"I see you...and I got you"

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."-1 Corinthians 10:13

To be completely honest guys, I have been in a very hard place lately. A place were I am trying to learn not to whine and complain about everything. A place were I desire my prayer time to be for others. Where I just want to give all I have to God. But in turn, that place has also brought me to a place where I feel like I am doing everything yet doing nothing. I have been feeling so busy, so consumed, so preoccupied with everything yet as if I am doing nothing...of importance that is. But of course covering others is important. Of course sowing my time into others is important. But at what expense? At the expense of my relationship with God? At the expense of my sanity? At the expense of my walk? 

I kinda took a exercise/homework assignment from my pastor WAY too literal. A while back we were instructed to pray and intercede for someone else and NOT to pray for ourselves. Why? Well often times our prayers reach that of selfish wants when others are right around us with dying needs!!! But I took do not pray for myself as do not talk to God at all about myself. When it all boils down to it, prayer is just conversation with God. So for weeks I have been "running" from Him in my heart. I have been avoiding conversations with Him at all costs. To the point were I randomly break down because the weight that I am choosing to carry is just too heavy for me. However, I do not believe that is what my pastor wanted for me when He said don't pray for myself. I believe he wanted us to shy away from the "Lord I need", "Father bless me" prayers! God knows everything I am going through, every thought I think, everything I do, etc. And that goes for you too! That doesn't mean He doesn't want us to bring it to Him. But how we are bringing things to Him is what matters. Is it that of "Lord this is whats going on, but I know you have it all taken care of so I will thank you and praise you in advance"? Or is it more like "Why am I here? Don't you see me drowning? I need this job. Bless me because my account is getting low"? Etc. 

You see, its not always what you say but how you say it. Both prayers refer to whats going on but only one of them show the faith in your heart. The other, however, shows doubt, fear, worry and anxiety. All things scripture advises us against.  

So as I sit here trying not to cry, these tears cannot be held back!! The amount of love God has for me continually keeps me in awe of Him! There is NO love like this anywhere else. At 3:35am I witnessed my sister deliver my nephew. Now I was super sleepy after being there for over 16hrs so I didn't think anything of it. So many woman give birth in a day, its just apart of life. God used this "natural" part of life to speak to my heart. He touched the depths of my heart like only He could.  

Him: Daughter, what happens during childbirth?

Me: Well, naturally the way it was designed a woman pushes her child out of her.

Him: Well yes, in the most basic sense that is it. But, its so much more than that. She labors! She fights! Great pain traded for even greater joy. She pushes a baby out of a VERY small tunnel. A tunnel that is dark, scary and unfamiliar to the baby. But if she doesn't what would happen?

Me: If she didn't give birth?

Him: Yes, if she didn't give birth to the seed that was created in her.

Me: Well, I guess the baby would die.

Him: Why?

Me: Well, because it was never designed to stay in that place.

Him: Exactly! And so it is in my Kingdom. You are only designed to stay in a place of nourishment, receiving, "catering to", divine/untouchable protection, a bubble of faith, etc for so long. The tunnel(birth canal) of darkness, unfamiliarity, uncomfortableness is unavoidable as you are pressed on every side to force you into the only chance at life you have! Will a mother stop pressing because the baby don't understand why he/she has to come out? No! Just like I will not stop pressing because you are uncomfortable. A mother sees her child's only chance at life when she is delivering and as uncomfortable for the child as it may be the mother will not stop. Don't I love you more than a typical mother? I will not stop, I will not let up! Why? Because I see your end. The pressure is a necessary part of the natural and spiritual birthing! You are being birthed into a new place. Don't think because you are in such a dark and what seems like low place that I do not see you. That I do not know what I am doing. I see you and just like a mother pressing her child into LIFE I am pressing you into yours! Don't fear the pressure welcome it because on the other side is a life you dreamed of!

Can you say, WOOOW!! There isn't much to say after that! So I just want to encourage you! If you are being pressed, if you are in an uncomfortable season, if it seems as though nothing is right...ask God if it is for your good instead of begging Him to deliver you from it! That very thing that you are trying so hard to be "freed" from may be the very thing necessary for you to be free! Our deliverance, future and life rarely com how we want or think it should but when its all said and done God's way ALWAYS turns out better! Let's stop feeling like He doesn't see us when we are in trouble and just trust the process. He loves you so much!!

With love,
Kaitlyn

I am dying!

"Ain't nothin' to it but to do it!"

One of my closest friends loves this saying. I honestly use to laugh it off, ignore her or something along those lines every time she would say it. To me it was nothing more than one of those old sayings that was just outdated. LOL But in reality it holds so much truth. People, including myself, tend to spend so much time planing and talking about things that they never actually get to the doing. 

"But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves."-James 1:22 

Even the word of God instructs us to be doers. One of my favorite quotes is "live each day as if it were your last". However, no matter how much I proclaim I love it I have yet to live like it. I still procrastinate, I still let fear hold me hostage, I still struggle with reconciling problems immediately, and thats just to name a few. How would I really live if I was dying? What would my days consist of if I knew I only had so much time left? Would I do what I am about to do today if I knew that I would die tomorrow?

In reality, I am dying! We all are. Every minute, every day that goes by is time we can not get back. No one knows they day they will die and tomorrow is not promised to any man. So why is it that we continue to waste time as if we are guaranteed time? Why do we waste what we cannot get back? I have dreams, goals and visions of what my future looks like. Why not do everything I can with the time I got? Why not act as though this may be my last day, because it just may be. 

I have a challenge for us, that we can do together! But if no one else does it, I challenge myself to. Every day that you wake up, every day that God allows you to still be here use that day to actually do something. Stop wasting days as if you are not dying because you are! Whether your death takes days, years or decades, we are all dying. I guarantee if you shift your thinking to that which you believe you are dying instead of that which you believe you have all the time in the world you will do more with your life. Its time that we stop wasting these lives that we have, because we only have one on this side! You live and then you transition. I don't know about you but I don't want to enter heaven and hear anything other than well done!

