tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12060240546879569642024-02-20T02:40:09.859-05:00Blessed 2 WriteBlogging with Kendra NormanKendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-51644118778727625272021-08-10T15:10:00.002-04:002021-08-10T15:10:42.803-04:00Sharing a song that's been resonating in my spirit lately. God is doing great things! The blessings are falling! You ain't seen nothing yet!<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JutwP9GbEfQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-55517485094033652022020-01-03T19:41:00.003-05:002020-01-04T23:35:14.563-05:00I GOT THE JOB!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="font-size: xx-large;">W</b>aiting on God is much easier said than done. I'm a living witness, and I think most honest folks will agree with me on that. But I have more than one testimony to prove that the wait is worthwhile, and I'd like to share my latest one with you. If you're like me and you struggle with patience or if your faith just needs a boost; please read this blog entry in its entirety. I believe it will bless you.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">S</span>ee the girl in the photo above? That's me. I took it on December 30th. It was the <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">eve of New Year's Eve</span></b><span style="color: #f1c232;">,</span> and I was sitting in the lobby of a prominent 150-year-old business establishment in my local area awaiting to be called to the back for a job interview. I snapped this selfie because somewhere in the core of my soul, despite the many doors that had previously been closed in my face, and despite the fact that I'd experienced one disappointment after another; I knew that the smile I captured here was going to be validated.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span></b>et me rewind just a bit. . . </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">F</span>our days earlier, on December 26th, I'd stumbled across an open position at the aforementioned company, and I submitted an online application for employment. To be perfectly honest, I had very little hope that I'd even obtain an interview let alone land the job. Sometimes in life, after we receive so many disappointments, disappointments become what we expect. It sounded like a wonderful opportunity, and after doing some research on the company, I submitted the application and then went on with business as usual. That was on a Thursday evening. To my surprise, I received a call on Friday morning requesting that I come in for an interview, and on Monday afternoon, there I was waiting... praying... and suddenly feeling my faith being renewed.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span></b>et me rewind a little bit more. . .</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5MGxiO3qAuk/Xg-JqTdNiTI/AAAAAAAABl4/4jdi5nK0XK8K4JKkOE7BjJoT7aF6UXoAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DT89XwrW0AI0Esn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="825" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5MGxiO3qAuk/Xg-JqTdNiTI/AAAAAAAABl4/4jdi5nK0XK8K4JKkOE7BjJoT7aF6UXoAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/DT89XwrW0AI0Esn.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>t the very beginning of 2019, just as the previous year rolled out, the Holy Spirit spoke these three words into my spirit: <span style="color: #f1c232;"><b><i>"Exceeding. Abundantly. Above."</i></b></span> It was so profound that I shared it with my husband, my children, and my church family. I even blogged about it and posted it on my social media pages. The Holy Spirit promised me that those words would describe my 2019, and I embraced it with great expectations. But I didn't prepare myself for the tremendous battles that would come before I could claim the victory; I was just ecstatic about the promise. At that time that I heard the words, I was led to make a list of five specific areas of my life in which I wanted God to do the "exceeding abundantly above" in 2019. And wouldn't you know . . . as the year proceeded, the enemy fought me harder in those five areas than in any other. It was like he strategically targeted those areas just because I'd listed them. The devil fought long and hard to try and break me down in the process, and I dare say there were times when he had me on the ropes . . . <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">BUT GOD!!</span> </b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b> watched as all <u>but one</u> of those five special petitions that I placed before the Lord were granted. The job I'd prayed for was nowhere in sight. Nearly all of my corporate life, I've functioned in the role of an administrative professional. It was a position I enjoyed, but I was ready to step outside the box and make a change. So when I made my request to God for new employment, I made it very specific: <span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>1)</b></span> I wanted a career that was not considered an administrative support role; <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">2)</span></b> I wanted my workplace to be closer to where I lived; <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">3</span></b><span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>)</b></span> I wanted employment that more closely aligned with my God-given passion for creative writing, and <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">4)</span></b> I wanted a position where I was not mandated to be in an office everyday.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">K</span>eep in mind that it was at the <u>onset</u> of 2019 that I'd asked God to bless me with a job that came with all these specifications, and here it was, <b style="color: #f1c232;">the eve of New Year's Eve, </b>on the brink of 2020, and I still didn't have it.<b style="color: #f1c232;"> </b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>'m a firm believer in James 2:26 which states "... faith without works is dead..." So believe me when I say that I wasn't sitting around expecting a job to fall in my lap. I submitted my first job application while we were still in the first week of 2019, and I continued to go after every open opportunity that embodied what I desired to do. I applied for so many jobs that I eventually lost count. I was well qualified for all of them and actually landed an interview for most of them, but door after door after door was shut in my face. I couldn't understand it.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b> am a woman of great faith, and I knew what God had promised. But as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months; I found myself battling daily with increased frustration and discouragement. I was still speaking life and God's favor into my existence but January 1st had now turned into December 30th, so yes . . . doubt had crept in. Thoughts like: <i><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">maybe this just isn't what God has for me</span></b></i> had begun to repeatedly filter through my head.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></b>ut God's delay is truly not a deny, and His timing is not our timing. Just because God hasn't given us a YES doesn't mean that He's given us a NO. Sometimes He's just pruning us, and all while we're wondering if we're going to make it through, God already knows that we will. And He's preparing a table before us in the presence of our enemies so that those who thought we'd die in the battle will not only see us survive, but they'll see us thrive. Our timing is what we want, but God's timing is what we need. I recently posted these words on social media: <b style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Nobody can come through in the 11th hour like Jesus!</span></b> I had just experienced it for myself, so I could declare it boldly.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">P</span></b>lease<span style="color: #f1c232;"> let me encourage you today! </span>Having doubt and getting discouraged is nothing to be ashamed of. It does NOT make you a weak Christian!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>hoever came up with the notion that it's impossible for one to have faith and doubt at the same time couldn't be more wrong in my opinion. Even in the Word of God, we find examples of people who battled simultaneously with belief and unbelief. In the book of Mark, chapter 9, we learn of a man whose son had been possessed with a demonic deaf and dumb spirit since childhood. He brought the young man to Jesus desiring the son to be healed. And when Jesus charged the man to have faith and believe, the man, with tears in his eyes, responded with, <i><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">"Lord I believe; help thou mine unbelief."</span></b></i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>n spite of popular opinion, <span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>faith and doubt <u>CAN</u> be possessed at the same time</b></span><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">,</span></b> but in order to get your breakthrough, your faith has to supersede your doubt. Ultimately we have to learn how to crush doubt under our feet and use it as leverage to move us closer to our faith. We must feed our faith (with prayer, the Word of God, positive affirmations, etc.) and starve (push away, speak against, refuse to embrace, etc.) our fears so that our faith is the stronger force of the two. Like David in 1 Samuel 30:6, we have to learn how to <i><span style="color: #f1c232;">encourage ourselves in the midst of the distress</span></i>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>fter being turned away and passed over for numerous positions throughout the year, God gave me an <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">11th hour blessing!</span></b> I kept believing (despite my doubts). I kept pushing (despite wanting to give up). And because my faith outlasted and overtook my fears, God came through! My interview was over at 2:00 that day and by 4:30, I had received a job offer. I finally got the answer to the fifth and final request on the prayer list I'd made on January 1, 2019. It wasn't done as early in the year as I wanted it to be done, but God kept His promise to do it in 2019. <span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>The eve of New Years Eve</b></span> was still 2019. π π I guess God really does have a sense of humor. π<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b>ee the girl in this photo? That's me. I snapped it early in the morning on Thursday, January 2, 2020. I had just submitted my letter of resignation, and I was genuinely praising God while sitting at my soon-to-be former work space. My rejoicing is no slight against the company for which I currently work. It's an amazing and highly respected place of employment. But God had answered a prayer in the 11th hour, and submitting the resignation made it all the more real!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span></b>y day of departure from this wonderful Fortune 100 company is just a week away. God gave me the job I'm leaving just like He gave me the one I'm going to. I represented Christ and functioned in a spirit of excellence at the one I'm leaving, and I'm going to do the same at the one I'm going to. My assignment at my current job is up, and the thought of my new one has my heart bursting with joy. The past few months have been incredibly tough for reasons I won't delve into. But God saw it all. He knew it all. And in His perfect timing, He delivered me from it all. The devil had a plot, but God had a plan! <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">What the enemy meant for evil, God worked it for my good</span></b> (ref. Romans 8:28). To HIM be all the glory!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>f I said last year's process from January 1st to December 30th was easy, I'd be lying. It was hard . . . <i><span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>very </b></span></i>hard. My faith in God was the key to my triumph. And because of that faith, you're now looking at a <span style="color: #f1c232; font-weight: bold;">full time News Writer and Reporter for a distinguished print media company</span> in my local area!<span style="color: #f1c232; font-weight: bold;"> </span>Just today, as I sat at the desk of my current job, I received an unexpected call from my new employer letting me know that they already had my executive press pass and my business cards ready and waiting for my arrival. Wow! When God answered my prayer, He answered every part of it! <span style="color: #f1c232; font-weight: bold;">1) </span>My role at the new company is not a support role; <span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>2)</b></span> the job is less than 15 minutes from where I live versus being an hour and 40 minutes away like my current job; <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">3)</span></b> my duties very closely align with my divine passion and purpose, and <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">4)</span></b> I'll only have to be in the office a couple of days out of the week.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>on't He do it? Yes, He will! And God is no respecter of persons (ref. Acts 10:24). If He did it for me, He'll do it for you. God truly did the <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">exceeding abundantly above!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b>o whatever it is that you're praying and believing God for this year (whether it's a job, a home, a car, better finances, a spouse, a child, restored health... <i>whatever</i>) don't let the enemy make you think you won't receive it just because it's taking longer than you'd like. Don't rush God and don't try to help Him do His job. He doesn't need your assistance; He just needs your faith. He's all knowing and all powerful. <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Let God do His perfect work in His perfect time.</span></b> When your answer comes, it will be worth the wait. Stay strong, and keep the faith!<br />
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Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-44152231115691876462019-12-10T15:23:00.003-05:002019-12-10T15:23:50.954-05:00What Chapter 53 Means To Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span> am exactly one week away from completing Chapter 52 of my life and turning to the page that starts Chapter 53. While some people (especially women) frown on the thought of getting older, I celebrate every single day of every single year that GOD allows me to live to see. Great and marvelous things are what I expect in this next season, so I'm excited to read what the first sentences of the first paragraph of Chapter 53 will say. As a passionate and purposeful writer, "sentences, paragraphs, and chapters" are the best words to describe it all. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b>ome prefer to celebrate their birthdays with spa treatments, shopping sprees, exotic excursions, and even by boozing it up with their buddies. To each his own. Me? I choose to celebrate mine by giving honor and praise to the Giver of life . . . the only ONE who allows me to see a new year of life. If it weren't for His mercy and His grace, I wouldn't be here, so I'm going to give Him all I've got! This year, my "Birthday Hallelujah" will take place the Sunday before my actual birthday and yes... we will be glorifying God to the highest! Ain't no party like a Holy Ghost party!! If it were not for the Lord, there is no way I could've have made it through these last twelve months.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>s I reflect over my Chapter 52 I can honestly say that it has been one of the roughest of my life. At the end of the 2018 as 2019 was rolling in, God promised me a year of the "Exceeding Abundantly Above" and He did not disappoint. I have been wonderfully blessed this year, but those blessings haven't come without tests and trials. The enemy has fought me every step of the way. Every blessing seemed to come with the prerequisite of a battle, but with God on my side, I've won every single one. For the ones that are still ongoing, I've already claimed the victory because I'm not leaning on my own strength; I'm totally depending on the ONE who never loses. Therefore, there is no question that I shall win. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b> haven't publicly shared most of what I've had to face in the year 2019, and I'm not going to go into details about it in this blog entry either. But those who are closest to me (my small circle of confidants and prayer partners) are very aware. The battles ain't everybody's business, but rest assured that the overcoming testimony will be shouted from the rooftop! I haven't always understood God's will or His process, but my walk in Christ has taught me is that <b><i><u>elevation almost always calls for excavation</u></i></b>. When God prepares to promote us, it often requires the uncovering of things and people around us. Masks start to fall off, secrets begin to reveal themselves, a shifting happens at work, friends and family often change their attitudes toward us or walk away from us altogether. Excavation comes in many forms.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>s many revelations and alterations came for me in 2019, so came the struggles. It's been an unusually tough year on multiple levels. I've had to face giants that I've never had to face in all the years prior . . . <b>BUT GOD</b>! Yes, God has been with me through it all, and I have no doubt that there is a powerful testimony forthcoming. I can already feel it on the horizon. At this very moment, I'm laughing within myself . . . because even in the midst of me writing this blog, I received an instant message that could very well be the start of my victorious Chapter 53. God is working it out even as I type, and I'm thanking Him in advance!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b>o spiritually speaking, what does the number 53 mean? It was a question that came to mind this morning, so I searched online and discovered this information:</div>
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<li>Biblical Reference - Isaiah 53 refers to Jesus Chirst as the suffering servant who is horribly repressed, but in the end, He is rewarded! Jesus Christ is the Perfect Servant. The word "perfect" is used 53 times in the Bible. Jesus Christ is the Rescuer. The word "rescuer" is used 53 times in the Bible.</li>
<li>On earth, the number 53 is an indivisible number. As human beings we are indivisible with God.</li>
<li>Taking the number 53 and breaking it down to 5+3 we arrive at the total "8"... The number 8 represents the new beginning, the creation. It represents the resurrection. Jesus Christ was seen 8 times after His resurrection.</li>
<li>What does the number 53 represent in your daily life? Since you are indivisible with God, you have nothing to fear in this life. Anything you want from God starts with you, and God will help you. In health, love, happiness, family, business, career, faith... every part of your life and anything that can help you improve your life. All you need to do is make the first step toward God. He is always ready to rescue you.\</li>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">E</span></b>ven before I read this, I knew God was on my side. I didn't need to see it in my research to know it in my heart. But seeing it brought confirmation. All of this and more is what my Chapter 53 means to me. What the devil (and his imps) meant for evil, GOD is working it out for my good!</div>
