His Passion Saved Us
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Today’s lyric is difficult to look at, I won’t lie. From yesterday, we know that Christ died for our sins. He became the sacrificial lamb for us. Today we will look at how He died for us. What Jesus went through to save us. It won’t be easy.

Scripture describes the passion of Christ in Isaiah 53:1-9.

“But, oh, how few believe it! Who will listen? To whom will God reveal his saving power?  In God’s eyes[a] he was like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. But in our eyes there was no attractiveness at all, nothing to make us want him.  We despised him and rejected him—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we didn’t care.

Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed—and we were healed! We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We,who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us!

He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he never said a word. He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he stood silent before the ones condemning him.  From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people of that day realized it was their sins that he was dying for—that he was suffering their punishment?  He was buried like a criminal, but in a rich man’s grave; but he had done no wrong and had never spoken an evil word.”

On this day, Day 28 of each journey, I share a special video. A very meaningful song plays over graphic scenes from the movie, Passion of the Christ. It is extremely difficult to watch, but I ask you to watch anyway. The Truth about what Jesus endured for you, for me, for everyone, is not to be missed or ignored. I pray you will be changed by viewing and better understanding the Love God has for you.

The Day He Wore My Crown - Sandi Patty - The Passion of The Christ

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Christ suffered and died for sins once and for all—the innocent for the guilty—to bring you near to God by His body being put to death and by being raised to life by the Spirit.”

— 1 Peter 3:18 The Passion Translation

Our Perfect Sacrifice
Photo by Daniel Sandvik on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

You’re doing so amazing!!! About this time, life takes over, and it’s just easier to quit and say, “I’ll try this again when I’m not so busy.” I completely understand, but I want to encourage you not to quit. You CAN do this! God will provide strength when you’re feeling weak, and He’ll bless your schedule when you prioritize Him.

I love the picture above. It looks like this sweet lamb is actually smiling. Take another look. Do you see him at rest, at peace, at ease? Do you notice the wood in the background? The photo represents Hebrews 12:2 to me. Jesus, the perfect lamb, was the ultimate sacrifice so that we may live. He paid the price for our sins by shedding His blood. Here’s the thing - He did so with joy, because He knew we would be together for eternity.

“We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because His heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be His, He endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!” Hebrews 12:2 The Passion Translation

What part of your life is God asking you to have joy, though you may be see it as a humiliating sacrifice? Where is your focus? On Earthly things or building His Kingdom through faith in Jesus? Selah.

Let’s praise our Jesus, who is so worthy of all our adoration.

Worthy is The Lamb - Hillsong

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“For you know that your lives were ransomed once and for all from the empty and futile way of life handed down from generation to generation. It was not a ransom payment of silver and gold, which eventually perishes, but the precious blood of Christ—who like a spotless, unblemished lamb was sacrificed for us.”

— 1 Peter 1:19 The Passion Translation

The Gift He Gave
Photo by DiEtte Henderson on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

We begin looking at our next attribute today - Redeemed. The next few days will be deeply moving and, if you’re open, could be life changing for you. I pray you press in, even during the crazy business of life, and let God transform your life.

Let’s begin by looking at the meaning of the word. Until a few years ago, I misunderstood redemption. The Dictionary.com version says, “to gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment.” Here is what the Bible Study Tools website says, “In the Old Testament, redemption involves deliverance from bondage based on the payment of a price by a redeemer.”

Do you see it more clearly? Being redeemed means we have been regained from the sinful world by a redeemer who paid a price. Our redeemer is Jesus and the payment was His precious blood. So that is the very easiest way to break it down, but there is so much more to learn about our redemption.

You may be asking yourself, “Why would Jesus die for me?” That one’s easy - He LOVES you! The Bible is full of beautiful scripture verses describing the love of God. Please find a few favorites that speak to your heart and write them in your journal so you can reflect on them as you continue your journey. Selah.

Here’s a song to lead you in praise and worship today.

We the Redeemed - Hillsong

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of redemption by His blood—the total cancellation of our sins—all because of the cascading riches of His grace.”

— Ephesians 1:7 The Passion Translation

Free to Share God’s Blessings
Photo by Til Jentzsch on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

I woke up today with a question. How does our righteousness make us beautiful? What do you think? Selah. Let’s look one more time at each attribute in this verse, and determine where our beauty is revealed.

