My Grandmama

 I dearly love Doylene Kuykendall. She is my mentor, prayer partner, best friend, confidant, and she's my grandmama. She is four things every woman should be: Godly, fiesty, wise and strong. She has guided me through many personal storms and given me so many words of wisdom. If you have the opportunity to meet her, do so. She will rock your world. She is a 4'9 bundle of smiles, joy and wisdom. She is always correcting, guiding, and mentoring me down life's path. She hands out Godly wisdom like candy and each one is tried and true.

Today I thought I'd share a few of her God points.

1. You can't out-give God.  I have heard this phrase come out of her mouth dozens of times. If I was struggling financially or was needing answers, I'd call her up and she'd ask, " Rae, how's your giving? Are you fulfilling the Word's requests? Are you taking care of God's things first?" And then I'd state if I was or if I had been slacking on my giving. Now, she didn't always mean financially giving. Sometimes she's ask if I was giving God my time. The term Giving is covers a wide range of area from time, to abilities, to finances. She makes sure I am giving God my best in all areas because if I am doing that, "He will take care of your needs. Baby, you can't out-give God. It's not possible."
2. God's things first. This one gets used a lot. During college, I'd call her up crying or whining about how everyone else was doing this or was moving there. I would start talking about my plans for my life. She would listen quietly for a few moments and then I'd hear these words, "God's things first, baby. You take care of His dreams for your life and then your dreams will fall into place." She would talk to me about how our plans aren't always His Plans. I'd listen and calm down. She was right. And to this day if I start racing ahead of God's Will for my life, I'll hear her word's echoing in my mind, "God's things first, baby. God's things first."
3. Have you prayed about it?  I'll be complaining about a situation and she'll whip out this phrase, "Have you prayed about it?" Silence on my end of the call. My Grandmama is a prayer warrior. This lady moves mountains when she prays. Seriously. She has a direct line to God and when she prays about a situation things happen. Her prayer life is an inspiration to me. I don't pray enough. When visiting my Grandmama in Louisiana I always try to go to Saturday morning prayer with her. I'll pray for awhile and then just listen to her prayers. They are inspiring. I'm learning to put my concerns in the right perspective. It's taking time and sometimes I still have to be reminded. "Have you prayed about it, baby?"
4.  Get in the Word.  Whew... She makes sure I'm hitting THE BOOK.  Am I in the Word? Am I studying His truths and learning more about the Holy One? If I'm conflicted on a matter she will ask, "What does the Word say? What is God's promise concerning that matter?"  She will tell you up front you have no business NOT knowing what God says through His Word. "Study to show yourself approved."  She will tell you to search His Word, Study it  and seek Him,... these principles are evident in her own life. "Get in the Word."

 I know I am blessed to know this Godly woman. I am blessed by her on a daily basis. If you don't have a woman like her in your life, go find one. Eveyone needs a Doylene Kuykendall.

Tzedakah

  Last Sunday night at FPB my Pastor spoke on the story in the Gospels about the woman who "did what she could." Read about this in Mark 14. As he spoke, I began to think about this woman and how she didn't have much but because she did what she could she ended up being mentioned throughout time. Even Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Simply because she did what she could with what she had.


Apparently God wasn't finished with me on this topic because Monday when going through my daily reading routine of various news sources, websites and blogs, I came across a blog by Scott Ginsberg and in his post he made a point about choreographed giving.

Choreographed giving is when there is no passion, no heart behind our giving. It's a methodical, lifeless motion. We find ourselves going through a giving routine that leaves us feeling hollow and unblessed. We resentfully give our time when asked. We give our finances because as a Christian that what we're supposed to do. We bury talents and abilities in the dirt of our daily routines. We become  automatic givers of our time, our finances, and our abilities. There is no heart, no passion, and no purpose behind our giving. We give because it's socially expected of us, because our Pastor gave a convicting sermon, or because our pew neighbor pulled out their pocketbook and we don't want to be outdone.

