Joyful Imperfection
Photo by Senjuti Kundu on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

We move forward in our journey this week as we discover a mighty attribute that keeps our strength…JOY! Even when life is imperfect, and well, even quite messy, we can still be joyful in the midst of it all.

In my quiet time with God today, He brought me to a blog speaking about joy and the scriptures supporting the ideas. It’s truly beautiful, and I thought it would be a helpful lesson for us all as we begin looking at this attribute. Joy Study

I pray you will take time to review all God has for you today. He died for you to make your joy complete. Selah.

Exceeding Joy - Miriam Webster

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. ”

— Romans 15:13 The Passion Translation

TRUTH

Good Morning Beauties!

How is it Day 10 already? You are doing great! Your commitment and devotion to our Lord to knock on His door each day to spend time with Him is to be applauded. It’s not easy to look deep inside, bring up painful places, and go through healing, but you’re doing it! You are brave and courageous.

Today we once again look at our familiar phrase, “You are beautiful.” The purpose for repeating it in the song is to emphasize its truth. Though the phrase may be repetitive, please don’t rush by it thinking you’ve done the work already. There are many layers to uncover and bring to the Lord. What new thing is He wanting to say today about your beauty today? Are you willing to go deeper with Him? Selah.

Today is also a good day to look back at your preparation topics and assess the success of your journey so far. Only you can make that determination. Review your expectations. Are they being met? Is there something more you want God to do? Is there something you need to do differently?

Have your action plans kept the obstacles at bay? Do you need better implementation of your plans, or new ones altogether? Have you discovered unexpected road blocks? How will you overcome them?

How is your motivation? Have you been excited to meet with God and willing to learn from Him with an open heart these past 10 days? Is your “why” still the same “why” or has it changed?

Beauties, there is so much the Lord wants to share about how incredibly beautiful you are. Life changing truth to replace dangerous lies that steal, kill, and destroy all God has for you. Listen to what He says about you, not the enemy. Remember, you are strong, courageous, and brave. You’ve got this!

You Say - Lauren Daigle

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“You’re so good! You’re my beautiful strength! You’ve never made a mistake with me.”

— Psalm 92:15 The Passion Translation

Strength. Tenderness. Love
Photo by Artem Maltsev on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Happy Mother's Day! Today is a great time to think of our Mothers and all the lovely ladies who have blessed our lives over the yeas. Some may have been spiritual mothers, mentors, big sisters, or close friends. Today, we celebrate them all!

Please take time to think about these ladies and what made them special to you. God put them in your life in specific times and for particular reasons. Let’s take time today to assess why God placed them in your life and what characteristics made them truly lovely. From what we’ve discovered in the past few days, was it their reliance on God for their strength, was it their gentleness? What was it that you gleaned from their uniqueness?

It’s wonderful to know we are sent treasured relationships from God to be His hands and feet. The spirit of God overflowing from special women He’s given to us. What a gift!

Something additionally to consider as you ponder these special ladies - what attributes do you now possess due to your relationships? Make a list. I’m confident you’ll find you’re just as lovely as they are. Perhaps you can send a note, write an email, or pick up the phone, and let them know what they mean to you.

Enjoy this special day, Beauties!

Somebody’s Hero - Jamie O’Neal

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Her children arise and call her blessed...”

— Proverbs 31:28 New International Version

Let His Heart Shine
Photo by Ava Sol on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

 In our pursuit of knowing more about our "loveliness," let's look at what seems to be a contradiction:  authority and service wrapped into one.  Majesty, (power and authority) have been given to us through the Holy Spirit.  We are strong knowing Christ lives in us, and yet, there is another side of Jesus which is the perfect example of humility.  

What does the Bible say about this matter, and how are we to respond?  "Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal’s death on a cross."  Philippians 2:5-8

Jesus loved us so much He left His throne and rightful place to come into the world as a human.  HIs life was filled with love through service, and then He fulfilled His purpose of reconciliation as He died on a cross for you and me.  Jesus' life is the perfect example for us to follow to indeed live a beautiful life. When the ugliness of pride creeps in, banish it with the truth of your humility.

How can we live our lives making sure His heart shines through us? Is He asking us to leave concern for ourselves to Him while we concentrate on loving others? If we are true followers of Christ, isn’t this our mandate through the Great Commission? What is God asking you to do to live a humble life filled with service to others?  Selah.

