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
DeQuincy, LA
“Oh, taste and see hat the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”
Psalms 34:8 NKJV
Kelly in south Arkansas
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
~ Colossians 3:15
Amy, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Daniel said,
“Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
and knowledge to men of understanding.”
Daniel 2:20-21 NASB
Ruth Somers
Baton Royge, LA
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17. NASB
Denise Ciofani, Lexington, NC. “But made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:7 NIV
Margaret Neil
Jackson, Tennessee
James 5:16
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. NLT
Sharon Crow, Winchester, VA
“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 Jesus Christ.”
Romans 3:23-24 (ESV)
Wendy Tunison Caldwell, Idaho
7.) Bessed is he who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord.
8.) He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought for it does not cease to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV
Indeed, He who watches over Israel will not slumber.
Psalm 121:4
Linda G. Crawfordsville, Indiana
Psalm 103:1
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
(NASB)
Amy Andrews, Bellaire, TX
My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
Psalm 62:5 NKJV
Kathy Walden, Knightstown, IN
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. Phil 1:9-10 NIV
Amy from Everett, WA
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)
Carrie, North Potomac, MD
Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.
2 Thessalonians 3:1
Jeannine Anderson, Pelican Rapids, MN
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Cor. 13:14 ESV
Lindsay Loper, Chattanooga, TN
“he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.”
Psalm 23:3, NIV
Misty, Pflugerville, TX “The Lord says, ‘I will rescue those who love Me. I will protect those who trust in My name.” Psalm 91:14 (NLT)
Linda Lorring, Reno,NV
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 (ESV)
Lisa Griffin, Lincoln City, OR:
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
â€â€
Romans‬ â€12:12‬ â€(ESV‬‬)
Jennifer Henderson, Raleigh, NC;
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
(Psalm 100:3, ESV)
Luda Kosenko
Baltimore, MD
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation;
because by Him everything was created,
in heaven and earth, the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities –
all things have been created through Him and for Him.
He is before all things and by Him all things hold together.
In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.
For in Him the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily,
and you have been filled by Him,
who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Colossians 1:15-17; 2:3, 9 (HCSB)
Sarah, Montrose, CO:
When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2 (NKJV)
Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
Lynn P., Fairview, OK — In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
~Psalm 5:3 (NIV)
Vicki, Merriam, KS
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
ESV
Shannon Davidson, San Juan Capistrano,CA “and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” Ephesians 1:19-20 NIV
Springfield MO
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6
Meg, Alexandria, VA
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”
Job 1:21 NIV
Pamela, Hendersonville, TN
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
Matthew 24:35
Sue, Duncanville, TX
“Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.” Psalm 86:11-12 NIV
Julie Fawcett, Round Rock, Tx-
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€73:26‬ â€NIV‬‬
Brittney Zimprich Lakenheath, Suffolk, England, UK
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Jacquie Terada Mt. Vernon, WA
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. Ephesians 3:17 NLT
Ellen Hollenshead, Albuquerque, NM. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. Revelation 21:3, ESV.
Lisa Curtis
Jackson, MO
Do not fear for I am with you. Isaiah 41:10
Christine, Greenville, SC
“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:5 (NIV)
Pam Worcester, Glen Elder, Kansas
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:14-15 (ESV)
Terri Fullerton, Abilene, TX
Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1 Peter: 5:9, ESV
2 cor 9:6 niv
remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Karen, Bingham Lake, MN
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)
Ashley Edwards, Chelsea, Alabama
I will walk with integrity of heart within my house. Psalm 101:2 (NIV)
Fairfield Ca.
Above all,show sincere love to each other,because love bringsabout the forgiveness of many sins. 1 Peter 4:8
Stacy from Hawkinsville, GA:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 (NIV)
Rachel, Mt. Carmel, PA – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” – Colossians 3:23, NIV
Stephanie Morris, Norman Ok
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” NKJ
Callee Maglothin, Houston, TX “All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.” Hebrews 11: 39-40.
I’m reminded that God has better in mind when things don’t go my way and it takes faith to believe that. It seems like this chapter ends with “…” so that the rest of our stories can fall in line. He is still writing Hebrews 11 with our lives because that will lead to His perfection when Jesus returns.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things.
Pursue righteousness, godliness,faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
1Timothy 6:11
ESV
Vicki, from Grapevine TX
They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name. ~ Psalm 139:20 NIV
kathy white modesto, ca
” BE FAITHFUL EVEN TO THE POINT OF DEATH, AND I WILL GIVE YOU LIFE AS YOUR
VICTOR’S CROWN” REVELATION 2: 10b NIV
…so is my word that goes out from my mouth:It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11(NIV)