The Song I Want to Know

I know many of you have been in situations where you are driving down the road to the common destinations( work, home school or church) and suddenly the radio or should I say "satellite radio "plays a hot new track. From my experience, I recall getting super excited or giddy wanting to know every lyric to the song. The main reason for acquiring this memorization being I want to know it in order to execute my rendition at a moments notice. I want to be able to interject the passion and personal modifications to make it apart of me. The Holy Spirit spoke to me tonight as I begin thinking that this is also how I am to view the desire to know God's will and direction for my life. One of the lyrics to one of my favorite songs describes this very idea by saying "Your [God] desire is the song I want to know" I have listened and sung this particular song many times without once pondering and pausing with this line. Thinking of God's desire as song and wanting to simply know that song. How beautiful is this thought. These past few weeks, I confess, much of my attention has been placed on my desires and wants. Instead of asking " Yahweh what is it you desire?" My thoughts have been self-centered to say the least; never once asking him what he wanted." I say the Lords prayer at night and the words " Thy will be done" are never contemplated as I am rushing to get underneath the covers for a nights sleep. We are working to break the habit of hurriedly getting up in the mornings and beginning daily tasks; bypassing the opportunity to give God first fruit of my thoughts. Thankfully the Holy Spirit is here to counsel and teach us the error of our ways. I am thankful for this instruction and the ability to share this revelation with others. In essence he is saying this " Delight yourself in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord also, trust in Him, and He shall bring it to pass~ Psalm 37:4-5. Without first seeking to know Gods song, his desire for my day I am completely lost and prone to the inevitable attacks of the enemy. I become the one driving instead of letting God be my cruise control. Time and time again God has proven to be a steady pace with a known destination. Its often my lack of trust that disturbs the transaction. Its my unwilliness to ask for his direction. Tonight as we prepare to celebrate the gift of life given through the precious blood of Jesus, his song is the desire I want to sing. I want to sing it with passion, and I want it to be the essence of my being. Happy Holy Week. Christ is risen, Christ will come again and we are forgiven through him. This is the good news!

Risen Savior

Through all the sleepless nights.. The worrying and crying, the greatest gift I have ever received is Christ's love. I don't claim to know how god works but I know that he is and he lives. He lives he reigns and is with us always. The tactics of the enemy are clear. He deceives us into thinking thoughts of hopelessness and abandonment. The enemy causes us to forget the supernatural forces that have reigned since God created time. The kingdom lives within each of us, his power and authority to give us victory over sin. He first loved us and sent his power manifested through his son Jesus Christ. I am in adoration of him, for without him my life would perish. I stumble with trust, doubt, and fearfulness. These things leave me through grace. These things leave me through accepting his son, Christ and the gift of the holy spirit in my life. All these years I am so grateful he receives my highest praise. He forgives me when I thought he disliked me, the clear strategy of the original foe. By faith he makes me strong enough to tell others of his saving grace. A fresh spirit has arrived and dwells deep within. A new covenant for my retentive ways. Through the blood shed on Calvary we have life. Oh that others to will receive new life. A life built on solid ground free from the snares of the enemy. It takes belief and love for our God, our Christ, the Messiah, the savior. I pray for those who struggle ( for I belong to them) that we shall all come into a life of Christ being set free from bondage. Stepping into the fresh anointing and presence of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. " Therefore there is no condemnation for those in Christ. There is no execution of judgement" Romans 28:1

From Whom All Blessings Flow

Last night my sister was singing the Hymn “ Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow. At our church this is the common doxology or song of praise, as we present our tithes and offerings. Its goes like this for those unfamiliar.

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

Praise God all creatures here below

Praise God above ye heavenly Host

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost

As she sang there were several thoughts going through my head. First, I realized that my sister was reflecting on her blessings. This has certainly been a year for her. She is blessed to have transitioned into motherhood and things have seemingly come together for her. She is preparing to graduate from Auburns pharmacy school next month, and it’s hard to believe that Moriah will be a year in June. A mighty long way she has come. I remember how tiny she was when she was first born. My sister and I were peering over her incubator in the Neonatal Intensive Care unit at Huntsville Hospital. She let out a little cry and both of us froze up. She lay on her stomach and my sister finally got up the courage to flip over! Today she is trotting behind us in her musical walker and has two grown in teeth! All of these blessings flowed from God.

