Seeing a glimmer of Hope....

For over a year now I have been hanging on for dear life to the hope that God would work in my daughters life. She has overcome some hurdles and I am so proud of her, but her staying up all night has had my husband and I concerned. We have not liked the thought of her up all night...nothing good came of the night hours as far as what I remember from my own life. Despite concerns I gave them to God, because I knew and still know that God will lead her and because if its his leading it will become more personal and develop a relationship between the two of them-which ultimately "that" is deep in my heart. We have talked with her many times so she knows how we feel on the subject. I have learned in other situations with her that she has to find out for herself. I have been seeing some days where she is trying to switch her sleeping schedule around and I still hold on to the hope that it will come around.
In the meantime I have seen a beautiful glimmer within the nightfall. It is a glimmer of true talent and as I have always been for myself, my daughter does the same and thinks there is much better talent out there, but it has shown me that I need to acknowledge my talent and not compare it with others...we are our own worst critic aren't we??  
A while back she was constantly looking at dresses...something I did notice, but what I did not know is that she started drawing wedding dresses, of her own tastes and designs, in her Microsoft paint program. She also loves doing her eye makeup and has been talking for months about wanting to be a makeup artist. I have seen some of the pictures she has been taking of her face at night of the various looks she has been completing. I also am aware of some music she had written during a tough time in her life...not all of it has words I am happy with or is my style, but I do have a couple favorites and her step sister sang them and produced them on CD for her. I have told her that God will show her how to write music for him-that is another hope I hang onto for dear life. A couple weeks ago I was taken by surprise and was shown more of her drawings and on Sunday she showed all of them to my parents, my husband, and I.
She started working on a blog yesterday and put her dresses up there. She does not want me showing everybody, but this mom is so proud. Working with websites in the past I have learned making an entry does not mean thousands of people are going to suddenly catch on and see the page. What I do know is that it allows God to move the people who do need or would be interested in seeing the page...to come across it. So now my daughter has three options of talent to work with...God could end up using her with all three or the one that will be the greatest blessing to the world. How all that is going to happen, I still do not know....what I do know is that God will be faithful in leading...he never fails and that I can count on!!
Check out Kats blog here KB Designs Leave her a comment won't you? 
New Update 5/31/2012!! Please be in prayer for Kat as she has received what she calls drama from a facebook friend (I would not consider friend in this case.) She does not want drama anymore and deleted her drawings. Sorry if you missed them, but she has moved on to wanting to be a makeup artist. Also being prayer that she will get her GED within the next year. We bought a software program to help her study.

Busily focused on school

As you can see I have been pretty busy with school...I anticipated that it would be that way, which is why I do not post the actual date of my entry. Praise the Lord I have had A's in my first three classes. Even my college writing class, though I seemed, at least in my mind, to be struggling. I could not have done it without God. 
One of the newest  habits I have started doing to keep my focus on the fact that I am completely dependent on God-- is an alarm that I put on my desktop that goes off every hour. First thing in the morning during my devotions I pray Father God cover me in your grace, Jesus please keep me in your peace, Holy Spirit I need you every second of the day. When I hear my alarm I say Father God thank you for your grace, Jesus thank you for your peace, Holy Spirit thank you for your help.
I know without a doubt when asking for these things I am given them. God gives me just enough for today and through this habit I am starting to see why I have been reading so much lately through devotions and messages from God on my igoogle where he is calling me to acknowledge his presence continually through the day--that I need it because that is how he created me.
In the past, it would happen so quickly and I would be trying to do things on my own. Having that constant reminder of where my strength comes and that he will give me all that I need-- has made an immeasurable difference. There are so many I cannot count.
Well this is a short and sweet entry as I injured myself yesterday and have a very sore pointer finger when typing. I encourage you to start thinking of habits that will remind you of God continual presence. You can use mine or create your own that will fit your lifestyle. You will be fulfilling a large need in your heart that nothing else will fill.

I am a new person

This is from an assignment last week at Grace Bible College. It has only been slightly revised to give you information so that it will make more sense to you, the reader, outside of the College class.  I even kept it in the same formatting. It does make for an easier read.  Please feel free to share your thoughts at the end of this entry and share it with others--as I have a few options with how you can do so. I know that I includes a sentence about not having to share everything that I learn, but when what I learn is increasing the quality of my life--I just can not help it.

It truly has been a process becoming a new person and putting off the old self, that has certainly been the case, during my whole Christian life so far. Where am I at today?  Over the last few weeks-during my course here at GBC- I am discovering some new key information.  First and foremost is that I am totally dependent on Christ-I have known this for sometime, but through my studies and meditation is has infiltrated deep into my heart and mind.  In the past I have worshipped my will (unknowingly) and now realize that I need to depend on the Holy Spirit within me.

I need to put off the expectations that I will do everything perfectly or that things must always “go” perfectly. I need to judge people less, I do not—do so—speaking to other people, but I make judgments in my own thinking. I need to realize that we are all on our own journey and no two people are going to be in the same place or at the same level. When I learn new things I do not need to jump out and tell everyone I meet. I recently lost sixty-three lbs. But I am still fighting against addictions to food.  I have always been an emotional eater and I want to put that off and seek God when I need emotional comfort. Help me Jesus! There are more things that rear their ugly head from time to time, but the layers have been coming off. Thank you Jesus!

