Guide me
it blinds me
when it comes unexpectedly
it holds me tightly
Open me
so I can see
to speak courageously
when you lead me
If need be
close doors quickly
and please feel free
to answer me
"no"
KSW
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
A Love Poem
What else can I give up?
Let go.
Trust.
Entrust.
To you.
You gave me these.
Then asked them back.
To test my love.
Committment.
To you.
To Him.
When I am weak then you are strong.
So weaken me Lord.
Break all my bones.
So I can have more of you.
KSW
Let go.
Trust.
Entrust.
To you.
You gave me these.
Then asked them back.
To test my love.
Committment.
To you.
To Him.
When I am weak then you are strong.
So weaken me Lord.
Break all my bones.
So I can have more of you.
KSW
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Admonishment
I was so encouraged this morning in my reading of Ezekiel 2. God tells Ezekiel, "If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done will not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul."
I know that this passage appears in the Old Testament and that with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our relationship to sin has been forever changed. As believers in Jesus, we no longer have to die or atone for our sins. Christ has already done that. Our sins are already forgiven: past, present and future. However, our daily victory is inextricably bound up in our daily choices. Because of this, I believe that we are still called to warn, confront, and admonish one another in love.
Definition of ADMONISH
1: to indicate duties or obligations to
to express warning or disapproval to especially in a gentle, earnest, or solicitous manner
2 : to give friendly earnest advice or encouragement to
The thought of admonishing others can be very stressful for me. I appreciate when others admonish me, in love, because I am teachable and I always want to know if something I am doing is causing someone else pain or in any way taking away from my testimony.
Not everyone feels that way, and admonishment isn't always easy.
This morning I had a phone conversation with a good friend who was going to take a highschool student to see a movie that I personally thought would hinder both of them spiritually. It was so hard for me to call that person, and tell him that I thought that he should rethink his movie choice. I was afraid that he would take it as a judgment or an attack.
I almost didn't call him at all, but I had this check in my spirit and I knew that I couldn't rest until I at least warned him.
He received it well and promised to pray about it. I let him know that if it truly was the Lord, that God would reveal it to him as well. We have to be very careful that if someone gives us a word from God, we weigh it, pray about it, and ask God to reveal to us His truth. Why would God reveal something to me about another person without revealing it to that person as well?
I love this lesson in Ezekiel 2 because it reminds us that while we are responsible TO each other, to admonish each other in love, we are not responsible FOR each other. What others choose to do with our admonishment is completely out of our hands, and we can rest knowing that we were obedient, as we release them unto the Lord.
KSW
I know that this passage appears in the Old Testament and that with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our relationship to sin has been forever changed. As believers in Jesus, we no longer have to die or atone for our sins. Christ has already done that. Our sins are already forgiven: past, present and future. However, our daily victory is inextricably bound up in our daily choices. Because of this, I believe that we are still called to warn, confront, and admonish one another in love.
Definition of ADMONISH
1: to indicate duties or obligations to
to express warning or disapproval to especially in a gentle, earnest, or solicitous manner
2 : to give friendly earnest advice or encouragement to
The thought of admonishing others can be very stressful for me. I appreciate when others admonish me, in love, because I am teachable and I always want to know if something I am doing is causing someone else pain or in any way taking away from my testimony.
Not everyone feels that way, and admonishment isn't always easy.
This morning I had a phone conversation with a good friend who was going to take a highschool student to see a movie that I personally thought would hinder both of them spiritually. It was so hard for me to call that person, and tell him that I thought that he should rethink his movie choice. I was afraid that he would take it as a judgment or an attack.
I almost didn't call him at all, but I had this check in my spirit and I knew that I couldn't rest until I at least warned him.
He received it well and promised to pray about it. I let him know that if it truly was the Lord, that God would reveal it to him as well. We have to be very careful that if someone gives us a word from God, we weigh it, pray about it, and ask God to reveal to us His truth. Why would God reveal something to me about another person without revealing it to that person as well?
I love this lesson in Ezekiel 2 because it reminds us that while we are responsible TO each other, to admonish each other in love, we are not responsible FOR each other. What others choose to do with our admonishment is completely out of our hands, and we can rest knowing that we were obedient, as we release them unto the Lord.
KSW
What's In Your Lasagna?
When you make a lasagna, or shepherd's pie, or chicken pot pie, or anything like it, you'll notice that the subtle ingredients like pearl onions, leeks, herbs, and turnips, are what give the entire dish flavor. However, they only really flavor the entire dish when the whole thing is placed inside of the oven and the heat comes on. The heat is what causes the ingredients to leak juices and to flavor the whole meal.
It's the same with us. It is our subtle ingredients (impatience, bitterness, unforgiveness, selfishness, pride) that flavor us when the heat comes on.
This has been an incredible season for me. I have been inside the oven for hours and what I found is that my ingredients have made the meal unedible. I do not taste good.
Lord Jesus, give me your ingredients (love, joy, peace, patience, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control), so that next time, when the heat comes on, my dish would be delicious.
KSW
It's the same with us. It is our subtle ingredients (impatience, bitterness, unforgiveness, selfishness, pride) that flavor us when the heat comes on.
This has been an incredible season for me. I have been inside the oven for hours and what I found is that my ingredients have made the meal unedible. I do not taste good.
Lord Jesus, give me your ingredients (love, joy, peace, patience, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control), so that next time, when the heat comes on, my dish would be delicious.
KSW
The Dentist's Chair
My mother told me about a new commercial where a young woman is sitting in her dentist's chair. He uses heavy metal tools to stretch her mouth open wide, as far as it will go. Once she is as uncomfortable as possible, he says, "Wait here, I'll be right back" and then he leaves the room.
That is the perfect picture for what God did to me this fall. He stretched me beyond my limits and as I was screaming out in pain and discomfort, he left the room.
Ouch.
I am happy to report that he has come back. God is in the room.
KSW
That is the perfect picture for what God did to me this fall. He stretched me beyond my limits and as I was screaming out in pain and discomfort, he left the room.
Ouch.
I am happy to report that he has come back. God is in the room.
KSW
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Waiting
"I am the Lord: in its time I will hasten it." Isaiah 60:22
When I was little, I couldn't wait to be big.
When I was big I couldn't wait to be out of school.
When I was out of school I couldn't wait to get my dream job.
When I got my dream job I couldn't wait to get married.
Now that I'm married, I can't wait to have a baby.
It's a bottomless pit that nothing can fill.
Contentment = wanting what you have.
"Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength." -Isaiah 40:31
KSW
When I was little, I couldn't wait to be big.
When I was big I couldn't wait to be out of school.
When I was out of school I couldn't wait to get my dream job.
When I got my dream job I couldn't wait to get married.
