Posted on by Kristina Knowles

A very unexpected Mother’s Day…

Gift that would make me cry yesterday, not on Mother’s Day itself.

I got married a year ago to an incredibly loving and kind man. Chris also happens to be Godly, which is very meaningful to me. Chris has 4 children from a previous marriage, yes, I know how Godly can he be if he’s been married and divorced. Well, to be totally transparent, he has been married twice before me, I make marriage number three.

I know, I know and I was married once before my marriage to Chris. My former spouse and I had one son, who I absolutely love and adore. Chris and I are positively in love with God but we are blemished, not perfect-sorry. Here is the good news, blemishes clear up and go away. God is a forgiving god, He sent his only begotten Son to provide the payment for our sin, ourselves.

Chris lovingly bought me a gift card from my new stepson’s and a separate gift card from my son on Mother’s Day. I was so excited and grateful, it was to a shoe store. I held onto those gift cards for months, not finding any shoes I needed or wanted. Then while out shopping with my girlfriends, I came across a pair of bedazzled van styled shoes. The sparkle and shine that these shoes illuminated was beautiful and bright. I had to have them immediately. The shoe store didn’t have my size so I would have to wait a few weeks to wear them. Oh the anticipation…

Two weeks later, the bedazzled shoes arrived. When I opened the box, I made a happy screech, put the lid back on and slid them under my bed. What, why on earth would my first instinct be to cover them up and put them away? Why wouldn’t I wear them immediately and strut around? And then it hit me like a ton of bricks.

At that moment I wasn’t ready for all the bedazzleness, the newness, the sparkle. It was overwhelming. And I believe that is how some of us feel about God. We unfortunately have the evil one whispering to us in our ears telling us we don’t deserve goodness, we are not worthy and God doesn’t love us. I am here to tell you, the evil one is dead wrong.

Our God says,”Come to me, I love you, I forgive you, I created you, let me help you, I have a purpose for you, follow me.” And we resist Him, we ignore Him, we believe the lies. And most importantly we feel so unworthy of His promises, His acceptance and His love. Just because we are not perfect, does not mean we are not acceptable. Everyone has sinned, we are fallen human beings. Here is the good news, we have REDEMPTION through Jesus Christ, amen!!!!

I have sinned, I always ask for forgiveness. I love God, He blesses me, there is proof. The shoes I bought using my Mother’s Day gift cards represent two things for me today. When God looks at me, He sees the newness, sparkle and shine, because I am forgiven. And the way I feel when I wear these shoes, I am worthy of God’s love because He is the Author of my newness, sparkle and shine. Even when I am being disciplined by God, I am worthy of Him and His love for me and you.

Father God, you are so Holy. Thank you for giving us the desires of your heart and not ours. We know we need to be still so we can hear you. We need to see you in all things, especially the small things. Lord, please give us a grateful heart, a giving heart that aligns with you, and only you. Thank you God for seeing us shiny and new and not as dirty rags. Please forgive us, please guide and direct our steps to you. In Jesus’s name we pray…Amen!

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

Hurt people Hurt…

You, me, others, him, her, animals and themselves.

If you take note of the people in your life, you might notice the healthy people vs. the unhealthy people. Revenge, hurt and pain will be on the mind of your unhealthy friends and loved ones. Unhealthy people tend to have a constant dialogue of negative speaking, gossiping and inappropriate speech. While healthy people are into problem solving, giving loving advice and care for friends and loved ones. Healthy people tend to be positive, happier and more open to life, help lead others to success and care about other people’s feelings.

You will almost never find a happy, normal healthy person commit a crime, murder, spew deliberate words of condemnation, hate or inflict pain. When you dig deeper in a persons life, life-style and past history you’ll definitely find the root cause of their behavior.

It is extremely important that you learn and teach the difference to yourself, friends and family. Unhealthy living leads to an unhealthy life-style as well. The pain lives on in the inside as well as outside. With the unfortunate verbal abuse and actions of the unhealthy person. Your body suffers from the pain along with the people around you that have to listen to your verbal abuse or witness your terrible actions.