To Be Like You - Hillsong

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’”

— 1 Peter 5:5 New International Version

Indescribable Majesty
Photo by Joel Filipe on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

How much do you love the word Majesty? It's one of the most special words I know, but if I had to describe it, I think it’s pretty much indescribable. There are certain words that I use only for God. Awesome, Holy, and Majestic are a few of them. He is so worthy of special words.

If this is the case, how can we be clothed in His Majesty? We’re not God., we’re only human and incapable of having anything to do with this Majesty. The answer is simple - when we believe in Christ, He lives in us. (Galatians 2:20) His attributes become our attributes. He shines through us like the radiant sun. The enemy would have you believe it’s not possible. “Who do you think you are?” he taunts. Are you listening to the enemy? Are you doubting the truth of God’s Word? Selah.

Today let’s get a grasp on the idea of God’s Majesty and then start to believe we share this quality as well. I absolutely love the beauty of His majesty found in Psalm 93. Read these gorgeous words and let them give you confidence today as you read about God’s strength and might.

The Majesty of God - The Passion Translation

“Look! Yahweh now reigns as King! He has covered himself with majesty and strength, wearing them as his splendor-garments. Regal power surrounds him as he sits securely on his throne. He’s in charge of it all, the entire world, and he knows what he’s doing! Lord, you have reigned as King from the very beginning of time. Eternity is your home. Chaos once challenged you. The raging waves lifted themselves over and over, high above the ocean’s depths, letting out their mighty roar! Yet at the sound of your voice they were all stilled by your might. What a majestic King, filled with power! Nothing could ever change your royal decrees; they will last forever! Holiness is the beauty that fills your house; you are the one who abides forevermore!”

WOW! Our God is AWESOME!!! Looking back over your life, where are the places the Lord has calmed the raging waters? How did He show His Majesty? Selah. (You may want to write them in your journal)

Please join me as we sing of the indescribable majesty of our Great God!

Indescribable - Chris Tomliin

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty...”

— Psalm 93:1 New International Version

Tender Love

Good Morning Beauties!

Welcome to the second stanza of the song and the second attribute of who you are in Christ….You Are Lovely. Thanks for making the effort each day to say, “YES!” to God by spending time with Him. There is nothing better than an intimate relationship with GOD. Nothing will ever satisfy your soul completely like knowing Jesus. The blessing is all your if you want it.

Let’s look at the word, lovely. What’s the first thing you think of? How would you define it? How do you see yourself compared to your definition?

No matter how many times I take another 40 Day Journey, I always see this attribute in the same way. I see a sweet gentleness. A softness, a femininity - and usually the color pink. And each time, though it’s getting better, I still don’t see myself as very lovely by my own definition. I see myself as bold, strong, and controlling. Can you relate? I tend to surround myself with the same type of women.

One of the goals in our journey is to see how we are made in the image of Christ. So let’s look at what the Word says about the loveliness of Jesus. “But Lord, your nurturing love is tender and gentle. You are slow to get angry yet so swift to show your faithful love. You are full of abounding grace and truth.” Psalm 86:15 TPT Jesus is tender and gentle. Is this how you see Him?

We are created like Hm, so let’s look at what the Bible says about us, “What blessing comes to you when gentleness lives in you! For you will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5 TPT This truth is taken from one of Jesus’ best known sermons - The Sermon on the Mount. Is this how you see yourself? If not, write down what you see instead. Is it a lie? Pray for God to reveal His truth to you in this area of your identity.

For all those “control freaks” out there, I implore you to lay it down, (I’m speaking to myself as well.) Jesus is all the strength we need. He allows us to be the gentle and tender women He created, because He is our strength. I love what the Bible says about it, “Some find their strength in their weapons and wisdom, but my miracle-deliverance can never be won by men. Our boast is in Yahweh our God, who makes us strong and gives us victory!” Psalm 20:7 TPT Did you see it? Our strength and victory are given to us by God. We can relinquish our need for control and give it back to Him. What a blessing, indeed! Selah.

Strength of My Life - Vertical Worship

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“My darling, you are so lovely! You are beauty itself to me. Your passionate eyes are like gentle doves.”

