Take A Chance

God told Moses to use what was in his hand to part the sea and save his people. What's in your hands that you haven't used? xx,KKC

You have every reason to be afraid.  You have been given every reason to believe that you can't, you won't, you shouldn't, you'll struggle.  You've been told how it will end, where you will be, what you will miss and how much much it will cost you. BUT...none of that came from anyone who could get you there.  So new message, true message: You can.  You will.  God is the real connection you need to focus on because all those standing at the doors He'll open for you are under God's control too, all.  I came from a small town, a big family and certainly not a ton of money or "big time" connections, but every single time I have followed through with what my hands have been given to do, doors open.  I haven't pulled out any little black books of contacts in high places.  I haven't called on old friends of the family that "hooked me up" - it has been me looking to God, staying connected.  It works.  And though I am no where near where I know God is taking me, I am closer than (on many many days and nights) I thought I would be.  And I am no place I expected, but it's perfect.  Connections are GREAT; let me be clear about that.  And I hope that I can help connect or be a connection for another eager-eyed someone much like myself.  After all, aren't we blessed to BE a blessing...remember that.  But today, I value the lesson of working with what has been put in my hands - faith, gifts.  I stay buried in the heart of God and remember at all times that as long as I stay connected to Him, I'm always on my way.  The same thing goes for you.  You're on your way.  Don't listen to anything that doesn't sound like God, that sounds like defeat, that feels like fear.  People only believe you can do as much as they can.  That's a lie, call it. 

God has given you the ability to champion the things that the world says will crush you.  You have been given false messages long enough.  Know that today, God is exactly who God was 1000 years ago, 1000 minutes ago, 1000 moments from now, God is still working.  As a matter of fact, He's never stopped and neither should you.  Keep praying, hold on to the faith that made you push forward in the first place, that quiet faith that made you secretly believe.  Work. Pray. Push. And believe in God as much as He believes in the work He's doing in you.  Today is not the day for quitters, today is the day for you.  Congratulations!! Show me your hands.

 

References:

¹⁷ ...Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”

John 5:17  (NIV)

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

³¹ So do not worry, saying,

‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-27,31-34 (NIV)

 

*** NOTE! ***

This message is an important one to me.  It's faith.  And I will repeat it here and everywhere until everyone believes it for themselves.  Have faith.  There's ALWAYS one more reason to hope.

Sorry I've been a little off on the posts now that I'm back in action.  New grad school semester has started but my word for the year is consistency, so I'll be giving you the best that I've got. Thanks for reading and I pray you're always being blessed, jumpstarted in your day and given smiles to take way with you at night.  Love you all like cake.  Have faith.

 

Something Personal & Special

LADIES & GENTLEMEN:

Yes, I do enjoy that the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated know how to keep it cute (always) BUT I'm more proud that for 105 YEARS we have served the international community with spectacular dignity, promoted education with class, exhibited excellence with grace and withstood the winds of all turbulence still intact and reigning supreme - all as a part of the NINE MOST DIVINE, dedicated, organized groups of predominantly Black persons who not only promote education but demand it. We ARE the talented tenth once dreamed of. Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho, Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma, Omega Psi Phi, Iota Phi Theta: Be proud. Because in a time when we were told we were nothing, we proved we are everything.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, things and people have come and gone.  Some have tried to tear us apart, some have tried to tear us down, sometimes we even mistakenly harmed ourselves.  But in this imperfect race of life, we have proved that the strive to perfection is what counts.  Because as we consistently strive, we may never hit the mark of perfection, but we will always rise to be cream of the crop.  Continue striving.  Continue working hard.  Continue in the pursuit of our habit of excellence.  You are worth the education you seek and you do add value to the service you are committed to provide to the local communities and around the world.  Your life is important and so is your work, so KEEP GOING.  That's the lesson of Alpha Kappa Alpha - things come, things go, but we never stop going.

Another blessed 105.

xx,

Kendra
IO, F03, Superwoman

SKkkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeeeeEE-WEE! 105.

Don't give up yet

Be encouraged.

Whenever things seem to suddenly be all over the place and thoughts start turn to the negative and away from what you've been focusing on, 

...when that "old thing" comes back, haunting and tempting you to try what you quietly already told God you would leave behind,

...when doubt creeps in and you begin to ask questions like, 'what's the point?',

...when you're suddenly surrounded by those who look like friends but sound like discouragement, 

...when you thought you were making progress and suddenly you really don't care and think no one really understands,

...when "your business" suddenly becomes a secret because you really want to avoid the wise words you would hear otherwise, 

...when the only comfort you can find about a situation is convincing yourself that it's 'not that big of a deal,'
 

...ask yourself: is this an attack on what God is doing in/with me?  What's the last thing you prayed about, and not a fly-by-night prayer, but that last thing you really said to God with all your heart: 'God I promise ___,' 'God I'm ready,' 'God I'm serious this time.'  What is the last word you gave LIFE?  Have you considered that the very life you spoke is being threatened?  Then enemy hates us (period, easy) - determined to not only steal, kill and destroy people but everything that we care about and have committed to God.  Whether it's your job, relationship, finances, family, ministry, purpose, school, dreams or anything else you care about...don't let him have it.  Be encouraged.