We are saved. Knowing we have been rescued and will one day live with God in Heaven for eternity, we can feel secure and be at peace. No more doubt, worry, or fear.

We are sanctified. The Holy Spirit is maturing us each and every day. We are not saved, and then expected to behave in a perfect manner. Our growth in holiness takes time, so we can rest knowing there is no pressure to perform, no need to strive to be better, no more guilt when we fail.

We are forgiven. God has not only forgiven every sin we’ve ever committed or will ever commit, He doesn’t even remember them. Jesus allows us to live free from the prison of shame.

We are justified. God has removed the penalty of our sin - just as if we’ve never sinned. What joy He brings us to know we have His mercy and will not have to be punished as we deserve.

So if you add everything up, here’s how our righteousness makes us beautiful:
God removes the curses and lies of the enemy such as doubt, worry, fear, pressure, striving, guilt, shame, and punishment. He then bestows the gifts of security, peace, rest, freedom, and joy. When we walk in the blessings of God, others will see Him in our actions, speech, and appearance. They will see beauty.

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling extremely grateful to Jesus who gave His life so I could have an amazing life here on Earth, and then live in all glory with Him in Heaven for eternity. Selah.

Grateful - Elevation Worship

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Blessings crown the head of the righteous...”

— Proverbs 10:6 New International Version

Love Others
Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Belief in your right standing with God, is vitally important to knowing your identity in Christ. It’s hard to grasp because Earthy standards are different from Heavenly ones. Do you find you must perform to get that desired promotion, acceptance from others, love? On Earth, if you prove your worthiness, you may earn the desired outcome for all your hard work. God’s ways are not our ways. “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8 New International Version. The gifts of salvation, sanctification, forgiveness, and justification are not earned by any good works, but were freely given to you by God because He loves you. Selah.

Once we believe in our righteousness, our beautiful gift from God, we will desire to bestow the same mercy, grace and forgiveness upon others. The Holy Spirit will help us walk out our desire to love others as we are loved by God. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 describes this perfect love, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” New International Version

Will you receive your gift of righteousness today? Will you also accept the responsibility of living a life of loving others as you have been loved? Selah.

I Will Sing Praise - Prestonwood Choir and Orchestra

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.”

— Psalm 7:17 New International Version

Prisoner Set Free
Photo by Deleece Cook on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Forgiveness is central to the entire Gospel and has the potential to set you free this very day. The enemy will constantly lie to us and say, “How could anyone, let alone God, ever forgive you?” He’ll also fill our minds with the lie, “That sin is too big to be forgiven and now you’ll live with the shame of it forever.” Beauties, these are lies! God’s Truth will set us free from this condemnation.

Even while Jesus had just been mocked, tortured, and was being nailed to the cross, He spoke these words, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they’re doing.” Luke 23:34 New International Version. There is no failure we could ever commit outside the realm of God’s forgiveness. His mercy is so much greater than we could ever imagine.

“He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:10-12 New International Version

What lie is holding you back from receiving the forgiveness Jesus has already given you? Are you ready to walk through the open door of your prison cell into the marvelous light of freedom? Selah.

Amazing Love (You Are My King) - Hillsong

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“I, yes I, am the One and Only, who completely erases your sins, never to be seen again. I will not remember them again. Freely I do this because of who I am!”

— Isaiah 43;25 The Passion Translation

The Master and The Masterpiece
Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Thank you for your commitment to God to meet with Him today despite what has to be a very busy time in your life. I pray your journey experience is helping you slow down and find the wonder of Christmas and the miracle of Christ’s birth.

We’re looking at two words today: Saved and Sanctified. Both are actions and gifts provided to us by Jesus and The Holy Spirit. I think most Christians understand the meaning of the word “saved.” By our faith in Jesus we are saved (rescued) from eternal damnation and given an eternity with Him in Heaven. The second word, “sanctified” is more difficult to understand. We don’t hear much about it in our churches, so let’s take a closer look today.

Salvation, being saved, was an immediate action, sanctification takes our lifetime. Sanctification is a process, it’s a lifelong process of becoming Holy as He is Holy. We simply cannot do it in our own strength, but need the Holy Spirit living in us to show us the way.

