Like every season, changes come and I have decided to start a new blog site and hope you will follow me.
Thanks to all of you who have supported me on this one but I pray you will consider my new one.
I am at FAB life-Army Wife now....Thanks again for your support and hope to see you at my new site!
http://fablife-armywife.blogspot.com/
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Jesus Freak Across the Street
The Jesus Freak Across the Street
Jesus lived across the street from me in a white Colonial-style house with black shutters in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Jesus was not who I expected; actually, He appeared as a 5 feet 7 inch, attractive, zealous, vivacious, bold military wife of three beautiful children. How could that be? At first glance, I would’ve missed Him, probably like most of the religious leaders did back in the early days of the church. At any rate, He, or should I say “she,” kept showing up on my doorstep unexplained during a difficult period in my life. In January, 2001, I lost my late husband, North Carolina Trooper, John H. Duncan, in a tragic high speed car chase, leaving me widowed with two children. In fact, we buried him on my son’s first birthday. Life for me changed drastically and more would come. This naturally happens when Jesus is your neighbor!
The Jesus impersonator, who was my neighbor, AKA Michelle Fowles, loved the Lord in ways that I could not comprehend. She was this bright, energetic ball of fire that would somehow land on my door step early in the morning with words of hope and encouragement while juggling a cup of coffee and bible in hand. However, some days I would quickly escort her out the same door she came! During this time, she was offensive to me because I was in no way, shape or form about to be converted, especially when this God she spoke of was in fact the same One who was in control of my life. I did not trust Him! One day, I even made an agreement with her. She could come over, but she couldn’t talk about Jesus or God to me. She agreed, but for Michelle, that was like cutting off her oxygen supply. Her visits would total about 15 minutes before she would burst into praises again about Jesus. And as usual, I asked her to leave. She was like a bad case of acne that I could not get rid of! Where was my spiritual Pro-Active when I needed it? However, most days she was more of a constant, loving support to me. I simply liked her. She would come visit me at 3 a.m. when she saw my light on because she was up nursing. She understood I had difficult lonely nights without my husband, and she would stay until I fell asleep again. I mean, who does this? Well, the Jesus freak across the street from me did! As months went by, my guard went down, and I began to enjoy and look forward to her visits. Her spirit drew me, and I desired to learn more about the Jesus freak across the street.
After many months, this awkward relationship blossomed into me actually visiting her house. I was in the home of Jesus! At first it was for coffee and conversation, but somehow it turned into a bible study. To this day, I don’t know how she did it. After all, she was Jesus, a miracle worker! This Jesus freak possessed supernatural powers, and I was won over by her passion and love for others. One day, Michelle said to me out of the blue, “Kim, I want for you to come speak at a PWOC meeting on post.”
“What is PWOC and why me?” I asked. She went on to explain that she shared my story of John’s death with these ladies, and they wanted to hear about how I was doing. She impressed the fact on me that I had a message of hope to share and that it would be an encouragement to them. Of course, it was hard to say “no” to Michelle. Her middle name is persistence. I was afraid she would call down the fire of God on me, so I reluctantly said “yes,” and prayed she would spare me the wrath of God!
I recall the morning going to PWOC; I felt clueless. I possessed little experience with public speaking, so not only was I nervous, but also terrified, especially because these women knew about God. In those days, I barely trusted Him. I distinctly asked Michelle on the way to the engagement, “Michelle, how many people would be present at the PWOC today?” She casually responded, “just a few.” Relieved, I thought to myself, “Okay, I think I can do this.” After all, I owed it to Michelle because she supported me through the past months. This was my way of thanking her. Besides, how hard can it be? I wrote a couple of scriptures down and a paragraph or two. My plan was to simply read it, and life would go on. Better yet, we would celebrate with coffee at Starbucks on the way home! More importantly, I would earn my good deed for the day! I was oblivious to the set-up I was about to walk into, both physically and supernaturally. But again, when Jesus is your neighbor, expect things to happen!
We arrived at the Fort Bragg Chapel and proceeded into the building. To my astonishment, more than just a few ladies attended. It was more like 100 women, who, by the way, were all Jesus freaks! I thought I was going to pass out! I grabbed Michelle and whispered “uh, I thought you said a few ladies, Michelle!” She laughed nonchalantly, and I recall her replying with some smart comment about how God multiplies and something about fish! I could have strangled her that day! If it wasn’t for the gracious, kind welcome committee standing in front of us, I would have. The program started, we worshipped, announcements were made, and then the moment of truth came. I made up my mind that I would follow through because these ladies came expecting something. I didn’t know what, because I was just the little widow whose mind was on earning a Starbucks latte afterwards! So, I gave it my best shot and took my first step of faith!
Michelle, of course gave me some superstar introduction, making me feel like I was the President of the United States. The intimidation factor just kept on growing. These poor ladies had no idea what they were in for, nothing as far as I was concerned. At least this is how I felt. Anyways, I stumbled my way to the podium with my pitiful sheet of paper. The room was silent with anticipation. All eyes were on me, and the only thing I could do was open my mouth in faith and speak! Somehow I read through my 2 simple paragraphs without stumbling or cracking my voice too much, and even gave them a bonus paragraph, as I shared a little of my heart. I figured that bought me a muffin to go along with my latte afterwards. So, after what seemed like an eternity, only 5 minutes passed. There, I was done, or so I thought. I looked at Michelle to come rescue me, and she looked at me with eyes that were saying, “Keep going!” With mental anguish, I did what every seasoned speaker did and began to ad lib. Like every good Jesus freak, Michelle sat there the whole time cheering me on.
To this day, I’m not sure what happened at that podium, but it was like an out of body experience where I heard myself speaking without control of what I was saying. Whatever it was, it was good, or so I was told! Ladies were laughing and crying, and I was in a place I never experienced before—I was in Christ Jesus! My nervousness subsided, my fear disappeared, and I was actually enjoying myself. At the conclusion, the ladies greeted me with praises and thanks for the hope I gave them. I was overwhelmed by all the hugs I received that day, and felt the fullness of Christ’s love! For the first time in my life, I felt alive, validated, appreciated, and most of all, I felt a purpose for my life!
I look back on that day, almost 9 years ago, and I’m amazed by God’s provision and grace for my life. No words can describe the depths of my gratefulness to my Heavenly Father for saving me! Today, because of this Jesus freak who lived across the street, I am now a professed Jesus freak myself! Since then, I have spoken for PWOC International. I remarried a wonderful Christian military man, and we have 4 children all together. Currently, I write monthly devotions for the PWOC International website. I share all of that with you not to boast, but to show how the love of a PWOC sister changed my life. Her light shined brightly before me and guided me out of the darkness and into my destiny in Christ Jesus. Now I walk with the same light shining brightly! Thank you, PWOC, for providing me a sister who God used to offer me Jesus. Thank you, Michelle Fowles, for being my neighborhood Jesus freak. I love you all!
Kimchi Lya Blow
Jesus lived across the street from me in a white Colonial-style house with black shutters in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Jesus was not who I expected; actually, He appeared as a 5 feet 7 inch, attractive, zealous, vivacious, bold military wife of three beautiful children. How could that be? At first glance, I would’ve missed Him, probably like most of the religious leaders did back in the early days of the church. At any rate, He, or should I say “she,” kept showing up on my doorstep unexplained during a difficult period in my life. In January, 2001, I lost my late husband, North Carolina Trooper, John H. Duncan, in a tragic high speed car chase, leaving me widowed with two children. In fact, we buried him on my son’s first birthday. Life for me changed drastically and more would come. This naturally happens when Jesus is your neighbor!
The Jesus impersonator, who was my neighbor, AKA Michelle Fowles, loved the Lord in ways that I could not comprehend. She was this bright, energetic ball of fire that would somehow land on my door step early in the morning with words of hope and encouragement while juggling a cup of coffee and bible in hand. However, some days I would quickly escort her out the same door she came! During this time, she was offensive to me because I was in no way, shape or form about to be converted, especially when this God she spoke of was in fact the same One who was in control of my life. I did not trust Him! One day, I even made an agreement with her. She could come over, but she couldn’t talk about Jesus or God to me. She agreed, but for Michelle, that was like cutting off her oxygen supply. Her visits would total about 15 minutes before she would burst into praises again about Jesus. And as usual, I asked her to leave. She was like a bad case of acne that I could not get rid of! Where was my spiritual Pro-Active when I needed it? However, most days she was more of a constant, loving support to me. I simply liked her. She would come visit me at 3 a.m. when she saw my light on because she was up nursing. She understood I had difficult lonely nights without my husband, and she would stay until I fell asleep again. I mean, who does this? Well, the Jesus freak across the street from me did! As months went by, my guard went down, and I began to enjoy and look forward to her visits. Her spirit drew me, and I desired to learn more about the Jesus freak across the street.
After many months, this awkward relationship blossomed into me actually visiting her house. I was in the home of Jesus! At first it was for coffee and conversation, but somehow it turned into a bible study. To this day, I don’t know how she did it. After all, she was Jesus, a miracle worker! This Jesus freak possessed supernatural powers, and I was won over by her passion and love for others. One day, Michelle said to me out of the blue, “Kim, I want for you to come speak at a PWOC meeting on post.”
“What is PWOC and why me?” I asked. She went on to explain that she shared my story of John’s death with these ladies, and they wanted to hear about how I was doing. She impressed the fact on me that I had a message of hope to share and that it would be an encouragement to them. Of course, it was hard to say “no” to Michelle. Her middle name is persistence. I was afraid she would call down the fire of God on me, so I reluctantly said “yes,” and prayed she would spare me the wrath of God!
I recall the morning going to PWOC; I felt clueless. I possessed little experience with public speaking, so not only was I nervous, but also terrified, especially because these women knew about God. In those days, I barely trusted Him. I distinctly asked Michelle on the way to the engagement, “Michelle, how many people would be present at the PWOC today?” She casually responded, “just a few.” Relieved, I thought to myself, “Okay, I think I can do this.” After all, I owed it to Michelle because she supported me through the past months. This was my way of thanking her. Besides, how hard can it be? I wrote a couple of scriptures down and a paragraph or two. My plan was to simply read it, and life would go on. Better yet, we would celebrate with coffee at Starbucks on the way home! More importantly, I would earn my good deed for the day! I was oblivious to the set-up I was about to walk into, both physically and supernaturally. But again, when Jesus is your neighbor, expect things to happen!
We arrived at the Fort Bragg Chapel and proceeded into the building. To my astonishment, more than just a few ladies attended. It was more like 100 women, who, by the way, were all Jesus freaks! I thought I was going to pass out! I grabbed Michelle and whispered “uh, I thought you said a few ladies, Michelle!” She laughed nonchalantly, and I recall her replying with some smart comment about how God multiplies and something about fish! I could have strangled her that day! If it wasn’t for the gracious, kind welcome committee standing in front of us, I would have. The program started, we worshipped, announcements were made, and then the moment of truth came. I made up my mind that I would follow through because these ladies came expecting something. I didn’t know what, because I was just the little widow whose mind was on earning a Starbucks latte afterwards! So, I gave it my best shot and took my first step of faith!
