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 pink “Virginia is for Lovers”…

Shirt walking towards me in TJ Maxx, oh my.

I couldn’t believe my eyes, I was so excited to be in Texas and to see a possible Virginian. I walked up to her and introduced myself. She politely introduced herself back, then I knew she was definitely from Virginia. I believe she could see the excitement on my face, so we started to talk in the middle of the store.

After she told me what part of Virginia she was raised, her family history and where she moved to after living in Virginia most of her life, things got real. “Grace” was a beautiful blonde woman in her late 70’s, great shape and had a bright light about her. Besides her pink shirt, I know her light pulled me in to strike up a conversation with her.

“Grace” began to tell me why she was in Texas, the horror story of addiction that plagues her family while living in Virginia but now her own Son’s life and his family. I listened to her intently and I immediately heard the similarity between her own Father, her Son and her Granddaughter. “Graces” son pleaded with his Mother to come visit with him to help him.

Mind you, we are standing in the middle of a TJ Maxx. And I am barely saying anything just listening and taking mental notes. “Graces” Son has called her a few times but she let the calls go to voicemail. And she is telling me more and more, more pain, more heartache, more addiction. I shake and nod my head and even hold her hand at one point.

You should know “Grace” has this amazing plan to help her family. And I couldn’t agree more with her plan. The light shines so brightly from her despite her pain and heartache, she is a Believer. God put us in each other’s path so we would talk to one another. A former resident of Virginia and Mrs. Virginia, living in Texas sees a pink(favorite color) “Virginia is for Lovers” shirt. Come on, you can’t make this stuff up.

Sometimes we aren’t suppose to talk, we just should listen. I was able to affirm and confirm a lot of things for her. “Grace” was grateful I approached her and introduced myself. And I told her I was grateful she felt safe to tell me her tragedy. She was quite surprised with herself that she was able to share such intimate details with me. I responded with,”What intimate details are you referring to, what are you talking about?” We both laughed and hugged each other good-bye.

God bless you!

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

What if you had 3 minutes…

To talk about your son or daughter?

Early one morning I was eating breakfast with my son when he was 15 years old. While listening to our favorite Christian radio station, 91.9 WTGS, they announced Joseph was the name for The Family Name game. My son and I instantly looked at each other with excitement. I called in, got through and waited patiently to talk about my son, Joseph. I could hardly wait, I was busting out of the seams. Joseph had to leave for his carpool but I gave him a kiss good-bye and continued to wait. The DJ’s finally took my call and asked me to talk about Joseph. I told them how proud I was of Joseph, he attends a christian high school (DeMatha Catholic High School) that he played sports (football and lacrosse) and volunteered for the homeless (S.O.M.E.). I was beaming through the phone, then I started to tear up. Why? As much as I love Joseph and how proud I am for him, I just want him to be a good man in the end. The DJ’s were so kind to listen, to be so kind to me. At the end of our phone call I was told we won the Chick Filet dinner out, so awesome.

I got to thinking, do our children or loved ones truly know what we would say if we had 2-3 minutes. And if in your heart you didn’t have anything special to say about your daughter or son, why not? I sometimes find myself at a store listening in shock to parents scream at their children, it breaks my heart. If our children don’t feel or see our love for them, how will they ever love themselves. Take time to be patient and love your child/children. You’ll be amazed with the results, I promise.

When Joseph got home from school he mentioned that he and everyone in the car heard what I said on the radio station. Joseph smiled at me and told me thank you and that he loved me, that is all I needed to hear.

Have an awesome day!

 

Posted on by Kristina Knowles

Love thy Neighbor…

As you love yourself. We have heard this over and over again, I can’t tell you how many times but it is a lot. Easy enough, right!?

Well, not really and not for a lot of us. First, we must raise up children who truly understand the definition of love by God. Then we must show these children by our
 example what is looks like when we truly loves ourselves to give it as a gift to others. God created love in all of us but we are so quick to abundantly love the world’s view of love and not His. 

I am not surprised that so many people find it so difficult to love themselves. Most can’t stop the self hatred that comes from comparing themselves to others, instead of being grateful for who God made them to be. We were all created in His image what better way to see ourselves, right!? 

Let’s all vow to God today that we are going to start to love ourselves today, even the ugly parts that we convinced ourselves exist. We will wipe away all the mean things that have been spoken over us by the enemy. And finally, let us appreciate ourselves where we are today and celebrate in anticipation of being better with every tomorrow.