When God Speaks.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 "I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him." NKJV

Whatever God does cannot be changed or reversed. Numbers 23:19-20 ^"19 God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? ²⁰ Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it." NKJV 

The works of God withstand the tests of time. It is everlasting. Whether He is saving a soul, or speaking things into existence, (ex. "let there be light), it endures forever! Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." NKJV

Be encouraged my friends! Know that if GOD has said it, it will be done! Commit your ways to Him. Trust in Him and He WILL act! Psalm 37:5 Believe what has said. Speak what He has already spoken to you! (John 12:50; 2 Corinthians 4:13) Know that His word WILL NOT return back to Him void (Isaiah 55:11), and know that God DOES NOT speak idle words! "Nothing shall fall to the earth of the word of the LORD...the LORD has done what He spoke." (2 Kings 10:10) Let GOD be true and EVERY man a liar (Romans 3:4)! God IS Trustworthy, and He is OH so FAITHFUL!!!

So choose to have FAITH today. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1) Faith = Trust + Belief + Knowledge. In order to trust, you have to believe & in order to believe, you MUST have knowledge. Trust God, believe His word and KNOW WHO He is! That's COMPLETE faith!! If you KNOW God said it, then BELIEVE that He will do it and TRUST that He will perfect everything concerning YOU and His OWN WORD! So don't sweat the small stuff! Rest in His love, be still, and KNOW that He IS God! :-)

♥ Kamaria

From Mountains to Valleys to Mountains

WELCOME TO THE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE!

John 11:4 But when Jesus heard it He said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

I mean, I'm going to preach my life right now... isn't that what preachers do anyway? Lol When you encounter your first wilderness experience, you'll find that it's a season where all you want to do and really, all you can do is shut up and die. Life is good in the beginning of your walk with the Lord, He's superly overly protective of you, He lets you hear His voice clearly, He allows you to feel His presence, and He fills you up with joy. Then, there comes the season of pulling back, where God begins to pull back so that you may seek Him, and that you may begin to learn how to pray even when you can't feel him all the time. In this season He teaches you a lot about His character. Then, there's the wilderness... *dun dun duuunnnnn*

Let's think about the wilderness in retrospection. The Israelites were GREAT when they first came out of Egypt. They were witnessing many mighty works by the Hand of God. They had great leadership (Moses) and they were well taken care of (Manna). Then... something happened. Things started changing, maybe they got used to being so well taken care of by God, I'm not quite sure. But they began complaining, "God, why did you bring us here to die! You're not taking care of us. We want to go back to Egypt! We would have been better off there!" And God says, "Alright, fine! I will let you die here!" And many of them, as you may know, did die in the wilderness and never made it to the promised land. But that isn't what this blog post is about though LOL!

I am in the wilderness, but I WILL NOT die in this place, though it may feel like it. This will not be the end of me! Job 13:15 "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him; yet I will argue my ways to His face." Psalm 66:10-12 "For You, O God, have tested us; You have tried us as silver is tried^{. 11} You brought us into the net; You laid a crushing burden on our backs;¹² You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet You have brought us out to a place of abundance." Jesus will tear down this temple (me), but He will also build it back up again (Isaiah 28)!

I know that God has not forsaken me, nor has He forgotten me. This is all done, so that I may believe, and know that He is the LORD my God. That I will proclaim what He has done for my soul. When Jesus went to raise Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus was already dead for 4 days. He was deader than dead! Thing is, Jesus shows up right at the point of death, when things have died, and resurrects it--even when it seems impossible! He makes a new life, restored, refreshed, and cleansed of impurity. John 11:5-6; John 11:25-26. At our suffering, God isn't happy, He weeps with us (John 11:35), but He allows it because He loves us and wants us to truly believe, though we may question and wonder if He is really who He says He is (John 11:36). But Jesus says, "if you believe, you will see the glory of God." John 11:40.

The wilderness experience determines whether you are one of the "few that find" the straight and narrow, or the "many" that stay on the broad and wide way. It shakes your faith, but when, or if you come out of it, your faith will be unshakable. You become more confident and stabilized in Christ. It either makes or breaks you. It's up to us to fight the good fight of faith! So if you're in your own wilderness experience, I pray that God strengthens you, and if you have yet to enter into the wilderness, I pray that you are preparing for what is to come.

This IS a matter of life and death, truth and lies, light and dark. We must believe our beliefs and doubt our doubts, until we see the Son of God/Son of Man risen in Glory in every aspect of our lives!
 
♥ Kamaria

You Belong.

 1 Peter 2:10 "who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." NKJV

1 Peter 2:10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” NLT

Ever felt like you couldn't really find your place? Like no matter where you went, you didn't quite fit in? Maybe you weren't cool enough, or maybe you were too cool. Or even if you did "fit in," ever feel like something still wasn't quite right?

