I look better in the future

The other day at church my pastor was preaching about breaking free
from the box. The box can be religion, poor mindset, negative words
spoken against you, pretty much anything that doesn’t let you live in
total freedom. He was saying how “living life” isn’t about a calendar
full of events but about being in the will of God. Sometimes we go
through things in life; trials, tribulations, or what we often call
deserts, where everything seems dry and desolate. The bible says in
James 1:2,“Count it all joy when you go through various trials.” I
think to myself, "What?!?! How can I rejoice when I feel like I’m
going through the worst time in my life?" I have good news my friends,
the desert is only an indication that there is a promise land!

I don’t know how long you’ve been in your dry place or where you’ve
felt stuck as if God doesn’t hear you or care for you. Maybe you think
that’s as far as you can go because of what you’ve done in your past.
However, God doesn’t determine our future based on our past. He uses
our past to glorify Himself in using it as a stepping stone to launch
us where we need to be. You can be free from the box. Just because
someone has a past doesn’t mean they are not entitled to a future.

I can tell you, what you see now is not who I am! Who I am is on the
verge of manifesting itself! The enemy tries to make us believe we
aren’t worth the favor of God and that His grace isn’t sufficient,
keeping us trapped in a box. He’s a master at bringing up our past and
shoving it in our face. I say we start reminding the enemy about his
future. I heard someone once say, “Every saint has a past and every
sinner has a future." There is more for us than what we see with our
natural eyes. I’ve seen some people reject a prophetic word that was
spoken over their life just because they can’t imagine ever being more
than what they are living at the present time.

But God, and I repeat, but God sees us as more than conquerors. He
sees us reaching our best. He sees us in our weakness and makes us
strong. He sees us prosperous. He sees us victorious. He sees us free
from bondage. He sees us enjoying the promises and blessings He has
for us. He sees us as more than what meets the eye. Friends, can I
tell you, you look better in the future!

In Him,
Kiki

What are you talking about?

When you're having a conversation with a person (gossiping), have you ever
stopped to think what purpose do your words serve in this conversation? My
mom always said "Mija, if they're talking to you about someone, rest assure
that they're also talking to someone else about you." You might want to
think before you speak, or you may have a lot to think about when you're
done speaking. No matter who you are, your words have creative power. The
words we speak can either build up or destroy. The words that we speak are
like a rope that can either set someone free or tie them up.
Have you ever noticed those children that have been spoken down to by other
people? They've been told they are dumb, slow, stupid, retarded, an idiot,
good for nothing...etc. You see that, that child grows up feeding from those
words, which after time became life for them. My friends, words are like
seeds. They have power in them to create. Isaiah says "We will eat the fruit
of our words." What seeds are you planting? If you've broken with words, you
must re-build with words. Each and every one of us literally carry life or
death in our mouth. Measure your words.

On the flip side,

Maybe you're the one who has been verbally destroyed by words someone spoke
over you. Could be by a friend, family member, ..etc. You don't need to live
life off of those words any longer. God's word is living and His word is
strong enough to undo every negative word that has hindered your life. No
one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Their words only have
as much power over you as you give to them. It's time to start hearing the
living word; the word that restores, rebuilds, heals, counsels, loves,
encourages, strengthens, inspires. The word of God. Speak, declare what you
want to be and see. You also have creative power in your mouth. :)

Don't Follow your heart, Lead your heart.

“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely
will be delivered.” Proverbs 28:26

Ever heard of the saying, “Follow your heart?" Many people use that
phrase to give advice and even apply it to their own lives. Before I
met my fiancé, Gabriel Velez, there was another guy who I had been
talking to for some time. My heart was full throttle in that so called
relationship but deep down I knew he wasn’t the one for me. All along
a course of 3-4 years I allowed my heart to guide me, painting a
picture of what could be when I knew it never would be. That is why
God never intended for us to be led by the heart but by His spirit.
However, often times when it concerns love, people use their heart to
make decisions rather than be led by God and His will concerning our
life.

The word of God says, “The heart is deceitful. Who can understand it?”
Our hearts can lead us down a path that could eventually destroy us if
we don’t allow God to take a hold of it. Who knows the countless
things that I could’ve been doing or the places I would be if I
allowed my heart to continue making decisions for me. One thing I do
know is that I would’ve never met the most wonderful man ever; the
will of God in my life.

The word of God also says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart
will also be." Treasure is anything greatly valued. Take a moment and
think to yourself, "What is it that I greatly value?" You’ll find your
heart there. Now, is your heart in the things of this world (job, man,
women, money, cars, etc.), or is your heart in its creators hands?