It is wonderful to know that God is not only working things out for my good, but also recognizing his measure of grace and faithfulness in the lives of those around me. It became to real to me the different stages of our spiritual walk. Everyone is on a journey or a walk with the ultimate goal being a relationship with Jesus Christ. No one walk is greater or superior to the other. Paul says “ I say to everyone of you Do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment. “Romans 12:3. The power of God works in those around us through both his blessings and his discipline. I was reminded of that God shows no favoritism. If he disciplines me he also disciplines others and molds them into his likeness and image. For a long time I couldn’t see this. I felt I was the only one who experienced correction. Woe to me I often cried. This is not the case because the scripture clearly states “ God Disciplines those he loves “~Hebrews 12:6. The keyword in this being those meaning more than one.

In the same way he disciplines he blesses. He gives each of us a measure of his grace and faithfulness. The measures of God’s grace come in different packages. Each package fits unique to the design and purpose God has for your life. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Dove Resting

I was reminded this morning of an experience I had a year ago. It’s one of those experiences in which I did not fully grasp or assign meaning until further reflection. It seems these last two weeks my mind has been fixed on the Holy Spirit and his presence. Truthfully I do not completely understand the concept and it is very much a work in progress. However the recent reflection on the experience has given me more insight. On the morning before I was to give my final oral presentation to culminate my graduate studies, I found a dove peacefully resting on my car. During this particular season I had spent much of my time in the revelation of Jesus Christ but had missed a critical piece, the fulfillment of his promise to send the holy sprit to help us navigate the fiery trials of this life. Jesus said “ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.”~ John 14: 26. My initial reactions to the Dove were fear and frustration. I stood a couple of feet back and sounded my car alarm thinking it would just fly away. The Dove remained unafraid of the sounds and peacefully lay on my car. At this point, I am getting ready to complete this two year long journey called graduate school and I am too afraid to get in the vehicle. Fear attempted to paralyze me and make me late for an event I waited two years to attend. Finally courage from within swelled up and I decided to walk towards the car. I thought for sure the bird would fly away but it still remained peaceful and content. Fortunately it happened to be lying on the passenger side, so I was able to get in. When I got in the Dove remained and looked me dead in the eyes. My natural human emotions had not recognized the treasure of this moment. I began to honk and wonder if something was really wrong. I turned the car on and it still remained. I backed out of the parking space and it still remained. After driving a few feet in the parking garage it finally spread its wings and ascended to the air. When I drove away I still had the image in my mind. After I completed my presentation the spirit led me to do more research. It is important to note that I did not know it was a Dove until hours after this encounter. I remembered that the bird had white tail feathers. Sure enough I discovered that it was indeed a Dove, which is symbolic of the presence of the Holy Spirit. I realized that even through my ignorance the sprit was teaching me a lesson. It was at this moment that I became aware of the Sprit’s unique purpose to guide and instruct my steps. The Spirit was attempting to calm my fears and anxieties about my upcoming presentation. It was a symbol of peace, and had I been more vigilant could have provided comfort to my tattered nerves. The Dove should have been my example of calmness in the midst of sounding car alarms or in my case nervousness about the presentation. In the midst of all the chaos the Dove remained just as peaceful. How applicable this is right now. Nearly a year later and I face a whole new set of challenges and opportunities. I am thankful for the patience of the Spirit’s presence. I realize that I am an unwise sheep in constant need of a Shepard to guide and direct me besides still waters. One that overlooks my ignorance and is compassionate towards the limitations of my human mind. This Shepard is the spirit of the living Father and Christ dwelling within us guiding us through our seasons of sorrow, difficulty, joy, and excitement. Only through the work of the Holy Spirit are our eyes unblinded so that we are attune to those things and purposes God has ordained us to fulfill. It is only through his work do we realize our individual nothingness and God's complete authority. I am thankful that the Spirit never gives up even through complete and utter blunders. I am thankful that the Spirit bought me back to a moment of reflection, and did not let me flounce about my way. I am thankful the Spirit cares for stupid sheep to which in my own strength I qualify! Wishing everyone a Happy Monday and wonderful rest of the week!