Max out this life with me!!

~Kaitlyn

Selfish Ways

"What will you do for me if I do…?"

"What have you done for me lately?"

Selfish-devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's 

own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others. 

Synonyms: greedy, self-centered, egocentric, egoistical, mean, self-indulgent,

self-interested, self-seeking, stingy, ungenerous, wrapped up in oneself

How many people would actually admit to being selfish? I mean who really wants to acknowledge that they are a greedy, self-centered, mean, self-indulgent, self-seeking, stingy person. I know I don't. But to say I haven't been would be a lie. This may come as a shock to many because those that know me, know me to be a very giving person. But did you know that to give with the wrong motives is worse than not giving at all. 

"But the LORD said to Samuel, Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected 

him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward

appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."-1 Samuel 16:7

 People see what we do but God sees why we did it! He sees beyond the act and looks at the motives behind it. If you follow my blogs regularly you would know I have struggled with people pleasing. Although it cut deep this is the truth the Holy Spirit revealed to me...

"You may give, you may serve, you may put yourself last, but you do it all for your gain.

You are a selfish giver. One who gives to "prove yourself worthy". But those that love you

don't need you to prove anything. Until you learn to do only as I guide you, you will always

give out of a "I owe you place". You don't owe anyone anything, you can't buy their love, time

etc. You have tried time and time again to "make people stay", but it doesn't work like that. Don't 

serve to show yourself better than others. Or put yourself last because you feel that is where you deserve to be. I need you to give out of a pure heart, only when I instruct you to. I need you to serve 

because its how I designed you. I need you to put yourself last so that when you are risen up all know that it was Me that did it."

Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!!! It hurts when the Holy Spirit puts a "mirror" in front of you and shows you who you really are. The person you have become that is so far off from Him and His design for your life. I have never intentionally or consciously tried to buy someones relationship. Somewhere along the line I convinced myself that doing things for people, constantly giving them money or buying them things would show my appreciation for them being in my life. I truly do appreciate those that are in my life and I just desire that they really know that. Truth is, they already know! I don't have to do anything extra to prove that. I never linked giving and selfishness. I never would say serving and selfishness could go together but when done because of errors in my character I guess it is possible to serve and be selfish. A dead give away to someone with selfish motives is if they walk away when pressure hits? When life hits, and its just too much do they stop giving, serving and putting others first? When life hits do you go into self-protect mode? If you withdrawal, withhold of yourself, etc. when hard times come it is safe to say there is some selfishness in you.

I would suggest you spend some time with the Holy Spirit if any of this blog hit home. Ask Him to reveal your heart to you. Ask Him to show you yourself and to expose any selfishness that is in you. This isn't an easy revelation for anyone, I know it wasn't easy for me. But revealing it to me meant He wants more of me which is such a privilege. I am privileged that God isn't ok with me being anything less than His best. For that I am grateful. 

No more selfishness!!

~Kaitlyn 

Yes Man...

"If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything."

Anyone who has ever "fell" for something knows how accurate this statement is. What's even worst is this has been the story of my life. *insert super sad face* LOL! Man this self revealing process/season God has me in is something else. It is so painful, yet so liberating. I am learning more and more of myself. More and more things I don't like. More and more things I desire to change about myself. But I am also learning who I really am, beneath the lies, the masks, the people I pretended to be…beyond all of that, I am finding Kaitlyn. I must admit I am loving her! 

Over this past week, Holy Spirit called me the "yes man". I got so enraged when He said it. Like really mad. Don't try to tell me you've never got mad when He revealed yourself to you! I know I am not alone here. But then I looked over my life, even the past couple months. Shoot even just last week. I looked at how many times I agreed to something I didn't want to do. How many times I said "Yes" when I wanted to say no. And then I looked at the select few times I actually said "No" and how it made me feel. How it caused such a hurt and pain in me. How the guilt over came me to the point were I was actually depressed for saying no as if I wasn't entitled to saying no to something I don't want to do. 

And then it hit me…I HAVE BEEN A YES MAN! One that says yes to everything regardless of what I have going on, the resources I don't have, the time I don't have, or how I have to rearrange my schedule to fit that in. What hurt more is that I was a YES MAN with people. I wasn't a yes man with God! I have been in this walk for over 8 years and for the majority of them, as sad as it is, God had to pull teeth to get a yes out of me. I never realized it was because I wasn't completely surrendered. One Saturday in woman's prayer the Holy Spirit used someone to encourage me. One of the things she said was "it is evident that all you want is God." As the tears flowed that day, I for once truly seen my shift. A shift that only God could cause. So yes, I am a Yes Man…but I am a Yes Man to God. I am whole heartedly submitted to Him! I will no long be the one who bends over backwards for people while God gets nothing from me! 

If you're going to be a yes man, let God be the one getting the Yes!

~Kaitlyn

Paralyzing Fear

F.E.A.R.=False Evidence Appearing Real

Fear has been many things to me but one thing it has never been is helpful. Fear has caused me to do one of two things; never start or quit before I finish. When I mention fear you're probably thinking everyone fears, but not like this. Up until now, I chose to ignore my fear. To try to pretend it didn't exist. Somewhere in my dysfunctional thinking I believed I could just "wish it away" by pretending I was okay. But truth is I wasn't okay.

"I must say a word about fear. It is life's only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life. It is a clever treacherous adversary, how well I know. It has no decency, respects no law or convention, shows no mercy. It goes for your weakest spot, which it finds with unnerving ease. It begins in your mind, always…so you must fight hard to express it. You must fight hard to shine light of words upon it. Because if you don't, if your fear becomes a wordless darkness that you avoid, perhaps even manage to forget, you open yourself to further attacks of fear because you never truly fought the opponent who defeated you." Yann Martel

I was terrified to do even the basic of things. As a disciple of christ I should want to be all that God wants me to be. I should want to perform miracles. I should trust and believe He will show up and use me. I shouldn't be afraid to open my mouth. I shouldn't doubt if He will show up because times past have proven He shows up time and time again. 

