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
Karla, Fort Bridger WY
My Father’s house has many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
John 14:22 NIV
Lacy, Eugene, OR
…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
Amy, Murfreesboro,TN
“They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.”
Isaiah 61:4,NIV
Marcy, Eagle Bridge, NY
Romans 6:19 “I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” ESV
Erin Hall, Magnolia, TX, “…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
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1 Peter 5:8-9
Jana, Altus, OK
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
â€â€Mark‬ â€1:35‬ â€ESV‬‬
Stephanie, Paris, TX. “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.”. Ephesians 4:29, NIV.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24. ESV
Dione H., Moore, OK. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Meredith, Irmo, SC
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Shiela Meert, Elkhart, IN
“Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.” Proverbs 2:4
Malachi 3:6 ESV
For I the LORD do not change, therefore you, O child of Jacob, are not consumed.
Rebecca, Murfreesboro, Tn
His divine power had given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 NIV
2 Peter 3:9. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (NKJ)
Logansport,IN And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 NASB
Kathy, Danvers, MA
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Cast all your anxiety on Him
because He cares for you.
Becky Purchase , Euless, Tx. Ephesians 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace
Hap 🙂 in Heath OH
“Take delight in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 NIV
Wendy Karabensh
Vero Beach
“Finally, be strong in the Lord
and in his mighty power.”
Ephesians 6:10
NIV
Terri from College Station TX
Prov 4:23
Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life
Psalm 62:5 HCSB
Rest in God alone, my soul,
for my hope comes from Him.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”
â€â€Psalms‬ â€32:8‬ â€NKJV‬‬
N. Seattle
instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, Titus 2:12 NAS
Psalm 139: 9-10 (NIV)
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Lou Ann Smith, McAllen, TX
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end.
Lamentations 3:22 ESV
Gina Jordan
Edgar Springs, MO
2 Timothy 1:7 New King James Version (NKJV)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Oct 21, 2015
Carol Marshall, Gilbert, AZ
Psalms 23:3
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name sake.
ESV
Janice in Abbeville, AL
“You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.”
Psalm 139:3 ESV
Cherie, Joseph, OR “If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:5-8, NRSV)
Sandy Shiflett Deming, NM
Each heart knows its own bitterness and no stranger shares its joy. Prov 14:10
Abbie North Platte, NE
1 Peter 5:10 (ESV) And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Prescott, Az
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.
NASB
Tonya, Searcy, AR
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Mt. 6:34 NCV
Katrinna, Bossier City, LA, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3 NIV
Melissa Stevens, Kingwood TX
Exodus 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (NIV)
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Ps. 91: 6 – 7
Lori, Friendswood, TX
Hebrews 2:1 (NIV)
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
Deneen
Sterlington, LA
(ESV)
Psalm 141:4
Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!
Penny Ritter, Vian, OK
Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jer 33:3 KJV
Jodee Walker, Mountain View, WY. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)
NIV Daniel 2:21
He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
Wow Karina! God is amazing in you! As I read your post, I remember feeling that same way a few years ago. I think I have given up. God uses me in small ways occasionally but my zeal, fire and excitement is gone. Now I just hope I will be of use in some way. It seems the time is long past now and waited to long to show me His plan for my life. I just have had so much disappointment and heartache it seems life has beaten me up.
Ramona Gellick
Medina OH
Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Alana McCullough, Lorton Va, For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV, Ephesians 2:10
Liza Kirschner Monmouth Junction, NJ
“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”
(Psalm 34:7-8)
Vikki Stemler, Jeffersonville, IN
“The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.”
Proverbs 16:21, NLT
Allison from New York
“For the Lord gives wisdom, & from his mouth come knowledge & understanding.”
-Psalm 2:6 NIV
Lorraine
Ketchikan, Alaska
“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29 NASB