"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle..."

Well...it's that time of year again!!! The holidays are upon us! I was kind of sad that I wasn't going to be going home for Thanksgiving this year..for the second year in a row. However, my sweet man decided he would come down here & spend the holiday with me...& he is also bringing my mom & sisters! So they are all riding down here together! So that means that I am hosting Thanksgiving!!! Eeeeekkk! That doesn't even sound right...or possible..that I am old enough to have Thanksgiving at my house. Weird. I am getting old! lol I am excited to see everyone though - it should be a lot of fun :) I bought the turkey last weekend and, mind you, this was my first turkey to ever buy..in life. I went into the store, decided I wouldn't need a basket (because I am a muscle woman..ha..pssh..yeah), looked at the turkeys, got one that I thought was sufficient..and picked it up. Holy moly those things are heavy!!! Jeez! Either that or I am just out of shape. Maybe the latter. ha. My job gave us turkey bucks..so we didn't even have to pay for our turkeys..pretty cool. Hauling that sucker up 3 flights of stairs to my apartment=no bueno. Anyway..this weekend I am going to go shopping for all the stuff that I will need because I do NOT want to wait until the week of..because the grocery store will be out of a lot of things by then! That happened to me last year when I wanted to make green bean casserole and thus needed cream of mushroom soup...couldn't find it anywhere!

In other news...I put up my Christmas tree! I decided I didn't want to wait any longer (besides whoever made the rule that you shouldn't put your Christmas tree up until after Thanksgiving was a bah-hum-bugger) :) I didn't have a tree before..so I went & bought one last night..along with all of the ornaments, tree skirt, bows, ect. I was going to wait until this weekend to put it up, but I hate clutter and boxes and sacks just sitting around my house..so I decided to go ahead with it. I'm so glad I did..it looks so pretty :) Still not done with it yet..but will be this weekend!

So more about me...umm lets see. Well..same ole same ole..work/school. I am finishing up this semester though..& then I only have one more semester left til I graduate! Hip hip hooray! Also, I have been mentoring for the Crossroads program at the Seabrook Youth Village..which is a juvenile facility. Their behavioral program targets personal responsibility, appropriate expression of anger, positive decision-making, leadership and, ultimately, self-management of one’s own behavior. It has been an interesting and trying experience so far..but I sincerely hope and pray that I am making a difference in the life of the young lady that I am mentoring. I will probably never know if I am making a difference...or ever see it. I know there have been plenty of instrumental teachers and other people in my life that have really made an impression upon me..but at the time I didn't know it or didn't appreciate it..until many years later. I hope that I leave a lasting mark on her life..in a very positive way. I hope that she makes a change.

On a different note, it seems like everywhere I turn or look..there is something heartbreaking going on with someone. So many tragedies. So many people with cancer. So many other diseases or sicknesses. So many crimes. So many marriages that are ending in divorce. In fact, in regards to marriage, it seems like the motto of the WORLD these days is I'll love you until I don't. Shameful. So much broken-ness. So much destruction. So much hurt. Reminds me of two quotes though. The first one is, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

and the second one is this:

"If the times are indeed as bad as we say they are... if the darkness in our world is growing heavier by the moment... if we are facing spiritual battles right in our own homes and churches... then we are foolish not to turn to the One who supplies unlimited grace and power. He is our only source. We are crazy to ignore him."

Did you just read that? Yup..despite all that is going on in this lost and fallen world, there is always hope for those who trust in the finished work of Christ. No situation and trial you face will ever be stronger than the blood of Christ that was shed for you. You always have a future in Him. Sadly, though, many believers accept the lies of the enemy when a crisis hits..or when things don't go their way...instead of holding on in faith.