It's funny, and I use that term loosely, how we give such a powerless thing so much power. How fear is just things we perceive in our own delusional minds and how we make the unreal so real. Our minds are such powerful weapons that we allow to break us down day after day. 

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline."-2 Timothy 1:7(NLT) 

So if God didn't give us fear, then we have power over it. We have the ability to not choose fear. We can choose power, love and self-discipline instead. We can choose faith instead. Fear is so stupid and it gets me so angry. Fear has stopped me from doing so many things. Fear has kept me bound for years. Tricking me into thinking I can't do something when scripture says all things are possible to them that believe. It's time to take a stand. Time to take our minds back. Time to step out of fear and step out on faith. I am talking to myself here as well. Do something that fear has said you can't do. And then do another. And then another. Keep going until you are no longer allowing fear to control you. 

Until next time,

With Love,

Kaitlyn

Forgotten...

To be completely honest, this past week or so hasn't been the greatest. Not that anything bad has actually happened, it just…ummm…has been trying emotionally. I cried out to God a couple weeks ago asking him to place me on someones heart…I just needed a reminder of were I stood in someone's life. I just really needed to, for a lack of better words, be loved on!

I was created an encourager. It's is who God made me to be. In fact, a couple months ago my pastor started referring to me as "Kaitlyn the Encourager". In the midst of it, it felt really good to be known as the encourager. That God made me with the ability to uplift, motivate, encourage and pour into others on a different level than most. But then this past week I fell into a "what about me place". I'm going around encouraging everyone else, I am pushing everyone around me but what about when I need it. Who is there to encourage me?

I waited patiently for that encouragement…but it didn't come. Or at least it didn't come how I wanted it to. I was waiting for those closest to me to reach out, to notice I was a little off. I was waiting for the Holy Spirit to speak to them and in essence answer my prayer. That someone, anyone would reach out and "fuel my fire" for once. The part that people often ignore about gifts is if you have it that means the world needs it. Which also means they lack it. I am an encourager because most people don't encourage. Most people don't stop to see the broken around them and if they do see them they don't stop to say anything. 

God didn't answer me how I wanted but instead He answered me in a way I couldn't have imagined. I was feeling invisible. I was in a place were I felt forgotten. I felt as though I was continually reaching out to people but they didn't need me. I reached a place were I felt that I was no longer adding to their lives but instead just taking up unnecessary space. I started to feel as though I was forcing myself into these lives and in my mind I needed to back off. Once again I had allowed my fear of abandonment to put me in a place I didn't want to be. 

Yesterday my Pastor texted me asking why I didn't hug her. LOL Yes, she personally reached out to me and although I didn't tell her this, that one act spoke volumes to me. It spoke of God's great love for me. That He would use someone I didn't expect, someone I didn't think would even notice if I didn't speak for a day or two. Over the past 8 months God has been showing me His great love for me. He continues to move and act in ways that cause me to break before Him. The ways that He answers my prayers and reminds me that even if no one else notices me, He always does. Even when I feel invisible and forgotten, HE SEES ME!!! It meant so much more coming from a unexpected person, than it would have from someone in my inner circle. And yet, once again, God loved on me like only He could. He spoke to my heart, looking past what I wanted and gave me what I needed. 

In this process of discovering me that I have been in, the greatest thing I have learned is I have all I need. In that I have learned who I am. I am not forgotten. I am not unseen, ignored, or invisible. I am the apple of His eye! And for me, that is enough. If you have been feeling forgotten, invisible, ignored, etc I ask that you will take a minute and say this prayer with me and trust that God will mend whatever broken pieces you have.

Father, I am hurting. I have lost sight of my purpose on this earth. I have started to place my value and importance in the acknowledgement from others. Forgive me for needing others more than I need you. I ask that you will remove every broken place in my heart and mend every hurt that has been keeping me from you. Daddy, mend my misunderstanding and help me to see myself as you see me. I ask that you wipe out all false information and renew a right mind in me. I come against every lie that tells me I don't have value, I am not loved, I am not seen…everything that says I am not needed, I am invisible, or forgotten. I thank you that you see me, and when no one else seems to be around you are always with me. Holy Spirit I thank you that you live inside of me, never leaving me alone. I thank you daddy that I am the apple of your eye, that your love for me is greater than anything. Help me to always keep my eyes on you, In Jesus name Amen.

Let God be enough for you!!!!

~Kaitlyn

 

 

Depression vs Desperation

"There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more

hurtful than anything that bleeds."-Laurell K. Hamilton

Depression: Severe despondency and dejection, typically felt over a period

of time and accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy.

Desperate: having a urgent need, desire, etc. 

    I heard these words so quietly yet so clearly: 

"In order to leave that state of depression that has kept you for so long…that depression 

that has held you hostage for so long, you must become desperate for Me."

God was speaking, and I was hearing him clearer than I ever have. Up until now, I never linked my depression to Him. I never thought that I was this way because part of me was missing Him. Depression is a very real emotion. Just like sin, it will take you further than you intended to go and it will keep you longer than you intended to stay. I never really took the time to see the warning signs. I never really stopped to notice depression creeping in until it was too late. Until I was too far gone. 

That let down that I never faced. That hurt that I just pushed down and ignored. The offense that I pretended didn't exist. The anger that turned into numbness or the joy that turned into a sadness that was unexplainable. That hopelessness that I began to feel. Before I knew it I was in this deep pit of despair, not knowing how I got there nor how to escape. I was trapped by my emotions and a prisoner in my own mind. I literally felt the life draining out of me but I just couldn't stop it. I didn't know how. At the time I didn't know I was depressed, I just knew something was off. 

That place became a uncomfortable comfort to me. As sad as I was, as low as I felt, it became my norm. I allowed it to consume me, to swallow me whole! Everything about me life reflected it. I stopped caring about life. I stopped desiring relationships and in fact I withdrew from many of them. I didn't want to do anything, be around anyone and eventually I didn't want to live anymore. Depression had its hold on me and it wasn't letting go.