I have new habits in place that I have been building up and committing to doing that are helping me—set my mind on things of God.  I would like to expand my prayer life and have always felt the pull to intercede for others.  I look forward to using my imagination more and allow Jesus to show me how to use the idea of flash prayers (which I learned from the book—Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster.) I recommend that book to anyone reading this.  I hope to use flash praying on behalf of others in my life, while I am at the store, church, or wherever. It has only been the past year that I have discovered God’s still small voice and I want to learn to listen, really listen more—to what God wants me to do in every situation in life. I want to have more solitude and silent time with God.  Right now I have enough with studying what we are assigned at Grace Bible College, but in the future I plan to study works of C.S. Lewis.

I love the Spiritual Journal that we have to submit and I plan to continue, expanding on the whole concept even after it is not an assignment due, but I love the accountability. I have been using notebooks to write various thoughts and reflections by hand while I am doing devotions, etc to. I plan to daily put myself into the place where God can transform me.  I look forward to seeing his work in my life as I know it is going to be immeasurably above any of my attempts in the past. I have been good at doing it Monday through Friday, but I want to incorporate it into Saturday and Sunday too.  Leading children’s worship or going to the service is not enough; I believe I need at least, maybe smaller snippets of what I do during the week.

I honestly see myself having to say “It is your work, Oh Lord, not my own” every day. I so soon forget the things I have learned.  One example- just recently is the fact that I am learning to resist the devil and not listening to the nonsense, that is not even the truth, to me. Yesterday I was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated again, but only at the first stage compared to the past. In talking with my husband I quickly realized it was that nasty Satan again. He has been leaving me alone because I have been putting into practice the powerful things I have been learning lately.  Thank you Jesus!! Satan thought he would try a sneak attack on me again yesterday, I may have forgotten for a few hours, but I am being renewed because I never got to the place he can usually take me. 

Grace is the Free Power!!

Are you plugged in????
Have you acknowledged to God that you can't do it on your own or are you striving and struggling to do it yourself?  For several years I have tried so hard to change myself and stop doing the things I didn't want to do.  Before I knew it, there I would go again.  "Why do I keep doing that?" I would ask myself.  Within the last few years I have been acknowledging, "I can't do it without you Lord." Looking back I can honestly see the changes that have slowly occurred, but it is a process. 
Today I heard a message by Joyce Meyer. She went through the same struggles until she started getting serious about knowing the word of God. It was then that she learned that Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit.  We do not just get grace to be saved it continually goes with us by the Power of the Holy Spirit in us.  Greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world.
The day after I wrote this God gave me an acronym for process, I love it when he inspires me.

Pursuing

Righteousness

Over

Changes

Encountered

Solely through the

Spirit of God.

Galatians 3:3 [Amplified] Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh?

Grace is upon us: And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.  Acts 4:33 ESV

Grace is seen in us: When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,  Acts 11:23 ESV

We can continue in grace: And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. Acts 13:43 ESV

Even Christ depended on grace: But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9 ESV

                                 For he prayed: if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Luke 22:42 ESV. May we follow in his footsteps by the grace of God.

Here are some other scriptures that jumped out at me that you are free to study on your own and let God speak to you personally.  You can even do so at BibleGateway.com
Romans 5:2; 5:20; 6:15 | 1 Corinthians 15:10 | 2 Corinthians 9:8; 12:9 | Ephesians 4:29  | Colossians 3:16 | 2 Thessalonians 1:12 | 1 Timothy 1:14 | 2 Timothy 2:1 | Hebrews 4:16 | James 4:6  | 1 Peter 4:10; 5:10

[[[[May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ go with you.]]]]

Buckets of Grace!!!!

Since my last post I have been listening to every one of Joyce Meyers pod-casts. You "have got" to subscribe and start applying the principles that took her 30 years to develop into herself, and now is able to share with us.  The great thing is it won't take us 30 years to get there...well, IF we apply them to our own lives that is.


I have been applying them, and sure enough God does walk along-side me every day--slowly I see the changes arriving.  God really does love me, and I am falling madly in love with him too.  Oh how I want that for YOU!!!  I have just prayed to God and asked him that for everyone reading this entry: he would shower YOU with buckets of grace!!!!  Grace to have the want to!!!  Grace to believe and see the changes!!! Grace to grasp how much he loves YOU!!!  Grace to have unfailing hope to hang on to, even if it is for dear life!!!!  Grace to see hope beyond your pain!!!!  Grace to see that nothing is impossible with Him!!!!  Grace to decide to believe!!!
One of the newest things that I have added to my life is a life quote that I have chosen.  "I would rather sacrifice Praise to God than to sacrifice my JOY to Satan."  Sacrificing our joy comes so natural....it comes way too easy, but takes so much more away from our lives.  It steals a portion of energy, faith, hope, life goals and dreams.  Lack of joy produces depression, more negative thoughts, destroys our lives if it continues. Praise on the other hand should come easy, but in the natural realm it takes sacrifice-we have to do it even when we don't feel like it.  As Christians we must strive to walk in the Spirit-with His strength it becomes easier, but a choice still has to be made to do it no matter how we feel.  As Joyce has said in many of her videos, we can't make decisions based on how we feel.  Don't make it complicated just start by saying "Praise you Lord" over and over again until your joy begins to flourish.  From there you can gravitate to deeper praise, however you feel drawn.  The point is to keep it simple--then you are more likely to actually do it.  Go give God praise my beloved friends in Christ!!!

