Extravagant - My Blog

Unseen Rehersal Hours

We almost made it!  Don’t forget to mark your calendars for tomorrow Friday 19 at 7:00 pm. We will be having our closing event at Jubilee International Ministries. Hope you can make it, it’s going to be amazing!

Why do we do what we do? To me, it all summarizes in one word: Passion. Passion (zeal, fervor, whatever you want to call it) moved the heart of Jesus to die for His people. It was also was behind every missionary trip of Paul, Barnabas and Peter and it was behind the non-stop 100 years of prayer of the Moravians. Passion is a powerful driving force.

We are the midst of the winter Olympics and as we watch in awe these talented athletes spinning on the ice or doing the “Double Mctwist 1260” (kudos Shaun White), my thoughts go to how many “unseen rehearsal hours” are behind every spin, flip and jump. How many broken bones. How much money is invested on it. How much of their lives and the lives of the people around them had to adjust to accommodate training for a chance to prove the world that they are the best at what they do. And the force behind all of this: Passion.

Why do I pray and fast? Passion. Passion for God and the works of His hand, passion to see change in the city I love and its people. Can I expect everybody to understand this? No. God put it on MY heart and that is all I can worry about. I believe there is no such a thing as accidents or coincidences. I’m here in Pensacola, Florida because God wants me here and even though they were times (like when Ivan struck) that I wished that God’s will for us was Hawaii or New Zealand, I knew God didn’t make a mistake and I knew His word and promises were (and are) true for me and my family.

Before we did our first “40 days” I used to talked about being “stuck” here in Pensacola. I remember this particular day (two or three before the fast started) I was running errands with my little Gracie, and all of the sudden God’s overwhelming love for this city filled my car. I couldn’t stop crying. Every building, every street, every sign, every face brought tears to my eyes. Needless to say I don’t feel stuck in Pensacola anymore. At that moment I understood that God had plans for this city and I was given the privilege to be part of it. But my heart had to be in tune with His. There is no obligation in love. There is passion, sacrifice and commitment. I love this city. I’m passionate about it. I want to see it healthy, prosperous and safe! It’s not what can I get from Pensacola, but what can I give to Pensacola and if I truly believe in the power of prayer to change and to bless, that is the first thing I’m going to give.

God’s promise on 2 Chronicles 7:14 is an action-reaction one: WE (His people) must: humble, pray, seek, turn. Then HE(God) will hear, forgive and heal(restore) OUR LAND

Have you made Pensacola truly your land? Or do you still feel “stuck” here. The change starts in your heart. We have spent 39 days speaking truth over Pensacola. The prayers we have lifted are the “unseen rehearsal hours” of a great, gold medal city called Pensacola!! Bless her, cheer for her, defend her and call her YOUR OWN and God will do the rest. Its His promise and I believe it.

Loving being here,

Karina

got DRAMA?

Wow! Can you believe this is our last week! I know it has been a real battle for some of us to stay focused in this past week especially with so many viruses, colds and flu going around but I pray that you have regained strength to press through these last few days.

I just finished bible study couple hours ago and there is something Beth Moore said that I just can’t shake off my mind and it goes something like this: “The drama we CAN see very likely PALES in comparison to what we CAN NOT”

We are surrounded by DRAMA. It’s everywhere. From the drama that emerges between my two little girls fighting over a doll to the tragedy of loosing a family member, we are surrounded by it. There is work drama, family drama, school drama and the list can go on. We are affected by it whether we like it or not. In fact, if you are thinking on it, it’s because it is affecting you.

Paul knew this when he wrote 2 Corinthians 4:17 to encouraged us: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all”  In other words: We all have drama, bad days and real tragedy in our lives, but this is nothing compare to what it is waiting for us so keep on going!”

Hell will break loose when we are walking towards our destination (sorry for the use of the H--- word, couldn’t find any other proper one), but we must know and understand that although it may seems at a times we are fighting alone, we are not. I love Elisha’s words when he and his servant were surrounded by the armies of Aram: “those who are with us are more than those who are with them”. We are not alone. God will not put us in a battle He knows we cannot win or in one where He will not show up himself. Sometimes He’ll fight for us and some others He’ll let us use our own tools and the spiritual “muscle” He gave us to get the job done (Thanks Beth Moore).

Heaven is in our side. We are in the wining side.