Now that I'm married, I can't wait to have a baby.
It's a bottomless pit that nothing can fill.
Contentment = wanting what you have.
"Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength." -Isaiah 40:31
KSW
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Truth in Love
I remember the first time I really heard the term "Truth in love." I was at my wits end with ministry, feeling like people were taking up too much of my time bombarding me with their problems (the first sign that I should NOT have been in ministry)!
I was ready to walk away, when I asked a good friend/mentor of mine how she made ministry look so effortless. She said, "It's easy, you just speak the truth in love."
It was as if a heavy weight of "just be loving" lifted off of my shoulders. "You mean, I don't have to put up with people's taking advantage of me, or doing/saying something that offends or hurts me?"
My wise friend said, "You actually have a responsibility to be honest with people when they annoy/offend/embarrass/take advantage/etc...if you don't tell them, who will?"
It has taken me about three years and a few broken friendships to fully understand what she meant by that and I am finally ready for it.
I have recently discovered that I have spent my life putting up with many things that bother/offend/embarrass and hurt me because of my fear. I am afraid that I will hurt their feelings (as if somehow their feelings are more important than mine), I am afraid that I will lose their friendship (worthwhile friends can handle truth in love), I am afraid that their response to my honesty will hurt me (sticks and stones....).
No wonder I felt like a "boiling pot" when I finally got around to sharing my feelings. I had held so much in that I would explode!
I no longer want to carry around that kind of pent up anger. This is a new chapter in my life, entitled, "The honest, fearless, graceful, courageous, truthful, fruitful, year that Kristen Somody Whalen began to speak the truth in love."
KSW
I was ready to walk away, when I asked a good friend/mentor of mine how she made ministry look so effortless. She said, "It's easy, you just speak the truth in love."
It was as if a heavy weight of "just be loving" lifted off of my shoulders. "You mean, I don't have to put up with people's taking advantage of me, or doing/saying something that offends or hurts me?"
My wise friend said, "You actually have a responsibility to be honest with people when they annoy/offend/embarrass/take advantage/etc...if you don't tell them, who will?"
It has taken me about three years and a few broken friendships to fully understand what she meant by that and I am finally ready for it.
I have recently discovered that I have spent my life putting up with many things that bother/offend/embarrass and hurt me because of my fear. I am afraid that I will hurt their feelings (as if somehow their feelings are more important than mine), I am afraid that I will lose their friendship (worthwhile friends can handle truth in love), I am afraid that their response to my honesty will hurt me (sticks and stones....).
No wonder I felt like a "boiling pot" when I finally got around to sharing my feelings. I had held so much in that I would explode!
I no longer want to carry around that kind of pent up anger. This is a new chapter in my life, entitled, "The honest, fearless, graceful, courageous, truthful, fruitful, year that Kristen Somody Whalen began to speak the truth in love."
KSW
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Defenseless: without defense or protection; totally vulnerable
Oh, that I might know the freedom that comes with silence! The beauty of one who in stillness hears the voice of God and the discernment it brings. I am inspired to look to You, Oh God, to bring swift justice. Give me the strength to be defenseless. You are my defender. Lord, change my heart. Uproot the pride that causes me to speak when I should be still.
KSW
KSW
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Spiritual Cleansing
It was a tight fit, but we squeezed our Lifegroup into our apartment tonight for some good old fashion Worship & Prayer.
In my opinion, there is no better way to spiritually cleanse your apartment!
KSW
In my opinion, there is no better way to spiritually cleanse your apartment!
KSW
Monday, September 6, 2010
Just When I Thought I Had Mastered the Art of...
Being a single Godly woman...
I got married.
Now I'm back at square one.
It took me 15 years to figure out how to honor the Lord in my singleness. Now, three years into marriage, it's looking like I've got to start over.
The discipline-turned-devotion I had when I was single doesn't work anymore! New Rules! New Game! I've been flailing all summer long. This morning I finally had a break through.
I woke up early and walked down to the water. After spending a month begging the Lord to change my husband (so that he will start doing what I want him to do), I realized this morning that I am the one who needs to change.
I said, "God, I want to honor you with my life. Being married is hard work! I feel like right now I am failing on so many levels. What does it mean to be a Godly Married Woman?"
He answered my question in the Book of Proverbs.
Chap 1
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you...but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster"
Chap2
"yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God...He is a shield to those who walk in integrity...for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you."
Chap3
"Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My daughter, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves her whom he loves, as a father the daughter in whom he delights...keep sounds wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk securely, and your foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it...to the humble he gives favor. The wise will inherit honor..."
Chap4
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil."
Chap7
"Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' and call insight your intimate friend..."
Chap8
"Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her...those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries...blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord."
Chap9
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life."
Chap10
"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely...The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life...love covers all offenses...Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life...When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains her lips is prudent. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver...The lips of the righteous feed many..."
Chap11
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom...a woman of understanding remains silent...she who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered...a gracious woman gets honor...those of blameless ways are His delight..."
Chap12
"An excellent wife is the crown of her husband...There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing...truthful lips endure forever."
Chap13
"Whoever guards her mouth preserves her life; she who opens wide her lips comes to ruin...good sense wins favor...whoever walks with the wise becomes wise."
Chap14
"The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down...A woman of quick temper acts foolishly...blessed is she who is generous to the poor...The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life...Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but she who has a hasty tempter exalts folly...A tranquil heart gives life to flesh, but envy makes the bones rot."
Chap15
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger...A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit...the cheerful of heart has a continual feast...Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it...A hot tempered woman stirs up strife, but she who is slow to anger quiets contention..."
Chap16
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established...When a woman's ways please the Lord, he makes even her enemies to be at peace with her...The heart of a woman plans her way, but the Lord establishes her steps...Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall...blessed is she who trusts in the lord. The wise of heart is called discerning...Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body...Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and she who rules her spirit than she who takes a city."
Chap17
"Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife...Whoever covers an offense seeks love...A friend loves at all times...A joyful heart is good medicine...Whoever restrains her words has knowledge, and she who has a cool spirit is a woman of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when she closes her lips, she is deemed intelligent."
Chap18
"A fools lips walk into a fight, and her mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is her ruin and her lips are a snare to her soul...The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous woman (wife) runs into it and is safe...humility comes before honor...If one gives an answer before she hears, it is her folly and shame...From the fruit of a woman's mouth her stomach is satisfied; sh eis satisfied by the yield of her lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."
Chap19
"Desire without knowledge is not good and whoever makes haste with her feet misses her way...Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is her glory to overlook an offense...a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain...House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord...Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed."
Chap20
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it is not wise...Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you..."