But my God!!! He had plans that I knew not of.

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do

what pleases him."-Philippians 2:13(NIV)

What seemed like out of no where, I desired Him. I wanted to please Him. I wanted to really die to myself. I had reached my low of lows and all I wanted was Him. He placed in me such a desperation for Him that literally saved my life. I was at my brink and suicide would've been my out if I continued on the road I was on. I had no idea how to come out of the pit I was in, but God just pulled me out. He loved me when I didn't love me. He kept me when I didn't care what happened to me. 

I battled depression for years, but the height of it hit from 2012-2013. I was in such a downward spiral that my life should be ended. I was mentally and emotionally checked out on life. But I am here to tell you, if He can bring me out of that place there is still hope for you. Depression doesn't have to control you. You don't have to be a prisoner in your mind anymore. You don't have to be bound by your emotions any longer. Ask God for a desperation for Him! If you are struggling and you don't know what to do, say this prayer with me and trust that God will delivery you from yourself.

Father I need you, I don't want to be in this prison anymore. I don't want to feel this 

overwhelming sadness anymore. Help me to let go of everything that has been keeping 

me bound. Help me to get to the roots of the problem. The pain, hurt, let downs, fear of the future.

Lord renew a right mind in me, place in me the desire and power to do what pleases you. I thank you Lord that the power to choose was given to me the day I chose you, and I choose You. I choose

freedom. Freedom in my mind, freedom in my emotions and freedom to live for you. I pray that

you will save me from myself, from this place of destruction. I come against every attack on my 

mind that says life isn't worth living. Everything that says I am not good enough. Every lie that

comes against your word, and who you made me to be. In the days and weeks to come I pray

that you will remind me of who I am in you. I ask that you will reveal yourself to me on a new

level. As my peacekeeper! I thank you that you are all I need and that in you I can make it. I 

thank you that I do win. That I am more than a conquerer. Today I choose desperation for you

over depression. Thank you for being my strength when I didn't want to go on. Thank you for

keeping me through it all. Lord help me to do your will. I thank you for your word that guides me. And

as Philippians 4:8 says "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on

what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things

that are excellent and worthy of praise." I will think on these things. And I rip up, every lie the 

enemy has ever said to me! I come back under your ark of safety Lord. Thank you for my freedom

and delivering me from myself, in Jesus name I pray Amen!

Walk in your free place, I am praying for you!

With love,

Kaitlyn

Made For This

Allow me to be pretty transparent with you guys for this one. I use to be the biggest "negative nelly" I have ever come in contact with. But there is a bit of a twist to it…I was only that way towards myself. I mean I could encourage, motivate and push everyone around me. And then there was me! I couldn't, I wasn't good enough, I never would be, I will fail, I can't do that, etc! I mean it was bad and it was constant. What makes it worst is I actually believed everything "I" would tell myself. I put I in quotations because I now understand that the enemy was feeding these lies to me long before I owned them for myself. Back then, that wasn't the case. I thought I had come up with all of those lies all by myself. But back to my beliefs, yes I actually believed these things. I believed these lies over anything anyone would say to me. Even above things I knew to be true.

For example, I have a grace for working with children. I know that with everything in me and if I were to ever "forget" it, I have countless people that remind me over and over again. Telling me how great I am with children, how much their kids love me, etc. Now get this, even in knowing that to be true I still had this belief that I wasn't good enough to work with children for real. Playing with them, being around them and even babysitting here and there is one thing. But I could never be good enough to actually get paid for this. I could never be good enough to make this my career. And guess what childcare is not my career and no matter how hard I have tried it has not been able to work out. Why? Why is it that something I know I have a grace for is run down by thoughts of not being good enough? Did you know that your thoughts actually determine your life? It is safe to say where ever you are right now in life, your thought patterns and your beliefs put you there. Good or bad, you are where you are because of yourself! Childcare is just one example, this has been my problem for years. Knowing who I am in Christ but denying it because of circumstances or what others say/do. 

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."-Proverbs 23:7(NIV)

As this Proverbs states, you are whatever you believe in your heart. The problem with most people is they blame outside circumstances and people for everything. Its so and so's fault for why I am the way I am. It's because of this situation that I am not where I want to be in life. You're not alone, I too took that approach for years. I didn't finish school because my parents wouldn't help me pay for it. I didn't finish because they made too much money for me to get financial aid. I haven't had a real job because I didn't finish school. I got kicked out of my house because my parents have a different truth than I have. I couldn't get on my feet because of everything I have been through. I have been mentally and physically abused. I have jumped from house to house facing being on the streets. I was molested as a child and almost raped a few years ago. I have had countless people walk out of my life. So on and so forth.

I had to list some of what I have been through so you guys could see I am not someone who has not been hit by life and its events. I have been hit time and time again. Am I saying I caused my abuse…ABSOLUTELY not! Please don't misunderstand what I am say. What I am saying is I am where I am today because of who I believe I am. For years I believed I was nothing more than the girl who got molested. I was nothing more than the girl who didn't finish school. I became my events and they molded who I perceived myself to be. So when the thoughts came that you're not good enough, you can't, etc…I believed them with everything in me. But the amazing thing about thoughts and being a child of the most high is, I now have power over them. BAM!! 