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Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-65873392298404508052019-06-20T11:45:00.002-04:002019-06-20T14:13:23.147-04:00When God Has You In The Waiting Room<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jCYA8s1mM0Q/XQo1ZkHnJdI/AAAAAAAABik/dvlesCv5R54CSSnxCzK2kn1WdE8MXFH5wCLcBGAs/s1600/Looking%2Bout%2Bwindow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jCYA8s1mM0Q/XQo1ZkHnJdI/AAAAAAAABik/dvlesCv5R54CSSnxCzK2kn1WdE8MXFH5wCLcBGAs/s320/Looking%2Bout%2Bwindow.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span> popular storybook from my childhood years was <i>Goldilocks and The Three Bears</i>. It's a fairy tale that's almost 200 years old now, yet parents and teachers everywhere still share it, and young readers across the globe still love it. It seems as though no kid is able to resist laughing at the theatrics of adults as their voices change octaves in an attempt to mimic what a family of bears would sound like if they spoke our language. The story is quite an entertaining one... but only because it's fiction.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>n real life, the thought of being in this little girl's shoes and living her experience is nothing short of frightening. I've often been teased because when watching TV shows and movies on the big screen or even when reading books; I have a tendency to draw a spiritual message from actions and scenes that are merely intended for entertainment purposes. To be quite frank, we should all keep our spiritual eyes and ears open, because we never know what vehicle God may use to relay a message of hope when we need it most.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>his age-old tale introduces us to a child by the name of Goldilocks. There's no indication in the story that she was a troublemaker or even mischievous. She was simply hungry and tired, and in her naive exploration, she found a place that provided what she needed. But note that her needs weren't met <b><i>immediately</i></b>. This is the portion of the story where my spiritual ears perked up!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">G</span></b>oldilocks came across food that was too hot and too cold before finally discovering a meal that was <i><b>just right</b></i>. She had to endure lying on a hard bed, and then one that was excessively soft before she found one that was <i><b>just right</b></i>. If Goldilocks had walked away after sampling from the second bowl, she would have still been hungry. If she'd given up after sampling the second bed, she would have left with no relief from her weariness. She had to be patient. She had to be persistent. In other words, not only did she have to <b><i>wait </i></b>until the right thing was within her reach, but she also had to <i><b>wait </b></i>for the right time to grab it. And to many of us--in our nonfiction real life existences--<b><u>WAIT</u></b> is truly a four-letter word.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>n Psalm 27:14, the Word says: <b><i>Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. </i></b>For most Christians that's a familiar passage of scripture. Many of us can quote the words from memory, but despite all that, applying it to our lives can be frustrating and downright agonizing. Waiting can make us want to lose hope, lose faith, and settle for what we have (or don't have) versus continuing to strive for what we need and deserve.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span></b>ur spiritual "waiting room" experience seems to become particularly uncomfortable when we, like the girl in the classic fairy tale, are tired and hungry. Tired of the same-ole-same-ole and hungry for change. Hunger and fatigue have a way of making bad situations appear to be even worse than they are. Waiting can get even rougher when we know full well that God has something greater. We feel like we're looking out a window, and our "something greater" appears to be right there with nothing but a glass pane separating us from it. Yet no matter how hard we try, we just can't seem to obtain it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I </b></span>have a dear sister-friend who often starts her sentences off with, "Can I be real?"π In other words, let's just tell the truth and shame the devil. The fact of the matter is, when God has us in a waiting room, ALL the chairs appear too big or too small, and ALL the beds feel too hard or too soft. It's just not a comfortable place! But through it all, we have to trust Him, which includes trusting His timing. Things don't always happen when we want them to, or how we want them to, but if we just be patient and squash the urge to get ahead of God or His perfect plan; we will find that the end result will be worth the wait.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></b>oes God have you in a waiting room right now? Maybe it has to do with your physical health, your relationship/marriage, your job situation, or something else for which you've been praying will change for the better. I believe at some point in our lives, we're all put in a waiting room where our patience and faith are tested by God. He definitely has me in one right now, and yes... I'm tired and hungry. I know God has something better for me, but waiting for it to materialize has taken much longer than I would like. Perhaps that's your testimony too.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>ell, let me encourage you as I encourage myself. We can't give up or give in because doing that won't bring satisfaction either. Victory only comes if we fight and win. So as we continue to wait, we must also continue to pray. During this waiting period, we'll likely see what appears to be multiple ways of escape - many doors may come within reach that we feel can offer us what's needed and desired. But we can't get ahead of God. Just because a door is there, doesn't mean it's our door. If we walk through the wrong door, what we thought was a better situation, might actually be worse. Perhaps the food on the other side of that door would be too hot or too cold. Maybe the beds would be too hard or too soft. But when God fully reveals His provision... when HE opens a door... it will be <i><b>just right</b></i>. So I will continue to wait. And I encourage you to do the same.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>ait, I say... on the Lord!</div>
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<br />Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-25968610875385347352019-06-18T10:03:00.000-04:002019-06-18T10:03:55.384-04:00Who Encourages the Encourager of Encouragers?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>s I was driving my vehicle into the parking lot at work this morning, my cell phone rang. A sister who comes to me whenever she needs encouragement and spiritual counsel was on the other end. She was in tears as she expressed to me some of the things that are currently going on in her life. I quietly listened until she was all talked (and all cried) out, and then I began to share with her the things that were on my heart and the Word of God that rested in my spirit.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span> always arrive at work early; well before the required "clock-in" time. Most days, I go ahead and enter the office and take a few moments to pray and meditate, and then I grab breakfast and get a jump-start on whatever work assignments await. Today, one phone call altered my normal routine. Although I still got into the office ahead of schedule, it was necessary for me to use some of that time to encourage a heart that was hurting and to help rebuild a spirit that was breaking down. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>B</b></span>y the time we got to the end of our "counseling session," the sister was laughing. Her joy was on the rebound! Just before we disconnected our call, she said to me, "I consider myself an encourager, Kendra. People come to me when they need a lift, but they just don't know that this encourager needs encouraging sometimes too." Then she laughed and added, "Since I come to you when I need encouragement, I guess that makes you an encourager of encouragers." We ended our call shortly thereafter, and as I got out of my vehicle and began the short walk to the entryway of my place of employment, I thought to myself... <i style="font-weight: bold;">So who encourages the encourager of encouragers?</i> Sometimes those of us who are known for being strong can be so solid, sturdy, and enduring in our faith that people forget that there are times when our spirits need to be rebuilt, refueled, and reinforced too.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>here is a once chart-topping gospel song that says, <i>"Sometimes you have to encourage yourself... sometimes you have to speak victory during the test. And no matter how you feel, speak the word and you will be healed. Speak over yourself, encourage yourself in the Lord."</i> Later in those same lyrics there is a sentence that says, <b style="font-style: italic;">"As I minister to you, I minister to myself."</b> And for me, I believe that's where the answer most often lies. Yes, I have been blessed with a couple of trusted and devout confidants in my life that I know I can go to if I need the listening ear of another Spirit-filled human being, but often times I have found that when I allow God to use me to minister to others, I find, in my own words, the very encouragement for which I've been searching. As I pour into them, I'm pouring into me. As a reward for my obedience in sharing God's word with others, it's as though God, in turn, allows those same words to empower and encourage me. God is awesome like that!!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">P</span></b>salm 46:1 is a dynamic verse of scripture that reminds us that no matter what comes our way, God is not only our Strength, but He's also our Protection. It says, <b><i>God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.</i></b> That assures me that even if it looks like I'm by myself in a battle; I'm never alone. If I try to call my trusted friends and they're otherwise preoccupied and can't come to my rescue, I can always look to the Lord. In fact, He should be my first recourse because He is ALWAYS there, and He never fails. He will give me what I need so that I can encourage myself and go forth in victory. Thank God for being the ultimate ENCOURAGER of the encourager of encouragers! π</div>
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<br />Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-62833865286168504602019-01-09T14:08:00.002-05:002019-01-09T16:14:20.825-05:002019: My year of "Exceeding... Abundantly... Above..."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>G</b></span>rowing up in the church, I remember hearing new slogans being broadcast from the pulpit on a near annual basis. It usually happened during Watch Night Service as we greeted the New Year with praise and worship. The slogans were generally very catchy, inspiring, and they almost always rhymed. We were encouraged by sayings like, "God will open the door in '74" and "We're coming alive in '85" and "It's already done in '91." </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>his practice may seem silly nowadays to a generation that seems to have migrated so far away from the Lord, but I remember these annual slogans as words that empowered the people of God and gave us increased hope and the faith to push forward with great expectation. On a broad scale, churches don't do this any longer. It seems to have been a season in Christendom that has now passed and become a distant memory. However, in spite of it not being done corporately, in recent years the Holy Spirit has been directly giving me similar affirmations to apply to my personal life for the coming year. They aren't particularly catchy nor do they rhyme, but they're very specific promises that God gives me for the year ahead.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></b>y definition, I became legally separated in 2010, and in 2012, I made the difficult, but necessary decision to completely cut ties with and divorce my ex-husband after 15 years of marriage. As that year faded, I was lying at the foot of my bed staring up at the ceiling when I heard the Spirit say, <b><i>"2013 will be your year of better. Better home. Better job. Better relationships."</i></b> And He did not lie! God opened great doors and granted me immeasurable favor that year. He took what was meant to destroy me and turned it into something amazing. He rewarded me for remaining faithful and full of integrity despite the enemy's plot to try and destroy my testimony, my sanity, and my life. Everything about that year was BETTER. God blessed me with a management position on a great job. I acquired a home that I loved and God proved to me that He was my source; not man. I paid my own rent and not once was I late. I took out my own trash. I washed my own car. I paid all of my own bills... and I loved every minute of it. God had given me complete joy and contentment.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>hat dissolved marriage was my second one, so I was completely done! Love was a four-letter word, and I was over it! Many years earlier, my first husband--the man who introduced me to what it felt like to truly love and be loved--had passed away, leaving me heartbroken and with two toddler daughters to raise. Ultimately, I trusted another only to be left embarrassed and utterly disgusted at the discovery of and the details surrounding our shattered wedding vows. I was still in my 20's when the title of "widow" was forced upon me. Now here I was accepting the title of "divorcee." When I walked away from that marriage, I told God <b>NEVER AGAIN! </b>However, God had other plans. My girls were all grown up and living on their own by now. I still recall the day in January of 2013 as I stood in my kitchen preparing dinner for myself when God softly reminded me that His promise of "better" included relationships. I had begun making a few friends so I'd surmised that those had been the relationships that He was referring to. But there was more.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b> remember being torn and going to my parents' house to share the details of the spiritual encounter with my mother. I told her that I never wanted to marry again but I had the feeling that God had other plans. She advised me not to resist anything that God had for me based on past experiences. "If God does it, it'll be done right," she said. And she was on point. Four months later, I met the man who would become my husband. I wasn't broken. I wasn't needy. I wasn't lonely. I wasn't even looking. Regarding Michael, I've often said that He's the greatest gift I <i>never </i>prayed for. We married in March of 2014, just ten months after meeting. My mom went to be with the Lord later that year and it was a major blow to the heart of our family, but in the midst of it all, God continued to bless.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>H</b></span>is voice came again as the year 2014 came to a close. Just like in times before, I was lying in bed when I heard, <b><i>"2015 will be your year of double-blessings."</i></b> I ran from our bedroom into the living room where my husband was sitting and I told him what God had said. He joined with me in believing it to be manifested, and it was. When we married, I left the management job that I had been working and relocated to the city where my husband was already established. I found employment there but I only worked for a few months before God opened the door to a new job that paid <u>double </u>the salary of the first one. It was the most money I'd ever made on a corporate America job. Additionally, I witnessed <u>double </u>engagements and then <u>double </u>marriages when both of our daughters got engaged in 2015 and then got married in the same year (which also blessed me with <u>double </u>amazing "sons-in-luv"). I received a bonus child (an adult son) when I married Michael, and that son gave us <u>double</u> granddaughters when his twins were born. My husband and I were blessed with <u>two </u>complete living room suites that were given to us free of charge. We were able to pass them on to other families in need. The double-blessings that year came back to back to back. God had once again held true to His words.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>he past three years have been quiet ones as far as the Holy Spirit speaking and giving direct words to me about what I could expect in the year to come. As 2015 closed, I heard nothing specific. As 2016 closed, I heard nothing specific. The same goes for 2017. But in each of those years, God continued to prove Himself strong. I was blessed with the opportunity to create and host my own Internet radio show. As ordained elders, my husband and I were elevated to the positions of church pastors. We relocated from one state to another to be closer to the ministry that had been entrusted to us. The relocation was a major sacrificial transition, but God made it a smooth one. Most recently, we were blessed with a beautiful new home. Prayers have continuously been answered. Divine favor has continuously been granted. God has continuously been good to us even in the stillness of His voice. But near the midnight hour of Sunday, December 30, 2018, I heard Him once more. And yes... I was lying in bed yet again. This time I was on the verge of drifting off to sleep, but the voice of the Holy Spirit fully awakened me and brought me to an upright seated position.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">"E</span>xceeding. Abundantly. Above."</i></b> Those were the three words He spoke to me. He told me that in my professional life to date, EAA has always stood for Executive Administrative Assistant, which has been my specialty pretty much from the start of my corporate career. However, the Lord assured me that in 2019 those letters would stand for Exceeding Abundantly Above! He said this is going to be my year of increase and that He's going to make this an Ephesians 30:2 year; doing exceeding abundantly above all that I could ask or think. I couldn't wait to share the experience with my husband when we woke up to prepare for work the next morning. How is God going to do it? I don't know. But I have no doubt that He will, and I look forward to the manifestation with great expectation. God has never failed me yet. Everything He has ever promised; He has brought to pass.<br />
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<b>I</b> look forward to sharing the testimony!</div>
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<br />Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-89290878067633730532018-08-07T13:59:00.000-04:002018-08-07T15:06:39.642-04:00A Hairy Situation...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ave we somehow made other
cultures afraid to compliment us? I wear my natural hair in an Afro puff, and
yesterday, as I was at the grocery store picking up a few items, I heard this
little voice behind me say, βYour hair is soooooo pretty!β I wasnβt sure they
were talking to me at first, but when I turned around, I saw the cutest little
grey-eyed, brown-haired girl (maybe 3 years old) standing in the back of a
shopping cart. Her mother had her hand clasped over the childβs mouth and she
had a horrified look in her eyes. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">efore I could say anything, the mom said, βIβm
sorry. Iβm so sorry. She didnβt mean anything.β I was totally confused. I said,
βDidnβt she say my hair was pretty?β Her mom (still with her hand over her
daughterβs mouth) said, βYes. But she didnβt mean anything by it.β I reached
forward and put my hand on the momβs hand and moved her hand away from her
little girlβs lips. By now, the kid was looking like she was about to be beat
down too. If it werenβt so sad, it wouldβve been funny. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> said, βItβs okay.β Then
I looked at the little girl and said, βThank you, sweetie. Your hair is pretty
too.β That made her smile. Then her mom said, βIβm sorry. I didnβt know how youβd
take it. Sometimesβ¦ we donβt know what to say. We donβt know whatβs offensive.β
I just replied with, βGenuine compliments should never be found. And children
tend to be genuine even when we adults</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IDk9gMi9sDY/W2ndgnhEXzI/AAAAAAAABgc/qYeWlvd29b8hEKb5fI64G1_jGfLcFt9yACEwYBhgL/s1600/08072018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IDk9gMi9sDY/W2ndgnhEXzI/AAAAAAAABgc/qYeWlvd29b8hEKb5fI64G1_jGfLcFt9yACEwYBhgL/s320/08072018.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> arenβt. Itβs really okay. Iβm flattered.β
The mom finally smiled and she looked relieved when she said, βThank you. Iβm
glad. And your hair really is very pretty. Itβs so perfect. Like a painting.
