Real Pain Real God

Newsflash: Every man that speaks to you DOES NOT want to get with you!

2013-06-24T20:36:00.000-04:00

Whatever happened to Christian hospitality? I was returning a movie to Redbox. A gentleman was at the kiosk next to mine. He casually commented on how wonderful it was to rent a movie for a dollar. I agreed. When I left I said have a nice day. He smiled and shook his head. He said how rare it was that women talked to him. He said they usually thought he wanted something from them when he only wanted to say hello. How far we have fallen as a society when we can't even speak to someone for fear of mistreatment. Hebrews 13:2 says, "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." How many have failed this test? My mother says it doesn't cost you anything to be nice. After all Christ has done for us, kindness is a visible expression of the God in us. Some people are fearful of how their hello will be received. Women often comment men make assumptions that they never intended. However, we cannot allow fear to hinder the move of God!It is that serious! We never know how a slight from someone can impact another. Remember: The best sermons are not preached in a pulpit. They start on the street with a simple "Hello".

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What will it take for you to CRY out?

2012-06-03T18:36:00.001-04:00

My pastor spoke this word today as it relates to finding your passion and pursuing it for the betterment of humanity and the furtherence of the Kingdom. As I sat in Church, I thought about the apathy of the human race. Those who dare to care about the plight of others are ridiculed and considered extremists. Moreover, it is expected that we care only for ourselves and those closest to us. The "neighbor" mentality is almost a throwback to another era! But not for those in Christ. I thought about all of the men and women in the Bible who cried out to God for others. Moses, Joseph, Davis, Mary mother of Jesus, Paul, and many more whose hearts mirrored the heart of their God- loving and sacrificing their lives for others. The cry is heard at the foot of the cross. This is the heartbeat of the Christian! Our Savior volunteered to give His life a ransom for many who did not know nor acknowledge the sacrifice He made. Christ did it for love; because He is Love; because He loved us FIRST. What will it take for you to cry out? Violence in the community where you live? Sex trafficking of young boys and girls? Boy soldiers in Africa? Child hunger in the US? Destruction of marriages and families? Huge number of orphans waiting for adoptions? Older Americans suffering alone in nursing homes? The hopeless in the American penal system? Whatever it is, whatever moves you from a place of apathy to affection, whatever makes you cry out- answer the call. Today and right now! There's not a moment to waste.

Answering the call, Katrina

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Love Never Fails: A Question or a Declaration

2011-02-17T00:22:00.005-05:00

"Love never fails" 1 Corinthians 13:8a

One of the most well-known Biblical passages is First Corinthians, Chapter 13 - the Love Chapter (as it is sometimes called). The verse cited above is often quoted but rarely trusted. Our lives reflect this portion of Scripture as more of a question or crisis of our faith rather than the declaration or exclamation the words are intended to be. These words are the emphatic conclusion to a heart-stopping resume on the heart of God. Verse 4 of the same Chapter begins:

"Love is patient,
love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.
It is not rude,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects,
always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres."
And the portion ends with Love Never Fails!

Love never fails is the caption beneath the picture of Christ on the Cross.
Love never fails is the heartcry of Lazurus when he was raised from the dead.
Love never fails is the truth that existed in the heart of Mary, who Jesus forgave for all of her sins.
Love never fails is my banner of honor that waves everytime the enemy tries to sift me BUT GOD He prays for me.
Love never fails is the last line in the story of your life when you believe in the Love that God so freely offered in the Person of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

God's love is everything this passage of Scripture says and so much more. If you believe in God, if you have accepted His Son as your personal Savior, don't give up when times get difficult. No matter what it looks like, no matter what it feels like, no matter what you think...LOVE NEVER FAILS!

Look to the hills Beloved of the Most High. Your Help is coming! Greet Him with a song in your heart. Cry out...
LOVE NEVER FAILS! LOVE NEVER FAILS! love never ever fails
Our prayer: Lord, when our hearts are failing and our strength is weak, remind us Your Love never fails. In Jesus' Name we trust and believe, Amen!

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Single? Interested in making new friends? Maybe you aren’t as open as you think…

2010-07-30T12:23:00.003-04:00

Your mind and your heart agree – you are ready for love, life, and new friends! But what is your body saying? You may be sending out signals that stop others from approaching you. It is important to make sure your body is saying what you want it to. I see many Singles in the trenches struggling through their lives with sad faces and an even sadder appearance yet they wonder why they are not being approached by others.

There is certainly legitimacy to the argument that a few people are not approached because they intimidate other people. Intimidation is internal; so this is a stronghold within the other person which you cannot control. But for the rest of the Single population, let’s check out the tips below to make sure our body language isn’t sending out mixed signals.

1) Open arms: You might be nervous; you may be deep in thought. But your crossed arms are telling others to stay away! Always be conscious of what your body language is saying. If you want to make new friends, communicate the message “I’m open for conversation!”

2) Smile: No one knows you’re friendly unless you tell them? May be your face is telling another story. Advertising that you are friendly, but not appearing to be approachable sends a mixed message. So turn that frown upside down and show the world how friendly you are! Your words address the envelope, but a warm smile delivers the invitation to friendship!

3) Welcome casual conversation: If someone says “Where’s the nearest great restaurant?” it could mean they’re trying to start a conversation. Don’t tell them to get a GPS!

4) Make eye contact: It’s a fact: confident people attract attention. And cool, confident people attract even more attention. So, don’t avert your eyes when you see someone interesting approaching. Look them in the eye and smile!

5) Don’t wear earphones all of the time and STOP TALKING ON THAT CELLPHONE: Sporting headphones says, “I’m interested in meeting new people. But not right now. Don’t bother me.” Cellphone conversation takes you out of the moment and places you in another space with the person on the phone. No one will approach you while you are talking to someone else! Headphones and other similar entertainment gear block the relationships you are so eager to experience.

6) Groom as a rule; not by Destination: Food stains on your shirt? Rollers in your hair? You say you’re just running to the store…Good grooming is not a morning ritual you want to skip! You don’t want to send the wrong message. Sure, we know you’re busy and on the go. But instead of looking like you’re handling business, you’re wearing your business all over you! With all of the home products available at affordable prices, no one can use the economy as an excuse to look a hot mess. Our grandmothers looked like millionaires in dime-store clothes. Trim those dead ends, clean up that facial hair, and iron those clothes. Ladies and Gentlemen, First impressions are lasting — so remember, keep it clean!

Remember: The next time you express interest in getting to know a potential new friend, make sure your body isn't disagreeing!

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Lesson II: “How to Say I’m Sorry” Real Relationships Bible Study Series, Part III

2010-07-27T15:57:00.002-04:00

LISTEN to this Bible Study series LIVE on BLOG TALK RADIO

6. Say it as often as you sin! Peter asked Jesus how many times he had to forgive someone. “Seven times?” he asked Jesus (Matthew 18:21-22). Jesus told him seventy times seven. The exchange is so funny to me because Peter sounds like someone asking a question about themselves but using the imaginary “friend” as a cover. You know Peter has been hurt by the same person numerous times and he is ready to cut him off. All Peter wants Jesus to do is co-sign Peter’s decision!
Instead Jesus tells Peter forgiveness is limitless.

The Spirit shared this with me as it relates to apologies. “Just as forgiveness is limitless, so are apologies.” This means you apologize as long as it takes. So often the offender gets fed up with the offended person who cannot seem to get over the offense. They feel like there should be a limit on how long it takes for the offended person to move on. In the text Jesus is illustrating the process of forgiveness. The apology may be spoken and received in one conversation but it could take years to re-build the trust. And you must be willing to do what it takes to earn that person’s trust back!

