A New Look In Christ

So, in my search for the "NEW-found" color that I've fallen in love with, it took me forever to find just the right shade of teal. Yes....there are several different shades in this family of "blue greens." When I found it online, I rushed in to my husband and said, "babe, this weekend, I will be re-painting the trinkets that I sprayed with the not so teal color that I grabbed from Lowe's." He looked at me and just smiled. I purchased two bottles without taking my time to really find what I wanted.

We do this oh too often. We make snappy decisions, buy things without praying, say words without thinking, we act out without any regard for the consequences, etc;  I could go on and on. As I'm working on the different projects that I take on, it's a time of reflection for me. I pray, think about life, talk to the Lord and most of all I thank Him for all that He's done for me. Not for the monetary things, but because He allows me an opportunity to do His perfect will on a daily basis. 

Spray painting is a way to transform something you really don't like into something you LoVE! Not in an idol form, but into something that would look good with what you already have.This is how I look at my life in Christ. He has forgiven me for every single sin I have ever committed AND the good thing is, He didn't just cover me up with spray paint and hang me out to dry so I'd fit where ever. His blood covered a multitude of sins and what wonderful news that is. He cleanses us and then makes us not only fit to live, but to do a work for HIM.

Just as I love to make things pretty and new to me, God desires to do the same for us. We are beautiful in His sight an there is a work that needs to be done. John 9:4 reads "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work." It's time to get busy doing what God wants us to do. Are you ready? Do you have a mind to please Him? Or do you just want to be covered by the spray paint and left to look pretty hanging on a wall or sitting on a desk? 

Crazy analogy I know, but the new look that I desire to have is the look of one that has made me complete in HIM! 

Now, on to the weekend, where I plan to re-spray my frames and such, in the "new teal!!!!!" Hey a gal's gotta enjoy life all around!

Smooches,

Kiwanya

A small nuggett......

 

 

This blessed my soul!!!!

 

Smooches....
Kiwanya

Boundaries....We All Need Them

 I have the privilege of teaching a class called "Boundaries" on Monday nights at the church this Fall. It was totally a God thing and I am super excited!!!! Speaking to women has been a passion of mine for years and to see this happen, all I can say is "YAY GOD!" After finding out I was going to India, I was told that I had to speak twice; so in order to do that, I had to prepare two different talks. As I was studying the word, praying and gathering my thoughts, the Lord told me that "this is what you have always wanted to do; this is what I have called you to do, so calm down and leave everything up to me." What an awesome God we serve!

As I have been reading the book Boundaries, it has made me realize that I have allowed so many people and things to take over my life. Things that caused unwanted stress, or shall I say no boundaries. This is when I realized some things had to change. Can I say "what a blessing this book has been."  My father is a Pastor and he would often tell the congregation before he spoke, that while penning the sermons for Sunday, they always spoke to him first. When you are speaking, if you're not being spoken to while preparing, something is wrong. I love that!!! Before you can give out, you have to take in! Look at God!!!! I am so excited, I can hardly hold it in.

Of course when you are about to do something major for the Lord, there will always be distractions. Trust me, they can come in many ways, shapes and forms. I believe that fear can even creep in. Well, sure enough, it happened. Mine just so happened to be in the form of a person. It never ceases to amaze me how subtle people can be, but I have learned that anyone can be put in your path just to see how you'll react. Whew!!!!!  All I could do is pray and ask God to help me, because I am determined not to allow that pretty little package that Satan presents, hinder the work He has for me. So, as I began to pray, God let me know that He has the entire situation under control and that I am not to worry about what people may try to do."No weapon formed against me shall prosper...." Isaiah 54:17

I am thrilled at what God is going to do. For the next 13 weeks, we will be learning how to set "Boundaries" in our lives. Much needed boundaries. We as women are in different seasons of life and every women needs to have perimeters set. God loves each of us and if you will allow him to work through you, watch what he does in your life. I am looking forward to meeting this special group of women and together setting the BOUNDARIES that are needed in our everyday lives!

Blessings,

Kiwanya

When God Moves.....

I have been praying and allowing God to do some supernatural things in my life and the results were happening so fast that I could hardly take it in. Do you know how it is when you want to see something happen so out of the ordinary that you have to pinch your self to make sure it's real after manifestation??? The thing is, you will only settle for seeing some sort of miracle or the Lord Jesus Christ himself appearing at your door. Well it doesn't quite happen like that. But it will happen the more you seek HIM and the more you get quiet before HIM; believe me, he will show you what HIS specific plan is, if YOU ALLOW HIM TOO!

We scurry through life daily, weekly, monthly even yearly asking God..."when are you going to come through for me? When are you going to show me what YOU want me to do in life for YOU?" Well, it's that still small voice that speaks to us when we get quiet. Quiet enough to listen and know that it's not YOU talking but the Holy Spirit. Oh....what a fantabulous feeling. I bought a book called "Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation, which was referred to me by my good friend Virginia. Oh by the way, it's always a good thing to mark the perfect wo-man. When they suggest books and such, take them up on it. You will either like it or not. Anywhoo...the first time I read this book, I wasn't quite feeling it because I was going every which a way mentally; where I new what I wanted to do, I hadn't found my way just quite yet.

My prayer was that I would stop vacillating and know what it was that God wanted me to do. Too often I see this. We get all caught up in the hype of things and before we know it, we are unsure and back to "praying and asking HIM what is it that you want me to do?" So I kept at it. Oh the ventures that I thought I was supposed to engage in. None gave me the satisfaction I was looking for.

By then, it was time for our India trip. And oh what a trip. It changed me from the inside out. It was there where the Lord let me know exactly what I was to do. So after returning home, I talked to my "Babe" about what my heart was feeling and where my heart was. He listened intently and he then put his hand on my heart and said "let the Lord lead you. If it's ministry you are called to do, then ministry is what you need to do." My heart leaped with joy. Not just because of what he said, but because God has placed this treasure in my life that knows what it means to follow the passion that God has put deep down on the inside of you.

Time for the new semester to start was quickly approaching. I mean faster than I had anticipated and faster than what I wanted. As I looked over the books that had come in the mail, my heart just dropped. I could not see myself finishing up something that I was so hell-bent on (sorry for the vernacular but it's so true.) a couple of years back.  The passion was GONE...and in fact, I had a meltdown after I realized all the work that this semester contained. As I cried and spoke to the Lord, I told him that this is not what I want to do. In fact, I didn't want school period. At least not this kind of schooling.

This book really spoke to the core of my spirit. And it was then that I realized what I needed to do. I am one class away from my Life Coaching Certification, one class away from my Biblical Counseling Certification and a couple of tracks in Marriage and Family Counseling. What am I wasting my time for?? I kept asking myself that question? Why not do what it takes to get where YOU are supposed to be. Ding, Ding, Ding......another light bulb came on. So without hesitation, I did what it took. By the end of September, I will be down to one online class at the Junior College. And I will have picked up on the last class for my Life Coaching Cert. It's time to get it and move forward with HIS call. Will I ever finish my degree? It's a projected goal, but it's not top priority. I will take a class a semester and see how it goes. Would I love that piece of sheep's skin in a frame in my office??? Of course, but my Certs would even look better.

Listen to the call that HE has for you. Not something that is pleasing to someone else, but pleasing to YOU and the one who has called you. HIS Perfect Will is what you are aiming for. We make it a battle that we don't have to fight. We also go through life not knowing what we are called to do and before you know it  years have gone and we are still asking HIM what HIS will is for our lives. It's never too late, but what JOY we can experience when we find out what our vocation is.

Do you know what  your vocation is????

Smooches and Blessings,

Kiwanya