— Song of Solomon 1:15 The Passion Translation

Waiting for Our Wedding Day to Come
Photo by Jeremy Wong Weddings on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Today is the third time in this short stanza in the song we’ve heard the same truth - You Are Beautiful. After a day of preparation and following your journey for the past few days, are you beginning to see a shift in your thinking? Are you allowing God to speak to you and reveal the destructive lies of the enemy? Only then will you be able to release them and allow Truth to take its rightful place in your heart.

The Lord brought me to Psalm 45 today. That special chapter which describes the beauty of the Groom and His Bride as well as their wedding day. Most of us have dreamed of our wedding day since childhood. What are husband would be like, what our dress would look like, all the details like color schemes, flowers, and music. Our ultimate wedding day is when Christ comes for us - His Beautiful Bride. What a glorious day that will be. I can’t wait!

Below is the description of us as His Bride. Notice in verses 9 and 10, we are told to forget the past, and all those lies we’ve been told from those around us, and look to the future with our King. We are to worship Him, not those we tried to please in our past.

Take time to read each verse, slowly, visualizing yourself as His Bride. Allow your feelings to flow and remain in God’s presence as He speaks tenderly to your heart. This Beautiful Bride is YOU!

Her Royal Majesty

9 The daughters of kings, women of honor,
    are maidens in your courts.
    And standing beside you,
    glistening in your pure and golden glory,
    is the beautiful bride-to-be!
10 Now listen, daughter, pay attention, and forget about your past.
    Put behind you every attachment to the familiar,
    even those who once were close to you!
11 For your royal Bridegroom is ravished by your beautiful brightness.
    Bow in reverence before him, for he is your Lord!
12 Wedding presents pour in from those of great wealth.
    The royal friends of the Bridegroom shower you with gifts.
13 As the princess-bride enters the palace,
    how glorious she appears within the holy chamber,
    robed with a wedding dress embroidered with pure gold!
14 Lovely and stunning, she leads the procession with all her bridesmaids
    as they come before you, her Bridegroom-King.
15 What a grand, majestic entrance!
    A joyful, glad procession as they enter the palace gates!
16 Your many sons will one day be kings, just like their Father.
    They will sit on royal thrones all around the world.
17 I will make sure the fame of your name
    is honored in every generation, as all the people praise you,
    giving you thanks forever and ever!

I Can’t Wait - Merchant Band

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Every part of you is so beautiful, my darling. Perfect is your beauty, without flaw within.”

— Song of Solomo 4:7 The Passion Translation

My True Self
Photo by Juno Jo on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

How are you feeling today? Are you ready and excited to see what God will speak to your heart? I’m feeling a bit sleepy today, but I’m here with you after a wonderful quiet time with Jesus. He always meets us when we drawn near to Him. He’s so faithful, loving, and kind. Don’t you agree?

Today we look at the truth of our beauty again. On Day 1, we looked at how the enemy dims the light that shines through us when we believe his lies and deceptions. I thought today it would help to look at our personal definition of what beauty is and means to us.

“Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.” - Coco Chanel

This quote is not directly from scripture, but I believe it! There is something truly beautiful when you see the true essence of a person. God made us all different, and when we are free to be our true selves, it’s the uncontaminated revealed truth of God shining through us.

I love the description found in Psalm 139:14-16 from The Passion Translation, “I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it! How thoroughly you know me, Lord! You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place; carefully, skillfully you shaped me from nothing to something. You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I’d ever seen the light of day. the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book.”

So, how do you define beauty? Where were your beliefs formed? Is there any hint of deception in your beliefs? What is God speaking to your heart about beauty today? Selah.

Free to Be Me - Francesca Battistelli

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

— 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

The Rock of Your Foundation
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

What a wonderful way to start the week. Waking up and knowing we’re on this journey together. We’re not going it alone, but have beautiful ladies to share the experience. Does it bring you comfort as it does me?

Today’s truth is life changing. It’s simple, but hard to drop from our head to our hearts - from our minds to our belief system. The lies preventing us from believing this truth are tremendous in number and destruction.

Why does the enemy work so hard to keep us from this truth? Let’s take a look. “Perfect Love casts out all fear”, (1 John 4:18) and fear is where the enemy binds us. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with loving devotion.” (Jeremiah 31:3) God’s love for us is not conditional, it is eternal and brings us closer to Him. His love is forever, it is safe, it is pure, and we can trust it.

