“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29

With Empowered Jesus Girl only 2 weeks away, I am encouraged by this verse, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29. This past weekend has been rough on my family. My oldest son, Carson who is 5 years old, was diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday morning. We spent 2 ½ hours at the Doctor’s office and I dreaded the germs that we were exposed to. As a mother of two, when I walk into a Doctor’s office, everything I see looks like a germ. My “germ goggles” turn on and one by one I see them creeping all over the room. When I pick up the pen to sign in my kids, I think about all the sick people that previously touched that pen. When I sit down and hold a clipboard filling out paperwork, I once again worry about the patients that touched that same board. As my two sons reach for a magazine, I jump up and stop them before it’s late, you know there are germs on those things! I seriously turn into Ninja-Mom trying to protect my kids from the evil germs everywhere! Don’t even get me started on bathrooms and waiting room chairs!

But…I am only human and I can’t protect them from everything. Even if I keep them from touching everything in the room, every breath they take contains germs that I can’t even see. Germs give moms nightmares is what I’m saying. Think about it next time you reach for the handrail at the mall or press a button on an elevator that thousands of people have already touched. What are you exposing yourself to?

Anyway, this blog is not supposed to be about my “germophobic” self. Instead, it’s meant to be a reminder that we are not in control of everything. There are dangers out there that we can’t even see. Even moms can’t protect you from everything around you. Beyond germs, there are forces in this world that I can’t fully protect my children from. There are people that will try to lead ym children astray, television shows that will entrap my kids with lies from the devil, and evils that I don’t even know how to explain.

 Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

The Bible tells us to always be on guard from the devil’s schemes.

 “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

As Christians, this world is against us. After all, if you had no interest in Jesus Christ and never served Him in any capacity, why would the devil waste his time on you? The devil is going to attack anyone and everyone that serves the Lord. This is not meant to scare you or discourage you from serving God, instead, it is meant to remind you that you are not in this alone. Although this world is against you, God is always with you!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

As I prepare for Empowered Jesus Girl, I must admit, I am under attack and your prayers area always greatly appreciated. A friend of mine told me the other day that she admired my confidence and strength in the Lord, but on the inside,  I was struggling just as much as she was. Every day I have to renew myself spiritually by seeking the Lord for guidance, trusting Him, and knowing that He has a plan that I cannot see. There are days that I feel like the devil is throwing darts at me. Some of the darts are darts of anxiety, fear, and doubt. Whereas, other darts contain sickness, weakness, and lack of confidence. It’s been said that “you are your worst critic.”

Just last week, I published my first book, “But God Had a Plan.” Shortly after receiving the first 75 orders, I started realizing that I had basically just published a portion of my diary. My book is a 60-Day devotional that is filled with personal experiences and positive impacts that Jesus Christ has had on my life. I am not proud of every battle I have faced, but I pray that the fact I have overcome my battles with Jesus Christ, will encourage and strengthen other young women. My book will be available at Empowered Jesus Girl and on Amazon.

My self-doubt and anxiety increased as more and more books sold. Not to mention for 3 weeks straight I battled with formatting and editing my book then found more errors after they were printed – so I had to go back to re-format again and again. I’ve come to terms with the fact that if you find mistakes in my final copy, just take them as reminders that I am human.

Empowered Jesus Girl is only 2 weeks away on February 8^th, 2019. With it being at my home church, East Pickens Baptist, I’m a little nervous about speaking – especially right now – because right now I have no voice and I don’t know how that will work with speaking to a bunch of teenagers. Sunday, my youngest son and I went to the Doctor as well. On top of Carson having pneumonia, Asher has a double ear infection, and I have an upper respiratory infection. Altogether, it has been a rough weekend, but I know where my strength will come from.

At the Doctor Friday, even with a fever of 103, Carson told the Doctor that he was hulk and he could defeat anyone except for God. The nurse looked at him and said, “You’re right, you can’t be stronger than God because He is the One that gives you your strength.”

