Blog Archives

Just Grow

11/26/2013

I don't want to change. I want to grow.

In my prayers the other night I found myself praying for growth versus change. I was able to witness a friend of mine in a capacity that I had not seen him in prior. I was proud and amazed at the grace in which he ministered. As I prayed, I envisioned him moving into a different role than his current one and said, "Lord, let him grow into that role but do let him change". He's humble, kind, unassuming and caring - all the things needed for the role I see him stepping into one day.

When I say I want to grow I mean the core, spiritual core, remains the same. I will not change that I am a Christian but I will grow as one. As I pray, meditate, and learn I want to grow in the faith not change it.

I need to stop saying and wishing people would change and just pray for their growth.

My little one is growing daily. I love watching her and finding out day by day who God made her to be. I love what I see. I don't want her to change but I do want her to grow, to mature.

She's funny, I don't want that to change.

She's smart I don't want that to change.

She's curious I don't want that to change.

Before this, I've often said that I wanted to see some things change in her: Come to me right when I ask her to. Stop whining. Use the potty. Now, I just want her to mature - grow to the point she realizes it is in her best interest to do these things.

Change can cause other things to be affected - the very essence of a person. I've seen many people go through something challenging or experience hardships and they change.

They were loving but now they are bitter.

They were giving but now they are selfish.

They were kind but now they have a hardened heart.

Change.

No, I don't want to change myself or others anymore. I just want us all to grow. To grow with Jesus' example leading and guiding every step of the way.

I want my spiritual core, foundation, to remain the same and as the Holy Spirit prompts me, I will grow taller in my faith.

No more change for me! Just steady and healthy growth toward becoming who God made me to be.

"but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18 NASB)

Just Around The Corner,

Kyra

2 Comments

Fearfully And Wonderfully Made

11/18/2013

2 Comments

Every year, for the past three years, there has been a new addition to the family. My niece was born last Tuesday night and she is definitely fearfully and wonderfully made. My sister's mother-in-law prayed for my niece while my sister was in labor and said, "We thank You God for what You have made in Your image ..." and for some reason it really struck me. It isn't as if I am unfamiliar with the concept, I've studied it, talked about it, taught it ... but it has never stirred me before as it did Tuesday evening when we were all gathered together praying.

God did make us, each of us, in His image (Gen 1:26-27). We, mankind, are the only creatures that God made that has His personal "stamp". Even the angels cannot claim that they were made in His image - but we can. When God looks at us He sees His image. Isn't that an awesome realization?

If you have a child, and your child is acting up, (and inevitably they all do in some capacity or another) regardless of what it is, you still see them as your child. No matter their age, no matter how far they have strayed they are still a part of you. Your DNA is coursing through their vines - they have some of your features, mannerisms and even parts of your personality. Just like that, when God looks at us He sees reflections of Him. In spite of everything we do wrong and displeasing in His sight - He still sees us in His image.

When you are doubting your worth, when you look in the mirror and wish you saw a different reflection, or when circumstances start to make you question why you are here - remember God purposely made you in His image.

In spite of how you may feel about yourself, or how others may look at you, God looks at you and sees that when He made you it was "very good" (Gen 1:31).

You are fearfully and wonderfully made my friend and there's just no denying it.

"Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day." (Psalm 139:13-16 MSG)

Just Around The Corner,

Kyra

2 Comments

His Eye Is On The Sparrow...

11/11/2013

2 Comments

This past week I was running around getting preparations ready for a baby shower that my family was giving one of my sisters. In and out of stores, changing my mind about what decorations or ribbon to use (yes, I said ribbon...). It seemed to be non-stop.

On Saturday, as we were all feverishly getting ready, about an hour and a half before the guests were to arrive my mother exclaimed, "I don't have any sternos!" I rolled my eyes in disbelief. How could she forget the sternos?! For those of you wondering what a sterno is, it is the "canned fuel" used to heat the chaffing dishes that hold the food. When my mother cooks for large events we pull out the chaffing dishes for presentation and practical use - keep the food warm.

No one likes cold food at a party!

She called one of my sisters and asked her to pick up a pack since she was on her way. My sister called back twenty minutes later to report one store didn't have them and another store's prices were so ridiculous she refused to oblige. She didn't have a member's card to get them from the Club where my mother usually bought them, so I volunteered to go get them. I still had quite a bit to finish up that last hour, including making myself presentable.

As I was driving I kept praying, "Lord, please redeem the time." I knew how much I needed to get done in the small amount of time that was left. To my surprise, a 10 minute drive only took 5 minutes. No, I didn't speed. I found a parking space almost immediately and it was not far from the entrance.

I had asked my mother before I left where the sternos were located in the Club. To my surprise, they were exactly where she said they would be. As I walked to the cash registers I said the prayer again, "Lord, please, please redeem the time." It was Saturday and I was expecting to see ridiculously long lines. I even contemplated giving my sob story of cold food and a party to begin with in the hour so that I could get ahead of the line - after all, I only had one item. Once again, to my surprise, each line only had one or two people in it. I chose one and got out quite quickly.

