by Kiersten Homalon | Feb 2, 2016 | Faith + Expressions
I am a person that would most of the time seem like an open book. When I sit down with people I have a way of presenting myself as very open. However, there are things that I never really like to put out there…. and one of them is the power I willingly allow the enemy to have over my mind. Now, that may sound really intense but I bet more people struggle with this than most would think. I am one of the ones who struggle with the negative banter in my mind getting way out of hand. When I say out of hand, I mean more than allowing it to make me feel a little blue. This chatter in my mind gets so out of hand sometimes it effects every single aspect of my life. Relationships, my health, and most unfortunately my nearness to God. Even writing this out makes me my tears well up. It seems so easy to just tell myself to STOP ALLOWING THE ENEMY TO HAVE THAT POWER! But there is a lot of ME in the way, and preventing that healing and transformation to happen. That break through is so near I can feel it, and yet the chatter makes my line of sight distorted…. well enough is enough…. time to break those chains.
I realized how much I needed to ask the Holy Spirit to help me regain the ground I had lost when I heard a compelling message at our church. Some of you might be ready to tune out just from me saying that I learned something from Church, but please have some grit and press into what I am about to say. The pastor encouraged us to “Pray to be fertile soil for the Lord to plant GOOD seed.” This may seem like common sense for seasoned believers but for me this was a refreshing reminder, and what he followed up this statement with made the Holy Spirit zing all over my heart! (Thats the best way I can describe feeling the Holy Spirit Haha!) He pointed to 1 Samuel 16:11. This is a story where Samuel was searching for the one God had called to be the chosen King. Samuel looked over Jesse’s sons all strong and promising but God had not chosen any one of them, so he asked Jesse if all of his sons were present in the room and then he admitted that David was still out in the field tending to the Sheep. As soon as David entered the room God told Samuel that he was the one…. The least likely was Gods choice. Point being…. God does not overlook us. We are not forgotten. How does this tie into the negative chatter in our minds? Because I had it revealed to me that our minds are not unseen to God. We may think that we can struggle with things in our mind as if it were some abyss of heart ache, confusion and struggle. However, it is center stage for God. Our thoughts along with our entire being is not overlooked by God, and I stinking LOVE that! Don’t you? It used to scare me or make me feel ashamed, but now, I am overcome with the thankfulness that God is a God that intertwines his being within us, and that joy washing all the embarrassment away. I want God to see the inside of me. And that desire to have God SEE every little bit of me and my thoughts is my highway to having victory over this chatter.
A lot of the thoughts that I have struggled with are, in fact, generational sins and chains that have meandered their way down the line to me. The weight of the baggage was combining with my own allowances of the enemy in my mind and I got to the point where ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. I did not want my little girl to have to go through unnecessary weight. There is enough trials in life, she did not need the past to add to that! So I had a dear friend confront me and reveal to me she could see this chatter compromising my confidence and she did what only the best of friends do. She grabbed my hands and prayed for me, then she did something even more powerful. She made me pray for myself, to break these chains. And I prayed BOLDLY and I felt VICTORIOUS over these chains!!!!
So I want you to take a good hard look at yourself and ask yourself if you are compromising and allowing the negative chattering your head to have too much space. Because if we allow God to work in our hearts, our minds, and in our souls then there will be NO room for anything else! So whats stopping us? Carpe Diem Right!? Each step is a step that the world and the enemy wants to get in the way of. Don’t let it. Keep your nose in The Word, your eyes on Jesus and your side companioned with Faithful friends and family. You are Victorious. Never forget that!
Dear Father,
I want to ask forgiveness for allowing the enemy to take up
space in my mind, please forgive me for letting my eyes slip from you
to the troubles in my mind. Thank you for being my ever present help in my time of need. Lord I
bind any generational chains from me and my children. I bind the enemy from my mind
and I pray for you to take up residence fully in my mind.
Lord I ask for your Holy Spirit to flow freely in my thoughts Lord God keeping them in
line with your word father. The generational sins and chains stops with me!
Reign in my life! Help me to gain ground Lord! Thank you for
your grace and forgiveness!
In Jesus Mighty Name Amen!
by Taylor Gardner | Jan 18, 2016 | Learn + Grow
Last year was a trying year for me and I haven’t always had the brightest attitude or outlook on life. So, to get myself out of the funk I decided to go to Barnes and Noble and get some books. The first book I came across was, God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life’s Little Detours. I read the description of the book and instantly went to checkout. A woman, by the name of Regina Brett wrote the book because she felt as though it took her 40 years to “find and hold on to happiness.†She says it is because she felt that God blinked when she was born, and that is why she never felt special or happy until later in her life. Which is an idea that many people can relate to. We’ve all experienced that feeling of being ordinary and doubtful at one point or another. And in my opinion, this book is not only an expression of those feelings, but also a remedy for them.