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by 

the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve 

what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will."-Romans 12:2(NIV)

"For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence

and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely

and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and 

excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take 

account of these things(fix your minds on them)."-Philippians 4:8(AMP) 

"You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind(both

its inclination and its character) is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You,

leans on You, and hopes confidently in You."-Isaiah 26:3(AMP)

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge

of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."-2 Corinthians 10:5(NIV)

These are just a couple of examples of how we can't depend on our minds. Continually throughout scripture we are instructed to renew our mind, pull down thoughts and in essence not to depend on our own limited thinking. So if we can be instructed on what to think(Philippians 4:8) and we can be told to pull captive every thought that comes agains the knowledge of God(Isaiah 26:3) I think its safe to say these thoughts will lead us astray every chance they get…if we let them. Which leads me back to what I stated above, I have control over them! I can choose to believe all that I have been believing or I can choose to believe the word of God. The choice is mine but I can NOT do both. I can not believe I am not capable and also believe I am an overcomer(1 John 5:4). I can not believe I am a broke and have nothing yet still believe I am His heir(Galatians 4:7). It is not possible to believe I am not good at anything and have no purpose yet his word instructs he gave gifts to his people(Ephesians 4:7). 

You see, what we believe often is the exact opposite of what his word instructs. He tells us who we are, yet we don't take the time to learn of it. When you come into this life you must take the time to retrain your mind. You must spend time learning of who you are in Him. I have been spending that time lately. I have been retraining my mind to know and believe who He says I am. The best part about it all is HE CHOSE ME!!!! And truth is, that means I WAS MADE FOR THIS!! Everything He has me for, I am equipped for it. The key here is to know what He has for you, because trust you are equipped to do it. No matter your education, past experiences, financial situations, doubts and fears. The only thing that can stop you is YOU! It is so much easier to just believe God's word and submit to His will knowing that He will not leave you to figure it all out. I am all that He says I am and you are all that He says you are! Trust Him and lets take a stand to turn these minds off!

Until next time...

With love,

Kaitlyn

The Shift: My Story

Wednesday I was asked, possibly for the first time, "What changed? When did you notice the shift?" This is my story! Where I was, What God said and Where I am today!

  Where I was

    Prior to December 22, 2013 I was an absolute mess to say the least! I was in such a bondage in my mind that I literally felt like I was drowning. I felt as though I was sinking further and further into this black whole that I had no idea how to get out of. At 24 years old, I had yet to find out the magic trick to life. The magic formula for happiness, peace and sanity! I longed for the day where I could just breath, relax and enjoy life. No worries, no cares, no stress! Life hit and it hit HARD! My mind was in this trap that I couldn't seem to get free from. I felt such a loneliness and isolation that is unexplainable. I still went to church every Wednesday and Sunday but I was mentally checked out. How I could feel such an emptiness and loneliness in a room full of people that actually love me was beyond me. 

I was just a reflector! I reflected what was happening to me. I allowed all that was going on around me to become who I was. I was just the unemployed grown woman without any money. I was just the one who wasn't good enough for any of her "best friends" to stay around. I was just the girl who couldn't find anything right within herself. I was the one who couldn't possibly please God. I mean, look at my life, He had to have made a mistake in choosing me. I continually mess up, my mind continually trapped me up, I would make it so far and then mess up again. My mind was a wreck. Up until that day I had taken ownership of every thought. As negative and wrong as they were, I took them on as my own. I became everything the enemy was telling me I was. From that, I pretty much checked out on life. I was here physically but man mentally I was so gone. By this point, the thoughts began to come so frequently I just couldn't seem to keep up. I stopped fighting back. I stopped caring. I was just done. 

What God Said

On December 22, 2013 my Pastor taught a message on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He said that God was calling us to be one person. That God wanted us to finally make a choice. On that day God was speaking directly to me. For once, in MONTHS, He finally got my attention. I knew God needed me to choose what side I would be on. To choose if I wanted to live or die. To choose if I wanted joy or sadness. To choose if I was going to continue to wallow in self pity or if I was going to get up and do something about my life. Until that point I never really grasped the truth that we have a choice in everything. Like I said before I was always the reactor. Up until that day I believed God wanted nothing to do with me but He wouldn't leave me so I had to leave Him. Foolish right? But the thoughts and the power this mind has if you let it go there, whew!! It is something else. I went up for the alter call and all God would permit the alter worker to say was "Thank you! I have been waiting for you. This is your day!" Over and over again they repeated it. "Thank you! I have been waiting for you! I have been waiting for you!" It was at that moment that I connected with God's great love FOR ME!! As I stood there weeping before Him, I felt Him like never before. He was no longer this far fetched idea or this God that everyone else speaks of, it was at that moment that He became MY GOD! My peace! It was at that moment that I realized how deeply He cares for me! How deeply He loves me! To not condemn me, correct me, tell me all the wrong I had been doing and what I needed to fix…instead He chose to love on me! Instead He chose to make me understand that I am important to Him. Up until that day, He was the God I served because I believed in everyone else's stories about Him. On that day He became the lover of my soul! When asked, "When did the shift happen", the answer is easy…December 22, 2013! If you have never had that encounter with God, that shifting from He is God to He is MY GOD, you may not understand what I felt. But oh if you have, you know exactly what it did to me.

Where I am Today

Today I am a new person. It is so hard for me to explain the shift accurately and completely because when I say God shifted me I mean I am no where near who I was. It happened so suddenly. Since that day I decided within myself that I would be surrendered, in all areas of my life. I determined within myself that I would be completely surrendered to God. In that decision, I also had to surrender to my leadership and who God placed me under. I became involved, serving and taking classes. I was in the Eunuch for the Kingdom Sake class, then I took a Prophetic Training class. You may not see the significance in that but it was HUGE for me. I was terrified to do the Prophetic class. Up until then I was TERRIFIED to even pray in front of people let alone prophesied, but like I said I was committed to completely surrendering. My leaders said the class was mandatory so that meant I was obligated to take it. It was not an option for me and that is how I saw it. I began to witness my thoughts shifting. It was no longer an option for me to walk into service at 10am, I am now there by 8:30am every Sunday! It was no longer an option for me to not show up to woman's prayer! We had a 30day prayer watch one month, and I knew it was mandatory for me. Every chance I get to plug in, serve and do what I am suppose to be doing as a Eunuch I now run towards it instead of running away from it. Service is only one aspect of my surrendered life. Possibly the greatest change that happened in me was the change in my mind. I have a hold on my mind and I don't plan on letting go!! To sit here and describe every single thing that is different in me would take so much time. Its easiest to just say I am who God always wanted me to be. I am Joy! I am no longer one who gets tossed back and forth, being moved by circumstances. I have peace and a contentment that is unexplainable. Have things stopped happening, HECK NO!! They never will! As long as we have an adversary we will have struggles. The difference now is I know and BELIEVE Gods word.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because