7. Say it and Show it! What is the goal of your apology? The Bible says let your yes be yes and your no be no. This means do not waste your words. Like God, every one of our words should have meaning. If your goal is to reconcile, then you must repent. Repentance is more than words. Repentance is a change of mind. Since what we think dictates our behavior, we must change the way we think about the offensive action so we will not repeat the offense.

An adulterer believes they are entitled to be happy. They believe their marriage is standing in the way of that. They are selfish and cannot see anything else besides what they want. The devil has a way of making good things look bad and bad things look good. Marriage is certainly not the problem since God created marriage. The problem begins and ends with us. The delusion is if we were with someone else, things would be better. The truth is if we were with someone else the problem would remain. Because we are the problem! We must change our thinking to correct our behavior. We change our thinking through the Word of God. It transforms us by renewing our mind.

8. Say it and Share it! You may need to share your situation with someone else if you cannot seem to resolve it yourself. 1 Corinthians 6:5 suggests there should be those around us that can help us resolve a dispute. We should not need to take the situation to a worldly judge. Believers, we must have accountability partners and wise counsel around us to live the life we are called to. If you have a problem with another believer that is affecting the church, you should be able to take the situation and the other person to your pastor for assistance. Our pride often keeps us from reaching out for help. We have to value the relationship above ourselves if reconciliation is to occur.

9. Say it and PRAY it! Read James 5:16 again. Did you see that? “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.” Prayer is often the piece of reconciliation that is forgotten. We must always say what we did wrong in an apology but sometimes you need to say it in a prayer. Invite God into the resolution. Pray with the person you offended if they are willing. Can you imagine, hearing someone apologize to you and God for hurting you? Imagine the offended party offering forgiveness and praying for the healing of the offender!

True repentance and reconciliation cannot occur without God at the center of it all. He has given us the ministry of reconciliation, the Bible says. And we can do NOTHING without Him. Make sure the next time you seek to apologize you take Christ with you. Without Him, second chances would not be possible!

LISTEN to this Bible Study series LIVE on BLOG TALK RADIO www.blogtalkradio.com/katrina1

Lesson III: How to Accept an Apology LIVE 08/02/2010 on Blog Talk Radio; transcript available here the same day!Please connect to the weblink for

Lesson I “How to End Situations Graciously”, Parts I and II http://realpainrealgod.blogspot.com/2010/07/get-up-get-out-and-get-over-it-how-to.html

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Lesson II: “How to Say I’m Sorry” Real Relationships Bible Study Series, Part II

2010-07-27T15:51:00.004-04:00

LISTEN to this Bible Study series LIVE on BLOG TALK RADIO

2. Say “It’s my fault”! James 5:16 says we are to CONFESS our sins to one another so we can be healed. This verse has three elements of a biblical apology within it.

a. Confess – we must speak our apology. Many try to skip this key aspect to apologizing by giving gifts (as Jacob tried to do) or ignoring the issue altogether. You will find conflict resolution can be delayed but never denied. James says we must confess so we can be healed. Healing cannot take place in a broken relationship until we verbally acknowledge the wrong we have done.
b. Confess the specific fault - We must confess because spoken word gives shape. The Bible says when God speaks His Word accomplishes His intention. When we speak our apologies, we close the door on the enemy who is waiting to give shape to our offense. The enemy will create scenarios about the offense that are inflated and completely untrue. When we confess what we have done specifically, we remove the opportunity for the devil to create a lie.
c. Own the offense – accept full responsibility for your sin. Don’t blame it on the neighbor, the boss, the church, or the devil. James also says in his epistle that we enticed to sin through the lusts that exist inside of each one of us. In other words, “It’s all my fault”!

3. Say it QUICKLY! Ephesians 4:26 cautions us NOT to let the sun go down on our anger. In other words, do not allow the offense to fester in the mind of the offended and create a stronghold of bitterness.

4. Say it BEFORE you sacrifice! God values your relationship above your offering to Him. As a matter of fact, the Bible says if we have unresolved conflict with our brother we are to leave our offerings at the altar and go to our brother and reconcile with him. Reconciliation with others must come first before offerings to God because God will not accept offerings from a heart tainted with unforgiveness and stained with sin. Many believers try to use ministry to mask a life full of dead relationships. God wants us to offer our pride on the altar instead by initiating reconciliation.

5. Say it with wisdom! Ok, you don’t know how to apologize. You have no idea what to say. James 1:5 says when we lack wisdom ask God for some! God knows what you should say, when, and how you should say it. He knows the tones and the inclinations you should use when you speak. He knows the other person and He knows you. You have the inside scoop! Take advantage of being on the winning team. Ask God for help with your apology.

Read Part III...

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Lesson II: “How to Say I’m Sorry” Real Relationships Bible Study Series, Part I

2010-07-27T15:46:00.000-04:00

LISTEN to this Bible Study series LIVE on BLOG TALK RADIO

In Lesson I of this Series, we learned how to end a relationship with grace. God impressed upon me, many in the Body of Christ lack the knowledge of how to live well. The Church spends quite a bit of time teaching people how not to sin while we miss the mandate to train them how to live! Christianity is more than a ‘get out of hell card’. Christianity is a way of life modeled after the Author of our Faith, Jesus Christ. This “way” is foreign to us. We cannot expect people to know how to live the Christian life.

One area where we lack knowledge is in the area of relationships. We don’t know how to relate with one another effectively. When relationships become toxic or when their season has ended, we don’t know how to exit graciously. When we are called to stay in the relationship, we don’t know how to maintain the connection in the midst of sin and conflict.

Beloved, do you know what an apology looks like? Have you ever seen biblical repentance demonstrated in real-time? If we don’t know what a real apology looks like, then we cannot give one and we certainly cannot receive one! This lesson will focus on how to apologize while Lesson III next week will teach us how to accept an apology.

This is not a comprehensive study on apologies. Many great resources are available to the believer on the topic. Namely, Gary Smalley is a pioneer in the subject of relationships. You can find out more information on the plethora of information he offers on his website http://smalley.cc/

Nine Top Tips to help you say “I’m Sorry”

Genesis 32 gives us a vivid picture of a broken relationship. Jacob had not seen his brother Esau in 20 years! The last time Jacob saw Esau he had stolen his brother’s birthright and blessing (these events are chronicled in Genesis 25 and 27 respectively). Jacob, along with his mother, manipulated his father into betraying Esau. Jacob fled the scene of the crime and spent the next 20 years enduring his own tumultuous times. The Chapter begins with Jacob seeking reconciliation with his brother.

The first tip to help you say I’m sorry effectively is found in Genesis 32:1.

1. Say It FIRST! One of the most frequent complaints I hear from people in conflict is the offended often has to seek the offender out and initiate conflict resolution. How frustrating! This conversation does not generally go well because the offender can often become defensive or downplay the seriousness of the issue. When you know you are wrong, you have an obligation to seek the person you harmed and make restitution.

Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to initiate conversation with his brother. If you have offended someone, don’t further the offenses by making them seek you out for resolution. When the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin against another, make it a practice to initiate conversation and Say I’m sorry FIRST!

Read Part II...

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You’re not sure you love them; I’m sure you don’t!

2010-07-22T10:57:00.005-04:00

How many times have you heard the words “I’m not sure I love you”? Or “I’m not sure I’m ready for a commitment”? To these, and other like statements, I say “Fiddlesticks!” My response mirrors the utter foolishness of those statements. When someone tells you they are not sure if they love you, what they are really saying is they don’t love you. I know, it’s harsh. I’m sure I’ll receive long diatribes from love stragglers (those who lag behind love from sheer laziness and never seem to catch up with it) about their real desire to love and the obstacles preventing them from doing so. But I refuse to entertain them. And neither should you. Free Yourself! Free yourself from the co-dependent, passive aggressive tendency to change the mind of the elusive. The one that got away is the one you should have released a long time ago.

