Article Review: It's Too Bad I'm Fat

I'm subscribed to an online magazine called Prodigal and this is why I love it. It posts wonderful articles like the following. Today my blog is dedicated to all my sisters in progress.
Check out this article on prodigalmagazine.com

 

Savory Summer Salad

Quinoa! For real, I have never had this grain before this past week, but now that I have I cannot say enough good things about this wonder food. I have a friend moving to China, and in lou of leaving she left me with bags full of groceries, one featuring a bag full on quinoa,so I have been experimenting.

At the beginning of the week i had made a quinoa salad to share with a friend coming over. So tasty, I had to make it again for a potluck BBQ I was going to last night and it was a hit! Enjoy!

Veggie-Confetti Quinoa Salad

1 Chicken Bouillon Cube

2 Cups Water

1 Cup Quinoa, uncooked

1 Cup Zucchini, cubed

1 Cup Fresh Spinach 

1 Cup Yellow Tomatos, diced

1 Cup Diced Mushrooms

1 Tbs Baslamic Vinegar 

2 Tbs Olive Oil

1/2 Clove Garlic, minced

Salt

Pepper

Bring water, bouillon, and quinoa to a heavy boil in a large sauce pot. Cover with a tight fitting lid and simmer for 50 min. Meanwhile, prepare vegetables. Combine vegetables in a large bowl and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Then drizzle over vegetables and toss together. Add quinoa and toss again. Place in fridge until cool and ready to serve. Makes 6 cups. 

Sarah's Daughters

5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves.They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.- 1 Peter 3:5-6

This passage has not left my mind since I first read it a couple days ago. 
It comes out of the passage where Paul is telling women to submit to their husbands and the prelude to this passage in 1 Peter 2 talks about living Godly lives in a pagan world. It talks about submitting to others that will push you down, hurt you, do things that make you feel disrespected and rejected. It says, submit, because that's what Christ did for us. He submitted even unto death on a cross. 

It talks about slaves obeying masters, servants obeying bosses, and then finally wives submitting to husbands, and husbands loving wives. When the pagans treat you poorly, submit, so that the love of Christ may be shown in you. 

I don't know about anyone else, but when it comes to survival I tend towards the fight rather than flight mechanism. When I am feeling pushed down, overwhelmed, walked-on-like-a-door-mat, the last thing I want to do is submit. In fact I tend to harbor it all inside, and get passive aggressive until it explodes (that is vulnerability and honesty, guess there are some truths you need to accept about yourself and work to be better in). This is so natural,  To rise up and seek vengance. However, to risk being cliche, I don't think it's what Jesus would do. 

Jesus, as a lamb lead to slaughter submitted himself unto death. And that is our call as co-heirs with Christ, to take on the humility of a little lamb. To become the sacrifice. Notice, the last part of verse 6 says do not give way to fear. When we see what is happening, when we feel the words of death being lashed upon us, our initial reaction is to fight. Like a fearful lamb, it will turn. It will try to run. It will try to have it's own way. It will cling to ever last bit of life, and that is the way we are. However, we are called to more, and that is to lose our life. To willingly embrace our place as the sacrifice, that the whole world may know salvation through us. 

That is how we are called to love "the world." However, what happens when it comes time to love one another? What happens when it is time to lay down our lives for our brother and sisters in Christ. When it's someone in the world, so often we pass it off as "I'm gonna take this so you see Jesus in me." But what if our own brother or sister is struggling and lashes out, insults, or rejects us? What then? Do we cast judgement or do we do the same, recognizing that until we are met up in glory there is still a little piece of the world in us. The world is not our home. Yes, we are made new, but still this is where we are at and we are all being transformed into His likeness. Anyone that has been in a time of transition and transformation knows it hurts. That's where growth happens, in the muck, in the darkness, in the valley. And as most we are so prone to fear. However, Paul says do not fear. Even when others around you aren't acting as they should. Even when you are tempted  to avoid grace with others, have grace, because then they may see the Lord in you and be transformed. Do not fear, because this is how Christ loved the church. He embraced his death to give life and we are coheirs, finding life as we lose ours. We are being taken from glory to glory together as we have grace with one another and walk on this journey to the new life. 