Not a hair out of place.β At that point, I couldnβt help but laugh out loud because she seemed
to be cautious about every word she was saying. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s I thanked her and walked
away to continue my shopping, I started to wonder to myself⦠What have we done
as a people to make those of other ethnic groups afraid to give us a
compliment? Everybody of every racial background has to do better. Race
relations in America have really gone down the toilet, it seems. As Iβm
approaching my second year of being a natural, my eyes are continuously being
opened to new thingsβ¦ both good and bad. Heaven help us allβ¦</span></div>
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<br />Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-22749552423801963842018-07-07T21:48:00.000-04:002018-07-09T07:59:39.895-04:00There's No Stopping Us Now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>M</b></span>y husband and I are are raising our hands in praise. We're just a few short days away from celebrating our 2nd pastoral anniversary as well as Deliverance Revival Church's 2nd church anniversary and it's been no one but God who has brought us this far. The aged Macon, Georgia edifice that we started out in had been in existence under the same name previously, but had been defunct for a few years before our founder and Chief Apostle reestablished it. We were ordained and installed as co-pastors on the same day that the church's doors were reopened for worship. The date was Sunday, July 10, 2016.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>t's such a marvelous thing to be trusted by God. To be called and chosen by Him is an humbling privilege! But we must understand that sometimes it's also a trying and tedious task to carry out His mandates. Especially when the assignment is to "build" a work for Him. I have many long-time ministry colleagues who have been placed in the position of pastor over the years, but I don't recall any who were charged to <u>build</u> a ministry from the ground up. All of the ones I know were either placed over churches that were already established with members, praise teams, choirs, ministry leaders, ushers, etc.; or when they opened the doors of their church, there were already dozens of people walking through the doors with them who had left other ministries to become a part of their new work. These men and women of God are doing great works, and I applaud them. However, their experience is not our testimony. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-Yyh8P2--8/W0FkKJmiqBI/AAAAAAAABfo/bas1IlB7cP8sBtyvOUB_Ce7KkZUIwT1wwCLcBGAs/s1600/2nd%2BAnniversary%2B-%2BFriday.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-Yyh8P2--8/W0FkKJmiqBI/AAAAAAAABfo/bas1IlB7cP8sBtyvOUB_Ce7KkZUIwT1wwCLcBGAs/s320/2nd%2BAnniversary%2B-%2BFriday.png" width="320" /></a><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span></b>or Pastor Michael and me, there was none of that. We had wonderful family members and friends who attended our installation and initial church launch service, but none of them were members of Deliverance Revival Church. So for the following Sunday after our installation and for several Sundays thereafter, there was no one there on Sundays except Pastor Michael and me. We were the praise team, we were the ushers, we were the ministry staff, we were it all. It's been quite a journey and an experience! Many members have come and some have gone over the past two years. As caring leaders who give our all, we have been hurt by some who we did everything to help. Some have taken advantage of our kindness. Others have blatantly stolen from the church. Then there are those who, after insisting that God sent them to DRC, just disappeared for seemingly no reason. But in spite of it all, we say, "Thank you, Lord!" The Word of God (Romans 8:31) is true... <i>If God be for us, who can be against us?</i> The enemy's ploys have not been successful because our Heavenly Father has been with us every step of the way! It hasn't been easy, but God continues to reward us for our diligence and faithfulness.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f7-7XRbM5Do/W0FkMw0ox8I/AAAAAAAABfs/YvYpeho6_A8cSfR8DBafGsZuWeFnDIrDQCEwYBhgL/s1600/2nd%2BAnniversary%2B-%2BSaturday.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f7-7XRbM5Do/W0FkMw0ox8I/AAAAAAAABfs/YvYpeho6_A8cSfR8DBafGsZuWeFnDIrDQCEwYBhgL/s320/2nd%2BAnniversary%2B-%2BSaturday.png" width="320" /></a><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>s we prepare to celebrate our 2nd pastoral and church anniversary, we do so with great joy and excitement. In the past year, the Lord has blessed us to move from the old church in Macon, Georgia to a newer, more visible edifice in Warner Robins, Georgia. Whereas we had no musicians when we began, God has blessed us with highly talented ones. Whereas we had no praise team, He has sent us anointed voices to lead us into worship each Sunday. We haven't yet seen the full manifestation of what God is going to do through Deliverance Revival Church, but He has made known His grace and favor upon us and as this year's anniversary theme proclaims... <b>THERE'S NO STOPPING US NOW!</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>W</b></span>hat the enemy meant for bad, God is turning it around for our good. Whereas the devil thought we'd become discouraged and ultimately give up after going through the trials that year one brought, the Lord used those trials to make us stronger and more determined than ever. God has brought us from a mighty long way, and we know that the best is yet to come. We are still few in number compared to many other churches, but DRC is doing a great work in the kingdom, and God is not through with us yet.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3cVhlK44fts/W0FkVCo8qBI/AAAAAAAABgE/AyUISFKVY2YtyfE10fTyev8W6iZRgt3lwCEwYBhgL/s1600/2nd%2BAnniversary%2B-%2BSunday.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3cVhlK44fts/W0FkVCo8qBI/AAAAAAAABgE/AyUISFKVY2YtyfE10fTyev8W6iZRgt3lwCEwYBhgL/s320/2nd%2BAnniversary%2B-%2BSunday.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>W</b></span>e invite everyone to join us Friday, July 13th through Sunday, July 15th for a 3-day celebratory event that will be unforgettable! We will kick things off on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with a prophetic experience featuring <b>Apostle Jon-Michael McKinney</b> of The Impact Church (Decatur, GA) as our special guest speaker. Saturday, beginning at 5:00 p.m., we will enjoy an afternoon filled with lyrics and laughter that will feature recording artist and psalmist, <b>Minister Peyton Bailey</b> (Atlanta, GA), comedian <b>Rod "Rod of God" Allison </b>(Kannapolis, NC), and the legendary gospel group, <b>Jay Caldwell & The Gospel Ambassadors</b> (New Castle, DE). We will culminate on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. with our founder and Chief Apostle, <b>Bishop H.H. Norman</b> (Macon, GA) serving as our guest speaker. All are invited to come and enjoy this celebration with us. The devil was messing, but God is still blessing. We've said it once, and we'll say it again: <b><i>THERE'S NO STOPPING US NOW!</i></b></div>
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<br />Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-6781074957753287762017-05-30T22:13:00.000-04:002017-05-31T14:22:32.728-04:00Igniting Your Relationships with God and Mankind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>N</b></span>early every day after leaving my corporate America assignment, I sit in the room with my husband, and for hours, he and I spend time writing entries for the new book that we're releasing this fall. One thing for sure that I can say about <i><b>Cross-Fire: Igniting Passionate, Purposeful, and Powerful Relationships</b></i> is that it's truly a labor of love.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>J</b></span>ust the thought of the release of this relationship devotional excites me. The feeling of partnering in a literary work alongside the love of my life is beyond amazing. I'm no newbie at this. <i>Cross-Fire</i> will be my 23rd published work, but it will be my husband's very first, and of course, our first book together. People often tease us, saying that we're connected at the hip; always doing things together. It's true! We live together in the same home, work together for the same employer, and pastor together at the same church. I suppose writing together was the natural next step. We're guilty as charged. Our marriage seems to take oneness to a new level, but all of it is God-ordained, so I'm grateful!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span></b>ichael and I are very open with our love and affection for one another, and judging from the kissing couple on the front cover of the book, most would probably assume that it's a devotional about romance. That's true to a degree, but <i>Cross-Fire</i> is much, much more. Every human relationship needs God as its foundation. This devotional will cover subject matters on passionate relationships between man and woman, but also passionate relationships between mankind and God. Our relationship with our spouse should be the most passionate, purposeful, and powerful one that we have in the flesh, but our spirit's relationship with the Heavenly Father should be even more so. We should be in love with and on fire for God; seeking to please Him in every way! And we'll find that when our vertical relationship (the one that reaches from us upward to God) is solid, our horizontal relationships (those reaching laterally to connect us with other human beings) will be solid as well. That vertical and horizontal piece come together to form the shape of a cross.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>hus the name... <b><i>Cross-Fire</i></b>!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OeudCJ-ASLo/WS72yYhTgBI/AAAAAAAABW8/6VQaVaHBPmolhma__-_vX481NMLM0hl4gCLcB/s1600/02102017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1599" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OeudCJ-ASLo/WS72yYhTgBI/AAAAAAAABW8/6VQaVaHBPmolhma__-_vX481NMLM0hl4gCLcB/s320/02102017.jpg" width="319" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>G</b></span>od has truly called and anointed Michael and me to write this ministry tool. When I look at the thought-provoking submissions that my husband turns over to me to include in the layout of the book, and I think of how just a few short months ago, he didn't view himself as a writer, it wows me. His writing is quite amazing. As readers will soon find out, Pastor Michael Holmes is truly a Word scholar and biblical teacher to his heart. Our creative writing styles are vastly different, yet they complement each other perfectly to make <i>Cross-Fire</i> an encouraging page-turner that will be both educational and entertaining.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b>tay tuned for soon coming information on how to place advance orders. This book will make its initial debut (a pre-release, of sorts) on September 23rd in Atlanta, Georgia at a couples brunch sponsored by <a href="http://www.dopewives.com/" target="_blank">Dope Wives</a>. It is scheduled to officially release, however, at the <a href="http://www.christianbookloversretreat.com/" target="_blank">Christian Book Lovers Retreat</a> in Charlotte, NC on October 28th. For more details about this eye-opening, life-changing "relationship bible" ... click <a href="http://www.royaltywriter.net/Cross-Fire.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>!</div>
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<br />Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-77282621860554498022017-05-18T11:31:00.002-04:002017-05-18T12:44:24.380-04:00Thankful Thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>H</b></span>ave you ever become overwhelmed at just the <i><b>thought </b></i>of God's goodness? I have. And I know I'm not the only one.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span>t helps tremendously when we redirect our focus. To stop honing in on all of the challenging things that we face on a daily basis (or that we've faced in the past), and instead override those negative thoughts by recounting the innumerable times that we've encountered trials that could and should have destroyed us, but didn't because of the grace of Almighty God.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">I</span></b> had one of those moments this morning. As I took the drive from home to work, a sudden rush of thoughts entered my mind. And I mean the not-so-distant memories seemed to bombard me out of nowhere. There I was... just driving along minding my own business, and all at once, I began recounting all of the people in my life that I thought were my friends whose true colors showed over the past four or five years. Some had been in my life since childhood and others since I was a teen or my earliest adult years. Some were even family. And when one of the greatest storms in my life brewed and the enemy came in like a flood to try and destroy me, those people walked away. <i>Literally</i>. And they not only walked away, but I watched in utter disbelief as they walked away from me and toward the main culprit who was being used of the devil to lie, scheme, betray, and manipulate in an attempt to destroy my family and distort my character.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span>t was mind-boggling! If they had been close friends all the while, then it wouldn't have been such a shock, but that wasn't the case. In fact, some had sat with me at the inception of the storm and expressed to me how lowdown and devious that foe was being; how they'd always known the dastardly deeds the enemy was capable of. They told me they had my back and would be praying with and for me, but their declaration of support turned out to be counterfeit. They'd never been close to my rivals before; yet in the midst and in the aftermath of the destruction that was attempted toward me, those who once walked, talked, and laughed with me began embracing and supporting my attackers. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>he initial sight of it all took me by complete surprise. It was totally unexpected and the impact it made on me (spiritually, physically, and emotionally) was tremendous. I spent weeks and even months being heartbroken. Sometimes I felt as though I was in mourning; like a physical death had taken place. Even as I recalled it all this morning, water welled in my eyes, and by the time I came to a stop in the parking lot of my job, the tears I had been fighting were beginning to fall. For a brief while, it was like I was reliving the pain all over again.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>O</b></span>h... but when I think of the goodness of Jesus!!!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span>n the middle of the devil's attempt to bring misery upon me, I came to myself. In doing so, I began to realign my thinking and fast-forward past the thoughts of the test and began to replay the <i><b>testimony </b></i>that resulted. I remembered how God stepped in and threw every arsenal the enemy used right back in his dirty, deceitful, disgusting face. What was meant for evil, God worked it all for my good. He allowed me to weather the storm with my faithfulness, dignity, and testimony in tact. Everything I thought I'd lost, God restored, and what He restored made my <b><i>now </i></b>far, far, far greater than my <b><i>then</i></b>. In the end, it was all worth it. I wouldn't take nothing for my journey!!! As I sat in my car, the waterworks of my wounds turned into a fountain of praise. Tears of joy overshadowed those initial tears of sadness. My weeping turned into worship. My pity party turned into a praise party, and I began to hear myself verbally saying, "Lord, I thank you! Lord, I thank you!"</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>hen I finally got myself together, exited my car, and walked into my office space, I'm sure my red, puffy eyes made it look like I was weary or sleep-deprived, but truly my body, soul, mind, and spirit felt refreshed and renewed. Good thing I was the first in my department to arrive. I was able to use eye drops to erase the evidence of my earlier crying, but before I did that or anything else, I sat at my desk, bowed my head, and prayed a prayer of forgiveness and thanksgiving. Why the prayer of forgiveness? Because I felt the need to beg God's pardon for allowing my thoughts to stray so far away from Him and all that He's done for me that the devil was able to sneak in and have a takeover moment. It happens to the best of us. I realize that. But what I know for sure is that the Lord has been way too good to me for me to have given the enemy even an ounce of my time.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">G</span></b>od has given all believers authority over the enemy. In Ephesians 6 and beginning at verse 11, we are instructed to put on the whole armor of God so that in those times when the wicked one tries to rile up and present us with adversity, we're fully quipped (from head to toe) to immediately fight the battle and win. Somehow, I was ill-prepared this morning, but <b><i>thankfully</i></b>, I was able to identify it as a plot of satan before he could fully overtake me... and in the end I won.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">R</span></b>egardless of where we are in our walk with God--whether we've been saved for thirty minutes or thirty years--the devil isn't going to give up. He's going to try us every chance he gets in hopes of destroying us. He knows the places where we're most vulnerable, and those are the areas toward which he'll aim. If we've been hurt by family and friends, and he knows that the bonds of family and friendship are of the utmost importance to us; then he'll try and magnify the incidents in those areas that have caused us the greatest pain. It's up to us to stay prayed up, armored up, and on guard.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>nd thanks be to God who always, always, ALWAYS gives us the victory! <b><i>#POW</i></b>... take that black-eye devil. You lost again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div>