Here’s the truth:
Love exists in a realm of certainty, surety, and fidelity. God is love. God can never be unsure or doubtful. Great is His faithfulness! His lovingkindness endures forever! Love is real and you can count on it. Love is never ambiguous! You should not have to figure out how someone feels about you. Everything we do as Believers should come from a place of love.

Of course, you say, building a relationship takes time. I say, Never approach someone unless you are coming from a place of love. Love is always the starting point, never the destination! John 3:16 confirms the place God started from when He initiated relationship with mankind as chronicled in Genesis. God so loved us that He set out to redeem that which He created in love. Love never fails! Love starts loving and keeps on loving through the fire and through it all. Lover never fails!

Many of the relationships started between men and women fizzle out quickly because they begin from a point of lust instead of love. Lust sees; Love knows.

Lust initiates relationship based on temporal and fleshly attraction. Lust also initiates relationship based on feelings and its own wisdom. Lust is considered smart by man’s standards because it takes into consideration all that it can see, evaluates the intelligence it has gathered, and takes the best option.

In contrast, Love knows. Love operates by faith in Jesus Christ and His word. Love is intimate with its Source (God) and thereby, recognizes purpose when purpose appears. Love discerns by the Spirit. Love operates with Godly wisdom. Love has foreknowledge. Love initiates relationship based on purpose – God’s will concerning Love. Love’s purpose is clear and detailed in the thirteenth (13th) Chapter of 1 Corinthians.

This is the time and the time is now! Time is out for lukewarm, lazy, and less-than relationships. It is time for us to love as we were designed to and love like the example that has been set before us. It’s time to say, “I love you”.

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Lesson I: Get UP, Get OUT, and Get OVER IT! How to End Situations Graciously Real Relationships Bible Study Series, Part II

2010-07-16T10:07:00.004-04:00

Genesis 13:8-9 details Abraham's wise decision to separate from his nephew when strife was beginning to ruin the familial relationship they shared. Abraham's story shows us how to end things well and not extend situations beyond the span of their life. Read Keys #3 and #4 to Ending Situations Graciously:

3. You are not without Options. ("Is not the whole land before you?”)
Our worse decisions are made when we feel trapped and cornered. When we cannot figure out the logistics of changing our situations, we choose to remain. This is Dangerous! You cannot make decisions from a point of fear or lack. All choices must be made from our spirit. The spirit is not of this world. Spirit exists in a realm without limits. Spirit’s eyes are Faith. Faith sees options where Fear sees obstacles.

Did you get that? Both fear and faith have the ability of sight. It is the objects of their sight that differ. You can see in your situation. Stop saying “I don’t know what to do”! You can see. It’s what you choose to see – herein lies the difference. Beloved, look out ahead of you. Is not the whole land before you? We can end things well if we realize we are not without options.

4. Discern the seasons. (“Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.")
There is a time (or season) to everything. Time holds within it beginnings AND endings. Because God is the author of time if we are connected to Him we also can know the seasons of the events in our lives. Time was appointed by God to declare an end to things upon the earth. Time is for man; to number our days. It is relief in the time of storm and a promised change to our troubles. Beloved know this: God can and will end seasons in your life. There will always come a time for goodbyes. It is dangerous to never let go of things. You block blessings from entering your life when you fail to release.

When good things go bad and the brook of resource dries up in a situation, you must move on from that place. Anytime a river or a body of water dries up all of the vegetation and life around and within it dies. We must learn to move on so that we will not die too. We can end things well when we learn to discern.

FINAL WORD: Grace is more than a bucket of blessings from a benevolent God. Grace is strength in tough times. Grace is steel magnolias. Grace is doing the right thing at the right time. Grace is you and me still standing after all the hell we’ve been through, healed without scars, still smiling and hoping for the best with the love of Jesus Christ being spread abroad in our hearts!

Graciously,
K

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Lesson I: Get UP, Get OUT, and Get OVER IT! How to End Situations Graciously Real Relationships Bible Study Series, Part I

2010-07-16T10:01:00.007-04:00

So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. "Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left." Genesis 13:8-9

As I survey relationships played out in the media globally and in the lives around me locally, I recognize the obvious and true fact that few people know how to end situations graciously. Grace, as God informs Apostle Paul, is God’s strength operating when I am at my weakest. When I am unable to endure, bear, or deal with whatever is inflicting me or causing me pain, this is an opportunity to see the true resurrection power of God manifest in my life.

The Scripture above details Abraham's wise decision to separate from his nephew when strife was beginning to ruin the familial relationship they shared. Abraham's story shows us how to end things well and not extend situations beyond the span of their life. Read Four (4) Keys to Ending Situations Graciously:

1. Be a Peacemaker more than a peace seeker. ("Please let there be no strife between you and me…”)
The aforementioned carries a sense of personal responsibility in creating the world we desire to live in. The latter is more passive. It denotes an attitude that is open to peace if it happens upon it but it will not inconvenience itself for the peace it seeks. Beloved, you will have to fight for the peace you want in your life. Sounds ironic, doesn’t it? As believers, we are called to fight in a war with spiritual weapons. We are to use wisdom to counteract the foolish behaviors of the day.

What are our goals and our chief purpose upon the earth? We are ambassadors of an unseen world. We are not here to make money or to become famous. We are not here to prove we are right and everyone else is wrong. We are here in the ministry of reconciliation. We are to reconcile this world to God by becoming to the world the one thing that eludes them – LOVE. Love has within it peace and joy and hope. This is who we are, this is why we are here, and this is what we fight for.
Peace does not come easily. Peace is not indigenous to this world. Peace is a characteristic of God that He freely gives to those He loves. Many will not understand it so you may have to do radical things to create peace in your life. But you are called to be an agent of peace in this world. We can end things well if our goal is to make peace.

2. Remember the Relationship. (“…for we are brothers.”)
When your job ends or your relationship becomes toxic, you will have to make a choice. How will you leave the situation? How you leave will impact everything that preceded your leaving. So many relationships were beautiful at the start and fruitful in the middle. But just as fruit does, they can begin to rotten and spoil at the end of their lifecycle. You must be willing to discard it before it stains everything else it comes in contact with.

But get this! When you get rid of the fruit before it becomes rotten, you save yourself from all of the negativity that goes along with the experience. If we end well, we allow the good memories to remain. What does this mean? You may not be with that person anymore but he/she still is a good person. You may not work there anymore, but the position benefited you when you did. When you end something before it spoils, you retain the brother/sisterhood. You recognize the positives. You love the person and pray the best for them.

I have seen Believers end relationships with cursing and fighting. You wonder if they ever loved one another! Surely they did, but the love has been stained by the rotting stench of out-of-season, over-ripened fruit. We must remember that our core connection is as human beings organically connected through the Spirit and Blood of Jesus Christ. This is the relationship that endures all things – life, death, and divorce! We can end things well if we remember the relationship.

SEE PART TWO...

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Soaked

2010-06-09T05:46:00.004-04:00

“
…For there is the sound of heavy rain.” 1 Kings 18:41

Elijah, one of the First Testament’s greatest prophets, spoke these prophetic words under the unction of the Holy Spirit. What is so phenomenal about it is he spoke them during a three-year drought! Much like the prophecy Noah spoke of the coming rain when there had never been any and no indication of any, people must have thought Elijah was a fool, crazy, or both. Yet Elijah believed and yet Elijah spoke.