From the “Born of The Spirit” website, I found some helpful commentary on the subject. You will find beautiful Bible verses to support the ideas of the author. Know that we are being changed from Glory to Glory. We were not made perfect in our actions at salvation, though it’s our hearts desire not to continue to sin. We don’t want to grieve the Spirit of God, but we keep sinning. It’s frustrating! We feel like a failure! There is hope in our sanctification process…hallelujah!

“Sanctification - Where I Put Off Sins by the Power of The Spirit

Unfinished - Mandisa

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.”

— Philippians 1:6 The Living Bible

Peace & Contentment
Photo by Amy Treasure on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

“But now, independently of the law, the righteousness of God is tangible and brought to light through Jesus, the Anointed One. This is the righteousness that the Scriptures prophesied would come. It is God’s righteousness made visible through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And now all who believe in Him receive that gift. For there is really no difference between us, for we all have sinned and are in need of the glory of God.” Romans 3:22-23 The Passion Translation

I thought it best to start with truth today through scripture. It’s difficult to grasp the fact we stand today righteous before God. Our faith in Jesus has provided for this supernatural gift. God sees us blameless. Do you believe it’s that simple? Are you still counting the mistakes preventing you from being “good enough”? Selah.

Today can be a day of freedom if you allow the truth of your righteousness to quench the lies of “you’ll never do enough or be enough to earn the forgiveness of God.” Spend time with God and hear all He has to reveal. You may not realize lies going on in your head and heart. Perhaps your idea of wanting to live with excellence is really trying to earn approval from God. He wants to speak to you, will you listen? Selah.

My Righteousness - Go Deep

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and He now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us.”

— Romans 5:1 The Passion Translation

O Come Let Us Adore Him
Photo by Batang Latagaw on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Worshipping Jesus with all our adoration seems fitting for today. We’re half way through our journey, and all I want to do is praise God for all He’s done and all He is. I invite you to join me in reflecting back on your journey to take inventory of all God’s done thus far. Could you even write it all down? There are endless ways He’s blessed me in this past 20 days, and my soul must praise Him.

“Lift up a great shout of joy to the Lord!
Go ahead and do it—everyone, everywhere!
As you serve him, be glad and worship him.
Sing your way into his presence with joy!
And realize what this really means—
we have the privilege of worshiping the Lord our God.
For he is our Creator and we belong to him.
We are the people of his pleasure.
You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise.
Come right into his presence with thanksgiving.
Come bring your thank offering to him
and affectionately bless his beautiful name!
For the Lord is always good and ready to receive you.
He’s so loving that it will amaze you—
so kind that it will astound you!
And he is famous for his faithfulness toward all.
Everyone knows our God can be trusted,
for he keeps his promises to every generation!”
Psalm 100 ~ The Passion Translation

O Come All Ye Faithful - Hillsong

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Lord! I’m bursting with joy over what you’ve done for me!
My lips are full of perpetual praise.”

— Psalm 34:1 The Passion Translation

Royal Throne
Photo by William Krause on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

During the Christmas season, we often hear the story of Christ’s birth. A very humble beginning for The King of Kings to be born in a filthy stable, wouldn’t you say? At the time of His birth, He was already The King, but the world saw Him as a mere baby born of poor parents, a common carpenter’s son.

What does the world say of you and your family? I’ve already shared my family comes from a line of pig farmers, and according to worldly standards, it’s a humble position, not one of high status. Are you trying to live up to the world’s standards instead of placing your trust in who God says you are? Selah.

Look at the people God used in the Bible who started with humble beginnings and went on to become champions for The Kingdom. Joseph, King David, Mary (Mother of Jesus), and Peter are a few that come to mind. He will use you too! You are His Royal Princess, and He wants you to walk in that truth. It’s time to stand up against the lies from the enemy that say you’ll never be enough, you’re too young, too old, not well educated, not from the right family, etc. God will raise you up! You have a purpose and a place in His Kingdom. Do you believe it? Selah.

Royalty - Francesca Battistelli

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“He turns paupers into princes and seats them on their royal thrones of honor.”