Chap21
"To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice...The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance...It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife...Whoever closes her ear to the poor will herself call out and not be answered...It is better to live in the desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman."
"Whoever keeps her mouth and her tongue keeps herself out of trouble...The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord."
Chap22
"Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for she shares her bread with the poor...She who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as her friend."
Chap23
"Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off...Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding..."
Chapt24
"By widsom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches...If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small...know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off...for the righteous falls seven times and rises again."
Chap25
"Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of a noble...Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret...With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone...If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you...It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarelsome wife...A woman without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."
Chap26
"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself...For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases."
Chap27
"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips...A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in ones right hand...As in water face reflects face, so the heart of a man reflects man."
Chap28
"Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered...whoever gives to the poor will not want..."
Chap29
"A fool gives full vent to her spirit, but a wise woman quietly holds back...Do you see a woman who is hasty in her words? There is more hope for a fool than for her...One's pride will bring her low, but she who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor...whoever trusts in the Lord is safe..."
Chap30
"Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him..."
Chap31
"She rises while it is yet night...She laughs at the time to come...she opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."
Lord God, make me THIS woman.
KSW
I got married.
Now I'm back at square one.
It took me 15 years to figure out how to honor the Lord in my singleness. Now, three years into marriage, it's looking like I've got to start over.
The discipline-turned-devotion I had when I was single doesn't work anymore! New Rules! New Game! I've been flailing all summer long. This morning I finally had a break through.
I woke up early and walked down to the water. After spending a month begging the Lord to change my husband (so that he will start doing what I want him to do), I realized this morning that I am the one who needs to change.
I said, "God, I want to honor you with my life. Being married is hard work! I feel like right now I am failing on so many levels. What does it mean to be a Godly Married Woman?"
He answered my question in the Book of Proverbs.
Chap 1
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you...but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster"
Chap2
"yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God...He is a shield to those who walk in integrity...for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you."
Chap3
"Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My daughter, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves her whom he loves, as a father the daughter in whom he delights...keep sounds wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk securely, and your foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it...to the humble he gives favor. The wise will inherit honor..."
Chap4
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil."
Chap7
"Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' and call insight your intimate friend..."
Chap8
"Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her...those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries...blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord."
Chap9
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life."
Chap10
"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely...The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life...love covers all offenses...Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life...When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains her lips is prudent. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver...The lips of the righteous feed many..."
Chap11
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom...a woman of understanding remains silent...she who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered...a gracious woman gets honor...those of blameless ways are His delight..."
Chap12
"An excellent wife is the crown of her husband...There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing...truthful lips endure forever."
Chap13
"Whoever guards her mouth preserves her life; she who opens wide her lips comes to ruin...good sense wins favor...whoever walks with the wise becomes wise."
Chap14
"The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down...A woman of quick temper acts foolishly...blessed is she who is generous to the poor...The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life...Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but she who has a hasty tempter exalts folly...A tranquil heart gives life to flesh, but envy makes the bones rot."
Chap15
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger...A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit...the cheerful of heart has a continual feast...Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it...A hot tempered woman stirs up strife, but she who is slow to anger quiets contention..."
Chap16
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established...When a woman's ways please the Lord, he makes even her enemies to be at peace with her...The heart of a woman plans her way, but the Lord establishes her steps...Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall...blessed is she who trusts in the lord. The wise of heart is called discerning...Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body...Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and she who rules her spirit than she who takes a city."
Chap17
"Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife...Whoever covers an offense seeks love...A friend loves at all times...A joyful heart is good medicine...Whoever restrains her words has knowledge, and she who has a cool spirit is a woman of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when she closes her lips, she is deemed intelligent."
Chap18
"A fools lips walk into a fight, and her mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is her ruin and her lips are a snare to her soul...The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous woman (wife) runs into it and is safe...humility comes before honor...If one gives an answer before she hears, it is her folly and shame...From the fruit of a woman's mouth her stomach is satisfied; sh eis satisfied by the yield of her lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."
Chap19
"Desire without knowledge is not good and whoever makes haste with her feet misses her way...Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is her glory to overlook an offense...a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain...House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord...Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed."
Chap20
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it is not wise...Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you..."
Chap21
"To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice...The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance...It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife...Whoever closes her ear to the poor will herself call out and not be answered...It is better to live in the desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman."
"Whoever keeps her mouth and her tongue keeps herself out of trouble...The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord."
Chap22
"Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for she shares her bread with the poor...She who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as her friend."
Chap23
"Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off...Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding..."
Chapt24
"By widsom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches...If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small...know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off...for the righteous falls seven times and rises again."
Chap25
"Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of a noble...Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret...With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone...If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you...It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarelsome wife...A woman without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."
Chap26
"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself...For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases."
Chap27
"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips...A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in ones right hand...As in water face reflects face, so the heart of a man reflects man."
Chap28
"Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered...whoever gives to the poor will not want..."
Chap29
"A fool gives full vent to her spirit, but a wise woman quietly holds back...Do you see a woman who is hasty in her words? There is more hope for a fool than for her...One's pride will bring her low, but she who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor...whoever trusts in the Lord is safe..."
Chap30
"Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him..."
Chap31
"She rises while it is yet night...She laughs at the time to come...she opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."
Lord God, make me THIS woman.
KSW
Friday, July 30, 2010
This Author is Blowing My Mind!
"The discoveries of the great astronomers seemed only to confirm the absence of God which people were already feeling. Having first shoved Him out of themselves and into holy things, they then shoved Him out into the earth itself as if it were somehow a geographical center of God's love and concern. From there they shoved Him out into the cosmos, where He became merely the Great Watchmaker, and finally, with Nietzshe, out of the universe altogether. No longer holding an incarnational view of man and reality, the Christian imagination failed. It was unable to integrate the new scientific findings into its diminished picture of religious truth. Its symbolic symstem held the picture of an aloof and (on the whole) terrifying God."
"The Healing Presence" by Leanne Payne.
KSW
"The Healing Presence" by Leanne Payne.
KSW
Monday, July 26, 2010
Resting
My husband and I just got back from a week of camping in the Hamptons to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary.
This year I got to thinking...thank God we do this, because every year by the time July hits I am exhausted! Winters are slow, but work really picks up in April and does not slow down until the middle of July! Balancing marriage, ministry, work, family and friends during that time is brutal, and I always arrive at our campsite exhausted, stressed out and burned out. I spend the week resting and recharging and trying to figure out how I'm going to change things when I get home so that I'm not so busy.
You can tell I'm exhausted by my blogging during these months--there usually isn't any! I use all the energy I have just to sit and be still and read God's word and pray over my day...forget about having time to be moved by the Spirit to write it down!