When reading about the early church, we read Paul's letters to the various churches and in these letters he is thanking them for their giving spirit. He encourages them to step up and give more. He even laid out Giving plans for some of the churches. We even read of the consequences for selfish giving in Acts 5:1-10. Giving was an essential part of the early church. I firmly believe that giving spirit is one of the reasons the early church grew so quickly.

In Judaism there is a word: tzedakah. It's a commandment to give. You see it in Matthew 6:2-4.
"So, when you do tzedakah, don't announce it with trumpets to win people's praise, like the hypocrites in the synagogues and on the streets. Yes! I tell you, they have their reward already! 3 But you, when you do tzedakah, don't even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Then your tzedakah will be in secret; and your Father, who sees what you do in secret, will reward you."

Tzedakah comes from the root word tzedek, meaning righteous. It becomes tzedakah when you add the letter, "hey" which symbolizes the name of the Divine One. So when you put it all together you get tzedakah, righteous acts of giving which permeate God in the world. Jews believe that when you tzedakah or give, you are actually spreading the light of God.

Through the giving of your time, finances and abilities are you spreading the light of God?

Do you have a life of tzedakah?

When you have to heart of a giver you recognize that it's not about you. Your time, finances, and abilities were all GIVEN to you by God. He does not bless us in these three areas so that we can selfishly hoard them for our own personal gain.  

Giving is more than our bi-weekly 10%. Giving is more than building funds. It's more than offerings. Yes, those things are apart of financial giving but there has to be more. Giving is not about being seen or about how it makes you feel. It's not about giving to receive. It's not about giving because of peer pressure. Giving is not an initiative. It's about a life style, a mindset.

Melanie Shock tells a story of a little boy named Mark who lives in the Philippines.Mark is around 11 years old and sells newspapers to support his mother and sister. She speaks about how she & the local missionary's wife, Brenda Mallory went and bought Mark groceries for his family. Upon arriving at his home she was shocked by his living conditions but she was more amazed at his giving spirit. After showing his family the groceries, he brought an unopened bottle of soda to Brenda Mallory and offered it to her, "Ma'am are you thirsty?"

He was willing to give a gift he had yet to experience or enjoy. He was committing tzedekah.

We must let go of the 21st Century American cultural mindset and be the givers that God designed us to be.
As the speaker & writer, Randy Alcorn said, "Someday I'm going to stand before God and give an account of my life (Romans 14:12). On that day I do not want to have to explain why, being indwelt with the Holy Spirit and having lived in the most affluent nation in human history, I failed to give at the very minimal level of those who did not have the indwelling Spirit and owned far less than I".

Giving is not what we do, it's who we are. As a spirit-filled, Apostolic American I should be one of the most giving people I know. I should be willing to open my pocketbook, day-timer and heart for others who are in need. There should be no reason why I should be stingy with my time, finances and abilities. We have got to get rid of this selfish mentality, or spirit. We have got to let go of our faithless concerns for our personal agendas. Ask yourself, "Percentages aside, Am I a generous giver with my time, finances and abilities?" What is the answer?

We have to learn to give before being asked.

We have to learn to give after being asked.

We have to learn to give everything that is asked.

We have to learn to give beyond what is asked.

 

Luke Chapter 12:

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

What are you preparing for yourself? Are you rich in the things of God?
Or are you selfishly hoarding your time, finances and abilities?

God does not give so that I or you may take. God gives so that we may give back.



My Mom

She is wife.

She is mom.

She is many things to all.

She is small.

She has grey hair.

She has brown eyes and a mouth quick to smile.

She is quick-witted.

She is sarcastic.

She can spout of endless cliches.

She is a wise leader.

She is a quiet listener.

She is a protector of her family.

She is calm.

She is fierce.

She is always loving.

She is trustworthy.

She is honorable.

She is one on whom I can depend.

She is quiet.

She is brave.

She is full of goodness.

She is a peacemaker.

She is a truth speaker.

She is my Mom.

Love you, Mom.