Will you "Set your mind"?

I listened to a recording of Joyce Meyer this morning.  She hit the hammer "right on the nail"-- with regard to the reason for my outbursts when frustrated.  I have known for some time now its an area where I need to change.  It fits right in with being careful with what we fill our minds with.  I have taken good precautions at guarding myself from certain books and TV shows.  The step I have failed to take, is purposely filling my mind with God's word and "setting" my mind on the goal to bring glory to God in everything.  I mean really setting my mind with perseverance, I half heartedly worked on it "mind" you.  I need to do it everyday because otherwise all too soon I forget what I am supposed to be doing again--ugh.  This is the goal that I am going to focus on until the whole process comes into my heart with complete understanding and I am "living it out", to the glory of God.  Joyce also stated something to the effect that so often we go from book to book, video to video, concept to concept, without spending quality time on just the one idea until it is embedded into our hearts.  There was a challenge given to go through the Proverbs and find anything about the words from our mouths.  I took up the challenge and typed up some scripture and thoughts from her message, recording while reading it, and added some background music.  There is a "Right Speaking" recording for you to the right of the page.  You can apply this same concept of setting your mind-- with regards to anything you struggle with.  Have you been trying to lose weight and get healthy.  Maybe you just want to build up your faith and become a person that trusts God no matter what.  She has more recordings on speaking and our minds that I plan to view throughout the rest of this week into the next.  You can do so too right here.  If you are successful in setting your mind on an issue I find victory in that area through Christ.  Please share your story in the comments.
I am going to share with you how I made these recordings-- in case you would like to do this for yourself, making them custom to fit your needs.  It is really quite simple if you know your way around the computer.
1. First, I start with the sound recorder that came with my computer and I have a headset and microphone hooked up. This makes a wma file| save it where you know you will find it.
2. Next I convert the recording to a mp3 file using  NCH's Switch Audio Converter and its free as you only need the basic.  Just click add file and browse to find your wma file.  Below that is save to folder: click the browse button to save the file where you want it.   Set the output format: to Mp3 and click convert button to the right.
3. Now its time to add the background music if you would like....otherwise if just the sound recording will suffice you are good to go.  I use another free program called Audacity .  When I first open the program I go to file/open and I find the mp3 file I created and open it.  Then I go to project|import audio and find a music file I want to use.Below is a picture of the settings that I use:

  Once all is set and sounds good I click file| export as mp3 and save it with a different name of my recording by itself.
4.  I find the file and save it so my desktop so whenever I want to listen to it I just double click and Windows Media (or whatever program you set as default) opens up and plays the file.
Please feel free to comment if you have any questions or are confused with the instructions.

God's Expectations of our Conversations with Him.

In my previous post about my troubles with giving Satan a foothold, I wrote that it began when I started questioning my own prayers. I didn't feel that I measured up to those around me when praying at my ladies bible study group.  Their prayers were beautiful and heartfelt.  When I take the time to write and ponder on my thoughts, I can come up with beautiful words and express myself.  When I am on the spot with others watching and hearing me- my brain shuts down.  Does this happen to you too?  As my prayer progresses I begin to forget what I already prayed, suddenly I will just stop, never knowing if I even complete a thought process.  My prayers just seems to fall short of everyone else.  I know that I am supposed to be talking to God-the one whom I love so much.  I shouldn't be concerned about what others think.  This is a topic that has been talked about many times in various circles I have been in, so I know I am not the only one who struggles with it.  
Now that I know that I need to keep my routine of praying, which as I have designed it, are specific written out scripture prayers.  I asked God to show and teach me what He expects during my prayer time.  The first thing I heard was, "I know the intentions of your heart--just love me with "all of it" and focus on that love." God knows my heart and that I believe with all of it- the power of praying scripture.  He honors and welcomes those prayers as much as any of the others.  When I pray in public from now on, I plan to say a prayer between Him and myself declaring my love for Him and ask that He helps me to keep my focus on that love.  He is there, fully present when two or more are gathered together in His Name.  Keeping in mind too that we all love God and our focus is truly on Him.  When words come from our heart for God and those we are praying for they "ALL" are beautiful.
The other thing I plan to do in addition to reading my scripture prayer, is praying out loud for 10-15 minutes a day.  Knowing how I work- I believe that hearing myself praying out loud will help me to get over my voice and myself.  This will get me into a habit of praying out loud from my heart--Lord willing I will do the same in public.  
I have always wanted to be a prayer warrior, praying on behalf of everyone I come into contact with.  Writing about prayer has renewed a desire to pursue it with determination and to strengthen my skills throughout the rest of my life.  Some people have called me a prayer warrior already, but I want to pursue it from a stand point that God would consider me as one.  I am home all the time and praying for others will take my mind off myself, drawing my heart closer to those within the reach of my life.  I have had bouts in the past with depression and I know full well that focusing on God and others help to defeat the stronghold of depression.  
May you and I both, "today" move into the love of talking to God from our hearts to the point that it doesn't matter what others think of our words, but instead draws them into wanting that love relationship with God for themselves too.  Maybe you don't have that love relationship yet?  God is calling you?  He will take you a simple step at a time.
I love the diversity of learning from others and getting different perspectives.  If you have read this and have anything to add or a different experience that enlightened you to further your Spiritual Growth in regards to prayer, please feel free to post a comment and share. 

