Today with Kara

The Pursuit of Liberty (part one)

xapa21 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:15:35 +0000

Light vs. Darkness. Is it really black and white? Choose light, choose life; give in to darkness and find death? Are these really the only 2 options in this life? I thought I would find out for myself.

I grew up in church, like so many did, being molded by a rule book and blinded to the love of Christ. Sure, we heard about it, but in every chapel, camp and conference we were hit over the head with the do’s and don’ts of religion. Basically we were taught to fit the cookie cutter and condemn those who did not. My Dad never taught this, and I wish I would have listened to him, and ignored everyone else. Seriously.

When my life came to a point when I sincerely wanted to find God, I should have gone through Jesus Christ and been home. Oh, how I wish I would have. However, I chose a different way. A shinier, broader, more popular way. Some would call it New Age, others paganism or humanism…I chose to call it “my own path”.

At first it was so exciting…crystals, meditating, energy, grounding, discovery, awakening…even supernatural events. It was exhilerating. I was blissfully happy. I chanted, sought, loved, channeled and soared. Until I didn’t. I was completely unaware that I had opened all the doors wide open for demons to come into my life and set up shop. Once they were there, they made quick work of me. I was blinded, deceived, enslaved and completely manipulated by these evil spirits that I had somehow welcomed with open arms.

Instead of the peace, love and joy that I thought I was going to find, I ended up with even more pain, sadness and bondage. The opposite of that which I had hoped to find. No matter how hard I tried to break free, I was more constricted and depressed and farther away from God than I thought possible.

Until it was too much. January 10, 2011, I was in my Florida home, practicing witchcraft. That’s right. It is mind-blowing to remember how fast I had gone into idolatry and all kinds of evil work. There was so much demonic activity that night, that I was completely scared and in way over my head. Out of the blue, my friend from the Philippines happened to call me and said something about the evil work of chakra balancing, meditating, ect., and I knew at that moment that God was speaking to me.

In the midst of all the craziness that was happening in my room (I’m still not ready to describe everything that happened that night), I knelt down and plead the blood of Jesus Christ over my mind, body and soul and against all the evil spirits in my room. It was such a relief. They immediately fled, and I re-dedicated my life to Jesus and vowed to seek and worship him alone for the rest of my life. It. Was. Amazing.

Finally, the peace and joy and love that I had DESPERATELY been craving came to me, and swept over me like a wave. It was the most beautiful moment of my life to that point. That was the beginning of the best year of my life. The moment that changed my life forever.

Soon, I will write about this past year, but for now, I’m so happy to share that I am free at last, free at last, praise the Lord, I’m free at last.

DIY

xapa21 — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:43:04 +0000

The Holy Spirit fills us, empowers us and is working perfectly to accomplish that which is for our good and God’s glory. Thankfully, we are not robots, and God allows us to be co-creators and partners with him in accomplishing his will in earth (your life) as it is in heaven. It is a privilege to not only participate in this exciting process, but to have guidelines spelled out in God’s Word of what we can do ourselves.

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:20)
Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another (Mark 9:50)
Yield yourselves unto God (Rom. 6:13)
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5)
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19)
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (Eph. 5:21)
Submit yourselves therefore to God (James 4:7)
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord (James 4:10)
Keep yourselves from idols (1 John 5:21)
Building up yourselves on your most holy faith (Jude 1:20)
Keep yourself in the love of God (Jude 1:21)

Most importantly, we know we can do ALL things through Christ! He empowers us to be all that we were created to become! Such bliss!

Renew Your Mind #14

xapa21 — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:11:59 +0000

KNOW that you CAN be like God!

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us: God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” I John 4:16,17

Rock-solid, crystal-clear PROMISE from my Father that I can be like Him…now! In THIS world. How exciting and encouraging to have this obtainable goal!

Viagra For Sex Offenders

xapa21 — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 04:00:01 +0000

Renew Your Mind #13

xapa21 — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:44:48 +0000

Act like a child! It’s so profoundly simple that we tend to think it isn’t true. “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Humility, gratitude, truth, clean hands, pure heart, faith, spiritual songs – all important keys to being filled with the Spirit and entering the Kingdom.

Do right, don’t lie, be kind, share, tell the truth, trust me, say “Thank you, Yes Sir, No Sir, Yes Ma’am, No Ma’am.” When did this drone of direction from our parents get written off as unuseful and inapplicable? It is a beautiful thing when you are able to become as a child and enjoy the vast richness of the fullness of God and his kingdom.

