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
Vicki Smith, Cleveland, TX. “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” Revelation 3:19 NIV
Rhonda – Houston, TX
Isaiah 43:3-4 ESV
For I am the Lord your God,the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes,
and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you,peoples in exchange for your life.
Jenni, Murray, KY
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
Luke 2:52 NIV
Marrie Gardner, Cullman,AL
James 4:8 NIV
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Penny Burke, Cincinnati, OH: “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 ESV
Diane Price, Nowata, OK
Psalm 55:22 NIV
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Kiva, Irvine, CA
“Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may me full” John 16:24 (b)
Vancouver, Wa
“let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hmns and spiritual songs singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God” Col. 3:16 NASB
Paige Woodard Mitchell, Minden, Louisiana
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
Rita – Alva, Florida
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6b – NLT
Nancy, Junction City, AR
“Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits; who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.” Psalm 103:2-5 NKJ
Angie Martens, Charlotte, NC
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Debt 31:8 (ESV)
Anne Roline, Morristown, TN
“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in peace.”
Psalm 4:8 NIV
Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me and I will answer you. And show you great and mighty things which you do not know.
Nitsa, Eugene, OR. “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in Your words.” Psalm 119:147 ESV
From Cornelius, NC. Psalm 32:8 (NLT). The Lord says, “. I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
Julie Wagner, Nederland, TX
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13
Poorna Diaz, Reston, Virginia: “Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You’ve heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts. We want you living in a way that will command the respect of outsiders, not lying around sponging off your friends.” 1 Thessalonians 4.11-12 (MSG)
Paola Hernandez-Hoffmann, Pinellas Park Fl
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 ESV
Missie Ables, Marble Falls, TX
“I will restore to year the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer and the cutter, my great army which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25 ESV
Dianne, Magnolia TX
James 1:4 (NIV)
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Rose K., Oneida, TN –
“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”
Isaiah 49:16 (KJV)
10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of[a] love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Hebrews 6:10
Tanya, from Lorton, VA
Deuteronomy 8:3 (NIV)
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke on the name of the Lord.
James 5:10, ESV
Houston, Texas
Sharon Stridde Corpus Christi,TX
Psalms 119: 165 (NAS)
Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.
krystal ward
dallas, 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
Sandee Tseng, Santa Monica CA
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”
– Hebrews 10:23
Jessica, Vicksburg, MS, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (NKJV).
Dana Abee
Clarksville, TN
Psalm 119:35 ESV
Make me walk in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1b
Stacy, Greenfield, IN
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 ESV
Patti, Clemmons, NC
“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18
Stephanie Murphy,College Station, TX
“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”
2 Timothy 1:12 NIV
Rita, Splendora, Tx
I cry out to the Lord with my voice, with my voice to the Lord I make supplication.
Psalm 142:1 NKJV
Leah
Denton,TX
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
James 4:7-8 KJV
Florence, Rancho Cordova, CA
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 NIV
Onda Jenks, Morgantown, WV- “After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” I Kings 19:12 (NIV)
Sandra Kent, Gwinn MI
God… who saved us & called us to a holy calling; not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace; which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.
2 Tim 8b-9 ESV
Krista Valdes Zamora. Round Rock, TX
“For God is Spirit, those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
John 4:24. NLT
Wendy Bashor – Lone Butte, BC: For God so loved the world, that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be save through Him. John 3:16-17 ESV
Laura K, Spearfish, SD
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” 2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV
Sylvie Nicol, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada ♥
Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
Gwen Parish
Earth TX
Psalm 18:19 (HCSB)
He brought me out to a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.
Carol ~ Webb City, MO
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ for you. I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Dee – Jacksonville, Florida
James 1:20 (NIV)
human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Carla Kaney, Adel, Iowa “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 (NKJV)
Round Rock, TX
Phil 2:13 NLT
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Becky, Roswell, GA
“Those who worship worthless idols forfeit the mercy that could be theirs.”
Jonah 2:8, NET
Laura J., Katy, TX
1 Samuel 2:2 NIV
There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides You; there is no Rock like our God.