I gave the devil a foothold....Oh my!

A couple months ago I completed my book on InnerPeace.  Per a suggestion with Zondervan.com I created an account with authonomy.com.  While there  I discovered some other books for myself to read and one of them was on spiritual warfare. After completing it I was in conversations with God over what I had read.  The thing that stood out the most to me was his emphasis on being sure to say "In the name of Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God."- when you sense, what he called, unclean spirits.  As Christians we are covered by the blood of the Lamb-God protects us daily from our enemy.

Revelation 12:11 says,

They triumphed over him [satan]
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.

Following my folder of things that help me to stay in the midst of peace with God.  I have a prayer where I ask Him everyday to hasten me if I need to pray against any unclean spirits.  I hadn't had any days so far, but I believe we are protected by God--but be warned--only when we follow His commands.  Last week I had a couple days I didn't do my routine.  I started to hear the eloquent prayers of the woman at Bible study--felt that I should be able to do the same.  Rather than reading my scripture prayers, I started to attempt eloquent prayers on my own.  My attention span and praying began to fall apart.  Now- I know I should have prayed from my heart additional prayers, while still continuing with the powerful scripture prayers-as this would have kept me in my routine.  Getting out of the routine led to other bad choices, causing many things to escalate by Saturday.

My shoulder and back have been hurting me-the plan was to take a couple easy days-letting it rest.  We have Netflix and for some crazy reason I chose to have a marathon day of "Heroes."  Kat and I also went to the library to pick up a couple books the next day.  In this time I started to feel I was in a "dark place".  That is the only way I can describe it.  Saturday morning I began reading one of the books I picked up the day before.  I like Sci-Fy | Fantasy, but you have to be cautious- as I was reminded that day- because this book had some pure evil-real like witchcraft stuff in it.  By the time I got to the third chapter, I put the book down and said to my husband, "I am not reading that book any longer, we have to take it back today."

That day, from the get go, was off to a bad start.  The spirit within me acknowledged that God was worthy of praise and my faith in Him didn't waiver, but I was clearly in a "dark place" and had no ability of anything positive on the outside.  The negativity began even before I started reading the book, continuing for 3-4 hours that day. I was not very nice to my family, unusually worse, than what any of us have done.  Finally it was time for me to take a shower, where I was convicted by the Holy Spirit, to claim the blood of the Lamb, against evil spirits.  I felt freed from being bound, but still in a dark place and quieted to ponder throughout the rest of the day.  We had community group that night,where I only spoke when spoken to and asked a question.  Throughout the evening things gradually became lighter, but it wasn't until we were getting ready to sleep that Owen looked at me and said, "Now that is beautiful."  I had no idea what he was talking about, but I didn't even realize that I had a big smile on my face for the first time that day.  He said, "You are smiling."
From that moment, I was able to talk about what I was experiencing that day.  I said to my husband, "God tells us to think of things excellent and praiseworthy, pure, lovely and put it into practice--for a good reason.  Today I believe its a command, in fact, that is what God convicted me of first thing when I woke the next morning.

I experienced first hand, loud, and clear about the foothold which the dictionary states: "is a firm or secure position that provides a base for further advancement."-boy did satan advance on me for a couple days.  This hard lesson taught me to be very choosy of what I am going to watch and read.  I think back to many times in my past, where I felt in a dark place, but I couldn't explain it.  I know now--the answer is that I was filling my mind with the things that God has warned us not to ponder on.  The horrible show that I watched, was  for Nine hours, yes NINE.  I believe that is why- I had such a strong bond keeping me in darkness.

I care about everyone who reads this entry.  Please take to heart God's command to be careful of what you are filling your mind with.  Ask God to convict you, to stop watching the TV show or reading a certain book, if its needed.  Ask Him to show you excellent and praiseworthy things to replace it with-He will.  Don't give satan a foothold to run havoc in your life.  Today's bible study was on satan's lies and I believe one of his lies is about various TV shows, many of us all watch.  He can convince us that they are not that bad, but they ARE.
The other statement that stood out to me when re-reading the devotion by Proverbs 31 was:

 "God never meant for us to be in control, strong in and of ourselves. We were meant to show His strength in our weakness as He provides for our needs. We were created to live like little children, dependent on the care of our heavenly Father."

Don't rely on your own strength to overcome your desires for TV shows that don't line up with the Word of God, surrender to Him, Who will give you strength.  The same applies to every area of your life.

Go in Christ's strength today!!

What does "God's Names" mean for you?