God’s love is not dependent on how good we behave, and the enemy loves to tell us otherwise. He is a master at causing us to feel shame for our behavior, but our actions have nothing to do with how God loves us. He loves us, the person, despite our behavior.

I have found the greatest freedom when I believe and live this truth. I no longer have to spend all my time assessing my behavior to make it “good enough” to be deserving of God’s love. Guilt (regret of bad behavior) and shame (believing you’re a bad person) are tools of the enemy to keep you from the abundant life Jesus died to give you.

So ladies, are you ready to trample the lie of “not good enough” under you feet? Are you able to believe you are accepted and loved just the way you are - above all your sins? Will you start living your life knowing your behavior does not qualify or disqualify you for God’s love? Selah.

You Are Loved - Stars Go Dim

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!”

— Romans 5:8 The Passion Translation

Apple of our Daddy’s Eye
Photo by Dr Josiah Sarpong on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

It’s a beautiful Lord’s Day. I pray you are excited to worship our King and Creator, Jesus Christ. Our magnificent Savior is worthy to be praised. Amen and Amen!!

Today’s verse, “Daughter of the King” is definitely the TRUTH! We are daughters of the most high God! We now have the DNA of God, no longer our Earthly fathers, but the blood of our Heavenly Father. The study notes from my Bible puts it this way, “This is one of the great mysteries of our faith, that God shares His nature with us. We are given birth by the Holy Spirit to be God’s true sons and daughters, and every father imparts his DNA and his “nature” to his children.”

Will you receive this truth today? What makes it difficult to believe?

In my quiet time with God today, He reminded me of His goodness as my Daddy, my Abba Father. Everything I need, He provides. Here’s my list of things I receive from Him: security, support, encouragement, protection, provision. My identify is found from Him, and I can be confident in knowing I’m His very own daughter.

It may be helpful to make your own list of things you receive from your Abba Father. You may even want to find scripture to support each item. This activity will draw you closer to the truth of who you are in light of who He is.

Good Good Father - Todd Galberth (Chris Tomlin)

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“‘I will be a true Father to you, and you will be my beloved sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Yahweh Almighty.”

— 2 Corinthians 6:18 The Passion Translation

Springtime Worship
Photo by Joe Cox on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

It’s always exciting to start something new, wouldn’t you agree? As I sit here at my desk, looking out my window, I hear so many birds singing - giving their praise to God. I love Springtime and the newness it brings. It’s a visual reminder of the rebirth we’ve been given through Jesus Christ. Our sins have been buried with Him and now our new life has begun. Hallelujah!

Thank you again for joining me on this 40 Day Journey. God is drawing us near and wants to speak truth to our very souls. By doing so, He will help reveal the lies we believe. We must willingly look at some deep places and surrender our beliefs if they’re based on a lie from the enemy. This process has many names like refining, sanctification, and purification, and they all lead to BEAUTY.

Lies prevent God’s truth and light from shining through us, so doesn’t it make sense that we’d want to expel all the lies we believe? The one God revealed to me today is the sin of judgement. Now we all know judging others is a sin, so where did the big revelation come from?

The enemy is devious and will wrap a sin with a nice bow and call it righteousness. I have a practice of “self assessing” everything I do everyday. It’s exhausting, but to be honest, I’ve been proud of it. I tell others, (and myself) it’s my way of improving all the errors I make. Does this sound familiar to you? Do you do the same thing? I can’t believe I’m the only one who does this.

Here’s how this practice of self assessment steals, (the enemy comes only to steal, kill, and destroy) our beauty. When we self assess, we judge ourselves based on our behavior. We are constantly looking at what we do and believe that’s who we are. As an example, if I look at my behavior and see a struggle with discipline, I judge myself as an undisciplined person. It becomes who I am in my mind.

That’s only one example. So if we judge our behavior constantly throughout each day, can you imagine all the negative judgements we believe about ourselves? How can we possibly believe we are beautiful? Do you see how destructive the lies of the enemy become to us?

It’s time we allow God to reveal the lies and replace them with His TRUTH. Are you willing to let go? Are you willing to let Him shine His light into your heart and show you the deception? Are you ready to be made new? Selah.