of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never

leave you nor forsake you."-Deuteronomy 31:6

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who 

loves us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels

 nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor 

depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the

 love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."-Romans 8:37-39

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I

have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,

whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can

do all things through him who gives me strength."-Philippians 4:12-13

I could go on and on of all the scriptures that now became my truth but that would take forever. In reality, I began to actually own these as truths to me instead of just something I read. I stopped being only a hearer of the word and became a doer. Today I have more peace, joy, love, grace, gentleness, etc than I have had my entire christian life. To put it simply, today I am free. Free to be myself. Free from the hurt and pain of my past. Free from the fear of what people might think of me. Free from the mental torment and the emotional baggage. Today I am whole. Today I am new. Today I love and am free to be loved. Today I am loving life. I have learned to enjoy God!!!! Possibly the greatest lesson I could have ever learned. Scripture says we are saved by grace, not of works, lest any man boast. God is not a merit system in which I must keep proving myself to Him. I will make mistakes, and I will never be perfect, but God never loves me any less. I have stopped that fight within myself that says "I just gotta get it right"! I've learn to, instead, just live life. Do what I know is right! Grow in God by spending time with Him. But most of all I've learned to just follow instruction! The heaviness that was once in my heart is gone. The stress that I use to have is no longer there. This free place is a place I pray everyone reaches. It is the greatest place to be. 

Until next time,

~Kaitlyn

Battlefield…

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.

On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against

the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make 

it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV

I really contemplated writing this blog. I mean my friend/sister in Christ just wrote a blog about the power of the mind and the struggle with thoughts so in my mind I didn't see a need for it. In my limited thinking I thought to myself, "its already been said, why say it twice." Holy Spirit quickly reminded me that although our stories are similar her story is NOT mine and mine is NOT hers. We both have unique things to add and although we may cross paths at times we both have different struggles and a different story to tell. 

My greatest attacks are on my mind and if you are anything like me, once it starts it seems never ending. I mean I have GREAT days, a lot of great days actually but then there are the other days. The days when the thoughts, negativity, doubt and fear come so frequently that I literally want to curl up in a ball somewhere and hide or cry. LOL(I'm so serious though)! Truth, the word of God, will save your life AND keep your mind sane IF you use it! To not go to the source of peace, joy, comfort and truth in your time of need is like abandoning your way out. Over the course of this blog I will share a very small amount of my most frequent attacks and I will share the truth that voids them out. For every lie the enemy implants there is a powerful truth in God's word that will void that lie out and leave you feeling victorious. 

       "You'r not good enough! You're not qualified, you cannot do that!"

Let me just say that I HATE the enemy, but more than that I hate the power that I have given him. Yes people, we give him power over our minds…the only access he has is that which we grant him. I have battled with these lies for YEARS!!! Everything I have tried to start, every step I wanted to make, every dream I have had is immediately followed by his reminder of who I am not and what I can't do. And although they are lies, I fell for them every time. Not only was he feeding me the lies, my unsaved family was reminding me of these same lies over and over again. So, of course since he had help feeding it to me I began to take it on myself. It went from the enemy feeding them to me, to me owning these lies as my truth. I really began to believe I wasn't good enough and I just couldn't do what I dreamed. BUT…yes there is a but, that is true! We are not good enough, we are not qualified, we are not equipped…OUTSIDE of Christ. In Him however, we are everything. In Him, I am good enough. 

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made

perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about

my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2Corinthians 12:9 NIV

"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called!"

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 KJV

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you,

you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 NIV

My God this is good stuff! The common thread here is that all we have to do is stay in Christ and the enemy can not tell us that we are not good enough, that we can't do something, that something is impossible. No matter how uneducated I am, degree or no degree, experience or no experience, money or no money, I can do ANYTHING in Christ. Guess what, YOU CAN TOO! We, as God's people, need to rise up and grab hold to these truths. We need to stand up and profess that we are NOT that nobody that the enemy tries to make us out to be!

           "You're not smart enough!"

"If anyone lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously

to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:5 NIV

"Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end 

you will be counted among the wise." Proverbs 19:20 NIV

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then 

peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit,

impartial and sincere." James 3:17 NIV

Come on man!!!!! Just look in scripture and find your answer! Find the truth to that lie. I'm not smart enough? Are you kidding me? At any point in time I can go to my Father and ask Him the answer to ANYTHING! Our problem is not our lack of intelligence but in fact that we are not even asking Him who knows everything. 

          "To bad you don't have their gift, you'd be able to do so much more!"

Just a heads up, this is probably the one I hate the most!!! To waste so much time comparing myself to another as if God didn't make me unique and with a purpose that only I can fulfill is like a slap in the face to Him. It is like saying He made a mistake! So foolish! 

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.

There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There

are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone

it is the same God at work." 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV

"Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong

to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to 

the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If

the whole body were and eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the 

whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God

has placed the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them

to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are

many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!"

And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary,

those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts

that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are

unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts

need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater 

honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in 

the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored,

every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ,

and each one of you is a part of it." 1 Corinthians 12:15-27 NIV

Can you say BAM!! In your face devil! I was created with such precision and thought. I was made EXACTLY how I was meant to be for the greatest return on investment possible. If we continue to try to be someone we were not graced to be we will be forfeiting our part of the body and in turn throwing the body off. You are made with your purpose for a reason and people are waiting on you. BE YOU!!

          "You'r alone!"

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them,

for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

          "Why are you happy, your life sucks! Just give up!"

