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Kayla's Only Heart

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Kayla's Only Heart

Tag Archives: gifts

Moving from Common Living to Dream Fulfilling

27 Monday Apr 2015

Posted by KaylasOnlyHeart in Journal, Photography

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Tags

book, Christian, Christian living, Christianity, church, common, community, dreams, encouragement, family, friends, fulfillment, gifts, goals, healing, heart, hurt, Max Lucado, nature, personal growth, Photo, photography, reading, role, spiritual gifts, support, tree, writer, writing

  

            I just have finished reading a chapter in Max Lucado’s book The Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot about joining God’s family of friends through church community. He emphasizes the importance of each member having a specific role to play, using his gifts, and how we come together as one body to support each other.

            The church as a hospital for hurt people is a common image used for Christians. This chapter demonstrates how the community helps its members by providing physical and emotional needs during difficult times. As I’ve mentioned previously, I’m taking a course on healing from past wounds at a nearby church. We have spent the last couple weeks sharing our backgrounds and starting a healing process that begins with forgiving people who have hurt us and relinquishing lies, etc. I have immediately seen a significant difference in how I feel since I’ve had my turn in the “holy seat” on Monday evening. Maybe the true beginning really is as simple as acknowledging that certain people have hurt me and forgiving them as well as acknowledging and renouncing lies or curses I have believed as a result of those situations. Nothing has changed the past, but I have started to loosen its negative grip on me as I live in a healthier present.

            Feeling better has made me feel more equipped to start tackling some of my goals again, big and small. I have shared this readiness and some of the dreams on my heart with my group, and I have received enthusiasm and encouragement. Immediately, one friend wanted to introduce me to a writer at the church who currently seeks young authors. Then the group as a whole is happy to see me healing and reaching out to fulfill God’s calling for me.

            That’s exactly what the church family of friends does for each other. These wonderful women have stood beside me as I have started healing and as I shared my scars. I never once felt judged, rather felt lifted up and seen in a positive light for who I am rather than things I have done or that have been done to me. They are helping me get plugged into the church, eager to see me use my gifts. Each week, I am reminded that there is no such thing as coincidence and that God placed me in this group for a purpose.

            As Max Lucado points out, the church is a family of friends. It can come together to serve each other through sharing burdens as well as connecting people for community and getting people plugged into the right place to use their gifts. I am not a member of a church in my area yet, but I am encouraged to keep getting involved to receive further healing from the church as a hospital as well as use my gifts to lift people higher and bring them closer together in fellowship.

Capture My Heart

16 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by KaylasOnlyHeart in Poetry/Lyrics

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Tags

Christian living, Christianity, eternal love, father, gifts, God, grace, hope, Jesus, light, lonely, love, Operation Christmas Child, poem, poetry, relationship, Samaritan's Purse, saved, Savior, shoeboxes

Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week starts tomorrow. This poem prays for the children around the world who will receive shoebox gifts and a message about Jesus Christ, the greatest gift of all. Visit the Samaritan’s Purse page to learn more about how you can touch a life with God’s love.

Made by God my heart sits

Lonely and unsure inside me

A great hope it knows not yet

For Jesus I have not met

Desired by God my heart waits

Anxious and warm beating me

This relationship’s not yet made

With this Father who won’t fade

Accepted by Jesus my heart opens

Saved and loved completely whole

A new creature and life renewed

Through blood shed and grace imbued

Now to you my heart spills

Shining light and inviting you

To an eternal love you have not yet

With Savior, Father, Counselor now met

IMG_4927.JPG

Countdown To Love

22 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by KaylasOnlyHeart in Journal, Photography

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Tags

boyfriend, cards, celebration, coffee mug, countdown, dinner, dinner date, flower, gifts, heart, hearts, holiday, ice cream, love, love note, Photo, photography, romance, rose, sweet, The Notebook, treat, Valentine, Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day passed a week ago, but I made sure I stretched my celebration, still receiving Valentines in the mail when I returned home a couple days ago. Valentine’s Day even occurred on a weekend this year. That meant I had a whole week leading into it and a whole weekend to celebrate, spent with my honey.

I captured a few of the Valentine themed highlights during the last couple weeks:

I made myself a sweet treat sprinkled with hearts.

I made myself a sweet treat sprinkled with hearts.

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I eagerly awaited the weekend when my boyfriend would visit me.

I started a countdown on my Facebook page and asked a Valentine themed poll question every day.

I started a countdown on my Facebook page and asked a Valentine themed poll question every day.

I sent some Little Mermaid and Frozen Valentines to my friends.

I sent some Little Mermaid and Frozen Valentines to my friends.

 

Signs of Valentine's Day were everywhere!

Signs of Valentine’s Day were everywhere!

The countdown was reaching its end as I showed off my red nails and lips.

The countdown was reaching its end as I showed off my red nails and lips.

I made semi matching coffee mugs for me and my boyfriend.

I made semi matching coffee mugs for me and my boyfriend.

Happy to have my honey in town, I got ready for our dinner & a movie date the night after Valentine's. I Notebooked him!

Happy to have my honey in town, I got ready for our dinner & a movie date the night after Valentine’s. I Notebooked him!

Finally, I kinda figured out how to do the face he likes to make in pictures.

Finally, I kinda figured out how to do the face he likes to make in pictures.

The following Monday marked our nine months together.

The following Monday marked our nine months together.

My new job in my new city started this week, and I returned home for my last couple days at my old job to find more  Valentines in the mail!

My new job in my new city started this week, and I returned home for my last couple days at my old job to find more Valentines in the mail!

I spread out my Valentine’s Day celebration, and I sure enjoyed it. My favorite holiday served as the perfect season to remind my friends that I love them. It also reminded me of all the small tokens and signs of love constantly around us. Simple kiddy Valentines made people smile, love notes warmed the soul, and even the snow melted leaving heart shapes. Love abounded!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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You can't make advances if you don't take chances. These posts share my perspectives of my journey as I step forward, walking in the Light.

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