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
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.
Susan Sarver, St. George, Utah
“And this is love: that we walk in His commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.” 2 John 1:6 HCSB
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NIV
Deborah Harney, Columbia City, IN, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are in steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Carrie, St. Paul, MN
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 HCSB
Kayla Davisson, Fort Wayne, IN
“If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.”
2 Timothy 2:13, NLT
Laurie Watkins Arlington tx
Pray without ceasing!!!
1Thess. 5:17
Kjv
Sandra Arnold, Paris, Tennessee
“If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
Genesis 4:7 (NASB)
Karen Karker New Holland, PA
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 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.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.”
Psalm 119:37 (ESV)
Kristen, Liberty, MO
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. John 6:40 NIV
Laura from Apopka says:
“For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.”
1 Corinthians 4:20, NLT
Sarita Beyea, Londonderry, NH “But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.” Luke 5:5,6 NKJV
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
Romans 8:26 NIV
Michelle O’Banion, Grandview, TX
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
Romans 13:1 NLT
Psalm 71:16 NKJB. 10/15/15. Brenda Rowland, Mint Hill,NC
I will go in the strength of the Lord.
I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.
Maria from Tallmadge, Ohio
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2a (NIV)
Sarah Whitt, Fort Worth, TX
“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while He is near.”
Isaiah 55:6 HCSB
Marilyn, Houston, TX: “Pray without ceasing”. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:40, NIV
Ephesians 6:10-11
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Paulette P. Mays
Elmer, La
Cindy-RichmondTx Matthew 21:22 (NIV) If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
Kathi Griffin from Macon, GA:
13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27: 13-14 NIV
Isaiah 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in You.
Tori Mays
Elmer, La
Cheryl Cannon, Concord, NC
“There is so much more
I want to tell you,
but you can’t
bear it
now.”
John 16.12 NLT
Linda from Enumclaw
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the church, “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:7. NIV
Sandy E.; Kansas City, Missouri; “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22 NIV.
Susan, Wynne
2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV)
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Pat Tilson, Fort Worth TX “if you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go.” Psalm 91:9-11 (NLT)
Linda Jewell
Sedona, AZ
2 Timothy 1:11 NKJV
to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
Elsie – Scottsbluff, NE
Psalm 37:4 ESV
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Diane – Chesapeake, VA
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)
” But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”
Gina Demangos San Diego CA
Let us hold unswerving to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Diane, Hemet, CA
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. Psalm145:5 NKJ
You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all and the angels of heaven worship you. Nehemiah 9:6 NLT
Suzanne Bailey, Harrisville, RI
“Do not be slothful in zeal,
be fervant in spirit;
serve the Lord.”
Romans 12:11 ESV (part of a series)
Maureen, Pascoag, RI
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Psalm 19:1
NRSV
Jones Creek, Texas
In all things God works
for the good of those who love Him,
Who have been called
according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
(NIV)
Gigi Parisi
Mullica Hill NJ
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5 NIV
Janine – Corona, CA
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your GOD goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you…The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:6,8 (NIV)
“I know Him [Myself] because I come from His [very] presence, and it was He [personally] Who sent Me.”
John 7:29 AMP
Cara Roberts, Reelsville, Indiana. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. ” Romans 15:13 ESV
Angie Shockney Lafayette,IN
Ephesians 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. NIV
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Lisa Cooper – Fort Worth, Texas
“For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17 NIV
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.” (Isaiah 43:18, ESV)
Karen McCormick – Waco, Texas. “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 NIV
Vickie Gray
Wichita Falls, Tx
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous be shaken.
Psalm 55:22 NIV
he will never let the rightous
Linda W. from Tomball, TX:
“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.”
Psalm 33:20 (ESV)
Kris Morrissey, Omaha, NE
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)