Beloved, it is time for the redeemed of the Lord to say so!

It is time for the remnant of God to stand strong on the Word of God!

It is time to announce the sound of heavy rain!

Though the clouds appear to suggest otherwise, God is pouring refreshment upon His people. With the foundations of Christian government and unholy activity by some of our church leadership, we may feel dry. Trouble in the home and in the street, violence and promiscuity, divorce and disease are the signs of a drought. Drought occurs after a long season without rain. Drought leads to famine. Famine leads to death. Death-like situations in our lives can cause us to panic and be fearful.

But I hear the sound of heavy rain! Not a summer shower but a torrential downpour. This rain will soak the believer first! Then the water will increase to an overflow that will soak our families, neighborhoods, cities, and nations.

So Be Encouraged! When you stand on the Word of God, you may feel alone BUT you NEVER stand alone! God purifies his people via “the remnant.” When times are evil, as they are now, it is the remnant that preserves the Word of God. God has separated a few unto Himself to keep to His ways and who will remain holy. If you feel more isolated... than ever before, do not be dismayed! God is purifying you to preach His Word to the nations!

A true prophet speaks forth the mind, counsel, heart, and will of God. Prophets are not popular because they speak a Word before there is any evidence of it. In other words, prophets speak in faith! What we say may not be accepted or understood, but we must say it! For what other reason do we exist?

It is time for the remnant of God to boldly proclaim, “I hear the sound of heavy rain!”

Soaked,
Min. K

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Hope in the Midst of My Worse Day

2010-06-08T15:30:00.003-04:00

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16

Everything in our environment seems to be crumbling around us. My finances are more affected by this economy than I would like them to be. The reports on the current economic recession are dismal at best and do not seem to be getting any better. Unemployment is at an all-time high. People are losing their homes as quickly as they are losing their jobs. Those who maintain are one paycheck away from abject poverty.

Our bodies are not in the shape they once were. I find myself struggling to do more work with less energy. Stress is causing a negative impact on our physical selves. Many are suffering with cureless diseases. Caregivers are watching previously healthy family members die slowly and painfully while working tirelessly to give them a sense of peace. Many can not afford preventative care because of the high cost of insurance. Many more find their insurance barely covers their needs.

Many have a hope for a loving and committed marriage that has not been realized. Relationships have become more difficult and more of a risk. The percentage of those who will never marry is higher than ever and the percentage for women of color is higher than the average. Divorce is expected and disappointment the norm. Domestic violence is at an all-time high. And even our young women are suffering in silence as they are abused in dating relationships.

Yes, the world is decaying and its effect is even felt in our mortal bodies But God. Though all of this is reality, my spirit is encouraged! Paul speaks this truth into the lives of the Corinthian Church. Many Christians looked at Paul and the other Apostles marveling at their suffering. Does it profit man to serve God, they must have wondered. We wonder the same. As our worlds crumble around us we wonder. But I came to speak the truth into your life that the Holy Spirit spoke into mine. "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak (verse 13). What we believe we have to speak. These are the reasons I have hope despite my current circumstances:

1. Verses 8-10 I am going through a time of crisis but I’m still standing. Despite the situations, and I know what they look like, the situation has not taken us out. It is in times like these that we realize what we are made of. We are stronger than we first believed, wiser than we ever knew, better than we used to be. Faith will keep you from fainting. Have faith in God and not in things or people and that faith will strengthen you in times of trouble.

2. Verse 14 I am encouraged because I know the same God who raised Jesus in His most difficult time is with us right now to do the same thing. God’s power is within us to complete those things He began that the world might look at us and have hope as well.

3. Verse 18 Trouble don’t last always. Trouble does not have the power to extend itself beyond its appointed time. Trouble has to end when God says so. And believe me, God knows how much we can bear. He will carry us in our struggle and end our struggle in due season.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. Don’t lose heart. Don’t be despondent or downcast. Yes the outward is crumbling and decaying But God…those things that make us who we are – those things on the inside – are being renewed. Renewal is the Spirit of God taking the dead places and breathing new life into them. He is our Pneuma, the vital principal by which the body is animated. It is the Spirit of God that gives life. Not our finances, our human relationships, our health, or our jobs. These things we can live without but God’s Spirit is vital to our survival. Yes, the outer is decaying yet we live. Because with God all things are truly possible...

Hopeful,
Min. K

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Something better than Sex?!

2010-06-04T15:56:00.003-04:00

"For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven." Matthew 22:30

Many married people in my life look down on my Singleness observing my state and lamenting over it. Some Singles may agree with their opinion choosing to focus on what we do NOT have instead of our blessings. According to them, the saddest aspect of my Singleness is the lack of sex. They often tell me I need to get married so I can have sex and not feel guilty after. The inference is I can only experience pleasure this side of heaven in a marital relationship. I cannot possibly be happy in the state I am without participating in a sexual relationship.

These conversations remind me of my teenage years when relatives would come to visit and immediately ask me if I had a boyfriend yet. Again the inference is I could not be happy without a man in my life. Life is pretty pathetic if one cannot experience joy without the benefit of fleshly pleasures. Surely God would not keep us in such a state if there was not benefit within it. Marriage with all of its benefits still leaves much to be desired. There is a void that even this God-created institution cannot fill.

God says in Hebrews that there is a place not made with human hands that we long for. Heaven is a place where every need is met, every longing fulfilled, and every desire answered. There we will find the Lover of our soul Who is the embodiment of all I want right now but do not have. He is the author of sex. Not the pornography industry or the world.

Beloved: If He created sex for us to enjoy here on earth, surely He has more in store for us in heaven.

Do you think the Creator of sex has reached his limit in his ability to give us pleasure and fulfillment? Do you suppose that in the infinity of the Almighty’s loving wisdom He has reserved for our heavenly reward that which is second rate relative to what he has already given fallen humanity? There is a spiritual ecstasy of which the highest sexual experience, the greatest romance, the most exciting adventure is but the faintest shadow. There are exquisite sensations and rapturous delights that so exhilarate, intoxicate and transport every fiber of one’s being that our present bodies and emotions would explode if subjected them. Pinnacles of pleasure beyond our dreams all revolve around loving and adoring Almighty God. Every Christian is destined for them. All we need do is remain faithful in this life, allowing ourselves to be captivated by the beauty of Jesus.

Yes! There is something better than sex and we have yet to experience it. God says what He has for us we will not need to marry to experience it. I believe that God is offering today's Christian Single an opportunity to sample a piece of heaven - all God and me all the time. Could it be God is giving us a glimpse of heaven on Earth through our Singleness? Could it be Singleness is not a holding place for marriage but a preparation place for heaven?

Single without Lack,
Min. K

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Suddenly!

2010-06-03T16:22:00.001-04:00

"Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting." Acts 2:2
"Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists." Acts 12:7
"Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose." Acts 16:26

"Suddenly" is a word used often in the Book of Acts and I have enumerated a few occurences of the word above. The word is defined as a happening or a change all-at-once. The word has the ability to invoke fear in life because it is frequently attached to death or loss. It is also used to describe paranormal experiences as in the something otherworldly that appeared out of nowhere. So it's not very surprising that we can approach a "sudden" experience with trepidation and fear.

Like the picture, we spend much of our lives trying to manage the unmanageable and tame the wild. The "sudden" experiences in our lives reveal the smoke and mirrors of control we hide behind. We tend to project this image that we have everything in our lives under control until the unexpected happens. Then any semblance of control we deluded ourselves into thinking we had falls apart.

