Home Sweet Home

Sometimes Jeff and I like driving through the neighborhoods nearby in which the homes are, well, out of our price range! We like to just look at the beauty and gawk at the size of the home, the beautiful land surrounding them, and talk about how nice it would be to live in one of them. One day a couple weeks ago, we decided to go for a drive around one of the neighborhoods. As we drove through, staring at the gorgeous homes, I began to feel very convicted. How dare I envy someone else's home when God has provided us with the home He has? I asked Jeff if we could please go home and explained my feelings. He agreed, and we haven't been back.

Now, please don't misunderstand me; I am not at all saying that looking at houses is a sin. I am saying that losing sight of what builds a home and becoming discontent with what the Lord has provided for you and your family most definitely is a sin. As soon as I lost sight of the fact that the home we have ''built" wasn't good enough and began 'wishing' we had one of these mansion homes, I was immediately convicted by the Lord and brought back to the Truth (thank you Jesus for that!).

You see, enormous sized kitchens, granite counter tops, and only the best furniture from Ethan Allen and decor from Pottery Barn do NOT build a home. The Lord says that in Proverbs 24 that Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge are what builds a home. For reference, this is the specific verse I spent time meditating on today (I study out of NKJV):

"Through wisdom, a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all pleasant and precious riches." ~Proverbs 24:3-4

-Wisdom refers to the ability to take the knowledge we have about God concerning life and applying it in a practical and successful way. This includes wisdom about godly marriages, raising children, finances, friendships...all of it! Taking what we know as the Truth about the Lord and applying it, daily, in our homes. It takes this wisdom to build a godly home-period.

-Understanding refers to discernment. The ability to be discerning in building relationships is so crucial. We need to be able to discern who is allowed into our lives, the lives of our children, and who we allow into our homes. This includes who on the television and radio we invite into our homes. One of the things mentioned by Courtney Joseph in Women Living Well was that her parents did not allow her to watch movies rated over PG. Her mother explained it as, "If you wouldn't watch a couple having sex on the couch in the living room of our house, why would we want to watch it on T.V.?" It makes sense to me! We just need to be able to have this understanding, this discernment, to build a strong foundation in our homes.

-Knowledge about God enables a woman to fill her home and relationships with "pleasant and precious riches" as the verse states. A woman with knowledge about the Lord can encourage and support her husband, lead her children, and be an absolute light in her home and daily life.

These are the building blocks; this is what builds a home. Whether you live in an apartment, condo, or a 5,000sq ft mansion on 40 acres, you do not have a godly home without these attributes as the foundation. The wonderful thing is, it is not too late to begin applying this verse and using these tools to tear down the old ratty ways and rebuild, doing it God's way. Trust me, I know it's possible from experience! The Lord has helped me rebuild my home, and let me tell you, we started from scratch! Oh but my God is faithful! He has held my hand every step of the way, and placed a covering over my home, holding it up for me until I could catch up on building it His way. It's truly His way, or NO WAY, isn't that the truth?? How many times does it take for us to realize that our way DOES NOT WORK! LOL!! <3

He just loves you so much. So, so, SO much! He wants you to have a home built on wisdom, understanding, and knowledge so that you may live more like Him! It is truly life changing when you begin to walk with Him, really listening to everything He has to say.

I want to encourage you to read Proverbs 24:3-4 for yourself today. Maybe write the verse down on a few sticky notes and put it on a few walls in your home that you walk by frequently. Then begin to pray that God tear down the walls of your home and guide you as you begin to rebuild His way; He's there, all you need to do is be obedient and ask! <3

Blessings on your day!
<3 Kaila

REAL TALK: Spiritual Warfare and Generational Curses

Just the terms "spiritual warfare" and "generational curses" are frightening to me and knowing how very real these things are scares me even more.

I don't know a lot about the inner-workings of how spiritual warfare and generational curses occur and how much God will allow to occur, but I am studying the Bible more and more and lately these topics have really grabbed and pulled at my heart. So please, I'm not an expert, but I want to simply share what I do know.

A long time ago, my grandmother, my NaNa, was at a women's retreat or luncheon and during one of the days, a speaker was present. I don't remember where this occurred, or who the speaker was, but something amazing happened that I won't ever forget. The speaker began talking about my NaNa, telling her that God plans to use her, her children, and her grandchildren. That God has spoken and breathed Life into all of us, and that we would be serving a great purpose for the Lord. WOW. How amazing to have something so incredible prophesied over yourself, your children, and your children's children! My NaNa bought the cassette tape of the conference after the retreat, and let me listen to it. I must have been no older that 9 or 10 when she let me hear what the speaker had said, but I was old enough to know that this was BIG. That God chose ME. That God will use ME.

Now, although this sounds like all hearts, stars, and horseshoes, clovers, and blue moons...life in the earthly world as a follower of Christ and a child of God can be an incredibly difficult, and at times, a scary place to be. I have had friends tell me their personal spiritual battles against Satan, demons, and pure evil through dreams and even physical experiences. I have heard of Christians being beaten or threatened or having their faith tested by numerous battles and obstacles. It seems that those who tend come under major attack are those who have a more 'open' connection with the spiritual world, who are very strong in their faith and are maybe pushing further into the calling God has for them. Also, those who have a new-found faith where their spirituality is fresh and tender tend to be under attack. We must continuously fight against evil and stick to the Word we know as fact and truth.

