Daily Faith

Awakened To The Father’s Heart

It’s amazing how quickly God can overwhelm us in His presence. In merely an instant I found myself almost in tears for “no reason” but as always God has a purpose and the more I cry the more I discover it’s purpose. This is my life as an intercessor. But tonight, God knew I needed a gentle, loving reminder of who I am in Him. As I walked passed my 9 year old sister’s open bedroom door on my way to bed I realized I haven’t seen her much since I’ve been home for the summer. So I walked in and kissed her on the forehead. “Kindsi?” her sweet sleepy voice beckoned as she rolled over to squint through her nearly shut eyes. So I quickly whispered “you’re the best sister ever” and she rolled back over and fell asleep. As I walked out the tears began, and my mind welled up with thoughts of the future. If I die on the mission field some day, I pray God sends an Angel to kiss her goodnight and remind her she is so immensely loved. In all honesty, I don’t expect her to remember that moment, but that’s ok because I value it anyway. This thought reminded me of all the times I wake up knowing I just had a dream, but I can’t remember it. Maybe those moments are times that Jesus draws near to me and whispers in my heart who I am to Him. Maybe it doesn’t matter to him that I don’t remember all those times, I am half asleep to his voice most of the times He tries to speak to me, but when I am asleep no other voices are competing for my attention. Jesus delights in reminding me who I truly am, a co-heir with Him, His bride! As my sister has grown the past few years it is heart wrenching to watch as her confidence fades. Before she started going to school, Mom and Dad’s opinions were all that mattered to her. She was so confident in her singing and dancing that she would twirl around anywhere and randomly break into song in the grocery store. Now the vocabulary has changed: “I’m embarrassed”, “No..that’s weird” may be her response when asked to sing for people. BUT SHE IS SO GOOD. Luckily, teachers and many others have poured into her and encouraged her in her gift of singing so unlike me when I was her age, she actually will sing in public, and for family! Yet, God used this reminder to show me His heart for His children. When we were young we so easily believed and were confident in the things our father told us we could do. We were told stories of Jesus, and heard the words “And you will do greater things than this, because I have gone to the Father (John 14:12).” And we believed Him, because no one else told us who we are. But the more we listen to the world the more we think using our spiritual gifts is embarrassing and weird. The only picture I see is Jesus kneeling down with his hands on a child’s shoulders, tears filling His eyes saying “Who told you, you aren’t good enough?” in sheer agony by the pain His child has suffered by losing sight of who they are to Him. I may not remember all the times Jesus has reminded me of who I am to Him. But one thing is for sure, He has given me the desires that I now find in my heart. I am left asking “God, how did you know I wanted this?” yet, my heart aches for those things more than life itself. Because that is what it requires to fulfill these desires, I must give up my life and let Jesus have every part of it in order to truly live it. Satan has tried to tell me I’m not good enough, He’s scared me out of sharing my gifts for 15 years. But that life is over, and I am learning to walk in the confidence that can only be found through being a child once again. I am on a journey to go back to only allowing my heavenly Father to tell me what I am capable of! As I head to bed in a few moments, I am so thankful that my Father has reminded me to find myself in Him alone! God is good! Goodnight!

Anonymous asked: how is she(kelsey smith) related to The City Church lead pastors judah and chelsea smith?

She isn’t! Just family in Christ, we just go there :)

Shadows

Tonight I am comforted in knowing that there can be no shadow in the absence of light. So “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me” Though we may walk in shadows that are cast by the objects that come between us and our light source, I cling to the truth that the light is present in and beyond the shadow.

Nothing is more painful than having someone you love question you when you tell them you love them. No wonder Jesus is pained when we don’t grasp the extent of his love for us!

God is faithful!

In the words of my dear friend Kelsey Smith “I have no words to describe what is quickly becoming the story of my life”. As I take the time to stop and reflect on God’s glory I begin to recognize my current state of existence. A year ago today I was living in constant denial. I knew that the supernatural existed but my actions spoke otherwise. I lived a safe and content life, never stopping to experience all that God had to offer. I was constantly denying God’s presence in my life, paying no attention to his prompting and completely forgetting that I am called to focus on more than my day to day life. I was open and willing to do what God lead me to do but subconsciously I was tuning Him out, thinking college apps, homework, church, and cheer, were the extent of my current existence. I thought my future would hold some University somewhere, new friends, and in the DISTANT future a husband, kids, ministry and even farther beyond that speaking globally.

It’s amazing to me when I can recognize that God knows me so much better than I know myself! If you had sat me down a year ago and said: “Hey Kindsi, this time next year you will still be single but you will be best friends with Kelsey, have 5 children and be planning on leaving for Africa in the next few years with those kids.” I would have felt hopeless, confused, fearful, and possibly angry. But because God’s timing is perfect and He planned out the progression to a T, I now face my future with joy, hope, excitement, disbelief, and true happiness!

I am so grateful that God knows the desires of my heart before I can even recognize them! I’m so glad he put things in my life that scare me before I see the beauty in them. I am so grateful that God chooses to continually bless and guide each step of my life. I’m glad that I have a friend who has incredible mentors and influences in her life, who continually encourage and re-confirm all that God is doing in our lives! God is so good, he never gives us more than we can handle with him. He takes our willingness and stretches us to our limit so that next time our limits are further. I crave the day when I am so in tune with the Holy Spirit that I will be able to guide people the ways these incredible women have guided and grown me! God is good and his faithfulness is incredible! Thank you God for the favor you have shown me and all you are teaching me through this chapter of my life!

We found baby #2!!!

Selah Grace. Born November 16, 2011

W.W.J.D

These 4 letters I used to wear around my arm at all times have recently been put into perspective for me. When we pray in Jesus’ name we aren’t saying the “magic words” to get our prayers heard we are literally saying, God I am willing to do whatever you would have Jesus do in my situation. That simple phrase we throw around so effortlessly was meant to be a way of dying to ourselves. When you look at what Jesus did on earth and how he interacted with people you see that He never ran from a mess. He never looked at someone who willfully put themselves in a bad situation and said

“well what did you expect to happen? Good luck!”

NO! Instead he embraced the messes and said, just come sit with me and I will clean you up until you feel the need to do it yourself, but until then don’t worry just rest here. He ate dinner with the prostitutes and the tax collectors, people who were sitting in their own messes that they created. So what would that look like in today’s context?

I think it would be very similar to the situation my dear friend Kelsey found herself in tonight. After a wonderful night at City Church she returned to her dorm to the aftershock of a tequila party. Bathrooms full of girls throwing up etc. If this had been me I would have gone to my room and avoided all conflict, but of course, not Kelsey. Instead she unintentionally began to be Jesus to her floor mates. From holding back hair, to setting up a mini - hospital in her room filled with water, trash cans, towels and pillows. Granted, she wasn’t thinking “Dang it, I’m a christian I guess I HAVE to help them.” she simply cannot imagine doing anything less because she loves these girls like Jesus loves them. It is a part of who she is because she understands who JESUS IS and her life is slowly being transformed. Even though they put themselves in the situation, She isn’t running from the mess or even loving them less because of it, if anything this brings them closer and she loves them more. Instead she is compassionate and loving and doing everything she can to invite them in and clean them up so they feel less disgusting and embarrassed by the current state they put themselves in.

I’d say tonight JESUS IS providing trash cans for all in need!

In Jesus’ name, AMEN