My Christmas Miracle! Kim Kossie McKee's God Story

1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,520
Hey friends, welcome to another of our special Her God Story Christmas episodes.

2
00:00:06,520 --> 00:00:11,080
This one is a miracle story that we pray will build your faith and equip you in your walk

3
00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:12,080
with the Lord.

4
00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:17,280
I'm your host, Jodie Chiricosta, ministry leader at Somebody Cares America International, author

5
00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:20,200
and traveler on this journey of faith.

6
00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:25,800
Christmas celebrates the miracle of the Incarnation, God wrapping Himself in human flesh and arriving

7
00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:30,760
as a helpless baby to begin the costly but glorious work of salvation.

8
00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:34,120
The chorus of the song, The Miracle of Christmas, says,

9
00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:39,920
And the God who spoke is still speaking, and the God who came still comes.

10
00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:44,720
I've invited my friend Kim Kossie McKee to share her Christmas miracle with us, and

11
00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,680
you will see that those words are true.

12
00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:51,220
After you've heard Kim's Christmas story, you might want to listen to the other episode

13
00:00:51,220 --> 00:00:55,620
that was posted earlier this year where Kim shares more of her God story.

14
00:00:55,620 --> 00:00:58,400
I know you'll be encouraged by them both.

15
00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,280
Kim, tell us your Christmas miracle story.

16
00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:08,800
A miracle is a marvel at any time, but there's something very special and even sacred about

17
00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,360
a miracle at Christmas time.

18
00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:17,280
And that's what I experienced in my life in December of 2012.

19
00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:25,680
I had been believing the Lord for quite some time, as in over 20 years, for the Lord to

20
00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,080
bring His future mate into my life.

21
00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:33,240
And there have been other times that I felt strongly, this is the year that this is going

22
00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:34,480
to happen.

23
00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,040
But not like this time.

24
00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:42,120
I felt very strongly that this was the year that the Lord would bring my husband into

25
00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:43,320
my life.

26
00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:49,760
And there was a person of interest there that had some of those qualities I had been believing

27
00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:55,720
God for, but at the same time, it was not moving towards marriage.

28
00:01:55,720 --> 00:02:01,840
So for the sake of clarity, we had one of those defining conversations to clarify what

29
00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:02,840
is this?

30
00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:03,840
Is this friendship?

31
00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,120
Is this going anywhere?

32
00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,280
And the answer back was no.

33
00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:14,960
And just that reality for me that this person that seemed to have been a viable candidate

34
00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,760
is now completely off of the table.

35
00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:19,760
We are nearing the end of the year.

36
00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:26,000
I remember riding along saying, Lord, if I don't meet the person that I believe you have

37
00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:32,000
for my life, my life partner, I'm going to be disappointed because I thought surely this

38
00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:33,660
year was the year.

39
00:02:33,660 --> 00:02:37,680
So now I'm questioning my ability to hear God.

40
00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,820
I'm wondering if maybe it's not meant for me to marry.

41
00:02:41,820 --> 00:02:44,560
Maybe this is all something in my mind.

42
00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:50,680
During this time, I was serving faithfully in the church as youth pastor in this particular

43
00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:51,680
year.

44
00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,320
Our theme for the Christmas program was a miracle at Christmas.

45
00:02:55,320 --> 00:03:02,680
The thought came to me to believe God for my own miracle in my personal life at Christmas

46
00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:03,840
time.

47
00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:09,800
And I kind of hesitated when that thought came because at this point we are now in the

48
00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:11,280
month of October.

49
00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,880
I called myself giving God a contingency plan.

50
00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,720
I said, OK, a miracle at Christmas.

51
00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,600
I'm like, I'm not going to, it's not likely I'm going to meet the man.

52
00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:25,000
But Lord, how about a date by the end of the year?

53
00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:30,720
I said, that'll be miracle enough because that was not something that happened often.

