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Your Life – Make It Count!

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“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

(Romans 14:12)

Jesus’ earthly ministry lasted three years.  Yet, those three years were packed with power, miracles, changed lives, and the demonstration of God’s glory.  Quality of time, not quantity, made the difference as Jesus impacted those who came across His path.  To some, three years seems like a short time; to others, it’s a long time – it all depends on what you’re setting out to accomplish. 

As Christians, we are approaching the greatest celebration of life, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  During this season, reflect on the fact that you have been given the priceless gift of life – and with that, a certain amount of time (your life span) is allotted for you to fulfill the purpose God created just for you.  In Luke 16, Jesus told the story of a rich man with a servant who got “called on the carpet.”  His master confronted him, “Give an account of your stewardship!”  When this man realized his position was in jeopardy, he immediately got busy being productive for his master’s benefit.

Each of us faces a similar moment of truth today.  When God glimpses you, does He see you fervently serving Him – or your own interests?  He expects His faithful children to commit to using the gifts He entrusted to them (time, talent, energy, skills, abilities, etc.) to profit and promote His Kingdom.  Over 2,000 years later, Jesus’ life holds a legacy that we continue to benefit from.  Are your actions today creating a legacy that will bless those who look beneath the surface of your life?  Resurrection power in action will cause you to be a wise investor and not a resource waster!

What are you doing with the precious life God has given you?

© Copyright 2008 by Kayren J. Cathcart

The Perfection Misconception

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“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the work of Your hands.”

(Psalm 138:8, NKJV)

Have you ever waited for just the right set of circumstances or conditions?  You want everything to be in its proper place and “just so.”  You don’t want to risk making any “mistakes.”  You’re reaching for perfection (a misconception and a work of the flesh) instead of excellence (flowing from the Spirit of God).

I am so guilty of this!  And you know what?  That elusive perfection never comes – it’s an illusion and a delusion.  Then you procrastinate.  By that time, you’re out of God’s perfect will.  When you try to play catch up, you’re asking Him for provision in an area that He’s not obligated to cover you in – because you led yourself there!

Did you think I was talking about you?  I was actually talking about myself!  But you know the old saying:  if the shoe fits…

I welcome you to the first of many submissions for The Writer’s Corner.  It’s been a long time coming – and I almost missed my window of opportunity.  But God gave me this chance, and today, I am seizing the moment.  I hope you’ll do the same today.

Faith requires stepping out of your comfort zone and beyond what your intellect can fathom, particularly when you can’t see how something will turn out.  It leaves us open and vulnerable, but it also creates an awesome atmosphere and environment for God to show Himself strong and mighty in and through us.  When we come to the end of ourselves, His glory manifests, and it’s absolutely magnificent to behold.

Have a productive day as you obey His voice and instructions to you – don’t act like you don’t hear Him talking to you!

© 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Preparing To Embrace Transition

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“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

During last month’s Life Application classes, we identified a “cure for the common life.”  This month, we’ll develop an unquenchable thirst for God’s presence.  Applying the combination of these two themes to our lives promises to bring us into a new season – we won’t be able to stay the same!  So how do we prepare for the upcoming transition?  What mindset do we need to embrace so we can do something different from what we’re already doing?

As we approach a change of natural seasons (moving from Summer into Fall), take a moment to hear what God is saying to you about your own spiritual season.  Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t look like you’re where you think you should be.  God is preparing a place for you at the same time He is preparing you for that place!  Be encouraged and know that He has an expected end for you (Jeremiah 29:11).  

Surely, there is an appointed season and timeframe for your blessing, your miracle, your healing, your deliverance, your promotion, and your breakthrough.  Realize that it may not happen overnight, in a week, or even in a month; transition occurs through a process.  You must listen closely to God’s plan and obey His instructions to satisfy the conditions and be in position for the transition. 

God is faithful and He is taking you somewhere…

Are you preparing to embrace the transition God has for you?

© Copyright 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Does One Degree REALLY Make a Difference?

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“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin our vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.”

(Song of Solomon 2:15 NIV)

We’ve already reached the fourth quarter of the year – where did the time go?  Have you achieved the goals you set for yourself in January?  Are you even close?  If not, do you wonder how in the world you got off-course? All it takes is one tiny step to veer away from your planned course of action – and before you know it, you’re way off-track!  One degree changes the angle.

Maybe I’m the only one who goes shopping for just one thing and ends up buying more items than I care to tell my spouse.  Or looks at the mountain of laundry on Friday that started out as just one load washed and dried Monday when I said, “I’ll fold and put it away it later…” but later never came.  Or reasons, “I’ll eat just one piece of chocolate,” only to find too many foil wrappers scattered around me five minutes later.  Yes, I’m sure I’m the only person who has these kinds of experiences!  It’s the little things that significantly affect the end result.  When driving a car, we don’t jerk the wheel violently back and forth the whole time we’re going straight.  Instead, we use a series of smooth movements and slight, consistent adjustments to keep us going in the desired direction.  When it’s time to turn, we approach the transition by changing our pace and rate of speed accordingly.