(I know that’s not what Jesus looked like…)

Mystery Solved!

xapa21 — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:38:52 +0000

“The MYSTERY which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints; To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory:”

“When Christ, WHO IS OUR LIFE, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

Who is Christ?

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalites, or poweres: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

This SAME Christ is in you! In me! In WE! Christ is your very life!

No wonder we CAN do all things! Of course ALL things are possible! GREATER is HE that is in YOU than he that is in the world.

“We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

So thrilling and exciting to know that CHRIST IS IN ME!

How To Please God and Abound

xapa21 — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:23:21 +0000

I Thessalonians 4

How ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

Purity v.3,4

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. – Psalm 24:3,4
With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. – Psalms 18:26
The real ornament of a woman is her character, her purity. – Mohandas Gandhi
Purity of speech, of the mind, of the senses, and of a compassionate heart are needed by one who desires to rise to the divine platform. – Chanakya

Holiness v.7

For everything that lives is holy, life delights in life. – William Blake
Be ye holy; for I am holy. I Peter 1:16
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: – Hebrews 12:14

Love v.9,10

Love me when I least deserve it, because that’s when I really need it. – Swedish Proverb
We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly. – Sam Keen
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. - Matthew 22:37,39
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. – 1 John 4:16

Work v.11

Inspiration exists, but is has to find us working. – Pablo Picasso
Find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life. – Harvey MacKay
For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. – Psalms 128:2
In all labour there is profit: – Proverbs 14:23

Honesty v.12

The true measure of life is not length, but honesy. – John Lyly
Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. – Thomas Jefferson
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: – Ephesians 4:15
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. – Ephesians 4:25

That ye may have lack of NOTHING!

Hug E Gram!

xapa21 — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:35:16 +0000

Perfection – not just a possibility

xapa21 — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:12:56 +0000

Perfect

I know it’s a bit cliché to give a definition, but I am very excited about this one.

Conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type
Excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement
Exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose
Entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings
Accurate, exact, or correct in every detail
Thorough; complete
Pure
Absolute
Expert, accomplished, proficient

Being PERFECT sounds pretty appealing! The King James translators chose this word as one of the results of allowing patience to transform you into what you were designed to become…and I’m so glad they did! I especially like “exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose.” This is a relatively new concept that I’ve grasped, having wondered for years if there was a specific purpose for each human. Now, I am confident that there is a work-in-progress in each life – tailor-made to mold and equip us with precisely what is needed to accomplish our mission.

Every situation, experience, relationship, obstacle and opportunity is part of the greenhouse that is performing the good work that God began and will perpetuate until you realize fully the Christ in you, and are able to perform that which only your unique training will allow. When you are ready, you will be shown the path of life, fullness of joy and everlasting pleasure.

The most beautiful part of this process is that all you need is faith and humility. Faith in knowing you will come forth as gold, a vessel of honor. Faith in knowing that it is God who is working in you, performing his will in earth as it is in heaven, making everything beautiful in His time. Faith in knowing that your desires are your divine destiny, and that everything is for your good and His glory. Know in your heart that your perfection is the ultimate goal, and keep that vision before you. You’ll definitely perish (faint in the day of adversity) without holding to a clear picture of imminent resurrection and transformation.

And humility. As soon as you bring yourself to an understanding that the only good in you is God, you are ready to be exalted. Until you reach that point, who you think you are (your ego) will be resisted by God and cause you to fall. Realize that what you do, where you go, what you say and how you look is not you. You are not the sum total of the opinion of your peers. You are not your personality, talents, thoughts or emotions. What you accomplish, create or achieve is not the essence of you. You just are. You are a beautiful, unique creation of God, and in Him you live, move and be. Without Him you can do nothing.

Once you come to the point of total faith and humility, you are a new creature. You potential as a conduit of God’s infinite power is as limitless as eternity. With that faith that you have developed, you will be able to move literal mountains and have whatever you desire. You are one with Jesus and the Father, and you will receive the same glory that God gave His only begotten Son. You dwell completely in love, consequently dwelling in God.

Deuteronomy 18:13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

Psalms 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Proverbs 2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Luke 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Philippians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Colossians 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Renew Your Mind #12

xapa21 — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 02:22:09 +0000

Remember the big picture is created by details. Deserts are composed of grains of sand, oceans of drops of water, and mountains of dirt and rocks. The attention you give to the small things determines the beauty and influence of the final product.

Elizabeth Dunphy said, “It’s the little things that matter, that add up in the end, with the priceless thrilling magic found only in a friend.”