54
00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:35,800
So I put my faith out and said, well, maybe I'll have a date this Christmas.

55
00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:40,740
And just kind of moved on from there, just doing what I was doing during the holiday

56
00:03:40,740 --> 00:03:46,220
season with all of the activity and festivities that that brings.

57
00:03:46,220 --> 00:03:49,000
We come to Christmas Day.

58
00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:54,480
I said, OK, another holiday season has come and gone.

59
00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:56,280
And I'm yet single.

60
00:03:56,280 --> 00:04:02,760
But Lord, you told me that there is no disappointment in your will in response to my saying to you,

61
00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:07,080
if I didn't meet my future husband, I was going to be disappointed.

62
00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:11,420
You said, no, don't say that because there's no disappointment in my will.

63
00:04:11,420 --> 00:04:17,040
So I just embraced myself and just hunkered down in my faith.

64
00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:21,960
We're at the end of Christmas Day and I was preparing for bed.

65
00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,480
In fact, I got in bed and was about to go to sleep.

66
00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:32,000
But I saw an email from a person from high school that I had not communicated with in

67
00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:33,000
30 years.

68
00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,000
I certainly had not seen him in 30 years.

69
00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:40,320
I looked and he asked me if I would be available.

70
00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:44,560
He said he was in town for the holidays to visit his family and wanted to know if I might

71
00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:46,480
be available for lunch.

72
00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:50,080
And oh, my goodness, I fall into the pillow.

73
00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:51,720
I am shaking.

74
00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,360
I am saying, OK, what do I do?

75
00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:55,360
Who do I call?

76
00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:56,360
Is this a lifeline?

77
00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:01,680
I'm like, oh, my goodness, this is Carrie from high school.

78
00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:06,840
And all I remember is this was the guy who had a crush on me in high school that my best

79
00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:09,120
friend used to tease me about all the time.

80
00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:14,400
But at the same time, I'm knowing that at some point down the road, he heard he had

81
00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:15,400
gotten married.

82
00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:21,640
And so I'm saying, you know, no need to be concerned about meeting him for lunch.

83
00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:25,600
But I'm still just trying to have questions in my mind.

84
00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,720
Is this something with other classmates?

85
00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:30,760
How is this all coming together?

86
00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:34,080
And so the Lord just arrested all of that.

87
00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:42,360
And he said, you asked me for a date as a sign that I was moving in your personal life.

88
00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,120
So don't overthink it.

89
00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:46,160
Just relax and enjoy.

90
00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:53,640
And so I took that relax and enjoy to mean just that.

91
00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,200
So I now respond to him.

92
00:05:56,200 --> 00:06:01,800
And the Lord also let me know you really don't have anything to do tomorrow.

93
00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:05,760
And I didn't because I was on three weeks of vacation for Christmas.

94
00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:12,080
And so I responded back and told him that I could meet him that next day, 11 o'clock

95
00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:13,560
at a local restaurant.

96
00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:20,000
There we were meeting for lunch and we began to talk and talk and talk.

97
00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:24,920
And three hours in, I go to the restroom and I say, God, what is this?

98
00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,520
I said, should I continue to talk with him?

99
00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:33,080
By this point, I know that he has gone through a painful divorce.

100
00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:39,400
I know that he has since gotten saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, called into ministry,

101
00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:45,080
has basically adopted two sons that his then wife had.

102
00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,440
He just raised them as his own.

103
00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,480
He's working as a social worker.

104
00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:55,640
And I'm just I know he's close to his family and he's sharing so much.

105
00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:56,640
We're laughing.

106
00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:58,440
I'm having a great time.

107
00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:01,440
But I go back because again, I'm pretty green.

108
00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:03,040
I'll be honest at that time.

109
00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:05,040
I was just really green.

110
00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:09,320
I go, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, I said, Lord, so should I leave?

111
00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,760
Should I end it now?

112
00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:15,400
Three hours in and he said, why would you?