— Psalm 113:8 The Passion Translation

Glow of Glory
Photo by Sarthak Navjivan on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Have you ever known someone who “lights up the room” simply by walking into it? Their warm and inviting and sometimes exuberant personality puts everyone at ease and makes the crowd instantly feel better. How about the girlfriend who has fallen in love and is “floating on cloud nine”? We lean in and listen as she excitedly describes the romantic gesture her boyfriend displayed on last night’s date. We can’t forget the expectant mother who is about to burst and yet smiling from ear to ear in anticipation of seeing her child for the first time. These women “GLOW.”

We are naturally drawn to the light. Jesus is the one and true Light of the World. We can’t resist His perfect love! It’s this love that found us, saved us, transformed us, and gave us new life. Is your heart yearning for Him today? Are you wanting to bow in His presence and praise Him?

Just as Moses’s face glowed when he returned from spending 40 days with God, we light up from being in His presence as well. Can’t you just tell when someone spends time with Jesus? They glow with confidence, peace, love, kindness, gentleness, basically the fruit of the Spirit.

Will you join me in praying for our lights to shine in the darkness so we may, with the power of the Holy Spirit, draw others to our personal savior, Jesus. Selah.

Glow - Hillsong

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let Him fill you with excitement as you serve Him.”

— Romans 12:11 The Passion Translation

Claiming Victory
Photo by Jared Subia on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Every Royal has a crown - including you! We saw yesterday we share in the inheritance of Jesus, and He is our crowned King of Kings. The question for you is…do you wear it?

I love the photo above. It speaks to me of a person who doesn’t quite believe she’s worthy of wearing a crown. She received it, holds it in her hands, and now it’s time to wear it. What’s one thing she has to do prior to placing the adornment on her? She has to lift her head! She must claim her status and know that she has been given the honor of her royalty.

Do you relate to her? Where are you in the process? Have you received the gift of Jesus? Are you holding your crown, or have you placed it on your head already? If not, what’s prevents you from doing so? Selah.

We have been given not only a crown - but the Victor’s Crown! We share this honor with Jesus. Do you feel like you’re in a battle? Are you striving for the victory? Selah.

Beauty, lay down your burden, and hand it to Jesus - the true Victor. He fights our battles - Hallelujah! Yes, we have our responsibility to follow God’s will for our lives, and must do what He is prompting us to do, but we also trust whole heartedly His plan for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” NIV

Trust Him today and claim your Victor’s Crown!

See A Victory - Elevation Worship

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“A true athlete will be disciplined in every respect, practicing constant self-control in order to win a laurel wreath that quickly withers. But we run our race to win a victor’s crown that will last forever.”

— 1 Corinthians 9:25 The Passion Translation

Chosen Royalty
Photo by Roksolana Zasiadko on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Today we continue our journey and discover all God wants us to know about our Royal status. What do you think of when you hear the word Royal? King and Queen? Palace? Guards of protection? Those are definitely earthly images seemingly accurate.

Here is what the Bible tells us of our Spiritual Royal Status:

“For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, ‘You are God’s beloved child!’ And since we are His true children, we qualify to share all His treasures, for indeed, we are heirs of God Himself. And since we are joined to Christ, we also inherit all that He is and all that He has.”
Romans 8:16-17 The Passion Translation

We are God’s children and will inherit all the treasures of Heaven - which is Jesus, Himself. Do you believe it? What lies are coming to your mind as you ponder the truth of your royalty? My earthly family were pig farmers who came to America from Germany. It doesn’t seem like glamorous work, does it? My ancestors were tremendously hard working, but certainly did not live in a palace and were not considered with affluent status. You can imagine the messages I hear from the enemy when I say I am the royal daughter of The King. But it’s true!

“You are truly royalty! The way you walk so gracefully in my ways displays such dignity. You are truly the poetry of God—His very handiwork.” Song of Solomon 7:1 The Passion Translation

We have the absolute honor of being children of The Most High God, and we must take our position of royalty with great care as we represent our King and Father. We must walk in His ways, full of grace and mercy, never lording over anyone our authority. Are you open to receiving the full revelation of your Royal status today? What is holding you back? Drink from the fountain of truth. You are precious, valued and honored with Jesus. Will you receive it? Selah.

We Are Royals - North Point InsideOut

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Redeeming love crowns you as royalty. Your thoughts are full of life, wisdom, and virtue. Even a king is held captive by your beauty.”