As I was driving back, I said again, "Lord, please redeem the time." When I was down the street from the house, I realized I had been gone for a total of 18 minutes. God had certainly redeemed the time. I was elated. I thanked Him for caring about the "little" things we go through and how He honors our requests even when they seem insignificant.

As I was celebrating this small victory, I realized that when it came to the big stuff, I have gotten away from trusting and being at rest that He cares about everything that is going on in my life - big or small. I smiled even bigger and said aloud, "Okay, You got me. If You care about getting me back in time to finish up preparations for a baby shower - that means You care about the big stuff I've been waiting on too!"

Sometimes, we've just got to get back to the "basics" of trusting and having faith to be assured that God is listening, He still cares and He is working on our behalf - even when we cannot tangibly see it.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31 NIV)

Just Around The Corner,

Kyra

P.S. Would you like to know how I'm growing with my Fear of Failure or Fat Cat lazy ways? Go to my new page on this website "Checkin' In" and find out! Click here or just go to the tab under "Blog".

2 Comments

Hate the Sin, Not the Sinner.

11/4/2013

4 Comments

Disclaimer: Some may consider portions of this post to be of a delicate nature.

That saying is easier said than done.

How do you have unconditional love and compassion for everyone? Probably the most quoted and most well known New Testament scripture is John 3:16, "For God so loved the world ...". The world. That means everyone, right?

While I was on staff at a church, we had to minister to parents that had just tragically lost their daughter. She was shot by a stray bullet just weeks after she started college. Her mother was a true example to all believers. She not only forgave the young man that pulled the trigger, she embraced him. She visited him while he was in jail, and ultimately testified on his behalf so that his life wouldn't be totally ruined because of one senseless act. She did this for the person who was responsible for the death of her daughter.

She showed great love and compassion. She hated the sin, not the sinner.

I visited an orphanage on a missions trip and had a great day being with the children, learning about the ministry and spending time with the founders. It was a great time of fellowship and hope seeing the orphans being loved and cared for.

As we were leaving the orphanage a few people from the group were speaking with one of the founders. I was already in the van and assumed that it was just lingering good-bye talk. When the van loaded no one spoke. It was late and I assumed that everyone was tired, I certainly was.

A few weeks after returning to the U.S. I learned what that conversation was about. In retrospect, I'm glad that God kept the information from me until I was back on U.S. soil. (I had my "alter ego" named by a co-worker. He named her Cybil. Cybil showed up during many different situations, but primarily when dealing with injustices. She had a bit of vigilante [Peter] in her. She felt that righteous indignation trumped "love thy enemies".)

The founder shared with the group that they had just received a call to expect a new child, a baby, the next morning. This nine month old baby had been taken from her family after her father sexually abused/raped her.
A. NINE. MONTH. OLD. BABY. She will have physical internal complications for the rest of her life.

How do you have compassion and love for the father?

How do you hate the sin, not the sinner?

It's two in the morning and I can't sleep because I find myself plagued by this question.

The father OBVIOUSLY needs Jesus. How do you share with him that, even though he did one of the most heinous acts that could ever be imagined, Jesus still loves him and died on the cross for his sins? That his sins, ALL of them - even the one that Jesus said could get him cast into the sea with a millstone around his neck - could be thrown into the sea of forgetfulness and removed as far as the east is from the west? All he needs to do is truly repent and accept Jesus.

How do you muster up that love and compassion?

Friends, I can honestly say I don't have the answer.

I'm not quite sure what Cybil would have done had she been on the same soil with that father when she learned of what he did.

Yes, I know how crazy that sounds.

Though, quite frankly that's where Cybil - I was during that time. I am convinced that God kept the information from me to keep me from trying to do something foolish. Thankfully, Cybil no longer holds a dominant place in my life, but having enough compassion and love for that father is still a place I have yet to venture.

I definitely hate the sin. I think I might actually hate the sinner ...

I find myself, as I am writing this, looking for a kairos moment. For God to open the floodgates of compassion in me so I can write about my growth. Realistically, I am going to have to pray through this.

Maybe for a little while. More than likely for a very long time.

I'm just not there yet.

I wish I were.

I wish I knew that in future circumstances and encounters I will reach out to the perpetrator in the same way I will reach out to the victim. Some situations will not be that easy. I know that. Jonah knew of God's compassion and tried to run away so he wouldn't be a vessel of that compassion (Jonah 4:2).

Right now, my prayer is that when my time to put compassion into practice comes - and it will come - God's love, grace, compassion and mercy will so overshadow me that I won't have time to think about or question it.

Please ... Be Just Around The Corner,

Kyra

P.S. I welcome hearing from you and how you deal with showing love and compassion during extremely difficult circumstances.

4 Comments

Just Grow

Fearfully And Wonderfully Made

His Eye Is On The Sparrow...

Hate the Sin, Not the Sinner.

Author

Archives