And we're in business

JairusDaughter

So, if you've been following, India really impacted my life, in more ways than has been revealed thus far. It left me, not only saying "Wow!" but "What now?" 

I sat in Michigan processing everything that I saw and experienced. Mind Blown. How could I just walk away. How could I just lay this time aside, in the past? Well...simply, I can't. So while talking to my boyfriend's mom, and heaps of her encouragement an idea was sparked. Why not continue ministering? Though I am on the other side of the globe, my actions may still have an impact. An JairusDaughter was born. 

What is is? That's a fair question. It's an Etsy account, featuring a hodgepodge of photography, vintage items, and handmade goods with 30% of all proceeds(which will increase once we get up and running) going to empower women around the world. 

Why the name? A few years back, there was a story I read in the Bible that impacted my life exponentially. It's the story where Jesus raises a synagogue leader's daughter from the dead (Mark 5:35-43). The leader comes to Jesus to ask Jesus to heal his sick daughter. On the way he gets news that the girl is not only sick, but has died. Jesus goes to the man's house anyway. Seeing the girl, Jesus says, "She's not dead, she's merely sleeping." Everyone laughs, because it's clear that she's dead. So Jesus clears the unbelievers out of the room. When the room is near empty, Jesus takes the little girl by the hand and whispers, "Talitha Koum," meaning "Little girl, rise up and walk." Immediately she rises and begins to walk around the room, healed. 

I believe that this is the blessed hope for every Daughter. The Lord sees us. He sees us where we're at. Whether we were born in the brothels or raised in the suburbs, He sees, and he is gently whispering "Talith Koum, my little girl, rise up and walk." The blessed hope of salvation is that we would have life and have it to the fullest. I can't say I have completely grasped that hope. The Lord is still calling to me, healing my sick soul piece by piece. However, as I am healed, I hear him calling me to send this whisper around the world, that all may know his love. To the teenager sitting in the back row of American Church, struggling with an eating disorder. To the Ugandan mother who needs a way to provide for her multiple children. To the young woman in India who is fighting for her life and mind as another man enters the room. To the infant girl in China who may never find a home. The Father above is whispering, "Rise up and walk." Anyone who knows me knows it's my heart to return. I'm not content to live a life on the sidelines when I could be on the front lines. However, that's in the Lord's time, so I must be content as he has called me to be here and now. But I won't be silenced. I haven't felt a call to simply let darkness prevail as I sit in America and do nothing, but rather shine a light and expose it and challenge others to do the same. 

Faith and Failure

What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?

This question was posed on the 'Bou' Board at a coffee shop I sat at yesterday. It was a good question. One I took time to contemplate. Ironically, it kind of fit in to the theme "Fear not" the Lord has been taking me through. As I mulled the question over in my mind, I began to compile a list:
1) Train for a 5K
2) Open a Store
3) Leave the country
...
The list continued. Then I saw an opposing question lingering beneath the first:
If you know you will not fail, where is the challenge?

Again, good point. I sat there, and very softly I felt a tug at my heart saying, "if you know you will not fail, where is the faith?" And it struck me. That's the whole point. Faith enables us to do the impossible. It's not meant to help us accomplish what we can do on our own. It's to accomplish the divine.
So what about the times when we step out in faith and we fail anyway? What then? I've been struggling through lots of regret lately. Not on times where I didn't step out in faith, but where I did and it ended...well...not quite as expected. Expectation and reality collided and I found myself disappointed. So what do I do with that? When I obey. When my human attempts to have faith in the impossible leave me feeling empty, and perplexed on why? That's also where faith comes in.