God never said knowing and LIVING His Word would be a cake walk. BUT the good news is, if you KNOW the Lord and you have full faith in His WORD, you cannot be broken. Your salvation cannot be taken from you. Your place by His side cannot be taken from you. Holding tight to that is what I do know I have, despite the real life spiritual war that is taking place in the present. I can't say I have been under major attack in my walk, but I do know that I am now growing stronger in the Lord than I ever have, and very well could be the perfect candidate for an attack. The good news: I'm armed. How? I'm armed with scripture. I'm armed with prayer. I'm armed with full blown faith. Nothing can break that shield.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Spiritual-Warfare,-As-Conflict#sthash.iLzG4bVj.dpuf

 ~    .   ~   .  ~

Generational curses may sound like an excuse; it did to me until I began to learn more about it. It may seem as though these 'curses' could be a thing of "monkey see, monkey do", however I now believe there is much more to it than that. I have chose to break the chains on several of these issues/curses if that is what they are.

Some things I believe to be possible generational curses that I have made a vow to break:

-Divorce
-Being a contentious wife
-Alcoholism
-Infidelity

Are these generational curses?? I don't know for sure. But I do know that these are commonly seen, or common patterns in several parts of my family, and I have made a point to cut off and end these things, starting with myself and my family, Hudson and his family, and so on and so forth. The reason I feel these things may be generational curses is because the attributes are seen so often throughout my family, and that I have had multiple struggles or temptations in all areas. Scripture says that the Lord will punish the children and their children for the sins of their fathers...and if no one breaks the curse, it just continues, does it not? I am still educating myself on generational curses and what it all implies and where it comes from, but I know that the sin of one's parents can grab hold and poison their child with the same attributes one's family has if the pattern/curse is not broken. I am still studying up on this, as I really don't know much yet, but I think it is important to consider. Whether it is a curse or not, I am choosing these things which will not be allowed to occur to me or my family. I am hoping that by setting this example for Hudson, he in turn rejects negative attributes such as these.

Exodus 34:6-7
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."

Ephesians 6:12

Verse Concepts

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Spiritual-Warfare,-As-Conflict#sthash.iLzG4bVj.dpuf

Blessings~
Kaila

Ephesians 6:12

Verse Concepts

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Spiritual-Warfare,-As-Conflict#sthash.iLzG4bVj.dpuf

Ephesians 6:12

Verse Concepts

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Spiritual-Warfare,-As-Conflict#sthash.iLzG4bVj.dpuf

There's No Place Like Home! (Finding a Church Family)

It's true, isn't it?

The warmth and comfort we feel when we are 'home' as opposed to anywhere else?

I cannot explain the feeling in a word, other than 'blessed', when you finally find a church 'home' after searching and searching (and sometimes staying home on Sunday whining about it).

There's just a moment when you know you have entered the House of Worship God has planned for you to be a part of. It feels like 'home'.

If any confirmation was needed that South Point Foursquare Church was the place for me in my walk right now, well, today I got that confirmation.

I attended South Point in high school and for a short time after and have always 'liked' the church, but during that time in my life, I wasn't necessarily attending for the 'right' reasons. I loved worshiping and learning about the Lord and the Word, but I was concerned mostly with how cute I dressed that day and where my friends and I would go for lunch afterward. Nevertheless, after years of falling into a rut, choosing to live in the world and not in the Light, and then 'church dating' for many years, God told me to visit South Point again. By this time, I had fallen, and fallen hard MANY times. Without the Lord, everything was a struggle: my marriage, our finances, parenting...you name it, it was HARD.

When I walked into church my first Sunday back at South Point, I just knew it was where God called me to be.

As most of you *do not* know, Jeff and I have been struggling financially for quite some time (about 2 years). We have made some bad, and by bad I mean DUMB financial descicions in the past and we are paying for them now and learning the hard way, as I usually tend to do.

But one thing I have felt since my walk in the Lord has been 're-charged' this year is a sense of peace and grace. God has provided us with the love a father gives to his child when they make mistakes and has handled our situation with such grace and tenderness. While we are having to 'pay' for these mistakes, (no pun intended) which has been difficult no doubt, we could not be happier in our marriage and our hearts are full.

Today's message at church was all about a new beginning, a fresh start, which is exactly what God has allowed for us: confirmation. South Point is hosting the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University to help with that area of our lives: another confirmation. We studied Isaiah 43:18-19 today: “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness. And rivers in the desert.": confirmation. At the end of service, Pastor Keith got up on the podium and introduced his 'friends'...Pastor Don and Debbie Boles, retired pastors from Exeter who are doing some Pastoral counseling at South Point now...Pastor Don is the one who MARRIED Jeff and I! After service, Nana, Papa, and I went over and began chatting with them and South Point is their new home: another confirmation. 

There is just so much more than that, but today just confirmed for me that I am where I am supposed to be. Hudson loves playing in the nursery as well, and I am so excited to teach him about God's word and for him to begin learning about the Lord in Sunday School. I am continuing to pray for the salvation of Jeff and that he begins attending as well. I know it can and WILL happen in the timing of the God and have 100% faith in that. God has been so faithful in restoring my marriage, my hope and peace after losing Hayden, and restoring the relationship I have with Him every day. 

If you are struggling in finding a home church, know that I am praying God leads you to it very soon. Be in prayer about this yourself, and ask God to take full control over this area and that your spirit would feel full when you have arrived. I will continue to pray that over you as well.


Hebrews 10:24-25:
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…"


~Blessings~
    Kaila