Michelle, of course gave me some superstar introduction, making me feel like I was the President of the United States. The intimidation factor just kept on growing. These poor ladies had no idea what they were in for, nothing as far as I was concerned. At least this is how I felt. Anyways, I stumbled my way to the podium with my pitiful sheet of paper. The room was silent with anticipation. All eyes were on me, and the only thing I could do was open my mouth in faith and speak! Somehow I read through my 2 simple paragraphs without stumbling or cracking my voice too much, and even gave them a bonus paragraph, as I shared a little of my heart. I figured that bought me a muffin to go along with my latte afterwards. So, after what seemed like an eternity, only 5 minutes passed. There, I was done, or so I thought. I looked at Michelle to come rescue me, and she looked at me with eyes that were saying, “Keep going!” With mental anguish, I did what every seasoned speaker did and began to ad lib. Like every good Jesus freak, Michelle sat there the whole time cheering me on.
To this day, I’m not sure what happened at that podium, but it was like an out of body experience where I heard myself speaking without control of what I was saying. Whatever it was, it was good, or so I was told! Ladies were laughing and crying, and I was in a place I never experienced before—I was in Christ Jesus! My nervousness subsided, my fear disappeared, and I was actually enjoying myself. At the conclusion, the ladies greeted me with praises and thanks for the hope I gave them. I was overwhelmed by all the hugs I received that day, and felt the fullness of Christ’s love! For the first time in my life, I felt alive, validated, appreciated, and most of all, I felt a purpose for my life!
I look back on that day, almost 9 years ago, and I’m amazed by God’s provision and grace for my life. No words can describe the depths of my gratefulness to my Heavenly Father for saving me! Today, because of this Jesus freak who lived across the street, I am now a professed Jesus freak myself! Since then, I have spoken for PWOC International. I remarried a wonderful Christian military man, and we have 4 children all together. Currently, I write monthly devotions for the PWOC International website. I share all of that with you not to boast, but to show how the love of a PWOC sister changed my life. Her light shined brightly before me and guided me out of the darkness and into my destiny in Christ Jesus. Now I walk with the same light shining brightly! Thank you, PWOC, for providing me a sister who God used to offer me Jesus. Thank you, Michelle Fowles, for being my neighborhood Jesus freak. I love you all!
Kimchi Lya Blow
Monday, August 16, 2010
Mondays a Mountain Climbing Day!
Jesus replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there and it will move. Nothing is impossible for you!" Matthew 17:20
Ahhh, yes, it is Monday! To some people it is a good day because it means new opportunities ahead for them to conquer and have victory in. However, for others it means another work week filled with defeat and possible negative experiences. Whatever way choose to think is your choice and in that choice lies power. The power to overcome or be defeated before the situation even arises. In a way, we can prophesy our day and week ahead. You might say, "I WILL have a week where I can can overcome all things!" or you can say, "I'm not looking forward to what lies ahead this week!" Our minds hold that powerful to bring us into positive things or negative things...How do you think most of the time? Are your thoughts life giving and helping you or are they death defying and causing you to spiral downward,possibly taking everyone with you. Choose this day in what you will think and Whom you will serve in your thoughts. If your choice is Jesus and all His life giving bread He has to offer, then you are well on your way to the Best Monday available but if you choose your normal "humdrum, barely making it" mindset then, strap yourself in for the bumpy ride over that mountain in the distance! If that is the case, I would dread Mondays too!
Make Monday's your mountain to conquer Day! As you do, keep in mind that with God all things are possible...for impossible is a lie for a child of the Most high God!
Have a blessed Monday! See you at the top:)
Ahhh, yes, it is Monday! To some people it is a good day because it means new opportunities ahead for them to conquer and have victory in. However, for others it means another work week filled with defeat and possible negative experiences. Whatever way choose to think is your choice and in that choice lies power. The power to overcome or be defeated before the situation even arises. In a way, we can prophesy our day and week ahead. You might say, "I WILL have a week where I can can overcome all things!" or you can say, "I'm not looking forward to what lies ahead this week!" Our minds hold that powerful to bring us into positive things or negative things...How do you think most of the time? Are your thoughts life giving and helping you or are they death defying and causing you to spiral downward,possibly taking everyone with you. Choose this day in what you will think and Whom you will serve in your thoughts. If your choice is Jesus and all His life giving bread He has to offer, then you are well on your way to the Best Monday available but if you choose your normal "humdrum, barely making it" mindset then, strap yourself in for the bumpy ride over that mountain in the distance! If that is the case, I would dread Mondays too!
Make Monday's your mountain to conquer Day! As you do, keep in mind that with God all things are possible...for impossible is a lie for a child of the Most high God!
Have a blessed Monday! See you at the top:)
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Portion Control
Portion Control
Psalm 73:26
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Recently, I joined Weight Watchers because I needed to lose some extra poundage from our recent move and vacation status. While on the road, I had far more hamburgers and fries than I should have consumed. Have you ever had those guilty little thoughts as you about to shove down some greasy, juicy, fattening food, “You know you shouldn’t be eating this!” Well, let’s just say I have selective Holy Spirit hearing at times when He is trying to help me with my health choices. The flesh screams out, “Give me French fries with extra salt or give me death!”
At any rate, after all was said and done, I probably packed on a good 7-8 pounds, so the Weight Watchers program seemed to be the best resource to help me. Part of their program concentrates on portion control. This is something that I have struggled with all my life. I never really learned what proper portions are suitable, much less put them into practice. I grew up in a family where second and third servings at the dinner table were encouraged and a clean plate meant you were healthy! Let’s not forget the desert as a award for clearing your plate. Needless to say, old habits die hard.
Through the years, I have tried to break this poor health habit and make healthier choices for myself, but it seems I always fall back to my old ways of eating until I am stuffed full. While being on the Weight Watchers program the past couple of weeks, I have learned healthy portion sizes. They offer a point system that helps teach you the healthy amount of food you need to eat in a day.
The system itself is fairly easy to follow. They allot you points and your goal is to stay within the assigned total to help you lose weight. I basically just choose the food I am thinking about eating, type it into the computer program and before you know it, I have points being handed out to me with the portion sizes to go along with it. I was amazed at first at how very little I am actually allowed to eat or should I say, “Should” be eating compared to what I use to eat. Needless to say, I have already lost a few pounds and my clothes are feeling looser every day. I have learned to be satisfied with the portion I am given and more than that I have learned about the proper portions I should be eating to help me maintain better health for myself and my family.
However, one day I was sitting quietly before the Lord and was asking Him to help me have the self control I need to be successful for my day when choosing food and the correct portions. Almost immediately, I heard Him remind me that with HIM, there are no portion restrictions that in fact, He is always gives me the right portion everyday in my life. I had to smile when I pondered this powerful truth. God is my portion! He is the very portion I need daily to sustain not only my physical life but more so my spiritual life too. His portion never runs out and He does not assign me only a specific amount of points daily, but an abundant portion is always there for me as long as I need it.
Let’s face it, our flesh and spirit are always at battle and living life can be a challenging at times. It is nice to know there is a God in heaven who loves us and always has our best interest at heart and who is willing to portion out to us just the right amount of life we need! May you be given an abundant portion of His love, grace and mercy today and everyday!
Psalm 73:26
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Recently, I joined Weight Watchers because I needed to lose some extra poundage from our recent move and vacation status. While on the road, I had far more hamburgers and fries than I should have consumed. Have you ever had those guilty little thoughts as you about to shove down some greasy, juicy, fattening food, “You know you shouldn’t be eating this!” Well, let’s just say I have selective Holy Spirit hearing at times when He is trying to help me with my health choices. The flesh screams out, “Give me French fries with extra salt or give me death!”
At any rate, after all was said and done, I probably packed on a good 7-8 pounds, so the Weight Watchers program seemed to be the best resource to help me. Part of their program concentrates on portion control. This is something that I have struggled with all my life. I never really learned what proper portions are suitable, much less put them into practice. I grew up in a family where second and third servings at the dinner table were encouraged and a clean plate meant you were healthy! Let’s not forget the desert as a award for clearing your plate. Needless to say, old habits die hard.
Through the years, I have tried to break this poor health habit and make healthier choices for myself, but it seems I always fall back to my old ways of eating until I am stuffed full. While being on the Weight Watchers program the past couple of weeks, I have learned healthy portion sizes. They offer a point system that helps teach you the healthy amount of food you need to eat in a day.
The system itself is fairly easy to follow. They allot you points and your goal is to stay within the assigned total to help you lose weight. I basically just choose the food I am thinking about eating, type it into the computer program and before you know it, I have points being handed out to me with the portion sizes to go along with it. I was amazed at first at how very little I am actually allowed to eat or should I say, “Should” be eating compared to what I use to eat. Needless to say, I have already lost a few pounds and my clothes are feeling looser every day. I have learned to be satisfied with the portion I am given and more than that I have learned about the proper portions I should be eating to help me maintain better health for myself and my family.
However, one day I was sitting quietly before the Lord and was asking Him to help me have the self control I need to be successful for my day when choosing food and the correct portions. Almost immediately, I heard Him remind me that with HIM, there are no portion restrictions that in fact, He is always gives me the right portion everyday in my life. I had to smile when I pondered this powerful truth. God is my portion! He is the very portion I need daily to sustain not only my physical life but more so my spiritual life too. His portion never runs out and He does not assign me only a specific amount of points daily, but an abundant portion is always there for me as long as I need it.
Let’s face it, our flesh and spirit are always at battle and living life can be a challenging at times. It is nice to know there is a God in heaven who loves us and always has our best interest at heart and who is willing to portion out to us just the right amount of life we need! May you be given an abundant portion of His love, grace and mercy today and everyday!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Potty Days...by Kimchi Blow
Potty training, what more is there to say? This is a territory that is unexplained, unimaginable and quite simply, hazardous at times; at least for this 38 year old mother of two toddlers! Yesterday, I spent all day, every 20 minutes like clockwork in the bathroom begging my children to please cooperate with me. It is funny how a small, blue eyed, beautiful- blond haired, thigh size human being can bring you to your knees in a matter of seconds. I remember crying out to the Lord of Hosts to take me home immediately! Deliverance was being demanded on my part !! As most of you know, I am a drama queen and can make a mountain out of a mole hill. No wonder God had something to show me yesterday, right?
At any rate, after much perseverance and many, many changes of clothes; my precious 3- year old son finally made progress. The sight of yellow pee in the toilet was enough to bring tears of joy to my eyes and shouts of delight echoing off the small, confined walls, we call “The Throne Room!” It was like Heaven opened and the angels descended down with harps playing! I imagined the scene in the New Testament where John the Baptist, baptized Jesus. Then when Jesus came up out of the water, the dove descended down on Him. The voice of the Lord was then heard, “This is my son, whom I am well pleased!” Yes, this mama was well pleased with her son too!!!! Oh, but did I happen to mention to you that not 3 seconds before I was doubting my faith and telling the Lord, if He was truly the Deliverer and Savior then make something happen already, a burning bush, a bolt of lightning, something? -LOL!! And then, the miracle occurred! Why this is important? Well, simply because God knows our breaking point, our point of no-return and more than that, He cares! Yes, even about potty training! The smallest details of our lives matters to the one who truly sits on “The Throne!”