The "sudden" experiences for the Christan is par-for-the-course. Suddenly is the drama in this adventure we call Chritianity! Because our anchor is in Jesus Christ, Who is unmoveable and fixed, sudden experiences do not frighten us; they REVIVE us! It is the sudden experience that changed a band of misfits into world-changing apostles. It is the sudden experience that loosed the chains from Peter and set him free. It is the sudden experience that acted as a catalyst to transform you and me into new creations.

Sudden experiences have the ability to morph any situation into a handmade vision of God's purpose. Suddenly is a timeless God acting according to the counsel of His own will to providentially change your circumstance within time. Suddenly is the miracle!

Know this Beloved: Suddenly only occurs for those who lay in wait. Suddenly is the Promise for those who were in the Position to receive. The disciples were waiting in the Upper Room. Peter and John were waiting in jail. You are waiting for your change to come. And you will be rewarded. For the Promise is only to those who are willing to let go of their personal timetables for a miracle.

Know this Beloved: Suddenly only occurs for the obedient. The disciples were instructed to go and wait in Jerusalem. There, in a Suddenly moment, their entire reality was altered and a new paradigm was introduced. If you are obedient to the call to wait, you will discover God will move you into a different dimension where impossibility does not exist.

This is the Year of the Sudden Moment. God is going to turn situations around 180%. Make sure your anchor is in Christ and let go of everything else so you will be free to transition in the moment as it happens!

Having a Sudden experience,
Katrina

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Frustrated? Consider you may be Single on Purpose...

2010-06-02T15:31:00.003-04:00

"But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself" Psalms 4:3a

Hear what the Lord is saying in 2010: This is the season I have set apart a remnant of Singles for Myself and My purpose.

We have to know and be convinced of two things:
(1) God has separated you from everyone else to belong exclusively to Him.
(2) And God has distinguished you for something wonderful.

So often we focus on the fact that we are single in a world of couples; alone in a two-by-two world. Have we ever stopped to consider God's actions and His purpose are never divided? Since God has moved you to a place of separation, then God has a purpose for moving you there. We miss God's divine and perfect will when we spend our time in a place complaining and seeking transfer out.

You are unique and uniquely created for a purpose that is unimaginable unless God impart it to you. Ask the Lord to grant you more intimate fellowship with Him. Use the Single Place as a tabernacle, a place of meeting for you and God. Build an altar there and worship Him. Then you will find yourself enjoying that which was previously despised. The Glory of God is so heavy; it fills a place to overflow. Seek the Glory of the Lord in your Single Place - before you realize it, you won't be lonely, you will need more room!

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MORE! Fasting for the Next Level...

2010-05-16T12:59:00.004-04:00

He ate nothing all that time, and was very hungry.” (NLT) Luke 4:2

On June 1, 2010 in obedience to God, I Minister Katrina Winters(readywordministries.com), along with Deaquelynn Williams (QuelynnInc.com) and Stephanie Gordon (restoringtheessence.com) will begin a Global Fast for personal revival. The fast God has called for is entitled MORE! I believe in this season : If we want more from God, then we have to give more of ourselves. God promises 2010 will be a season of elevation and birthing but we need to show God we are serious about participating in the great things He is poised to do right now. If we want to move to the next level in God, some things will have to go from our lives and somethings will have to come into our lives. I have participated in this observance in the traditional way all throughout my childhood. I would fast from something I loved as a way of thanking Jesus for giving up His life for me and as a way of feeling a little of what He must have felt.

As an adult, I have often fasted for a spiritual breakthrough, for understanding, for deliverance, and for an answer to prayer. Other times I fasted just because the Holy Spirit led me to fast. But I didn't realize how fasting could elevate me until I was entering into a season of promotion. Several years ago, I was having a very difficult time resisting my flesh. When my body was tired, I could barely get out of bed. When I was lonely and feeling down, I sought out physical touch to comfort me; the opposite sex to affirm me. I was struggling with remaining celibate. I knew it was required and very necessary but I had a hard time with living it out. Then I heard Bishop Neil Ellis preach about fasting. He said if you were not getting the results you wanted it could be because you had not practiced the discipline of fasting.

The focus verse above speaks of Jesus’ time in the wilderness at the onset of His ministry. The Holy Spirit knew the devil was going to tempt Jesus so He prepared Jesus for the temptation by leading Him to fast from food for 40 days. The devil tempted His human desires. Jesus needed to discipline His body before the temptation came. Fasting teaches our flesh “NO”! Paul likened the process to training the body to be a slave to the spirit. Moses in Deuteronomy 6:12 warned the Israelites not to forget God when they became prosperous.

Prosperity can dull our spirit and increase our carnal strength because it tends to make us self-sufficient and relient on our abilities and not God. Fasting illuminates the truth that we are spirit FIRST. We are more then conquerors through Him who loves us. And fasting proves to me that I can do without something I am positive I will die without. Flesh is like a child that needs to be trained on how to live according the principles of the “house” it lives in. Meditation, Bible reading and Scripture Memorization, church attendance are a part of the training process. But when the temptation is personal and the tests difficult, the victory comes by prayer and fasting alone.

Beloved: God will never promote you to a place your character cannot keep you! Like Jesus, you will often face your most difficult temptations immediately before you are elevated. God's concern is to prepare us for a place we have never been. Your place of temptation is training ground for the ministry God created within you to extend to others. Don't be fearful of the place of testing. Run towards it knowing that with every test God has provided a way for a testimony. And often, doorway is through prayer and fasting! P.S. Believers know that saying Yes to God can often mean saying No to something else!

**If you have never fasted before, or had not considered fasted during this season, re-consider through prayer. Ask God for direction and purpose in your fast. Use a concordance and find relevant Scriptures for your situation. Pray throughout the day. You will need God's strength more each day. Make plans to participate in this corporate fast. Contact me and let me know how God moves in your life as a result. Helpful and encouraging information is available on Facebook, Twitter, BlogTalkRadio.com/MinisterKatrina, VirtualWomensSummit.net, and ReadyWordMinistries.com

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Tempted? Consider your future.

2010-03-13T20:22:00.003-05:00

"Her uncleanness was in her skirts; She did not consider her future. Therefore she has fallen astonishingly; She has no comforter. See, O LORD, my affliction, For the enemy has magnified himself!" Lam 1:9

The text is an analogy of Israel and their continuous adulterous relationship with other gods; gods that did not have Israel's best interest at heart. These gods were incapable of providing anything substantial or good to Israel because the gods were made of wood and stone. They were powerless to effect positive change but their potential to damage was unquestionable.

We are like the Israelites. We give ourselves (mind, body, heart, and soul) to people who do not have our best interests at heart. We lay with people who inflict damage that continues to affect us years after the relationship has ended. God, in His wisdom, gave the Israelites a list of standards of behavior (The Ten Commandments) before they ever entered the Promised Land. The intention was when they met other people groups they would have a code that they lived by. This code would be ingrained in their hearts so they would not sin against God.

Likewise, determine your standards before your relationship becomes intimate. When sex enters the equation, the backbone is the first thing we lose after our common sense. It is more difficult to fight your enemy after you have allowed him into your house than it is to bind the strongman outside the door with your standards and not allow him to get a foothold.

The pain of relationship ending is hard to suffer but the pain coupled with the weight of sin can seem unbearable. As the verse declares, for that kind of pain it may seem as if there is no comforter. But God...Thank God His blood covers every sin and shame. Confession can cleanse us and place us back in right standing with God. There is nothing that can separate the love of God from us!

Sexual temptation can be a truly irresistable temptation unless you have nothing else to look forward to in life. I focus on the truth of this verse and its truth helps me to stand. "Consider your future" it reminds us. Your latter is greater than your past! What you resist today can strengthen you for what is promised tomorrow.