All Things New - Travis Greene

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

— Isaiah 43:19 New International Version

Selah - stop, ponder, think, listen
Photo by Katie Drazdauskaite on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Welcome to our Spring 2021 40 Day Journey! There’s a reason you’re here. God has something magnificent planned for you. Let me begin by saying I admire your courage, strength and dedication to grow deeper in your relationship with God. We have a promise about our desire to seek God in Matthew 7:8, “For every persistent one will get what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.”

I believe this 40 Day Journey experience is a “narrow gate” which leads to the Truth of God few people find as written in Matthew 7:13-14. “Come to God through the narrow gate, because the wide gate and broad path is the way that leads to destruction—nearly everyone chooses that crowded road! The narrow gate and the difficult way leads to eternal life—so few even find it!”

How can we possibly navigate through this world without knowing who we really are? Without knowing the Truth, the enemy fills our heads with lies. Our belief in them leads to our destruction. God desperately wants you to know the Truth about who you are and who He created you to be, which will lead to a life of love, joy, and peace. A life of fulfillment. A life He died to give you.

As you can see, this journey is significant, and with anything of great importance, we must approach it with great intentionality. We must prepare for our journey. We will take time today to pray, search our hearts, and look at our expectations, obstacles, and motivations.

Let’s start by defining our expectations. What do you want to accomplish? What do you want God to do? What are you willing to do, to give, and to surrender in order for you to consider it a successful experience? Selah. (Stop and ponder)

Take time this morning to pray and ask God about these things. Find a place in your journal to write down your answers. You will want to refer back to them during your journey.

Next, we need to plan for obstacles along the way. Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal anything that may stand in your way of a smooth journey. I know from personal experience, as well as hearing from several women who’ve taken this journey, having a busy schedule is a big obstacle. Like with this example, we have to create an action plan to overcome road blocks.

Take charge over anything standing in your way! You have the power to make your schedule. What will you do to allow for more time to spend with God each day and journey with Him? What sacrifices might need to be made? Is it worth it? Like your expectations, please write down a list of obstacles standing in your way, and beside each one, write down your action plan to overcome it with victory.

Lastly, we’ll look at motivation. Why do you want to take this 40 Day Journey? What’s calling you to a deeper relationship with God? Has something changed? Do you find yourself in a valley and want to be brought out, or are you in a mountain top place in your life where you want to grow even closer to God? Is it somewhere in between?

I love the verse in Psalm 42:1 from The Passion Translation, “I long to drink of you, O God, drinking deeply from the streams of pleasure flowing from your presence. My longings overwhelm me for more of you!” King David, often quoted as “the man after God’s own heart”, wanted to be in the presence of God and in deep relationship with Him more than anything else. Is that where you are? Longing for God? Longing for Truth?

Please write down your answers in your journal. Trust me, you will want to review your motivations, your “why” on those mornings when it’s hard to get out of bed and get to your journal. Let it remind you of all the reasons you’re taking the journey.

All of our journeys will be different, but we can all agree that today, as we begin, there is an uncertainty about where our journeys will take us. That’s okay. Do not fear. Though the experience is unknown, we do know the one who is leading us, and He will be with us to love and care for us the entire way.

The universal goal is change. We are asking God to reveal the lies we’ve been believing and replace them with His Truth. The battle is waged in our minds. Transformation occurs when we trust God and allow Him to change our thoughts. Are you ready for this kind of change? Selah.

Please know I’m praying for you, and I believe in you!

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”

— Romans 12:2 The Passion Translation

The Journey Continues
Photo by Studio Dekorasyon on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

We all just celebrated the resurrection of Jesus yesterday; now it’s time to celebrate your own new life. Today is the day to look back throughout your entire 40 days and reflect on your personal growth. It’s a time to examine all the ways God has changed you by speaking truth into lies you once believed.

It’s helpful to, once again, consider the steps of your preparation and answer a few questions. There are no right or wrong answers, just honest ones. Look back through your journal and notice any changes from the first few days until the last few. Where is the growth? Selah.

Were your expectations met? How was it different than you expected? Looking back, what would you do to improve the success? Selah.

Nobody could have anticipated a global health and economic crisis when we started. Talk about a HUGE distraction! How were you able to keep it away from your time with God while you continued your journey everyday? Did your action plans work? Selah.

What about your motivation? Did your hunger and thirst for God keep you coming back each day to spend time with Him? Did you find your heart longing for more of Him, or did the constant bad news of the pandemic cripple you to move forward with Him? Selah.