I cherish my quiet times while out in the wilderness camping. I find that having devotions in nature comes easy to me-I hear God's voice in the wind and the waves...and I have time to reflect.
This year, on my last day of rest, I happened upon that familiar scripture in Matthew 11 Vs. 28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
I smiled, knowing that the Lord timed that one for me...something to take home with me. A gentle reminder that when I am walking hand in hand with Him, I should be at rest.
It's such an easy concept, and yet I forget so easily. When did I let go of His hand?
Weary = My Strength
Rest = His Strength
I choose His.
Lord, in Your strength, I choose to rest.
KSW
This year I got to thinking...thank God we do this, because every year by the time July hits I am exhausted! Winters are slow, but work really picks up in April and does not slow down until the middle of July! Balancing marriage, ministry, work, family and friends during that time is brutal, and I always arrive at our campsite exhausted, stressed out and burned out. I spend the week resting and recharging and trying to figure out how I'm going to change things when I get home so that I'm not so busy.
You can tell I'm exhausted by my blogging during these months--there usually isn't any! I use all the energy I have just to sit and be still and read God's word and pray over my day...forget about having time to be moved by the Spirit to write it down!
I cherish my quiet times while out in the wilderness camping. I find that having devotions in nature comes easy to me-I hear God's voice in the wind and the waves...and I have time to reflect.
This year, on my last day of rest, I happened upon that familiar scripture in Matthew 11 Vs. 28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
I smiled, knowing that the Lord timed that one for me...something to take home with me. A gentle reminder that when I am walking hand in hand with Him, I should be at rest.
It's such an easy concept, and yet I forget so easily. When did I let go of His hand?
Weary = My Strength
Rest = His Strength
I choose His.
Lord, in Your strength, I choose to rest.
KSW
Monday, May 24, 2010
Childlike
Childlike
I was visiting my good friend Erin Kiernan Frigerio in Peapack New Jersey this weekend and we spent some time with her two beautiful nieces Eliza and Macy. After polishing off some ice cream and letting them style my hair, we found ourselves in the backyard singing “Ring Around The Rosey” while playing on their wooden swing set. Eliza, the elder sister (about 5 yrs old) suddenly looked up at me with big questioning eyes and said, “Are you an adult or a kid?”
This was not the first time that a child has asked me that question in the last few years. When I told my husband Seth about it he said that kids often ask him that question as well.
As we age, I believe it is much more difficult to remain childlike than it is to become an adult.
Naturally, our broken hearts, our loss of loved ones, our unfulfilled desires, unmet goals and unlived dreams all add to the fine lines between our eyes and smile-less mouths. We get used to the disappointed solemnity of adulthood. We settle in to exhaustion, burnt out, pessimism and boredom as we become addicted to books, movies, games, shopping, drugs, alcohol, etc in order to escape our adultness.
I remember about 6 years ago when I realized that I was an adult and I made a difficult decision.
I set out to get my heart back. I asked the Lord, “I do not know how to do this Lord, but I’m trusting You to do it in me. Please heal my heart from all of my disappointments. Take what is dead and make it alive again!"
Ezekiel 36:26 says, "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
I’ve spent the last 5 years allowing God to mature me into childhood. It wasn't easy. There were many people I had to forgive. There were lies I had believed about myself for many years that I had to stop believing. There were people I had to stop spending time with, places I had to stop going.
The easiest part of growing into a child for me though was that it was the Lord who gave me my heart back, I just simply needed to rest and abide in Him as He did the work of healing in me. He brought the right people into my life, He opened up opportunities of healing for me. He also revealed the hurts and the anger that I needed to deal with and he gently did this in His perfect time.
If you've lost your heart along the way and if adulthood has taken away your childlikeness, just pray this simple prayer of faith, "Jesus, give me my heart back!"
And watch Him...
KSW
I was visiting my good friend Erin Kiernan Frigerio in Peapack New Jersey this weekend and we spent some time with her two beautiful nieces Eliza and Macy. After polishing off some ice cream and letting them style my hair, we found ourselves in the backyard singing “Ring Around The Rosey” while playing on their wooden swing set. Eliza, the elder sister (about 5 yrs old) suddenly looked up at me with big questioning eyes and said, “Are you an adult or a kid?”
This was not the first time that a child has asked me that question in the last few years. When I told my husband Seth about it he said that kids often ask him that question as well.
As we age, I believe it is much more difficult to remain childlike than it is to become an adult.
Naturally, our broken hearts, our loss of loved ones, our unfulfilled desires, unmet goals and unlived dreams all add to the fine lines between our eyes and smile-less mouths. We get used to the disappointed solemnity of adulthood. We settle in to exhaustion, burnt out, pessimism and boredom as we become addicted to books, movies, games, shopping, drugs, alcohol, etc in order to escape our adultness.
I remember about 6 years ago when I realized that I was an adult and I made a difficult decision.
I set out to get my heart back. I asked the Lord, “I do not know how to do this Lord, but I’m trusting You to do it in me. Please heal my heart from all of my disappointments. Take what is dead and make it alive again!"
Ezekiel 36:26 says, "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
I’ve spent the last 5 years allowing God to mature me into childhood. It wasn't easy. There were many people I had to forgive. There were lies I had believed about myself for many years that I had to stop believing. There were people I had to stop spending time with, places I had to stop going.
The easiest part of growing into a child for me though was that it was the Lord who gave me my heart back, I just simply needed to rest and abide in Him as He did the work of healing in me. He brought the right people into my life, He opened up opportunities of healing for me. He also revealed the hurts and the anger that I needed to deal with and he gently did this in His perfect time.
If you've lost your heart along the way and if adulthood has taken away your childlikeness, just pray this simple prayer of faith, "Jesus, give me my heart back!"
And watch Him...
KSW
Friday, May 14, 2010
Psalm 91
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God,
in whom I trust."
Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness (my version says His TRUTH) will be your shield
and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most High your dwelling—even the LORD, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
Amen!
KSW
in whom I trust."
Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness (my version says His TRUTH) will be your shield
and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most High your dwelling—even the LORD, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
Amen!
KSW
Monday, May 10, 2010
Uncircumstantial Happiness
I remember about 6 years ago when I began my photography business, I would rush out to the mailbox everyday in hopes that someone out there had mailed my payment. Always having just enough to pay rent + bills every month put me in desperation mode every day at about 12:15 in the afternoon.
I was dating a guy at the time who would remind me every so often, "Kristen, I'm concerned...it seems that your joy is based on whether or not there is a check in your mailbox." He was right! I would come back from checking the mailbox and my entire sense of "well being" would be visibly shaken!
It's been a few years since then and my financial situation has greatly improved, but there are still those circumstances that have the power to rock me to my core.