Prayer is our spiritual muscle and like any other muscle it has to be trained and exercised. You don’t go to the gym for the first time and attempt to lift a 120 lb weight to start your routine. But disciplined and consistent training will take you there. We had been at the “gym” for 37 days now. Picking up one weight a day. Pressing through, fighting and contending for our city, for our lives. We had been in the fire for so long that anything that does not smells like God just stinks and it has to be burned at the altar right away (words, attitudes and pride). We are in a point were we are face to face with God and He is ready to hear from Heaven (2 Chronicles 7:14).

This is not a time to quit, but to keep pressing. Why were you fasting and praying? This is it!!! This is the time to blow the trumpets and see the walls come down!!

I pray today God will open your eyes to see that there are horses and chariots of fire ready to go on our behalf. This is not the end my friend. This is the beginning…

Be encouraged today and keep pressing!

Karina

The light of your face - by Karina Miller

My baby is doing much better! Thanks for all your prayers. They really make a difference.

What do you do to get somebody's attention? At home, eye-to-eye contact is necessary if I want to get things done "the right way". Many times a little physical emphasis has to be done like grabbing his face and forcing his eyes look into my eyes to get full attention. Just in case you are wondering, I'm not talking about my kids or our dog (since we don't have one) I'm talking about my husband!!

Joe and I have been married for almost 12 years and I can tell you with full confidence that there is not such a thing as "the honey moon year" Coming from two different cultures our first year of marriage was a real challenge. Thank God for amazing friends that listened to us, encouraged us and believed in us when we didn't!

One of the things that frustrated Joe the most during those days was my inability to communicate or express my feelings when I was mad. I would shut down and turn my face the other way. It really didn't matter who was right or wrong, I would just not want to talk, hear and look at him any more. He on the other hand, would not stop talking! If things were unresolved he would not stop until we reach the bottom of whatever the situation was. He sometimes would get right into my face to be sure I was listening to Him forcing me to talk to him. He drove me crazy, but it also forced me to pay attention to his words, talk and fix whatever had to get fixed. This is the picture that I get when I think on the meaning of "...seek my face (God's face)" from 2 Chronicles 7:14.Which way is God facing when we talk to Him? What kind of prayer can turn the face of God back to us? The persistent widow from Luke 18 comes to mind and Yes! it is the persistent prayer the one that turns His face back to us and makes Him say: "I will see that you get justice". How many couples have grown cold and distant, because they gave up communicating and seeking each other's face? As His bride, we also, must actively seek His face and reconcile with our maker.

Impatience is the enemy of love. Endurance makes it stronger.

I love this song by Misty Edwards, and it summarizes my thoughts today. Soak on it. Sing it to Him and may the light of HIS FACE shine on you!

 

Uncomfortable Prayer by Karina Miller

Sorry I'm late with the monday post! Sick baby at home...

When do we pray?

Prayer, as a lifestyle, it is not very popular now a days. Forget about fasting! If I only tap prayer with the tip of my toes every once in a while and never venture to go deeper, I'm missing a vital part of my christian life .

Kids understand the power of prayer. If there is a sickness or a situation they are uncomfortable with, they want to pray. I remember the time when hurricane Ivan struck Pensacola. We left town for 2 days and came back to chaos and no electricity. We were thankful somebody lent us a generator to use, so we loaded it in our truck and filled it with gas just to find out it didn't work.The thing was dead. It was old an rusted and it just didn't want to work anymore. After what it look like hours of banging parts, greasing it and pulling the cord 100 times, still didn't work. My husband was very angry. My oldest child was six at the time. I remember him walking up to us putting his little hand on the generator and saying: "let's pray for this to start!" So he did. We pulled the cord once, pull the cord twice...brrrrrr... it worked!!! My son's eyes open so big and then started jumping up and down, up and down. God answered his prayer immediately and he was excited! God met him at his five year old pure faith and moved. He went for weeks praying for everything and expecting an immediate response.

Sometimes God will answer prayers immediately (don't you love that?). Sometimes it requires time. And it's during these times when our faith gets tested. At this point we have to options: we keep pressing forward and grow or quit.

My son is ten now and he has learned that prayer can be long, uncomfortable, inconvenient at times and off "business hours". He has learned that some times battles can start at five in the morning or at eleven at night. Uncomfortable in the flesh has make him more comfortable in the spirit. He is still a kid, independent, wild and adventurous, but he knows how to pick up his weapons when the battle is raging thus learning to be a warrior!!