The same is true for healthy people, your body and the people around you benefit from your healthiness. Your body is more at peace and your loving kindness also helps the hearts of others. When you give yourself to others as a positive loving gift you spread love.

God knows exactly what is going on in your life right now and from the beginning. He knows what you have endured, the pain, the abuse, the terrible incidents, all of it. And He has a plan for our lives far bigger and better than our broken past. God still continues to love us more than we could possibly imagine. So please know, make peace with your past. Get off of the UNHEALTHY train going nowhere of your present, don’t let your past define you and look to God today. He loved you enough to open your eyes to see another day.

Peace be with you.

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

The best revenge is…

Not living well but living well with God.

There is so much confusion to why would someone kill so many people inside a church on a Sunday in November. Now that more information has come to light we realize it would appear to be based on revenge. Sad and unfortunate to say the least.

Have you ever wanted to get revenge on someone that has hurt you, used you, stole from you or hurt someone you know? Or have you wanted to get back at someone who you were jealous of? Have you wanted to get back at someone that interfered in your life and you didn’t want them to? Maybe you thought about it but never followed through.

I want you to know that you are wasting your time thinking, plotting and planning revenge. Instead of spending time moving on and healing from your hurt. When you chose to carry out revenge of any type you are following the teachings of Satan. God doesn’t command us to seek to get revenge.

I want to help you realize on a micro level that the very thought of us wanting to hurt another person is totally and completely wrong. Wasting time plotting actions, words or violence against another person is not the teachings of God but pure evil. Satan loves to get you riled up with negative thoughts, hoping you will carry them out to harm.

Let me help you with a few options to avoid this issue for you, your friends and family. Journal everyday to those who need prayers, including yourself. Praying for others is so special. And bringing your problems and blessings to the Lord keeps you connected and grounded in right relationship with Him. Journal out your problems, writing them down helps put things in perspective. Find yourself a Christian Therapist/Counselor located close by that you like. And read and mediate on the bible daily.

If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Ecclesiastes 4:10 NLT

God is love, He is the creator. We were ALL created in His likeness not evil.

 

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

Our society doesn’t understand…

The true meaning of Love.

I enjoy talking to people especially about cultivating healthy relationships with themselves and others. And more often than not, people don’t understand the true meaning of love. Webster’s Dictionary defines love 6 ways.

1. a quality or feeling of strong or constant affection for and dedication to another

2. a:  attraction based on sexual desire, the strong affection and tenderness felt by lovers

2. b:  a beloved person

3. a:  warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion

3. b: the object of attachment or devotion

4. a score of zero in tennis

Webster’s Dictionary is wrong, completely and totally wrong. Unfortunately there is no mention of God, He is the very meaning of Love. He himself created the definition and Webster doesn’t even mention Him once!? Now you can see why I made my claim about society not knowing the true meaning of love. And to be clear some truly know the true meaning of Love but those are in the minority.

John affirms that “God is love” ( 1 John 4:8 ). God does not merely love; He is love. Everything that God does flows from His love.

When we take our attention off of the definition of man’s version of Love and set our sights on God. We can truly love, love each other the way God has instructed us to love. When we truly love like God, we follow the commandments. We don’t lead others to sin, do harm or do things that will enable someone to ruin their lives. Love is wanting the absolute best for someone else.

Love is hard, we can be so selfish. Sometimes we need to be in total control of things, so much so we lose sight on the important things. We need to focus on things that are holy, right and just. Love can be scary, fear makes us do things that are not proper. Never love out of fear, that is not real or good. True love is when you can be at peace with your relationship with God.

The entertainment industry has done an amazing job of hurting us with lies. If I believed that all of us went to a movie, listened to a song or watched a television show and left the experience at the door-fantastic. However, that is not the case at all. How do I know? Life is imitating art day in and day out because of what we see, what we watch and what we listen to. Be wise and careful what you fill your mind with, even more important be diligent about what your children are watching and listening to as well.

