Being Everything for Everyone

Being everything for everyone isn't easy.  And I know a lot about busy.

As a stay-at-home mom, working 3 quarter-time jobs, going to school quarter-time, and doing steady volunteer/hobbies, and... oh yeah!  Being a wife (girls, you can't forget to be that!)...  Hey, I, of all people get it.  There's so much to do, and so little time to do it.

Everyone works in their own ways too.  I am, what books will consider, The Worker.  I can't ever let myself sit still, and if I do, I feel guilty about it unless it's my quiet time with God.

But recently I had a mom tell me I was her hero.  Haha!  Me!  What?  I am a jack of all trades, but have no time to be a master at one, so how could I be a hero?  Well of course, I took it as a joke, as I knew it was merely a kind exaggeration, but it still took a bit of my guilt away.  I feel guilty a lot because of how many things I am involved in, but after much prayer over a long period of time, I still find that I am right where God wants me.  In fact, a prophet spoke over me (and my hubby) about our busy-ness, and how it would continue... Busier than we've ever dreamed, I believe was his point, and that it was all in God's Will.

And still to this day, I find peace.  And I find purpose, even in a struggle that seems most often stagnant, considering.

So I encourage you today with my personal Arizona Chili Recipe.  What?  Did she just say that?  Yes, even a crazy, busy mom like me has time to make a meal that we can all eat on for a few days.  And on a crazy awesome budget!  When funds are low, there's nothing wrong than buying those cheap cans of beans, corn, rotel, and tomato sauce, mixing in some beef and fun spices, and living off of it for a few days.  (*Double tip--buy the bags of uncooked beans.  Even cheaper.  AND they make a cute display in a glass jar.)  My husband and I lived in Tucson for a while, and it was pretty much heaven (although we weren't there during monsoon season...)

Here it is, my ARIZONA CHILI:

Add a can of mixed corn, cooked and drained ground beef, tomato sauce and your favorite diced tomato-mix can to a large pot.

Then add some good ol' cheap cans of your favorite beans in with their juice.  (I highly suggest black beans and chili beans for this one.

Then add a little cayenne pepper, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and minced onion flakes.

Let it get boiling hot, then simmer.  The longer it simmers, the better it tastes.  Lastly, put in a Spanish dish and top with some Mexican crumbling cheese (which lasts forever---worth the money), and you've got yourself a Tucson, Arizona home-cooked meal.  Maybe even a bag of Sante Fe rice would help hit the spot on an extra cold night.

 With love,

TK

2911studios.zenfolio.com wonxone.net iTunes: Won By One, Tara Kirk, 29:11 The Plan twitter: https://twitter.com/thetarakirk

Giving (And Even Getting!)

Wow. Someone just made my family homemade chicken tortilla soup and a side of beautiful bread. And it's only Tuesday!

Why is Tuesday so significant? Because Pastor spoke on giving Sunday, and I'm already learning a lesson. And in such a kind, gentle way. Isn't that our God?

Sunday we read about giving fully and freely. We also read about working hard and still finding poverty. The catch? Being stingy.

You may, like I, not even realize there are areas in your life that you are being stingy, but they're there. That's right, just when you think you've got it all figured out, you don't.

Take a look at all your financial, and even social, giving. Do you tend to put others first, or do you look out for your family first because, let's face it, times are tough.

Ask God to reveal to you your stingy ways, and he'll be gentle, in my experience, and give freely back... And sometimes, in very yummy ways.

My love, TK

Take a Seat

Take a seat. Learn and hear what God really wants you to know.

It's grace.

A word I've been hearing a lot lately.

SIMPLE RECAP:

Saturday night- revival at Harvest Outreach with guest speaker

Sunday morning- normal services at Manley Baptist

THE REAL DEAL:
Saturday night- intense, yet relaxing, encounter with God. BTW, the guest speaker was a prophet. Not Simon Baker in The Mentalist, but an empty vessel of a person whom God spoke through. How do I know? He read our (my husband and I) book. He did not speak specific people's names, but he touched on every aspect of our lives outside our home. He also spoke to the entire congregation about love. Not the conditional and disciplinary love we often give each other (even to our kids and family), but the kind of love that is full of one word--GRACE.

