My 2nd India Talk!!!

This is one of the main reasons I went to India. Enjoy!!!

Knowing Your Purpose Brings Both Freedom & Joy

Before you were born, God planned this moment in your life.  The purpose of us is far greater than our own personal fulfillment, our peace of mind or even our happiness. It goes beyond our family, our career, or even our wildest dreams or ambitions. Long before we were conceived by our parents you were conceived in the hand of God.

(Isaiah 43:7 NIV)
⁷ Everyone is called by my name, hom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

        It is not by fate, chance or luck that we are living at this very moment. We are alive and living because God has a purpose for our lives. God made you to love “YOU” and you are his very own special creation. Did you know that there is not another single human being on this planet with the same make-up, built or DNA as you? How could one not love a God that cared enough to create you and me?

You may think that because of all that you have to endure, you might as well be an accident. Just think, if there was no God, then we would indeed be “accidents” or a random chance of the universe. But this is not the case. There is a God and he made you and me for a reason and our lives have profound meaning.

The Bible says that life is a test, life is a trust and life is a temporary assignment. To fulfill the purpose God created for us, we have to move wisdom (all that we think we know) and replace it with what the word of God says.

(Romans 12:2 NIV)
² 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.

        Once we understand that life is a test, we then realize that “nothing” is insignificant in our lives. Even the smallest incidents, has significance for our character.

(James 1:12 NIV)
 ¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Always remember that every day is an important day, and that every second is a growth opportunity to demonstrate love, develop character and depend on God. Some test may seem so big and over whelming that we may question God, where others we don’t even notice.

Never, never, ever forget that everything in our lives belong to God. Our homes, our children, our jobs, EVERYTHING! It is our privilege to enjoy, but it is also our responsibility to faithfully use it in the way God wants it to be used.

When life gets tough, when you are over whelmed with doubt or even when we see people not thinking about serving God prospering or when you begin to wonder if living for Christ is even worth it the effort, just know that there is a purpose and God has a plan.

(Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

¹¹ 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.
         At this time we need to find out what HE wants most from us and to fulfill HIS plan. We are to bring pleasure to God and by doing so we are worshipping HIM. Remember that everything we do brings pleasure to God, and bringing pleasure to HIM is worship. I don’t know about you ladies, but I love to sit and worship the Lord, not for what He has done for me or for something I am anticipating, but just for who HE is. He is awesome and just to think, HE died for me, that I may have eternal life. He deserves all that I am. My very being.

God smiles when we not only trust Him, but when we worship HIM. Here are a few things that cause God to smile:

1)  God smiles when we LOVE Him far above any and everything.

2)  God smiles when we trust HIM completely.

3)  God smiles when we obey HIM.

4)  God smiles when we praise and thank HIM.

5)  God smiles when we fulfill HIS purpose in our lives.

My dear sisters, HE wants a relationship with us. God deeply loves us and all he deserves is that we love HIM with our entire being in return. Building a relationship with God and learning to love HIM and to be loved by HIM should be the main goal in our life.

(Matthew 22: 37-38)

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment.

When we have a relationship with the Lord, it not only brings great joy, but we experience a freedom that we have longed for. You ask how is that? Think about it…..when you are in a relationship with some someone, say your husband or best friend, you are at liberty to be yourself. You are FREE to be you. Nothing held back. And when you don’t feel as if you have to pretend or put on an act, which brings great JOY!

One of the best expressions of love is the time. Time is one of your most precious gifts because we only have a set amount of it. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you will never get back.

(I John 3:18)

¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

This is one of the reasons and purposes God created up for. Whenever you give of your time you are making a sacrifice, and sacrifice is the essence of LOVE.

Knowing your purpose can bring such great joy and peace in your life and I believe that this is what most of us as women long for. It may take some time to get it, but when we allow it to be a part of our everyday lives, there is a peace that comes over us like never before, people around you will wonder how and why you can be so happy when life is so chaotic. It all comes from above. Whatever God wants to accomplish in your life, HE will…if you will allow HIM too! 