It is impossible for what to be seen as failure to be used for anything good. It is impossible for our stumbling to lead to standing in the end. However, with faith it does. Faith is trusting the Lord, not only for boldness to step out and do the impossible, but also to trust that somethings will be used despite what we see. It's trusting, that when we are obeying to the best of our abilities and know how, then the Lord is pleased, and things will go according to plan.

The Word says "Do not worry. You're more valuable than a bird." However, I'm so slow to believe that. But it is the truth. If I am more valuable than a bird, and the Lord even takes care of birds, then what do I need to worry about, whether money, or food, past or future. Nothing can separate me from the Love of God. The Lord is working. I don't know how. I don't need to know how. I just need to know him, and that's enough to know that the impossible is attainable. 

God is Omnipotent

While in India the woman, Joyce Meyers, kept on being talked about by the ladies on my team. Reference after reference was made to words of wisdom gleaned from this powerhouse woman. Now, this is not the first time I have been with a group of people slightly obsessed with Joyce Meyers. No, indeed, I have had several people that have loved the teachings of this woman, and have encouraged me to join the following. I, with a streak of carnal rebellion, have been resisting the movement. However, when I hear so much good about the woman for about a month and a half. Then I return to the states where I hear even more, curiosity must be peaked.  So, I have jumped on the Joyce Meyer band wagon, and have started reading Battlefield of the Mind. Wow! That is pretty much the best way to summarize this book. Everyday, it has so perfectly targeted my life, that it can't be anything but the Lord directing me to this book.

Today I was reading Chapter 10 on having a confused mind, and it really seemed to fit in with this journey the Lord has been leading me on of simply knowing Him. That is the source of everything we do.When we know God, we begin to understand everything in life from a new perspective, and perspective has the power to change our life. When we are living and surrendering in the battle, our minds begin to wander and we become confused. Our thoughts may dwell on the past, either wishing we were still there, or worrying about what has happened. That our our minds dwell on the future, wondering what will happen, which leads to worrying about what will happen.

Wisdom from Joyce "We must be satisfied in knowing the One who knows even when we do not know."

The fact is that we will never know! We don't really know everything about our past. We will never know the impact it has had. In the same way, we will never know our future. Only the Lord knows what is ahead. For me this is a constant battle. I worry. I worry about what I have done. I worry about what I am doing. I worry about the future. I need control. I need the details. At least that's what I think I need. However, only "one thing is needed" (Luke 10:38-42). That is to sit, be still, and know my God. He has had the details all worked out from the beginning. He is simply calling me to day by day get to know him and to trust him. 

India 2013!

Here's a short summary of my trip to India!

God is Master

Sometimes it's hard. It's hard to obey, especially the Lord. Everything in our fleshly, human nature resists it. However, all life is breathed from this key: obey. The Lord spoke let there be life, so there is life. All the molecules of our being came together and formed in obedience to the creator, so how do we think our lives will be fulfilled without this action being put into play? Obey. Obedience. Even if it simply means waiting in the silence.
Being still. To be still and know your God. How can we obey the voice of the one that we do not know? If we do not recognize the voice, will we follow? An even better question is if we will know the voice and follow? Even if following means being still, resting, laying tranquilly as we wait, having life poured into us by merely being.
Hebrews talks a lot about faith in the Lord. That is what our relationship is built on. Everything that pertains to the Lord is winnowed down to this basic word: Faith. However, the last chapter speaks on different matters. It speaks of obedience, sacrifices deemed pleasing to the Lord. In the Law, sacrifices were the redeeming factor for Israel. Their whole culture was based upon obedience and sacrifices made for disobedience.
However, Hebrews talks of another way. It says that there is an eternal sacrifice, a redeeming factor. I talked about this in a previous post. So then, the sacrifice that remains is obedience to the Lord, and our redeeming factor is grace. Obedience becomes the basis of our sacrifices, not slaughtered goats, because obedience is based on relationship. Obedience requires knowing someone, knowing their voice, will, likes, dislikes...and going about to fulfill their desires. This is why we call God Master and Lord, because obedience shapes our offerings of Praise to him. But, if we are not listening to his voice and walking in his will how can we call him Lord? We can't. A good servant knows the business of his master and fulfills it to the best of his abilities. This is his duty, but more so the evidence of his faithfulness. Still, the basis of all obedience is to obey when the master calls us to listen. Only when we listen will we know the will of the Lord and be equipped to follow.

