Hey Siestas!!! I barely have words to express how much of an honor it is for me to share with y’all. I absolutely adore Mama Beth and the community that she has cultivated here on the interwebs!
My name is Karina Allen. I am 35 and from New Orleans, LA but have lived in Baton Rouge since 1998. Much of my time here is spent at the gym, babysitting or at my local church, Healing Place. I am involved in a myriad of ministries and outreaches. I am on the worship team, a leader for High School girls, active in our women’s ministry, nursery registration team volunteer, a part of young adult ministry, and a teacher for our kids’ dance ministry. I also help with our inner city outreaches and to bring awareness to human trafficking through Trafficking Hope Inc. I taught preschool for about 10 years but I knew that that wasn’t the call of God on my life. I am a freelance writer and editor. I’m a contributor for Incourage as well as a few other sites. I am working on my certification to be a Life Coach. I long to speak, hope, truth, life, encouragement and purpose into the souls of women. My dream is for each woman to fully walk out their identity in Christ in the specific calling that He has for each of their lives.
“…and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” Isaiah 61:3 NIV
Really, the whole of Isaiah 61 is incredible! It is all about the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord and what His anointing empowers us to have and to be. I don’t know about you, but most days I don’t feel empowered. I feel a bit defeated by life, others and even myself. But that is not God’s will for my life or for yours. His desire is for His Spirit to come alive in us, to overflow and impact those around us.
Recently, I was at my friend Elizabeth’s house working on some writing projects. She has this gorgeous black and white photo hanging of an oak tree from New Orleans’ City Park. And verse 3 of Isaiah 61 was beautifully written underneath it. My gaze repeatedly returned to that photo and that verse much of the night. It’s as though the Lord was trying to get my attention. I knew that this needed to be a verse that I committed to memory and needed to become embedded within my very marrow.
1.) God wants to trade the pain we acquire from this world with His good and perfect gifts. Before sin entered the world, mourning and despair were never even a concern. The world has been bombarded with evil and suffering. People cause harm and bad things happen. But God wants us to know that even in the midst of tragedy, we can experience His peace, comfort and even joy.
2.) Through the trading process, God’s dream is for us to become oaks of righteousness. Now, this may not seem like something we would want to be described as, but it should be. Oak trees are remarkable! They are strong, tough and extremely resilient. They have roots that reach down deep into the earth. When we exchange our hurt with the Lord’s goodness, this is the outcome. We dig deep into His Word and discover His promises for us. We stand firm on that foundation and the storms of life are unable to shake us. We allow Him to be the lifter of our heads and fill us with His hope. We become confident that He will work all things together for good to those of us that love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
3.) As we grow to be oaks of righteousness, we turn into a display of the Lord’s splendor. On display for all to see…that is an intimidating thought. Don’t let it be. People watch us. They watch how we live and what we say if we profess Christ. They watch how we respond in both good and bad seasons. That’s okay. As we are conformed to the image of Christ, others take notice and eventually desire to know why our lives are different. That is often how the Father draws hearts to Himself.
My Sister…
Beauty, joy and praise await you.
Deep roots are calling out to you.
His splendor is ready to be displayed through you.
For His Name and His Renown,
Karina Allen
Dawn Fuhrman, Cape Coral, FL
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”
Isaiah 43:18 NIV
Rene Sandifer, College Station, TX “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)
Catherine Lisle, Albuquerque NM. I Corinthians 13:10 “but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away” (ESV).
Samantha Zumbro, Golden, CO
Proverbs 18:12 NIV
“Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor”
Kathryn Luedtke Sherwood Park, Alberta
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude 24,25
Philippians 2:11 NIV
. . . and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.
Christy Billingsley, Hattiesburg, MS
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Molly-Overland Park, KS “17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Daniel 3:17-18 ESV
Susie, Northville, MI
Such a person is doubleminded and unstable in all they do. James 1:8 NIV
Jackie Siple Rockledge FL
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”â€â€Galatians‬ â€5:22-23‬ â€ESV‬‬
Marty Clarksville TN
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, sainthood the Lord that hath mercy on thee.
