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
Cathy in Keller, TX
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€139:23‬ â€NIV‬
Jill Miller; Akron, IN; “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:26-27 NIV
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Angela Dhans. Brooksville, Florida
Revelation 22:13 ( NIV)
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and
the last, the Beginning and the End.
Jody Bowhay in Huntsville, AL ESV
Isaiah 26:3
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Julie Wagner, Nederland,TX
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
Phillipians 4:13
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness & respect.”
I Peter 3:15 NIV
Janet Bell
Pinson, Alabama
You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:115. NIV
Heather, Hempstead, TX
Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.
– Psalm 66:16 (NIV)
Sherri Huff, Mechanicsville, VA “Who can say but that God has brought you into the palace for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b TLB
PSALM 25:5
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long. NIV
Jami Carey, Fishers, IN
You give me Your shield of victory, and Your right hand sustains me; You stoop down to make me great.
Psalm 18:35 NIV
Susan Thomson, Crockett, TX
John 16:33 NIV
“I have told you these things so that in ME you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world.”
Shannon Hoots, Greensboro, NC
Continuing memory work in Psalm 103. Working to have it memorized before the new year! Help me, LORD!
“As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:13-14 NIV84
Valerie ~ Shawnee, OK
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. II Timothy 3:16 NIV
Concetta, White Oak, TX Psalms 37:39-40 NLT
“The LORD rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble. The LORD helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him.”
Judy, Clay Center, KS “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
Mansfield, Oh
“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.”
â€â€Isaiah‬ â€50:4‬ â€NIV‬‬
Melissa, Vicksburg, MS “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.” Romans 12:9 NLT
Lisa Cummings
Joaquin, TX
“I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” I Timothy 2:8 KJV
Psalm 5:3 “In the morning O LORD, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” ( NIV )
Dena K from Columbus, OH:
“He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.”
â€â€Psalms‬ â€40:3‬ â€NKJV‬‬
Debra Wayland Iowa
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
II Timothy 1:7 ESV
Tonya Thibodeaux, DeQuincy, Louisiana
This my verse for October 1, 2015
Matthew 16:28 – “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Tonya Thibodeaux, DeQuincy, Louisiana
October 15, 2015 verse
James 1:2 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall I not various trials.”
Jewel from Florien, LA.
Psalm 91:14 KJV Because He has set His love upon me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known my name. (continuing with memorizing the entire Psalm)
Kristin Kellett, Tulsa, OK. I praise the Lord because he advises me. Even at night, I feel his leading. Psalm 16:7 (NCV)
Carolyn Valente, Chicago, Illinois, He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 NIV
Sharon, Barrington “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.”
Psalm 100:3
Barbara Dunton
Midland, Texas
Psalm 16:11 (ESV) You make known to me the path of life, in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Jessica, Cumming, GA
Jeremiah 17:7 NIV
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
Shannon Houston, TX
Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Lisa Jones, St. Louis, Mo.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Phil. 4:8
Tracey Morrison, Margaree Valley, NS
“He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5b
Stephanie and Madison, Louisville KY
Psalm 34:8 NIV
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.
Patty Pierce
Searcy, AR
Isaiah 40:31 ESV
“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
â€â€Isaiah‬ â€40:31‬ â€ESV‬‬
Paula, Maine
“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.”
â€â€Romans‬ â€15:13‬ â€NIV‬‬
Terry, 2 Corinthians 4:6, KJV
For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Antoinette Krietemeijer,Hoofddorp,the Netherlands (Europe)
“Hij heeft ons namelijk bekwaam gemaakt om dienaars van het nieuwe verbond te zijn, niet van de letter maar van de Geest; want de letter doodt maar de Geest maakt levend.” (HSV)
Rachelle H. Cedar Park, TX: Do not treat prophecies with contempt 1st Thessalonians 5:20 NIV
Monica Pribe, Blacklick, OH “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope.” Romans 8:20 ESV
Kelly Parker, Shreveport, La
Into your hand I commit my spirt; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. Psalm 31:5 ESV
Maggie, Atlanta, GA
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Julie from Calgary, AB
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him.
Psalms 91:15 (NIV)
Teri Wymore, Millington TN
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10 (NIV)
Hanna Wahlbrink
Lexington, Ky
A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. Ecclesiastes 3:2 (nlt)
And I forgot to post my last verse:
For everything there is a season,a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (nlt)
Kari Ellis, Bloomington, MN: “We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 NRSV
Cris – New Lenox, IL
“If i have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing”
1 Corinthians 13:2 NIV
Belen Gaeta, San Juan Capistrano, Ca.
2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Joshua 6:2-3 (NIV)
Leah Eller, San Antonio, TX – “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you a hope and a future”. Jeremiah 29:11 ESV