There are things that I want in this life that are not coming to me right away and every so often, my circumstantial joy rears it's ugly head.
Typically when this happens, my husband Seth will tend to ask me, "Babe, are you ok?" Could it be my huffing and puffing around the house as I'm folding laundry? Could it be my grumbling under my breath as I wash the lunch dishes? Could it be the way I sulk-ishly walk him to the door as he leaves for work?
How do I get rid of the dark cloud?
Sometimes worship music works. I've been told that worship music is a way to spiritually cleanse your home. Other times, it just makes matters worse because I can't relate to it at the time.
One thing is certain, my circumstantial joy has a common thread. When I'm busy, tired, burnt out and haven't had much time in the word, I am much more prone to fall prey to CJ.
When I am rested and taking time every morning to read and pray and meditate on truth, I am completely unshakable.
Sometimes I am away on vacation or visiting family and friends and I think, "I'm just going to rest and not do too much reading or praying." When I do that, CJ gets me every time! You'd think I would have learned by now.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning when I can rise with the sun and get myself grounded in truth.
God is good.
He can be trusted.
His timing is perfect.
He knows my desires even better than I do and He promises to meet my needs as I seek Him.
He loves me.
His will for my life is perfect.
Oh, that I may abide in this truth...I have so much to be thankful for.
KSW
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
NYC Parking
I've been wanting to write this blog for about a week now.
The other day while trying to park my parent's car in the city on street sweeping day, I realized something I thought was profound.
I was walking to get the car with a cup of steaming coffee in my hand when I realized that there was an empty spot up the street a little ways...
I began to run, spilling hot coffee everywhere, my heart stressfully beating...
When I hopped in the car and sped forward half a block, I realized that there was a fire hydrant...it wasn't a free spot after all.
It was then that I realized that I had prayed for a spot that morning and that the spot God intended to give to me, would not be one that I had to loose my peace over (heart palpatations and coffee spills). I could sit back and listen to the radio and enjoy the rest of my hot coffee while waiting for my answered prayer. It might take longer than I wanted or expected, but I had prayed for provision and so I was determined to wait for it.
As I drove around my neighborhood again and again, I felt like the Lord began to open my eyes up to certain situations happening all around me. One gentlemen decided that his big truck was going to fit into a spot the size of a smart car and I literally watched him for five minutes backing up and inching forward and backing up and inching forward and finally he began to ram into the car behind him pushing that car back so that he could squeeze in. I thought, "yup...some people step on others to get what they want, they push people around and aggressively go after what they believe they deserve."
I kept on driving beginning to become very amused. As I was driving up the hill, one woman sped up and cut in front of me just in time to find an open spot and steal it right out from under me. I thought, "Some people steal and take things from others in an attempt to get what they think they deserve."
I drove around for a very long time, observing the driving habits of others...the hoverers...the stealers, the aggressive bullies...
Getting my spot that morning definitely didn't look like what I thought it would like. It involved a couple of trips to the parking meter, a $45 ticket, and 2 hours I did not have to waste. But when it was all said and done, I got a spot directly in front of my apt building and felt the wisdom I'd attained was well worth it.
Oswald Chambers says,
“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”
Oh Lord, may I be ever resting in your will for my life. It may not always make sense, but it is always what is best for me.
KSW
Saturday, April 10, 2010
A Broken Heart in Chelsea
The other night I was walking home from my shoot at The Standard Hotel in the meatpacking district. I was feeling bad for myself because Orlando Bloom's publicist wouldn't let me photograph him at the private dinner I was covering for WWD. A photo of him and his supermodel girlfriend would have made the story.
I was stewing over the superficiality of the whole thing and how I couldn't wait to get home to my cozy home where I was comfortable...I was just about to the subway station when I looked up and saw a drawing on the side of a building that looked like a child had made. It was a picture of Jesus on the cross with a big broken heart. It wasn't subtle at all, Jesus was hanging on that cross and the most prominent part of the picture was His gigantic broken heart.
So often I picture Jesus annoyed. Annoyed at sin, betrayal, weakness, addiction, idolatry, etc...
Jesus doesn't get annoyed like that. He doesn't sit around looking at everyone thinking, "I can't wait to get home so I don't have to deal with their attitudes anymore." His heart breaks for them. Love oozes out of His every pore. He can't help but look at them with tear filled eyes longing for them to find freedom in relationship to Him. He quietly mourns for them and longs for them to find Truth.
I want to love like that.
Lord, let me love like that.
KSW
I was stewing over the superficiality of the whole thing and how I couldn't wait to get home to my cozy home where I was comfortable...I was just about to the subway station when I looked up and saw a drawing on the side of a building that looked like a child had made. It was a picture of Jesus on the cross with a big broken heart. It wasn't subtle at all, Jesus was hanging on that cross and the most prominent part of the picture was His gigantic broken heart.
So often I picture Jesus annoyed. Annoyed at sin, betrayal, weakness, addiction, idolatry, etc...
Jesus doesn't get annoyed like that. He doesn't sit around looking at everyone thinking, "I can't wait to get home so I don't have to deal with their attitudes anymore." His heart breaks for them. Love oozes out of His every pore. He can't help but look at them with tear filled eyes longing for them to find freedom in relationship to Him. He quietly mourns for them and longs for them to find Truth.
I want to love like that.
Lord, let me love like that.
KSW
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Clothed With Power
Lately, I have been noticing a trend. When I do things out of guilt, obligation, pity and pride it produces exhaustion, bitterness, brokenness, resentment and neediness. When I do things because my heart is full of love (The Holy Spirit), my cup is overflowing (The Holy Spirit), my time is freed up and Jesus has made a way (The Holy Spirit), it is effortless, rewarding, joyful, and anointed.
This morning I was reading the end of the gospel of Luke where Jesus is raised from the dead and appears to his disciples for the last time in the flesh. What He says to them before He returns to His Father in Heaven is so powerful!
Luke 24:49
"And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
He's talking about the Holy Spirit! May I never leave the "city" again without Him.
KSW
This morning I was reading the end of the gospel of Luke where Jesus is raised from the dead and appears to his disciples for the last time in the flesh. What He says to them before He returns to His Father in Heaven is so powerful!
Luke 24:49
"And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
He's talking about the Holy Spirit! May I never leave the "city" again without Him.
KSW
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Laminim: The glue that holds our cells together...
Maybe I am the last one to know about this, but I'm so excited, I really must share!
The scientific cell adhesion protein molecule “laminin” is the “glue” that holds the cells together in our bodies.
The molecule that holds our bodies together is in the shape of the cross!
Colossians 1:17 “He (Christ) is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
I fall deeper in love with Jesus, THE Divine Being every single day. His layers are unending and they get sweeter and sweeter as you get closer to the core!