I pray this 40 Day Journey experience has made a positive impact in your life. If so, please consider going again. Our life’s journey continues everyday, and sometimes we need a resource that keeps us close to God. I hope you found this journal to be a resource for you.

If this experience has been a good one, would you please tell your friends and family? I believe the enemy has done so much harm to women to keep us bound. He knows our strength and is afraid of the power through God we have to change the world. Let’s help break the chains of every woman we know and set them free to walk in their God given purpose.

Please also consider sharing your story about how God used the 40 Day Journey in your life. It’s another way of encouraging each other. You can contact me on the “let’s connect” section of my website. I’d love to hear from you and hear how God has changed your life.

If you or your friends need a journal, I’m happy to send them one. I want to make sure everyone has a chance to have a copy of the journal, as it’s an important piece in the experience.

As we end our time here on the blog, go back and listen again to the song that speaks truth to your heart. Quiet the world, and go to that safe quiet place. Let Him sing this song over you as you thank Him for all He’s done to bless you and make you whole.

You Are Beautiful

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“King David’s song of praise
1 With my whole heart, with my whole life,
and with my innermost being,
I bow in wonder and love before you, the holy God!
2 Yahweh, you are my soul’s celebration.
How could I ever forget the miracles of kindness
you’ve done for me?
3 You kissed my heart with forgiveness, in spite of all I’ve done.
You’ve healed me inside and out from every disease.
4 You’ve rescued me from hell and saved my life.
You’ve crowned me with love and mercy.
5 You satisfy my every desire with good things.
You’ve supercharged my life so that I soar again
like a flying eagle in the sky!
6 You’re a God who makes things right,
giving justice to the defenseless.
7 You unveiled to Moses your plans
and showed Israel’s sons what you could do.
8 Lord, you’re so kind and tenderhearted
to those who don’t deserve it
and so patient with people who fail you!
Your love is like a flooding river
overflowing its banks with kindness.
9 You don’t look at us only to find our faults,
just so that you can hold a grudge against us.
10 You may discipline us for our many sins,
but never as much as we really deserve.
Nor do you get even with us for what we’ve done.
11 Higher than the highest heavens—
that’s how high your tender mercy extends!
Greater than the grandeur of heaven above
is the greatness of your loyal love, towering over all
who fear you and bow down before you!
12 Farther than from a sunrise to a sunset—
that’s how far you’ve removed our guilt from us.
13 The same way a loving father feels toward his children—
that’s but a sample of your tender feelings toward us,
your beloved children, who live in awe of you.
14 You know all about us, inside and out.
You are mindful that we’re made from dust.
15 Our days are so few, and our momentary beauty
so swiftly fades away!
16 Then all of a sudden we’re gone,
like grass clippings blown away in a gust of wind,
taken away to our appointment with death,
leaving nothing to show that we were here.
17 But Lord, your endless love stretches
from one eternity to the other,
unbroken and unrelenting toward those who fear you
and those who bow facedown in awe before you.
Your faithfulness to keep every gracious promise you’ve made
passes from parents, to children, to grandchildren, and beyond.
18 You are faithful to all those who follow your ways
and keep your word.
19 God’s heavenly throne is eternal, secure, and strong,
and his sovereignty rules the entire universe.
20 So bless the Lord, all his messengers of power,
for you are his mighty heroes who listen intently
to the voice of his word to do it.
21 Bless and praise the Lord, you mighty warriors,
ministers who serve him well and fulfill his desires.
22 I will bless and praise the Lord with my whole heart!
Let all his works throughout the earth,
wherever his dominion stretches,
let everything bless the Lord!”

— Psalm 103 The Passion Translation

Resurrection Power
Photo by Stephanie LeBlanc on Unsplash

Happy Easter Beauties!

“Yes, God raised Jesus to life! And since God’s Spirit of Resurrection lives in you, he will also raise your dying body to life by the same Spirit that breathes life into you!” Romans 8:11 The Passion Translation

Oh the good news of Easter! Is there anything more beautiful than the life of Jesus resurrected from the darkness of death and the tomb? What an amazing love story! Not only did Jesus conquer death, but He rose again to give us new life. A life that is simply beautiful.

The resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead is given to us, so we too can live a life of authority over darkness. No longer slaves to fear, doubt, anxiety, guilt, and shame, we command the enemy and his demons to leave. They have no place in our lives - our newly resurrected lives. Selah.