I've struggled with identity crisis for a major part of my life. Having friends, but never feeling like one in the bunch. I would always feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb. So, I would transform, into "one of them." Like a chameleon I would blend in with my environment, but never felt like I was just being me. For a while, this worked, but then I would begin to lose my transforming powers... I know that sounds demonic.. LOL But, I never was comfortable being me. I was always either, too tall, too skinny, or too goofy. Nothing ever seemed "normal" about me... my "flaws" were always pointed out.

But may I tell you what has changed for me? Jesus Christ. I have never been more free to be who am I am than I am now. From time to time, I can still feel a little awkward in my own skin, BUT GOD, has been peeling away the layers I have been hiding under. And do you know what I've discovered in this new freedom that I've found in Christ? People actually LIKE the real Kamaria! The way I dress, the way I wear my hair, the things I like to do, the way I carry myself... people like the real me! No fronts, no hiding, just being me! As a matter of fact, I draw more friends now, than I have before. But do you know what draws them? It's not just me being me, but me being me thru the freedom I've found in Christ! 

"Once you had no identity as a people, now you are God's people," knowing that I am His, and He is mine, is what makes my life even more worth living! The verse right before this one says, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" 1 Peter 2:9 NKJV Hand picked by Him, chosen to be His own special people. He has called us out of darkness, and into His marvelous light... that we may proclaim His marvelous works in, through, and around us! And

So this is me proclaiming the marvelous work He's done in me! :-) But this is also an invitation, to anyone who feels they don't belong anywhere. You always have a special place, not only in God's kingdom, but also in God's heart! :-) You have a true identity, a person you were born to be, before tainted by the world, and shaped by the world's beliefs and standards. God has called us all to be holy, to be pure, and to be like Him. He's given us invitations, through Jesus, to partake in Him. Find yourself in the comfort of our loving Father! 


♥ Kamaria

Rest & Wait.

Wait. Yeah, something a lot of us have a problem doing. And I include myself in the masses of the "a lot of us" category. It's hard! Besides, we have so much to do! Classes, studying, jobs, ministry outreaches, church activities/functions, birthday & engagement parties, weddings, baby showers, and so much more. If we stop and wait now, right at this moment, nothing will happen! Right??  Wrong...

I am President of the "I really don't know how to wait on the LORD" committee. I've had my share of sitting still for all of 5 seconds, only to find myself getting busy with other "important" things. Besides, time waits for no man! Right?? WRONG!! When you know the Author of time, time will definitely be on your side. Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalm 62:5 "My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him." Whenever we wait on the LORD, He always delivers something! Joy, peace, strength, hope, love, direction, etc!

Rest. Mark 6:31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while...” Everyday, I learn just how important it is for me not only to wait on God, but to rest in Him as well. Mark 2:27 says, And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. The Sabbath isn't about following a bunch of rules, but was made for our good, for us to enjoy and rest in the love of God! Let's not pervert the true reason why God commands that we sabbath! :^) We aren't to serve the sabbath by making  sure we don't do certain things, or follow legalistic rules. God wants us to come to Him while we rest! In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says, ²⁸  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” 

It is in the place of resting and waiting that we find what God has for us! We grow in patience and hope, strength and courage. We learn more about Him and ourselves when we slip away into that quiet place with God. We get refreshed, rejuvenated, and restored! Our very soul finds what it's been longing for... more of Him! So I beckon you today to find rest for your soul in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to come... because He will meet you right where you are. 

 

 ♥ Kamaria

His Will? Your Will? Which Will?

Proverbs 16:1, 3, 33 1 We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer.
3 Commit your actions to the LORD
    and your plans will succeed.
33 We may throw the dice,
     but the LORD determines how they fall.

Given recent circumstances, I feel like these verses--really the whole chapter--hit home. With the need to make some really big decisions very soon, I've been feeling pressed on every side, and not very knowledgeably about how to make the right decision. I've been seeking the LORD for wisdom but have seem to come against a brick wall. Reading these verses got me thinking... I can make all the plans in the world about how to execute my dreams but at the end of the day, God will always have the right answer.

"Commit your actions to the LORD and your plans will succeed." God is saying, "commit what you do to Me, and I will cause you to succeed." But why is He saying that? Personally, I think it's because once we are "in Him," what we are committed to doing falls in line with what His will is! And not only that, we may even choose to go different routes to get to our end goal, but God says, "no matter which way you go, I'm still causing you to end up at 'this' expected end." If you can keep up with me, it's like no matter what I do, I'll still be in His will. But not necessarily "no matter what," I know what God loves, and I know what He despises, so I DARE NOT do anything that I know he hates. What I'm saying is, if I roll the dice 3 times, each time it will still land on the side God desires it to land...  if I continue to commit my ways to Him.