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What do you really want your life to look like?

2010-03-08T22:48:00.004-05:00

And Jesus…said, “What do you want me to do for you?” Mt 20:32

Ever been hungry but had no idea what you wanted to eat? This is the plight of many souls today. They know they are lacking but when asked they cannot articulate what they desire. Did you hear what I said? They KNOW they are lacking but they DO NOT KNOW what they want. Why? Because most people base their life goals on pain and regret from the past.

Suffering creates a vacuum where everything around us is dark and suffocating. The soul cannot grow in such a deprecating environment. It begins to shrink back from living. Instead, it focuses on avoiding death. The soul views life from this ground-level position. Nothing is really as it seems. Fear is the substance of this world. If you choose to believe the lies fear speaks, then you will live in the world fear creates for you.

In the verse, blind men are sitting on the side of the road. They hear Jesus passing by and scream out for His help. Jesus calls them to Him and asks them the question, “What do you want me to do for you?” We all believe we want to hear that question from Jesus. We view it as three wishes from a genie or lucky lottery numbers. We believe we would have the answer to all of our problems if Jesus asked us that question.

Herein lies the issue: we think this question is about making our lives on earth perfect. We are so fearful that we allow fear to dictate our relationship with the God of the Universe. When face-to-face with the Creator, we ask for cars, money, and fame. Even the most “noble” of request pales in comparison to the vision God has for our lives. “For I KNOW the plans I have for you” says the Lord in the Book of Jeremiah. God KNOWS what He wants for us. His perspective is not skewed by the past for His plans are timeless.

Newflash: God does not answer our prayers to make our lives perfect! His purpose is to connect His world to this one through us (Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven). When God asks us what do we want, He is focusing our desires on a purpose greater than the small plot of land we live on. He is asking us to join Him through faith in taking a risk for something larger than we can imagine. When your eyes are opened wide through faith, you will ask for the impossible, the incredible, and the amazing because that's all you can see!

Point One: Defining your life in terms of what you DO NOT want is Fear; Defining your life in terms of what you DO want is Vision. Do you have any idea what kind of life you want? Jesus is standing in front of us offering to give us what we want with one condition: we have to ask for it. It is the will of God that we ask for what we want from Him. It is His good pleasure to grant us what we ask.

Point Two: Our request says a lot about our God. Will you ask for something anybody could give you? Will you ask for something you could get on your own if you worked a little harder? Or will you ask for a miracle - a display of Christ’s Kingdom on earth. To know what to ask for is very important. James says in His New Testament book that we ask amiss because we ask with the wrong motives. If our motivation is fear, we cannot expect to receive anything from God. The Bible says, anyone who comes to God must believe, not fear, that God is…Much prayer is based in fear not faith. Re-evaluate your desires, pray for vision, and get ready! Jesus is about to pass you on the road of your life and ask you...What do you want me to do for you?

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Not your everyday woman...I'm Uncommon

2010-03-04T19:48:00.005-05:00

Ladies: A treasure does not convince the seeker of it's value. The seeker has a trained eye to distinguish treasure from trash. If he cannot discern your worth, it's his deficiency not yours. You can never convince someone that you are worthy!

I posted the statement above on my Facebook Wall and received many favorable comments. So many comments that I knew I needed to address the subject more thoroughly. The statement was born out of a pain I was suffering at the time. As He often does (thank you God), the Holy Spirit ministered to my pain with the Word of life. He brought to my remembrance the following Scripture:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44

Note some things about the man:
He hid it because he knew it was valuable but he did not have at the moment what he needed to acquire it.
He was willing to sell all he had for it because he knew the treasure was worth more than everything he already owned.
He knew Value cannot be measured by Volume. The treasure was small to the eye but it had great value in itself, and he discerned it a great advantage to those who embraced it.
He knew he had to invest in the treasure. He could only possess the treasure on the treasure’s own terms. The treasure was a treasure because it was not CHEAP! But the return it provided was great.

The Kingdom of Christ, His reign and His rule is a treasure. At first (second, third…) glance, many don’t appreciate God’s way of doing things. In the Bible, people scoffed and gnashed their teeth violently at Him. No one had ever heard the things Christ introduced. Of course not! As Christ said, “The Kingdom of God has come upon you”. He was uncommon…

I believe many women today are single because they too are uncommon. (I am sure I will receive comments listing many reasons women are still single--much of them negative. But I am speaking about the women to which this applies. “Discernment” will tell you the women this applies to.) God is pouring out His Spirit on women today in a mighty way. Many cannot understand it but God has set you aside for HIS use! You are not your own. You are UNCOMMON! Extraordinary, not the norm, special, different, and a treasure. This is not a death sentence but something to be celebrated. Uncommon people do extraordinary things - but some of them perform these acts alone. Why? Because it takes a special eye to recognize a special artifact.

In the same way, we must possess the measure of faith given to us by God to see beyond the offensiveness of the Cross to the beauty of it in order to enjoy the great return of eternal salvation and abundant life Christ offers. Discernment is a heightened level of sight that involves faith and wisdom. Today, discernment is required to see the value in things that God has declared beautiful and good yet the world deems worthless.

We have need of great discernment so we will not miss the treasures lying in fields all around us. Many beautiful, intelligent, gifted women are single because their worth has yet to be discerned by the men God sent into the fields of this world. Listen, a woman’s worth is not determined by man’s discovery of her. I’ll say that again: a woman’s worth is not determined by man’s discovery of her. A treasure is still a treasure even if NO one ever finds it. But discernment would give men the visual acuity to see treasure where other seekers have missed it. Ladies, withdraw your opinion of yourself from the hands of others and place it squarely in the hands of your Creator. He fashioned you Beautiful and God don’t make no junk!

Fulfilling the call of God in pink gator stilettos one step @ a time,
Katrina

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Define your tomorrows instead of fearing them!

2010-03-03T00:09:00.003-05:00

“Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you." 2 Chronicles 20:17

Did you know God answers before we even finish our prayers? He graciously gives us assurance that we shall be victorious no matter what the threat. But what about the unknown? Nothing causes such great and terrible fear like tomorrow. It is often darkest before the dawn. Many nights we lay unable to rest for unrealized fears occupy our minds. We may not know what tomorrow brings but our yesterdays were awful enough to warrant much apprehensions for our tomorrows.

Jehoshaphat experienced the same fear of tomorrow that we all face. He was well-aware that a great army encamped against Him and he feared being overtaken in battle. He is prophetically reassured of the following:

(1) The battle is not yours, it is the Lord’s
(2) Do not be afraid for God Himself will be with you
(3) Stand still and watch God be victorious on your behalf

Beloved, Tomorrow is largely undefined...until YOU define it. Everything that occurs in the natural is a reflection of the spiritual realm. Fear is the substance of the enemy’s desires towards us as faith is the substance of God’s desires towards us. Fear empowers a defeated devil and gives him place in your tomorrow. Where God has written victory, you write defeat instead with the pen of fear.

We must learn how to pray and receive the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. You have a legitimate army of problems and pain encamped against you ready to attack tomorrow but you can have peace about it if you can hear and receive the assurance God offers us in the night. While it is yet dark and before we have the victory, God is whispering “I am with you”. While we are fretting and fearful and woefully inadequate, God is beckoning us to take our place on the battlefield. He wants us there NOT to fight but to get a real good seat for the butt-whooping He is about to give the devil. God wants us to be bold like David who when he was a small, smelly shepherd boy said, “You uncircumcised philistine! How dare you come against the armies of the Lord!” (David was bad!)