I came across an online bible study with Suzie Eller, while browsing through utube songs....that was no accident.  I haven't purchased the book yet, that it coincides with, but the title of this series intrigued me so much.  I decided to move forward and listen to the series, then I will get the book later after I finish my current book which is Heaven is for Real.  This title series is called Push Past your Past. I have known for sometime now that I have things that I still hold onto that keep me a victim, because I use them as an excuse or to explain my sinful behavior.  Are you like me and ready to move into victory today and stop holding on to the pain from the past?  One of her exercises included a few names of God and what that means for you and me? The example she used was If God is the healer then I am healed.  Then she left two more blank ones to fill in.
1. If God is my refuge  , then I am safe, protected from danger, I have a helper.
2.If God is my banner  , then I am led by Him.
I decided to take it further and deeper, by adding some more, as there are so many names for God.  I encourage you to come up with some of your own, as well.  Feel free to leave a comment with additional ones you come up with. Learning what I have about afformations, I believe reading some of these with music would be a fantastic idea to imprint them in our hearts-another project coming soon - I am certain.





If God is  My Abba Father: then I am in a complete loving relationship with Him.
If God is Author of my life: then my life had already been written and determined.
If God is Author of my Faith: then I have faith because he wrote it for me as a free gift.
If God is my Branch: then I do bear good fruit.
If God is my Comforter: then I am comforted when I hurt, so that I can comfort others.
If God is my Counselor: then I am given advice and direction when I need it.
If God is my Creator: then all that I am was determined and known by Him.
If God is my Deliverer: then I am delivered from my enemies and trouble.
If God is Faithful: then I can always count on Him and He will never leave me.
If God is the Gentle Whisperer: then I can hear His loving voice when I am still, peaceful, and quiet.
If God is my Guide: then I am always led in the best way to go.
If God is my Hope: then I never have to lose heart. 
If God is Love: then I am complete and He covers all my wrongs.
If God is LORD of my Righteousness: then I have a King that rules over me and works Righteousness into my every day.
If God is Merciful: then I am shown mercy every day.
If God is my Peace: then I have peace.
If God is my Potter: then I am molded and shaped, broken and re-shaped until I am made into exactly what He wants me to be.
If God is my Purifier: then I am pure.
If God is my Redeemer: then I am paid for and forgiven of my sins.
If God is my Shield: then I am protected from the fiery darts of the enemy.
If God is my Teacher: then I am taught by perfection and can learn to be more like Him every day.
If God is the True Light: then I am never in total darkness again.
If God is Truth: then nothing God has said, to and about me, is a lie.

Challenge to all my Facebook Friends!!

Hello I am delighted you decided to look closer at my challenge for you today! It is a great new principle that is moving my life in ways "unimaginable".  Are you ready? I would like to see this happen for you too.  I have created a new MP3 that I listen to everyday.  It is using a concept that I have been talking about in my last few posts, called Afformations. It comes from the book The Secret Code of Success by Noah St. John. He shows people how to make more money by not working as hard as you do today, but the same principals can be applied to everything in your life.  Living a life of success in God's eyes is my goal, how about you?  My challenge is for you to do the same for one full week, it takes less than 4 minutes.  Then come back here and comment on this post on how it has changed your life.  I look forward to hearing the praises!!  This is only a small portion of afformations that I came up with that I figure most people could use.  If it does for you what it has done for me, I am certain you will be running out for Noah's book ASAP. 
p.s It probably would help if I point out to you, where the MP3 is?   Its on the right of my blog and its titled "Who am I" it plays right on my blog for you with no need to download anything.  Bookmark my blog to come in every day....maybe even set aside the same time every day as that is how I remember things better.  Why am I doing this for free? Because its a program that was designed by Noah and I don't have rights to it.  I made the mp3 for myself and now would just love to share it with you.
p.s.s. Could you also do me another favor and comment to let me know that you are up to the challenge so that I can pray for you.

Who Am I Lord?

God is amazing when it comes to all the intricate ways in which he made us.  Our mind works best within a realm of questions and searches diligently for the answers at a subconscious level.  Most of the time because of sin we tend to lean more towards the negative.  We either - have been rejected, or people have put us down, it could even be through various failures of achieving what we set out to do.  We develop a negative image of ourself that I know for myself is at times conscious, but it starts in the subconscious part of our brain.  What if we can use our brain in the way it was created to work, but from a positive point of view?  I have fantastic news for you,  we can!!


In my previous post I spoke of afformations, which are "positive" questions that allow your subconscious mind to start working on the answers, and of course, I allow God to do the leading.  His leading - is what I consider to be the greatest key - in being certain that everything lines up to his will.  There have been several afformations that I have recorded myself reading, included some uplifting music in the background that I listen to everyday. In addition, to what I listed in my previous post, the last set of afformations in Noah St. John's book, "The Secret Code of Success" are:

• Why did I find my purpose?
• Why am I living a purpose driven life?
• Why do I know why I am here on Earth?
• Why did I find my Ultimate Why-To?
• Why is it so easy for me to focus on what I really want?
• Why am I on course and on target?
• Why did I never, ever, ever give up?
• Why is everything going according to plan?
• Why does God bless me with unprecedented favor today?
• Why am I fundamentally unstoppable?

One of the first things my mind began working on was who am I?  I needed to know why I was here, so that I could live within the purpose God has for me.  I have wondered those things before, but I never felt like I found the true answer.  Listening to the afformations began to really drive me to find the answers.  This has made me an instant believer in them, they really do work.  I didn't have to wait until I had enough energy, or motivated, I woke up motivated and on fire for some answers.

God led me to a blog that morning suggesting to sit down with a blank piece of paper. Then Start writing down ideas that come to mind of what you think is your purpose, and keep writing until you start to cry. I had to be still and quiet for 45 minutes of writing down ideas and even came to the point of crying out to God wanting the answer around the 1/2 hr mark. I know now why he suggested writing until you cry.