God lives in the uncomfortable and He wants you there with him. Prayer, the type of prayer that changes you and changes a city is uncomfortable. Sometimes it will wake you up at three in the morning, sometimes it will not let you go to bed at ten pm. Psalms will stir up your heart and make you cry. Judges will give you hope. Ezra, Nehemiah will put you in the wall. The whole world of God will become more alive to you than never before when you pray!

2 Chronicles 7:14, " If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray......"

When I humble before God, I'm recognize that my abilities, talents and gifts, are empty and will lead me to an empty road without Him. I need to connect all of these things to Him to affect change in my life,family, church and city and that is what prayer does.

Generator prayers stir your faith. Uncomfortable prayers grow it.

It is my hope and prayer that in these last days before our fast is over, when our flesh is tired and wants to give up, your spirit will soar with a desire to stay in His presence until it's inconveniently uncomfortable and grow deeper in your relationship with Him.

I challenge you to ask God to wake you up at an inconvenient time to meet Him and spend time with Him (HE will!!!)

We are almost there... Keep moving forward!!

Karina

Roll down the window by Karina Miller

Count down has officially started!! Two weeks till our final prayer meeting. Be sure you mark you calendars for February 19th. This year we will be closing our 2010 fast at Jubilee International Ministries. It's going to be amazing!

I recently had an x-ray done on my back and neck at the chiropractor. There it was revealed that my right hip is completely out of alignment (way, way, WAY out of alignment) in relationship to my left one. How do these kind of things happen? I mean, it's not just a little bit it's a LOT! I was looking at the X-Ray, with a hint of doubt thinking: Is that really me? I've been having neck issues and for over 2 years been dealing with foot pains and minor back issues. It looks like it is all related to the hips now. And then again, this does not happen overnight. It takes YEARS for a condition like this to form and for the most of it, I kind of LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT and blame it on age, sports...did I mention age?(OK, just to be clear, I'm NOT that old...)

All of this got me thinking (of course) :o) There are conditions in our heart that we had learn to live with it. They are so part of who we are, we don't even realize they are there. The symptoms maybe present in one area or another in our life, but unless we are willing to find the root of it we will be always treating just the symptoms.

This fast has been to me like an X-Ray on my spiritual life. I always thought of myself as a "good girl" I do what it's right and I love God. But God is not pleased with me just being a "good girl". He has pointed out some un-submitted areas in my life during these weeks. I'm a people's pleaser and that sometimes that had caused me to do things God told me NOT TO, just because I want to be accepted and loved. You'll be shocked, but do you know this has a deep (hidden) root of pride? Yes, PRIDE. How "I" (me myself) feel, is more important than what God wants or has for me. Let me say it again: IT"S PRIDE. Thanks God for His infinite patience with us. But He is also a relentless, jealous lover and he wants ALL of us! There is a price to pay for it: It's called total surrender, regardless of how I feel and what I think.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says: "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves...(we'll stop there today) This verse is a tremendous recipe for "Land Healing"  and we have been praying for 4 weeks: God heal our land! This is the first step in this process. God has been dealing with me and if you allow Him, he will deal with you too. Open your ears. Slow down. Roll down the window, He is calling us!

Don't let the business of life trap you in such a way that you miss what God is saying and doing. He is patient, but He also has a plan to accomplish and my friend, you are such an important part of it!

Use this weekend to dial down, slow down, refocus, whatever you want to call it. Roll down the window and if you haven't yet,  allow Him to speak about those areas in your life that require some humbling and start enjoying the ride, because it only get's better!

Dialing down,

Karina

For such a time like this

One of my favorite books from the bible is probably the book of Esther mainly because I firmly believe that ONE imperfect being can make a difference if led by God.

