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
Sing for joy to God our strength; Shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Ps 81:1. NIV
Heather – Fort Worth, TX
“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.” Psalm 73:23-24 ESV
Delores Perley, El Cajon, CA
Psalm 37:5-7a. (ESV)
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him
John 15:5 ESV
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Alissa; Lexington, SC:
Greetings from South Carolina! Thank you for praying for us as we recover from the devastating floods. I have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. ” Psalm 27:13 (NIV)
Polly from Pa
Psalms 138:3 NIV
When I called, You answered me; You made me bold and stout hearted.
Joelle, Abilene, TX
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
â€â€James‬ â€4:7‬ â€NIV‬‬
“This means ones must not transgress against and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses as we also previously told and warned you.
For God has not called us to impurity, but to sanctification.”
1 Thessalonians 4:6-7, HCSB
Mary Goins, Bluford, Illinois
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
â€â€1 John‬ â€1:5‬ â€NIV‬‬
Marie Skipper from Granger,Tx — James 4:7. NIV
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Robin, Knoxville
For he will command his angels concerning you
To guard you in all your ways
Ps 91:11 NIV
From Kathy Emeigh in Bethlehem PA –
Now – May the God of Hope, fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 NASB
TJ, Clinton OK
Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings – Psalm 17:8 NIV
Colossians 2:14-15 [NIV] – …having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Vicki, Wilmington, NC
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19 ESV
Kim Peterson from Vista, CA
Romans 12:13 NIV
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Faye from Calgary, Canada
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
â€â€Lamentations‬ â€3:22-23‬ â€NIV‬‬
Susan, Overland Park, KS
“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”
Ps. 27:13 NIV
Michelle V., Hewitt, TX
He planned to bring all of history to its goal in Christ. Then Christ would be the head of everything in heaven and on earth.
Ephesians 1:10 GW
Sara Meredith
Morton IL
Hope anchors the soul. –Hebrews 6:19
Katherine Emerson, Livingston, Tx
“I love you, Lord, my strength.” Psalm 18:1 NIV
Jill Sanders, Leachville, AR
Repay no one evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
~Romans 12:17
Shannon Pate
Little Rock, Arkansas
1 Peter3:12a (ESV)
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers.”
Pamela Shaw, Bangor, Northern Ireland
‘Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.’ Ps 121:4 (NIV)
Diane, Wichita, KS
God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
Psalm 18:30 NLT
Beth from Calgary AB Canada
“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€16:8‬ â€NIV‬‬
Rebecca- eagle point, OR
“Then they cried out to The Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He sent out His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.” Psalm 107:19-20 ESV
Kathy King
Woodstock, GA
Psalm 105:4 ESV
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His presence continually.
Laura from Aurora, MO
Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. 2 His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. 5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. 6 Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. 7 He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Psalm 112 1-7
Kathy
St. Louis, MO
“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.’ ” Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV’84)
Diane LeJeune, Fairview, TN
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
Proverbs 15:16 (ESV)
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.
Holly Tabor, Nixa, Missouri
Come to me, all who are weary and heavy- laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 NASB
“Not that we are adequate in ourselves, but our adequacy is from GOD.”
2 Corinthians 3:5 NASB
Heather Hoch Pflugerville, TX
Psalm 63:4 (NASB)
So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
Proverbs 15:16 (ESV)
Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.
Shari Valdez, Long Beach, California
Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. NKJV
Brenda, Ottawa, Canada
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 NKJV
Marsha Middleton Lee’s Summit, MO
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, Ephesians 2:19 NKJV
Sue from Michigan. “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.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
Natalie, Anchorage AK
Phil. 1:9-10 NIV
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.
Leah Kuor, Salem, OR
2 Peter 1:21 (NASB) “..for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
Eleanor MacKay, Saskatoon, SK.Canada
‘For this reason, we also,since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.’
Col. 1:9 NKJV
Christy Richardson. Portageville, MO
“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal”. Isaiah 26:4 NIV
Cecelia, Tustin, CA
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up! and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back! Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth – everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Isaiah 43:6-7
Janice Meyer
John 15:5 ESV
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Billie, Franklin, TN
Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.
Psalm 105:4 NIV
Isaiah 64:4
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen a god besides You. who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
Faith from Coeur d’Alene, ID
The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV
Dr. Wilma Arant, Swartz, LA;
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8