Posted on by Kristina Knowles

Do you really love Jesus or…

Are you just going through the motions?

I spend a great deal of time in the Gospels. I listen to at least 3-4 sermons a day, I pray and attend church weekly. I love the good news of the bible, I relish in it. And I am stunned to see so many Christians so unhappy and disconnected. Are we reading the same good news of God?

I have come to realize that our family and friends play a huge part on who we are but God is bigger and better. If I stayed in a mediocre state of life, I guess I would be walking around unhappy and disconnected too. Instead I am filled with joy, I am so grateful I wake up happy and grateful every day. If you don’t believe me, ask my son Griffin.

At some point in life you must believe what you are reading in the bible and activate your faith. We all must truly live like Jesus, help like Jesus and most importantly love like Jesus. Within yourself, within your home, at your job, where you volunteer. Wherever you go and whatever you do, be more like Jesus.

Share your testimony when appropriate with those who need it. Almost every day someone asks me why I moved to Texas, I always respond excitedly, “Jesus!” Then I get to share the story when I was led by Jesus to move to Texas 11 years ago while on a business trip for Proctor & Gamble. It was a moment I will never forget.

Let’s all be amazing stewards of this great gift of life. In a blink it will be over. So let us not waste another moment focused on things that never truly fulfill us anyway and share the only thing that will last forever, faith in Jesus!

 

Posted on by Kristina Knowles · 2 Comments

Are you a bully or an up lifter…

To your friends, family and neighbors?

I ask this question because most people think it’s okay to bully, negatively name call and hurt people, even their own family members. It amazes me that families will allow this type of behavior to take place in their own homes for generations. Some subscribe to a belief that this bullying will make them stronger, more confident and tough. Unfortunately this is not the case, the resullts are counter productive and damaging.

I recently had a conversation with a person who didn’t receive words of affirmation, compliments or goodwill from his family or siblings. Instead he received teasing, ridicule and negativity. And now he lives in the memory of all the mean things that were said to him by the very people that he believed were suppose to love him-his family. Verbal abuse will take it’s toll on everyone, and everyone suffers.

I couldn’t help but think of Joseph and his brothers and how badly Joseph was treated by all of them. But Joseph behaved how God wants us all to behave, he had faith. No matter what happened to him Joseph made it a point to be joyful, forgiving and loving. Wow, what a great example and reminder.

How to spot a bully? They call you mean names, make fun of you, they cuss at you, they enjoy making you feel bad in order to make themselves feel better, they have low self-esteem masked by severe cockiness.

THE GREAT NEWS: Today is the day to stop, today can be the day that you stand up for yourself and refuse to be spoken to in an unkind manner. Or today can be the day you no longer speak illwill to anyone ever again. Speak words of affirmation to everyone around you. I beg you to Uplift and speak easy to one another. Be kind and love everyone; especially your enemies.

 

 

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

A gift that came out of…

God’s plan.

I recently came upon a very cute and adorable picture of my son and his childhood friend, Erica. The two of them look so happy, innocent and full of joy. Griffin and Erica were always up to something, lots of laughing and plotting. I always enjoyed watching them have fun being children.

We were blessed to have met Erica’s family, Kristin and I became best friends. We had so much in common, our families enjoyed each other. When we got the news they were moving to Kentucky we were so disappointed but excited they were moving on to bigger and better things.

After they moved, Griffin and I felt a great sense of loss. How do you prepare children for loss of any kind? You offer support, love and care while you mend the hurt. We also did something else, we planned a road trip to Kentucky. We left with excitement and anticipation.

As the years went by, we tried to stay in touch and see each other whenever we could. Our lives and schedules got more and more busy as Erica and Griffin got older. It’s to be expected but still hard and we missed our friends. But the story doesn’t end there…

Griffin decided he would be going into the Air Force, February 2017. I knew it might be coming but we kept it a secret until he was sure. And then one day I was reading my news-feed on Facebook that Erica had joined the Air Force and would be in BMT at the exact same time Griffin would be there. I started to weep with shock and joy.

I am proud to report that Griffin and Erica graduated from the Air Force on the same day just like they did so many years ago in preschool. After graduation we sat down for lunch and caught up. We reminisced about all the shenanigans Griffin and Erica got into while friends in Gainesville, Virginia. Thank God for unbelievable surprises of joy!

Kristin and I could not have planned this if we had tried. God is so good to me, so good to all of us. I don’t question God, I don’t have to. He shows up every day and reveals Himself to me, for you too. We have to be open to receiving Him on His terms and not our own. It’s better, safe and awesome…I promise.

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

Godly goals…

Make life so much better.

Every so often I will make a list to serve God. It’s either 5 to 10 bullet points long, written on big white poster board and God is all over it. I want to serve God in a way that is pleasing to Him and His Kingdom.

My goals are all the prompting of God and His desires for my life. God makes up all the wonderful things of our lives, even the really hard uncomfortable times. When God makes a promise He keeps it, just read the bible and see for yourself. Isn’t that awesome!!?? I believe so, and so should you.