KSW
Monday, March 15, 2010
My Parisian Makeover
I just returned from a creative trip to Paris where I spent 24-7 with a makeup artist and two hair stylists. Since being back, people keep commenting on my "Parisian Makeover." It's true, they parted my hair down the side rather than the middle, inspired me to wear more makeup and encouraged me to dress up more often. However, that is only the exterior makeover that was done.
From what I've heard, women traveling with other women can be a bit scary. My friends who have traveled together typically come home with horror stories about each other and how they would never travel with that person again.
I feel the opposite. Traveling with my good friend was like holding up a mirror to myself and seeing things for what they were. It was painful. It was incredibly unpleasant and at times I thought to myself, "I am never traveling with a girlfriend again." However, upon closer inspection, the Lord was using my friendship with her to reveal things to me that He wanted to expose, extricate, soften and heal.
I am going to do the hard thing and list these things, only because it is fun for me-these are things that the Lord will need to work out in me. It is not daunting or stressful, He will do this in His time. He is giving me a makeover and he's the expert so I am just going to choose to sit in His chair and close my eyes as he softly applies more of Himself.
1. The way I share my opinions about art, food, architecture, movies, books, music, etc...is extremely harsh usually using words like, "hate, eye-sore, disgusting, ridiculous, I can't stand, horrible, terrible, stupid, etc..." In this I run the risk of hurting the feelings of others who happen to like those things. I know this to be true because I have heard this from my sister Gretchen but just assumed she was too sensitive. Now I know this is something that the Lord needs to soften in me.
2. When someone attacks my character, I need to be very careful not to attack back. Within that attack I will say things I regret. Even though it's hard, hold your tongue. Wait until you've had the chance to settle, cool down and prayerfully consider your response. I learned this the hard way!
3. Don't cut people off! Let them finish their thought...I know I do this to my husband all of the time. He hates it!
4. Stop judging people's hearts and give them the benefit of the doubt!!
The Lord revealed to me on this trip just how much and how often I was getting offended by people based on my own judgments. I am trusting Him to give me a new grace and mercy for my close friends and family and to assume the best about them.
As you get closer to certain people it becomes easier to see their flaws. That is when friendships get hard. What I learned this week in Paris is that if you are honest with yourself and honest with others, you can learn some things about yourself and your friendships can really grow.
On the other side of the pain of confrontation, is a deeper, richer friendship and a personal makeover that makes you look a bit more like the makeup artist Himself.
KSW
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
My Weeping Willow
I've been in Paris for four days on an "extended creative trip." I've been shooting as much as possible and trying to stay inspired. I am here with three other women, all Canadian, one of them is one of my closest friends.
As you know, finding alone time, quiet time, can be so hard when you're away from home. After traveling and running around the city for three days, my heart desperately needed to feel connected to God.
I woke up at 7am before anyone else, put on my running shoes, and ran along the Seine River, all the while listening to praise and worship. Just as I was getting tired and ready to stop, I came to the end of the pier. I just about dropped to the ground in adoration. What stood proudly in front of me, in all it's glory, glistening in the glow of the golden sunrise , was the most beautiful weeping willow tree.
I felt as though the Lord had met me with romance. He knows how special the Weeping Willow tree is to me. He, like no one else, knows my deepest desires, tastes, preferences, and needs.
It was like a romantic kiss from the Lord at the end of my time of worship. I was so glad that I had gotten up with the sun.
So often sleep sacrificed leads to bountiful blessing.
KSW
As you know, finding alone time, quiet time, can be so hard when you're away from home. After traveling and running around the city for three days, my heart desperately needed to feel connected to God.
I woke up at 7am before anyone else, put on my running shoes, and ran along the Seine River, all the while listening to praise and worship. Just as I was getting tired and ready to stop, I came to the end of the pier. I just about dropped to the ground in adoration. What stood proudly in front of me, in all it's glory, glistening in the glow of the golden sunrise , was the most beautiful weeping willow tree.
I felt as though the Lord had met me with romance. He knows how special the Weeping Willow tree is to me. He, like no one else, knows my deepest desires, tastes, preferences, and needs.
It was like a romantic kiss from the Lord at the end of my time of worship. I was so glad that I had gotten up with the sun.
So often sleep sacrificed leads to bountiful blessing.
KSW
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Skin on Jesus
Lord, I am not yet what I want to be...like you in every way...yet I know that You are using me inspite of myself. Thank you for Your words of advice to me..."Connected to the Father, Sactified by the Son."...to remind me that my ministry is only in You...for apart from you I can do no good thing...and that my sanctification is in what Jesus Christ did on the cross...it's not in the good choices that I make...or the way I speak to people...or the wise words I use...or how easily I forgive...my sanctification happened once and for all...my value is not found in what I can do...but in who You are...and in who I am in You.
That takes the pressure off.
Help me to remember that when I stumble...or when I'm impatient...or when I say too much...or drink too much...or spend too much...don't give enough...or love enough...or look to You enough...
YOU are YOU no matter what I do.
I love you and want desperately to be more like You.
Thank You for Your grace and for the way you gently, quietly, patiently teach me.
KSW
That takes the pressure off.
Help me to remember that when I stumble...or when I'm impatient...or when I say too much...or drink too much...or spend too much...don't give enough...or love enough...or look to You enough...
YOU are YOU no matter what I do.
I love you and want desperately to be more like You.
Thank You for Your grace and for the way you gently, quietly, patiently teach me.
KSW
Monday, March 1, 2010
Luke 6:45
"...out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks."
The last three years of my life have been devoted to learning how to be silent.
I could keep it clamped even more...
I love people who speak slowly and really think about things before they say them.
I'm not there yet, but I am amazed at how things have changed.
Valentine's Day quote from my husband, "I really like the way you handle things."
THAT is nothing short of God's miraculous work in my life!
Lord Jesus, please make me more like you. I want to know the deep secrets of Your character and I want to represent you well...my Rabbi...
KSW
The last three years of my life have been devoted to learning how to be silent.
I could keep it clamped even more...
I love people who speak slowly and really think about things before they say them.
I'm not there yet, but I am amazed at how things have changed.
Valentine's Day quote from my husband, "I really like the way you handle things."
THAT is nothing short of God's miraculous work in my life!
Lord Jesus, please make me more like you. I want to know the deep secrets of Your character and I want to represent you well...my Rabbi...
KSW
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Jude, the half brother of Jesus
I didn't know that Jude was most likely the half brother of Jesus Christ and the brother of James.
Why don't people ever talk about Jude? I wish I knew more about him...
Either way, he wrote this beautiful "Call to Persevere"
"But you must remember, BELOVED, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, 'In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.' It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, BELOVED, BUILD YOURSELVES UP IN YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH; PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh."