Remember this: Tomorrow is largely undefined...until YOU define it! So write the definition of your tomorrow like this:

Tomorrow - Stupendous, Exemplary, and Salubrious!

Defining my world,
Katrina

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Job posting: Looking for spiritual fathers. Apply @ Church

2010-03-02T07:06:00.000-05:00

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” Matthew 28:19

There are many teachers in the Church but not many fathers (relationally, not biologically). In this way, the Church mirrors the world. Many want to tell you what to do but not many will stay around long enough to show you how. The “behavior” gospel is being preached in churches. This is contrary to the Good News that Christ proclaimed and made available through His death and resurrection. This other Gospel is akin to the Law that was honorable but could not save. Grace, however, came through Jesus Christ and brought along with it the ability to both be and do the will of God.

Jesus derived His purpose from His Father. We are birthing spiritual orphans in the Church; they don’t know their Daddy and they don’t know their purpose. They have dragged the world’s mentality regarding success in to the Church with them. They publicize church events like the world and advertise the Word as if one might market a burger! It was Paul, Timothy’s father in the ministry, who told Timothy it was his personal responsibility to stir up the gift Timothy received. Many rest on their laurels, their charisma, and their connections instead of putting in the prayer, self-discipline, and the study to increase the measure they first received.

I am thankful for my heavenly Father and for those mighty men who operate as spiritual fathers in the Church today. They are rarely celebrated and not very well known but their impact has been great. I have spiritual fathers and without them I would have crumbled in the wake of spiritual oppression and public persecution. But my spiritual fathers taught me my anchor is in Christ. They were the historical bridge that connected me to my spiritual ancestors in the faith. Like Paul did for Timothy, my spiritual fathers charged me to preach the rightly divided Word, chastised me about sin and complacency, and exhorted me towards excellence. They laid hands on me as a visible sign of approval and support. They hold me accountable to the calling of God and come alongside as I navigate through life and ministry.

Spiritual fathers are a necessary and vital aspect of Christ’s Church. He expected we would continue His model of church growth - relationship building. In the beginning (Genesis 1:26) God said let Us make man in Our image. The word “make” indicates associated effort in the process. God personally vested Himself in the creation of man. We see later that He used His hands to fashion us into the images He designed. The Church is called to “make” disciples. We are to personally invest ourselves in developing Christians (images of Jesus Christ). This takes effort and time. We may have to get dirty; certainly we will have to get close. But the result is priceless. In the words of the Creator, their offspring will be blessed and very good!

Tempted to be Lonely, part 2

2010-02-27T09:47:00.004-05:00

At daybreak Jesus departed and went off to a desert place. Luke 4:42

4. Not for the weak; no creature comforts there. Certainly, this place can be uncomfortable. No need to minimize this. Prophets and apostles in the Bible suffered from depression and deep emotional pain because of their choice to enter the lonely place. Even Jesus suffered the pain of the place when on the Cross He cried out "Why have You forsaken Me?" Yet they chose the place because they knew it was a precursor to greatness in God. If you want to do big things for God, win souls and take territory, you have to learn how to navigate the lonely place.

I am in Maryland for two weeks. The hotel room I am in is quiet and I am enjoying this respite despite missing my children terribly. This trip was necessary and I could not delay. This is a place I had to come. Many have been asking me how I can stand it. Isn't it awful being alone like that. I smile because for most this would seem like punishment. But I have experience with this place. I have been aware of the lonely place since childhood. I was taught in my youth how to navigate its stormy waters. My grandmother taught me how to pray and my mother taught me how to believe. Faith and Prayer are constant companions of mine in this place. Like Peter who desired to do big things for God, I have always ventured into the unknown, the dark, and the deep trying to get to Jesus. I have always known Jesus is more real and more present than is traditionally believed. Since I had such radical thoughts about God, I tended to walk alone even as a child.

It was in those alone times with God that I heard Him call my name. I answered, "Here I am Lord. Send me." And He did. Many are going but have not been sent. It is in the lonely place you get familiar with the voice of God, receive assignment, and power.

5. How do you know you are sent? You refuse to buy into the fickle favoritism of the crowd and exchange it for unknown.

“The people started looking for him, and when they found him, they tried to keep him from leaving. But he said to them, I must preach the Good News about the Kingdom of God in other towns also, because that is what God sent me to do. So he preached in the synagogues throughout the country.”

The chapter ends with Jesus rejecting offers of stability and places of light and love for the country. Can you imagine the peoples’ responses? Who is he to turn down an offer like this? Does he have any idea what he’s giving up? Many have failed this test and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. The truth is: we are called and sent to engage in violent confrontation with the enemy in the dark places. We are called and sent to the countryside, the hedges and highways, to do battle with a formidable enemy who knows we are coming. Our attacks are not stealth nor secret. The enemy knows we are coming and has prepared a diversion of light to draw us away from our mission.

No one in their right mind would chose to be lonely, right? There our fears are intensified. There we have to face the truth that things are not alright. Things are terribly wrong. We are inadequate and in awful pain. No one really understands what we have been going through and we feel all alone.

Beloved, this is the place to cry out “It is good to be here!”. Not on the mountaintop and not in the sunshine. It is good to be here in the lonely place because it reminds me I am on a critical mission. I have no time to be complacent because folk are being lulled into sleep by the enemy. The things I have been called to battle I must confront first in myself - in the lonely place. There me and my God meet those demonic forces of rejection, despair, depression, anxiety, insecurity, unworthiness, and resentment. There me and my God join in the ultimate example of togetherness and fellowship. There heaven meets earth when two realms collide. There I receive my charge to reconcile and I am sent out to compel the world to come into relationship with Christ Jesus. There I discover the lonely place is not a place of fear but a place of faith.

I have experienced this condition for years. It is a part of the human condition that we must learn to manage and cope with. But when you are a believer you have to change the way you view everything. Loneliness is a place where you can discover your purpose, your strength, and yourself if you allow Jesus to minister to you there.

Are you tempted to be lonely? Allow yourself to enter into a place of rest and solitude. You’ll be surprised to find out Who else is there!

Bye! Got to go somewhere and Jesus is driving,
Katrina

Tempted to be Lonely, part 1

2010-02-27T09:42:00.004-05:00

At daybreak Jesus departed and went off to a desert (lonely) place. Luke 4:42

The very place you have been resisting is the place God desires you to enter so you can receive power to do His will. The word “desert” in the verse is translated “lonely”. In essence, the verse says early in the day Jesus chose to enter a lonely place. Note several interesting things about this:

1. Jesus chose this path “at daybreak”. Daybreak or the dawning of the morning is a symbolic moment of deliverance and release. Many would have you to believe this is the time to move out in purpose. It is a time when the atmospheric conditions seem most favorable. Yet this was the time Jesus often chose to isolate in a lonely place and pray. Jesus understood His purpose was to confront darkness. He knew the dawning only occurred because of what He had accomplished the night before. Look at the sequence of events…

v. 31 Taught in the synagogue
v. 35 Cast out devils from a man in church (that’s a whole other blog!)
v. 39 Healed a woman of a fever
v. 40-41 “After sunset all who had friends who were sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus; he placed his hands on every one of them and healed them all. Demons also went out from many people, screaming, ‘You are the Son of God!’”

Do you understand now? For the “sent ones” daybreak is a time of re-charging for the darkness ahead. Most folk cannot or refuse to understand this. The sun does not govern children of God. The SON does! We revolve around Him. When everyone else is running around enjoying the rays of the sun, the “sent ones” are running in the opposite direction to the lonely place.