I AM

I love the story in Exodus 3:14 when Moses asks God what to say when he tells the Israelites about deliverance from oppressive Egypt. Moses anticipated that he would receive the natural response of those who wanted to know every detail of their escape. First and foremost they would want to know the name and title of this great deliverer. The answer God gives is beautiful because he simply tells Moses to tell them " I am who I am". The simplicity and the assurance of his person and character is beyond words can describe. God does not give a dissertation of his accomplishments and he could of listed a bunch. He doesn't say I created the heaven, moon, and the very air you breathe. These great tasks would certainly move the average person like you and me to list all the great things we have done. As I read the passage the spirit led me to invaluable insight into the true character and nature of our God. He is a God who is not caught up in titles, authority, and accomplishments instead he just simply is. He is assured in his abilities and not distracted by insecurity. How wonderful it would be to have this assurance and trust. Before I read this passage the sprit brought to me this question "Kohl who are You?" In a society that frowns upon uniqueness and loves conformity this question is easily drowned out and opportunities for assurance are missed. I went to bed thinking about this question and received my answer this morning . By having the understanding of who God is through the simplicity of his answer to Moses it gives me some instruction as to how to walk out my life in Christ. I like Moses because he is prepared. He is prepared for the inevitable questions that he will receive from a skeptic and oppressed people. As I journey through this new season people will undoubtably ask and want to know who I am. Regardless of if it's a job interview or a date, people are curious about your true person and character. In order to answer these questions we have to know and be assured of our identity. Our answer to them is this" We are in Christ". The answer is simple which is what makes it so beautiful. It simply means we are assured of his forgiveness, redemption and power to save. Most times people will recognize this by our actions. They will recognize this by an assured and trusting spirit. One that is calm, relaxed and engaged. This is my true identity in Christ. It does not take a long dissertation about our accomplishments all of which were only made possible by the Living God! It is not what we have done but who we are that is of true value. God cares about my character and not my accomplishments. I am trusting in Christ and these words" My sheep listen to my voice, I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can snatch them out of my hand" John 10:27

I am his child.
I may not be all that you are.
I may not be a shining star but what I am.
I thank the Lord for making me his child.
I may not be all that you are.
I may not be a shining star but what I am.
I thank the Lord for making me his child.
Thank you Lord for hearing every prayer.
Thank you Lord for just being there.
Thank you Lord.
Thank you Lord.
For I am not worthy of your love.
I may not be all that you are.
I may not be a shining star but what I am.
I thank the Lord for making me his child.
So don’t use me or abuse me for I am his child.
Don’t teast me or mistreat me for I am still his child.
You can even talk about me but I am still his child.

Just the Beginning

Well I officially made it through trying 25! I want to thank all those who stayed with me during the journey. The journey is not over, but I do feel as if one chapter has closed and a new one is beginning. I still feel like Paul when he says " Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."~ Philippians 3:13. In these last 25 years God has given me many tests and challenges that have equipped with the knowledge to meet other challenges and opportunities. I am learning that learning is a continuous process. What you learn at 25 is the foundation for what you will learn at 26. The thirst for learning should never be quenched, because there is always something new to learn. For me, when I completed my master's program last May I almost fell into the notion that I was somehow finished and had accomplished all I needed to. This couldn't be further from the truth. In actuality it was just the beginning and the foundation for the next challenge. The same is true regarding my thirst for biblical knowledge and truth. I have not learned everything and will never know the complete mind of God, but what he has revealed is the cornerstone for continued learning and searching to meet those purposes he has ordained for me since ancient times. I am a huge Kurt Carr fan, and there is one song that is particularly fitting during this season. The song is titled " Just the Beginning". If you have a moment please check out the lyrics. Until next time, peace and blessings!

The True Definition of Wealth

Before I begin with the topic I just want to say that its not my intention to sound as if I know it all or have attained complete knowledge. I am ever learning and growing, and these blogs are opportunities to share what I am learning with others.I was speaking with a friend a few weeks back, and our conversation inspired me to write this entry. We were talking about true riches and wealth, but not in the concepts of worldly structures and constructs. In our culture it is extremely easy to get consumed by those things that at the end of the day have no value and will perish to dust. The clothes we wear and the cars we drive have value, but they don't add to our spiritual substance which is in essence life. These things are simply a means to an end. The assurance of knowing Christ and the peace that comes with accepting his love and God's forgiveness IS the greatest treasure anyone can gain "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" ~ John 6:13
A person who knows Christ, his authority and peace is wealthy. Instead of focusing on earthly wealth that at the end of the day as no value, why not focus on attaining true wealth found in a relationship with Jesus Christ and his people? Truthfully over these last few months I have lost sight of this. In my ambition to be " successful" I was missing these elements that bring so much peace and stability to my life. In the midst of uncertainty its a struggle to keep your eyes on the prize. Christ is the prize and promises to restore us if only we would look to him. I am so grateful that God places friends and mentors in our lives to bring us back to the reality of his deep love for us, and his living presence. As I embark on this next chapter,the following are the key concepts I hope to remember from this current season:

Peace of mind is priceless

Knowing my true identity in Jesus Christ is priceless.

Recognizing my dependency and constant need of Jesus is priceless.

Trust is priceless.

Knowing that we were all made and formed by the Creator for a purpose is priceless.

Knowing your true purpose (the one God wills you to do) is priceless.