On White Stones, To Those That Overcome Will Be Written A “New Name”.

We were on our way to the hospital, to welcome new life. But the urgency to relieve myself had overtaken the excitement of the moment and so we paused to fill our coffee cups and empty ourselves.

As I sat down inside the brown tiled bathroom stall my eyes began to wander round until they landed on a small stone in the corner. What is that? Something was written on the stone and from where I was sitting it appeared to have a scripture written upon it. This was no ordinary stone. This stone had been placed by someone who had ask God to lead another to it.

After finishing my business-blush, I rose and leaned over the stone. It was small and white with, “New Name Rev. 2:17” inscribed in gold lettering. My pulse quickened as I received this precious gift. I couldn’t wait to read the verse, to share with my sister the news of my new found treasure.

I found her ordering a mocha latte and waited impatiently for her to turn. “Look what I found lying in the corner on the floor of my bathroom stall,” I said as I slid the smooth rock out of my purse.

Her eyes bulged wonder, “I just read that verse this morning.”

“No way! Oh, what does it say?” She smiled a knowing smile and beauty spilled from her lips. “Well, it says to the one that conquers God will give a new name. A name so precious that is known only by God and the one who receives it. It is one of my favorite verses.”

I held the rock out to her. She shook her head no. “Oh no, that is your rock sister.”

Days later, after the flurry surrounding my precious niece’s entrance to our world began to calm, after she had received her new name I remembered -my stone. As I shared with my husband this story he listened intently and his eyes pooled love. “Alyssa, that is awesome.” He sat there looking at me, studying my face, drinking me in. “That is better than winning a million dollars, Alyssa. That stone was placed there by God for you alone to find. He wanted you to have it. Because you have overcome so much and because you continue to overcome. Because you have been faithful and are trying so hard.” And then four eyes leaked joy.

“Thank you Honey. Thank you for seeing and understanding the significance of this rock.” More joy dripped from our eyes as we embraced each other and the moment.

Then he said, “Babe, you need to keep that stone forever. And if for some reason you pass on before me, that stone, it will be in your hand. I can just see you lying there and me knowing what’s in your hand. That you have received what He promised. Your new name.” Sometimes we praise loudest when we haven’t words to speak. Sometimes words fail. And our highest praise rings forth from silent sighs.

Revelation 2:17.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

Sweet sister can we just take a moment and listen to what He is saying to us today. Let’s live a life that overcomes every obstacle, whether depression, loss, fear, anger, hurt, or pain… so that when we have finished our race we will receive our new name. A perfectly precious name given by the one who knows all we had to overcome in order to receive it.

Sweet Holy Father,

We praise you today. For the knowledge that someday we will be given a new name. A perfect name that’s meaning is so deep and so right that only we will fully comprehend the significance of that name. We praise you for your strength that allows us to overcome all things.

In the name of the One who conquered every obstacle set before him for our sakes on the cross, Amen.

40 Years of Wandering and Finally I See…The Promised Land.

Nearly 40 years have passed since my mother gave birth and I was first exposed to light. And now as my life lands midway at best, I finally begin to see.

Finally begin to see the Light within us every moment of everyday is in itself my only Hope. And just now, as the Son crests midday for me I realize, though I have known him I have NOT honored him. Though I have known him I have NOT given thanks to him for ALL THiNGS, and something in me slips. I begin to tremble.

Christ in all and through all IS life. So I kneel down and begin to practice renewing myself daily, surrendering myself-an act of the will, I must choose to honor him for who He is, and humbly admit who I am not. I must choose to give thanks in all circumstances. Somedays the praise just flows, other days it must be mined, like gold.

Romans 1:21-23, it says “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.”

Volcanic conviction erupts life through the hardened crusty mantel covering my heart. Hot magma tears flow watering my soul. Painfully soothing, the flow devours my self love and ignites passionate praise for the One who laid the foundations of the earth.

Tomorrow I may awaken with darkness in my fleshy heart. But I can choose instead to walk in the Light, I can pray The Lord’s Prayer over myself, over my family, over my sphere of influence.

I can honor him as God, and I can ask him to bend my will towards his. I can ask him to provide whatever He knows I need physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally to accomplish his will. I can choose to put on the whole armor of God and ask for his protection for myself and my family. I can choose to seek and offer the same forgiveness He has given me over and over again.