When you truly discover what your purpose is you can't help, but cry because God built it into our heart.   In my case I have been starving to know what God truly wants me to do. I was always close, but it never felt right on the mark. I never would have come up with this on my own. "To use my strong faith in the Lord, to encourage others to believe in Him, with faith that doesn't waiver, letting them know that there is always HOPE."

To confirm and seal the deal with me there was a bracelet sitting on the floor in the living room I hadn't noticed before, it was yellow my least favorite color, but I picked it up and it said strength on it....right then I started crying again and got the biggest hug I have ever experienced from God. I love Him so much.

I never saw myself as a woman of strong faith....He gently said to me, all that you have been through...the rejection...the unknown....pain...I have strengthened you so that you can strengthen others.  You have no idea- the bubbling over with joy- I can hardly contain it... that I have been experiencing ever since.

God has made me creative, which opens up unlimited possibilities on how I can live this out.  I can write, create art, work with music, and who knows how many ideas I am still yet to discover.  He is amazing!  There are no words- that can describe or grasp all that he is.

One thing I do know, writing is a huge thing that makes me happy because I get to share my heart with you and others.  I get to come along side you, strengthen , and guide you to a place where you can have some of the same things in your heart.  Reaching out to others I can take what I have learned and experienced, reaching out to someone who, might be going through the same thing, sharing the hope I so joyfully hang onto.  God is never-failing, your circumstances may seem like... nothing good is going to happen, but in the end that is all that God is capable of doing for you--"Good".  You can send me a comment if you struggle and I will believe enough for both of us until God can show himself faithful to you.

I recently heard about another contest to win a scholarship to the She Speaks conference in July.  This would be my second contest opportunity that I am applying for.  Financially going there on our own budget would be impossible, so this scholarship would be such a blessing.  I am trusting in God, that if I am supposed to go, he is going to make a way- however he sees best fit.  What is impossible for man is SO Possible for God!!

The conference would help me to grow as a writer, encourage me to be a leader.  Being in the same room with 1000's of women, who share with me a love for God sounds fabulous.  A time to learn other's testimonies, to gain wonderful tools to improve myself, and draw closer to God.


Link to She Speaks contest by A Holy Experience.  I enjoyed my visit with A Holy Experience, with relaxing music and be sure to get to know her more by clicking on Meet Ann Voskamp.  Thank you for this opportunity.

Changing my negative reflection to a positive one

I recently completed the book by Noah St. John called secret code of success.  Have you said affirmations to yourself before? No matter how many times you have said them, you haven't truly believed or implemented them into your life.  That's because your mind doesn't work with facts, instead, it works with questions.  Many of us have negative questions that have built up in our minds-over the years- giving us a negative reflection.  Most of the negative questions are dealt with in the subconscious mind.  So, the great news is, that if we retrain our conscious mind to learn positive questions- for our minds to work on at the subconscious level-we will begin to succeed in many areas of our life.  Noah has named these Afformations--I love them!!  I have begun reforming my mind.  Here is a list of 25 that I came up with today.  If you know me, I would love to hear your input and thoughts.  Let me know if I am seeing myself accurately or if there are other skills that you see in me.  I would appreciate it!!

1. Why do I love writing?
2. Why is my writing improving?
3. Why do I enjoy learning about writing?
4. Why do I keep getting more creative with writing?
5. Why do I have so much joy when writing?
6. Why do I come up with encouraging cards?
7. Why do I come up with fantastic card designs?
8. Why do card sayings keep coming to mind?
9. Why do I have fun making cards?
10. Why am I great at making wordart?
11. Why do I attract more creative people?
12. Why do I share creative ideas and work with other's so easily now?
13. Why do I enjoy synergizing?
14. Why do I meet more people who inspire my creativity?
15. Why do I celebrate my creativity
16. Why have I slowed down and enjoy the journey of life?
17. Why do I quiet my mind more and listen for God's voice?
18. Why do I see Who I Am through God's eyes?
19. Why do I follow God's leading?
20. Why do I trust that He knows best what I need to do with my next step?
21. Why do I make God a priority?
22. Why do I make family a priority?
23. Why do I make friends a priority?
24. Why do I make people a priority?
25. Why do I make goal-free moments a priority?

If I MUST! So be it.

I- never- want to come to a place in my life where I am not completely dependent on God.  It is in suffering, unknowns, and impossible circumstances that we ARE totally dependent on God.  Pain seems to be the thing that God uses to keep me, where I have asked Him to.  He is merciful in giving me moments of refreshing and rest from it, but I can be certain the return is around the corner.

I am there again today.  Lord help me endure as it seems no matter what I do my back hurts.  I stand up and move around for while-it hurts.  I sit down with a heating pad-it hurts.  I try my massage bed-it hurts.  I try the inversion table-it hurts.  I sit and say Jesus, Jesus, Jesus over and over again.  I sing great is thy faithfulness, to the best of my memory- then switch to my fear of God playlist.  Finally I am to the point where I can begin to relax enough and focus on writing a book I am working on.  The distraction was nice and pain just in the background.   See total dependence on my Lord. Now I am standing again to write more of this post...the pain returns!  *Big Sigh*  I am going to go soak in a hot shower.

