Impoverished

The spirit put this on my heart today. We are living in a society in which purity is deemed a disease. The family is broken and we have gotten away from the biblical and Godly principles that lead to stable families. We are SO caught up in the world and its desires that we are impoverished spiritually. We are in a spiritual famine. We fail to seek your kingdom first and study the word that created our life. “ In the beginning there was the WORD and the WORD was with GOD.”~ John 1:1. How do we neglect the word when it is so crucial to our very existence? Your spoken word created the air we breathe and the birds we see! We are impoverished and when will we begin to confess this so we can be healed by Our Father.

It’s been a while since I have written, and not because I have been so busy, but I have too been caught up, and my main focus skewed from the center love of my life, Jesus Christ. The one who sustains me through the struggles and strife’s of this life. Yes spiritually I am in need of his healing restoration to the full romance we share. I want those times where I would just lay in bed overwhelmed and completely content in his goodness. The days when I would look at an empty space and envision him standing in it. I desire to continue a sweet fellowship of trust and real communication. The willingness to tune everything out to be entrenched in the word! But even through our moments of spiritual poverty he is right here with us. He never leaves our side. The prophet Isaiah said it best “Can a mother forget a baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?” ~ Isaiah 50:15. Most certainly not! And so it is with our SAVIOUR that he does not forget us. He feels the pain when we are distant. He too is distressed and longs for our return. Jesus feels for us and has an unfailing and unconditional love that acknowledges our weakness while also seeing our complete perfection in him. He lives for us today, just as he did yesterday. His blood spoke for us, and his hand is stretched out to be clinched by ours. Father we are so impoverished. Guide us to communicate with our lover more. Allow us to study your word. Give us revelation and understanding. There is nothing in the universe more satisfying than your love.

Have an amazing rest of the week everyone; hope this note touches someone’s heart today!
Love Kohl

~ I consider my life worth nothing, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me. The task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. ~ Acts 20:24

Tearing Down Idols

I am thankful to God that I am able to write these blogs. I have slacked in my priorities which is evidenced my lack of posting this summer. God is dealing with me on a number of things. Just two years ago he began growing me in ways that I never thought possible. He took me from the deepest valleys of my life and told me I needed to grow and be that person that he preordained me to be to meet those purposes he had for my life. This summer the work again continues as he is calling me to grow so that we can reach those places God desires to take me. It’s almost like a baby learning to walk. Until he/she decides to stop crawling they are limited in the places they can go and the freedom God desires them to have.

Though at times I might think differently this is all about Jesus and none about me! We are greatly deceived when we think this life is about anything other than the glory of God. This might make things easier if like me you are a sensitive person, and hurt by sometimes offensive comments and negative people. It isn’t as much about you but the negative powers and principalities that existed from the beginning and continue to exist today. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” ~Ephesians 6:12. We are called to look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith for guidance in strength. We are called to deny ourselves and walk in love even if it means allowing others to react negatively towards us without returning in retaliation. It’s absolutley hard but absolutely necessary.

This last year God has revealed my idols and those things he desires to tear down to render me more effective for service in his eternal kingdom. An idol, as I have struggled to understand is anything that I place above the living God. It could be my family, job, a desire for worldly success, or significant other. These are all external, but the spirit is teaching me that my idols also exist internally. Idols of pride, doubt, worry, and un-forgiveness. When we hold on to these things, we give them priority and lose focus of Jesus, the only person who can move us safely across the troubled waters. If you desire for your idols to be removed it’s all a matter of asking the Holy Spirit to reveal those things that are distracting us from the real presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Ask him to remove a spirit of un-forgiveness, or bitterness, and doubt. Ask him to remove those burdens that are keeping you from your true purpose. Ask him for the strength to be kind to those who are highly critical. Ask him for the grace and mercy to operate in those places of contention and opposition. Have you asked him to remove your idols?

Precious Faith

"Everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23).
Two weeks again since my last post! Exactly one year ago my whole world changed completely. It was at this point in July that my Granny’s health went from 80% to 40% in a matter of days. As I look back I am amazed at the peace God gave me to get through. The strength he gave me to let go of my fears about her leaving this earth to go and begin her life in the splendor of his Glory. Being able to let go is one of the greatest gifts you can receive. I never imagined or experienced that time of peace in my lifetime until last year. I was perfectly content and trusted in the promise of everlasting life to all who believe that Jesus is and lives. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent”~ John 17:3. My spirit swells up just remembering my experience of knowing and trusting God enough to give Granny to him! The tears stream at times just thinking about God’s goodness. In essence God gave me the gift of faith to believe in a spiritual realm of eternity that my eyes have yet to see. One of my last conversations with Granny was about her transition to her new life, one much fuller than this present one. I spoke to her without tears, but with confident assurance that Jesus was present and would be with her always. I long for this precious faith in all my circumstances.