The Lamb of God

Going on this whole names of God kick, there is a name of Jesus that I have been mulling around in my head the last month or so and it kind of came into my devos today. I was reading Hebrews 10 and it was talking about Christ being the Sacrifice. Christ is the Lamb of God.

I don't think we really realize what this means. I mean, not to the full capacity. After all, living in modern America, I don't generally live in a place where I consistently see animal sacrifices. However, earlier this year, I went to a session lead by a Messianic Jewish man who explained the Jewish sacrifice of a lamb in a way that has really changed the way I view this title "Lamb of God."

In the sacrifice, the lamb must be perfect. Without spot, blemish, deformity. Anything can appear perfect from a distance, but to truly know something worth or value, it requires examination. The lamb was taken from among the flock to live with the family for a time. During this time, the lamb would be observed. The whole body would be looked over. The family would see how the lamb behaved. The lamb would be so enveloped by the family that it almost became apart of the family. Like a pet, the lamb lived with the family to determine its perfection.

Then when perfection had been decided, it would be lead to the slaughter. One of the family. This piece of perfection that the children had played with and grown to love, that had grown to love the family would be lead to die for the family. And then, the family would partake of the lamb. They would eat his flesh as a means of partaking in the "salvation" he brought.

The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.

Jesus came. He came to live among us. He was God, manifesting flesh. God becoming human and dwelling among us. We grew to love him. We questioned him. We examined him for fault and we loved him. He loved us. So we lead him to die. The Father called him to die. And on the night he was betrayed he broke the bread saying "this is my body, broken for you. Partake in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, "this is my blood, poured out for you. Partake in remembrance of me." Whenever your break this bread and drink this cup you remember the Lord until the day that he comes. We partake in the sacrifice that brought us salvation.

Jesus is the lamb who took away the sins of the world. There is nothing that we can do to deserve this, and it goes beyond reason. No longer do we sacrifice animals year after year, because what salvation can a lamb bring. But only the blood of human flesh can atone for the sin of human flesh, and so the sacrifice was made complete as Christ became the sacrifice for the world.

Abba, I pray you would cause me to abide today in your sacrifice. May it not be in vain, but may I continue to press on towards you, that I may experience the life and salvation that is your will for my life. Amen. 

God is Rest

Today I was reading through a few chapters in Hebrews and they kind of hit on the idea of God being a refuge again, but focused on God as rest.

When the Israelites went to take back the promised land, it was promised that the Israelites would find rest, but only in obedience. The Israelites were commanded to wipe out all other nations. Then and only then would they find rest from their wandering and find a home in the land.

Parallel? When we live in obedience and slay the strongholds in our lives, we find ourselves at home in the Sabbath rest of God.

We find rest through obedience. It's like the idea that unless you are actually walking in what the Lord has called you to, you will never be happy. Though the road may be painful and hard, you will find joy, because you are walking in obedience. However, if you are walking in disobedience, though the road may be filled with luxury you will despair of being fulfilled.

Obedience equals rest, but anyone walking in the faith knows that obedience is easier said than done. Even Paul said that the things he longs to do he doesn't and the things he wishes to veer away from he does. That's why Jesus is the intercessor. He obeyed his Father, by taking on our disobedience that we may enter Sabbath rest, despite disobedience. Jesus is the refuge for those who disobey, so they may pick themselves up, and keep pressing on into righteousness. That's the beauty of grace. That we can keep pressing on towards that Sabbath rest, even when we fall. That we may still be apart of God's will and plan even when we fall.