— Song of Solomon 7:5 The Passion Translation

Come Away With Me, My Beautiful One
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Day 15! WOW!! Congratulations on your dedication and desire to draw close to God and become more of the beautiful woman He created in all fullness of the life He died to give you. I hope you are able to commend yourself for the hard work you’ve done so far and will do going forward. Can you enjoy your accomplishment?

We’re a third of the way through our journey, so today is a good day to stop and make an assessment. Using our three days of preparation guidelines, let’s look at a few things. First, are your expectations being met? How is the reality different from what you thought the journey would be? Is there anything you need to change to get closer to what you want? What obstacles are you finding that distract you from being present each day? Are your action plans working or do you need to make adjustments? How is your motivation? Are you still able to have time with God and your journal each day, no matter what? Do you remember why you’re doing this journey? Please take time to answer these questions and do a little self assessment today. Selah.

Below is a passage from Song of Solomon. I pray it blesses your hearts today.

“Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling.
Come away with me!
I have come as you have asked
to draw you to my heart and lead you out.
For now is the time, my beautiful one.
The season has changed,
the bondage of your barren winter has ended,
and the season of hiding is over and gone.
The rains have soaked the earth
and left it bright with blossoming flowers.
The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived.
I hear the cooing of doves in our land,
filling the air with songs to awaken you
and guide you forth.
Can you not discern this new day of destiny
breaking forth around you?
The early signs of my purposes and plans
are bursting forth.
The budding vines of new life
are now blooming everywhere.
The fragrance of their flowers whispers,
“There is change in the air.”
Arise, my love, my beautiful companion,
and run with me to the higher place.
For now is the time to arise and come away with me.”
Song of Solomon 2:10-13 The Passion Translation

Beautiful Beautiful - Francesca Battistelli

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Listen, my dearest darling, you are so beautiful—you are beauty itself to me! ”

— Song of Solomon 4:1 The Passion Translation

Constant Beauty
Photo by Carol Carpenter on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

The transformation from sorrow to joy is such a beautiful transformation. Do you believe it’s real? Is such a life change possible? Do you have intimate knowledge of this awesome wonder and gift of God? Selah.

Isaiah 61:1-3 describes what Jesus came to do for us beyond salvation. As if saving our eternal souls and reconciling us to The Father wasn’t enough, He came to give us a glorious life in Him.
”The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.”
~New International Version

There is so much joy from our Savior Jesus for this life on Earth. We must start by letting go of the past and the lies that we’ve tightly held to join a new life with Jesus. When we open our hearts to allow Him to heal our wounds, we can live joyously even with scars. They become a badge of honor to show the world what the Lord has brought us through.

Joy is found deep in our souls, beyond any temporary emotion. It allows us strength even as we walk through difficult situations. I guess one way to say it is joy is not dependent on our circumstances. It is our strength, our security, our peace and is with us everyday despite what is happening around us.

Apostle Paul was in a prison for preaching the gospel, but still encouraged the Philippians to rejoice! Will you join Paul and chose to rejoice and give thanks to our Lord in every situation and circumstance? Selah.

Hymn of Joy - Chris Tomlin

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One!”

— Philippians 4:4 The Passion Translation

Thankful For Grace
Photo by Kiy Turk on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is one of my very favorite days of the year. We, in America, enjoy a National holiday to gather with friends and family to celebrate and give thanks for our blessings.

Without a doubt, I am always most thankful for the gift of salvation Jesus gave me through grace. He taught me I could never do enough good deeds to earn my salvation, but it was though His amazing grace that I am saved.

What are you most thankful for today? Please spend time with the precious One who gave you life and share your thanks with Him. He is so deserving our of praise. Selah.

Your Grace Finds Me - Matt Redman

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“ For it was only through this wonderful grace that we believed in him. Nothing we did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the gracious gift from God that brought us to Christ! So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving.”

— Ephesians 2:8-9 The Passion Translation

Freedom Within Your Grasp
Photo by Andressa Voltolini on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

An important part of our joy comes from our freedom. Freedom from the past and our freedom to a newness of life with all its possibilities. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

In my study time with God this morning, I found an article, that quite frankly, I wish I had written myself. These words and thoughts live inside me and I express them throughout the 40 Day Journey experience. Here, in one article, the author has summarized John 10:10 so well. I pray you are blessed as I was when reading it. Grab your journal and write some thoughts that speak to your heart, and then pray with God that He would help you let go of the lies that still bind you, and reach forward to hold on to the truth that will propel you forward.