God wants to do the same thing with us.  He wants us to remember that small changes can have big impact – if we allow Him to modify and correct areas where we’ve started to drift away from His perfect will.  It may be uncomfortable now, but it’s better to catch something sooner than later, when it will truly hurt.  What’s coming to devour your fruit?  You’ve got to identify it and conquer it before it destroys you!  A thermostat is proof that one degree does make a difference. 

Ask God to adjust and fine-tune you this week – you may be surprised to see the areas He desires to tweak in YOU!

© Copyright 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Growing Into Oneness: The Process Requires Change

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“…grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”

(Ephesians 4:15)

By now, if you haven’t embraced last year’s Jubilee theme “Step Away From the Tree,” you’ve probably found it very difficult (or nearly impossible) to demonstrate and walk in “Oneness,” our theme for this year.  Stepping away from the tree means overcoming those fears, distractions, excuses, and weeds that have held you back for much too long.  And yes, it simply means choosing to do something different – and then doing it!

If you want to make a change, you must be willing to go through a process.  Immature people desire the end result (or “the blessing”), but don’t want to do the work of developing the character they’ll need to support them when they get there.  Though it may be uncomfortable, change is an essential part of growing into Oneness.  And if you are growing, you are changing. 

Three critical action steps for change and growth are:

  1. Accountability – enlisting key people to support and coach you as you make changes (but don’t expect them to do it for you!)
  2. Responsibility – admit mistakes and reward progress (keep moving, one step at a time – you cannot stay the same – it’s not an option!)
  3. Maturity – stand on your own feet (commit to move from milk to meat – it’s time out for spoon-feeding!)

Walking in agreement and being your brother’s keeper starts with you working on you.  Then you are able to offer something of significant value to others.  Are you willing to change and grow so your own purpose becomes unified with HIS will for your life? 

Lord, please show me how I can grow into ONENESS with You this week…

I know it will make a difference in my relationships with my brothers and sisters.

© Copyright 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Controlling vs. Conquering Your Weakness – You ARE an Overcomer!

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*You must overcome your weakness – or it will overcome you!*

“To change means picking a fight with the status quo”

Taking Inventory

Let’s see – I know I still have some issues lurking, but I swept them under the rug.  I made sure nobody could see them, but I think a few folks with discernment are starting to suspect this growing mound under my rug – oh man, it’s getting lumpier – and taller.  Well, if I do all the “right” things and keep trying to look spiritual and “hold it all together,” maybe I can just blend in.  I think we were told from Genesis 1:28 to be fruitful, multiply, replenish, and subdue…okay, let me work on that for a minute.  But if I’m still holding onto old junk, then what am I being fruitful in growing?  Junk! I am making a mess!

Why change?  destiny, purpose (whatever doesn’t change – dies)

Growth = change, but change doesn’t always equal growth

You must CHOOSE to grow!

Characteristics of Controlling Behavior

Characteristics of Conquering Behavior
  • Co-dependent; making excuses
  • Taking responsibility
  • Keep it “just in case” I need something familiar/comfortable to fall back on
  • Kick the crutches away; Get rid of it because it’s holding me back/weighing me down
  • Hiding/pretending/projecting a false image (“frontin’”)
  • Exposure:

             light + sound = no secrecy
  • Pride makes me think I can handle it by myself
  • Victory = able to stand AND able to help someone else be delivered (Who really “has it all together” anyway??? Accountability matters)

Dieting

Lifestyle Change

Addiction/Lust/Destructive Habits

Deliverance!

Anger Management

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me”(Psalm 51:10)

Holding a grudge

Forgiveness

Criticizing others (fault-finding)

Committing to be the change I want to see

Overspending

Discipline!

Action Steps for Change and Growth

(Moving beyond my present situation/set of circumstances)

Accountability

  • Tell on yourself!
  • Surround yourself people who are strong in your area of weakness
  • Remain humble

Responsibility

  • Be honest with yourself
  • Be truthful with others
  • Admit mistakes and reward progress
  • Discipline your mind and body – you must feed your spirit with the WORD of God!

Maturity

  • Keep moving forward (one step at a time = progress)
  • Know when to ask for help (assistance = a hand up, not a handout)
  • Don’t expect someone else to rescue you or solve your problem – stand on your feet
  • Commit to move from milk to meat – time out for spoon-feeding!

The Process of Overcoming entails walking in the Big IDEA – O!

Integrity – according to the WORD, not yourself!