 Phil 1:6

⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Remember…..it takes time to get where we need to be in our Christian walk. Spiritual growth like physical growth…takes time!!!! While we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow. Every day God wants you to become a little more like HIM and with His word, fasting and prayer, this can happen.

Knowing your purpose brings FREEDOM & JOY!

Hope you enjoyed!!!!

Hugs,

Kiwanya

My India Visit

To all the beautiful women that God created on this earth and those faced with challenges on a daily basis, we all have a purpose in life and on this earth. My trip to India has forever changed my life in it's entirety. Below is one of the reasons I have the heart I do for women....not just because we are all different, but color strikes a pose in my life. Color adds life to EvErYtHiNG!!!! Seek God and ask Him to reveal YOUR purpose in life. Take to heart Jer. 29:11-13 and allow it to pierce your soul in a way like never before.

Hugs,

Kiwanya

Feelings of Defeat....

Whew.....can I say that again? Whew!!!! Today has been one of those days where one could doubt  God and the plan that He has for you. We serve an awesome God despite how we can allow ourselves to feel. We have to remember that He is just a call away. No matter how much we are in the word, the human side of us has a tendency to take control if you allow it to.

Maybe a good cry perhaps??? I would say YES to that. Sometimes that's what it takes to move on. Clearing your thoughts as well as your mind can put you in a good place. I often feel like after I am done wondering and thinking so hard, why didn't I trust Him enough to give him all my cares by praying and then releasing all my "stuff?"

Hmmmmm.....I really can't answer that, but the one thing I do know is that carrying your own burdens can cause great grief in your life. Grief that isn't necessary for one to have. My Heavenly Father takes pleasure in difficult situations and handling them for us. It's so simple, but instead we make it complicated. Sometimes I amaze myself. Not to mention that when you are about to do something so wonderful, Satan beefs up his attack.

It is my desire to have the "Joy of the Lord" regardless. Even in the midst of tears and heartache, having  joy should be a daily goal if you will. Remember, HE delights in giving us the desires of our hearts. One of the gifts HE gave me was my husband. I decided to talk to him about some things that were really bothering me and this is what he told me: "Babe, you have to do everything you do as if you were doing it for the Lord. Things are going to get better and the ministry that you desire will manifest." All I could do was cry because here I'm thinking he's going to side with me and tell me what I wanted to hear. Ohhhhh baby, that was nowhere near what I thought he would say, but instead, it was what I needed to hear. I am so thankful that the Lord saw fit to allow this man to find ME!!!! He knew this is what I needed to hear on a day such as today.

The more I sat and prayed on this evening, the more my spirit settled down. Where I am not totally settled with and what how things are in certain situations, I am waiting for God to show up in my life. He will never leave or forsake me, so I have to trust him in all that I do.

I am His beloved and HE loves me. Lord, I trust you and thank you for making my path clear.

XOXOXOxoxox
Kiwanya

Doing what you love to do......

This has been on my mind for I would say over the past couple of years....."Doing what you love to do." There is nothing more aggravating than having to do something because "YOU HAVE TOO." But what one has to do is "DO IT" until it's your time. Lord help me.....we often cry out, but you know that it's all in HIS timing. SO, with that you choose to do what you gotta do until what you want to do manifested in the natural. Don't complain, keep a smile on my face and keep your best kept little secret to yourself or to those that are closes to you...

Have you ever been in that situation? Many people are or have been. The more I pray and read HIS word, I realize that there are seasons in our lives and we have to "wade the water" so to speak. If we can't be content where we are while we work diligently on what our hearts desire is, we won't be able to move forward.  It can be so difficult at times. You see others getting praise for what they do and you often question yourself....and then the anticipation of moving forward grows more intensely than ever. If you ever feel like you don't fit in, it's probably not because you don't, but because you are in the wrong place.