I’m Breaking Up With My Past - Debbie McDaniel

Letting Go - Steffany Gretzinger

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

— Philippians 3:12

Radiant Joy
Photo by Fuu J on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Today is a great example of coming to God and participating in your journal even when it’s difficult. I’ve been sick since last night, but still desire to come to the Lord to hear from Him. Have you had one of those days, where it was hard to overcome obstacles and spend time with God? Are your motivations keeping you in front of God - your Father, your Savior, your Friend?

Today we start our third attribute, JOYFUL. What does it mean to be joyful? The obvious definition is, “To be filled with joy.” But what does joy mean to you? Is it a constant state of happiness? Does it have anything to do with happiness at all? Is it something that comes and goes with circumstance? What is your level of joy on a scale of 1-10? Selah.

The Bible tells us, “The Joy of the Lord is our Strength,” so it’s vitally important to eliminate anything standing in the way of our joy. What are you holding on to that prevents you from walking in the truth of your joy? Are they lies? Are they painful situations you’ve endured? Are you willing to “let go and let God?” Selah.

The Joy Of The Lord - Rend Collective Experiment

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“In mercy You have seen my troubles and You have cared for me; even during this crisis in my soul I will be radiant with joy, filled with praise for Your love and mercy.”

— Psalm 31:7 The Passion Translation

Invitation to Rest
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

The journey is moving quickly through the beautiful truths of God. Is there a part of your discovery about your loveliness you need to spend more time? Today provides an opportunity to do just that. What does your loving Father want to seal in your heart? Selah.

In my personal journey, God is speaking to me this morning about finding rest in Him Because of our relationship to Him, we have been given the power and might of His Majesty. Do we use this power to lord it over people? Certainly not! His beautiful gift allows us to rest in Him, knowing that all glory and power are His. We are to find our security in His Majesty with knowledge He is working all things for our good. Our good good Father has a perfect plan for our lives.

When we rest, we can give all our cares to God, and not spend our time worrying about ourselves. Instead, we can use our time to understand and follow the will of our Father. He will surely speak to us about how we can pray and bless others - true humility.

Confidence is such a big part of our loveliness. We do not have envy, jealously, or insecurity in our hearts - these keep us dwelling on ourselves. God provides all the security we need, which eliminates the need for us to try to protect ourselves from the possible pain from others. We are free to care and love others, just as God desires.

Please take time today to truly rest in Him and His truths.

You Can Just Rest - Bethel Worship Music

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“My heart and soul explode with joy—full of glory! Even my body will rest confident and secure.”

— Psalm 16:9 The Passion Translation

Lovely and Stunning
Photo by photo-nic.co.uk nic on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Lovely is a definitely spoken over many a bride. It’s perfectly fitting for the occasion - her day of love. Where family and friends will take one look at the bride and her groom, and know they are in love.

We are spiritual Brides of THE Bridegroom - Jesus. He has prepared the way for us, and we must ready ourselves. I often think of simplifying my life by focusing on my wedding preparation to my King. Becoming that truly lovely and beautiful bride for the One who saved my soul.

What about you? Do you think about your Wedding Day to Jesus? Is this a new concept to you? Does it sound rather strange? Here is how the Bible so beautifully describes it in Song of Solomon 3:9-13…

“The king made this mercy seat for himself
out of the finest wood that will not decay.
Pillars of smoke, like silver mist—
a canopy of golden glory dwells above it.
The place where they sit together
is sprinkled with crimson.
Love and mercy cover this carriage,
blanketing his tabernacle throne.
The king himself has made it
for those who will become his bride.
Rise up, Zion maidens, brides-to-be!
Come and feast your eyes on this king
as he passes in procession on his way to his wedding.
This is the day filled with overwhelming joy—
the day of his great gladness.”

Journal your thoughts after reading this Truth. Selah

I Can’t Wait - Merchant Band

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Lovely and stunning she leads the procession with all her bridesmaids as they come before you, her Bridegroom King.”

— Psalm 45:14 The Passion Translation