Listen

     

     I don't know about you, but I need a wisdom that doesn't come from me.  I need insight and discernment that can only come from God.  The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2 that "...the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us."  I need understanding that can only come from the Spirit! 

     Sometimes this understanding and insight comes specifically through the scriptures, God's inspired word. Other times it comes through prayer and time spent alone in quiet with God.  And it even comes through the gentle admonishment from a friend or trusted loved one.  Over the years, I've noticed that for me personally, when God really wants to get my attention about something, a certain theme or word will come up continually, in all different areas of my life.  Over the past week or two, this has been happening.  A very specific word keeps coming up in my life.

For Freedom

     If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, then you might have seen my post yesterday about how these past couple of days of the IF:Equip I Believe study over on the IF:Gathering App and at www.ifequip.com are pivotal to my faith.  All that I believe when it comes to my faith rests on whether or not I believe that Jesus, who became God in the Flesh, came to earth, lived a sinless life among us, was crucified for my sins, died, was raised to life again on the third day, lives today, and is coming back one day! If I don't believe this core truth, then my faith is dead.  Pointless. Paul says it best in 1 Corinthians 15:17, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." But thankfully, THANKFULLY!!!, Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.  I am eternally grateful! Literally!!

Thoughts on the Trinity

     I've been thinking about the Trinity -- God in the three Persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit -- and how my belief in this 3 in 1 God informs my faith and life.  In the Bible, God is always referred to as ONE God.  And I BELIEVE that He is the ONE, TRUE God.  Yet, He also shows himself to be three different, unique persons, each with certain characteristics and qualities. How do I begin to grasp this concept, to wrap my head around something -- Someone -- that I clearly do not fully understand?

The Week In Pictures - March 20th

     This week was spring break for us.  I was SO ready for it and had big plans for all of the things that I was going to accomplish.  And almost none of my 'list' got done. Looking back, I now realize that I had completely unrealistic expectations of how the week was going to go.  Ha. Funny how things work that way sometimes.  All in all, it was a good week, though. We stuck close to home and enjoyed time with friends and explored new places. 

     Spring has definitely sprung here in Oklahoma.  We enjoyed beautiful weather the first part of the week.  The cold has come back for a few days, though--seems like it happens this way EVERY year--and scarf weather is not quite past us!

With Great Expectation - Thoughts on IF:Gathering 2016

    I love orchids.  Years ago, when we lived in Florida, I had a dozen or two hanging in the oak tree in our backyard.  I just couldn't get enough of them!  I still can't.  But I now live in Oklahoma, and our weather isn't quite as conducive to leaving orchids outside year round.  So, I now have one orchid in my kitchen windowsill. One orchid that hasn't been in bloom for almost a year.  One orchid that is now putting on buds and will eventually bloom again soon!  And I CAN. NOT. WAIT. I wait in great expectation as day after day passes and it gets closer to that inevitable day!

     This is the SAME feeling I had leading up to the IF:Gathering.  I was so EXPECTANT.  So EXCITED.  So READY.  As the weekend grew closer, I saw the buds of excitement growing in other women.  And over the course of this past weekend, I saw the beginning of beautiful blooms.  Women chasing after God.  Women allowing the love of Jesus into their lives.  Women DECIDING to take that next step in their lives that would put them on the path to walking WITH GOD, not just living for God. And not to overuse the word...but IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!

Ready for the IF:Gathering!!

   
     Three years ago, before the IF:Gathering first started, I remember trying to figure out what exactly IF was.  I would mention it to friends, but then wouldn't really know what to say except that they needed to be there.  No one could really explain it, not even those who had the vision for it, because it had never happened before.
     Fast forward to 2016.  After attending once, hosting once, and getting ready to host for a second time, I have an answer.  To me, the IF:Gathering is all about women in community with one another, being unified, learning from one another, lifting each other up, meeting Jesus for the first time, being released from bondage to walk a life of FREEDOM.  It is women being equipped and encouraged to walk out their faith, their gifts, their callings, no matter how big or small in the eyes of the world...RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE! 
     IF is SO much more than that, but if you asked me today, that would be my answer.  What does that mean for you? It means, find an IF:Local near you!  And Go.  It's not too late. Don't worry about whether you know anyone or not.  God will do his God thing and bring friends and connection right where you are.  Be Brave.  Have the courage to live the life that unfolds before you.  (NOTE: That last line is not original to me...if you haven't read "The Wilderking Trilogy" by Jonathan Rogers, you should!)
     If you are not able to attend an IF:Local, then do all you can to watch it live from home this weekend! Comment below and I will send you the live link tomorrow (Friday 2/5).

Blessings to you, friends! ~Kendra

*If you are in the Tulsa, OK area, join us at IF:South Tulsa!  There is still room!

Promise #2 - Strength to the Weary

This promise couldn't have come at a better time.  Do any of you out there feel weary or weak?  Then rest in the words of Isaiah.  