If you ask my kids what is mommy's top phrase of all times they will have to tell you  that "I'm not perfect" is definitely #1. I'm not the perfect parent, wife, daughter, sister, friend, etc... I'm not. And  I'm not proud about it, it is simply reality. I make mistakes. I have lost my patience and yelled. I have open my mouth when I should listened and didn't open it when I should spoke. I have been unloving and unkind to those that I treasure the most. I have called green: blue, when deep inside I KNEW it's was green! I am guilty of all the above. I have said this so much, that now when I apologize to my kids for a wrong attitude they say: "It's OK. You are not perfect...(hug)

Esther was not perfect either, and aside from being gorgeous (OK, that is a big one) everything on her Bio disqualified her for the position of queen: experience: none. Age: too young. Nationality: Hebrew. Social status: exile, religion: Worships only the God of Jacob, but God had a plan and she was an instrumental piece on it.

I love Esther's bold attitude in an impossible scenario: "If I perish , I perish". In other words: I'm going to do something totally crazy and although my legs are shaking and my heart is about to explode, I'm just not going to seat here and watch. Maybe, just maybe that is why I am here for.

You and I are the Esther's of our generation. You may not see it or feel it. But the potential and all the tools you need for it are already inside of you. Your gifts, your talents were deposited on you "for such a time like this". God is not looking for perfection. If He wanted me to be perfect, he would have made me perfect! He is rather looking for a heart He can work with. Esther had that type of heart. Mary had that type of heart. Peter (yes, Peter) had that type of heart: A willing heart.

We have fasted, we have prayed, we had been through the fire (and we are not done, just yet) and I believe that Esther's boldness is coming upon us "for such a time like this". It's your turn. What are you going to do?....

God, I pray, that you will activate the gifts and talents of your servants. Let us be your mouth, your hands, your feet, your ears and help us to walk with a new level of boldness using all the tools you have equipped us with. We are here "for such a time like this" so use us Lord. We are willing....

Karina

Taking down the image by Karina Miller

I don't know how is it for men, but I think one of women's major struggles is with our image. How fat do we look? How old do we look? What do others think of us? There is a self-inflicted demand on "keeping it together at all times" and "being at the top of our game" in a world that condemns transparency. We live our lives never letting others see when we are about to crack. We have built a perfect image of ourselves(what we want others to think of us) and we are proud of it. We love the praise and adoration our image receives and we can never imagine life without it. Does it sounds familiar?

My bible group and I have been studying for several weeks the book of Daniel and it has been quite a trip! We live in a modern day Babylon, my friend!.This world worships the image. The spirit of Nebuchadnezzar is alive and well and it demands to be worshiped. So we have built an image of ourselves. Big, strong and made of solid gold. "Take the eyes of me and look at the image of me!"

Pride is a hidden sin. It hides so well you will never see it's there (or acknowledge it's presence). You won't see people confessing that very often, yet it is at the center of every sin. Anger, un-forgiveness, bitterness and jealousy have deep roots of pride.

Pride was the architect behind Nebuchadnezzar's image and it is the architect behind ours.

Have you built an image of yourself? I know I have and in times like this, when I present myself the most vulnerable to God, I allow him to show me the hidden pride in my life. Is it easy? No. I wrestle with it and when I think it is over, HE shows me more. Pride wants to hide so it stays in control, but "truth"(HIS truth) does not want just a few parts of my life, it wants it ALL!

We made it half way, and oh boy has He dealt with me!!I know that for many of you this has been a "quite interesting" fast, on the amount of personal revelation you have received and on how God has exposed different areas of your life as you had got closer to the fire. I know it hurts, but I would not want it any other way!

Maybe you didn't make the commitment to fast during the 40 days. Maybe you are fasting to some small degree, but you know there is somewhere you have to go and you don't know how to get there. Then I suggest you kick it up a notch!. Make a bigger commitment during the last few weeks. True fasting HURTS because it deals directly with you, your wants, your desires, your PRIDE. It is time to take the image down and be what God wants us to be so we can step in the destiny and the calling He has designed for us!

I am expecting great things this week! I can hear the sound of many images falling down before His feet and I love it!

Taking it down...

Karina

The power of ONE

Well, Tebow made my day today! What an amazing testimony this young man has been through the whole football season and he has taken that to a new level of boldness in the midst of a lukewarm generation. Did you know that the most googled phrase of game day was always the scripture verse he wrote on his cheeks! Curiosity forced hundreds of thousands to actually read the word of God and His word NEVER returns void.

Going back to today (sorry, got carried away), His name was once again all over the internet due to a pro-life ad that it's to be released on CBS during the superbowl. Long story short: His mom was told to get an abortion during her pregnancy with him, she refused, trust God and BAM!, the greatest college football player was born! Talk about destiny and the impact of ONE LIFE submitted to Christ, uncompromising and its impact in the world we live.