Well a shower and a chiropractor appointment later- that I finally broke down and made- I am feeling quite a bit better.  I was being so stubborn and not wanting to spend money on his services.  He said bare minimum I should do one adjustment per week until the adjustment keeps and then every other month after that.  Lord I ask for the every other month to come quickly, as you know our budget will be stretched with this.

Lord I finish by praising you through this pain, as YOU are what matters.  My relationship with You and acknowledging that I can't do it without You. You are my faithful, loving, and sovereign God.  You only allow what is for my best and what I can handle.

Thank You!!

His Leading....I don't go blindly.

I am so glad I don't go blindly through life.  Its so freeing knowing that a "good" God is in control, even more so, when I give it to Him daily.  I don't need to be swished this way and that by the waves.  Instead, I can go each step of my day in the faith of knowing that God is leading me.  I can check the desires and ideas against the word of God and when it lines up move forward.  Since I am learning to sense His voice I can double check and confirm things too.  I have begun a journey of writing a children|teen book that will have lessons to learn.  It will be in the genre of C.S. Lewis. I hope to learn from him and other authors like him to produce another great book, that will enhance the lives of the youth, planting a seed that draws them to the Lord.  As always I covet any prayers on my behalf, in regards to my writing.  That I will mature and strengthen my skills everyday.

God Planted Desires

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

I believe God puts His will into our hearts as we delight in Him.  When we give Him the control of our day, trusting He knows best, He leads us into His will.

For the last 10 yrs I have been slowly learning ways to "kreatively" cultivate my delight in Him.  When I follow the principles that He has shown me, my joy is abundant because I am living within the desires He has given me. Often times I would fall back into the trap of being self sufficient.  I would take the control back over my life and the joyful peace,  goes right out the window.  Things may go smoothly at first, but suddenly one morning I would wake up and say to myself,  "How did I get here again?"

The key has been putting Him first in every day through a prayer giving Him control.  I have to persevere without exception, no excuse making.  Continually I have to say, "No!" To any distractions until this is done.

So what desires has God placed into my heart?  I am experiencing the most joy when writing.  My joy becomes abundant when I am encouraging through my writing.  The element that has me the most in awe of Him, is the fact, I fall short in the grammar department.  I stumble over my thoughts while writing. I have often been told I write sentence fragments, run ons, place punctuations in the wrong place, and the such.  I was a member at writing.com a few years back and now have since rejoined again.  This place has been a great encouragement and learning tool for me.

My Mom believes in me, God has told me over the last few weeks that he really believes in me.  I am working through a book called, The Secret Code of Success.  It has been teaching me how to get rid of the "head trash", and to take my foot off the break that keeps me from success.  I have been following the suggested steps and have seen wonderful changes happening.

Yesterday I received an email from my mom about a scholarship contest to the "She Speaks" conference.  I immediately slammed on the brake. My first thought was, "I won't be able to write good enough to be able to win something like that."  For 2-3 hours I went back and forth between crying to Him, "I am not good enough", to hearing Him say, "I believe in you, write from your heart."  Then I finally asked, "Why do You believe in me?"  In my silence for some time I finally heard, "I created you."  "You don't need to believe in yourself, you need to believe in ME."  "I will help you."

Will I win this contest?  Only God knows the answer to that.  Will I learn from it?  You betcha, if nothing else I am taking the leap of faith.  Regardless of the outcome God is going to take me on my next step, that I can know will be for my best.  He wants me to write, that I know perfectly clear, so my "why" is because He wants me to.  I need to give the how this will happen to HIM.

The "She Speaks" conference sounds like a fantastic step into the process of improving myself.  As many others, we can't afford it.  If it is God's will He is going to work out the how.  For those who read this I certainly appreciate your prayers.

Exhilarating Joy!

Precious Lord, my creator, it is with great awe, that I ponder on the things in my life that you have been showing me. It may be through a book or two that I have read, or an email that was sent to me. It may be a website you led me to, or words spoken by another faithful believer of yours. You died just for me to have eternal life.... with You, the Father, and the Holy Spirit who has been placed IN me. You love me so much that it wasn't enough to be with me, you went a step further in intimacy by taking permanent residence within my heart.

I have a life so full of abundance, bubbling over with joy. I have moments where I see into the full extent of the freedom that you have already purchased through your blood. Complete freedom that draws, and strengthens me to persevere without exception. The exhilarating thing you showed me today is that even when my days start to look the same they, in fact, are not. On the surface things may be boring, insignificant, same old same old, dull, ho-hum, uninteresting or another day of unanswered prayer. Looking deeper, its another day to glorify You God. To walk in the purpose you set aside just for me, there are things only I can do to complete your will.

Psalm 139:16-17 says Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts,God! How vast is the sum of them!

May I never look at each day the same again. You hear my prayers and I can count on you working towards the details in the unseen. Whether you answer with what I asked, or what sometimes can be even better, what is best for me and for my good. God you are a good God. In the Cosmic Christmas book I read by Max Lucado, you even offer Satan a chance to come back to you. God, you truly want no one to perish.

