Tag: senses

encouragment, Uncategorized

Holly-Weird🔥 Vs. Holy Wood🪵

Kris Joi

Jeremiah 2:21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

Joel 1: 14 Santify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord.

Genesis 4: 3-7 And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Leviticus 10:1-2 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. 2 And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord

Greetings in Grace Beloved, 🥰

Merry Christmas 🎁 & Happy Holy Days to you & yours! I am really excited about today’s post, as it is so fitting for the time & season we are in. I love when Papa(Father) God impresses upon my heart ♥️ to receive of the hidden manna/word that is only for those who are His. And my friend that(His) is my greatest title in this season, that i’m wearing as a badge of honor. In a time where everyone wants to be somebody of “great recognition” I find myself groaning 😩and beckoning unto God often, God I just want you. Excuse me in my folly. But my dear friend not only for myself do I inward & outwardly groan, but for you also (See 2 Corin 11:1-2).

What I’m saying is if you happen to be one of my nearest & dearest I fail not to make mention of you! And if you would like to be added to that list, I am open and taking requests 😀! On that note let’s pray. Father in the name of Jesus, I thank, praise, and acknowledge you as Lord & Savior. Touch whomever is reading this letter with your tender loving kindness and mercies that fail not. Renew us on this day and everyday to come. Let us not be conformed to this world but let us be transformed by the renewing of the mind. 🧠We know that Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Give them eyes that see & ears that hear in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. 🙏🏽 🙏🏼

So lately God has been having me to be watchful and prayerful concerning several things and an elect people (His & my Beloveds 🙂). It’s both a privilege and an honor. In addition to those that I watch for, He has been having me to petition for others, in particular those on elevated platforms. This includes leaders (spiritual & natural), “celebrities”, and authority figures (ie, police, administrators, etc.). If you know me you know that there is a call/burden on my life in particular for music ministry/industry. In fact I’d say my top three “sectors” of burden/influence would be Business (Kingdom & Earthly), Education, and Arts & Entertainment. Family is also another but for the sake of time & space we revisit that next time (hopefully). 

If you watch the news, social media, and/or listen 👂🏽 to the conversations of the “elite & common” you know that there has been a lot of controversy, confusion, and change all around us. And if you have any discernment you are aware 👀that the things we are experiencing in today’s times are not normal. As the bible warns we are in end times and evil men & seducers are getting worse & worse (see 2 Timothy 3). Not only in the world but even in the church, designed to be the household of faith & prayer. And nobody wants to get to the root of it, but more so just skimming the surface in hopes of stirring up the latest greatest controversy. In the words of comedian Katt Williams “Influenceless Influencers, A time/place where anybody can be anything”. Sadness. 😔

Image by Racool_studio on Freepik

Beloved the world and its systems will always be what it is, but when we can’t count on the church ⛪️(God’s chosen) to be the church according to His design, we are in trouble. I heard someone say they really couldn’t tell the difference between the gospel industry and the worldly/secular industry. And unfortunately I understand. Please don’t take this out of context. 🛑 I am not one who endorses hypocritical religion. I’m a Son/Saint saved by THE Son/Savior, our Lord Jesus✝️ Christ. I watch movies, listen to different music genres, wear pants & of course a cute dress or skirt occasionally, and will/have gone into dark places to be a light. Just like Jesus. Except I’m not 100% devine. Only HE IS!

Nevertheless, as a called out & chosen one it is my responsibility to live & speak THE TRUTH. Even when it’s not popular or well received. 🤷🏽‍♀️Remember, it came to me first. So if I have to make the adjustments, nobody is exempt. In fact I am not really your friend beloved if I can’t be honest with you. Why would I want someone I love to be “caught lackin” in any kind of way? Back to topic. I was 👁️watching some recent & older Youtube videos & magazine articles, and was horrified (not literally) as to what we consider great. The people, places, platforms, purposes, etc. that we celebrate are catastrophic and gross. I cringe as I scroll through the common.

Have you ever experienced something or someone strange, weird, off? Kind of disconnected from reality. Maybe that was you & I at some point in time? ⚠️Warning, one may experience behaviors and words that are outrageously outlandish. Well at least to the uncommon man. In fact the word strange translates, outlandish, adulterous, alien, heathendom, queer, unnatural, deviant, creepy, off-center, etc. But for some reason it’s accepted as greatness to most (See Isaiah 5:20). How? Why? When? Where? Who? Friend, we really need to start asking ourselves some questions. 🤔Examining ourselves, those we are connected to, our surroundings, and the word of God in order to see if we have alignment. If not we ought to Repent (change). Remember, we can’t change ourselves but God can (search posts on repentance).