We live in a "polite" society: I'm a christian, but so I don't offend you, I won't let you know what I believe in. I'll give my money to the poor or to good causes, but I won't talk about it or express my opinion in public. What can that really do anyway?. We Christians have become like a secret society. Everybody knows we are there, but nobody really knows why.

Why am I here? What is my purpose? What is my relevance to this world? I can guarantee you Tebow knows exactly why he is in the place that he is, and it has nothing to do with being a great football player.

Joseph, Esther, David, Nehemiah, Paul....JESUS. The power of ONE life submitted to God to shape and reshape history. They understood whythey were there and for what. They understood their relevance and their purpose. They understood they were the instruments of change that God wanted to use to accomplish his plans. They understood their positions of influence were not a coincidence or chance, but it was God ordained.

God ordains our steps (Prob 16:9, Prob 20:24). He created us for such a time like this(Esther 4:14). We are the agents of change in our generation. We are the Joseph's, Esther's and Paul's of our time. Christ in us, the hope of Glory (Col 1:27)for this world!

I pray that a new level of boldness will arise from the inside of you. That as layers of flesh keep burning out, the revelation of relevance (your relevance) will shine from the inside out.

Be bold. Be courageous. Stand firm. BE the change!

In the fire,

Karina

God's bottles

I had made a point during this fast to read thru psalms. I am convinced that many psalms were written during fasting periods. My heart melts with the heart of the psalmist during these days more than never before. Last night I couldn't get my eyes (and my mind) out of Psalm 56:8

"You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book."

I don't know about you, but the thought of God collecting each and every of my tears that fall in the ground, tears of pain, sadness, anger(??), joy and the fact that He records them, meaning, He categorizes them, puts a date on it and writes exactly why those tears were shed, blows-me-away! How much GOD, the creator of the universe, is fond of me! How important my life is to Him and how much He loves me and it is jealous for my heart that He takes care of even my tears!

As we start a new week, I pray that you will be encouraged with the thought of how much God loves you. How much He cares about. He is with you every step of the way. He would never leave you nor forsake you and he counts your every tear...

Once again amazed,

Karina

There is nothing left in Egypt for me

Thanks to all of you who have shared what God is doing in your life during this fast. It has been a blessing and a tremendous encouragement to keep on going.

What happens when you step out of your comfort zone? Well... YOU will step into your destiny! I have learned (and continue to learn), that there is a big difference between what I am good at, and what I was created for. I am good at many things: cooking, starting successful businesses, throwing parties and organizing events. I'm good at playing tennis (or at least I was until my ankle injury). I totally LOVED doing all these things. I'm comfortable doing them, therefore there is no fear of failure. But deep, deep inside I know, this is not the end of the road. I know I was created for something else, and although I can bring glory and honor to God on all these other things that I feel comfortable doing, I can only touch the deepest parts of God's heart when I submit my ME, with all the junk, all the pride, all the fear to HIM and do what I was created for.

Is it easy? No. Failure is a scary word. Rejection is another pretty scary word. Nobody wants to be branded as a failure or be rejected. So we keep doing the "comfortable thing" and destiny becomes "the dream". A place we will get some day.  But there comes a time (and the time has come), when you are so close to the fire, and layer after layer, after later of you is being burned, that destiny is not an option anymore. It hits you right in the face and you can stare at it or you can walk into it.

My friend Trey wrote an amazing song last night during worship and one of the verses says: "Burn up the bridges, close up the sea, 'cause there's nothing left in Egypt for me!"

Egypt is our comfort zone! Egypt is what tied us up and kept us away from our destiny! Egypt is the feeling of failure and rejection! Egypt is our desire to constantly please people instead of God. We MUST LEAVE EGYPT BEHIND!

We must step into our destiny. It is right in front of us! There is a future legacy depending on it and we cannot neglect it. I don't want to be where I was 11 days ago when we start this fast and I don't want to be where I am today at the end of it. My dear friend, I hope I had stirred up your heart as much as mine is because there is a promised land waiting for you and me, but we must get out of Egypt, walk into the promised land and take it by force, we have a great God fighting by our side. Don't EVER forget that!

Still in the journey,

Karina