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<br />Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-76623639200724284942017-02-23T21:05:00.001-05:002017-02-24T07:58:09.809-05:00This Tree Preached A Message...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>here's this tree that sits among many trees in the parking lot of my workplace that has fascinated me for many weeks. There have been days that I've stood at the window behind my desk and just stared out at it. On several occasions, I've said to one of my co-workers, "There's a message in that tree. God is trying to say something." And today, I finally got the message that this tree was preaching.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">R</span></b>ight now, we're in the dead of winter. We've seen some pretty harsh temperatures that fell below freezing during this season. We had threats of snowfall and ice cold winds to rip through our city. There are at least two dozen trees planted in our parking lot's landscaping, and most (if not all) of them are the same kind of tree. They all look alike, but there's something peculiar about one of them. When the fall came in, every tree on the grounds went through the leaf-changing process. Leaves turned red... then yellow... then brown... and ultimately fell to the ground. <i><b>Dead</b></i>. What has kept me fixated is the fact that every single tree in the parking lot has been completely bare for months... except this one. See the red circle in the picture?</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>he red circle marks this one area of this one branch of this one tree that has refused to die. Lifelessness surrounds it, but hasn't phased it. Not only have these leaves <b><u>not</u> </b>fallen off, but they've never turned brown, orange, or even yellow. The world around them changed, but it didn't change them. The bone-chilling temperatures and the high winds that made every leaf on every branch of all the other trees tremble and eventually fall to the ground haven't done the same to these. Every limb of every branch of every tree in the parking lot is <i><b>in </b></i>the same environment, but they aren't all having the same reaction <i><b>to </b></i>the environment.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>s I stared out the window at this limb filled with green leaves today, I received a spiritual revelation. This limb represents what we, as Christians, should look like in a dying world. We shouldn't look like everybody else. We shouldn't act or react like everyone else. Just because society changes doesn't mean that we should change. People should look at us in awe; wondering how we can remain strong in the face of adversity. They should see that our faith doesn't falter just because everything isn't going the way we want or expect. We should be just as peculiar as this limb of green leaves because although the world changes, the God we serve is <i>the same yesterday, today, and forever</i> (Hebrews 13:8).<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>hen the weather changed, so did all of the trees in our lot. Only a small remnant--one limb of one tree--remained steadfast. Despite the shift in the atmosphere, these particular leaves continue to thrive and show life. In like fashion, the climate of our nation changed in recent weeks. A new man and a new mindset took his sworn-in place in the White House, and when it happened, many of us who call ourselves Christians changed. What we began saying and doing and how we began acting didn't reflect Christ. Our Christianity seemed to wither, change, and fall to the ground. It was as though our faith, hope, joy, and peace of mind had been rooted in a great man instead of a Great God, and because that man was no longer in the position of power, we became hopeless and lifeless. We began speaking words filled with hatred, bitterness, and death. Except for a small remnant of believers, Christians began looking like all of the other "deadness" in the world.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>hat's just one example. All throughout our lives, seasons will change. We will go through times of plenty and times of lack. We will have times of gain and times of loss. We will experience times of happiness and times of sadness. As long as we are on this side of life, there will be seasons of good and seasons where things won't be so good. But no matter what, we have to <i>let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify the Father in heaven</i> (Matthew 5:6). We can't be wishy-washy-- preaching today but cussing tomorrow; talking holy but living hellish; standing in the field, but bearing no fruit-- <i>having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof</i> (II Timothy 3:5).<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b>ometimes when a man or woman is a person of great faith who is determined to remain that way regardless of what the majority is doing, saying, or thinking, they are made to feel like the leaves on this tree: isolated and perhaps even ostracized. I know that feeling quite well. A "living holy" existence can be a "living lonely" existence. Staunch Christians don't often have a lot of true friends. We don't follow the crowd and the crowd doesn't often follow us.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>n spite of that, we must hold on. We must be <i>steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord</i> (I Corinthians 15:58). When the climate changes <i><b>around </b></i>us, it shouldn't change the Christ <i><b>within </b></i>us. With our lives we should always <i>preach the Word; in season and out of season</i> (II Timothy 4:2). Even when we rebuke the sins of the world and voice our disdain about the wrongdoings that are happening in our society, it should be done in a manner that never disconnects from our life source; <b>GOD</b>. Our reflection of Christ should remain in tact. Our "tree" should be <i>planted by rivers of water, and our leaves shouldn't wither</i> (Psalm 1:3) We should never change colors. We should never shrink and shrivel to the level of the world. We should never lower ourselves (fall) to the ground like dead leaves.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>his tree preached a message today. Not the bigger part of the tree that changed with the climate; gave up and gave in; but the remnant: the leaves that through it all, refused to fall down and die.<br />
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<br />Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-81870862977556709822016-12-31T21:41:00.001-05:002017-01-20T15:18:08.726-05:00In 2017, I'm saying... So Long, Bye-Bye to Facebook "Friends"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>here are only a few hours left. It's so close that I can already hear the fireworks being blast on the outside. The year 2016 is quickly coming to a close, and 2017 is anxiously awaiting to make its debut. One year closing and another one opening is a bitter-sweet experience for some; often times because it's hard to let go of what has been and embrace the uncertainty of what is to come.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span></b>or me, the year 2016 brought many experiences, and thanks be to God that the good far outweighed the bad. The Lord showed Himself strong in my life and in the life of my family. My husband and I were ordained as Elders in the ministry and installed as pastors of Deliverance Revival Church in Macon, Georgia. Royal Pen Network, the weekly radio show that I launched in 2015 celebrated one year of success on the Stellar Award winning Joynet Radio lineup of talk shows. I stood in the labor and delivery room alongside my son-in-luv and witnessed the miracle of childbirth as my baby daughter gave birth to my first biological grandchild. Oh the joy the flooded my soul!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></b>ut God wasn't through . . . </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span></b>y 22nd published work released, and I quickly began getting amazing feedback from the readers. My husband and I performed our first wedding; that of our niece and new nephew. And most recent of all, in this very month of December, I reached the beautiful milestone of qualifying for the 50's club (and the benefits of AARP) <i>LOL!</i> In a highly entertaining, yet very much Spirit-filled event, I celebrated turning fifty years old during a private event with 50-plus dear friends and family members. We all gathered at Open Door Community Center in Columbus, GA and marked the occasion with praise and worship, gospel singing, liturgical dance, spoken word ministry, Christian comedy, and delicious food. Yes, I welcomed "Chapter Fifty" with Jesus Christ at the forefront. I wouldn't have had it any other way. It was a night that I know I'll remember for the rest of my life.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>B</b></span>ut as much of a joy as 2016 was for me, I'm looking for greater in 2017. So much GREATER! In my life, the enemy has set many traps for me, but God has allowed me to trample on his filthy head and triumph each and every time. When God is for you, who can be against you? In 2017, I'm going to another level in every aspect of my life. I'm decreeing that God is going to blow my mind. In order to go where I'm believing Him to take me, I can't be afraid to let go of the familiar. Just a couple of days ago, I posted on social media these words: <b><i>"Sometimes God has to shrink our circle in order to enlarge our territory."</i></b> Although that posting touched many, it was a word for me.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span>nd so . . . in the words of gospel artist, Jonathan Nelson, "So long, bye-bye." In his song, he was waving goodbye to his pains and sorrow. I'm saying the same to many Facebook "friends" who really aren't friends at all. For some time I've desired to disconnect from some because I've known all along that they are walking closely with others who I know for a fact mean me no good. God tested my patience and obedience. I wanted to cut them off, but God said, "Not yet." And although it was hard, I stood still and vowed not to make a move until He said so. And now, to my delight and relief, He has spoken. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span>s this year bows out and the New Year makes its grand entrance, this is the last posting that many of my current Facebook connections will have access to read from me through my social media page (with the exception of a few post along the way that I may mark "public," making them viewable to anyone whether they are my FB connection or not). If you're reading this and you're one of the ones from whom I'm disconnecting my page, please know... I'm in no way angry with you. I promise; I'm not. There is absolutely no hatred, animosity, or even hard feelings. This isn't a personal lashing out. This is simply God shrinking my circle so that He can enlarge my territory. There is <b><i>zero </i></b>space in my life for so-called friends. God has released me. I no longer have to remain connected--not even in the name of being the <b><i>bigger person</i></b>--to those who partner with and support those who have not only hurt and betrayed me, but also tried to destroy my character and my testimony. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>t matters not if you know me by blood relation or by business or ministry affiliations, if you know the horrible details of the story, and yet you choose to still be friends with and support the person/people who mentally and verbally abused my children, maliciously attempted to destroy my relationships with family and friends, attempted to distort my testimony, and betrayed me and my daughters in the worst way... then certainly you're not for me. Saying you love me and that you're with me means absolutely nothing if your actions don't line up. Sometimes in life, we have to make hard choices in order to stand up for what is right and righteous. If you don't have the backbone to do that, then I'll make the choice easy for you. So it is without remorse that I bid you farewell. In spite of this online detachment, please know that I love you with the love of Christ, and because of that love for you, I leave you with these words of caution that the Lord has placed on my heart for you...</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>P</b></span>lease be careful. You can't drink poison and not become contaminated. Don't continue to allow yourself to be fooled. You know the truth. The devil can disguise himself to look harmless, but make no mistake about it; he comes but for three reasons: to kill, steal, and destroy. He will use you for as long as he needs you, and when your usefulness is up, his true self will show. See with your spiritual eyes and not with your natural.</i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></b>appy New Year to one and all. I truly pray that 2017 will bring you a new mindset, new discernment, and a new revelation in Christ.<br />
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<br />Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-14203108603680754642016-12-07T10:06:00.001-05:002016-12-07T18:14:58.035-05:00Ten Days From Fifty...A Testimony<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>oday, as I walked in to the office building for work, I was stopped by a gentleman who kindly complimented what he referred to as my "classy togetherness." And as I thanked him and headed for the elevators, he added, "You always get here so early, and every time I see you, you look happy. What's the secret?" </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span></b>an!!! God has a way of giving us such amazing impromptu opportunities to be witnesses of His goodness!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">N</span></b>ow, I could have taken his words as obvious flirtation (which they very well may have been) and chosen to ignore him or give some sort of smug reply to let him know how unavailable and happily married I am (which I surely am). But that's why it's so important that we keep our ears to God's mouth and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Immediately when he said those words, I saw a door of opportunity open. Instead of admonishing him, I turned to him and said, "It's God." (I know that may sound cliche', but it's the honest-to-goodness truth.)</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b> went on to tell him that my purpose for arriving early each morning is to get into my work-space in time enough to pray and meditate without interruption. I pray over the atmosphere. I pray for God's protection over the building itself. I pray for the safe arrival of my coworkers. I pray for the success of all of our professional endeavors for the day. And my happiness, I told him, is rooted in the fact that I have Jesus in my heart. I explained to him that God has been too good to me for me to be a complainer or a killjoy. From my family life to my physical health to my faith walk...I'm living my BEST life. God is just so good! </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DY8XifF-cbY/WEgjxVHdxII/AAAAAAAABP0/m6wCgxLXskQJvBlfvMyeQ0B7HZI4QFa6QCLcB/s1600/13557053_152680178474988_624565790_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DY8XifF-cbY/WEgjxVHdxII/AAAAAAAABP0/m6wCgxLXskQJvBlfvMyeQ0B7HZI4QFa6QCLcB/s320/13557053_152680178474988_624565790_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>'ve been through hell and high water. The enemy tried to take me out. He tried to make me lose my self-confidence, my hope, my faith, my mind... even my life! satan had a plot, but God had a plan. He set a trap, but God allowed me to trample on it. My personal experiences say that I should have never lived to see 40, but I'm just ten days away from turning 50! I shared with the man that my children should have never lived to become teenagers, but they are adults; grown, married, and have families of their own. We're all healthier and happier than we've ever been, and it's all because of GOD! No one gets the glory except HIM.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></b>y the time I finished talking to the gentleman, I was almost in tears. My heart was overflowing with renewed joy at the remembrance of the extreme FAVOR of the Lord. He was quiet for a minute when I stopped talking. Then he said, "Well when you get to your floor today, will you pray for me too? I've been dealing with some things and maybe I've been telling the wrong people. Maybe God is the one who needs to know." I nodded and said, "He already knows, but I got you." And then I walked away. I don't even know the guy's name, but God does. And when I said my prayer this morning, I prayed for him just like I promised.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>e never know who needs to hear our testimony. We never know who needs our prayers. We never know who's watching our life or who needs someone to be a witness of the goodness of the Lord. I'm so thankful that ten days 'til fifty years, God allowed me to be one.</div>
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<br />Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-81377701392946286742016-11-17T09:10:00.000-05:002016-11-17T10:05:31.174-05:00Should I Really Be This Excited?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>oday is November 17th and I am exactly one month away from turning fifty years old. Fifty. The big 5-0. A half century. Should I really be this excited?</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span> know women who just turned thirty this year and they were depressed on their birthdays because they were no longer twenty-something. I spoke to one just last week who is four years away from turning forty, and she said she's already getting sick from the thought of it. Women, in general, are known to be a gender of people who view getting older as some kind of curse. Most men embrace it, while most women avoid it like the plague. Countless of us lie about our age or won't reveal our age; all because society has somehow convinced us that advancing in age is something that we should be ashamed of.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>hen I was a child, a teenager, and even in my twenties, I thought fifty was ancient. It seemed so very far away that I didn't even try to imagine myself in this place. Now it is upon me. From the time I graduated high school in 1984, time seemed to be placed on fast forward. The second twenty-five years of my life seemed to have passed far more quickly than the first. But somehow I don't view myself as aging or old. I haven't a smidgen of sadness or depression. The last time I was this excited about a pending birthday was when I was turning forty . . . ten years ago.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> </b><b>LOVE LIFE</b>, and in order to continue to enjoy living, we must get older. The alternative to getting</div>
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older is to die. The only way to stop our birthdays is to stop our breathing. If God handed me a choice to go back ten years and be forty again or even rewind twenty years and be thirty again, I wouldn't take it. I'm far happier now. What I went through in my thirties and forties doesn't even come close to being worth revisiting them and redoing it all over again. I look back over my life and realize how BLESSED I truly am. So YES... I am excited!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span>'m excited because what the devil meant for evil, God worked for my good. I'm excited because the enemy's plot couldn't overtake God's plan. I'm excited because God brought me through the fire without the stench of smoke. I've been deceived and disrespected. I've been abused and misused. I've been lied on and lied to. I've been played and betrayed. The things I've been through could have been the death of me and <i><b>should </b></i>have been the death of me. <b style="text-align: justify;">BUT GOD!!!</b><span style="text-align: justify;"> He dried my tears and rewarded my faithfulness with joy unspeakable. While the enemy watched and waited for my demise, God gave me new life and brand new reasons to live it. People wonder why I'm the way I am. Why my life is so <b>purposeful</b>; why my Christian walk is so <b>passionate</b>; why my outlook is so <b>positive</b>. It's all because I know where I <b><u>am </u></b>versus where I <b><u>could be</u></b>. It's all because I know what <b><u>is </u></b>versus what <u><b>should be</b></u>. It's all because of <b>Christ</b>. Oh... how I love Jesus!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>here I am now in my spiritual, physical, professional, and emotional life is exceeding abundantly above all that I could have asked or thought. I don't deserve it. It's <b>FAVOR</b>. I'm not a perfect woman, but I'm perfectly designed by <b>HIM</b>. I don't have the perfect life, but it's perfectly orchestrated by <b>HIM</b>. All of my shortcomings. All of my accomplishments. All of my valleys. All of my mountain tops. Every single thing that God allowed me to endure and experience in the past was to bring me to this moment in time. It's my season. I'm in a new chapter... <b>Chapter 50</b> ... and God has only begun turning the pages to the best parts of my life's story.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>s an online ministry sister reminded me a few days ago... My best is <u>not</u> yet to come. It's already here, written by God's pen before the beginning of time. And page-by-page, He is revealing it both to me and to the world. No . . . My best is NOT yet to come. My best is yet to <b>MANIFEST</b>. Should I really be this excited? YES!!! As a matter of fact, I just got more excited than ever!</div>
Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-6974949690981389632016-10-31T10:54:00.002-04:002016-10-31T11:42:44.695-04:00Fifty Days from Fifty!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>oday is Halloween. Although I don't celebrate it, it's always an interesting and fun day on my job because employees are allowed to dress up in costumes to commemorate the occasion. It's quite entertaining to pass them in the hallways or ride with them on the elevators and see their enthusiasm about the characters they've evolved into for the day and taking guesses about which character their fellow co-worker is portraying.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>his past Saturday, I celebrated the release of my newest published work; a fictional novel entitled, <b><i>Blondeva's Boys</i></b>. As I was in the midst of the book release event that was attended by a hotel conference room full of avid readers and loyal supporters--some of whom have followed my career from its inception in 2002--it dawned on me that I was fifty days from turning fifty years young. What a blessing!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>lthough I've never celebrated Halloween in my entire life; today, I thought about how similar the holiday is to what I do on a near-daily basis. On this date each year, characters are created and people play entertaining and captivating roles. Some of the costumes depict frightening characters while others are humorous, heroic, or even romantic. As an author, I use pen and paper (or a computer screen and keyboard) to do that very same thing all throughout the year. I create an array of colorful characters and dip them into a storyline that I hope will keep readers excited, engrossed, and guessing what's going to happen next.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b> lot of time has passed since I self-published my very first Christian fiction novel at the age of 35. I can still remember the feeling that engulfed me when I tore open my first box of books and held a copy of <i><b>For Love & Grace</b></i> in my hands. There were a lot of things that I didn't know at that time. I had no idea that debut novel of mine would become a reader sensation. I had no idea that it would go on to become an award-winning book. Not once did I consider the possibility that a Hollywood producer would contact me to talk about the possibility of turning it into a movie. I didn't even realize that the "feeling" that engulfed me on the day I opened the box was what it felt like to come in contact with divine <b>PURPOSE</b>.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EhDVPPEE2j0/WBdlRsq5KZI/AAAAAAAABN4/SBfznYRqoEkj3f4UsG2mUe5Mp2YIksxEACLcB/s1600/50DaysFrom50a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EhDVPPEE2j0/WBdlRsq5KZI/AAAAAAAABN4/SBfznYRqoEkj3f4UsG2mUe5Mp2YIksxEACLcB/s320/50DaysFrom50a.jpg" width="319" /></a><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>hat feeling has never departed. From that April day in 2002 until Saturday, October 29th, when I opened the shipped box of my new hot-off-the-press release; I still get that same feeling. It never gets old. It never wains, Regardless of the level of success or the number of accolades, I don't take a moment of it for granted. Without God, I am nothing, and there is absolutely nothing that compares to walking in divine purpose and knowing without a smidgen of doubt that you are fulfilling the Lord's plan for your life; that <u>very thing</u> for which you were created. God trusted me with a beautiful gift, and in return, I'm giving it back to Him by using it for His glory.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b>o yes; today is Halloween. And if anyone should need to know who I'm dressed as... I'm dressed as that almost 50 year old girl who is blessed to walk in purpose, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ from the pulpit and from the pen... who God just allowed to release her <b>22nd</b> published work. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>o God be the glory...</div>
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Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-21047812022139343972016-08-26T16:47:00.003-04:002016-08-26T18:42:14.978-04:00The Wait Is Almost Over!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></b>londeva's Boys</i> has been (and continues to be) a labor of love. Every literary work that I create, whether it's fiction or nonfiction, is written with passion and purpose; so this process is no different from that vantage point. However, just because of this book's title and the woman to whom it pays homage, the writing and releasing of it will forever have a special place in my heart.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>he foundation on which to build this story about a woman called Ms. Blondeva and her four sons (one of which was at one time prodigal, but ultimately found his way home) quickly and clearly formed itself in my mind. The names of its characters, the twists, the turns, the plot -- they were all revealed to me in the earliest days of the creation process. Because of all that, I predicted that this one would be a fairly swift write. I figured three months tops. Boy was I wrong! The fact that the writing of this manuscript wasn't progressing along at the speed that I wanted it to was very frustrating for me. I don't like to miss deadlines. For some reason, when I don't meet them, I feel a sense of failure.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>M</b></span>y initial self-imposed release date for <i>Blondeva's Boys</i> had been set for the spring of this year. When June 20th rolled around, it brought with it the first day of summer and the hard realization that I'd missed my deadline. My first reaction was to get frustrated, but in my years of being a prayerful writer, I've learned that books inspired by God generally get completed on HIS time and not ours. There are some who have already pre-ordered this title, so I still wasn't happy that the book didn't release on the announced date, but I made peace with it.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-odAeIANdAkw/V8CV4b6vPZI/AAAAAAAABM8/j2Nt5IKj9zA2VxOx17_sBK55pK2-0t7igCLcB/s1600/CareerCalling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-odAeIANdAkw/V8CV4b6vPZI/AAAAAAAABM8/j2Nt5IKj9zA2VxOx17_sBK55pK2-0t7igCLcB/s320/CareerCalling.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>he art of effectively balancing my <i><b>career </b></i>(corporate assignment) and my <b><i>calling </i></b>(writing ministry) can be quite challenging sometimes. Add to that the fact that I am a wife who refuses to allow anything to compromise the quality time I spend with my amazing husband . . . and then add to <i>that</i> the live radio show (<a href="http://www.royalpennetwork.com/" target="_blank"><b>Royal Pen Network</b></a>) that I host each week . . . and then add to <i>that </i>my husband's and my July 10, 2016 ecclesiastical elevation and installation as Lead Pastors of <a href="http://www.deliverancerevivalchurch.com/" target="_blank"><b>Deliverance Revival Church</b></a> . . . and perhaps you have at least a glimpse of what my daily life is like when trying to keep everything balanced and in perspective. I saw an online posting a few weeks ago that said, <i>"I'm not saying I'm Superwoman. I'm just saying no one has ever seen both her and me in the same room at the same time."</i> LOL!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></b>aily I thank God for my life. As busy as it is and as much of an acrobatic act as holding it all together can become, what I'm most grateful for is that it is filled with things that are rooted in purpose, and I get to share it with people that bring me love, joy, and peace. That's an existence that is worth more than all the money and status in the world. I weathered quite a few stormy seas to get to this place, but one thing I know for sure; God was always in my boat. And when the time was right, He said, <b><i>"Peace. Be still."</i></b> (**WHEW... I almost got happy. That'll preach right there!)</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tP6v7eQy5B4/V8Ck0bposlI/AAAAAAAABNM/oGt1zdUaRqUz7obG6diDzCE-8OidOcaNgCLcB/s1600/CBLR-Book%2BRelease%2BKN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tP6v7eQy5B4/V8Ck0bposlI/AAAAAAAABNM/oGt1zdUaRqUz7obG6diDzCE-8OidOcaNgCLcB/s320/CBLR-Book%2BRelease%2BKN.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span>t's all about God's perfect timing. And as far as <i>Blondeva's Boys</i> in concerned . . . the wait is almost over, and the time will be 10:30 a.m. on October 29th during a book release party that will be hosted as a part of the 1st Annual <a href="http://www.christianbookloversretreat.com/" target="_blank"><b>Christian Book Lovers Retreat</b></a> in Charlotte, NC. It is with great excitement and anticipation that I await this date. I mentioned in my opening paragraph that this project means a great deal to me. My mother hated her first name and very few people were even privy to knowing it. She went to be with the Lord in November of 2014 and shortly afterward, God gave me the inspiration to write a book that would make hers a household name. I understood Mama's dislike for her name. Honestly, I didn't care for it much myself. But after she graduated to heaven, I began seeing it as a name as unique as my mom was, and I embraced the idea of using it in my book's title. The character in the novel who shares her name is not fashioned after my mother. Blondeva (my mother) and Blondeva (the character) have very few things in common; however, the book itself is indeed named in Mama's honor. My prayer is that this fictional story of faith, family, and forgiveness is one that would have made her proud to have her name on the cover--and also one that readers will find heartwarming, dramatic, and encouraging.</div>
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Please make plans to attend this years <a href="http://www.christianbookloversretreat.com/" target="_blank">Christian Book Lovers Retreat</a>, And while you're there, also make plans to attend my book release and be one of the first to get a copy of my hot-off-the-press title. It will mark published work #22 for me, and the first five people to enter the party will receive a FREE autographed copy! How cool is that?</div>
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Want more information about me and/or about my other 21 titles? Visit my official web home. They call me <a href="http://www.royaltywriter.net/" target="_blank"><b>Royalty Writer</b></a>! :-)</div>
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Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-81561961368216638482016-08-17T11:55:00.000-04:002016-08-17T22:34:41.496-04:00Four Months from "Chapter 50"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>oday is Wednesday, August 17, 2016, and I am exactly four months from "Chapter 50." Thank you, Lord for life, health, and strength. And not just a mediocre existence, but a JOYOUS life, EXCELLENT health, and MORE physical, spiritual and emotional strength than ever. God is good!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>he reality of being less than eighteen weeks from reaching my life's half-century mark has really sparked inside of me a new appreciation for ME -- for who I am and Whose I am. The trials of my life have been many. It seems that from the moment I reached adulthood, God began permitting challenges in my life that during the time seemed almost unreasonable and certainly undeserving. But it all worked for my good. Even in the midst of my personal storms, I can truly say that I've always loved life . . . even when I hated what I was going through, I loved life. I smiled through difficulty, laughed in times of hardships, and even found the words to encourage others in the moments when I needed to be encouraged the most. When I look back on it now, I have to admit that I'm sometimes in awe of the strength I exuded. How did I do it? How did I get through that? Why didn't it kill me? Why didn't I lose my mind? They are all questions to which I full well know the answer. It was <b>GOD and GOD alone</b>! He equipped me with the endurance. I am a blessed woman. I'm a walking miracle. I don't look like what I've been through!</div>
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<b style="font-size: xx-large;">E</b>lated is perhaps the best word to describe the way I feel about my swiftly approaching "Chapter 50." The thought of getting older doesn't sadden me; it gives me joy because it means I'm blessed to be among the living. And there isn't a smidgen of doubt in my mind that turning 50 will also turn the page to even greater blessings and more amazing opportunities in my life. This isn't the end; it's the beginning.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b>o much has happened already in this year of 2016 in the months leading up to the my milestone; perhaps the most life-changing one being the ecclesiastical elevation and appointment of my husband and I as lead co-pastors of <a href="http://www.deliverancerevivalchurch.com/" target="_blank">Deliverance Revival Church </a>in Macon, GA. Neither of us saw that coming, yet somehow we were well-prepared. We weren't seeking it, and becoming pastors was neither of our aspiration, but God called and equipped us, and we answered the charge. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>nother thrilling event that will mark this year for me is the birth of my first biological grandchild. I was blessed to inherit the title of "G-ma" when my husband, Michael and I got married. Between my marriage to him and my baby daughter's marriage 15 months ago (her husband already had a son from a previous relationship), I'm already the proud grandmother of four. But in just a few weeks, with a due date of September 20th, my baby girl and her husband will be having their first child together . . . a daughter . . . Melody Michelle (I've already given her the nickname "MeMi"). She'll have my middle name and she'll be my first biological grandbaby. It is with great anticipation that I look forward to that day!</div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></b>ecember 17, 2016 is just four months away. Time passes quickly, and it will be here before I know it. The sooner it arrives, the sooner the manifestations of God's continued grace in my life and the life of my family. When I turned forty, I gave myself a birthday celebration to remember. That was nearly a decade ago, but I can recall it like it was yesterday. My life was in shambles back then, but nobody knew; not even my children, parents, or siblings, because I worshiped and smiled through it all. My worship was real. My smile . . . not so much. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b> gave the theme of that birthday celebration <i>"A Few of My Favorite Things"</i> and from the live band that performed to the people I invited to the colors that decorated the building, I saturated it with favorites. I needed so desperately to focus on only those things that brought me happiness. I needed to block out everything else except the pieces of my life that made me smile. For that day, I refused to allow negativity to outshine the good. I made the day glorious in spite of the circumstances.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>his year, what will make my celebration best of all is that there will be no mask on my face. I have an amazing marriage, I love my job, my children are doing awesome, I'm about to release my 22nd book, and I'm walking in divine purpose. What more could I ask for? My joy will be authentic and the smile I'll wear on my face will be a direct reflection of the one that is in my heart. I am living the happiest time of my life. My latter is so much grater than my former. I have more love, joy, and peace than I've had during any other era of my life. Everything isn't perfect, but everything is beautiful! For anniversary celebrations, the fiftieth year is represented by "gold" and I'm living my life like it's golden. Thanks be to God!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b>o I have absolutely no reason to complain about this new chapter in my life. Why should I? It's my season. Greater increase is coming in my "Chapter 50." I've already decreed and declared it, and God has already given the assurance! Increased blessings. Increased anointing. Increased finances. Increased FAVOR! </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span></b>our months from "Chapter 50" and feeling <b>FABULOUS</b>! Thank you Jesus!!</div>