And by choosing all of this I am choosing a LIFE. A life I can give THANKS for whether for just another day or 40 years more. I CHOOSE TO HONOR HIM AND GIVE THANKS TO HIM so that my once foolish heart will no longer be darkened.

I want to be Light as He is Light. Don’t you? Today, together, lets give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever.

Let’s go out with joy and be led forth in peace. Let’s carry whatever load He has given us with joy and not compare our lives to others. Let’s finally begin to SEE…We are so very blessed.

What If?

What IF?

What if we starting living in gratitude everyday. Is it really all that powerful? What if- I have known God but failed to HONOR him as God and give thanks to him at all times? Lately, my mind has been parked on 2 Chronicles 20, the story of Jehosephat. And I am awestruck. Could it truly be this simple?

Countless times a day I wonder, alarmed by my circumstances.

But what if, like Jehosephat, instead of forming a battle plan – I form a prayer? “I do not know what to do, but my eyes are upon you.”

And what if in these moments, instead of trying to fix and figure instead I remember, “The battle is the Lord’s and He fights for me.”

And what if I then kept my eyes firmly focused on Him and chose to sing praise as I go out to face these battles instead of wondering what to do? What then?

Would my battles be won without any effort from me? Would my enemies fall while I give thanks? I believe they will.

So today in the face of my circumstances I will sing praise.

And watch as the enemies of dissatisfaction, discouragement, fear, and depression fall.

Dear Lord God,
You are mighty. Help us Lord to keep our eyes firmly focused upon you when we do not know what to do, as we sing praise, as we honor you as God alone. We trust you to deliver us. And we give thanks to you Lord in all circumstances, for you are good and your love endures forever.
In Jesus Precious Name, Amen.

Who Do You See When You Look At Me?

Girlfriends can you take just a moment and watch this important video?

Do you feel it? Are you guilty too?

Why do we do this? When will we finally decide ENOUGH?

Will you join me today in beginning to celebrate who you are?

Dear God, you knit us together in our mother’s wombs. You said that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. And so often we look at who we are and say that what you made is ugly, not good enough. Lord help us to STOP listening to those voices and begin replacing them with the Truth. The Truth that we are who you say we are. Beautiful. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Remember Who You Are

I went home longing for comfort, the comfort of my grandma’s arms, of rocks, trees and sun kissed breeze.

And though I did not know it then I know it now. The Spirit himself had drawn me there beside still waters. To be renewed, redeemed to restoreth my soul.

As a child I would play so hard that all the rest of the world would disappear. When I believed in something I FOUGHT hard for it. And no one. NO ONE could tell me anything, if I didn’t want to hear it.

And though as a child that often did not work in my favor I see now that God gave me that trait as a gift.

And somewhere this believer, fighter child. This strong willed no body can make me do anything I don’t want to do child got lost. CRUSHED.

And willingly surrendered her power. She laid down and stayed down, for years. ALL FIGHT WAS GONE. And she just began to exist. To live to please others, to just do what had to be done to get through the day, the week, the years.

How devastatingly sad. The years the locust have eaten. In my heart, in my home, in my life. The ruins are great. All because at some point I was convinced that I couldn’t. I didn’t have the power to stand, let alone fight or win.

But God. As He continues to heal me, to make me HOLY. To make me whole I see I was decieved. And that my strength is my birthright. I know who I am. I am Hazel Kirk’s granddaughter. I am a child of the KING! I am a fighter. I am strong willed, playful and spirited. And I still surrender. But not to the lies-not anymore. Only to my KING.

I AM A FIGHTER. And I will fight for what I believe in. And I believe in JESUS and what His God flesh will do and has already done. I believe that we can only be whole when we give ourselves wholly to the one who predestined us with a plan and a purpose in mind when He created us for his pleasure. We can only be FULL of joy and peace and power when we are fully his. Because all power in heaven and earth has been given to us through Him.

Because we are not called to be passive. We are called to me massive. I challenge you today friends to remember who you were BEFORE life and circumstances and lies stole away your fight. Let God restore the years the locust have eaten and renew a steadfast spirit within you. Bring that beautiful childlike heart of yours to which the kingdom of heaven belongs, and be completely open to the one who has guarded you with his life blood from the beginning of time.

Oh sisters, Come home. Come home running.