Today I ask you to ask yourself is God in the center of the details of your life? Is He or are you, your family and/or friends in the details of your life?! How differently do you think your life would be if you trusted God with everything? I mean, really and truly trusted Him with EVERYTHING!!??

My life reads like an adventure with God, for God. Without a shadow of doubt God has been all over my life. Even when I didn’t want to listen or be obedient, He was there…waiting. God has protected me, given me strength and saved me by sending His only Son to die on the cross. Every day is a gift that I get to open my eyes and breathe.

What are your goals? Is God in your goals? If not, how will you change your life at this very moment for God? Are you willing to give up everything that is not working in your life for the cross? And let me be clear, everyone defines success, love, goodness, greatness differently. Pray and desire God’s success, love, goodness and greatness over your life and your families. It might hurt at first but God’s plan for your life is far better than your plans…I promise.

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

Generational curses…

Don’t pass them on.

I have heard many stories, I have had many talks and lots of conversations about families. I am a Christian who believes in the generational curse. There has been many debates about it, I just have seen too many cases to prove otherwise.

I want to start off with the good news, you have the fortitude to stop it today. And then you get to stop some more of it tomorrow and so on and so on and so on. See, I believe we can see the curse if we just pay close attention. Most people think it’s normal if their parent is a drug addict or alcoholic that they will most likely become the same. Then you have the person who fights tooth and nail to be nothing like their parents and end up being like them anyway. Sound or feel familiar? Lastly, you have the person that is completely honest with their family history, starts to ask important questions, researches pass & present behaviors and makes every effort to stop the generational curse with honest knowledge.

It can be very daunting to try and figure out how to be different than your family for the better. I think people get scared to be different, eat different, dress different, behave different all for the good of God. And please know the difference between good vs. perfect. I am not perfect, God doesn’t expect us to be perfect but He does expect our best for Him.

My Father does not drink alcohol, my Mother started to enjoy a few alcoholic drinks much later in life. Alcohol was not glamorized in our family. And I know why, my Mother’s Father George was an alcoholic and he hurt his family in the process. George and I have never met but his legacy has lived on way pass his death.

I encourage you to stop and think about all the negative things you do, how you behave and how you handle everything. Are you riddled with fear, anxiety, rage, stress or depression? You may find the answer in the past so you can change the present and protect future generations to come. It may require you to do really big things but we have a really big God, so don’t worry.

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

Love, truth, God…

Pass it on!

I shared my story about my son and God with Hannah, a beautiful 17 year old girl who then shared my story with friends and family. I tell that story as much as I can to those who will listen. I always make sure they have 3 minutes before I start the short and powerful story.

Love comes in at that really dark moment when all you can do is to Love, hope and pray with God. My scary situation taught me in this moment God loves us everyday, all day. We may not understand the trials He puts us through but we must always remember He loves us so much, more than we could ever fathom. Love also appears when I became strong enough to share the difficult story.

Truth is when you read the Doctors diagnosis and there is nothing he can do about it. The truth is your scared but you know how big your God is, so you begin to pray. Truth is that knowing when every time, which is every day, you see a heart you feel the truth that God answered your prayers and healed your child.

God is amazing, He sent his only Son to die on the cross for our sins. This is the same God that moved Hannah to share the Love, Truth and God with all her friends and family after hearing my story and seeing the hearts appear day after day. It moved her so much that she and her Mother bought a personalized plaque for me that read:

Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Let’s be the positive driving force for everyone around us. Let’s sow seeds that create a Love so great that God is so pleased and proud. Let’s tell the truth no matter what. And let God shine so bright in your life that His blessings will rain down on you for everyone to see.

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

National Girlfriends Day…

Is today, August 1, 2017!

Where would I be without the amazing friendships I have made throughout my life? I often think about how God brought the right women into my life for a season and others  for longer. The girlfriends who taught me who I did and didn’t want to be based on what I learned from them.

I recently moved to Texas, leaving my girlfriends behind. I was able to say good bye to most of them, which was very important to me. Some girlfriends came to my going away party, some came to my Bon Voyage party and the others met me one on one. Leaving them behind was hard and difficult but grateful we have phones, texts and social media to stay updated.

I must admit I am blessed in the girlfriend space. God has given me the type of girlfriends that have looked out for me. The type of girls that lift me up, make me laugh and support my endeavors. Some of my girlfriends have even been here to see me in Texas already, awesome; right?!

In fact, I am amazed at the new girlfriends that I have met over the last 3 years including the new girlfriends I recently met in Texas. These women have been life changing for me. The older I get, the newer the friend, we all have God in common. I am so grateful, pleased and thankful to God for the great girlfriend flow.

May you take today to reflect on all the wonderful women who gave their friendship to you. May you say a prayer to the ones that you lost for better or worse. And may God continue to bless your life with women who uplift, love, care and make you laugh all the days of your lives.