Praying and seeking the Lord should take precedence over everything if you are struggling with where you are. This is what I have been doing. Jeremiah 29:11 reads... "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." This is one of my all time favorite scriptures and as long as I know this I can move forward. It doesn't pay to complain, have a bad attitude, be disgruntled, or the like....trust me, it doesn't help matters at all. Pray hard and ask HIM to help you make it through each and everyday. This is why you should give your day over to HIM first thing in the morning.

Doing what you want to or to put it more plainly, doing what God wants you to do may seem like it's so way out there, but know it's not. It takes time to get everything you have in the works "worked out." Be patient and TRUST God for everything. He's working everything out for your good.

Smooches,
Kiwanya

It's been a while.....

Yes, it's been a while since I've posted, but things have brewing srtonger than ever in my life. Not only am I preparing for my India trip, but I had the most amazing vacation ever. You want to know where I went? What exotic Island did I visit? What sandy Beach did I walk arcoss? None of the above. Well, I take that back, my hubby and I did walk along the Gulf of Mexico's Crystal Beach. But when I say I had an amazing time off, I did.

I worked on projects that I had line up and waiting for me, I re-arranged furniture, completed projects, spent time with the Lord, came and went as I pleased, thrift shopped, resaled, antiqued, ate, etc; when I say AMAZING, it was beyond that. Resting is often the best vacation that we can have. With my amazing hubby being busy working with some rather timely projects, he did manage to take a day off and we drove to Galveston Island. It was truly amazing.

So here is is, almost the end of June. Summer has finally arrived, but time is moving at the speed of light it seems like. Before we know it school will be back in session. Yep, I said it. While I don't have any little ones running around (I have the empty nest thingy in full effect over here) but my classes resume August 27th. Until that day, I have sooooo much to do and to look forward to .

School is something that I know I will finish, eventually, but right this very second, everytime I think about it, I say "YUCK." Why I feel the way I do about it is beyond me, but it is apart of my life, so.....I have to suck it up and do what I gotta do.

God is doing some amazing things in my life and what I thought could never be is actually coming to fruition. Talking about sheer excitement.....You can't even imagine how and what I'm feeling at this time. All I can tell you gals is this: "Timing is everything and when the time is right, you will know it."

Toodles for now!!! Remember...they that wait upon the Lord.....

XOXO
Kreated to Encourage

Waiting....

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isiah 40:31

Whenever I read that scripture, my mind immediately goes to an eagle soaring across the sky. As I did a little research on the eagle this is what I came up with: They have relatively longer and more evenly broad wings and are very fast in flight. Their keen eyesight which is primarily contributed by their extremely large pupils, which ensure minimal scattering of the incoming light. The female of all species of eagles known are larger than the male. Eagles normally build their nests in tall trees or on high cliffs.

Now when I re-read the scripture, my perspective is a little different. Take a look at where it says, "they mount up with wings as eagles." I thouht to myself, how awesome is that?  An eagles wings are evenly broad and very fast in flight. Can I say it again??? They are very fast in flight. To me that could mean several things, but fast in flight is when they have their boogie on....they are moving at top speed. Anything moving that fast doesn't have time to think about any problems or difficulties in it's path. How could it, it's going to fast.

This is what waiting on the Lord means to me.....I'm moving full speed ahead. There may be obstacles that I am faced with, but while I wait upon the Lord, I have to keep it moving. How are you coping with life, family, that job that you aren't so happy with, that disruptive child, bills that can't be paid?

These are all challenges that we are faced with every single day, but know that it's going to get better. ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10

All I have is His word to stand on..... You see patience was never one of my strong points, and believe you me, I still have my days, but I have no choice but to keep it going and believe with all my heart that as I wait I can have the joy that comes from the Lord and the peace that passes all understanding.

How are you waiting? Are you like that eagle that soars above circumstances or are you wallowing in self pity? You don't have too.....everything you need is in His word and if you 'll trust Him, you will find out that it was all worth it.

Remember....."they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isiah 40:31

Smooches,

Kiwanya

A Taste of Nature, Pt 2

Here are the remaining three pics my sweetie shot! Just beautiful!!!

Smooches,
Kiwanya