The book is separated into lessons. Each lesson is an idea that as women we all deal with. From how to deal with doubt to how to start saving for your retirement fund, this book has it all. Anything that you have felt, I guarantee that there is a lesson/chapter in the book that will speak to your feeling.
I have personally recommended this book to every one of my friends and have also read it about 3 times. Also, sometimes I just read one or two lessons, just to pick up my mood. Whether you are happy or going through something, this book will add to your life. So, check it out when you get it chance!
Taylor G.
by Altimese Nichole | Jan 16, 2016 | Faith + Expressions
How we start our mornings create the foundation for the entire day. Instead for taking a reactive approach to each day, be proactive and be deliberate in your state of mind.
Beginning our day with God is the most rewarding way to start each morning. Here are 10 songs that will help you remain a heart of gratitude and prayer throughout the day (Morning Meditation and Prayer Edition):
- Chasing After You- Tye Tribbett
- Oceans (Where My Feet Fail)- Hillsong United
- Your Love is Strong- Jon Foreman
- You Will Find Me- Andrew Ripp
- Let There Be Worship- Isaiah Thomas
- I Adore You- Darlene McCoy
- Fill me Up- Casey J
- Beautiful Things- Gungor
- What Can I Do- Tye Tribbett
- My World Needs You- Kirk Franklin
What would you add to the morning meditation playlist? Share your favorite songs that help you stay focused on peace and love.
Are you on Spotify? Follow Me @ Altimese Nichole!
XOXO,
by Kiersten Homalon | Jan 8, 2016 | Family + Relationships
It is far too often that I hear the term “Mom” thrown around. Especially in the world of the work force I will catch people, sometimes even myself throwing this pinnacle of a word around like its, well….. not much. Going into the new year my goal for my own life, and for the life of the mothers in my social sphere, I want to regard that word with respect. By intentionally offering this honor to my fellow mothers and of course my own mother. I pray that this ACTION will seep into my own maternal heart with each outward jester I make. Mothers are born to serve. And that is a calling that comes with a heaviness and an unfathomable reward. I am proud to be a mother…. and I am blessed to be amongst a community of Women who are also MOTHERS! What a privilege to be in a community to help blossom and grow one another! Who is a mother in your social sphere that you can build up and regard her title with RESPECT in an OUTWARD action? Watch the domino effect this will make!
A Mother’s Crown
A mothers eyes…. And the wrinkles beside them….
Revealing her choice and privilege
She is the one that stays back and focuses on bath times and reading baby books,
Stays back to clean and cook and discipline….
Often unseen…. Often not heard..
The wrinkles around her eyes….are the testament of her story
They are the stories of her denying herself repeatedly throughout each and everyday…
The wrinkles are reminders of her sacrifice which she does with pleasure for the family she would gladly die for…
Her wrinkles are the sweet reward for being the back bone, for being her husbands help mate, for choosing her family over herself….time and time again.
The wrinkles are her crown for the hard work of her hands and the throne for her humility….
From countless smiles… From laughter that came strait from her soul…. A type of joy only a mother would know.
The wrinkles that meet her every time she looks in the mirror….
They are her privilege to showcase…. Each line precious and dear…
Each crevice the evidence of serving her family…. Each line a reminder…. That Love is choosing all others before herself…. The reason she was created…
The wrinkles around mothers eyes…. Reveal the joy in her servants heart…. They are her reward….Above all they are her crown.
®Kiersten Homalon 2016
Philippians 4:4-8 “ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Have Grit Sweet Ones,
Kiersten Homalon
by Altimese Nichole | Jan 8, 2016 | Faith + Expressions
We all have seasons of planting seeds in our lives, and then a time of harvest. This cycle is constant. Even during the midst of our harvest, we are planting seed through our behaviors toward others and how we act during our seasons of blessings. It’s much easier to maintaining a heart of gratitude when all things are going well in our lives and great things are happening. However, how do we respond as we walk through the journey in the valley? Do we fight for control? Do we try our best to keep our composure?
When we encounter seasons in the valley—the best things we can do is simply be still and rest in God’s peace. In Philippians 4: 6-7 reminds us this:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When you’re praying about all things (and truly believing those prayers are in good hands), it becomes hard for you to not give thanks in the midst of your trouble. By doing so, your life will change forever. Your peace of mind will not reside on things or people on this earth.
Strive for peace and gratitude through prayer not because of all things, but IN all things. Through the stillness of your soul, gratitude will abide.
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