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

The shopping cart conundrum…

To not put away or to put away, that is the question? Of course you put it away!

Have you ever been to the parking lot of a grocery store, a Wal-Mart or even better a Costco? Have you ever watched in amazement how someone could be so lazy and inconsiderate that they would leave their cart anywhere and everywhere?

Well I have and it has only got worse since I was a child. Now I believe it is a sign of times, a bad sign. Why you ask, it’s only a shopping cart? Let me tell you why, it’s because it’s a simple task. You just spent 20 minutes to an hour pushing it around then all of a sudden you no longer need it, so you decide to leave it where you want, not where it belongs.

See if we are too busy to do the little, easy stuff, then we are too busy to really care about the big stuff. And then we teach our children that we don’t have to follow rules, regulations or laws. Hence why we have the problems we have today. I have never thought I was entitled to anything but respect from my fellow neighbors.

I once stood outside a Costco in Beltsville, Maryland and kindly approached people who didn’t return the cart to the store or the cart return. I spoke in a concerning tone, with a big smile and simply asked,”May I ask you why you didn’t return your car?” Every single person took their cart to the cart return but they really didn’t have a “real” answer for me. Most people laughed, so I laughed with them. I didn’t want to make them mad or angry, so I decided to tread lightly.

We need to look out for one another without feeling threatening. Leaving shopping carts everywhere poses a problem for accessibility to other parking spaces, damage to cars and more work for already hard working employees that have to go fetch shopping carts in Timbuktu.

So it goes without saying or writing, put your shopping carts back where they belong, not under the tree, in another parking space or propped up on a curb. I also have advice for those dating men or women who don’t or refuse to put the cart back, run as fast as you can away from that person. Make it your litmus test on your 3rd or 4th date, you will thank me later.

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

Beauty hurts…


But I never believed it should.

 

I recently tried a new hair care product for hair coloring by Madison Reed. I was optimistic because I was using a box color that left my scalp irritated, red, burning and itchy. I dreaded coloring my hair every 6 weeks. Then suddenly I was seeing social media ads about Madison Reed and I had to try it for myself.

When Madison Reed first came out, the coloring line was only available on line. Then I was so excited to see that Ulta Beauty Stores were going to start selling Madison Reed in June 2017-woohoo. This was my chance to buy the color and try it.

Madison Reed claims the following about their product:

  1. 100% gray coverage
  2. Long-lasting color with beautiful multi-tones
  3. Works in 35 minutes
  4. Thick cream color: no drips, no mess, no harsh smell
  5. Free of: ammonia, parabens, resorcinol, PPD, phthalates & gluten
  6. Made from ingredients you can feel good about: keratin, argan oil and ginseng root extract
  7. Compliments guaranteed

I got it home with complete excitement, I opened the box and was pleasantly surprised to see all the awesome accoutrements. The box contained the following items: Radiant Cream Color, Conditioning Color Activator, Gloves, Cap, Barrier Cream(so cool and professional), Cleansing Wipe, Color Protecting and Conditioner. Also inside are instructions and instructional pictures.

Here is my honest opinion with pictures; I love this product!!! I chose 4NGV VENEZIA, Darkest Golden Brown. First of all, I had the experience from using a box color before so the items in this box blew me away. I enjoyed using each and every item as well, I felt like a Pro. The second thing I noticed immediately was there was no awful smell when I mixed the color and activator together. The barrier cream worked perfectly, no stains on my skin. The extra pair of black gloves and wipe is a nice touch.

I left the color on for 37 minutes, washed it out and headed to my Stylist for a cut and style. I have no complaints, except for one which really isn’t a complaint.  The price was not in my budget, but I am willing to move some finances around to give Madison Reed hair color a good 6 months.

Now please know that hair color reacts differently for everyone. Life-style, medication, product build up, menstrual cycle and diet all interfere with hair color results. So just because a hair color brand, any hair color, may not react positively it is not necessary because of the dye, just FYI.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

The happiest place on Earth…

Should be your relationship with God?

It’s not a place, a location, a vacation, a house, it’s truly not even Disney World or Land. The happiest place on Earth exists within the Trinity. When we give ourselves completely and freely to God that is when we find true happiness.

We all have our own walk with God, some realize this faster than others. Others struggle day in and day out to let go and let God in our hearts to take over. And sometimes our own inability to let go of control impedes our own success in life and more importantly with God.

We need to teach our children this very concept as well. It’s so important we clean up our own thinking so we can help our children to understand the true meaning of happiness. Children need to understand the importance of God’s Love and not love of toys, things or lavish experiences or vacations.

Do you know how differently the world would be if we were all able to start today to put God in the center of everything we did, say or feel? If we stopped putting ourselves in the position of God and truly lived for Him? You would be healthier, wealthier and happier.

I pray you start today to let God inside your life, totally and completely. Not before every meal, not on Sunday or Saturday evening Mass, not before you go to bed but totally and completely inside your life, everyday.