"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."
My bible says that praying in the spirit includes praying in one's own language as prompted by the Spirit (see Romans 8:15), praying with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26), and praying in a tongue unknown to the one praying (1 Cor 14:4, 14). It is only just recently that I have really begun to grasp what it means to pray in the Spirit. Usually now, before I begin, I will say out lout, "Holy Spirit, please lead me in all that I now pray." I also recently began speaking in tongues. I had been praying for the gift of tongues for some time, and one night, I was having trouble sleeping and I felt the Lord prompting me to open my mouth and start praying. What came out was "a tongue unknown to the one praying" but it was so beautiful and afterward, I slept like a baby.
Oh, the power of praying in the Spirit...it washes us and clothes us in Jesus!
KSW
Why don't people ever talk about Jude? I wish I knew more about him...
Either way, he wrote this beautiful "Call to Persevere"
"But you must remember, BELOVED, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, 'In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.' It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, BELOVED, BUILD YOURSELVES UP IN YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH; PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh."
"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."
My bible says that praying in the spirit includes praying in one's own language as prompted by the Spirit (see Romans 8:15), praying with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26), and praying in a tongue unknown to the one praying (1 Cor 14:4, 14). It is only just recently that I have really begun to grasp what it means to pray in the Spirit. Usually now, before I begin, I will say out lout, "Holy Spirit, please lead me in all that I now pray." I also recently began speaking in tongues. I had been praying for the gift of tongues for some time, and one night, I was having trouble sleeping and I felt the Lord prompting me to open my mouth and start praying. What came out was "a tongue unknown to the one praying" but it was so beautiful and afterward, I slept like a baby.
Oh, the power of praying in the Spirit...it washes us and clothes us in Jesus!
KSW
Monday, February 22, 2010
Pray & Watch
Matthew 26:36-46 gives an account of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. He purposely chose Peter and the two sons of Zebedee to go with Him in order to watch and pray as He spoke to His Heavenly Father.
As the story goes, Peter and the sons of Zebedee fell asleep three times! Jesus had to get up from where He Himself was praying to remind them, "Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Three times Jesus himself got up from such a serious prayer to Father God in order to walk over to where they were to remind them to pray! He was basically telling them that they were about to need it!
What hit me in a new way this time is that as the story unfolds, there are many opportunities where if Peter and sons would have prayed, they may have played a more victorious role in the story! Peter was the disciple who attempted to defend Jesus by cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant! Jesus had to reprimand Peter by saying, "Put your sword in it's place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."
Later on in the story Peter actually Denies Jesus three times! The same amount of times that Jesus asked him to pray & watch.
Oh, the glory and victory and grace and miraculous wonders that may have taken place if Peter would have done as Jesus had suggested.
"Pray and Watch."
Lord, lead us by Your Spirit to understand the importance of prayer and to follow through as you have commanded us. It is only through prayer that we gain the wisdom, discernment and discretion you speak of (Proverbs 2).
KSW
As the story goes, Peter and the sons of Zebedee fell asleep three times! Jesus had to get up from where He Himself was praying to remind them, "Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Three times Jesus himself got up from such a serious prayer to Father God in order to walk over to where they were to remind them to pray! He was basically telling them that they were about to need it!
What hit me in a new way this time is that as the story unfolds, there are many opportunities where if Peter and sons would have prayed, they may have played a more victorious role in the story! Peter was the disciple who attempted to defend Jesus by cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant! Jesus had to reprimand Peter by saying, "Put your sword in it's place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."
Later on in the story Peter actually Denies Jesus three times! The same amount of times that Jesus asked him to pray & watch.
Oh, the glory and victory and grace and miraculous wonders that may have taken place if Peter would have done as Jesus had suggested.
"Pray and Watch."
Lord, lead us by Your Spirit to understand the importance of prayer and to follow through as you have commanded us. It is only through prayer that we gain the wisdom, discernment and discretion you speak of (Proverbs 2).
KSW
Friday, February 12, 2010
Alexander McQueen's Suicide Wonderings...
The longer you live, the more people you know who have made the decision to end their lives which leaves us here to wonder, "What could have been so bad? Why didn't they ask for help? What were they thinking?"
The majority of the people that I know, both Christian and non-Christian, do not understand the reality of evil. They don't acknowledge Satan or demons or the spiritual realm of darkness, and yet when someone commits suicide or a brutal murder they are shocked and cannot wrap their minds around it.
It's not surprising to me that details surrounding death of this nature typically involve some sort of demonic worship or activity involved. There is a war going on around us. There is an enemy of our souls who doesn't just want to ruin our day, he wants to destroy us.
One of Alexander McQueen's last tweets said, ""been a ******* awful week but my friends have been great but now i have to some how pull myself together and finish with the HELLS ANGELS & PROLIFIC DEAMONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Satan is a disarmed and defeated foe. Christ's death took away his power over the earth. The only power Satan has, is the power that we give him by allowing him to control our minds and our thought lives.
Ephesians 1:18-19 says, "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power"
In Christ, we have spiritual power and authority over and against the Kingdom of Darkness. I wish that Alexander McQueen and many of my friends & family members would have known their spiritual power and authority.
Christ gave us the answers in 2 Corinthians 10:5, "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."
What does that look like on a day to day basis for a follower of Christ? It's easy! You have to be very conscious of the thoughts running through your mind. You see, not every thought is your own. Satan is able to lie to us (one of his names is "The Father of Lies"). That's why, when a thought enters your mind that does not line up with scripture, we are to speak out lout, "I take my thoughts captive unto the obedience of Christ."
Try it next time! Next time a lie comes to your mind like, "I'm going to fail. I'm a failure. I'm depressed. I'm worthless. I'm unloved. I'm unacceptable. I can't do anything right, etc." choose to take THAT thought captive unto the obedience of Christ and then claim biblical truth over yourself. Truth such as, "I am a child of God. I am chosen and loved by God. I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength!"
You will be so surprised at how great you feel afterward. If our thoughts are not based on truth, than our feelings are not based in reality. It is so sad to me that there are people who take their own lives and the lives of others because they do not understand the spiritual power and authority that are available to them in Christ.
I pray for the fashion industry. It's Fashion Week here in New York City. Mr. McQueen was scheduled to show his collection yesterday. There are so many people with so many questions as to how someone so young and talented could have taken his own life. I pray that their eyes would begin to open to the truth of God's word and His deep, divine and glorious love for them!
-For more on the spiritual battle and how to gain victory over the darkness, visit the Freedom in Christ website at http://www.freedominchrist.com
KSW
The majority of the people that I know, both Christian and non-Christian, do not understand the reality of evil. They don't acknowledge Satan or demons or the spiritual realm of darkness, and yet when someone commits suicide or a brutal murder they are shocked and cannot wrap their minds around it.