113
00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:17,920
You asked for a person of prayer.

114
00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,520
This is someone who's praying.

115
00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:23,320
He has a track record and a testimony.

116
00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:25,440
He's mature in the faith.

117
00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,160
And he said, it's good company.

118
00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,520
It's a brother in Christ and a classmate.

119
00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:32,640
So why would you leave?

120
00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:33,920
So I was like, yeah, you're right.

121
00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:34,920
You're right.

122
00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:40,720
I go back out to the table and the conversation resumes and we literally are at this restaurant

123
00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:47,280
for over six hours to the point that the waiter comes back because he's about to get off and

124
00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:51,080
wanted to know if we wanted to order dinner.

125
00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:55,480
And so I knew that something special had happened that night.

126
00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:57,040
I'm on my way home.

127
00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:58,840
I'm speechless.

128
00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:02,480
I'm just saying, what was that?

129
00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:03,480
What was that?

130
00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:09,840
And I'm going, God, you have a sense of humor.

131
00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:11,320
It's Christmas Day.

132
00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:16,880
Actually, it's at this point is the day after Christmas, but the reunion happened on Christmas

133
00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:17,880
Day.

134
00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,640
And so, as they say, the rest is history.

135
00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:25,160
We got together a few more times before he went back to California.

136
00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:32,360
Then by my birthday, by February, he sent me a ticket to come to California so that

137
00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:38,440
we could just spend some time together and see if this was really what we thought it

138
00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:39,440
was.

139
00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:44,080
And he wanted me to just see his world and visit his church and meet his friends and

140
00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:45,880
just step into his world.

141
00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:50,440
And when I left, that was going to be a very defining weekend for us.

142
00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,040
When I left, we both knew this is it.

143
00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:57,920
And you know, I remember so many times asking people, how do you know when it's the wine?

144
00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:00,280
And they would say, you just know.

145
00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,040
And I'm like, what kind of an answer is that?

146
00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:04,040
You just know.

147
00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:05,040
How do you know?

148
00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:13,120
Well, if I can add a little bit more clarity to that, you know, based on some things that

149
00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:18,560
you have either been talking to the Lord about or some things that he has impressed upon

150
00:09:18,560 --> 00:09:24,880
your heart as to what this person would be like, you know, because there's going to be

151
00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:30,960
a resounding peace as you're talking to that person, getting to know them.

152
00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:37,240
It's going to be it's like a spiritual connection that that's happening.

153
00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:42,880
And I can't say that's what happens for everyone, but this is what was happening for us.

154
00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:49,440
And it just felt like we had been together for a long time and it felt right.

155
00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:59,640
And so we married a year later, December 21st, 2013 in a beautiful ceremony with about 300

156
00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:05,800
guests who had when I came through the door, a cheer erupted.

157
00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:07,720
I had never seen that before.

158
00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:15,400
But I guess when you're 47 getting married for the first time, that calls for a celebration.

159
00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:17,240
So it has been a wonderful journey.

160
00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:24,960
It was nine years and God has done so many more miracles since that time.

161
00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:31,240
So it was truly my miracle at Christmas that I'll be forever grateful for.

162
00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:34,100
Kim waited many years for her miracle.

163
00:10:34,100 --> 00:10:39,440
Reminds me of Sarah, who was 90 years old when she finally had the promised son of Isaac.

164
00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:44,520
But Kim, she kept asking God for her miracle and she believed that he is a good father

165
00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:48,560
and he would fulfill her request just at the right time.

166
00:10:48,560 --> 00:10:54,000
In Matthew 7 verses 7 through 11, Jesus tells the disciples, keep on asking and you will

167
00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,120
receive what you ask for.

168
00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,860
Keep on seeking and you will find.

169
00:10:58,860 --> 00:11:01,920
Keep on knocking and the door will be open to you.

170
00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:07,320
For everyone who asks receives, everyone who seeks finds, and to everyone who knocks, the

171
00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:08,760
door will be opened.