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<br />Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-66393943984412334002016-08-04T12:01:00.002-04:002016-08-04T19:41:20.315-04:00Countdown To "Chapter 50"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>oday is August 4, 2016. I wore red today. Nothing really special about the date, and no special reason for wearing the red. I just thought I'd mention it (smile). </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>s I arrived at work early (as I always do), I spent some quiet time with the Lord (as I always do too). I pray each morning before I leave home, but when I meditate on God in the early minutes of my arrival at the office, it sets the tone for my entire workday.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">G</span></b>etting situated in my cubical before anyone else in my department begins filtering in is something that I do on a near-daily basis. It's highly unusual for any others to arrive ahead of me. Getting here at this time allows me to not only enjoy a little quiet time before the hustle and bustle begins, but it provides me with a few precious moments of solitude to pray and meditate on the goodness of the Lord. And today as I did that, I found myself reflecting on my life; both the challenges and the triumphs that have made me the strong woman that I am today.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>ime passes so quickly, and life is fleeting. As I did my own personal review this morning, I thought of so many things; so many times that God came to the rescue. Like the time my family and I were in a deadly head-on collision back in 1973 that took the life of the drunk driver who smashed his truck into our car and seriously injured almost every member of my family who was riding inside. The shattered bone in my left leg was one of the less severe injuries, but as a seven-year-old, the entire experience was a traumatic one for me. But thank God we all survived. I also reminisced on the moment I became a young blushing bride at the age of twenty-one and the painful, yet joyous experiences of giving birth to our daughters. I can so clearly recall when Brittney and Crystal were newborns and holding them in my arms singing "Jesus Loves Me" as I rocked them to sleep. That seems like just a few years ago, but in reality those are fond distant memories. Now they're both married with families of their own. And then, in a not-so-fond memory, I faced the heartbreaking, life-changing moment of burying their biological father--my first husband. That seems like only a handful of years ago, but it actually happened in 1995 and nearly twenty-two years have passed since then. "Time waits for no man" is not a biblical quote as I've heard so many wrongfully state, but it's a true saying just the same. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>'ve endured and experienced many tribulations in my past, but I thank my heavenly Father that my latter days have been so much greater. It all worked together for my good (Romans 8:28). By far, my life (neither past or present) isn't perfect, but God has made it beautiful despite the scars. In more recent years, I've been abundantly blessed to meet and marry the man of my dreams. Michael introduced me to a new level of love, and with him I daily experience the joy of working together in corporate America <b><i>and </i></b>in ministry with the one God kept for me...until it was time. In my reflecting time this morning, I thought of just how blessed I am in spite of the enemy's attempts to destroy me. So many who know me, don't know all the details of my story; therefore they don't understand the depth of my praise. In just a few months, I'll be celebrating another birthday. It's a milestone I was never supposed to reach. I'm calling it my <b>"Chapter 50"</b> -- such a fitting theme for the 50th birthday of a writer; don't you agree?</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></b>aily, I'm surrounded by beautiful women of varied races and ethnic backgrounds. At work. At church. At literary functions. At the grocery store. Wherever I go, I see them. And it seems that I'm older than most of them. In my daily interactions, I often hear women claiming to be ages far younger than they really are. On any given day, it's not uncommon for me to hear females complaining about getting older. I hear them voicing their longing to return to their more youthful years. Yet I'm not moved by it. I absolutely <i>love </i>me and I love my age! I'm about to be <b>50 years blessed</b>! Every single year marks a blessing that so many others didn't live to see, yet I'm not only alive, but I'm healthy, happy, and whole. It didn't have to be this way. As a matter of fact, according to modern medicine, <b>it wasn't supposed to be this way</b>. BUT GOD!!! I continuously thank the Lord for His grace and mercy, realizing that had it not been for Him, I would have been dead a long time ago. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span></b>edical science still can't comprehend why I wasn't infected with the virus that causes AIDS as a young bride married to an awesome man . . . but a <b>sick </b>man. One who had no clue that he was HIV positive when he married me. Medical science can't explain away why I didn't contract the deadly virus in 4 1/2 years of consistent unprotected sex, or how on earth I, in turn, didn't pass the virus I should have had along to the daughters I birthed. Medical science says I never should have made it to Chapter 30 of my life, let alone Chapter 50 . . . and you think I'm going to complain about the blessing of living to see another year? Are you kidding me??? I dare not lie about my age because my lie <i>could </i>have been my truth. No, I'm NOT turning 25! It is with joy that I embrace my two gray hairs. I was never supposed to live long enough to see them! So what if I got a little winded this morning when I decide to take the stairs up to my third-floor office space rather than ride the elevator? Every heavy breath that resulted from the climb was a breath that I was never supposed to live to inhale or exhale. So excuse me if I'm one of the"weird women" who actually thinks that aging is a gift and not a curse.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b>o YES!!! I am excited about my countdown to Chapter 50. I'm elated that there are only about nineteen weeks separating me from celebrating a half century of life. I'm going to look forward with great expectation to every single day that leads up to that moment.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></b>ecember 17th is going to be a day that I give God the glory as I celebrate a life that only He could give and the incredible love that God alone has allowed me to be surrounded with in this chapter of my existence. Nope . . . I don't long for the past because my present is far too blessed and my future will be even greater than I can imagine.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>'m ready to turn the page and see what's next in this amazing story titled <i>Kendra </i>that only God's pen could author. <b>No edits. No re-writes.</b> In every sentence written and in every scene created, it's been just what He purposed and designed for me. And at this very moment, I decree and declare that Chapter 50 will be my best one yet!</div>
<br />Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-31675224273110782702016-02-18T22:13:00.001-05:002016-02-18T22:26:40.969-05:00DREAM BIG! A Lesson In Black History from a Piece of American History<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Y</span></b>esterday, I was blessed to be among several other employees that gathered in a reserved meeting space within the Fortune 100 company for which I work to see, hear, and experience a piece of Black History. And not just Black History . . . but <i>American </i>History. The guest of honor was Dr. Robert L. Wright, who not only served as keynote speaker, but as an incredible tool of motivation to all who would listen to his words and grasp the powerful messages behind them.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></b>r. Wright is a native of Columbus, GA and serves as Director Emeritus of Aflac. He had only great things to say about our company and the many ways it continuously sows into the up-building of the African American community. A few weeks ago, when I met with a company executive and was asked to write an article on Dr. Wright regarding his pending appearance, I had never before heard of him. As I embarked upon the necessary research to put together the feature, my ignorance of this man became a point of embarrassment. Delving deeper into my online exploration, I discovered the life of a man of great wealth; perhaps not financially, but certainly a man rich in determination, wisdom, understanding, experience, and accomplishment. By the time my personal research was complete, I felt I'd been introduced to an unsung hero.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>hough yesterday's occasion was one set in place by the company's Diversity Counsel to commemorate Black History Month, Dr. Wright's appearance drew the perfect crowd. Blacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanics . . . the varied culture of the corporation's roster of employees could be seen throughout the room, and from the rousing responses, it was easy to conclude that everyone was educated and empowered by the message presented. During the one hour gathering, our featured guest shared his personal testimony of growing up in the segregated south. By far his wasn't a privileged household. His father was an humble bricklayer and his mother worked as a nurse. Together they did all they could to ensure their children grew up to be <i><b>more </b></i>in a world where Blacks were still viewed as less.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">fter graduating from Spencer High School in Columbus, GA and finding it impossible to gain acceptance into southern colleges due to elevated racial tension, Robert Wright decided upon Ohio State University. There, he pursued a degree from the schoolβs College of Optometry. Upon obtaining his credentials, he returned home with the earned title of "doctor" and with the intent to begin practicing in his field. But his establishment as an optometrist in the segregated South would not come easy. Because doctor or not . . . <b><i>he was still black</i></b>.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W3hOmQxE9s0/VsZwt6y3jyI/AAAAAAAABH8/Q_qcAPansWw/s1600/20160217_145529a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W3hOmQxE9s0/VsZwt6y3jyI/AAAAAAAABH8/Q_qcAPansWw/s320/20160217_145529a.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">R</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">acial intolerance was still prevalent in the late 50βs and early 60βs, and Wrightβs first attempts were met with many barricades. One practice went so far as to erase their sign advertising their need to hire a staff Optometrist when he came to apply for the job. Eventually discouragement sent him back to Ohio, but <i><b>determination </b></i>wouldnβt allow him to stay. Upon getting word of the goings on in the</span></span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> civil rights movement that had begun brewing in the South, Wright walked away from the independent </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">practice heβd been working with in Ohio and headed back to Columbus, GA where he joined in as an active part of the movement. In 1965, he became a part of the original βDream Teamβ when he found himself marching along with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from Selma to Montgomery.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">hough he was eventually able to begin a successful practice in Columbus, a new purpose had begun </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">taking root in Dr. Wrightβs life and his interest shifted from healthcare to politics. The desire to make a positive difference in the lives of those in the world around him had taken a front seat, and </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">he </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">found himself answering the call; selling his practice in the process. In 1970 Wright was elected to the Columbus Georgia City Council where he ultimately served three terms and was responsible for Council District 2 with a population of approximately 50,000 residents. But his proven level of responsibility and accountability was far too great to be confined to the borders of Columbusβs local government. Dr. Wright became a part of the Executive Leadership Cabinet for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation and he served as Chairman of the Presidential Commission for the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span></b>ost recently, Dr. Robert Wright was presented with the prestigious Congressional Black Caucus Annual Phoenix Award during a ceremony that was attended by President & First Lady Obama, proving once again that he is indeed a man among men. T</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">o say that sharing the same room with this nearly 80-year-old icon on yesterday felt like being in the presence of greatness is not an overstatement. When I shook his hand at the close of the event, I felt honored. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">he overall theme of the afternoon was </span></span><b style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><i>DREAM BIG</i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">, and being one who looks for spiritual messages within everyday experiences, I pulled many things from those two words. As Dr. Wright talked about the challenges that he had to overcome to find success; I thought of the many traps set in place by the evil one that we all have to triumph in order to reach our divine potential. I thought of the Almighty God that I serve and how BIG and powerful He is. When man tells us we can't, God assures us that <b><i>nothing is impossible</i></b> with Him. When man defines us as less, God says that through Him, we are <b><i>more than conquerors</i></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">o yes . . . Dream Big! For there is no dream bigger than the one that shows us our worth and gives us the strength to overcome the odds and strive toward what we know to be our God-ordained purpose.</span></span></div>
Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-85786250069923460512016-02-02T11:19:00.000-05:002016-02-02T11:19:04.466-05:00A Tuesday Testimony<div style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span></strong>et me pre-warn you. This may be a bit of a lengthy blog entry and it's all to the glory of God, so if you have no free time on your hand and/or if you have a problem with reading about the goodness of my God, you may want to stop reading now. However if you read on, I know this will bless you. The Lord <em><strong>told</strong></em> me to share it, so I know it's meant to be a blessing to those who will read it. <em><strong>Can you stand to be blessed?</strong></em><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Y</span></strong>esterday was a great day . . . not just because of what God did in the life of my household, but simply because GOD is <b><i>GOD.</i></b> He is amazing. He cannot lie. He is faithful. He is <em><strong>GOD</strong></em> and even on a bad day, He is good.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">U</span></strong>nlike many, I don't choose to use social media (or public blogs) as billboards on which to announce my tests; instead I select to use them as platforms on which to broadcast my <i><b>testimonies</b></i>. I use them as means by which I share positive inspirations and encouragement. It is my desire to always be a blessing to those with whom I come in contact, and what I know for sure is that constant complaints and negative remarks don't bless anyone. So on this Tuesday, I want to <em><strong>testify</strong></em>.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">L</span></strong>et me be clear: I don't try to appear to have the perfect life. In fact, I know very few people who have been more transparent with their life's battles than I have. I have immortalized some of the most trying and even embarrassing ones in published books that have been distributed both nationally and internationally. So perfection is not the picture I strive to paint. However God has always ordered me to share the messes of my life <u>only after</u> the <b><i>messages </i></b>have also been manifested because that's the only way that they can truly bless and encourage the masses. And so today, I share the story of my household's most recently fought battle...because with God's help this battle is over and we have come out victorious!</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>fter twelve faithful and loyal years on the same job, my husband Michael (aka "the babe") was abruptly terminated. It happened on October 7th . . . the eve of his birthday! What should have been a time that we were planning to celebrate <strong><em>life</em></strong>; the enemy instead wanted to speak death into our situation. It was a sudden move that neither of us expected to happen at that time. The manner in which it was done and the timing of it all seemed heartless and calculated. It took us by surprise, but from the moment that it happened; I believe both of us knew that God had to be up to something. Michael was one of the company's hardest and most dependable workers. Nothing about them choosing to release him made common sense, so even though the termination seemed to come with no <b>good reason</b>, we knew there had to be a <b><i>God reason</i></b>. Still . . . it was a harsh blow.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>nitially, very few people knew about Michael's joblessness. It was a while before we even told immediate family members. Most of those who ultimately came to know about it found out from Michael. I didn't feel it was proper or honorable for me to distribute the information. Ultimately, I shared the information with five saved and Spirit-filled sisters that God placed on my heart. I didn't randomly select them; I sought God for who could be trusted. I enlisted their prayers and asked them to touch and agree with me for God to open the right door at the right time for employment for my husband. They were my secret weapons, my backbones, my prayer circle, and every time I reached out to them, they were right there willing to intercede with me for God's will to be done. If they're reading this, they know who they are, and to each of them, I want to say THANK YOU! </div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span></strong>or the past several months, the income in the Holmes household has been cut tremendously. Michael's termination meant that well over half of our combined income was gone -- literally overnight. My husband was the larger breadwinner, and he had been the one paying the overwhelming majority of the household bills. I cannot honestly say that I didn't feel anxious and even afraid at times realizing his income was no longer there. But I <b><i>can </i></b>honestly say that I never lost my <strong><em>faith</em></strong> . . . and neither did the babe. In fact his faith was strengthened and elevated in immeasurable ways. The sudden thrusting of him in this seemingly barren place was also his sudden thrust into a <strong><em>wealthy</em></strong> place -- the face of God.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">E</span></strong>very morning, during this time of transition, the babe would rise in the wee hours--even before I'd wake up to prepare for work. He would head to the room in our home that I call "Purpose Central" -- our home office; our very own <strong><em>war room</em></strong>, and there he would lay prostrate before the Lord, seeking strength, direction, wisdom, and understanding that only God could give. He would come out of the office long enough to pray over me before I left for work or just to see me off, and then he'd go back in to continue his time with the Lord. I watched a man who was already spiritually strong become a powerhouse in his faith. Several mornings as I prepared for work, he would leave the office and come in the room with me and passionately share with me all the things that the Lord had poured into him in those early hours before I'd awakened. He was growing spiritually by leaps and bounds.