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials

of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces

perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work os that you may be 

mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 NIV

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice." Philippians 4:4 NIV

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22 NIV

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you

and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish

what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20 NIV

There are so so so many answers to life's problems in the word. God gives us every motivation, every answer, every way out we could possibly need. The battlefield of the mind only becomes a lost fight when you don't know how to properly fight. I challenge you to find the answers to the lies he uses on you and meditate on them. Repeat and rehearse the truth of God instead of the lies that have been on repeat for so long. Its time to take control of our minds because we have been given that right. I will end this with a quote just because I liked it and I love quotes ;)

"People tend to be generous when sharing their nonsense, fear, and ignorance.

And while they seem quite eager to feed you their negativity, please remember that

sometimes the diet we need to be on is a spiritual and emotional one. Be cautious with what

you feed your mind and soul. Fuel yourself with positivity and let that fuel propel you

into positive action."-Steve Maraboli

Until next time loves,

Determine to be great and concur this mind!

With love, 

Kaitlyn

Privileged...

For about the past month or so God has really been dealing with me and speaking to me about honor and privilege. Honor is defined as high respect, esteem, glory, recognition and great privilege. Privilege is a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people. My sister and I have been joking around the last few weeks about how we can NOT go to church wearing make-up anymore. But we were so serious. We can NOT enter into the presence of God and not weep with joy. On Saturday I texted my sister and told her "I was crying so bad during prayer, the worship part, because I really just want to go to the depths of His presence and never leave." She said, "I know right!!!! Me too!!! I can't not cry whenever I step into His presence." We started out joking about it because without fail we show up fly, make-up on point yet we leave with raccoon eyes. LOL!! But then my mind shifted to when that was not the case for me. The times when I had the audacity to stand in the presence of God and not love on Him. How I could just stand there so consumed with myself that I never even thanked Him for allowing me to stand there!!!! We as a people get so spoiled with everyday life and the things that we feel we are "owed" that we never stop to realize that EVERYTHING we have was given to us!

I have been in such a place of gratefulness lately because I did NOT have to be here. I did NOT have to be chosen! Today at church I was so turnt up(I HATE THAT TERM LOL), but then they showed a clip of Jesus death. The clip brought me to tears and as I stood there trying to hold it together the tears just began to flow freely. And for the first time all that was going through my mind was "Thank you Jesus, you did that for ME." At that moment, I realized my shift and my growth. For years and years I would get mad at God like "Why can't you just change me? Why doesn't the sight of what you did break me and touch the depths of my heart like everyone else?" You see for all of my salvation, over 7 years, I have seen clips of His death. I have seen The Passion Of Christ several times but every time without fail I close my eyes as if it is a fictional horror movie! I would close my eyes from the time they start beating Him until He died. So then I would get even more angry and of course turn that towards God like, "Why can't I feel this? Why can't I feel what you did?"

Ah-ha!! Finally my light-bulb moment hit today, until recently I had NEVER took ownership of it. I mean I knew everyone said He died for everyone but I never took ownership that EVERY single wipe was taken for me. It never crossed my mind that when He was being beat beyond recognition He had "lil ol' me in mind". The person that would turn on Him time and time again for years. He seen every time I would deny Him, every time I would disobey Him, every time I would choose myself over Him and yet He still chose a life of death…FOR ME!!!

For me to walk into His presence without giving Him the thanks, praise and honor He DESERVES is basically to spit in His face and makes me no better than those that crucified Him. To enter into the presence of someone who can heal, restore, love with an everlasting love…someone that took on death for YOU and not honor Him is a slap in the face to Him. To be in His presence is a PRIVILEGE! In Matthew 22:14 it says "For many are called, but few are chosen." There are people dying out there. There are people out there that go through day to day life not realize that death is knocking on their door and they will not make it into heaven. There are people who are sick, broken and lost. Yet we, who know God, can come into His presence any kind of what…when we come!

This is by no means a rebuke to anyone. It is simply my reflections on my own life and the shift He has caused in me! He gave me a desire to worship Him. Philippians 2:13 says "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and power to do what pleases Him." I don't even take credit for this ability to be broken before Him every time I step into His presence. I am privileged enough to be one of His chosen and with that comes the desire to do what pleases Him. With that comes His character. With that privilege comes everything i could ever need or want. You see, at the moment I became COMPLETELY satisfied with God and nothing else was the moment He broke the chains of dishonor off of me.

If you want to break free of that place ask God to place that desire to do what pleases Him inside of you. Also take ownership of His death. He didn't die because of something He did wrong, He died because you were messed up and needed Him! He died so you could live. He took on death so you could be free. He got beat so you could be seen blemish free before God. Its not enough to know of what Jesus did, you must understand that He did it for you. And if He died for me the least I could do is act like I owe Him everything, especially in His presence!!

Until Next time,
Love y'all
Kaitlyn

'Noah' or Nah?

"Your eyes are the door to your soul and the road to your heart."~Luis Lira

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."~Proverbs 4:23

I am a movie junkie!!!! Anything but horror, I'm pretty much down. Inspirational, romance, suspense, comedy…you name it I can probably name a movie I've loved in that category. I don't profess to be one that interrogates every movie, the director, the motives, etc before watching a movie. In fact, most times I could care less. This time it was different. This time I was moved to do research first. I was compelled to find out all that I could on the new movie 'Noah'. 'Noah' has been the biggest controversy in the Christian community for a while now. For about a week all that is on my Instagram and Facebook newsfeed are "debates" about the movie and especially the director. I have seen Christians defend the movie. Some say they won't see it because the director is not a believer. I, on the other hand, have a bit of a different out look on this topic. A view that in fact could be used in life in general, not just this movie. 