Nothing can stop the power of Christ’s resurrection and the life it brings to God’s children. Nothing! Today, it’s actually snowing on Easter. He’s still risen! Today, all around the world, we are not gathered to celebrate in our church buildings. He’s still risen! Today, a friend is mourning the loss of his infant son. He is still risen!

If the same power that raised Christ lives in you, please believe this truth - Nothing can stop the resurrection power living in you from accomplishing everything Jesus died to give you. Nothing can stop you from living your life in freedom! Nothing can stop you from making your dreams a reality! Nothing can stop you from ___. You fill in the blank. Selah.

Today we celebrate the risen life of Jesus, and also our own. How will you celebrate your new life? Selah.

Resurrecting - Elevation Worship

Please join me here tomorrow as we reflect on our entire 40 Day Journey experience.

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Now the God who raised up our Lord from the grave will awaken and raise us up through His mighty power!”

— 1 Corinthians 6:14 The Passion Translation

Beautiful, Beautiful Child
Photo by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

“For You shaped me, inside and out. You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath. I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe. You have approached even the smallest details with excellence; Your works are wonderful; I carry this knowledge deep within my soul. You see all things; nothing about me was hidden from You. As I took shape in secret, carefully crafted in the heart of the earth before I was born from its womb. You see all things; You saw me growing, changing in my mother’s womb; Every detail of my life was already written in Your book; You established the length of my life before I ever tasted the sweetness of it.”
Psalm 139:13-16 The Voice translation

When we think of being created, why is it easier to think of our biological parents than God Himself? Is He not the creator of all things? Take time today to read and meditate on Psalm 139:13-16. Pray and bring God into your time of contemplation. Allow Him to show you just how magnificent you truly are to Him and to the world. He formed you perfectly for the purpose He chose you to accomplish while here on the Earth. Selah.

Who You Say I Am - HIllsong

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“ For we are the product of His hand, Heaven’s poetry etched on lives, created in the Anointed, Jesus, to accomplish the good works God arranged long ago.”

— Ephesians 2:10 The Voice translation

Our Life Through His Death
Photo by Lukas Blaskevicius on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

There is no greater love than this…Jesus died on a cross for us, for me, for you. The indescribable display of love is two fold, right? The love of Jesus to lay down His life for us, and the love of God the Father. He loved us so much He gave His one and only Son to save us. We will never know a greater love.

He is so magnificent, and yet He treasures us! Shouldn’t that be the other way around? Are you perplexed by what appears to be a mistake? He’s the one who should be treasured by us. It’s not a mistake! You are dearly loved and treasured by God. What do you think about this truth? What lies make it hard to believe? Can you uproot them and hand them over to the one who died for you? Selah.

On this special day we remember the great love of Jesus as He went willingly to the cross. As you ponder His great sacrifice, how did it appear on your life’s journey. We all come to the place of encountering the cross. We must make a choice to believe what Jesus did for us there or not. We can also believe all the freedom found in this sacred place, or we can choose to walk on by, leaving the cross behind. Leaving the love, mercy, grace, peace and joy found in the cross is to live in darkness, void of His light. What will you choose? What will you help others choose? Selah.

Let’s praise and honor Jesus our Savior and King. He deserves nothing less.

Jesus You Gave It All - Hillsong

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession.”

— Deuteronomy 7:6 New International Version

Joy of Being Loved

Good Morning Beauties!

Beloved..."much loved, cherished, treasured, prized, highly regarded, admired, worshiped, revered."  Adored..."to regard with the utmost esteem, love, and respect; to honor."

Your Abba Father calls you BELOVED.  The God of Heaven and Earth ADORES you.  Do you believe it?  Do you know this Love?  Have you let this Truth penetrate your deepest wounds, silence lies, and mend your broken heart? Selah!

Let today be the day you ask The Lord to show you His Perfect Love so you will never doubt it again.  Receiving God's love is life changing and will lead to the greatest transformation you will ever know. 

The song and video below presents several testimonies of broken young women who have been transformed.  I pray you will be blessed and inspired by their stories and that you will receive all the Father has for you today.  Selah.

He Knows My Name - Francesca Battistelli

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s love. I’m convinced that his love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love. There is no power above us or beneath us—no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God’s passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One!”