God gives us the strength that we need to make it through each moment of each and every day.  He gives power to the weak...to US when we feel weak and overcome.  I know it's not popular to think of ourselves as weak.  I like to be independent and to do everything in my own strength.  But I'm beginning to believe that it is better to be weak, and to live through HIS power and HIS strength than through my own.  :)

I don't know about you, but last week was a long week.  Good, but long.  Between my husband being out of town on business, the boys having a snow day, having to be at work nearly every day, and having an event finally come to fruition after months of planning...whew, I was weary.  I can't say that I sought out God's strength at all times.  In fact, I know I did not. But, in the times that I trusted Him for his promise, the days were not perfect, but they were Better. With Jesus, everything is Better! 

Promises - A New series!

During the IF:Gathering, we talked about the promises of God.  That IF God is real, than we should be able to trust Him.  That also means that we should trust His Word, and the promises he gives us in the Bible.  I was strongly convicted that, even though I've been a believer for many years, I didn't really know His promises.  They weren't written on my heart, so to speak.

In an effort to know God better, to know the promises he gives us, I'm starting a series on HIS promises! What better verse to begin with than Joshua 1:9! (And what better use of left over name tags from IF!)

I don't know about you, but I've been faced with many discouraging thoughts this past week. Today I choose to remember to not be discouraged because God is with me!  My hope is that as I walk through this series, that you will be encouraged as well!

P.S. - We just started a new study of Hebrews on IF:Equip.  It's not too late to join us. Just click on the IF:Equip link. Yesterday was the introduction and today we started in Hebrews 1.  This is a great way to stay in the Word, and to be encouraged in your spiritual journey!

Take a Step

I'm not a writer.  I'm not eloquent with words. Often, I say the wrong thing, or the right thing in the wrong way.  I don't have a huge following on my blog.  I don't exactly know what I want to be when I grow up.

But, there are few things that I do know.  I am passionate about people.  I long to see people walk in freedom.  Especially women.  We are so bound up and tangled up with the past, with fear, with feelings of inadequacy,  that sometimes it's hard to move forward.  I know this because I've been there.

This past weekend, I sat in a room with about 20 other women, along with thousands of other women across the screen and around the world, and watched freedom come, chains be broken, and hearts be encouraged.  The IF:Gathering wasn't and isn't about a specific speaker, agenda, or religion.  It's about women around the world gathering together, being equipped, and then being unleashed to live fully their purposes...purposes that God has set on our hearts. It was beautiful.  It IS beautiful.

I am choosing to take a step in faith toward what I feel God has put on my heart.  And I challenge you to do the same.  "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged, for the LORD you God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

If you want to find out more about IF:Gathering, click here.

I will announce soon what one of my next steps is, as you'll see it on the blog!

**A new study of Hebrews starts Monday (2/16) through IF:Equip and I would love for all of the women in my life to be a part of it!  Let me know if you have questions! :)

What the IF:Gathering Means to Me

It's funny.  Actually it's ridiculous.  I have sat down to write this post more times than I can count.  But the words haven't come.  And it has been very frustrating.  Because the IF:Gathering means so much to me.  It was almost a year ago, at the first IF:Gathering, that I really started to dream again about where my life was headed, to remember what Jesus really means to me, to think that the impossible really can happen.

I was newer to the area and had been following the beginnings of the IF:Gathering through Jennie Allen and Jen Hatmaker.  What they were pursuing was a refreshing, pure, simple desire to seek God and to ask tough questions.  What would it look like to live life IF I truly believed God for his promises, for who He is. I wanted to host an IF:Local in my home, or at the church I was attending, but I was scared.  I had fear.  That no one would see what I saw.  That no one would join with me. So I didn't do what I felt called to do.  To put myself out there, trust God, and see what happened.

Fortunately, my story doesn't end there.  I did seek out another church in the area hosting an IF:Local. And I was immensely blessed by my time there.  I did not know a soul and they welcomed me in like I had already been a part of their group for a long time.  I had rich conversation with women of all ages and left the weekend as encouraged by the women I had spent time with as with the Gathering itself.  What a blessing it was!

This year I am very excited to help host an IF:Local!  I am excited to finally be doing what I should have done a year ago. I'm so thankful for the opportunity and I can't wait to see how God is going to show up and move in the lives and hearts of women in our area.

In just over two weeks, on February 6-7, 2015, women from across the nation and around the globe will come together to worship, learn, be encouraged, and equipped to live more fully for God where they are.  I want to encourage every woman I know to come!  Find an IF:Local near you!  Join us here in South Tulsa.  Or host your own!  It's not too late!! There is a powerful movement for Jesus billowing under this.  It is Spirit filled and prayer covered.  It is not perfect, but there is love.  Much love.  And Grace.  And Freedom.

Click here for more information about the IF:Gathering.

To find an IF:Local near you or to host an IF:Local, click here.

And to join us for IF:South Tulsa, please click here!