Hmm, what did I learn from this experience, other than begging and pleading with toddlers doesn’t work. Bribery doesn’t work. Pretend crying doesn’t work. Patience and prayer makes things happen. Now don’t get me wrong, I said a few choice words to God during my own tantrums of asking Him why He wasn’t working this thing out on my behalf. After all, I cried out, “Lord help me!” Isn’t that the secret? Call for the name of the Lord and you shall be saved? But what I learned was that help doesn’t always come in the way or TIME frame we want it to. Help for me yesterday was God allowing me to practice leaning on Him for something I didn’t want to do. I was being tested in the much needed area of perseverance, patience and faith. Hoping that by the end of the day, something and anything would come forth out of these events as gold. Funny thing is, is that when God is involved, He promises to work all things out for those that are called to His purposes. It will work out in the end but we must be willing to wait for it, work for it and trust God with it. Maybe to you, potty training is simply what it is, potty training. But to me, it was much more than a toilet and a toddler. I am grateful for the small, humble reminders in life that I am not always the one in control, but rather the one waiting for the One who is. Expectations towards others doesn’t work, expectation on God does!
Today, we start another day in “The Throne Room” and I have already changed my little ones several times. It isn’t even noon yet; but I am learning to not have any expectations, but to take it one small step at a time. The servant Joshua did not take the Promise Land in one day, but rather, one small faith step at a time, relying on God’s grace and direction the whole way. Right now, the promise land awaits me and it looks diaper free and $200 more a month in my pocket saved from buying them. In the mean time, I will fix my eyes on Jesus and the two beautiful children He entrusted me with to raise in love and patience. Now off to my duties, I hear my 20 minute timer calling! Duty calls……
At any rate, after much perseverance and many, many changes of clothes; my precious 3- year old son finally made progress. The sight of yellow pee in the toilet was enough to bring tears of joy to my eyes and shouts of delight echoing off the small, confined walls, we call “The Throne Room!” It was like Heaven opened and the angels descended down with harps playing! I imagined the scene in the New Testament where John the Baptist, baptized Jesus. Then when Jesus came up out of the water, the dove descended down on Him. The voice of the Lord was then heard, “This is my son, whom I am well pleased!” Yes, this mama was well pleased with her son too!!!! Oh, but did I happen to mention to you that not 3 seconds before I was doubting my faith and telling the Lord, if He was truly the Deliverer and Savior then make something happen already, a burning bush, a bolt of lightning, something? -LOL!! And then, the miracle occurred! Why this is important? Well, simply because God knows our breaking point, our point of no-return and more than that, He cares! Yes, even about potty training! The smallest details of our lives matters to the one who truly sits on “The Throne!”
Hmm, what did I learn from this experience, other than begging and pleading with toddlers doesn’t work. Bribery doesn’t work. Pretend crying doesn’t work. Patience and prayer makes things happen. Now don’t get me wrong, I said a few choice words to God during my own tantrums of asking Him why He wasn’t working this thing out on my behalf. After all, I cried out, “Lord help me!” Isn’t that the secret? Call for the name of the Lord and you shall be saved? But what I learned was that help doesn’t always come in the way or TIME frame we want it to. Help for me yesterday was God allowing me to practice leaning on Him for something I didn’t want to do. I was being tested in the much needed area of perseverance, patience and faith. Hoping that by the end of the day, something and anything would come forth out of these events as gold. Funny thing is, is that when God is involved, He promises to work all things out for those that are called to His purposes. It will work out in the end but we must be willing to wait for it, work for it and trust God with it. Maybe to you, potty training is simply what it is, potty training. But to me, it was much more than a toilet and a toddler. I am grateful for the small, humble reminders in life that I am not always the one in control, but rather the one waiting for the One who is. Expectations towards others doesn’t work, expectation on God does!
Today, we start another day in “The Throne Room” and I have already changed my little ones several times. It isn’t even noon yet; but I am learning to not have any expectations, but to take it one small step at a time. The servant Joshua did not take the Promise Land in one day, but rather, one small faith step at a time, relying on God’s grace and direction the whole way. Right now, the promise land awaits me and it looks diaper free and $200 more a month in my pocket saved from buying them. In the mean time, I will fix my eyes on Jesus and the two beautiful children He entrusted me with to raise in love and patience. Now off to my duties, I hear my 20 minute timer calling! Duty calls……
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Let Love Lead the Way! by Kimchi Blow
As a Christian, we are called to love. Although, that is a simple statement, it is not an easy task, at least not for me. My love for others is constantly being tested and honestly, I fail at it at times and I have quit on love and on people! Why? Good question, huh? Why do we fail to love others like ourselves? Well, because love has to begin with the other person and not ourselves. In fact, the truth is, Love begins with God and flows from Him through us. It is a supernatural gift that supersedes anything we could imagine as humans. Without God, we can’t truly love. God loved us first; therefore, we can love others. Either way, love is a choice. Notice I said “choice” because in fact it is a choice. It is not a feeling. I will say that again, it is not a feeling! Feelings come and go, but true love remains faithful. Feelings can change like the direction of the wind. It can be fleeting, leaving us with emptiness.
Every day, we are given a choice to love someone. Will it be “us” that we love more or others? For most of us, including myself, it is easier to love myself more. Why is that? Well, for number one, I am not a risk. At least when loving myself that is. However, I might be a risk for someone to love me. I know where I stand and I am in control of myself. It is not a risk for me to trust myself. However, it is a risk to love someone else. It is a risk to trust someone else with our hearts. Why? People hurt people. Or it has been said, “Hurting people hurt people.” Well, the truth is, we are ALL hurting people. In some way or another, we have all failed at love and love has somehow failed us. Our hearts are bleeding out and we ALL need healing! This is the risk and so you have to ask yourself in the end, is the risk worth it? Is loving others more than ourselves worth it?
Jesus thought so. In fact, He BELIEVED in love so much that He died for the cause! Now that is a scary theory. His love conquered all! His love empowered all. His love was faithful. His love was complete. His love was endless. Most of all, His love for us was not a risk, it was an investment for eternity..To Him, we were worth it!
I don’t know about you but that is the kind of love, I want to experience. And it is the kind of love I want to extend to others. It is the kind of love that never fails. It is the kind of love that has no expectations. It is the kind of love that is selfless. It is the kind of love that is freeing! However, in and of myself, I can’t achieve this kind of love on my own. It takes surrendering “myself” daily. Surrendering my rights, my feelings, my thoughts, my pride, etc…basically, my life! It should always be about others and not myself! Or more so, it should always be about God!
I want God’s love! I want it more than anything because it is the one thing I hold as truth. It is the kind of love that is endearing. It is the kind of love that brings me hope. It is the kind of love that I know in the end, is worth the risk.
How do I get this love? Simply by believing in the One in Whom God sent, Jesus. From that choice, love flows. Love is a choice and the choice is Jesus.
What I am learning these days about love is this. First of all, love is a commitment. My commitment is to God first. We can all love others better when we commit with starting with a relationship with Jesus. Why this is important is because when we can rest in His love for us, it makes it easier to love others and when others fail to love us. It somehow does not matter any longer because we have God, who won’t fail us. God’s love is complete and it does not lack in us. We must find a way to tap into that daily. Our expectations should be in God and not people. Somehow, we all have been lied to. People can’t complete people because of our sinful nature and our need to be selfish.
The second thing I am learning about love is not only does it begin with God, but it never ends with me! That is right, whenever love is taking a look at how” I” feel, I just failed in it! Love is always about the other person! This is a hard concept to learn and to act on. It begins with abandoning our feelings, our emotions, our rights, our lives!
Thirdly, I have learned that love will fail because people are human and they are not perfect. However, God’s love never fails. So, if you are looking to people for love then you are looking in the wrong place, people will fail you! I know, I know, that is a tough truth to embrace, but it is true. God is the only person who can complete us. This makes sense because He is the ONE who knows our hearts inside and out. He knows what each if us are longing for. He knows what each of us is thinking before we even think it. He was part of our beginning and will be there in the end. God is LOVE!
My goal these days is simply this, I am crying out to God to help me be faithful to love Him, so that I can love others. I am trying not to look to others for love but instead look to God to fulfill me in any areas I am feeling need in..I am placing all my expectations on Him. God is not a risk, however, He is a choice, but a choice that I know will be the best thing I ever did! Let love abound in you today and let love lead the way!
Every day, we are given a choice to love someone. Will it be “us” that we love more or others? For most of us, including myself, it is easier to love myself more. Why is that? Well, for number one, I am not a risk. At least when loving myself that is. However, I might be a risk for someone to love me. I know where I stand and I am in control of myself. It is not a risk for me to trust myself. However, it is a risk to love someone else. It is a risk to trust someone else with our hearts. Why? People hurt people. Or it has been said, “Hurting people hurt people.” Well, the truth is, we are ALL hurting people. In some way or another, we have all failed at love and love has somehow failed us. Our hearts are bleeding out and we ALL need healing! This is the risk and so you have to ask yourself in the end, is the risk worth it? Is loving others more than ourselves worth it?
Jesus thought so. In fact, He BELIEVED in love so much that He died for the cause! Now that is a scary theory. His love conquered all! His love empowered all. His love was faithful. His love was complete. His love was endless. Most of all, His love for us was not a risk, it was an investment for eternity..To Him, we were worth it!
I don’t know about you but that is the kind of love, I want to experience. And it is the kind of love I want to extend to others. It is the kind of love that never fails. It is the kind of love that has no expectations. It is the kind of love that is selfless. It is the kind of love that is freeing! However, in and of myself, I can’t achieve this kind of love on my own. It takes surrendering “myself” daily. Surrendering my rights, my feelings, my thoughts, my pride, etc…basically, my life! It should always be about others and not myself! Or more so, it should always be about God!
I want God’s love! I want it more than anything because it is the one thing I hold as truth. It is the kind of love that is endearing. It is the kind of love that brings me hope. It is the kind of love that I know in the end, is worth the risk.
How do I get this love? Simply by believing in the One in Whom God sent, Jesus. From that choice, love flows. Love is a choice and the choice is Jesus.
What I am learning these days about love is this. First of all, love is a commitment. My commitment is to God first. We can all love others better when we commit with starting with a relationship with Jesus. Why this is important is because when we can rest in His love for us, it makes it easier to love others and when others fail to love us. It somehow does not matter any longer because we have God, who won’t fail us. God’s love is complete and it does not lack in us. We must find a way to tap into that daily. Our expectations should be in God and not people. Somehow, we all have been lied to. People can’t complete people because of our sinful nature and our need to be selfish.
The second thing I am learning about love is not only does it begin with God, but it never ends with me! That is right, whenever love is taking a look at how” I” feel, I just failed in it! Love is always about the other person! This is a hard concept to learn and to act on. It begins with abandoning our feelings, our emotions, our rights, our lives!
Thirdly, I have learned that love will fail because people are human and they are not perfect. However, God’s love never fails. So, if you are looking to people for love then you are looking in the wrong place, people will fail you! I know, I know, that is a tough truth to embrace, but it is true. God is the only person who can complete us. This makes sense because He is the ONE who knows our hearts inside and out. He knows what each if us are longing for. He knows what each of us is thinking before we even think it. He was part of our beginning and will be there in the end. God is LOVE!
My goal these days is simply this, I am crying out to God to help me be faithful to love Him, so that I can love others. I am trying not to look to others for love but instead look to God to fulfill me in any areas I am feeling need in..I am placing all my expectations on Him. God is not a risk, however, He is a choice, but a choice that I know will be the best thing I ever did! Let love abound in you today and let love lead the way!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Betrayl and the Possibilities...by Kimchi Blow
“Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eat with Me will betray Me.” Mark 14:18
I can only imagine, I would have been foolish like Peter and said the same thing, “Not I, Lord, not I.” But the truth is there are times in my life, I have betrayed God. Not meaning to, but in small ways. Like times when I chose not to spend time with Him in His Word or in prayer, instead I chose to fulfill my own desires. The world is full of temptations that lure us away from the One and Only. It happened to the disciples of that day, so why can’t it happen to us now? Let us not be so foolish to think we are any different, especially in the times we live, where life is constantly challenging your heart, minds and souls!