Know that if a certain area of your life is being attacked and it's an area that you've committed to God, God has NOT quit on you. He hasn't left.  This is an opportunity to call the enemy out as a liar and to prove your commitment and endurance in what God is working on in your life.  Let God work.  Be encouraged!  The Bible isn't a bubblegum gospel of morals and rules; it's a living instrument about a living God working in a world of real struggle and real triumph.  It is the story of the fight for your life.  The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow...(Hebrews 4:12)  You were built to last in God!  We don't wrestle against flesh, every battle is bigger than that, it's a fight for you, your life, your purpose, your soul, your peace and God sees you as worth fighting for! dying for! and coming back for! You don't quit. Fight for your life...because you deserve better than the scraps of life we sometimes settle for, you deserve the opportunity to look yourself in the mirror and see what God sees.  Get up. And fight.

Today's Prayer:

God, The one thing I ask of YOU today—the thing I seek most—is to be known by you,  being excited about YOU and praying to YOU.  You will conceal me there when troubles come; and protect me at all times.  You'll put me out of reach of trouble.  I'll hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. I'll always be grateful and sing it if I have to. Please listen to me when I'm praying, be merciful and answer me!  My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”  And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Please don't turn your back on me now. Don't reject me because of the past. You've always helped me. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, God, save me! Even if my father and mother abandon me, you've still promised to hold me close.  Teach me how to live, God. Lead me on the right path, because enemies are waiting for me to fail; Don't let them have the twisted pleasure. Some might even accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me, my worship makes them angry.  STILL, I'm confident I'll see the Your goodness while I am still right here in the land of the living.  No matter what, please help me wait patiently for You. Help me be brave and courageous. Even if it hurts at first, comfort me as I wait patiently for the You. In Jesus' name, I'm encouraged, Amen.

(-from Psalm 27)

Food for Thought:

Let's Eat: Chipotle-Style Burrito Bowl

I love Chipotle. There's fresh food, great taste...but...we have to be money-smart just like we have to be book smart, street smart and spiritually smart.  So, how can we get the great taste of the Chipotle burrito bowl for less?  Make it, of course!  Quick, simple, delicious:

What's the Point in Praying for the Little Things?

Sometimes we don't want to bother God.  We think of all the bigger things that are going on in the world and all the wrong we've done before and think, 'what's the point?'  The point is that God says to cast EVERY care on Him.  God wants the things that trouble us in the day, that trouble us in the quiet of the night, the things that trouble you at school, the things that frustrate us at work.  God wants all of it.  If it troubles your heart, it troubles God's heart.  So, while we are called to be active in our faith and God has given us the ability to "do", chase God.  Chase God so hard that your spiritual feet hurt, your heart pounds, your thoughts soar and your spirit screams.  Chase God like you need every ounce of everything He has for you.  Chase Him.  And when you feel like you've captured that spot in His heart where you are in full fellowship, fully connected, fully communing with Him...that's when you just keep talking.  Enjoy that space.  That's what it's like to experience the Holy Spirit.  It's what it's like to experience peace.  That experience is like nothing else.  It's when you've searched out the heart of God and what His will is for you, and then you connect - right there between where you are and where He can take you but totally and completely in His will.  Chase Him.  If you have to cry, lose friends, leave jobs, stick it out at jobs, hold on, let go, change lanes, grow up, humble down, whatever it is.  Do it.  Chase Him.

Prayer for Today:

FASTING - FOR THE CURIOUS

Many people around the United States, and around the world in fact, start their new year with a fast.  So what is it?!  Why do it?  How do I stick to it if I just want to quit?  Fasting has a long, rich Biblical history.  Below is some information that I sent out to friends that will be joining in the fast that my fantastic, amazing partner/boo/favorite husband and I are doing - the Daniel Fast.  The Daniel Fast is often 21 days and sacrifices eating bread, meats, sweets and dairy - i.e. whatever can't grow from the ground (minus sugars).  We've done this for the past few years and have watched as we, as well as our friends, were taken to a spiritual place where we weren't begging and pleading for the next "big thing" but listening and connecting with God.  God wants to talk to us no matter how young, old, broken, confused, excited, hurt or stuck we are!  The results have been more than we could have expected and always came whenever they were needed.  That's how flyy God is though, right?  This information is just a piece of the crust, so I will be posting each day through the end of the fast on some related topic or issue (hearing God, prayer, relationships, recipes, etc.)  Check it all out and feel welcome to leave questions in the comments):