It's not surprising to me that details surrounding death of this nature typically involve some sort of demonic worship or activity involved. There is a war going on around us. There is an enemy of our souls who doesn't just want to ruin our day, he wants to destroy us.
One of Alexander McQueen's last tweets said, ""been a ******* awful week but my friends have been great but now i have to some how pull myself together and finish with the HELLS ANGELS & PROLIFIC DEAMONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Satan is a disarmed and defeated foe. Christ's death took away his power over the earth. The only power Satan has, is the power that we give him by allowing him to control our minds and our thought lives.
Ephesians 1:18-19 says, "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power"
In Christ, we have spiritual power and authority over and against the Kingdom of Darkness. I wish that Alexander McQueen and many of my friends & family members would have known their spiritual power and authority.
Christ gave us the answers in 2 Corinthians 10:5, "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."
What does that look like on a day to day basis for a follower of Christ? It's easy! You have to be very conscious of the thoughts running through your mind. You see, not every thought is your own. Satan is able to lie to us (one of his names is "The Father of Lies"). That's why, when a thought enters your mind that does not line up with scripture, we are to speak out lout, "I take my thoughts captive unto the obedience of Christ."
Try it next time! Next time a lie comes to your mind like, "I'm going to fail. I'm a failure. I'm depressed. I'm worthless. I'm unloved. I'm unacceptable. I can't do anything right, etc." choose to take THAT thought captive unto the obedience of Christ and then claim biblical truth over yourself. Truth such as, "I am a child of God. I am chosen and loved by God. I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength!"
You will be so surprised at how great you feel afterward. If our thoughts are not based on truth, than our feelings are not based in reality. It is so sad to me that there are people who take their own lives and the lives of others because they do not understand the spiritual power and authority that are available to them in Christ.
I pray for the fashion industry. It's Fashion Week here in New York City. Mr. McQueen was scheduled to show his collection yesterday. There are so many people with so many questions as to how someone so young and talented could have taken his own life. I pray that their eyes would begin to open to the truth of God's word and His deep, divine and glorious love for them!
-For more on the spiritual battle and how to gain victory over the darkness, visit the Freedom in Christ website at http://www.freedominchrist.com
KSW
Thursday, February 11, 2010
A New Name
Isaiah 62:2-4
"The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no longer be termed forsaken, nor shall your land any more be desolate, But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the Lord delights in you..."
In the bible, when God renamed a person, it signified a change in the purpose and destiny of that person.
I'll never forget the night that the Lord gave me a new name. I was in Rome, Georgia at a women's retreat. I was on my knees praying to God and I said, "God, I'm not leaving here until you give me my new name according to Your purposes for me." Seconds turned into minutes and pretty soon my knees began to hurt. I finally got up and walked out of the chapel.
It was a very foggy, rainy night and I couldn't see the path back to my room very well. Through squinted eyes, in the distance, I saw a lighthouse. Immediately I knew that the Lord have answered my prayer. I knew that my new name was "LIGHT" and I also knew exactly what it meant. As people were lost and weary, broken and discouraged, I was to shine the light that pointed to Jesus.
At the time I had been burned out by trying to be the dry ground that others landed on and pitched their tents. What the Lord revealed to me in that moment was that I was not the land but the lighthouse.
My purpose in this life is to be a tiny light in the distance pointing others to the one and only land that will save them.
KSW
"The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no longer be termed forsaken, nor shall your land any more be desolate, But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the Lord delights in you..."
In the bible, when God renamed a person, it signified a change in the purpose and destiny of that person.
I'll never forget the night that the Lord gave me a new name. I was in Rome, Georgia at a women's retreat. I was on my knees praying to God and I said, "God, I'm not leaving here until you give me my new name according to Your purposes for me." Seconds turned into minutes and pretty soon my knees began to hurt. I finally got up and walked out of the chapel.
It was a very foggy, rainy night and I couldn't see the path back to my room very well. Through squinted eyes, in the distance, I saw a lighthouse. Immediately I knew that the Lord have answered my prayer. I knew that my new name was "LIGHT" and I also knew exactly what it meant. As people were lost and weary, broken and discouraged, I was to shine the light that pointed to Jesus.
At the time I had been burned out by trying to be the dry ground that others landed on and pitched their tents. What the Lord revealed to me in that moment was that I was not the land but the lighthouse.
My purpose in this life is to be a tiny light in the distance pointing others to the one and only land that will save them.
KSW
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Swift to Hear
Swift to hear, slow to speak...I have been learning about this for the last two years. I started studying the desert fathers. They spent so much time alone with God and they spoke very little. They were so saturated in the presence of God that to spend time with them felt like you were spending time with God. They spoke very little but when they did, their words were wise and powerful and led by the Spirit of God.
At the time that I began studying these men and women, I was the opposite of a desert father. I was a rain forest mother. I was all talk and no listen.
James 1:19 says, "...let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath"
I believe that the desert fathers spoke very little because they were listening and praying.
How many tricky situations, blow ups, conflicts, conversations would be more fruitful if I kept my mouth shut, my ears open, and remained in prayer?
I am not there yet. There are still so many times when I speak and then regret my words. This is always a great way for me to tell if I'm "walking in the Spirit" as opposed to "walking in the flesh" as my mouth runs like a motor in the flesh but in the Spirit of God, my ears are open, my heart is in prayer, and my mouth speaks very little.
Oh God, may I be guided by you today and not carry out the desires of the flesh. Give me the grace and patience to be swift to hear and slow to speak.
KSW
At the time that I began studying these men and women, I was the opposite of a desert father. I was a rain forest mother. I was all talk and no listen.
James 1:19 says, "...let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath"
I believe that the desert fathers spoke very little because they were listening and praying.
How many tricky situations, blow ups, conflicts, conversations would be more fruitful if I kept my mouth shut, my ears open, and remained in prayer?
I am not there yet. There are still so many times when I speak and then regret my words. This is always a great way for me to tell if I'm "walking in the Spirit" as opposed to "walking in the flesh" as my mouth runs like a motor in the flesh but in the Spirit of God, my ears are open, my heart is in prayer, and my mouth speaks very little.
Oh God, may I be guided by you today and not carry out the desires of the flesh. Give me the grace and patience to be swift to hear and slow to speak.
KSW
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Minuet
The Minuet is a slow and graceful dance which is performed with palms facing upwards. The Minuet is a dance of surrender. This dance is the best way for me to describe my relationship with Jesus. I hope that this blog will encourage you in your dance...and that in Him, you will find rest for your soul. -KSW
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