It is important that we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and pray our hearts and minds will be protected from the evils of this world. We can do this by making sure we are in the Word of God daily. Also, by keeping ourselves accountable with other believers. Even with all the safe guards in place, there will be times that we will in small ways betray Jesus. We do this when we chose something in our daily lives that is not His will for us. It could be as simple as watching a not so life giving TV show, or spending our time in conversations that can be hurtful to others. Maybe it is continuing to make our focus about our desires and not the Lords. Whatever it is, we must have a heart that is towards the Lord and be quick to repent, receive the forgiveness and move on, choosing the next time to honor Him with our lives.
The point is, we are all at risk to betraying God daily. Our lives can quickly take a turn in another direction due to our surroundings, the people we hang out with and the world around us. We need to guard our hearts and minds continuously. We need to be faithful to the One who loves us and died for us. What is it in your life that God might be warning you of that could possibly become a betrayal? Take hold of His warning and ask for His grace to help you be more faithful.
I can only imagine, I would have been foolish like Peter and said the same thing, “Not I, Lord, not I.” But the truth is there are times in my life, I have betrayed God. Not meaning to, but in small ways. Like times when I chose not to spend time with Him in His Word or in prayer, instead I chose to fulfill my own desires. The world is full of temptations that lure us away from the One and Only. It happened to the disciples of that day, so why can’t it happen to us now? Let us not be so foolish to think we are any different, especially in the times we live, where life is constantly challenging your heart, minds and souls!
It is important that we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and pray our hearts and minds will be protected from the evils of this world. We can do this by making sure we are in the Word of God daily. Also, by keeping ourselves accountable with other believers. Even with all the safe guards in place, there will be times that we will in small ways betray Jesus. We do this when we chose something in our daily lives that is not His will for us. It could be as simple as watching a not so life giving TV show, or spending our time in conversations that can be hurtful to others. Maybe it is continuing to make our focus about our desires and not the Lords. Whatever it is, we must have a heart that is towards the Lord and be quick to repent, receive the forgiveness and move on, choosing the next time to honor Him with our lives.
The point is, we are all at risk to betraying God daily. Our lives can quickly take a turn in another direction due to our surroundings, the people we hang out with and the world around us. We need to guard our hearts and minds continuously. We need to be faithful to the One who loves us and died for us. What is it in your life that God might be warning you of that could possibly become a betrayal? Take hold of His warning and ask for His grace to help you be more faithful.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
My Divided heart...by Amanda Gonzales(Guest Blogger)
My divided heart
Psalms 86:11-12
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
Last night as I read this scripture I thought, wow, what an amazing jewel that is hidden in the WORD. I know I’ve read it before but for whatever reason it never really caught my eye like it did last night. I went to bed thinking of it and I woke up this morning thinking of it.
As Christians we are saved by accepting the free gift of life through Jesus Christ and by being united with him in his death. After this event occurs in our Christian walk, we begin the life long process of santicification. This is when the Holy Spirit really begins to work on us and transforms us into a better, purer picture of what Christ really is and who we really are in him. It is a life long process and I believe it will only be complete once we enter heaven.
This process is being spoken about us Ps 86:11-12. An undivided heart… I know that most Christians would say that their heart was 100% for Christ. And while yes that is our intention, it is not always what happens. In Romans, Paul speaks about a struggle. A struggle between his flesh and his spirit. He wants to do what is right but finds himself doing the very thing he doesn’t want to do. Romans 7:15 says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do,I do not do, but what I hate, I do”.
For me this is what sanctification is all about. I want to be more like Christ. I want to love unconditionally like him, I want to forgive immediately like him, I want to accept others like him without condemnation and judgment, I want to accept myself like him, seeing the goodness and the greatness of his plan in my life. But at times I have to admit that I am my own worst enemy. My heart is divided. I want these things, I want to be these things but yet oftentimes they are not. My flesh rises up and I get angry and I judge others and I don’t always trust him. Thank goodness for his mercy and grace and his faithfulness. He always brings me to repentance. I just see more clearly now the times when my flesh is waging war against the Holy Spirit that lives in me, because my heart is divided. If my heart wasn’t divided then there would be no war. There would be no need for war and for the struggle. But God is faithful.
In Deut 6:5 ,we are commanded to Love the Lord our God with ALL our heart with all our soul and with all our strength. In Ps 86:12, we are called to praise him with all of our heart”. Yet how can we do this if our heart is divided. That’s where this sanctification process comes in. God uses these moments of struggle to show us where our heart is divided. In Matt 6:24, we are taught that we can’t serve two masters. So how can we love the Lord our God with all our heart as commanded if we are at war within our own selves battling a divided heart? That’s where God comes in! Thank you Jesus! It is in these times that God uses this situation to show us where our heart is divided. If we are never shown where this lays deep within our own heart how we can ever be restored to a heart 100% in love with Christ and willing to do his will whatever the cost.
Let me explain in a more practical sense. Right now in my life, I am going through a period of testing that at times can be difficult and at other times easy. My husband and I want to have to children as it is a God ordained desire of our hearts. However, after a 1 ½ of trying we still haven’t received this promise blessing in our lives yet!!! Throughout this process God has shown me in so many ways how divided my heart truly is. Is my heart sold out to what I really want, which is right now to be a mother, or is it sold out to Christ? At times I have wanted to shout at God because it seems like for others this is so easily obtained for them and for me it’s not. My mind doesn’t understand. He has truly asked me, will I still serve him even if I never have children? And for a long time I didn’t want to answer that question because I didn’t want to entertain the idea of not having children. Don’t get me wrong…I Know what God has promised me and I will NEVER LET GO of my promise from him. However, I have finally come to the place where what I truly what is Him. Yes, even if I never have children, I will still serve him! No matter what else happens I need him. And yes at times my heart is still divided. But that is when I choose to say, I will not listen to my flesh, I will do and say and most of all be who God is calling me to be- A child who is patiently waiting and walking in obedience no matter the outcome.
What is your heart divided over? What have you placed before your God? We know this answer deep within ourselves. I believe God can’t release certain blessings in our lives until he knows that we can handle it. What blessing are you waiting on that could possibly have become an idol in your life? Are you willing to lay it down and say “Lord, I trust you and I know you have a good plan for my life. I don’t want my heart to be divided over this matter any longer. Lord ,though there’s pain in this offering Lord I give it to you.”
If there wasn’t pain in the offering then your heart was divided over it. I’m not saying to give up on your promises…NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR PROMISES! I’m just saying to give them back to the Lord. He is faithful and will release them to you right on time. He is faithful to complete the work that which was started on you the very first day he gave you life.
I leave you with the words to a familiar worship song. “ And I will worship you with all of my heart. I will worship you with all of my mind, I will worship you with all of my strength. You are my LORD, you are Lord!”
Let’s pray:
Lord, today whatever it is that our heart so desires, Lord it doesn’t compare to you. Lord , today we choose to have our hearts sold out to you. We remember your promises to us in our lives and we trust you with them. WE will no longer fret over them, worry over them, and try to make them happen in our own strength. Lord, we surrender our hearts desires to you. Lord, we know that you are the only one who is truly able to give us joy in our hearts. Please help us to accept that joy today despite whatever situations we may be facing today. You alone are the one who can answers our hearts desire. Lord, today we choose to set our hearts, minds and strength on you today. Help us to focus on you and what you would have us do this day. In your son’s name, Jesus Christ, our savior, we pray.
Waiting patiently, waiting strong
Amanda Gonzales
Psalms 86:11-12
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
Last night as I read this scripture I thought, wow, what an amazing jewel that is hidden in the WORD. I know I’ve read it before but for whatever reason it never really caught my eye like it did last night. I went to bed thinking of it and I woke up this morning thinking of it.
As Christians we are saved by accepting the free gift of life through Jesus Christ and by being united with him in his death. After this event occurs in our Christian walk, we begin the life long process of santicification. This is when the Holy Spirit really begins to work on us and transforms us into a better, purer picture of what Christ really is and who we really are in him. It is a life long process and I believe it will only be complete once we enter heaven.
This process is being spoken about us Ps 86:11-12. An undivided heart… I know that most Christians would say that their heart was 100% for Christ. And while yes that is our intention, it is not always what happens. In Romans, Paul speaks about a struggle. A struggle between his flesh and his spirit. He wants to do what is right but finds himself doing the very thing he doesn’t want to do. Romans 7:15 says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do,I do not do, but what I hate, I do”.
For me this is what sanctification is all about. I want to be more like Christ. I want to love unconditionally like him, I want to forgive immediately like him, I want to accept others like him without condemnation and judgment, I want to accept myself like him, seeing the goodness and the greatness of his plan in my life. But at times I have to admit that I am my own worst enemy. My heart is divided. I want these things, I want to be these things but yet oftentimes they are not. My flesh rises up and I get angry and I judge others and I don’t always trust him. Thank goodness for his mercy and grace and his faithfulness. He always brings me to repentance. I just see more clearly now the times when my flesh is waging war against the Holy Spirit that lives in me, because my heart is divided. If my heart wasn’t divided then there would be no war. There would be no need for war and for the struggle. But God is faithful.
In Deut 6:5 ,we are commanded to Love the Lord our God with ALL our heart with all our soul and with all our strength. In Ps 86:12, we are called to praise him with all of our heart”. Yet how can we do this if our heart is divided. That’s where this sanctification process comes in. God uses these moments of struggle to show us where our heart is divided. In Matt 6:24, we are taught that we can’t serve two masters. So how can we love the Lord our God with all our heart as commanded if we are at war within our own selves battling a divided heart? That’s where God comes in! Thank you Jesus! It is in these times that God uses this situation to show us where our heart is divided. If we are never shown where this lays deep within our own heart how we can ever be restored to a heart 100% in love with Christ and willing to do his will whatever the cost.
Let me explain in a more practical sense. Right now in my life, I am going through a period of testing that at times can be difficult and at other times easy. My husband and I want to have to children as it is a God ordained desire of our hearts. However, after a 1 ½ of trying we still haven’t received this promise blessing in our lives yet!!! Throughout this process God has shown me in so many ways how divided my heart truly is. Is my heart sold out to what I really want, which is right now to be a mother, or is it sold out to Christ? At times I have wanted to shout at God because it seems like for others this is so easily obtained for them and for me it’s not. My mind doesn’t understand. He has truly asked me, will I still serve him even if I never have children? And for a long time I didn’t want to answer that question because I didn’t want to entertain the idea of not having children. Don’t get me wrong…I Know what God has promised me and I will NEVER LET GO of my promise from him. However, I have finally come to the place where what I truly what is Him. Yes, even if I never have children, I will still serve him! No matter what else happens I need him. And yes at times my heart is still divided. But that is when I choose to say, I will not listen to my flesh, I will do and say and most of all be who God is calling me to be- A child who is patiently waiting and walking in obedience no matter the outcome.