Royal Wedding- Bishop of London

The Sermon at the Royal Wedding was simply amazing in my eyes. It was simple and eloquent. I love how Prince William and Kate made their ceremony about God & His Blessings. Read their prayer at the end of the Sermon.
Oh and by the way, Kate's brother did a reading of 12:1-2, 9-18 in the wedding. Amazing.

The Bishop of London's Sermon at the Royal Wedding:

"Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” So said St Catherine of Siena whose festival day it is today. Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be, their deepest and truest selves.

Many are full of fear for the future of the prospects of our world but the message of the celebrations in this country and far beyond its shores is the right one – this is a joyful day! It is good that people in every continent are able to share in these celebrations because this is, as every wedding day should be, a day of hope.

In a sense every wedding is a royal wedding with the bride and the groom as king and queen of creation, making a new life together so that life can flow through them into the future.

William and Catherine, you have chosen to be married in the sight of a generous God who so loved the world that he gave himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ.

And in the Spirit of this generous God, husband and wife are to give themselves to each another.

A spiritual life grows as love finds its centre beyond ourselves. Faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life in which we discover this; the more we give of self, the richer we become in soul; the more we go beyond ourselves in love, the more we become our true selves and our spiritual beauty is more fully revealed. In marriage we are seeking to bring one another into fuller life.

It is of course very hard to wean ourselves away from self-centredness. And people can dream of doing such a thing but the hope should be fulfilled it is necessary a solemn decision that, whatever the difficulties, we are committed to the way of generous love.

You have both made your decision today – “I will” – and by making this new relationship, you have aligned yourselves with what we believe is the way in which life is spiritually evolving, and which will lead to a creative future for the human race.

We stand looking forward to a century which is full of promise and full of peril. Human beings are confronting the question of how to use wisely a power that has been given to us through the discoveries of the last century. We shall not be converted to the promise of the future by more knowledge, but rather by an increase of loving wisdom and reverence, for life, for the earth and for one another.

Marriage should transform, as husband and wife make one another their work of art. It is possible to transform as long as we do not harbour ambitions to reform our partner. There must be no coercion if the Spirit is to flow; each must give the other space and freedom. Chaucer, the London poet, sums it up in a pithy phrase:

“Whan maistrie [mastery] comth, the God of Love anon,

Beteth his wynges, and farewell, he is gon.”

As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West, there has been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We are all incomplete: we all need the love which is secure, rather than oppressive, we need mutual forgiveness, to thrive.

As we move towards our partner in love, following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is quickened within us and can increasingly fill our lives with light. This leads to a family life which offers the best conditions in which the next generation can practise and exchange those gifts which can overcome fear and division and incubate the coming world of the Spirit, whose fruits are love and joy and peace.

I pray that all of us present and the many millions watching this ceremony and sharing in your joy today, will do everything in our power to support and uphold you in your new life. And I pray that God will bless you in the way of life that you have chosen, that way which is expressed in the prayer that you have composed together in preparation for this day:

God our Father, we thank you for our families; for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage.

In the busyness of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy.

Strengthened by our union help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

April 29th 2011 - Royal Wedding

When William & Kate (I refuse to call her Catherine) announced their engagement I stood back with the scoffers and really didn't care about the royal hurrah.

BUT about a month ago that all changed and I was sucked in the royal wedding whirlwind. I have been following blogs, social magazines, newspapers & gossip rags; anything to keep up with the goings on of Prince William and his lucky lady, Kate Middleton.

Yes, many people see it as another over-dramatized soap opera of a couple who they believe won't make it.

As a true believer in fairytales and happily-ever-after, I see otherwise. I want to believe that William and Kate have a chance.

Last night when Kate went to bed, I wonder what went through her thoughts. She, a common born daughter of a pilot and airline stewardess was going to marry into one of the most famous royal families of history. The thoughts & emotions must have been overwhelming.

And then today, she walked into Westminster Abbey as Kate Middleton and emerged Duchess Catherine of Cambridge, wife of Prince William of England.

What an incredible Cinderella tale!

