?

Today a reminder to care for orphans and widows - who are they in my life?

I tell you the truth

/ I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise /

Luke 23:43

6x8” (can be enlarged as a print on canvas)

Mixed Media

340lb mixed media paper

NFS

#easterart #mybeautifulmess #godoflove #godofgrace #godoflight #sunset #sunrise #peach #blue #grey #healedbyhisstripes #movement #abstractart #kandycekingart #beautyinexpression

First signs of spring

We plant in fallen Faith

With knowing Hope in the divinity of science

Which in due season will produce the delicate blooms and reminders that seasons change

So take a breath today

Plant in Faith, Watch for Hope, Embody Love

These thoughts came this morning after slowing down and listening - Picking daffodils, listening to piano music, listening to Bema podcast, reading ethics book, sketching and painting in the studio.

Ground

by k. king

we are

caged

ride

sun-kissed skies

are here

swallow

tangerine rich

scenes are near

roll

rich wet mud

awaits

grasp. sink, think

we are

marked

for

higher, brighter, lighter

ground

#galaxyminded #move #movement #divinelydetermined  #letsride #portlandwriter #moveforwhatmatters #prayerworks #prayerwalks #jesusall #liftoureyes #openourears #grasp #sink #think #leadus #survivor