What is your heart divided over? What have you placed before your God? We know this answer deep within ourselves. I believe God can’t release certain blessings in our lives until he knows that we can handle it. What blessing are you waiting on that could possibly have become an idol in your life? Are you willing to lay it down and say “Lord, I trust you and I know you have a good plan for my life. I don’t want my heart to be divided over this matter any longer. Lord ,though there’s pain in this offering Lord I give it to you.”
If there wasn’t pain in the offering then your heart was divided over it. I’m not saying to give up on your promises…NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR PROMISES! I’m just saying to give them back to the Lord. He is faithful and will release them to you right on time. He is faithful to complete the work that which was started on you the very first day he gave you life.
I leave you with the words to a familiar worship song. “ And I will worship you with all of my heart. I will worship you with all of my mind, I will worship you with all of my strength. You are my LORD, you are Lord!”
Let’s pray:
Lord, today whatever it is that our heart so desires, Lord it doesn’t compare to you. Lord , today we choose to have our hearts sold out to you. We remember your promises to us in our lives and we trust you with them. WE will no longer fret over them, worry over them, and try to make them happen in our own strength. Lord, we surrender our hearts desires to you. Lord, we know that you are the only one who is truly able to give us joy in our hearts. Please help us to accept that joy today despite whatever situations we may be facing today. You alone are the one who can answers our hearts desire. Lord, today we choose to set our hearts, minds and strength on you today. Help us to focus on you and what you would have us do this day. In your son’s name, Jesus Christ, our savior, we pray.
Waiting patiently, waiting strong
Amanda Gonzales
Friday, March 12, 2010
Life...by Kimchi Blow
It hurts. Life simply hurts at times, no two ways about it. Let’s just be honest, sometimes you just want to throw in the towel and say, “I quit!” Do you ever just wish you could unplug your emotions and become numb to people and the circumstances around you? I know I do, more than I would like to admit at times. Unfortunately, we can’t. However, we do have a resource that can help us disconnect and plug into a more powerful supply, and that is God.
Today, I had a conversation with a special person in my life and during it; I was struggling with my emotions. I hung up the phone feeling an array of feelings and not liking any of them. Mostly, I knew there were some things I needed to hand over to God immediately because I was so uncomfortable with the struggle going on inside myself. I just wanted to be out of my own skin! Have you ever felt that way? God, for whatever reason was using this person to reveal some things in my heart. Honestly, I didn’t like the evidence I was seeing. Literally, I wanted to just hide from myself and God. Probably how Adam and eve felt in the Garden. I wanted to stuff those emotions down and hide them deeper but as most of you know, God is all about bringing light and truth to those places in us that need to be aligned to His Word for one reason only and that is for Freedom! This is the first step to healing for all of us, is recognizing the sin that lies within our hearts and confessing it.
Freedom, what an awesome word and more so, what an awesome experience. God is in the business of restoration and freedom. In His loving grace and plan for our lives, He knows what relationships and situations to use to bring us closer to Him. After my phone conversation, I stood in my kitchen and began to cry. I began to wipe the tears and talk to God about what I was feeling. The one thing about God is He is a superb listener. I felt His presence right there with me as I agonized over each emotion. I lifted them up to Him without guilt, without embarrassment, without regret. Instead, as each emotion was confessed, the freer I became and then there was peace. My true heart was placed on the altar of grace. It felt good to be real, to be transparent, and to be human. No one was there pointing a finger judging me or preaching to me about how I should feel or better yet, how to solve it. Instead, I was met with acceptance, forgiveness and love. I was in my Heavenly Daddy’s arms! It was a safe place of comfort, security and peace. I long to always be there. I was grateful for the moment and began to praise Him for it! It is those moments that we draw to the One who loves us and adores us and wants to pour out His compassion on us.
In the end, God did speak some truth to me gently as He wiped my tears away. He reminded me of His love for me and how He knew how I felt. After all, God knows every detail of my life, even the amount of hairs on my head. He simply allowed me the opportunity to be humble and truthful without fear. I loved the intimacy I have with Him. There is nothing that compares to that. However, He reminded me that life begins with Him and will end with Him. Oh, the truth of that is compelling to say the least.
You see, it was on the cross with His only Son, Jesus, that death was conquered, along with all my sins. God reminded me that through the death of my sin and the resurrection of His son’s life, that LIFE for me was transformed forever. In other words, my life was bought for me that day! My life was thought of, started and planned for and began at the very last breath of His son, Jesus. As Jesus took his last breath, God breathed it into me that day! He also reminded me that though life has its ups and downs, we have the power over the down side. Before, the down side would surely have lead me to death spiritually and sometimes even physically. My life has been paved with promise; the promise of redemption for every situation, the promise of HOPE over every tragedy, the promise of truth over every lie and the promise healing over my emotions and physical body. Life is exactly what it is; a LIFE worth living for.
The secret is to choose it in the midst of your circumstances. You must not only choose life but more so believe in it. It is when you do this, that you become empowered into His death and Resurrection. It is almost as intimate as feeling the power of Jesus’ blood pumping through your very own veins, giving you life today. Blood carries oxygen to the heart and the blood of Jesus is what gives you the right to breathe freedom into your lungs today. So, choose life today. It was bought for you and is your inheritance and right over every situation you find yourself in.
Grow in grace,
Kimchi
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
God Up Many, Satan down Zero! by Kimchi Blow
God Up Many, Satan down Zero!
Crazy title, huh? Hey, what can I say, it is almost 9p.m., and I am tired but was compelled to write about this exciting revelation! Don’t you just love it when you read the Word of God and something jumps out off the pages to you and sings to your spirit, LIFE! Especially when it is late in the evening and you were tempted to just go to bed and not read the Word to begin with. Yes, I am so GUILTY of that!! Oh, but God is all I can say! He is always faithful and moves us past our flesh at times because there is something that He wants to speak to us personally!
Well, here it is and please forgive me if you already know this. It is nothing new and has been in the bible all along. I have read this passage many times before, but tonight there was an importance behind it for me.
Please read Romans 5:18-19. It says, “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Now read it again and notice the bold words in print. There is a pattern here. Basically, this scripture is saying that Satan had his plan using Adam to sin and bring many to death, SO, ALSO God had his plan to use Jesus to bring Life to many. Duh, right? But read it again and allow this truth to sink in for a minute. Meditate on it, chew on it, sleep on it people. God is showing us something here!
What is it really saying? To me, it is saying that with every plan Satan has to bring us down, there is a plan for God to redeem that much more! Yes, yes and Amen!! In other words, God is always UP one on Satan! He is in control and has the final say! It is finished!
How many times has Satan tried to bring death to areas of your life, such as, your marriage, your children, your finances, your mind, your body, your future, your promises, etc. Do you understand what I am saying? Let me quote what the Message bible says for verses 5:18-19, “ Here it is in a nutshell, just as one person did it wrong and got us all in trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into Life! One man said no to God and put many to in the wrong; one man said yes To God and put many in the right.”
How awesome is that? It says, “he got us into Life!” That means LIFE over all things in your life, right now. Satan is trying to cause death in so many areas, but he holds no authority over you because Jesus bought those rights on the cross! The only way, he has authority, is if you give it to him!
How awesome is that? Now take it a little deeper for your own life. There are places in your life that Satan has tried to destroy with sin and death, but because of Jesus, those places can be made right. In other words, the enemy can’t steal, kill and destroy your life any longer! Satan tried to destroy with sin and death, but because of Jesus, those places can be made right. God bought and justified all those places through His son! So, if Satan has taken from you in any area of life and tried to cause death, I dare say, be bold and courageous this day and DEMAND it back, take back the plunder because it is RIGHTFULLY made yours through Jesus righteous act! You hold that authority in the spirit because of Christ.
This is deep because this is truth and it carries authority in the spirit! Read the scripture again and let it sink in. When sin verses grace, grace always wins! God is in the business of restoration and bringing all things under His authority. This includes your life, the kind of abundant life He always meant for you! Demand it back from the enemy this day. Take back the plunder from the war and begin to walk in the LIFE that God really has for you!!
Grow in grace,
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The True meaning of "Yes" by Kimchi Blow
The True meaning of "Yes" ( Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria) Read 1 Kings Chapter 20
King Ben-Hadad, who was king of Aram , gathered his troops and made plans to attack Samaria Israel
Upon hearing this request, Ahab gathered with his elders for advice. They advised the king not to agree to his demands any longer. He basically needed to draw the boundary lines with this tyrant, refusing to appease him any longer. Obviously, King Ben-Hadad was furious and followed thru with his preparations to attack Israel
In verse 8 of this chapter, we see the word "agree", which in Hebrew means to consent, desire or breathe after. King Ahab "agreed/consented" to the first set of demands. When he did this, he was basically saying, " Yes, come and help yourself to my kingdom and have full reign, I desire that you do so." He took no stand against King Ben-Hedad, allowing him the right to rule.
What can you learn from this story in your own life? How many times have you made a decision based off of fear? What was it that you consented to, or desired for, without completely thinking it thru? Have you allowed the enemy to come take authority and possession of your land? When you say "yes" to something, you are consenting and desiring that which you agreed upon. Stop and think about that for a moment.
Have you agreed/consented to bad relationships, thoughts, habits, possessions, etc.? Saying "yes" can make you vulnerable without meaning to. Israel
Learn to say "yes" to the right things. Let your "yes" be "yes" and your "no" be "no." In Proverbs, it states, "Boundary lines are drawn in pleasant places."
Don't give away those things that God has entrusted to you.
Grow in grace,
Kimchi Blow
Monday, March 8, 2010
My Testimony...by Amanda Gonzales
I am here today taking a step of obedience and to tell you the story of God’s amazing love in my life. My husband Jose and I have been on this journey since 2002. I believe God is calling me today to be transparent to share our journey in order to bring hope and healing to myself and others.
Back in 2002 I was diagnosed with ovarian cyst. To make a long story short my doctor in Atlanta delivered the news to Jose and I that I would never have children and that if I did choose to try to have children that the cyst would compete with the size of my unborn child and ultimately kill the child. Needless to say, I was devastated. Throughout the following year I cried myself to sleep almost every day and I began to sink back into depression which was an all too familiar giant in my life. This year was very difficult for me but God pulled me through it.
Shortly thereafter, Jose and I moved to Savannah and we were invited to attend Tres Dias (a community of Christian believers with renewal type of weekends). He and I were both excited to go. When I attended my Tres Dias weekend, I was miraculously healed. God did a mighty work in me mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually and I can truly say that I will never be the same again. I returned home pain free and even the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with me!! I wished that I could say that I’ve never felt this pain again in my life but that isn’t true. But I’ve learned that Satan will do anything he can to try and steal what God says is rightfully mine.
There are parts to my journey I’ve only begun to share within the past few weeks. I believe God is calling me to share my story. I have been struggling silently for a year and a half and I believe God is now calling me to break the silence concerning my struggle because I believe he wants to minister hope to you today. Somehow I just assumed that because I was miraculously healed that I wouldn’t have to wait to have children. Well that’s not the journey God has given me. Please understand that I wouldn’t trade my journey for anything in the world and I know it’s going to be worth it. Almost a year and half ago, Jose and I decided to begin trying to start a family. And we don’t yet have children. I have experienced a whole gammed of emotions from anger, to frustration, sadness, disappointment, self-pity, judging others, jealousy, desperation, shame, unworthiness, incompleteness and an absolutely broken heart but I have also experienced the amazing love and hope of Christ through this struggle.