And this is Truth!

It has been a while since my last post. So much has happened these last few weeks that I don’t know where to begin. I am thankful that I had an interview two weeks in Maryland. It has been a year since my graduation from the Clinton School, and this was my first bite after over 365 days of sending resumes, and covers letters, and online applications. Honestly my faith has been tested in this last year, more so than I could have ever imagined. My response to these tests has not all always met the mark. I have fallen many times to the spirit of discouragement, and yes I have complained about my present circumstances. There have been many warnings and calls to wake up calls, but I seemed to press the ignore button. But thankfully my High Priests sit high upon the throne interceding for my transgressions. “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:25. How great it this news that we have someone who’s primary purpose in life is to intercede and pray on our behalf. Once we come to believe in him through faith he forever lives to speak to the Father on our behalf. He is one with our father. I am grateful that he is allowing me to write this, because through this the Holy Spirit has convicted me but given me hope. The spirit is saying “Yes Kohl you are guilty you have fallen short today. You began to complain and mummer against your neighbor. You let Satan in to get under your skin, but JESUS has interceded for you. This is your only source of hope in times of great distress when it seems like everything but the kitchen sink is being thrown your way. All I can really say is Thank you God for this hope, because without it I would have sunk further into the trap and continued in my complaints. Truthfully, those in Christ have everything to be excited about. We are to be excited that God called us to be his children long before we ever existed. I am excited that he continues to provide for me and even today allowed for a great blessing. Thank you Father for making a way. The Father knows my heart and my character. Others might have opinions and perceptions, but God knows your heart and exactly where you are am coming from. God knows your true character and that is all that matters. I ask the Father to forgive me for surrendering to discouragement and complaints. This is truth: If we are faithful in confessing our sins we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.~ 1 John 1:9. While the enemy's main objective is to accuse, Jesus stands firm reminding us of the sacrifice through his blood shed on Calvary. So often we fall like babies learning how to walk, but through his blood we get back up and face another day with courage and thanksgiving ! Praise be to the Father. Best wishes and God speed on a great rest of the week.

God Be The Glory

God is truly an amazing wonder. Each day we are presented with brand new mercies, and so many chances to experience unconditional love and forgiveness. While at times my flesh fights against these opportunities with feelings of discouragement and doubt, God through the spirit sends a fresh perspective and awakens me to arise to the light of God's glory. A week ago, during my four hour visit to the hair salon I sat and read the story of Esther. I remember reading the story once last year, but today I realized that I didn't do it any justice. The richness of her story and her fearless courage is one that every young woman should read. It has been such a blessing to me today, as I am in the midst of transitions and important decisions. Esther had the courage to take a risk. She was fearless as her people, the jews, placed possible annihilation. As Queen, Esther was in the unique position to expose an evil plot devised by one of the Kings closest advisor. This advisor hated the Jews and despised Esther's relative. In those days even the Queen could not approach the King without first being summoned. Obviously she did not have much time to wait for this summons, as the advisor planned to carry out his plans against the jews quickly. It was common knowledge that anyone who approached the King without an official summons would be killed. Esther knowing this responded by saying " I will go to the King, even though its against the law. And if I perish, I perish"~Esther 4:16. Her fear did not paralyze her as she knew she had to act FAST! She had to speak up for her people. She displayed tremendous courage and boldness in the face of adversity. She laid her life down in the similar way that Jesus did for all of us on Calvary. He endured spiritual and physical pain of the worst kind so that we could be reconciled to God, and offered the promise of eternal fellowship with our Creator. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" ~John 15-13. Long story short Esther did not perish. She exposed the plot to the King and was God's instrument in saving her people from the destruction and attacks of their enemies. God used Esther in an amazing way. He uses all of us if we will just trust him. During the life of Jesus's ministry on earth he performed many miracles. Today I listened again to the story of Lazarus. Again I read this story last year, but its amazing the new things the spirit teaches you. Yes Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after four days. While this seems to be the headliner, the major story is how God used Lazarus to reveal his Glory so that others would believe in a sovereign God. Its not so much about being raised from the dead, as it was pure evidence that Jesus is sent from the Father. That Jesus and our Father are one. Glory be to the Father! All great gifts come from above. Let us remember that these gifts are for his glory. So that others may believe in him and come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Our accomplishments while they may seem to be ours, are truly for the Glory of the Living God. Hope you all had a restful Saturday, and best wishes for a productive work week.