You are held together by the cross of Christ

An email that has been going around since 2008, I received it today.  God you are amazing.
It read,


A couple of days ago I was running (I use that term very loosely) on my treadmill, watching a DVD sermon by Louie Giglio...and I was BLOWN AWAY! I want to share what I learned.....but I fear not being able to convey it as well as I want. I will share anyway..


He (Louie) was talking about how inconceivably BIG our God is...how He spoke the universe into being...how He breathes stars out of His mouth that are huge raging balls of fire...etc. etc. Then He went on to speak of how this star-breathing, universe creating God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.) ....and I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during medical school as I learned more and more about God's handiwork. I remember so many times thinking....'How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this???'


Louie went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart...how our loving Creator is also our sustainer.


And then I lost my breath. 
And it wasn't because I was running my treadmill, either!!!


It was because he started talking about laminin.


I knew about laminin. Here is how wikipedia describes them: 'Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue.' You see....laminins are what hold us together....LITERALLY.. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell.. Without them, we would literally fall apart. And I knew all this already. But what I didn't know is what laminin LOOKED LIKE..


But now I do.


And I have thought about it a thousand times since (already)....


Here is what the structure of laminin looks like...AND THIS IS NOT a 'Christian portrayal' of it....if you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see...

Now tell me that our God is not the coolest!!!
Amazing.
The glue that holds us together...ALL of us.....is in the shape of the cross.
Immediately Colossians 1:15-17 comes to mind.


'He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth , visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.


He is before all things, and in him all things HOLD TOGETHER. ' Colossians 1:15-17.
Call me crazy. I just think that is very, very, very cool.


Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, Paul penned those words. And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together...one cell to another....by the cross.


You would never in a quadrillion years convince me that is anything other than the mark of a Creator who knew EXACTLY what laminin 'glue' would look like long before Adam even breathed his first breath!!


" Faith is not knowing what the future holds, but knowing who holds the future."


I wanted you to know and to undertstand that YOU are being held together by the cross of Jesus Christ. His love. His forgiveness and His marvelous power.....


thanks for reading

Milky Way Galaxy

Thanks for looking

Miracle of Life

God is sure amazing isn't he and he knew us before we even got to the womb.

Amazing Lembeh Critters

Here are some divers in the Lembeh which is located in the top of north Sulawesi in Indonesia. It opens up my wonder to how many more amazing creatures God has created. He has an abundance of creativity than I could ever "imagine" having, but I am delighted that I have even a small portion of that part of his image. You can also go to utube and see some more longer footage. How can anyone believe God doesn't love us, he gave us amazing things to explore and discover.

Thanks for looking

Take me to a place of Reverence utube playlist

These songs have helped in taking me to a place of mindful reverence and into his holy presence.

Praise and Worship utube playlist

Here is some music for when I want my focus on the Lord and be uplifted at the same time. These song remind me of how good our God is.

Encouraging Music utube playlist

Here are some uplifting songs I have put together when I am in need to be livened up.

Find Inner Peace when applying these principals daily

Yes Daily...I can't say I do every single one of of these daily, but many of them. Sometimes by the time I get the 30-40 min. of the prayers, read through a page of who I am in Christ...life starts to get busy and I don't remember to get back to the rest of it. Each day there might be a thing or two that will be left out, but I persevere to do them all everyday and set my goal at the highest to that I reach as high as I can go everyday. As you start, do so in small baby steps and build up...I did until I built up to having some days that I do them all and those are my fantastic days!! I am in the works of writing a book that will go in depth on these principles and how you can apply them to make them active in your life rather than just knowing about them.

I Identify who you are in Christ

N Never live a day without your Spiritual Armor

N New Mercies are given each day, accept them

E Eat the word of God feed the spirit within you

R Remember God's love and faithfulness with thanksgiving

P Pray and memorize scriptures

E Earnestly seek to be obedient

A Allow God to be in control

C Cultivate positive thoughts and praise

E Everyday forgive all offenses

thanks for reading you can read the rest of this at:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1749974-Innerpeace-relationship-with-sourceGod

Come Connect with a God of Relationship

My name is Karla with a "K" and so I added Kreative Konnection with a "K" too for the title of this blog. I have personally discovered some creative ways in which I was able to connect "more and more" with God all throughout the day. I had to get creative because otherwise the day was done and *hitting myself in the head* I would find I had no time for him within my schedule.

Over time as I have included him "more and more" I have found the principals to be invaluable and precious. I have reaped incredible rewards. As I write this entry I am thinking this is one of them....fantastic ideas like this blog, poetry, and leading others to Christ. I have so much joy when I consume my day with my Papa God.

I have also found that the more time I spend with him he becomes "more and more" addicting... What a great addiction to have huh? He has been so faithful in showing me that if I am faithful in spending time with him. He will be faithful in creating more time for me to get the things done that I need to. There were many times in the past where I looked back on my day. It seemed I had accomplished nothing and kept hitting road blocks left and right. What I noticed is that I hadn't taken any time with the Lord, so my whole day became a waste. Instead if I had taken the time first thing with the Lord I would have accomplished a whole lot more like the other days I had done so.

On that note I would say its most important to give the first fruits of your day to him. I understand that it doesn't work that way for everyone's schedules, but I have found it to be the best option through my own experience.

Start with baby steps I certainly did, but START. Now that its a new year its the perfect time. I will be praying for all my visitors. I believe God will hear and answer because it certainly is his will for you.