The main reason why I wanted to share today is to share hope with you. See my children have already been promised to me. They were promised to me through a prophetic word when I was miraculously healed during my Tres Dias weekend (yeah I didn’t believe in prophecy either till it happened to me!). Ps 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord and he WILL give you the desires of your heart”. God has been faithful to give me numerous confirmation of this promise in my life from scripture, prophetic words, prayers, dreams and visions. In my heart, I had always envisioned sharing this part of my life with others after I had children but obviously God had other plans. He is STRONG in you when you are weak, even when you are waiting. I want you to know that not everyone has their life all together. I don’t have it all together. We all have struggles. The people whom you perceive to be strong Christians do not have it all together. I don’t know what your struggle is and I don’t have to. You just have to know what God’s promise is. Everyone has a test and a trial to overcome. I am no different from you. I have good days and I have bad days, we all do! Sometimes I’ve handled this as a Christian should and sadly sometimes I have not. We as a Body of Christ, brothers and sister are all on this journey together. We are called to be a family, to love and to minister to one another. To walk beside each other, to pray for each other, to encourage each other and help each other up when we fall down because we ALL fall down. None of us have arrived………
Somewhere along the way Satan tried to steal the hope of my promise away. He tried to make me forget and wonder if it would ever come to pass for me. Proverbs 13:12 “A hope deferred makes a heart grow sick”. There have been times when my heart has been very sick, disappointed and broken. There were times when I didn’t think my heart could take anymore. Isaiah 55:11 paraphrased says that His word will not return void in our lives but fulfill the purpose for which it was set out. When Satan tries to take your promise or the hope of your promise away we all have to open up our mouths and tell him, “NO!” We all need to find scriptures that confirm His words in our lives and we need to open up our mouths and fill the enemy’s ears with God’s word instead of him filling our minds with his lies.
God is in the process of healing me and He is restoring my heart. Romans 8:25 says that if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. I have not always waited patiently and God revealed to me that it was because I was losing hope. Yes, I’ve had to surrender my own control. I am a very driven- goal oriented person who believes in setting and achieving goals and making good decisions that will positively affect your life. Well, this has been something I can’t do anything about. I can’t control it, I can’t do it for myself, and I can’t accomplish this on my own. NO ONE can do it for themselves. Truly it is only by the grace of God that anyone becomes a parent. I don’t like to be weak and vulnerable and I don’t always trust people. This is the thing that makes me vulnerable and weak before my God and now he is calling me to be transparent and trusting before his children.
At times this has consumed my mind and my emotions. I can finally see very clearly that this had become an idol and a god in my life. The truth is that God should be the only thing that consumes me. Yes, it is a God ordained desire in my life and that will never go away. However, I am now able to fully trust my God to be faithful to the promise He gave me. Learning to wait patiently has brought such freedom into many areas in my life. This no longer consumes me. We talk about laying things down on the altar. I laid this sucker down a long time ago. But I kept looking back wondering what God was doing with it and wondering when He would release my promise to me. I’m learning to surrender my sense of time. God is not bound by time. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says” There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”. I’m learning to trust him in the seasons in my life. I’m now able to say that I truly want him to do with this as He wants because I trust him. God often uses the difficult times in our lives to refine us and draw us closer to him. I believe our trials are rarely about the situation at hand; often times he is trying to get our attention in order to do a mighty work within us. He has used this journey refine so many places in me. This has been about so much more than my desire to have children. He has used it to teach me and draw me into an even more intimate relationship with him. He is teaching me to trust him with all my fears, hopes, dreams and visions for my future. It has been a hard lesson for me, but a good one! It has taken some time for me to get where I am today. I didn’t jump over this hurdle in one day. This has been an ongoing struggle for me for some time. Life is a process, a journey. Allow yourself and God to walk through the process. Your never too far from His reach, He is always able to save you, and rescue you.
Satan had me convinced of so many lies. I want to share with you some truths I’ve learned along my way. I believe it’s time for the body of Christ to start filling Satan’s ears with truth.
The truth is that there is a God in heaven and He happens to be my daddy and your daddy. He loves us more than we could truly ever understand. He has a good plan, an excellent plan for our lives! He knows that this wait hurts some days but I’ve learned to trust Him and His timing. I know that my daddy in heaven doesn’t want to cause me any pain. He isn’t punishing me or you. He just has a plan that we can’t see and that it’s far better than anything I can think of. He doesn’t want to hurt us. He can’t stand to see us hurting and He if is allowing us to hurt then you better believe it’s because He has a better plan for us! A promise delayed is not a promise denied. I’ve learned to evict disappointment from my heart and to embrace the hope of my promise. I no longer doubt my promise. I know what God promised me and I won’t let go. I daily remind myself of a few scriptures. Isaiah 54:1 says “Sing barren woman, burst into song, and shout for joy. Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Ephesians 3:20 says “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”.
I’ve learned to hold on when everything and everyone else says to quit. My relationship with my Father in heaven is a very real and daily thing. I need him daily to deal with my journey. I’m learning to be complete in the wait. I’m learning that having children doesn’t complete me, my heavenly daddy completes me. My relationship with Jose is so precious to me. We’ve had some precious ministry time together that I’m not sure we would have had any other way. Infertility can kill a marriage. God has used Jose to be a source of strength and a safe place to fall when my heart hurts. We fought together, we stand beside each other, we pray for one another and when the pain gets to me, he helps me to not wallow around in it but to get up and keep going. He is a gift from God and he has loved me all the way through this journey. It didn’t kill us. In fact, it only made us stronger. Most importantly I’ve learned to stand STRONG in the wait. I know what it’s like to feel as if the whole world is crashing down around you but for you to be still and feel the solid ground of Christ love beneath you. It is a very peaceful place, a very quiet place and a very still place. It’s a place that I’m learning to live in and it’s amazing. Our emotions don’t always point to truth. Satan often uses them to distract us from what God really has for us. Learning to wait is learning to trust.
Our life is a journey and he takes us from glory to glory, transforming us. I’m learning to take my giants as they come. Sometimes I have to open up my mouth and remind myself and the devil because every day presents a new challenge. But I refuse to let go or to go backwards. I choose to take one day at a time. When I fall down because I do I’ve learned to stand up again. God has taught me to be thankful for all the children in my life and I realize how selfish I truly am. I don’t want my life to revolve around my desires and wants. I want my life to be about living to the fullest, serving and worshipping my God. I choose to serve “Yahweh” my daddy in heaven and I trust him to release my promise to me RIGHT ON TIME!!!! I am free through the blood and love of Jesus and I want to minster that freedom to other people. This isn’t about us. It’s about helping others. It’s about breaking the silence and giving people permission to talk about their struggles whatever they may be without fear of being rejected or feeling ashamed or judged because we’ve all been there. It’s about us standing beside each other during our wait encouraging and pushing each other towards trust because we are a family.
So whatever it is that you still believe God for, I encourage you to today to hold on to that hope! A hope deferred makes a heart grow sick. Don’t let go of your hope and your promise.
Back in 2002 I was diagnosed with ovarian cyst. To make a long story short my doctor in Atlanta delivered the news to Jose and I that I would never have children and that if I did choose to try to have children that the cyst would compete with the size of my unborn child and ultimately kill the child. Needless to say, I was devastated. Throughout the following year I cried myself to sleep almost every day and I began to sink back into depression which was an all too familiar giant in my life. This year was very difficult for me but God pulled me through it.
Shortly thereafter, Jose and I moved to Savannah and we were invited to attend Tres Dias (a community of Christian believers with renewal type of weekends). He and I were both excited to go. When I attended my Tres Dias weekend, I was miraculously healed. God did a mighty work in me mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually and I can truly say that I will never be the same again. I returned home pain free and even the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with me!! I wished that I could say that I’ve never felt this pain again in my life but that isn’t true. But I’ve learned that Satan will do anything he can to try and steal what God says is rightfully mine.
There are parts to my journey I’ve only begun to share within the past few weeks. I believe God is calling me to share my story. I have been struggling silently for a year and a half and I believe God is now calling me to break the silence concerning my struggle because I believe he wants to minister hope to you today. Somehow I just assumed that because I was miraculously healed that I wouldn’t have to wait to have children. Well that’s not the journey God has given me. Please understand that I wouldn’t trade my journey for anything in the world and I know it’s going to be worth it. Almost a year and half ago, Jose and I decided to begin trying to start a family. And we don’t yet have children. I have experienced a whole gammed of emotions from anger, to frustration, sadness, disappointment, self-pity, judging others, jealousy, desperation, shame, unworthiness, incompleteness and an absolutely broken heart but I have also experienced the amazing love and hope of Christ through this struggle.
The main reason why I wanted to share today is to share hope with you. See my children have already been promised to me. They were promised to me through a prophetic word when I was miraculously healed during my Tres Dias weekend (yeah I didn’t believe in prophecy either till it happened to me!). Ps 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord and he WILL give you the desires of your heart”. God has been faithful to give me numerous confirmation of this promise in my life from scripture, prophetic words, prayers, dreams and visions. In my heart, I had always envisioned sharing this part of my life with others after I had children but obviously God had other plans. He is STRONG in you when you are weak, even when you are waiting. I want you to know that not everyone has their life all together. I don’t have it all together. We all have struggles. The people whom you perceive to be strong Christians do not have it all together. I don’t know what your struggle is and I don’t have to. You just have to know what God’s promise is. Everyone has a test and a trial to overcome. I am no different from you. I have good days and I have bad days, we all do! Sometimes I’ve handled this as a Christian should and sadly sometimes I have not. We as a Body of Christ, brothers and sister are all on this journey together. We are called to be a family, to love and to minister to one another. To walk beside each other, to pray for each other, to encourage each other and help each other up when we fall down because we ALL fall down. None of us have arrived………
Somewhere along the way Satan tried to steal the hope of my promise away. He tried to make me forget and wonder if it would ever come to pass for me. Proverbs 13:12 “A hope deferred makes a heart grow sick”. There have been times when my heart has been very sick, disappointed and broken. There were times when I didn’t think my heart could take anymore. Isaiah 55:11 paraphrased says that His word will not return void in our lives but fulfill the purpose for which it was set out. When Satan tries to take your promise or the hope of your promise away we all have to open up our mouths and tell him, “NO!” We all need to find scriptures that confirm His words in our lives and we need to open up our mouths and fill the enemy’s ears with God’s word instead of him filling our minds with his lies.
God is in the process of healing me and He is restoring my heart. Romans 8:25 says that if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. I have not always waited patiently and God revealed to me that it was because I was losing hope. Yes, I’ve had to surrender my own control. I am a very driven- goal oriented person who believes in setting and achieving goals and making good decisions that will positively affect your life. Well, this has been something I can’t do anything about. I can’t control it, I can’t do it for myself, and I can’t accomplish this on my own. NO ONE can do it for themselves. Truly it is only by the grace of God that anyone becomes a parent. I don’t like to be weak and vulnerable and I don’t always trust people. This is the thing that makes me vulnerable and weak before my God and now he is calling me to be transparent and trusting before his children.