Witnessing Grace

I hope that this finds you in good spirits. This life meets us with many obstacles, but with each of them God is ready to meet us with his grace and the invitation to trust his true character. My pastor challenged me two weeks ago to keep my ears and eyes open ready to receive a blessing. Its so easy to loose focus, when we have so many things running through our heads at once. Most often I am running ahead thinking about the future with the present playing second fiddle. Or in some instances-- so focused and wrapped up in the past or yesterday's news that I don't recognize the many opportunities around me. I failed to recognize the people God put in my path to bless and build his present kingdom. What God's desires most is fellowship with his people. We were created to worship and bring praise to his name. If God desires so much a fellowship with us, how much so does he desire us to fellowship with his people? For the longest this has been a completely foreign concept. Our relationship with God should be so personal that his overwhelming grace and mercy causes us to relate in the same way to others. Its hard to recognize the living God when we are preoccupied with ourselves, failing to see the present as his Gift and the opportunity to love without judging. Jesus came and showed mercy to the worst of sinners. Liars, adulterers, fornicators he managed to use the present opportunity to love them, but also teaching them through a walking breathing example of righteousness. Those that were willing seized this opportunity to begin a new path of abundant living." I have come that you may have life, and life more abundantly John 10:10". The worst of the worst began to witness the Grace that Jesus offers to all who will simply trust and believe him. They saw his mercy and abandoned their former ways. It was his mercy and not his harshness that caused them to behave better. It was true when Jesus came and it is true today, that what the world needs most is love, and forgiveness. Jesus is calling each of us to seize this opportunity. He calls each of us to have open eyes and ears so that we may receive the blessing of his grace!

Never in Vain

Goodness it feels so long since I have posted my last blog. With everything going on I will admit keeping up with my blog has become secondary. Not just that, I like to write from conviction and though it seems that with the recent storms I would have a relevant message to tell, in truth it has a been a challenge to unpack common themes and lessons to live by. One thing for certain is the God is incredibly good and though we were displaced refugees, he still managed to bring about order to a sometimes chaotic situation. In the aftermath of the storm, I couldn't help but think that the inconvenience of having to drive miles to get gas and a cell phone signal were paradise conditions considering the recent natural disasters in Hati and Japan. Although the devastation was severe and many lost EVERYTHING, we didn't have the threat of nuclear contamination looming over our heads. Moreover, it caused families to reconnect and neighbors to lend a helping hand. Through the storm, God had a great purpose in mind.

Never does God allow for us to go through things in vain. It's like Paul says" All things work together for the Good of those who love the lord, and are called according to his great purpose" Romans 8:28. Yesterday I was talking with a co-worker on this very subject and remembered the story of how Abraham followed God's instructions to offer his only son, Isaac, as a living sacrifice. God told Abraham to offer his son, whom he loved very much ( SOUND FAMILIAR!) Just a little bit of backstory-- Abraham and Sarah had much difficulty conceiving and were of old age when Abraham was born. God promised them that they would have a son. What I love about this story is God's intervention and foreshadowing. Right at the moment when Abraham was fully prepared to offer this great sacrifice ( imagine waiting years to attain something and then to give it away) an angel of God stepped in and told him " Do not lay a hand on the boy"Genesis 22:12 . Abraham loved his son but obeyed God and tied Isaac to a piece of wood in the similar way Jesus was nailed to the wooden cross on Calvary. God offered Jesus his only son as a living sacrifice--defeating the power of death and offering eternal life to all who believe in Jesus name. What Abraham did was not in vain. Yet it was just a preview of what was yet to come. God gave us insight into this plan long before it came to fruition. I am truly amazed at God's love for his people. He makes promises and keeps them. He gives us foresight into the future and opportunities to recognize his great love. All things work together, even those things that seem counter to our plans. Nothing is ever in vain. God is the same today forever and always. To him I give all glory, honor, and praise.