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></strong>uring this "down time" God also showed us what true favor felt like. I'd become slack in my tithing, believing that I needed every dollar to pay other things, but during this time of major lack, God challenged me to trust Him. I began tithing regularly again. It became a total "faith walk" for both my husband and myself. During this time, God proved to us that our jobs weren't our true source. They were only <b><i>resources</i></b>. He was our only <strong><em>source</em></strong>. For months (while both of us were employed) we'd been down to one vehicle and was in need of a second, but didn't have the available funds to get a dependable one. Every door we knocked on remained closed; every person we went to for financial assistance had none to give. But in the midst of Michael's unemployment and while my paycheck was the sole income of our household, God allowed us to obtain a "like new" Toyota 4Runner . . . and when it was driven off the lot, it was paid in full without a dime of my paycheck being used! <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>oth my husband and I are licensed ministers, and on the very first day that we met, we shared with each other the details of our spiritual callings and our divine purposes. He'd told me that his passion and purpose was to be used of God through the ministry of Christian Life Coaching to help others in their mental and spiritual growths; especially where their relationships were concerned. He had placed the pursuit of his purpose on the back burner largely because of time restraints and financial limitations, but during the season that our household income was severely downsized due to his unemployment, God provided the time and the means for him to re-enroll in Life University and complete all the studies required for his certification. It too was paid in full with none of the resources coming out of my income. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he entire time that the babe was out of work, our mortgage and all of our monthly utility bills were paid without a penny coming out of my paychecks. Every month, God provided a ram in the bush! Take note: during this time, we didn't have everything we <strong><em>wanted</em></strong>, but God ensured that we had everything that we <strong><em>needed</em></strong>. There were people who saw what was happening in our lives and thought we'd been given an increase in salary, but the truth was we'd had a substantial decrease in salary. The blessing weren't in our <strong><em>finances</em></strong>; it was in God's <em><strong>favor </strong></em>toward us! Favor from God doesn't need funding from man.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>s the months passed, Michael tirelessly searched for work and our budget got tighter. Things were getting tougher. Ends were getting harder to meet. We were in need of a breakthrough. Some that I owed money to were all of a sudden coming at me for it. Their timing couldn't have been worse, but I didn't share my family's personal struggles with them; it wasn't their business. I've leaned that everyone doesn't need to be privy to our problems. While some will pray, other will <strong><em>hope</em></strong> -- hope you fail, hope you falter; hope you fold. I paid what I could when I could, and the rest I left to God to work out. All the while, Michael was submitting dozens of employment applications but only a couple of interview opportunities were extended. In my personal prayer time each day, I'd ask God to have <em><strong>His way</strong></em>. I didn't request that He grant any specific job or position. My continuous prayer was that God would open the door of <strong><em>His will</em></strong> because one of the harshest lessons that life has taught me is that doing things our way or going after what we want can be the worst thing ever. But I knew if we allowed God to do <strong><em>His thing</em></strong>, it was going to be done right.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>o make an even longer story as short as possible, <em><strong>God has revealed His will, He has had His way, and He has done His thing!</strong></em> Ever since I began employment a little over a year ago with the Fortune 100 company for which I work and the babe has seen how happy I am working there, he has voiced a desire to work for a corporation just like it -- a company who values its employees, compensates well, and provides a pleasant daily work environment. Back in November, a high school acquaintance of my husband's called him and said, "The Lord told me to tell you to write down the name of the business you really want to work for, place it between the pages of your Bible, and leave it there." It almost seemed foolish at the time, <em><strong>but God will choose even the foolish things to confound the wise</strong></em> (I Corinthians 1:27). In obedience, Michael followed the instructions given; writing down the name of the same organization for which I work. He had already filled out several applications for job openings he'd found for the company but had been getting no response. But his faith and obedience paid off!<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>wo weeks ago, he got a call from that very company -- for a position he'd applied for back in November -- the same month he'd gotten that call from his classmate! The company requested an interview, and on the day of his interview, I contacted all the women in my prayer circle, told them the time and date of the interview, and asked them to press with me in prayer. And they did it! A week later, the company asked Michael to come back and meet some of the other employees. Me and my sisters in the faith prayed again. Then on yesterday, he received the call that welcomed him aboard. His official start date is only a few days away. <strong><em>Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!</em></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> wanted to share this testimony not to brag or boast, but with the prayer that it will bless someone on <strong><em>this day</em></strong>. No matter what you're dealing with right now and regardless of how hard or hopeless it may seem; <strong><em>STAY FAITHFUL</em></strong>. Continue to do God's will and follow His instructions and His ordained path for your life. We've heard it before and it is the truth . . . <strong><em>Every setback is a setup for your comeback!</em></strong> Things will arise that will tempt you to take your eyes off of God or to make you feel that you have to take control of the situation and handling it using your limited strength and knowledge, but don't waiver and don't stray. When times get the toughest, that's when we have to depend on the Lord the most and allow Him to do His perfect work; even on those days when it feels like He's not working at all. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">K</span></strong>now this... <em><strong>All things work together for the good of those that love God and are called according to His purpose</strong></em> (Romans 8:28). Even when your enemies mishandle and mistreat you . . . they mean it for evil, but God is going to turn it around so that it works in your favor! Your enemies have no clue who they're messing with. They have no idea how much detriment they are bringing on themselves when they mistreat even the <em><strong>least</strong></em> of God's little ones. They will see you victorious and they will hate you for it, but there will be absolutely nothing they can do to stop it! <em><strong>Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord</strong></em> (I Corinthians 15:58). Don't faint, don't be discouraged. Stand on His Word, stand on His promises and watch <em><strong>your tests</strong></em> become <strong><em>your testimonies!</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>men! To God be ALL the glory!!!</em></strong></div>
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Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-43669648664994976442016-01-01T14:23:00.002-05:002016-01-01T14:23:59.079-05:002016 - My Year of Promises Fulfilled<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>t's been a full year since I've written in my official blog, but the lapse certainly wasn't due to the</div>
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lack of things worth posting! I last updated this online diary on December 31, 2014, and the entry I wrote was entitled: "Stepping Into 2015 - Stepping Into My Double Portion." In that article I shared how God had assured me that the year 2015 would be a year of double blessings for me. I didn't exactly know the fullness of those words that were divinely spoken into my spirit, but it didn't take long before they began manifesting themselves.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span>ndeed 2015 was a year filled with "doubles" that I hadn't anticipated. God's words to me began materializing in the simplest of ways. The first week of January, I received an online shoe order that I'd placed in December. The box containing the black ankle boots came just in time for me to wear on the new corporate assignment I was blessed to land in December as well. A couple of days after the first box of shoes arrived, a second box arrived from the same shoe store. It contain a similar pair of ankle boots; only in blue. I had only ordered one pair. When I called the company to report the error, the customer service rep ended our call by saying, "Well, I guess you got <i><b>double </b></i>for your trouble because if you want the boots, you can keep them at no charge." That turned out to be the start of a string of "doubles" to come.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">E</span></b>arlier in 2014, my husband and I learned that our son's family was expanding. He had already given us a grandson so it was good to learn that the little one on the way was a little girl. Jokingly, I'd told them to name her after me. As 2015 rolled in and the due date got close, we learned that it wasn't one granddaughter as we first thought. Twins. <i><b>Double</b></i>. In April, our family welcomed Kennedi and Kyndal to the world. Although it was never told to me that they'd actually named the girls after me, those names sound a lot like Kendra, don't they? :-)</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>G</b></span>od not only made good on His word through our son, but he did the same through our daughters. First, our baby girl got engaged. Then two months later, our firstborn daughter got engaged. Both our daughters were blessed to marry wonderful men of God in 2015, giving my husband and I two handsome "sons-in-luv." <b><i>Double</i></b>. And since our baby girl married a young man who'd had a son from a previous relationship, her marrying him gave us our second grandson. So now, not only did we have two granddaughters, but also two grandsons. <b><i>Double</i></b>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>he corporate employment that had opened to me in January had been assigned on a temporary basis. After six months, it became permanent. When the position was offered to me on a permanent basis, the offer came with a sizable raise. As I read the contractual agreement that was sent to me, one of the first things I noticed was that the amount of the accompanying pay increase was exactly two-times the amount of what I was paid on the previous job that I'd left in 2014. <i><b>Double</b></i>. And when I began working the job, I prayed and asked God to bring someone else on-board who had a genuine personal relationship with Him. Prayer partners...women to whom I could connect spiritually. God answered me in abundance. Today, only a few short steps separate me from two other Spirit-filled women with whom God has allowed me to build a solid sister-friend relationship. <b><i>Double</i></b>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>M</b></span>ost recently, I began praying for an avenue to open wherein I could put my gift of writing in action on a corporate level. I work for a Fortune 100 corporation, and being able to write for it would be an outstanding opportunity. The Lord revealed my heart's desire to one of the sister-friends with whom I work, and she approached me and gave me the name of a contact person who might be able to provide the connection I desired. I followed through with reaching out to the person she suggested, and my act of obedience resulted in the offer to become a contributing writer for the company's official employee magazine AND to be a writer for the company's diversity council. <b><i>Double</i></b>!!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>nd I know that there is more to come. I began writing this blog on December 31, 2015, but had to place it on pause so I could attend Watch Night Service to ring in the New Year in corporate worship. As I'm ending this blog entry, we have already been blessed to cross over, and I know in this year of 2016, God will continue to manifest His promises. Last year was a year of doubles. But I have so many stored promises from God that this year I am expecting an overflow!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span> decree it in Jesus' name . . . 2016 is my year of promises <b>PROMISES FULFILLED</b>.</div>
Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-50558846190164468432014-12-31T12:52:00.000-05:002014-12-31T16:25:41.091-05:00Stepping Into 2015 - Stepping Into My Double-Portion - Who's Coming With Me?<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GIZseJUg8Dk/VKQgMlolIII/AAAAAAAABCI/X8Yuo4VBv88/s1600/Stepping%2Binto%2B2015.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GIZseJUg8Dk/VKQgMlolIII/AAAAAAAABCI/X8Yuo4VBv88/s1600/Stepping%2Binto%2B2015.PNG" height="200" width="198" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>S</b></span>eems like it was only four or five years ago when all the world appeared to be in a frenzy about the impending unknowns of the Y2K. All of our lives we'd placed a 19 in front of our years when posting dates, and suddenly, we had to change and get used to placing a 20 there instead. It changed everything from the way we did business to the way we functioned on a day to day basis. It took us out of our comfort zone, but in the end, everything worked out okay and most of our concerns were proven to be unfounded. Change is imminent, and sooner or later we have to accept it . . . even if we don't readily embrace it.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>he year 2014 proved to be a very active one for me. The changes it brought sparked emotions from one end of the spectrum to the other. Not only did it bring me immense joy, but it also brought great fear and deep heartbreak. The fear came when an attempted robbery was made on me as I arrived at work in July. Fear nearly paralyzed me that day. It was still relatively dark outside, and I was all alone (except for the perpetrator), so the only one I could rely on was Jesus. Having only recently moved to the area, I'd only been on the job for six months. On every job I've ever had, I'm known for my ability to overcome challenges it presents. But having someone walk up behind me with a gun and threaten to use it if I didn't give up my purse was more than enough to make me leave. I put in my 2-weeks notice the very next day. I still triumphed in my opinion. Maybe not professionally, but definitely personally. After all, I lived to tell the story. I was still around to put in the two-week notice only because God preserved my life. He allowed me to remain calm in a chaotic situation and enabled me to think quickly that day and outsmart my aggressor. Not only did I escaped with my life, but also my purse. The perp succeeded in taking nothing from me.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>he heartbreak came with the the passing of my mother. It's still a hard reality to accept. I honestly can't recall a time in my life when I grieved so heavily. I already knew the pain of losing a loved one that was dear and near to my heart. In 1995, I buried my first husband; a man I loved and adored with all that was within me. But it felt as though the departure of Mama pierced an entirely different area of my heart. For a solid month, I think I cried every single day. Often times the tears would break suddenly and without warning. I no longer had an outside job with assignments to keep me busy and my mind on other things. Being a full time writer again seemed to make the healing process even worse. I was at home alone for much of the day, and writing wasn't a big enough distraction to keep my mind occupied.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-syjll9-lQpU/VKQg79VB6OI/AAAAAAAABCY/Y30yA4ES-5o/s1600/Me%2B%26%2BMama%2B1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-syjll9-lQpU/VKQg79VB6OI/AAAAAAAABCY/Y30yA4ES-5o/s1600/Me%2B%26%2BMama%2B1a.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span></b>ama was a trooper 'til the very end. God didn't permit her to suffer long at all which was a tremendous blessing. From the time of the doctor's devastating diagnosis until God took her home was a matter of about two months. And she was basically able to fully carry out her life as normal until the last two weeks. Mama never once complained. She never once seemed the least bit concerned of what was to come. Mine is a very close-knit family. I had a tight bond with my mother. I spent nine days of those last two weeks of Mama's life living in the house with her and my dad and helping to give her the 'round-the-clock care that she'd come to need. She was having trouble getting around at that point, but she was fully in her right mind, had a healthy appetite, and was always in good spirits. We had many talks and shared in many laughs during that time. In the aftermath it seems like the knowledge that I'd been there for her when she needed me most would have brought me a great sense of joy and peace. Instead, it seemed to do the opposite. All those fresh precious memories of my mother would overshadow me, and the constant realization that I'd never see her again on this side of life was consuming me with grief. I felt the onset of depression; some days not even being able to get out of bed. One while, it felt as though I might grieve forever, but with a little time and a lot of prayer came God's divine comfort. I still miss her terribly and at times I still grieve. The truth is, I probably always will. But it's no longer the overwhelming sadness that I originally experienced. I'm not drowning in tears now, and I can actually talk about her without completely falling apart. Today I'm able to rejoice in knowing that she's completely healed and in the presence of the Lord.