“All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.” (Proverbs 16:2)

Discipline – brings you to the results you need “..run in such a way to get the prize.” (I Corinthians 9:24b NIV)

Endurance – breeds consistency

“…be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”  (Hebrews 6:12)

Action (be active, not passive – expecting it to “just happen” or come to you)

“…now therefore arise, go over…” (Joshua 1:2)

Obedience – (no loopholes, shortcuts, or hypocrisy) “…to obey is better than sacrifice…” (I Samuel 15:22)

© Copyright 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Enduring and Overcoming Adversity TOGETHER

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A Study from James 1

Marriage Enrichment Session Presenters:  Gibson & Kayren Cathcart 

Division is out there – don’t let it conquer your ministry of marriage!

– Adversity – hardship, difficulty, harsh conditions, hard times
– Division – separation, split, disagreement, discord, break, schism, divide, gulf

Tests & trials:
· Build faith – which brings maturity (James 1:2-4)
· Work patience (James 1:3)
· Bring an opportunity for growth (James 1:5)
· Set you up for blessing/promotion (James 1:12)
· Expose areas of inconsistency (James 1:6-8)
· Bring you closer to each other & to God (James 1:17-18)

Examples of adversity:
· Past – emotional baggage
· Present – financial strain/challenges
· Future – the unknown

Children/discipline issues, working vs. staying at home,
extended family (level of involvement/interaction), unresolved conflict, individual dreams and goals, physical changes or ailments…

Anything of great worth and value WILL be tested
· We must learn to solve problems together as a couple, not just as competent individuals
· Acknowledge strengths and weaknesses (your own and your spouse’s) – cover each other’s insecurities and vulnerabilities

– Endure – bear, undergo, continue, go on, carry on, keep on, persist
– Overcome – prevail over, rise above, triumph over, conquer, defeat
– Together – jointly, as one, collectively, in sync, mutually

Your perspective affects EVERYTHING!

 Combat the spirit of division with:
· Trust-building, open communication, flexibility, & adaptability
· Personal growth and development
· Individual and couples’ counseling
· Have fun together – get to know each other better! (we’re constantly changing)

Recognize the difference between a curse and God’s process…
– Curse – nuisance, pest, bother, irritation, annoyance
– Process – procedure, development, progression, route, course of action

6 Causes of curses:
1. Wickedness & backsliding
2. Did not hearken to the voice of the Lord
3. Would not keep the commandments and statutes
4. To be a sign and wonder to teach you and your children lessons forever
5. Because you did not serve the Lord with joyfulness & gladness of heart for the abundance of all things
6. Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord

Adversity is a tool God may use to take us to another level!

“We never know when our disappointment will be His appointment.” 

– Charles Swindoll

7 Laws of Prosperity:
1. God with man (Genesis 39:1-3)
2. Obedience (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)
3. Meditation (Joshua 1:8)
4. Faith (II Chronicles 20:20)
5. Seeking God (II Chronicles 26:5)
6. Goodness to Israel (Psalm 122:6)
7. Hospitality (Luke 6:38)

3 Reasons some do not prosper:
1. Rebellion against God (Deut. 28:29)
2. Covering sins (Prov. 28:13)
3. Fighting God (Is. 54:17)

Action Steps to Build ONENESS (this is deliberate and intentional!):
· Pray together (as well as individually for your spouse)
· Discuss/share about the Word regularly together
· Give your spouse grace – forgive!
· Speak the truth in love – don’t injure your spouse
· Seek God’s timing for communicating with your spouse

© Copyright 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart & Gibson Cathcart

Your Life’s Story

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“…my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”

(Psalm 45:1)

 Your life is telling a story.  The words you say and the things you do are coming together right now to complete the next chapter of your book – the story of your life.

Is it a mystery, drama, fairy tale, non-fiction, or fiction?  Is it based on the truth or fantasy?  What type of book are you writing about your life?

Books serve many different purposes – some entertain, others inform, and many just express feelings.  When people see you, they are reading the pages of your book.  What are you telling them about yourself?  What is the message you want to leave with your readers?  A message of hope, encouragement, healing, or deliverance is needed by so many people you come in contact with every day.

What chapter are you writing now?  What decisions and choices are you making to prepare for the next chapter to be even better than this one?  God, Who spoke the entire UNIVERSE into existence with the power of a WORD, knows the plan He has for each of our lives.  We must yield to the process of learning to trust Him for not only the final outcome, but our very next step.

If the story you’re writing looks like it’s going to have a questionable ending, turn the writing over to the Author and Finisher of our faith.  Not only will He walk with you through the trials and tribulations that build your strength, endurance, and perseverance, but He is able to create a “happy ending” for you like no one else can.

© Copyright 2006 by Kayren J. Cathcart