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
Stephanie, El Cajon, CA, 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NIV): “‘Everything is permissible for me’ – but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’ – but I will not be mastered by anything.”
Michelle Rademacher – Aurora, IL
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb”
â€â€Revelation‬ â€22:1‬ â€ESV‬
Allison H.
Wilmington, NC
“Therefore, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.””
-Romans 12:20 (NKJV)
Candy Seale
La Grange, Texas
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord
Psalm 27:13,14 KJV
Dawn – San Angelo,TX
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
John 9:5
Pamm W. from Albuquerque, NM
“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”
Proverbs 10:19 (NIV)
Desiree Reimer, Calgary, Alberta
Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
Psalm 34:9 ESV
Nancilea, The Woodlands, TX
So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”
(Genesis 22:14 ESV)
Jeanette Plummer from Mesquite, TX:
“How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears” ~2 Samuel 7:22 NIV
Diana, Round Hill, VA – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 ASV
Sandra
Wichita Falls, TX
Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually!
Ps 105:4 ESV
The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
Shantha, Lincoln, RI
Anne-Marie, Munich – Germany. Js 3.17: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
Cherri, Smyrna, GA: “He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and raises up and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21 NIV
Lori, Toledo
“And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise You have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as You promised, so that Your name will be great forever.” 2 Sam 7:25,26 NIV 1984
Amy, Miamisburg, OH
Indeed, you are my lamp, Lord. My God illuminates the darkness around me.
Psalm 18:28 NET
Terri Assael, State College, PA
O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
Psalm 139:1 NIV
Anita- Justin, TX
2 Chronicles 16:9a
For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His
2 Chronicles 16:9a
Orange Park, FL
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Rev 12:11 NKJV
Stephanie. Hamburg Ar.
Psalm 33:11 NLT
But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.
Debbie Hansard, E Tennessee,
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 NIV
Put this on my phone due to being in the hospital on: 15 October at 18:44. I hope it is acceptable and countable for my Verse #20.
This is just what I needed. Thank you.
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.””
â€â€Romans‬ â€1:16-17‬ â€ESV‬‬
Lori McCormick
Shakopee MN
“I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
â€â€Philippians‬ â€1:6‬ â€HCSB‬‬
Sarah Jackson from Pasadena, Texas
If I go up to the heavens You are there.
If I make my bed in the depths You are there.
Psalm 139:8 NIV
Jesus answered them,”Those who love me will keep my word and my Father will love them and we will come to them and make our home with them. John 14: 23 NRSV
Cecilia Bramhall, Pflugerville, TX
Matthew 7:2 NIV
“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Linda, Longview, Tx: Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. James 3:13 MSG
Leslie G-Warner Robins, GA
Jeremiah 1:5a NIV
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”
Melissa Dulaney, Circleville, OH –
Psalm 73:26, NIV
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Jill Hill, Houston TX – NIV – James 1:23-24 – Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror, and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again. 1 Kings 18:37 NKJV
Rebecca. Birmingham Alabama
“God is near to those who have a broken heart and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
NIV
Carolyn Deevers, Dardenne Prairie, MO
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
I Corinthians 9:22 (NIV)
Regina Nations, Lancaster, Ca
NIV 2Timothy 2:1
You( Regina)my son( my daughter),be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus
Sara McPeek, Decatur, TX
If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, so it gladly. Romans 12:8 (NLT)
I posted my SSMT #20 at 10:23 am Oct 15,2015. It showed that it was being considered but has yet to show up. My verse was Is. 61:2b-3 NIV.
Patty Lincoln
Marilyn Brown in The Plains, OH says:
Good and upright is the Lord: therefore He instructs sinners in His ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant.
Ps.25:8-10 NIV
Susan Peaslee Somerville Maine
” And they remembered that God was their rock, and the his God their Redeemer.” Psalm 78:35 KJV
Luke 2:7-8 KJV
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
RaeLeen in Bloomington Indiana:
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ” Abba Father “.
Romans 8:15 (NET)
Julie Gresham Jackson, MS
October 1, 2015 and October 15, 3025
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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.”
Lori, McDonough, GA – “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
Cheryl, Harleysville PA
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 NKJV
Crystal. Livonia. Michigan
“But unto everyone of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:7. Kjv.
Sharon West, Miller, MO
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. Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Leslie Warnick
Oakland MD
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galations 6:9
NIV
Melody
Myrtle Beach, SC
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Eph 6:13 NIV
Sally Heydlauff, Sturgis, MI
In that day He will be your sure foundation,
providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.
The fear of the LORD will be your treasure.
Isaiah 33:6 (NLT)
from Tempe, AZ. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13. NIV.