At times this has consumed my mind and my emotions. I can finally see very clearly that this had become an idol and a god in my life. The truth is that God should be the only thing that consumes me. Yes, it is a God ordained desire in my life and that will never go away. However, I am now able to fully trust my God to be faithful to the promise He gave me. Learning to wait patiently has brought such freedom into many areas in my life. This no longer consumes me. We talk about laying things down on the altar. I laid this sucker down a long time ago. But I kept looking back wondering what God was doing with it and wondering when He would release my promise to me. I’m learning to surrender my sense of time. God is not bound by time. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says” There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”. I’m learning to trust him in the seasons in my life. I’m now able to say that I truly want him to do with this as He wants because I trust him. God often uses the difficult times in our lives to refine us and draw us closer to him. I believe our trials are rarely about the situation at hand; often times he is trying to get our attention in order to do a mighty work within us. He has used this journey refine so many places in me. This has been about so much more than my desire to have children. He has used it to teach me and draw me into an even more intimate relationship with him. He is teaching me to trust him with all my fears, hopes, dreams and visions for my future. It has been a hard lesson for me, but a good one! It has taken some time for me to get where I am today. I didn’t jump over this hurdle in one day. This has been an ongoing struggle for me for some time. Life is a process, a journey. Allow yourself and God to walk through the process. Your never too far from His reach, He is always able to save you, and rescue you.
Satan had me convinced of so many lies. I want to share with you some truths I’ve learned along my way. I believe it’s time for the body of Christ to start filling Satan’s ears with truth.
The truth is that there is a God in heaven and He happens to be my daddy and your daddy. He loves us more than we could truly ever understand. He has a good plan, an excellent plan for our lives! He knows that this wait hurts some days but I’ve learned to trust Him and His timing. I know that my daddy in heaven doesn’t want to cause me any pain. He isn’t punishing me or you. He just has a plan that we can’t see and that it’s far better than anything I can think of. He doesn’t want to hurt us. He can’t stand to see us hurting and He if is allowing us to hurt then you better believe it’s because He has a better plan for us! A promise delayed is not a promise denied. I’ve learned to evict disappointment from my heart and to embrace the hope of my promise. I no longer doubt my promise. I know what God promised me and I won’t let go. I daily remind myself of a few scriptures. Isaiah 54:1 says “Sing barren woman, burst into song, and shout for joy. Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Ephesians 3:20 says “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”.
I’ve learned to hold on when everything and everyone else says to quit. My relationship with my Father in heaven is a very real and daily thing. I need him daily to deal with my journey. I’m learning to be complete in the wait. I’m learning that having children doesn’t complete me, my heavenly daddy completes me. My relationship with Jose is so precious to me. We’ve had some precious ministry time together that I’m not sure we would have had any other way. Infertility can kill a marriage. God has used Jose to be a source of strength and a safe place to fall when my heart hurts. We fought together, we stand beside each other, we pray for one another and when the pain gets to me, he helps me to not wallow around in it but to get up and keep going. He is a gift from God and he has loved me all the way through this journey. It didn’t kill us. In fact, it only made us stronger. Most importantly I’ve learned to stand STRONG in the wait. I know what it’s like to feel as if the whole world is crashing down around you but for you to be still and feel the solid ground of Christ love beneath you. It is a very peaceful place, a very quiet place and a very still place. It’s a place that I’m learning to live in and it’s amazing. Our emotions don’t always point to truth. Satan often uses them to distract us from what God really has for us. Learning to wait is learning to trust.
Our life is a journey and he takes us from glory to glory, transforming us. I’m learning to take my giants as they come. Sometimes I have to open up my mouth and remind myself and the devil because every day presents a new challenge. But I refuse to let go or to go backwards. I choose to take one day at a time. When I fall down because I do I’ve learned to stand up again. God has taught me to be thankful for all the children in my life and I realize how selfish I truly am. I don’t want my life to revolve around my desires and wants. I want my life to be about living to the fullest, serving and worshipping my God. I choose to serve “Yahweh” my daddy in heaven and I trust him to release my promise to me RIGHT ON TIME!!!! I am free through the blood and love of Jesus and I want to minster that freedom to other people. This isn’t about us. It’s about helping others. It’s about breaking the silence and giving people permission to talk about their struggles whatever they may be without fear of being rejected or feeling ashamed or judged because we’ve all been there. It’s about us standing beside each other during our wait encouraging and pushing each other towards trust because we are a family.
So whatever it is that you still believe God for, I encourage you to today to hold on to that hope! A hope deferred makes a heart grow sick. Don’t let go of your hope and your promise.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Got Faith?...by Kimchi Blow
“Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promises of God, but was strengthened in His faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20
Faith is a powerful. Abraham believed that God would give him and his wife, Sarah, a child in their old age. God was faithful and He did. The scriptures clearly state that Abraham did not doubt in any form what God had promised them. He trusted God entirely at His word and was credited righteous because of his faith. We too are granted and credited that same righteousness when we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
How did Abraham have so much faith and trust in God? What did this simple man have that the rest of us struggle with day after day? It starts with a simple decision to come into agreement with God. Just simply believe. When we do this, we are taking on the mind of Christ. With that comes supernatural power and authority behind it. Abraham tapped into this and was able to walk in blessing because of his decision to simple trust. Because of him, we received the inheritance of the blessing of his faithfulness and righteousness. Thank you Abraham for your immaculate example!
I find this reassuring as I look at our world today, especially with where our nation sits economically and politically. There are so many uncertainties before us. The very foundation of our country is being challenged. There seems to be no true security for those who don’t know God. I can’t imagine how anyone who doesn’t know the God of the universe sleeps at night with present circumstances surrounding us. War is eminent, political struggles are out of hand and the economy seems to be slipping into oblivion. But yet, there is hope and it begins with faith! The good news is there is Jesus Christ. When we choose to have faith in the One who can deliver us from these periling times then we have what most can only dream of and that is peace. Peace that surpasses all things!
Let us follow the example of Abraham, not wavering, not weakening, not doubting or mistrusting but instead being strengthened, fully satisfied, and assured in the promises of God. Our faith can change us individually, our children, our marriages, our finances, our nation, and our future. It all begins with knowing the promises of God. We must disciple ourselves to learn them, memorize them, recite them, declare them and live them if we want to see the full blessings come to path.
Abraham was fully assured that God could perform whatever He promised to do. Will you believe with the same radical faith? What is it today that God is asking you to have faith in? How was Abraham able to resist the temptation to doubt God’s promised? What lesson does that offer us and how can we apply it to our lives to glorify God?
Faith is more than a feeling; it is a state of mind. Change your mindset today and give Faith a fighting chance. You will be blessed when you do!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Obsession Possession …..by Kimchi Blow
Being a military soldier, wife or family member is truly a call. Although, some of us may question what we do daily! Our lives are filled with the unknown, such as where we might live? How long will we be there? Who will we meet? What is the next assignment? There are constant changes and transitions having to be made. This sometimes can cause loneliness, fear, stress and anxiety at times.
Every new duty station has its challenges. But we have to keep in mind that with every challenge is an opportunity for victory. Some of them are small at first as you transition into new places, but eventually you establish yourself in the new territory that you were assigned to. After awhile you begin to gain a better understanding of the area around you and how you might begin to fit in. There begins to be less confusion and life begins to flow and make sense again. But before you know it, it is time to do it all over again because there are new orders in hand. This is the call of a military life!
How does the average military family do it? They must learn to take on the mindset of a soldier who knows what it takes to survive the challenges set before him or her. One of the sayings that I remember most as a young soldier myself was, “Suck it up and drive on!” Meaning, accept the challenge and do whatever it takes to succeed!
Today, I want to look at the first chapter of Joshua in the bible. It is a book that chronicles Joshua’s conquests. We learn through this book that he didn’t possess the promise land all at once, but merely one victory at a time. This should be an encouragement and example to us all because as humans we have the tendency to want victory all at once. When this happens, we sadly overlook the process, rather the everyday victories.
We all need to learn to walk out the promises of God step by step, day by day, because when we try and rush the process we become overwhelmed and defeated easily. Sometimes our processes seem slow, but that is what I call real possession!
When you read the first chapter of Joshua, you will see that the Lord tells them at least three times to “be bold and courageous. Apparently, God knows that it is human nature for people to fear, especially when faced with the unknown. Fear is a natural response but God requires a faith response . Joshua is a man without fear. He literally accepts God’s call without hesitation, questions, or doubts. Instead, he does whatever it takes to be obedient to God. When God began to speak the promises to Joshua, he listened and received them in his heart. He acted on his faith immediately because he trusted God was with him.
What does it mean to be bold and courageous? One of the definitions to the word “strong” in the Hebrew translation is to establish oneself firmly. The word “courageous” means to persist, to determine. Keeping the promises of God is necessary as we live out our lives doing His will.
In the first chapter of Joshua, he takes up a command of faith which immediately places God’s mantle of Authority on him. He establishes (strong) himself in the LORD and determines himself to succeed and persist (courageous) to posses the land that God promised them.
In other words, he is in Possession Mode! When you choose to act in faith, becoming bold and courageous it knocks fear from its authority over you and instead places God’s power on you! Faith is contagious and you see this reaction from the Israelites as they respond to Joshua’s example. They choose to follow him without any doubt or fear. It was the same reaction that Joshua gave God. In the end, Joshua and the Israelites successfully crossed over the Jordan River into the Promise land. The Jordan River in a way can represent our flesh as humans. Our flesh can respond in many ways to trials. Emotions keep us from reaching the promises of God. Fear, anxiety, insecurity, pride are just some. Being bold and courageous is what God commands us to be! Let us follow Joshua’s example so that we too can enter into our Promise Land.
How do we become obsessed to posses the promises of God in our lives?
1. Know God’s promises.
You must read and study the word of God which helps build your faith. Faith comes through reading the Word of God.
2. Declare the promises of God.
Recite them daily, write them down. Post them for you to see. (Habakkuk 2:2 )
3. Have a vision and know your role.
God gave Joshua a vision. A man without a vision will perish. (Proverbs 29:18) Set goals and place an allotted time to them. If you don’t have a vision or goal, start with God’s word.
4. Be in motion- act on faith
God can’t meet you sitting down! Faith without works is dead.(James 2:20,26) To whom much is given, much is required.(Luke 12:48)
5. Have accountability
6. Be disciple or mentored.
Joshua’s mentor was Moses. Throughout scripture, you will see many men and women being trained up by someone.
7. Persevere (Be courageous, determining yourself to persist)
8. Be faithful and obedient
Being strong and courageous is more than just feelings; it is the key to possess the things of God. The promises of God are rightfully your inheritance. What are you willing to do today to possess yours?
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Rays of Sunshine…..By Kimchi Blow
“We love because He first loved us” 1 John 4:19
There are so many moments throughout the day that can so easily pass us by. Here lately, the Lord has been having me slow down a bit to enjoy just a few. Thankfully, today at the park I was able to watch my two toddlers playing joyfully. While there, I experienced a moment that took my breath away and I wanted to capture it in my mind forever. After running around chasing her brother for what seemed like hours, my two year old daughter, all of a sudden stopped with her face towards the sunshine. It was like a scene from a movie where all I could see was her. Time seemed to stand still around me. With her face towards the sunlight, I could see her amazing features. Her skin appeared perfect like a porcelain doll, while strands of her golden blond hair blew gently across her face. The rays of light hit her striking blue eyes in just the right places and they danced with delight. Then slowly, she closed her eyes and gently tilted her head toward the sky. It was as if God had taken His hand under her chin and gently lifted it towards Him. Peace exuded from within her. She stood there with a smile enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face and wind through her hair. All I could do was hold my breath. I walked over to her and just held her, kissing her sweet face. Immediately, I thanked God for the moment. It was a moment to cherish, a moment to love, a moment to thank, a moment worth living for!