Love is God, He wants the absolute best for us. God should be the over arching pinnacle of love in your life.He also gives us free will which enables us to show Him how much we love Him back. There is not ONE person on this earth that I want to see harmed, hurt or suffer, not one. It’s not our job as humans to hurt each other, our job is to love. Satan relishes in the hurts of everyone, how sick and sad. And what is even more sick, we give Satan permission. Make today the day you start to understand and read about God’s love, then start to live in it.

Thanks be to God’s love

 

 

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

My favorite type of High…

will always be Jesus!

I am often asked how I stay so positive and happy. It happens almost daily and my response will and always be Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! In fact, some of my new friends in Texas call out Jesus as soon as they see my face. I love it, I love that they name Him out loud.

Now for the bad unfortunate, heart-breaking news. We have an alarming amount of people getting high daily off of things that are dangerous. So dangerous that they are ruining families, disrupting classrooms and reeking havoc on all of our lives in one form or another. One joint, one peek, one line, one pill, one drink, one deal at a time for a senseless high.

I wish I could take away the urge for so many to want that unnecessary need to disappear from the reality of their mental or physical pain. I would love nothing more than to be able to give people the tools to deal with their pain sober and not under the influence.

We live in a highly distracted world that doesn’t allow us to stand still. However, I make time every day for God because He makes time for me. It’s the least I can do for He does so much for me. I didn’t deserve to wake up this morning to write this blog but God deemed it so. I want to honor Him and help other’s too.

My Mother and Father are great people for different reasons. They are not perfect, neither are you. And if you watch your surroundings carefully, you will see the other Mother and Father figures God brought into your life, just at the right time. We should want to reach out and take care of each other daily.

Satan is and will always be the soft whisper of hatred, self doubt and ugliness. Evil convinces you that being good is bad and being bad is good. Dark forces will encourage you to hold grudges and to not forgive the unforgivable. And you should know we are ALL the unforgivable, all of us. No one person gets more of a “pass” than the other, none of us are worthy. Here is the good news, by the grace of God, we are forgiven by Him through Jesus. Why is it so hard to forgive your Brother or Sister?

Are you trapped by Satan or redeemed by God?

Peace be with you!

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

A table and chairs…

From God.

After my divorce, I moved from Virginia to Maryland. I sold a lot of items and kept a lot of items. There was one thing I would need, a table and chairs that I could put in the kitchen. The eat-in kitchen sat empty, I needed a table to have breakfast, lunch and dinner with my son, Griffin.

There were only a few things standing in the way of buying a table and chairs. Limited funds and a lack of desire to buy anything. However, I have always believed that my meals with Griffin were and will continue to be important. Griffin and I have had some of the best conversations while breaking bread.

I had gone to Wal-Mart and Ikea to see what type of table and chairs I could find that were inexpensive, nothing moved me to buy it, despite my need. So I decided to go to God instead of relying on my own decision, I prayed. Once I prayed about it, I never thought about it again. Then this happened…

One day my friend Ray and I decided to go to a Farmer’s Market in College Park, Maryland. We found a lot of delicious fruit and vegetables, it was such a fun day. As we headed back home, I started to drive home a different way. I couldn’t even tell you why.  We were driving past a few stores then I saw it.  There it was in plain view, a sign on the side of the road that read: Free table and chairs. I started to tear up, drove past it in shocked then pulled over. I am not sure what Ray was thinking but I didn’t care.

There was my table and chairs all for me from God. When you ask God for His help, His provisions He delights in blessing us. God is here for the little stuff(table and chairs) or the really big stuff. We need to go to Him for everything, I mean EVERYTHING. Which school, where should we live, what food should we eat, all of it everyday-all day!

So I am happy to report, I still have the table and chairs. I was even able to feed 12 family members on this beautiful blessing from God. God blessed me far better than I could have ever imagined with faith and patience.

 

 

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

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

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.