Abba, give me ears to hear your voice, and a heart sensitive to your calling. May I discern you will and be quick to follow. And even when I am foolish and fleshly, help me remember your grace and embrace it, that I can get back up and continue in obedience.  Amen. 

God is a Refuge

Just a little bit inspired by being in India and the journey of courage the Lord seemed to be taking me on, I've been reading through the book of Joshua: a book about being bold and courageous and about taking back the land the Lord has promised.

Today I was reading chapter 20, where Joshua delegates "cities of refuge" for the people of Israel. A city of refuge is a place where a person could flee if he accidentally killed someone. This was a place of safety for the accidental murder. A place where those who had sinned by mistake could run and find peace, safety from the avenger. Now looking at other areas of scripture, specifically the Psalms, God is often referred to as a refuge. A place of peace. A place where the sinner may run and find safety.

How often do we need this. In our darkness and our flesh, we are consistently tearing one another down. There is life and death in the tongue, and in innocence how often we choose death. However, the Lord is a refuge to offender. When we sin against one another, we may run to him and find grace and forgiveness.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." -Psalm 46:1

India Update: Finally Home

Dear Readers,

I have been home for nearly a week now. Some how between saying final goodbyes, over 18 hours of plane rides, travelling home, running to a wedding, going through the woods to visit grandma, and finally crash landing in Michigan, while striving to beat jet lag...Somehow I haven't been able to blog until now.

It's been a whirlwind. It seems so surreal to think last week I was on the other side of the world. Now I'm visiting Michigan for the first time ever. Scratch that, it is a whirlwind, and last week seems like a dream.

But the beautiful thing is that it wasn't a dream. It really did happen. I met some of the most beautiful people in the world, rode an elephant, and learned and relearned lessons invaluable.

I discovered the secret dimension of living is not in what you can do for others or what they can do for you, but it is in simply being. And guess what. That's not something to be feared. Though so often we, in our American lifestyles, are running around from here to there, barely resting to get to know ourselves, much less give others a chance. The simplicity of living is in being. It's in living life with others, accepting yourself in all you are, as you are, and doing the same for others. Acknowledging that we are all on a journey to our better selves that lie somewhere in the future, and until then we're all covered by the grace of the Lord. The Lord loves us, and we are all in this world together, being transformed daily for his glory. So what is there to fear in community? In the movie P.S. I Love You, Kathy Bates says "Even if we're all alone, well then we're all in that together too." The joy of community is that we are never alone. And in that there is the Lord, together with us, helping us grow, change, and bear fruit.

India did have a happy "ending," but I don't think it's as much of an ending, as a happy beginning. The beginning of something new. The Lord began to tear off deep things embedded in my heart. Things I didn't even know were there. Things that I denied were there. Things that I fought like the devil as he began to reveal them through other people. However, as long as the hidden prevails in darkness, that's it. It prevails, because if what is darkness is not brought to light, how can it be dealt with?

Through the past few years the Lord has been peeling off layers of fear. If ogres are like onions, then I must be big and green, because I have lots of layers and they keep coming off. And they'll keep coming off until I'm fearless. Walking away from India, some layers have been left behind, and the beauty of who the Lord is in me is slowly being revealed. One step away from the darkness, one step into light. I'm not finished. He's not finished, but it's a step and if even one step is made, it's worth it. I'm not the same, nor do I think I could be.

This won't be my last time in India. I am declaring that. I will be back, in the Lord's time. However, until then, I'm going to keep growing, keep seeking him, and keep being, because in that He is glorified.

Dear Readers, thank you for being apart of this journey. This is only the beginning of something great. I don't know where I'm going from here on out. All I know is that I am in Michigan and when I get back I have a place to stay for a month. For the first time in my month I don't have a plan, but I feel like that's ok. I'm at Peace. The doors will be open. The time has come for me to be. To trust. To wait. The Lord will come through. Pray for me!

Love you all,
<3 Kay