172
00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:14,040
You parents, if your children ask for a loaf of bread or a Princess Castle playset or a

173
00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:18,920
Nerf Go Kart or some other popular toy, do you give them a stone instead?

174
00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:23,800
Or if they ask for fish or candy or chocolate, do you give them a snake?

175
00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:24,960
Of course not.

176
00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:30,520
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will

177
00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:34,920
your heavenly father give good gifts to those who ask him?

178
00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:39,680
How fitting that God would give Kim such a good gift on Christmas.

179
00:11:39,680 --> 00:11:45,320
Your friend, as you celebrate God's gift of Jesus this season, know that he still delights

180
00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,360
to give good gifts to his children.

181
00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:51,920
Like a child who asks over and over and over again for that special present at Christmas

182
00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:56,960
time, keep presenting your request to God and listen for his response.

183
00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:01,440
Remember the words to that song, the miracle at Christmas that I shared at the beginning,

184
00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:07,120
and the God who spoke is speaking still and the God who came still comes.

185
00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,420
Let me pray for you, heavenly father.

186
00:12:09,420 --> 00:12:14,480
Thank you for sending Jesus the greatest gift of all.

187
00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:18,880
Thank you for adopting us as your children so we can come to you with our hopes and our

188
00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:23,360
dreams and our requests without fear.

189
00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,640
You know the needs and wants of each person listening to this story.

190
00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:31,300
I ask that you surprise them this Christmas season with good gifts.

191
00:12:31,300 --> 00:12:36,660
Some may be tangible, others work in our lives that only you can accomplish so fully and

192
00:12:36,660 --> 00:12:38,840
so completely.

193
00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:43,600
Give the gift of faith to loved ones and bring them into the kingdom of God.

194
00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:47,520
Heal bodies and souls and spirits.

195
00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:51,980
Reconcile and strengthen family relationships and free people from bondage.

196
00:12:51,980 --> 00:12:57,880
Let joy burst forth in each heart and let us experience your presence and your love

197
00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,240
in a profound way this Christmas.

198
00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:02,160
I love you, Father.

199
00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:06,800
And I ask this in the mighty and the powerful and the precious name of Jesus.

200
00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:07,800
Amen.

201
00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:09,320
Thank you for tuning in.

202
00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:13,800
In our show notes at hergodstory.org, you'll find links to scriptures and other helpful

203
00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:14,800
information.

204
00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,240
And we have a gift for you.

205
00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:24,920
You can get a six-week free downloadable devotional on Women of the Bible to use now or to start

206
00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:26,560
the new year off right.

207
00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:28,920
Just sign up for it at hergodstory.org.

208
00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:34,440
If you prefer a printed copy, you can purchase a 12-week devotional book at our online store

209
00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,200
at somebodycares.org.

210
00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:40,440
All the proceeds of the printed material will go to the Widows and Orphan Fund.

211
00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:44,480
We encourage you also to join the growing company of women helping widows and orphans

212
00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:49,360
with a gift today by clicking on the Widows and Orphan tab at the top of the hergodstory.org

213
00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:50,360
page.

214
00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:55,440
We'd love to pray with you on our 24-7 prayer and text line, so give us a call anytime at

215
00:13:55,440 --> 00:14:01,080
855-459-CARE or email us at prayer at somebodycares.org.

216
00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:06,000
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like or follow the podcast so you don't miss any.

217
00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:12,360
And now, dear friends, I bless you with the words the angel Gabriel said to Zechariah

218
00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:17,560
in Luke 1 verse 13, Don't be afraid.

219
00:14:17,560 --> 00:14:19,640
God has heard your prayers.

220
00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:20,640
And Merry Christmas!

221
00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:25,120
Her God Story is a ministry of Somebody Cares America and international.

222
00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:36,240
To find out more about or support the ministry, go to somebodycares.org.