“ As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months , we began to grasp , in a very personal way , the reassuring and unwavering truth that , ‘ Every morning his mercies are new !’”
I jumped into the process of reading and organizing twenty-five years of journal entries . I read with amazement the recorded events and reflections I ’ d forgotten long ago . I chose a writer and started interviews with her immediately . My sister , Becky Keep and I spent countless hours together . We laughed and cried over the amazing , sometimes terrifying , and often miraculous things God had done . Walking memory lane has been a really good exercise !
Phil has jumped into this process too . He has laughed and cried with me as we ’ ve edited these chapters . He ’ s collected , captioned , and numbered photo images from both our lives . He ’ s jumped into interview sessions with Becky and me , spending hours with us , and pulling intricate , forgotten details out of thin air . Together , we ’ ve marveled at the paths God has taken us down . Writing has provided a fresh vantage point for us — a vantage point of more than five decades of life , three decades of marriage , and two decades of ministry . As we ’ ve looked back over our path and traced the hand of God , we stand amazed .
As I read my journals and recalled the highlights , the chapters began to fall into place . It ’ s been challenging to know exactly which incidents to include and which to leave for another day . The volume of events was overwhelming . After months of writing , interviews , corrections , advice , and collaboration ; after all the digging through old photo albums , Facebook pages , and external hard drives ; after countless hours of reading , re-reading , consultations , and gallons of delicious coffee . . . His Gift , My Story is a reality .
My prayer is that through the stories and insights shared in these pages , your faith will increase . I pray that in your heart will arise a deeper love , a greater appreciation , and a more profound awe for God — our Father and the Creator of the universe — who , from the beginning of time , has been intricately involved in the affairs of men . This God converges on our life ’ s pathway at the most unexpected moments , to show with unparalleled splendor his presence and fatherly care . I am eternally grateful !
I love you all ,
Kim
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