Sunday morning- our head worship leader confessed to our congregation that he and his wife, the night before, confessed to each other all their sins against each other and others throughout their 10-year marriage. Neither one of them felt mad at the other. The word he used? GRACE. And that morning? Guess what our congregation experienced--GRACE.  We worshiped in surrender, in adoration and whole-heartedly... even when the enemy tried to ruin the moment by taking out the mics.  We just sang that much louder.  Showed him... ;)

The spirit is always around us, always there, available at every single time we ask. But so often we forget that, above all else, God LOVES us. He is not mad at us. He does not want to constantly catch us in sin, and punish us as a result. Above all, he loves us. Does he want to help keep us on the right track? Yes. But I believe, even through the simplest glimpses like an incredible stripe of piercing white light in the midst of clouds in the sky, he is there, shining so bright, just waiting for us to accept his love, even when we find ourselves failing over and over.

That's all we have to do. To God, you are worth it. You may not see your worthiness. Maybe no one around you sees you that way. But I promise, God does. You who believe in and love him? You are worthy. You are righteous.

YOU ARE LOVED.

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As you prepare for school next week, guys and gals (and even parents), take a second to give yourself a good, hard look in the mirror. Teens, I know you hate it when you hear someone say this, but I'VE BEEN THERE. I know what's about to happen. I am a public school kid, ok? Here are some things I wish I would have repeated to myself on a daily (or even hourly) basis:

-What you wear matters. You are the future church. You are a REPRESENTATIVE OF CHRIST! Don't let the hormones tell you your outfit isn't too bad inappropriate. If you feel you look hott in it? CHANGE. Change your outfit and your goal for going to school that day. Remember, you're not there to impress a guy or girl. You're there to get an education, and BE a Christ education.

 -What you post on facebook? Everyone sees. "Oh, it's no big deal. Me and my girlfriends were just playing around." Nope. That doesn't cut it, and I (and especially God) can see right through that load of crap. It may make you feel cute, loved or important because you make some guy fawn over you, but that kind of attitude is selfish because you are trying to find love and affection in the wrong place, and you're trying to hinder those boys that see you in pics like that. Don't be that girl who plays all innocent, but secretly wants all the boys to think she's sexy. YOU WERE CREATED FOR MORE THAN THAT!

-Your focus should be people. When you are working in groups together, (i.e., teams, labs, groups), think just as much or more about your relationships with these people as you do your high score. I am reminded of this famous movie where, the leading guy treated the leading girl like crap because she wasn't as good a dancer as her, and she had a miserable time. To this day, people think she was amazing, but she had the toughest experience of her life making that movie. Don't be so focused on goals that aren't as important to God as the person.

-Put on your armor. Even though your fellow Christian girls and guys SHOULD be clothing themselves with modesty as the bible COMMANDS us to, not everyone will, Christian or not. So you've gotta be prayed up every day before school. Put on your whole armor, and also pray a hedge of spiritual, mental and physical protection around you and all your family and friends. Pray for them by name. Your prayers are powerful, especially when coming from a repentant heart.

I am praying for you this week! Please email me (tk@2911theplan.com) or text me if you have specific prayers you need, my family and teens at Manley, LSB&D and Encore. I love you, and want you to succeed in the way that GOD wants you to, not the world!

Much love, TK

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I'm a Lover

Today I write as a lover. Sometimes we need to put ourselves in the view of what the Christians call, "the world." Christians take a "stand" by picketing for "sacred marriage." But how sacred do these same Christians consider marriage, while the Christian divorce rate is at 32%, and the non-Christian's rate is at 30% (according to Barna).

Notice how yelling at someone does nothing but either make them mad, turn them away, or both. Do we really want to turn those away from the church who we would like to see come to Christ most? When Jesus said in conclusion of one statement, the greatest of these is love, I think he was talking to us today. We live in a world, where, you either tolerate or hate. There is never any trace of give grace and love.

So today, instead of picket (tolerate or hate), choose the greatest commandment-- LOVE.

HINT: It comes by giving grace (and seeing that very large log in your own eye...)

All in love, TK 2911
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