It's funny because when I look back at certain chapters of my life...and the things that I have gone through..I remember exactly what I was thinking at that very moment. In some cases, I was pretty certain that God was just "out to get me..." ..or that "He was punishing me.." or that He wasn't with me at all. But now I realize that those were lies straight from the devil. God was actually with me the entire time..holding my hand when I was about to fall over...or carrying me on his back when I couldn't stand anymore. It's like that poem called "Footprints." I'm sure you have all heard it..but if you haven't...here it is:

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you."
Mary Stevenson

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:12, “Be joyful in hope , patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”. In every battle you must be joyful, patient and faithful knowing without a doubt that God is not going to fail you. You are never alone. For some of you..your storm may be raging right now. And if it's not..then you probably know someone around you who is really going through it. Pray for them. Love them. And..be nice to everyone..because you just never know!

Have a blessed weekend!

Kyndra

Doubt, doubt...throw it OUT!

Okay y'all...so I don't like to get all preachy-preachy..but I wanted to share a little tidbit of the WORD I received this morning that has truly blessed me!!! And if something blesses me..I want it to bless someone else...so keep reading! This was too good NOT to share! Before I begin, however, please read the following passage from the Bible. It is found in John Chapter 20:19-27. I am including the NIV version below.

**********************************************************
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"

After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
********************************************************

How many of y'all can relate to Thomas? I'm sure we have all been doubtful people at times --I know I have! And that goes for anything. Doubtful that you will get that new job. Doubtful that your circumstances will ever change. Doubtful that you will ever get married or find Mr./Mrs. Right. Doubt about God in general. ect. The spirit of doubt is everywhere!

In fact, this morning, Pastor J said that many people in the house of God have what is called "senses faith." Senses faith is when you believe only through your senses; that is if you can't touch it,see it, feel it, or smell it, then you discount it as truth and are doubtful that it will come to pass. Now, senses faith is based upon fact; and facts are connected to intellect. Based on scholarship and intellect, there are some things that you just WON'T allow in your brain because it defies all of your academic training..because you have been taught that 1+1=2. So if something happens to defy that logic and you cannot rationalize it, then you discount it as NOT being the truth. The problem with doing that though..and the problem with these types of people, is that they don't have faith beyond the fact. You have to get to the place where you have faith beyond the facts. So although the FACTS may say that you can't get that job..that you have cancer or some other illness...that you are single...ect..your FAITH should say otherwise. Your faith says that no matter how bad things get, you are not going to be in that situation forever. So when something happens, you should tell the doubters around you: "I know what the facts say, but I am going with God because all I need is an INCH of possibility."

As we see from the scripture, Thomas was permitted to put his finger into Jesus' wounds for the curing of his doubts. Have you ever wished that you could do something like that? Perhaps you are in a situation and you wish that God would just appear to you once...right now..just so you can see..be reaffirmed..and reassured. You even say to yourself...Oh if the Lord Jesus would just let me see him once...or if I could only speak to him once...how confirmed I would be!

In this story..all the disciples were there except Thomas. They all saw Jesus and were ranting and raving about it to Thomas...but Thomas was NOT tryin to hear it! Thomas was probably thinking..uhh..yeah right. How in the HECK did Jesus just come in here..without a key..and wasn't he supposed to be dead already? Yeah right..this doesn't make a bit of sense! Not buyin it!

However, Thomas was fortunate that his doubts were cured eventually by him being able to actually SEE Jesus..and touch his wounds as he wanted. But as you see from the scripture, Jesus was basically like "umm dude...how much more do I have to DO to get you to believe me? I mean..enough is enough! Just believe already! I mean dang!"

Think about that in regards to your own life. What are you doubting? What are you having trouble believing? Maybe there is something you have been praying for..and God hasn't given it to you yet. Have you wondered why? Do you also have doubt in your heart? Like..maybe you are praying...but at the same time you are thinking "pssshh yeah right God..you can't cure me..you can't REALLY take this out of my life...you can't REALLY move this mountain...you can't REALLY get me that job, I mean after all..I am under-qualified! You only did miracle type stuff in the Bible days...you don't do those types of miracles now!"

LIES LIES LIES!

Doubting delays manifestation. In other words..doubt keeps your blessings from happening! Because Thomas refused to believe until he SAW, he didn't get the same thing that the other disciples got.