Isaiah 54:10. NKJV
Betty, Austin, Texas They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Psalm 139:20 NIV
Kris Braun, Shakopee, MN
The Lord is my strength and shield; my heart trusts in Him and He helps me.
Psalm 28:7 NIV
Lean on, trust in and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding
Proverbs 3:5 Amplified Bible
JCanon, New Braunfels, TX –
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
â€â€Ephesians‬ â€2:8-9‬ â€NIV‬‬
Lindsey, Scenery Hill, PA
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Letha Cullman, AL. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 ESV
San Bernardino Ca.
Hear ,O Lord ,when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me and answer me. Psa.:27:7 nkjv.
Donna Rose. Jayess, MS. “This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.”
â€â€Psalms‬ â€91:2‬ â€NLT‬
Jen from Wyoming
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:13 NIV
Veronica- Atlanta , Georgia
Psalms 36: 5&6 You’r Love oh lord reaches to the Heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
your righteousness is like the mighty mountains ,your Justice like the great deep. oh Lord, you preserve both man and beast.
Barb Wisconsin. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and inquire in His temple. Ps 27:4 ESV
Sierra. Wyoming, MI.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
â€â€Proverbs‬ â€19:21‬ â€NIV‬‬
Janice Stumpff Topeka, KS
Job 1:21. NIV
Naked I came from my mothers womb and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised.
Dawn, Orland Park, IL: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8 NIV
In the multitude of my anxieties within me, your comforts delight my soul. Psalm 94:19 NKJ
Jamee Miller, Sanford, FL “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” -1 John 2:28 (NIV)
Cindy, Deming, NM
In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Ephesians 6:15 HCSB
Kaylee Taylor, Stephenville, TX
Psalms 29:2 NLT
“Honor the LORD for the glory of his name. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.”
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Therefore, since we have a high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Hebrews 4:14 (NIV)
Amy Flanagan Santee Ca Luke 1:45 NIV
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her”
Kim, Laguna Niguel, CA
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
I Corinthians 9:24 ESV
Diane S., Macungie, PA
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
â€â€1 Thessalonians‬ â€5:16-18‬ â€NIV‬‬
Michele Zamora-Lubbock,TX
Proverbs 2:11
” When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
But with the humble is wisdom.” (ESV)
Stacie Kilgore, Lee’s Summit, MO
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4 (KJV)
Marianna, San Angelo, TX
For nothing will be impossible with God! Luke 1:37 ESV
Paula Weatherly
Huffman, TX
Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NASB)
Melanie Anderson, Groesbeck, TX
“so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe”
Philippians 2:15 NIV(1984) … continued from verse 14 last time
Brenna Rosetti Wiggins, MS
“So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”
â€â€Galatians‬ â€4:7‬ â€NIV‬‬
You have turned my sorrow into joy! You took away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy so that I might sing glad praises to the Lord. I will keep on thanking you forever. Psalm 30:11,12
Elizabeth Marchman
Blue Ridge, Ga
but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. ~ 1 Peter 3:15 hcsb
Romans 12:12 (NIV)
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and thankful in prayer.
Ann
Mandeville, la
Correction to my post above, please:
Faithful in prayer, not thankful.
Thank you!
Susan Canham, Bismarck ND
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
-Titus 3:5 NKJV
Linda, The Woodlands, TX
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
James 4:10 (NIV)
Micah 6:8 KJV
He hath sheweth thee O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.
merilee New Sharon Ia
I have no greater Joy then to hear my children are walking in the truth. John 1:4 niv
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
â€â€Romans‬ â€8:28‬ â€NIV‬‬
Kelly Cut-n-Shoot Tx
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
â€â€Romans‬ â€12:12‬ â€NIV‬‬
Cheryl, Roswell, NM
When I am afraid I will put my trust in you.
Psalm 56:3
“Every word of God is flawless, he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Proverbs 30:5 NIV