Equipment for the Journey

Everyone on a  journey that is on a kneegrowth journey should own......

KNEE PADS!!!!!!

Encountering Difference

 Curiosity got  better  of the little girl and she spoke these words out loud. "Daddy is that a girl or boy?" High on life I sauntered on the dirt path , I stop to answer the question. Smiling " Are  you talking about me ? I'm a girl. I just cut my hair off." An apologetic father lift his head to say "Sorry,stop being mean brat!"  I  rush away to escape the awkward situation and to find the restroom after all that is the reason I got out of my sit in the first place.

I wanted to tell the little girl's father that I wasn't offended. Children are curious and speak without a filter.And I love them for that.  The problem is not in her comment. The problem was two adults neglected to use the opportunity to teach about love and appearance. Did I neglect to mention this happened at a church league softball game?  It is our job to instruct and raise children in the full knowledge of God.  I could explain to the little girl why I cut my hair ( the PG version of course) and explained that people cut their hair for all kinds of reasons. But our job as God's people is to love. We can ask questions to get to know people better but remember it does matter who the person is or what they look like. Our job is to love.

I could kick myself  for not responding. I know how important the message of diversity in the church. We often raise our children in  homomoguos environments. When they encounter difference how do they respond? Are  you having authentic conversations that embrace diversity?


Lord, help us to use opportunities that are given to teach your children.
Make us BOLD so we can proclaim your promises and the richness of your kingdom.
Help us, to be shining example of Your love so that children having a visual of what to do when encounter difference.
In Jesus Name
Amen

Quote

"Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily  admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart." Mahatma Gandhi

G.I. Kenya

 I cut my hair, that might not seem like a reason to post on a prayer blog BUT it is.Life sometimes will distract you from your mission.  In the last couple months I have been so self absorbed. Saturday I got a text message that changed my life and my utter self absorption.  The message only said: 

Slavery still exist. 

Deep Breathe.... Slavery still exist in 2011.  I was hoping that my friend was trying to be witty. That this text message would lead to a in depth conversation about how we allow fear to hold us captive. But that is not what happened. That text message lead to me googling  modern day slavery. My eyes filled with tears. I sat and weep.  In 2011 slavery exist. People are being held against their will and forced to commit sexual acts against their own will (IN THIS COUNTRY  and throughout the world!!!!!).  It is more commonly known as human trafficking.  Human trafficking is defined as the illegal trade in human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor or a modern day form of slavery.

I needed to do something. I HAD to do something. I dropped to my knees and did the only thing I thought I could do. I moaned. I sobbed. I crawled into a fetal position. I do not remember much of the next hour. Somehow, I ended up in the barbershop. After most of my hair was on the ground  I realized that this was not enough. Awareness was superficial. This issue deserved more. 

I now consider myself an abolitionist. I am working overtime to bring awareness to this problem. I am now  G.I. Kenya. Ready to battle in spirit and in truth. My haircut will be my reminder that there is indeed so much suffering in the world. It will bring me to a place of gratitude and remind me to pray harder. To labor and fight for what I believe.

Wanna know more about modern day slavery( check out the links below)?

http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/

http://www.humantrafficking.org/

Can you believe such a thing exist?

How do you pray about things such as this?

My Cure for Anxiety Attacks

I battle problems with anxiety.  My chronic pain disorder is linked to high levels of anxiety. I am wired in such a way that  my mind flies a mile a minute. When trouble and uncertainty enter my mind it is very easy for me to slip into state of anxiety.  The dictionary defines anxiety as

1.

distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune

2.

earnest but tense desire; eagerness: 

 In both definitions I can find  feeling that I often experience. Fear can hold one captive.   Fear is a natural human experience but it should not be a state we live in.  I also consider myself to be a passionate person. This passion often bubbles into tension.  Tension often manifest in a change in my physical demeanor.  Trouble and uncertainty are a part of life. I can not allow for them to dictate how I feel.  This scripture has become my mantra :

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. Philippians 4: 6 Amplified Bible

 I read it often.  It is a text that is scribbled in the front of my journals and my favorite bibles. In times of high anxiety and fear... I simply quote the scripture aloud. I say it until I feel better.....  and when I start to feel better I end with that's my prayer now and forevermore.


I'm curious. How do you deal with Anxiety, Fear and Tension?

A Quote on Prayer

Wishing will never be a substitute for prayer. --Ed Cole

Have you prayed about it ?

Yesterday, I spent most of the day running errands with a friend.  She is starting a new job so she needed some work clothes. I needed a jump drive I could get some work done. I was hustlin' yall working to get some things done. My accountability partner  and I had a quick wrap session late that night.  I really enjoy the opportunity to talk to her because she always challenges me.The most pressing question we ask each time we speak is  :  

Have you prayed about it? 

I mean really opened you heart to a conversation with God about___________ . 

Notice that I use the word conversation.  I love love to  talk. I  but I deeply enjoy conversation.    In conversation I get to gain access to people's hearts, emotions and inner workings.  Successful and engaging conversation involves more than just me or the person I am speaking with rambling. Conversation is a three  part activity.  It involves being my mentally present, engaging in thought. It also involves articulating those thoughts , talking. And it also involves another very important often underrated part, listening.  I took the time to explain the components of conversation because we often over look or dismiss things that are truly profound because of their simplicity. Understand that prayer is a wonderful thing but it has to be apart of a larger relationship and conversation with God.
 My father always tells me to be careful what I pray for because  God answers prays. I  mean to say that often we get so focused on our desires that our prayers seem to more of  a wish list.  We also rarely take time to take into account God's timing. God answers prayers in unlikely and surprising ways. Just asks anyone who has ever prayed for patience.

Listening to God can seem like an overwhelming  task.  Thank God, we do not have to a degree or any special credentials to hear from God.  God speaks in so many ways.  God speaking is never the problem.  The problem is often that we do not stop talking and take time to listen.

"The secret to concentration is elimination." Dr. Howard Hendricks


What can you eliminate so you can have a  open and honest conversation with God?

What is kneegrowth?

 Kneegrowth  is something you will not find in your dictionary. It is  sadly  something you may or may not you might not see in your local church.  It is  my feeble attempt of describing the process of growth through prayer. Take note that growth can encompass:  the physical, the emotional , and the spiritual parts of life. Kneegrowth is  a word that I made up while I was in high school.

Kneegrowth is a noun. It is the process of growing through prayer. It can also be described as the stage of development steep in prayer. Prayer that brings one to their knees. 

Although, the word was then funny way of describing my painful process of reconciliation to God.  I believe it describes my life.  Or the life of Christians who wholly rely on God.  I have been an ardent believer in the power of prayer from a very young age. As I grow older I realize that I will not be able to make to the next stages in my life if I do not rely on the power of prayer. So, this folks will be a prayer blog.  It will be one small woman's attempt to share  kneegrowth  and the revelations it brings. It will be my way of collecting and remembering the developments kneegrowth brings.