— Romans 8:38-39 The Passion Translation

Perfect Child of God
Photo by Shelby Miller on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Now we crescendo with the most important truth of them all - You are a Child of God. If you believe nothing else, please hold on to this truth and all that it entails. I pray all the truths you’ve discovered on your journey come together with this one truth - you are a Child of God. He sees you as the perfect and innocent child He created long before the trials and tribulations of a fallen world effected you.

How do you describe having God as your father? What does it mean intellectually, emotionally, and physically? Write your thoughts and feelings in your journal. Pray God reveals Himself in this role of Abba Father (Daddy) to you in a fresh new way. Selah.

Our position as Children of God was a right given to us by God, Himself. It is an absolute honor and privilege to be given this title, and it came with a high cost - the precious blood of Christ. His enormous and unfailing love is for everyone, but not every person He created accepts Him. Let’s take a look at scripture, “But although he made the world, the world didn’t recognize him when he came. Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome and receive him. But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them.” John 1:1-12 The Living Bible

I’ve held several roles and positions in my life I was proud of like, straight A student, honor roll member, leader of sports teams, and manager of the year. These roles speak about my ability to achieve success, but not about who I am as a person. I am more than a list of achievements, and so are you. You are loved, you are not alone, you are the child of the Most High King and Almighty God. There is no better title or role you will ever have than that!

What titles and positions have you strived for in your life? What happened if you did not attain them? What are the lies you believed? Take some time to look back and reflect on how damaging the lies were to you. Selah.

Now let’s hear what God says about you…

You Say - Lauren Daigle

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children. ”

— 1 John 3:1 The Passion Translation

Beauty Lives Inside
Photo by Stella de Smit on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

Do you sense the change in tide? Do you hear it? Do you see it? Do you feel it? It seems like it happened overnight, but in reality it’s been changing for decades, centuries. The change is happening in the hearts and souls of His children. We are being forced to make a decision - do we believe Him and believe in Him. What do you say? What is your decision? Selah.

And now God wants to once again refine us and send us out to the lost and hurting world. Are you up for the challenge? What’s holding you back? If you had to write one thing that’s in your way, what would it be? What lies swirl around your head that stop you from rising up and believing all God has created you to be? Selah.

Your beauty is Brave. Your beauty is Strong. Your beauty is Resilient. You do not have to worry, tremble, give way to the fears of the world. You can stand your ground with the Lord by your side and find peace and rest.

Just as God is enamored by our beauty, we too are overwhelmed by His. Let’s praise the One who created us, saved us, and ensured we’d be together with Him for eternity.

You’re Beautiful - Sara Reeves

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“Your inward life is now sprouting, bringing forth fruit. What a beautiful paradise unfolds within you. When I’m near you, I smell aromas of the finest spice, for many clusters of my exquisite fruit now grow within your inner garden.”

— Song of Solomon 4:13 The Passion Translation

Restored Beauty
Photo by Satria Hutama on Unsplash

Good Morning Beauties!

You are pure! Do you believe it? Have the truths of the past few days dropped from your head down to your heart? Do you believe you no longer live in darkness, but you are filled with God’s glorious light? Do you believe God does not see any of your sin - you are spotless? Are you still asking yourself, “how can this be?” Selah.

What is the banner over your life? Is it one of condemnation or forgiveness. You’ve already looked at the attribute of “forgiven” and know God has forgiven your sins, but have you forgiven yourself? Before we move on, I think it’s very important to have a real heart-to-heart with ourselves. Are we still living with guilt and shame? Guilt is feeling badly about what we’ve done. Shame is more harmful, because it’s feeling badly about who we are. Guilt says, “what I’ve done is bad.” Shame says, “I’m bad.”

My dear Beauties, today is the day to rid yourself of any and all condemnation. God tells us, “So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One. For the “law” of the Spirit of life flowing through the anointing of Jesus has liberated us from the “law” of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 The Passion Translation

Our God is greater than those lies of the enemy. He has already set you free from condemnation. Today accept His beautiful gift of mercy.

Greater Than - Gateway Worship

Love and Blessings,
Kendra

“ If the Spirit of the One who resurrected Jesus from the dead lives inside of you, then you can be sure that He who raised Him will cast the light of life into your mortal bodies through the life-giving power of the Spirit residing in you.”

— Romans 8:11 The Voice