Pfff...who are we to give God ultimatums anyway? Hasn't He already done enough? Throw away that junk science book in your hand..I don't care what chemical equation equals what...God can blow that equation right out of the water!!!

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

Bottom line: Quit seeing life as it is and start seeing life as it can be! Eliminate the spirit of doubt from your life!

Hope you guys have a wonderful week! Be well..be blessed!
~Kyn

Back at it

Hello everyone! It has been forever and a day since I have updated this blog. To be exact, it has been almost a year! It's crazy/cool to go back and read my blogs and see what all I have been through and just how far I have come. When I first started this thing, I was still in law school in Lubbock! And now..here I am, living in Houston, working and going to grad school. Who knew? All I can say is that God isn't finished yet! I may not be who I need to be just yet, but I thank God that I am not who I USED to be!

This blog will be super short and to the point since I am returning from a hiatus :) Just a little update as to what is going on with me as of lately. Currently, I just finished registering for my LAST semester of graduate school! Yup - you heard that right..my LAST one. I feel like I have been in school forever because, well...I kind of have. After I graduated high school, I went right to college, graduated in May of 2008, started law school in July of 2008, quit law school in February 2010, started graduate school in August 2010, and umm...I'm so ready to be DONE! Hallelujah praise Jesus that I almost AM now! It's been a long time coming..and a rough road for sure...but God has seen me through and I am almost there now. As a matter of fact, I graduate on May 19, 2012 -- so mark your calendars :)

Last weekend, I got to witness a beautiful thing...the marriage of one of my very best friends--Monica to her love, Carlos! Loved every second of it. It was such a beautiful wedding, and I was honored to be apart of it. And it was a mini college reunion with all of my good friends from college!!! It was so good to see everyone and pick up where we left off! I also got to see my grandma and Morris. Marlon got to meet everyone, too, and we had a blast! And speaking of weddings...one of my best guy friends just popped the Q to his girlfriend on Thursday. They have asked me to be apart of their wedding which will likely be next year. So excited!!!!! I am becoming a professional! Seriously y'all. I'm gonna have to start charging. lol jk. But really...I have been a bridesmaid six times now. I used to say third times a charm..but maybe it's lucky number 7. Maybe the 7th wedding that I am in will be my own. Hey - ya never know! A girl can dream! :) On that note, let me just mention..that my boyfriend is FABULOUS! He is my best friend, my rock, my support, my love. He leads by example, and he challenges me to be a better person every day. He walks with me in Christ and encourages me in my relationship with Him. He makes me a better me. Life is sweeter with him in it. And that's how it should be, ladies! I used to think that I would have to settle..that I would have to lower my standards. But nope. Not at all. God has always known the desires of my heart..and by seeking Him more and more, my desires began to match up with His will for my life. I finally let God write my love story instead of trying to write it myself. And if you are like I used to be, always trying to do things YOURSELF and write your own stories because you are impatient and aren't trying to hear God or wait on Him, then STOP IT. Because you are only bringing yourself unnecessary heartbreak. Become a better you..and pray for your future spouse. When God thinks you are ready..He will bring that person to you. But do as the Bible says...WAIT ON THE LORD!!! I did - and now here I am..nearing a year with Marlon. My how time flies!

I am really looking forward to the holidays despite the fact that I am not going home for Thanksgiving for the second year in a row. I am sad about that, but on the upside, I am definitely going home for Christmas! Those plane tickets from Houston to Lubbock are expensive..jeessshh! I have to get a minor outpatient surgical procedure done in December (not necessary for me to go into detail on my blog..) but if it wasn't for me having to pay a $1200 deductible for it, then going home for Turkey day wouldn't be a problem! I could have driven..but that is such a long drive to make alone..especially as a woman. SO my man is coming here! And I am cooking a full fledged Thanksgiving meal for just the 2 us! Should be pretty fun.

Well, I am getting very sleepy..and I feel like I am just rambling anyways. SO stay tuned for future blog posts. For now, though, I am gonna crash! Gotta get up for church in the AM! Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour!

Blessings,
Kyn