The other day I came across an article titled "Atheist 'Noah' director brags film is least biblical Bible movie ever". Now that really sparked my interest. Not only is the biblical story made into a movie by a non-believer, this non-believer is mocking the bible by proudly quoting how it is inaccurate. At some point in the article it says, "Note to Christians and those who believe in the Bible: The producer of the movie 'Noah', a self-professed atheist, says he is proud of the fact that he's taken a story inspired by God's word and turned it into something so secular." Further more, Mr. Aronofsky(director), describes his vision of the biblical story as a "dark parable about sin, justice and mercy," that leads Noah to serve as judge and jury of who gets on the boat. Last time I check, Noah didn't decide anything except his decision to obey God! And even that was God's doing because He created us with a desire to please Him.

     "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." Phil 2:13

Mr. Aronofsky had no intentions of drawing souls to God or to tell of the amazing story listed in the bible. Instead, he desired to manipulate this bible story to fit his beliefs that God is not real. Therefore, hoping to conform others to atheism or walk away with a different view of the bible. When you read his intentions & purpose on the movie, a TRUE Christian would not want to subject themselves to that false doctrine. This is more than a action movie, or something to do for your enjoyment or entertainment. It goes beyond him being a non-believer. Do you know that everything you watch or listen to enters your soul? Every thing you subject yourself to grabs part of your mind. Can you afford your beliefs being challenged? I know a babe in Christ can't afford it. 

I can only speak for myself and try to shed light so others will open their eyes. I personally choose not to see the movie NOT because he is a atheist movie director but because he is an atheist movie director sharing false doctrine trying to impersonate the word of God. The movie is in fact a false account of the events that actually happened. Several parts of the story have been distorted to try to prove his belief that there is no God. I also whole heartedly believe any new believer/anyone not grounded in their knowledge of the truth should not go see it! It is not about going to see a non-believer's movie because I am certain that almost everyone has watched something that was not written or directed by a Christian. The fact still remains that opening yourself up to inaccurate doctrine is not a wise decision. Everything that enters your mind can take root. Can you handle that battle it may or may not cause in your mind? It is foolish to say you will not go see a movie because of the unsaved people involved in making it if you will not apply that to all areas of your life. Which in essence would leave you basically being in hide out. I just believe it will be difficult for many to realize the inaccuracy of the movie. Being dawn to its ability to hold your attention all the while lies are being deposited into you. 

So if you ask me 'Noah' or Nah? I think i'll go with Nah! My sanity, mind, soul and life are to important to knowingly subject myself to something that will "teach" me something contrary to what I believe. In the words of Sweet Brown "Ain't no body got time for that"!

Until Next time, With Love

Kaitlyn

"Have the Attitude of Christ"

So on Sunday after church we had our bi-weekly Eunuch class! It started back in November I believe and was intended to be a 6week course. I however missed 2 weeks, one of which was the class right before this past Sunday. And what do you know, I walk into class and they begin to discuss the 'homework' that I obviously did not do because I knew nothing about it. Sigh! What an embarrassing situation. In all honesty it brought me back to my school days where I didn't have answers for questions because I didn't understand. Instead of staying in that place I participated the best I could while in class. In addition I made it my mission this week to do the homework and do it thoroughly. What was the homework you ask? To read Philippians 2 and to be ready to discuss it at the next class. The profound understanding and deep clarity into God's heart that I found in this Chapter is simply amazing! 

By now, if you follow me regularly, you should know that I absolutely love to break things down. My Pastor always tells us to live by definition. And since we are suppose to live by the word of God, if we study without ever defining things or taking time to break down the scripture we may never get the full understanding of what a certain verse means. In the New Living Translation(NLT) version Philippians 2 is titled "Have the Attitude of Christ". WHOA! That right there grabbed my attention and let me know that if I'm not living out what I'm about to read then I need to reevaluate some things. 

Have the Attitude of Christ

1-5 "Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had."

Now if that "wowed" you just wait a minute, thats just the beginning. The underlined words are the words that I defined and broke down. By doing that I gained a whole new view on this life and where I'm at and where I need to strive to go. Below are the definitions and synonyms of each.

~Encouragement: The act of encouraging. Assistance, cheer, comfort, confidence, faith, inspiration, optimism, reassurance, reward, aid, favor, helpfulness, hope, promotion, supporting, trust, urging, consoling, reassuring.

~Comfort: To soothe, console or reassure; bring cheer to. Contentment, enjoyment, happiness, luxury, pleasure, relaxation, satisfaction, abundance, gratification, peacefulness, plenty, rest, restfulness, sufficiency. 

~ Tender: Soft or delicate in substance; not hard or rough. Sensitive, childlike, vulnerable, youthful, gentle, soft, thoughtful, touching, compassionate, forgiving, kind, yielding, charitable, considerate, merciful, sympathetic, tenderhearted. 

~Compassionate: having or showing compassion. Charitable, humane, merciful, sympathetic, understanding, humanitarian.

Now what I do is I replace the word with one of the synonyms and I continue to replace it until I really understand the verse. Below are some examples.

Encouragement:

1. Is there any comfort from belonging to Christ?

2. Is there any optimism from belonging to Christ?

3. Is there any reward, favor or hope from belonging to Christ?

Comfort:

1. Any contentment, enjoyment, or happiness from his love?

2. Any peacefulness, rest or satisfaction from his love?

3. Any sufficiency from his love?

Tender and Compassion:

1. Are your hearts sensitive and sympathetic?

2. Are your hearts thoughtful, yielding and charitable?

3. Are your hearts forgiving, merciful and understanding?

In Eunuch class we spoke on this portion of the chapter as well as the part about putting others ahead of yourself. What really caught my attention is my teacher said "if the answer is yes, then live on that"! So if you can find any encouragement, comfort, optimism or hope in belonging to Christ then hold onto that. If you can find any comfort, enjoyment, happiness, rest or satisfaction from his love then hold onto it. Really what I believe she was saying is that if you can find these things in Him or His word grab hold to it and live on that. Allow that to be your reason for holding on or your reminder when things get rough. If you grab hold to it and remind yourself of it, when tough times come you will be able to stand strong on what you know to be true. So I ask you, do you "have the attitude of Christ"? 

Until next time, 

Kaitlyn