You know what I mean? His desires become my desires. His thoughts become my thoughts. His ways are now my ways. He gives me thoughts and ideas about what my future can be. It's not even really my job to "make" it happen. My job is to just be available to Him and be ready for whenever He opens up a door!

♥ Kamaria

Truth Is...

The times ARE perilous. LORD, I just try to stay out of the drama.
Out of the debates, arguments, back & forth mess.
Politics, religion, wars, injustice, everyone seems to have the answer, but yet we see no change.
Everyone has the solution, except their conclusion is still inconclusive.
Everyone has facts, yet it seems no one has the truth.
But I do.
Truth is, we're living in a fallen world. Where people are all for self.
They've even created their "just for me" gods.
Their own gods who are okay with their sin, but yet who's "rights" contradicts the next man's.
Your god is okay with adultery, but your god isn't.
They slept with their spouse, now one cries out for justice, but the other sees no wrong done.
Your god is okay with homosexuality and your god is okay with sexual battery.
Your god sees no wrong in stealing and your god is completely okay with sin... See the confusion?
There seems to be no standard of right or wrong.
People make murder worthy of hell, yet I admit that I myself am worthy of death... eternal death.
I've lied, I've stolen, I've hated--which makes me a murderer
I've looked upon with lust--which makes me an adulterer.
I've put other gods before Yahweh, and made my own personal idols.
My gods were okay with all my sinful desires.
I could steal and cheat, masturbate and treat my parents with the utmost disrespect.
I made a grave image of my gods and served them day and night.
I never kept the sabbath, let alone kept ANY day holy.
I've lied on people and even desired their most precious treasures.
I'm a self-admitted sinner.
Dare I say it the most filthy of them all.
I'm more deserving of judgment than any of you all.
Fallen from my rightful place, in the presence of the Father.
BUT, redeemed by Christ, with grace and might, now I'm made righteous.
Now I'm complete and now I'm set free.
Yes, my past is completely redeemed.
I've rebelled against my God, but He's delivered me with His mighty right hand.
 Hallelujah to the Father. Abba. Yahweh. Jehovah!

 ♥ Kamaria

Who's judging?

Proverbs 28:5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

Lately, we've been witnessing a lot of situations where people have felt that justice has been perverted, however, I think it's more of a misunderstanding of what justice truly is. Proverbs 28:5 sheds some much needed light on the issue. Consider Kony and Trayvon or even Mussolini and Hitler, we as mankind demand that a price be paid for the wrong that someone has done to us, or the mistreating of another. We also agree in "extreme" cases that merely death is never enough.

When we are wronged, we have an inclination that cries out for justice to be served, therefore demonstrating that the law of God is on our hearts and in our consciences. I've realized from reading Exodus 18, that even civil and moral law comes from God, so how much more do spiritual laws? I think it's important we keep in mind that God is ALWAYS the ultimate judge. As a matter of fact, the death sentence was instituted to say that a criminal is too heinous for humans to even judge, therefore we are going to kill him and send him to God's court. Hmmm... interesting huh?

Luke 6:42 talks about taking the log out of our own eye so that we may see clearly. So is it safe to say that a misunderstanding of justice comes from not being able to see clearly? According to the book of Proverbs, the thing that they don't see clearly is God, thus not being able to understand justice. This is scary because in the same chapter of Luke, verse 38, it says "for with the measure you use it will be measured back to you," so the world basically accuse, condemn and judge themselves every time they protest about justice not being "served" on these "heinous" criminals (but on the other side of the coin, they aren't able to see how heinous their own crimes are, and just how heinous their human nature is).

You see, the problem is we don't think our human nature is bad (Genesis 6:5,Genesis 8:21, Romans 3:23, Matthew 7:11, Psalm 51:5, Isaiah 64:6). We think we are "good" people and that God doesn't severely punish the least liar, thief, fornicator, blasphemer, murder, etc. Because the Law of God is written on our heart, He therefore judges out of our hearts! If I were to punch my parent in the arm, I'd probably get cussed out! If I punched a person on the street or a police officer, I'd get sent to jail (or worse!) If I punched the president, I'd get shot, and if I punched the pope, I'd probably be killed! Do you see what seemed to be a small offense to a parent, the punishment increases when the person's status is increased... so how much more God? And we punch Him everyday, like all the time!

Many want to say, "Well God is love..." And that's TRUE! But, if I love light what do I hate? If I love hot, what do I hate? If I love righteousness what do I hate? God hates evil and because He is righteous, pure and Holy, He will eliminate it. We just don't sin, we are born sinners, we and the world are already judged, (Hell is the wrath and justice of God, an eternal jail) but fortunately, we do have a savior... The long awaited Messiah has come, and will come again.  Let's praise GOD that Christ came not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through Him... John 3:17 !!!

 ♥ Kamaria