I think in most girls' hearts lies a wish for such a fairytale. Oh, to be noticed in our common state by a handsome prince and swept away into our happily ever after. We want that. And you know what, we will find that. No, our prince may not be heir to a British throne. No, we may not ride away in an Aston Martin. No, we may not get married in Westminster Abbey by the Bishop of London.

But our prince will come and we will see our fairytale. It may not be the Disney fairytales we grew up with but it will be real and true.

Maybe one day we can hear words, much like the ones spoken by the Bishop of London,....

"I pray that all of us present and the many... watching this ceremony and sharing in your joy today, will do everything in our power to support and uphold you in your new life. And I pray that God will bless you in the way of life that you have chosen,..."

  



Good Friday

   Good Friday to all of you,...

I have a confession to make. This is the first Good Friday I have ever "observed." By observed, I mean I have sat down and taken the time to think about what went on the day of the Crucification. I have been thinking about what Jesus must have went through, about what those around Him were thinking, and about how His suffering has affected my life.

As I read over the last few chapters of Luke

 I am amazed at the events that took place in the week of Passover.

AMAZED.

Another thing that just floors me is the words spoken by the crowd in Luke 23.

34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.” 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” 38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ,[j] save Yourself and us.” 40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”

 "Save Yourself."

"Save Yourself."

"Save Yourself and us."

If they only knew,... He could have saved Himself. He didn't have to come down to earth and become human. He didn't have to wade in sin daily. He didn't have to tempted.

He didn't have to go through the pain, shame & betrayal.

But He Did.

For you and for me.

If only the crowds knew when they shouted out, "Save youself!!"

He was dying for them.

If only the Soldiers knew as they jeered & called out for Him to, "Save Yourself and us!!"

that both could not be saved.

But One had to die.

I am grateful, humbled, awed, unworthy of the choice He made that day.

I  did not deserve to be saved.

I didn't deserve the blood that was shed on Calvary.

But for some strange, beyond-human understanding reason,

He saw us as worthy.

The words of Isaac Watts come to mind,...

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet?

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

What Things?

I'm a huge fan of LCBlogs. The girl is hilarious. Every once so often she will post something that just leaves me sitting there in awe. Wondering "why have I never looked at ____ this way?"
That's was today for me. She posted a fantastic bit about Luke 24:13-19.
I hope you all enjoy!

Spoiler Alert by LCBlogs

Have you heard the good news? I'm a little pre-mature in the telling of this story, but the tomb is empty! He has risen!
This morning, I have been thinking a lot about the Disciples as I do every year at this time. I'll never be able to wrap my mind around all the things they got to see and be a part of and it's likely that I'll never understand why I've been chosen to receive the free gift of salvation.

So, today I'm thinking about what happened after the stone was rolled away. The part of the story where Jesus was taking his stroll along, what I imagine to be a dirt road, actually, a sand road and he was making his presence known.

Luke 24 reads,
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”19 “What things?” he asked.

WHAT THINGS?!

How much do you love that Jesus, in the flesh, strolled up to them and casually asked, "What's the 411, people? What's the word on the street? What's good on TMZ?"

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

What would I have said to Jesus? Would I have known it was him? Would I have assumed Moses was wrong and the prophets were speaking some mumbo-jumbo? Would I have told him the story and been all like, "OMG, DUDE. So, like this guy..." Would I have paused to check a text message?

Later on, Jesus meets up with all of the Disciples and broke bread with them. It was then that their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. Again. CAN. YOU. IMAGINE?
In my heart, I want to believe I would know it was Him.

Just like today, I want to believe that I'm constantly walking in His will and constantly believing in His promises for me. But, sometimes I'm not. Sometimes, I miss the big picture. Sometimes, I miss Jesus walking next to me on the street and asking, "What things?"

It's my prayer that no misses the big picture. That everyone can see and believe in what Jesus did on the Cross. And that He did it for everyone.

Wow! Great concept. "What things?"
I challenge you. Ask yourself if Jesus walked up to you and asked, "What things?" how would you respond?