2. Loneliness is a place. Loneliness is not a feeling but it does involve our emotions. Loneliness is a state of being. You can dwell there or you can just visit. It is a place of awareness. There you are awakened to how very separated you are from everyone else. There are no distractions; no way to busy yourself so you can ignore that nagging feeling of loss and lack of companionship. The “sent ones” are driven there by God so He can fill them with His Presence and His Spirit. Did you really think you could do His work without Him? Many do. Many have taken the sunshine as a signal to move out of the lonely and dry places to lands of abundance.

3. Glory chasers not fame seekers - Today there is a frigtening movement in the Church toward popularity and fame. Some believe we need fame to get the Word out. But Jesus in this chapter left a place of fame for the lonely place. Remember fame is a place too. Many pack up and move there only to find themselves homeless after a season. We can never rely on fame to usher in the power of God. Fame cannot carry the weight of glory. God is not famous; He is glorious! Glory is the weight of someone's reputation. It is created and sustained by His acts in heaven and on earth. Fame has a tendency to fade quickly because nothing sustains it. Many have gone into ministry because of their fame but have not been sent. Their acts will burn up in the fire of testing. Sent ones know they are sent because they often find themselves in the lonely place. They are seen going in the opposite direction of the popular crowd. Sent ones are lonely because they chose to operate in the dark places. They move when the Glory of God moves. Wherever it takes them, they follow. Their acts flow from the Glory, not for themselves but for Him. Their acts are sustained because of the power that works through the sent ones.

(see Part 2)

Embracing loneliness,
Katrina

Go tell that!

2010-02-22T08:00:00.002-05:00

Jesus replied, "Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Luke 13:32

Have you ever entered into a new situation (marriage, career, school, church, relationship, city, etc.) and received intense opposition from the onset? In these situations, your name and reputation have preceded you. The enemy is acutely aware of the power we carry within. He knows when we enter into a new territory we have the potential to take over and occupy it. This is the mandate for the Christian. We are to enter into new places and possess them for the kingdom. The enemy will try and thwart our efforts at every turn. Know this: when you enter into a new territory on purpose carrying the Spirit of God with you, YOU ARE a threat to the forces that control that place and the people that live there.

In the text, Jesus entered the territory of Galilee where Herod was the tetrarch. Herod had already killed John the Baptist, a mighty man of God who fearlessly preached the Kingdom of God at hand. Herod sent a religious man to “warn” Jesus to get out of the country and thus save his life. Herod had threatened to kill Jesus but used someone else to deliver his threat.
Jesus’ response to the message is key:

1. Jesus says “Go tell that fox” – Jesus identifies Herod as a crafty and sneaky individual. What was sneaky about the situation? Herod sent a religious person instead of the soldiers he had at his disposal. Herod is not a Jew. He is a part of the Roman government ruling over the territory. He is not religious yet he sends a religious person to Jesus. Herod seemed to think Jesus would be more susceptible to religious hierarchy than a military one. The enemy will rarely enlist brute force against us. He is craftier than that. He will use those whom he believes have influence over us. When we are forging new ways and taking new territory, it is often religious tradition the enemy uses to keep us in line. He will inspire religious leaders to call us heretics to scare us into remaining in a small place. Our response to this type of threat must be like the Forerunner of our faith…Go tell that fox!

2. Jesus says “I will keep on” – The threat against the enemy is what we will do when we step into the new place. Casting out demons and healing the sick are direct attacks against demonic influence and possession. Most church programming and ministry are “successful” because they are NOT engaging in either of those activities. The enemy has no problem with your women’s ministry meetings and exercise classes. Most of our church activities maintain territory someone else fought for years before us. They do not take any new territory from the enemy. When we enter a new place, we must not rest on the laurels of others. We have a mandate from Jesus Christ to KEEP ON. Keep on casting out devils, keep on healing the sick, keep on preaching the Word, keep on teaching new converts, keep on baptizing new believer, and keep on saving souls. We are in the keep on keeping on business!

3. Jesus says “I will accomplish my purpose” - Are things becoming clearer? All of the opposition and hatred towards you is not personal. It is your purpose that is being opposed; not your person. Take self out of this so you can fight more effectively. Jesus didn’t get upset or fearful. He knew, more than that He expected, opposition. Because Jesus knew His purpose was in direct opposition to the enemy. When you know what you are called to do, you are aware in advance opposition will come. This opposition will not intimidate you nor cause you to shrink back.

I am reminded of those who came before me in the Spirit of Christ – Martin Luther against the religious demons and Martin Luther King, Jr. against the traditional demons. Both men were assaulted in every way imagined, intimidated, and threatened yet they accomplished their purpose. How? Their purpose was larger than they were. Our accomplishments for Christ will always outlive and outweigh us. All things work together for good for the called according to His purpose. You will finish the work God has called you to do because God is committed to its completion. As Paul says to the Church at Philippi so I say to you: Be confident of this one thing He (God) who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (1:6).

Next time the enemy issues a veiled threat against your purpose say God is not through with the Church nor is He through with this world so devil, Go tell that!

Newsflash: Swelling is NOT Growth!

2010-02-18T09:29:00.002-05:00

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." Hebrews 4:1-2

Many Christians are swollen; puffed up with knowledge. We appear large in the faith but when trouble comes, we deflate like a two-day old balloon. Swelling mimics growth. It is deceptive but to the trained eye it is symptomatic of an internal problem. Only a masochist would change their life because of swelling. One would not purchase a new wardrobe to accommodate the swelling. Instead one would attempt to discover the cause and reduce it.

We have re-organized our lives to accommodate our swelling. We have accepted positions and started ministries because of the swelling. We have married and moved because of the swelling. We have charted new courses and forged new paths because of the swelling. Then after time has passed and the swelling has reduced, we have realized that we are not the faithful giants we appeared to be.

This is largely an issue of perception. Perception is the awareness and understanding of sensory information. It is not what you see, hear, feel, taste, or touch; it is what you believe about what you see, hear, feel, taste, or touch. Perception is a function of the brain. Therefore, it takes into account your cultural background and experiences when your brain is interpreting sensory information. An ambiguous image can have multiple interpretations i.e. “glass half-empty or half-full.

What does this have to do with us? Perception is directly connected to our faith. When our senses take in and collect information from our environments, our perception of these events is influenced by what we already believe about the world around us. If our minds have not been renewed by the Word of God, then our perception will be one based in fear and belligerent ignorance.

NOTE: This is why non-believers cannot understand spiritual things. Their experiences are natural and earth-bound so are their perception of any new information. If the percept has no grounding in a person's experience, the person may literally not perceive it. Scary right? Christians experience so much more than non-believers. Our world consists of two realms and the duality within us ushers in possibilities where there once were impossibilities.

Understanding this is crucial to our walk with God. Many have been making decisions based on knowledge that they acquired with their senses. This is dangerous because the senses are unreliable and require interpretation by the brain. The brain is designed to interpret based on experience. So our new knowledge is limited by what we have already experienced. The brain then limits what information we can accept if the information is too abnormal for the mind to handle. This information is received and temporarily broadens us (swelling). If the mind is unable to process or understand it, the information is discarded and we are reduced as a result. Decisions made in the interim between reception and processing are dangerous because we will arrive in a place that we lack understanding to maintain.

Enlargement of territory begins in the mind of our understanding. As the Scripture states above, we must be diligent to mix the word (sensory information) we receive with faith (a mind changed to believe in what my senses cannot interpret) so we can profit (grow not swell). The growth of our faith produces patience in trial; a “resting” state and a place of peace. I can maintain my position in this place despite trouble because the culture of my thinking has been changed to perceive God working on my behalf in the midst of it all.

Remember: what I see is largely a result of what I believe!

Seeing Great things,
Katrina