Let’s not act as if God doesn’t see or know. He is all seeing, all knowing, and all places at all times (See Psalm 139). Not only does He see, know, Be, but He will repay. God is not mocked, a man will reap 🌱what he sows (See Galatians 6:7-9). Let’s take some time to reflect & write.

R&W Exercise 💭📝

What have I been watching, hearing, doing lately good & not so good? How does this align or misalign with the word of God (you can search scriptures by topic or consult a spiritual advisor, including us here at GC INK.)? Where do I want to go in this life & after? Why? Who are my biggest influencers? Consider these things and more as led by God. Ask God for direction & discipline to carry out His desires for your life.

In closing I want to encourage us to continue in this reflection into the new year. Consider fasting from food & distractions for 🕰️24 to 72 hours to reset and ready ourselves for the new season/year. Feel free to reach out and connect with us for an abundance of resources to assist you in this, as consecration 🙇🏽‍♀️and celebration🥳 is who we are and what we do. Grace, Peace, and Love Be Unto You & Yours! And until next time fare-well for now.

Signed, GC K. Joi XOXO 😘

Uncategorized

Oh Taste & See pt. 2

Kris Joi

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him!

Glory, Honor, and Praise to our God! For He is good and HIS mercy endures FOREVER (to ALL generations). When I think on the goodness of Jesus my soul cries Hallelujah! I’m excited to share this place with you that God has had me in, with the hope/prayer that it will continously resonate to us-ward. I love that as the world is spiraling deeper into chaos God calls us deeper into Him (He= safety, security, fruitfulness, devine order & alignment). Last month we talked about how God has given us sense(s) to help us navigate not just our now but TO INFINITY And BEYOND (lol gotta love classic Toy Story)!! And when I say that word has been being tested, tried, and “trued” in me, oh my! Thus how I know God wants me to stay right there/here. And although it has not been easy, the fresh vision/outlook is well worth it! The word says ask and it will be given unto you, seek and you will find, knock and the door (Jesus) will be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7-8).

On that note 🙂 in Ephesians chpt. 1 (verse 17-18) the Apostle Paul prayed that the eyes of their (our) understanding be enlightened; that they (we) would know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints through the knowledge of Him Christ Jesus. As with all of our senses/organs of perception, first & foremost they are for experiencing God! Eyes for seeing, a tongue for tasting/speaking, ears for hearing, etc.. As simple as that may seem it does take some time, attention, and effort to obtain & develop our spiritual senses. The Bible says blessed are those who see and hear (Matthew 13:16-17), and further explains that many desire it but have not obtained. The word speaks of how being like the world disables our ability to have good sense(s). I recall moments in my own life where I became so distracted/overwhelmed by natural things that it became extremely difficult for me to see, hear, and feel God (see 1 john 2:16). It was not until I made the decision to turn my mind back to God’s word and way that my eyes were opened. I’m so grateful for the Holy Spirit of God who alerts me to pivot when i’m off. Whereas our spirit may lead us one way, God’s spirit re-directs us into truth (Jesus). I just want to encourage someone who may feel like they are drowning in cares right now to cast (aka throw forcefully) them on Jesus through the power of His spirit because He REALLY CARES FOR YOU!

Let’s start by taking a look at the eyes. The word eyes translates ophthalmos in Greek meaning eye-sight & vision, it’s where we get our word optometry/optometrist from. It also interjects the words jealousy and envy which we will touch on a little later. As stated & reiterated above God gave us both our natural and especially our spiritual eyesight for first Him. In fact the bible states that we are changed into the image of Him that we see. Our ability to see God for who and how He really is will directly affect the way we see things in life. I remember looking down from an airplane flying over downtown Chicago, and those huge skyscrapers looked like tiny ants from way up there. When we allow God to shape our perspective concerning things especially the big and/or challenging things we can respond in a greater way. Because now He imparts Himself into us so that we can be transformed (Romans 12). Remember in the beginning was the word, and the word was God (John 1). But what happens when our eyes become fixated on things other than God? Well… it gives room for the enemy to persuade us in the opposite direction and our fleshy human nature to come in agreement and carry it out. We see an example of this with Adam & Eve in Genesis 3. This is where we get things like jealousy (possessiveness/obessesion over things), adultery/perversion, envy (desiring what belongs to another), and a whole list of other things that come with lustful eyes (see 1 tim 6:5-6).