I remember the first impression my fiancé said he had when he began
taking notice of me. He saw me interceding on one of my first visits
to New Dawn Marantha Ministries. Besides my good looks, lol, he
noticed how on fire for God I was, which attracted him the most.
Ladies, if you're single and reading this, what I’m saying is that
your heart should be so lost in God that a man will have to seek Him
in order to find it. <3

Friends, don’t let your heart be the source of your reasoning. Your
heart is made of flesh, but we are of the spirit. Allow the God in you
to lead your heart and then follow Him. As my pastor Albert Santiago
says, "We need to begin to reign in life!" That includes every area
such as our heart.

Put your heart in Gods hands. There is no need to
live life in continual confusion with unaccomplished goals. You might
have felt that you tripped/fallen along the way, but have you ever
seen a person trip and fall backwards? Never! The steps of the
righteous are ordained by God. So even when we fall, we fall forward.
Now is the time to surrender your heart to its creator, God almighty,
and let him lead your heart and you follow Him.

"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." -Proverbs 16:9

In Him,
Kiki


Fun Fact: Sea otters hold hands when they sleep so they don't drift
away from each other

What are you made of?

Everyone goes through transitions in their lives; changes that we make and
changes that we have no control over.

I've been through some major transitions that marked my life this past year and
though I manage to press through with a smile, its not always that easy. Many
look at the final product and think, "Wow, that person really has had it easy",
but my friends that is not always so.

However, I'm not here to tell you about the struggles, problems, and situations
I've faced. You see, its not the change that makes or breaks you, but its the
attitude you take. It's not about "what" your going through, its about "who"
your turning to!

Recently my Pastor Albert Santiago released a word over some people, me being
one of them, declaring that we are climate changers! My friends, if you are
reading this you have to know that you have the authority to create your own
climate. Don't let the storms of life take a hold of you. Don't give yourself up
for dead. Don't stop dreaming just because people sleep on you. Get up! Speak
into the atmosphere. Faith is all about stretching. Your obstacles may seem
intimidating, but greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world.

Are you one that's blown away by the wind or have you built your house on the
rock? What are you made of?

"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it
happen."

Be encouraged,
Kiki

Dirty mouth? Clean it up!

I consider myself a clean person. However, until recently I started flossing. Most people don’t floss only because lack of effort (laziness). Did you know that brushing your teeth alone only contributes to 65% of your teeth being clean, leaving 35% dirty?

In having a conversation with some friends, who might I add take flossing very seriously, made me realize the importance of it. Here are just some of the benefits of flossing.
1. Removes the trapped food particles and plaque between the teeth which a tooth brush cannot reach
2. Prevents the formation of tartar
3. Prevents cavities, leaving better smelling breath and whiter teeth.

Now, I’m sure your thinking,“Oh boy, I need to start flossing!” My response? “Yes, you sure do need to start praying!” Just like flossing, when you start praying, (seeking God), He will begin to remove those things that you didn’t even know were accumulated inside of you; those things that hide and you thought were gone, yet hinder you and haven’t allowed you to walk in complete freedom. When you begin to pray, He releases the blessing, (just like the benefits), over your life. Church alone may contribute to 65% of your Christian walk with God, but when Monday comes along you feel empty because 35% depends on you! We can’t expect to reap all the benefits of the kingdom if we’re not a participant of it. People of God, we need to go deeper in our relationship with Him. Connect yourself and you’ll begin to reign in Him. We cannot depend solely on a Pastor (tooth brush) to get us where we need to be.

"You’re not waiting on God to move. He is already moving and waiting on you to get aligned to get your blessing!" Floss daily!

In love with Him,
Kiki

This isn't "the season" for no reason.

What is it about a New Year that gets people all excited? I believe
it’s an expectation of a fresh start or a clean slate that people look
forward to most. What some of us don’t realize is that starting the
calendar from the beginning is simply a gift of time. In life, time is
the most precious thing we have. Time by definition is: the length of
all existence, past, present and future. The Greek word for time,
which most of us know, is Kairos, which is the “right timing”.  The
right timing is Gods time! It’s a moment determined by God for us- and
that moment is now!  A preacher once said, “ Know when your season has
changed. You don’t want to be in the summer of your life dressed for
winter!”  No more dwelling in the past (2011), on what could’ve been,
should’ve been, would’ve been, but wasn’t! We are just in time for
right now! I was given today and today I declare Gods people are
moving forward. We do not shrink back. I decree and declare that the
greatest moments of the church are now. There is nothing or no one
that will hold us back. If “it” wasn’t last year, “it” is this year! I
speak into existence every prophetic word that has been spoken over
our lives. My future knows my voice, and when I speak, it knows who is
talking and reacts to every word I declare into the atmosphere! If
your reading this, I encourage you to stop wasting your time. It’s a
lie of the enemy to believe that your time is up, that you can’t
anymore, that your too old, too young, too ______ (fill in the blank).
People of God, the alarm clock went off, it’s time to get up from bed
(comfort zone) and walk in your calling/purpose at its full potential.
The clock is ticking… what time is it in your life?