I walked away from the park overwhelmingly changed somehow. Why did this moment touch me so intensely? Why did I feel a stirring deep within? Why did I want to just stop time right there and not move another second forward? Why? As I pondered these things, I even began to pray and seek God for the answer. And then it hit me and I was moved even more profoundly than I was watching my daughter. It became so apparent to me that God was giving me a picture of how He stops and cherishes me like that throughout everyday!
May you feel His love for you today and everyday.
May you feel His love for you today and everyday.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Gear Up!….by Kimchi Lya Blow
Yesterday, we learned about committing to run the race set before you. Today, we will learn about how to prepare and get your gear ready to run with proficiency and endurance. Running is truly mind over matter. Learning to put your mind over your body is what is required. Sometimes those long distance runs can challenge even the best of runners. They sometimes can run into a “wall”. This is not actually a physical wall, but a mental one. A mental block where the body can’t push past this mental state of mind so this is where true perseverance and discipline must overcome. Having the right gear, helps too!
Getting the proper running gear is important. It is vital you wear the right type of running shoes for your feet, so that you can get the best performance from your body. Also, having comfortable apparel is imperative. You want material that allows viable air-flow and you don’t want it too tight. Your body can overheat quickly, so having the right kind of material will allow your body to cool more easily and help absorb sweat on those winter months when it is cold outside. There are all kinds of accessories runners can purchase now days. The sky is the limit. They have high tech watches that can calculate, time, distance, speed, calories burned, pace, etc., the list goes on and on. There are also special hats, visors and special sunglasses. You name it, and it is available. This equipment is made so runners can accomplish their goals with much more ease and with assured success.
As Christians, we too have exceptional running gear that we need to put on in the spirit in order for us to run the spiritual race set before us. In, Ephesians 6:13-17 it says, “Therefore put on your full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all flaming darts of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
With the right gear on to run your daily race with Christ, it will only set you up for success. So, ask yourself as you begin your day, do you have the right gear on? What are you missing? What part of your gear might need to be replaced? Are you prepared for the obstacles that lay ahead for the day? Without the proper gear, you might run into that “wall” I referred to earlier. Set yourself up for success and be prepared to run with endurance. The finish line is just ahead. Victory is within reach, your gear is on, now run!
Tomorrow's blog, Training begins!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
“Signing Up for the Race” by Kimchi Blow
There is a lot more to running a race then just running. It entails a lot of preparation, commitment and hard work. Making a commitment and saying” yes” to the challenge is where it all begins. Last week, I talked to you about my experience with running my first half-marathon. The disciplines I learned through my training were priceless and have proved profitable into my spiritual walk too.
One of the first things I did was make the commitment to run the race in the first place. Did you know that just 1 % of the population will run a half- marathon? Believe me, this was a step of faith for me because I had never ran more than a few miles at one time in my life. So, the thought of me running 13.1 miles was daunting and tiring just thinking about. I knew there was going to be a lot of hard work and sweat ahead, but more importantly I knew that it started with a “yes!” Sometimes for me , that is always the hardest challenge. Fear wants to rule and say, “NO!” Somehow my faith would follow through; at least that was my plan! I have learned that once faith is activated it requires action to follow!
At any rate, I found a half- marathon that I was interested in over the internet. The one in Long Beach, California proved the most eye-catching and let’s say the most achievable one. The attractiveness was it appeared to have a flat course along the coast line. Trust me; I was looking for the easiest running course I could find! Just saying! My thought process was that if I had to run the 13.1 miles in the first place, then I would at least enjoy the view as I ran, anything to keep my mind off the pain!
Well, needless to say, I downloaded the registration, signed the check for the race fees and placed it in a stamped envelope. BAM!! I was committed, signed up. There was no turning back now! My point is this, so many times in our lives we are faced with challenges. Some of them are in our control and some are not. Whatever the case, we still have a choice to make. Will we commit to the challenge ahead, no matter what it takes? Walking by faith and not by sight requires you to say “yes” to God in whatever circumstance you find yourself in. You are saying, “yes” to trust Him to provide the provision and the grace to see you through.
As Christians, the day we give our lives to Jesus, we literally sign up for the Christian Race . The race itself is a course we have never ran before. It has a lot of uphill challenges and the miles seem endless at times. However, we must run the race with perseverance. Signing up and saying “yes” to the race can prove to be the biggest hurtle, but you can have peace in knowing that we have a pace setter running it with us the whole way, Jesus. He will be the one guiding and pacing you along the way. He will make sure you have the water breaks you need and the motivation to get to the finish line. He will prove to be your biggest cheerleader! As long as keep your eyes fixed on Him, the race itself can be an exhilarating one. Better than that, the rewards prove to be eternal!
Be encouraged because Hebrew 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” What is it today that God is asking you to say, “Yes” to? What commitment is He asking of you today? No matter what it is, say, “yes” and commit yourself to Jesus. He then will commit that you finish victoriously!
Stay tuned for my next blog, “Gearing up for the Race”. Have a blessed Monday
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Run Forest Run! by Kimchi Blow
Back in October of 2009, I ran my first half marathon in Long Beach, California. It was a day I will never forget! I had challenged my body beyond anything it had ever done before. Crossing the finish line was the most exhilarating experience. I loved seeing and feeling the pay off of all the hard work and commitment I had put in over the 6 months of training.
I learned a lot about myself and my body during training days. Some of which has paid off for me spiritually. One of the biggest things I learned was overcoming my flesh. There were many days I had to run long miles and before I even got out on the pavement, my body was already screaming, “NO WAY!” On those days, I had to literally talk out loud and convince myself with positive affirmations to get myself moving. The most important part of that was physical motion while speaking out loud. It was like the two had to connect, the mind and body! Believe me when the Word says that our words bring forth life or death. Had I gone with negative thoughts and words, I would have most likely never run. Trust me; running is more mental than physical, at least for me that is. Actually, that can be said about most things in life. Our minds can be a powerful tool used for us or against us.
When our minds rule our bodies, we can “think “ourselves past any physical obstacles. Maybe that is why the Apostle Paul told us to hold our thoughts captive to what Christ says ( 2 Corinthians 10:5) and not what we think. The power lies within the mind of Christ. Learning to tap into that discipline of the mind can literally change you forever.
Today, I still use this training concept for my spiritual life too. I have put myself into spiritual training. God ‘s Word tell us , “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” ( 1 Corinthians 9:25) Needless to say, we are running the race for Christ and He is the prize we are running after. Our spiritual finish line is Eternal life in Him. Everyday I am challenged with life. Need I say more? Life is hard, no two ways about it. Without a strategic plan and discipline of training, I won’t make it and most likely you won’t either.
What this looks like for me daily is having goals set to keep me in the Word of God and also time for praying and journaling the thoughts He gives me. I must exercise this in the mornings because that is the only free time I get before I am bombarded with the demands of my family. I simply set the alarm and run with Jesus! Yes, there are days that my body is screaming for more sleep, but just like I did when I was training for my race; I simply get physically moving with bible in hand and positive affirmations out loud. The experts say that it takes 21 days to form a habit; I say with Christ’s strength, habits are things that happen and are not formed!
Train with purpose! Know your goals and obtain them with passion. Know your strengths and weaknesses and know Jesus can overcome them in you. He is just looking for a partner to run with. Will you run the race set before you? What things are you willing to give up this week to go into strict training? What goal is it that Christ wants to accomplish in you? Are you ready to run the race with perseverance?
I hope to see you at the finish line. BTW- I will be the one at the refreshment line with the Crown of Righteousness on!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
What Is Sin? Part 4- by Michelle Peterson (Guest Blogger)
I grew up Southern Baptist, with many rules and regulations. Just about anything enjoyable was considered sin.
I moved closer to God, then back away, then closer, then almost away TOTALLY from Him, and then He plucked me up from my pit of despair and set me straight. I am growing everyday, trying to understand how He loves me so much and how to better serve Him and others.
We started with the fact that there are 10 commandments, and 613 laws in the Old Testament.
We established that sin is anything that separates or moves us away from God.
Now….let’s move on.
Ok, so I grew up with the teaching that drinking any alcohol was sin. However, the Bible mentions drinking wine in many places through its books! Paul even said that a little wine is good for digestion. (“Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” 1 Timothy 5:23) While the Bible warns us to avoid drunkenness, it never says to avoid alcohol.
Have you heard the expression that money is the root of all evil? That statement is often attributed to the Bible, but the Bible never says that. God wants us to have blessings of all kind, pressed down and running over, including financial blessings! What the Bible says is actually that “the love of money is the root of all evil’ (1Timothy 6:10).
What about smoking? Well, we are told in that our body is the Temple of God Temple
Dancing? Nope, not that one either. Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us there is a time to dance, and a time to mourn. Psalm 149 and 150 mention dance in worship. So is dance itself a sin? Nope. However if you are moving your body in a sultry and sexual way, it is not pleasing to God because it inspires lust in the hearts of others.
My point is that often people misinterpret what sin is. So often it is not the action in question itself that is sin, as much as the motive behind the action. If you drink to get drunk, that is a sin. If your dance moves consist of bumping and grinding in order to arouse someone’s desire, then it is not without the consequence of sin either.
We need to examine our motives and intentions behind what we do, rather than nit-picking and splitting hairs over whether something is sin or not. Listen to God; He is the deciding factor after all. If He speaks to your spirit that what you are doing is not pleasing to Him, then LISTEN! If you have questions about what God wants from you READ HIS INSTUCTIONS!!!! Pray about it. You will know what is sin and what is not.
So, my friends, if you want to drink a couple of beers while you play poker or watch a football game, is it sin for you? Only if your need for the beer supersedes your desire to please God. If you have money in your bank account is that a sin? Only if your love of that money makes your assets an idol, taking precedence over God. What about driving the new Dodge Challenger? Not if you drive it because you like the car and think it handles well and accommodates your needs for transportation. For me it would be a sin, because I would idolize that car. (I have to pray about that anyway, because I kind of drool when I see one drive by and if I did own it I would never have to worry about the money in the bank being my idol because I would use it all on speeding tickets! J )
In summary…..pray about the choices you make. Listen to God, search His Word, and you will KNOW what is sin and what is not. It is important to find the answers for you, not basing your belief system on what Grandma said or what Pastor so and so said. Many times family cultures forbid or allow things by tradition. Some pastors or teachers do not know what the Word says. Search for yourself, and you will find your answers!
Michelle Peterson:
I am a happily married, stay at home mother of a 12 year old daughter. I was born and raised in Southeast Georgia before becoming a Navy wife for over 10 years. I strive to live purposefully, doing as God directs and leads me. I enjoy reading, writing, scrapbooking and cooking. It is my desire to live a life pleasing to God in all areas and grow in His teachings..
Visit her at- http://www.scrappygypsy.blogspot.com
I am a happily married, stay at home mother of a 12 year old daughter. I was born and raised in Southeast Georgia before becoming a Navy wife for over 10 years. I strive to live purposefully, doing as God directs and leads me. I enjoy reading, writing, scrapbooking and cooking. It is my desire to live a life pleasing to God in all areas and grow in His teachings..
Visit her at- http://www.scrappygypsy.blogspot.com
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