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b>ometimes when things happen that we label as "bad," we tend to forget all of the great and marvelous things God has done for us. One heart-wrenching moment can erase every celebrated moment if we allow it. And that was a mistake that I came very close to making. But in 2014, the Lord did some awesome things for me in spite of Mama's transition. In March, I married one the most wonderful men I've ever known. A man who loves the Lord with all of his heart. A man who loves me as Christ loves the church. A man who exceeds everything that I've ever asked for or dreamed of. Meeting him in 2013 was a blind blessing. I didn't plan it, I wasn't looking for it, and in fact, I didn't even want it. The crossing of our paths was completely orchestrated by God. There is no other explanation. After having to endure the utter heartbreak of burying my first husband and the sheer embarrassment of the details that led to the divorcing of my second; marriage wasn't something that appealed to me anymore. My heart never hardened toward marriage, and I still fully believed in true love. However, neither of them were of any interest to me at the time. I was single and completely happy at that status. I didn't feel incomplete or lonely. I was an independent woman, living comfortably in my own home, working as Director of a respected preschool, providing well for myself, and loving every minute of it. But God had other plans for my life...and I'm so glad He did. My husband, <b>Michael</b>, is the absolute greatest gift that I <i>never </i>prayed for, and if God had done nothing else for me this year, allowing me to become Mrs. Michael Holmes would have been more than enough. But the Lord had more in store.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span></b>or instance, there is the matter of my 20th published work. If writing and publishing books is indeed the equivalence of giving birth to children, I surpassed my due date many times with <i><b>The Path From Pain to Purpose</b></i>. I became "legally separated" from my ex-husband in 2010, and although I began writing the book in 2011, the Lord made it abundantly clear to me that I was going to have to walk through the spiritual storm that my life was going through at that time before I'd be able to complete the book in the manner in which He was inspiring. In my stupidity, I tried over and over again to force the premature completion of it in spite of what God told me, but His will would not be overruled by mine. That entire process (the dissolution of the marriage) was probably the biggest personal trial I've ever had to come up against. Between the lies that were told, the betrayals that were discovered, and the just plain disgusting details of it all; I found myself being broken, remolded, then broken and remolded all over again. It was a rough transformation process, but on the other side of it, God made me so much strong, wiser, better . . . and HAPPIER! It took more than three years, but this year, the book finally birthed electronically in the month of September and in print in the month of December. Not only that, but God gave me a bonus blessing when He allowed me to also publish a 21st work when I released an electronic version of my very first novella on Christmas Day entitled <i>Three Wyze Men</i>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>o end the year, God favored me with a new job. The end of my former employment (even with the fear and danger that surrounded it) was something that God allowed. The timing of it proved that God was (and always is) in control. During the downtime that followed the ending of that employment, the Lord allowed me to fulfill the things that He had assigned me to do in my writing ministry--those things that full time corporate obligations on a mentally stressful and demanding job just weren't allowing me to complete. It also allowed me to be totally available for my mother's needs. But once those assignments were complete, God opened a great door for me to return to corporate America. On December 14th, I spoke the name of the company for which I wanted to work and I spoke the title of the executive position that I wanted to hold. I hadn't applied for it nor did I know that position was even available at that moment, but on December 15th I applied for an online job posting that I found as I was browsing the Internet. The position that needed filling carried the exact same title that I'd spoken the day before. But I because it was a posting that didn't include the company's name, I was totally unaware at the time that it was also with the exact same company whose name I'd spoken a day earlier. I discovered that the following day when I received a call for a preliminary interview. Within five days I'd been hired for the position pending the outcome of a criminal background check...and I certainly had no worries about that. Because of the nature of this particular job, I'll also be allowed the time and the mental calm that I need to be able to get necessary writing assignments done too. I will begin working shortly after the New Year. <b><i>To God be all the glory!</i></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b>o yes...God has done great and mighty things for me this year and I'm GLAD. Yet, as much of a milestone as 2014 has been, He has rested the words in my spirit that 2015 will be my year of double-portion. As Michael and I fellowshipped with my dad at his church in Valdosta this past Sunday (Michael was the keynote speaker), my father got up near the end of the service and said that God had told him that 2015 was going to be the best year for his (my father's) ministry. I turned to look at my husband as I sat beside him in the platform because I'd just told him a few days earlier that the Lord had rested the words "double portion" in my spirit as it pertained to the year 2015. I'd never told my father that, so when he said what he said, it was confirmation! But I don't believe it's a word only for me regarding my life or a word only for my dad regarding his ministry. I believe it's a word for all of God's people! Not those who just speak the name of Christ, but those who <b>LIVE </b>the lives of Christians. Those who are walking in the will and the ways of the Lord. Those who don't mind being ridiculed for the sake of the gospel. Those who aren't trying to fit in with the world, but instead are determined NOT to conform but be <i><b>TRANSFORMED</b></i>. Those who are walking in divine purpose. I decree and declare it right now. As God has spoken it to me, so shall it also be to you: 2015 is our year of <b>DOUBLE-PORTION</b>!</div>
Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-32047444683538127222014-11-26T14:09:00.000-05:002014-11-26T22:51:03.343-05:00A Bit Torn, But Still Thankful<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LSY65aorxWQ/VHYeODBeOwI/AAAAAAAABBE/DR7gMbzjXu4/s1600/5x7-Take-things-with-Gratitude-Thankful-Thursday-AnExtraordinaryDay.net_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LSY65aorxWQ/VHYeODBeOwI/AAAAAAAABBE/DR7gMbzjXu4/s1600/5x7-Take-things-with-Gratitude-Thankful-Thursday-AnExtraordinaryDay.net_.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>bout eight or nine years ago, I sat among a group of high school students and listened as my firstborn daughter held her debut novel in her hands and discussed with them her newly attained achievement of "published author." For a sixteen-year-old, it was quite an accomplishment and her audience was captivated. When asked who was her greatest inspiration, <a href="http://www.brittneyholmes.net/" target="_blank">Brittney</a> quickly pointed toward the place where I sat. It was a proud mommy moment for me as she told them how much it meant to her to have a mother whose footsteps she desired to follow. In the next moment her tone changed as she voiced disappointment that her daddy wasn't around to witness the moment. My first husband--her father--had passed away just weeks before her sixth birthday. Brittney's clear memories of him were a precious few, but her one regret was that he wasn't around to share my pride. She went on to say one of the things that frustrated her most was to listen to her teenage friends complain about what their fathers disallowed them to do. Every time she'd hear them griping, she said she would become aggravated because some days, all she ever wanted was to experience what it was like to have a typical teenage dispute with her dad. What other teenage girls didn't appreciate and took for granted, my daughter greatly desired.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>oday, that scene replayed itself in my mind as I read a comment posted in the status of a Facebook friend, stating how "sick and tired" she was of her mother calling her every other day adding to the list of things she wanted her to prepare for their Thanksgiving dinner. Just four days ago, my family buried my beloved mother. My heart still breaks every time I have to come to grips, yet again, with the unchangeable fact that she's no longer with us. In my opinion, I had the world's greatest mother. She was the perfect example of everything good and godly. I can't think of even one bad quality that she had. There's not a single negative thing that I can point out of which to accuse her. A couple of days before her homegoing service, my mom's sister and I were having a conversation in which we both concluded that if a person didn't like my mom, something had to be wrong with <i>them,</i> because she certainly never gave anyone a valid reason to dislike her. She was kind to everyone and had a true heart for God and for her family. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span> year ago, my fiance' invited my parents, my daughters, and me to his house for Thanksgiving. Our wedding was still about 3 1/2 months away at the time. In fact, we weren't even officially engaged yet, but "the babe" wanted his future parents-in-law to see the nice living accommodations that he'd already prepared for me, and he wanted them to meet his mother and niece, who also made the trip to join us for the family gathering. The day couldn't have gone more perfectly. It was a beautiful time of fellowship. I had no idea at the time that it would be the last Thanksgiving I would share with my mom, but I'm so glad that my husband-to-be had the idea to host it. Between me, my daughters, and the great folks at Ed's Country Cooking & BBQ, we provided a feast fit for the royal family that we were.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>oday, as I read that sister's comment on Facebook, angry tears burned my eyes A part of me wanted to reach through my computer and slap some sense into her. I'd give just about anything to have my phone ring right now and it be my mother on the other end; even if it were her nagging me by adding to the list of foods that she wanted me to prepare for the holiday. In my opinion, she had every reason to be rejoicing instead of complaining. What that woman was taking for granted, so many of us can only have through wishful thinking and in our fondest dreams. This morning I woke up realizing that tomorrow is Thanksgiving and feeling like I didn't have anything for which to be grateful. The continued heaviness of the loss of my mother momentarily clouded my judgement. But it wasn't long before I found myself repenting for my forgetfulness. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span>n spite of the grief, I can't even begin to count my blessings. Aside from life, health, strength, and food, clothing, and shelter; I have an awesome husband who showers me daily with honor and adoration. I have beautiful, intelligent daughters who love and respect me. I have a great father who is still the strong patriarch of my family. I have three sisters and a brother that I wouldn't trade for for anything. Through marriage, I've been given a wonderful mother-in-law who has embraced me from day one, a fabulous sister-in-law that I love like a natural sibling, a brilliant niece whose smile lights up a room, the handsome son that I've always desired but never had . . . and because of that son, I also have a precious little prince that introduced me to the wonderful world of grandparenting. How could I possibly have thought I had no reason to be thankful? Shame on me!!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>J</b></span>ust as I had to remind myself this morning of all of my blessings, I encourage everyone who reads this to do the same. Blessings don't always come in the form of "stuff." Good family and true friends are the greatest blessings of all. I'm abundantly grateful that there was not even one instance in my life that I disrespected, talked back to, betrayed, took advantage of, or abused my mother (physically or verbally). I have no reason to look back with regret, but if I had the power to snatch her from God's very own arms and bring her back to her earthly family; I would. I know it's a selfish thought, but it's an honest one too. My mother will always be sorely missed from my life. Even in her absence, I love her. There is nothing like loved ones, and we should never take them for granted. Family unity has always been of great importance to me. Parents, children, siblings, in-laws, grandchildren, nieces, nephews...all of them should be treasured and treated each day as though it may be the last day they'll be in your life. One day, that will actually be the case, and the worse thing to live with is regret.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span></b>or everything (and everyone)...give thanks!</div>
Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-64856214267975168702014-03-22T14:24:00.003-04:002014-03-23T18:11:50.387-04:00The Storm Is Over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>s I danced with him on the stage during our wedding reception, my mind was flooded with all the personal storms that God had allowed me to endure in recent years. Unlike many women, I don't wear my emotions on my sleeves. I don't thrive off of drama and I don't crave attention. In the five or so years that I've taken full advantage of social media, I've never been one to use it as a platform on which to announce my troubles or to call out those who may have been the culprits that caused them. I choose, instead, to use social networking to encourage the masses through motivation and ministry. Because of this, very few people know that even in the midst of the uplifting status updates I posted, my trust had been (and in some cases, was still being) betrayed in the worst way. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b>ubtle clues began to surface . . . like when the identification displayed on my Facebook page suddenly reverted back to my maiden name in 2013, but the transformation of my personal life had begun way before then. Few people were aware that I had been "legally separated" since June/July of 2010. They weren't clued in on the fact that when I relocated from Atlanta, GA to Macon, GA in 2012, it wasn't a family move, but one that I was making as a single woman on a mission to rebuild my life after ugly betrayals and inordinate affections and desires were fully revealed and proven by way of written correspondence and open admittance. When I accepted the assignment of Director at a preschool, outsiders were unaware that it wasn't just a professional change being made by my own choice. Though it was an assignment that was obviously a part of my divine journey, taking that job was one that was necessary in order for me to survive. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>t the time that the "covers were pulled off" and indiscretions were fully revealed, I was in the midst of making great headway on what was to be my 20th published work. God had given me the inspiration to write <i>The Path From Pain To Purpose</i>, but what I didn't realize at that time was I would have to go through my own painful preparation process before I would be fully equipped to write it the manner in which He directed. As much as I tried to continue to pen this ministry tool, God wouldn't allow me to. I had to get through this season before it could be done. Until then, I wasn't qualified. I had to walk it out. This book wasn't meant to be written based on biblical principles alone, but also with a level of knowledge that could only come from present-day experience. And I was clay on the Potter's wheel. I had to be broken and redesigned for the "greater" that lay ahead.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b> made the transition to Macon with virtually nothing. Shortly after I moved, I had to even shed some of those that I called my closest friends when it was discovered that they'd had a hand in the mayhem that had transpired in my life. Betrayal is a monster. The depth of the hurt caused by friends, on some level, was the worst pain of all. Once in Macon, I had to live with family for three months before being able to get my own place. My savings was depleted. For reasons that I am totally unaware, my primary publisher had been refusing to (and still has refused to) relinquish my earned royalties. I haven't received a dime of my earnings since 2011. For nine years, the residuals of my writing ministry had been my livelihood, but for unknown reasons the company that I entrusted the business end of a gift that God had given me had decided to unlawfully withhold what was rightfully mine. Since I was now a single woman, I was forced to return to corporate America so that I could provide for myself. It was a very stormy time of my life, but with God's help, I survived . . . and I did so without bitterness or a desire to seek revenge. And on March 15th, it all became worth it when God rewarded me for my faithfulness to His will and His Word. Oh, the joy that floods my soul!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b> felt a peace and a protection unlike any I'd ever felt before as my king wrapped his arms around my waist and together we swayed to the tempo of BeBe Winans's "When I Found You" while the lyrics were so beautifully sang by our pastor's youngest son. After all I've been through, I should have been unsure and apprehensive. The whole idea of saying "I do" again should have turned my stomach, but it didn't. From the moment I met him, I knew this was God. I wasn't looking for it and I hadn't asked for it . . . but I knew it was God. And all while we danced, I could hear the Spirit assuring me that the storm was over. Just like in the days of Noah, the Lord placed a rainbow in my sky and assured me that I would never again have to face the type of flood that I'd been through. And I'm thankful. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>t last, I've been given permission to proceed. Finally, my fingers are dancing on the keyboard of my laptop once again and I am moving full steam ahead with finishing the book that so many have been waiting on; the book that some have already pre-ordered. I still have a corporate America job (for now) so my writing time is still limited. But the finishing line is within view now, and the book will release within the next few weeks. I'm excited about my present and my future and the level of love and support that is already being given. The wait is over. The storm is over. It's my season.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span></b>urs in an incredible story, and more details of it will be included in the pages of <i><b>The Path From Pain To Purpose</b></i> so stay tuned... :-)</div>
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<br />Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1206024054687956964.post-12473230547992812902014-03-09T22:31:00.000-04:002014-03-09T22:31:07.529-04:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>This has become my anthem for 2014. </b></h2>
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<b>And the best is yet to come!</b></h2>
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Kendra Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250149164887640641noreply@blogger.com0