Now let’s take a look at the tongue/mouth. The book of James (one of my favorites) talks a lot about the tongue. Chapter 3 verse 5 mentions that it’s a little member(part) but boasts a great deal and likens it to a small spark that leads to a great fire. The bible also says the power of life and death are in our tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Meaning we can either cause things to thrive by what we speak or decay. How many times have we spoken things that created for us a world of trouble? I have been learning to be more conscience of what I allow to proceed out of my mouth. Because at the end of the day if it’s not in alignment with God’s truth, it’s simply a lie! And my friend lies lead to bondage (slavery) and truth leads to freedom. This is why speaking God’s word over our hearts/minds, our children, our homes, our loved ones, our cities, etc. is so important. One day as I was in the midst of a wrestling match with fear/doubt/unbelief, God said to me firmly and in love, whose report are you going to believe…Choose? Two of my favorite passages on the benefits of taste are Psalm 119:103 and Matthew 16:28, i’m not going to type them out right now but I encourage you to look them up (you can also come check them out and download them on this months P.S. prayers/petitions/scriptures/songs).

I know we spent a lot of time on using our senses to perceive God, but i’d also like to share some other beautiful ways our natural senses can be a benefit in list form just for fun & reference P.S. I’d love to see a picture or clip of you employing any of these strategies we talked about today #glamchic, email them under the contact section or post under the comments.
Taste & See List: Look at the flowers, enjoy your favorite savory or sweet dish, go bird watching, sightsee in your city, drink a hot cup of coffee/coco/tea, go on a picture walk through your phone, eat an apple or orange….

XOXO,

K.Joi

Uncategorized

Oh! 😋Taste and 👀See!

Kris Joi
But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. ~~~ Hebrew 5:14

Greetings in Grace Kings Kids,

Happy & Prosperous New Year. 🎉🙌🏽 I pray that this post finds you & yours well, and ready to receive every good thought that God thinks towards you of hope & a future. I’ve recently been pondering on the subject of the senses.

Near the shift of every season my kingdom family takes time to pray and fast our way into the next. These appointed (set apart) times have always been a blessing to my spirit, soul, and body. Some who may come across this post might ask, well what is prayer and fasting? It is a 👑 Kingdom principle given to us by God to help us to be more connected with Him. During this time we deny ourself our daily need/pleasure of food & other earthly affairs (especially distractions/disconnectors) in order to reconnect & draw closer to God.

And as with any scientifically proven principle, when done correctly it yields astronomical results. 🤯 So much good I can say about it, but for the sake of time i’m going to list a few benefits i’ve experienced in times prior. I’d also like to invite you to please reach out on the blogs 📧 contact page if you would like to gain access to our seasonal virtual (completely remote) Prayer & Fasting gatherings (you won’t be disappointed)! So back to the spirit, soul, and body benefits here’s a list: increased ability to see, hear, and respond to God’s voice, reveals & resolves residue & issues of the heart/mind, changes to the body at a molecular level/improves health, and more!

It just makes sense, literally & figuratively. As humans we are most often driven by our senses. These include taste, sight, 👂🏽sound, touch, smell. Think about it we are usually drawn to that which registers good with our senses, and drawn away from that which registers bad.🚦Just as we do this naturally we also have the ability to do this spiritually. Once we receive Jesus as our Lord and savior we receive His spirit, who then takes residence in us (see 1 Corinthians 6:19). Just like any person, Holy Spirit, has senses. For instance the bible talks about Holy Spirit grieving (Ephesians 4:30).

The bible also says our outward man is perishing but our inward man is being renewed day by day (see 2 Corinthians 4:16). Just as we have to tend to our natural man(body) in order for it to function at maximum results we have to do the same with our spirit man. 🏆 This includes a healthy diet, exercise, cleaning/proper hygiene, proper attire to protect it, etc. Because the natural is a similitude/reflection of the spiritual it works in a similar manner. We have to work out our soul salvation with fear & trembling. 🙇‍♂️🙇🏽‍♀️And it’s day by day, step by step (Galatians 6:8 & Philippians 2:12).

1 Timothy 4:8 talks about how physical exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for everything. The more time we spend exercising in the spirit the stronger & sharper He we will grow in us. God said it like this to me one day we can have a p.o.e. mindset/life 🧠 or a g.r.o.e. mindset/life (product of environment/experiences or God rewrites our experience). My friend this is GREAT news! 📰 Because guess what, life happens. We all were born into sin, some bad choices inside(us) & out(others), the effects of them, and an agenda/hit out on us from the enemy to steal/kill/destroy us. BUT GOD! John 10:10

Good News Flash: The fight is fixed, the fight is fixed, the fight is fixed!!! 🥊All we have to do is go through the training, show up, and press in. Greater is He who is us than He that is in the world (1 john 4:4). ❓Do we at times get weary, of course. In those moments breath and remember we’ve got the best sparring partner ever! Rest, Refresh, Reset, Re Up!

In the Next 💌 Post Let’s Dive In To How Our Senses Can Be Used In Our Favor (or not 😩)!

Grace Love And Mercy XOXO ❤️ K.Joi