At night, my anxiety increases, and I feel weaker and more insecure that I ever have. God has used music to help me find peace each night. There are hundreds of medications out there to help people sleep but only Jesus Christ can give you the calm that will lull your heart to rest. At night when I start to panic, I’ve started singing…not out loud because that would freak my husband out and not be a peaceful calming sound…instead, I fill my mind with praise and scripture. As I start to stare at the ceiling and struggle to sleep, I quote the scriptures that fill my mind and sing the songs that bring joy to my heart. Shortly afterwards, I fall asleep…I promise it works better than counting sheep. I’ve never understood the sheep deal, but praise and prayer will always help you through hard times.

The battles we face that other people cannot see (worse than the germs all around you) are the ones that we can only fight with Jesus Christ. Utilize His word, encouraging music, and uplifting friends to find peace and get the rest you deserve.

 “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.” Psalm 40:3

Listen to Lauren Daigle’s song, “You Say” for further encouragement when you feel weak need His love and power to lift you up!

“I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?
Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know (ooh oh)

You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don’t belong, oh You say that I am Yours
And I believe , oh I believe
What You say of me
I believe

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity”

• Lauren Daigle

Don’t forget to go online to WildernesGrace.org to register you and your friends for a Girl’s Night Out at Empowered Jesus Girl 2019!

I can’t wait to see you there!

May God Bless you and show you His grace every day!

You can purchase my book online at: https://www.amazon.com/BUT-GOD-HAD-PLAN-JOURNEY/dp/1792166486/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1548685817&sr=8-1&keywords=kayla+rampey

“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:3

To my sisters in Christ,

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are united as a family worldwide. For every believer, you are my sister, my friend. As your family member, I will pray for you, be there for you, and do all that I can to insure you know that you are not alone. You are my family, a child of our Heavenly Father, together we can make a difference.

You are always in my prayers!

Your sister in Christ, Kayla Rampey

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:3 to “remember those in prison as if you were together with them, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Imagine if your biological brother, sister, mother, or father was imprisoned for believing in Jesus Christ. How would you feel if your family member was taken from their home, beaten, mistreated, or even killed for their beliefs?

My heart breaks thinking of how I would feel or what I would do if my family member was in that sort of situation. I can’t imagine what it would be like to hear that my sister, my best friend, was thrown in prison and beaten. I would automatically want to find a way to help her and get her home safely as soon as possible. But what if her life was meant to be an example to glorify God? What if her faith during persecution would cause thousands of people to come to know Christ? Would I even understand the depths of her love for Christ? Would my faith override my fears?

The truth is, I can’t imagine true persecution, but people all over the world are dealing with situations just like this every day.

This blog is not meant to scare you or cause you to worry about things you can’t control; instead, it is meant to inspire you and encourage you to pray for your spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ that are suffering all over the world.

My small group started a new study Sunday called “I am n.” I’m sure you’ve seen the symbol, but do you really know what it means? In the Islamic culture, all Christian homes, businesses, and churches are marked with a symbol “n” showing others that the people inside proclaim Jesus Christ. In a culture where Christians are not welcome, this causes mass destruction, hate crimes, and chaos that is hard for us to even imagine. Christians are forced to escape with only their shirts on their backs because their businesses suffer for their beliefs and they are not welcome in their communities. Families are torn apart, taken from their homes, and beaten for their beliefs. Without warning Christians can be imprisoned and harmed without reason. Pastors and believers have lost their lives just because they refuse to denounce Jesus Christ as their savior.

It’s easy for Christians like you and I to get disconnected with our persecuted family members halfway around the world. For us, we have it made. We can preach the gospel almost anywhere without worrying about true persecution. The biggest worry we have when it comes to sharing the gospel is, “what if people make fun of me? What if they won’t listen?” Whereas, in other countries across the world, there are Christians fearing for their lives just because they own a Bible.

I can’t express to you how important it is for you to pray for your extended family members. I will admit that there have been times (way too often) where I pray for myself, my close family, my food on my own table, and maybe a few friends that I know are struggling, but I forget about or overlook the ones that need prayer the most – my persecuted family members. There are days that my prayer life is nowhere near what it needs to be. When life gets busy it seems like my prayers get shorter and shorter, when they really need to get longer to help me grow closer to my Heavenly Father.

Without a sense of urgency or a reminder of the sacrifices some of our brothers and sisters are making, it’s hard for us to understand true faith.  We often forget about the people that are not in our direct sight daily.

Who are you forgetting about today? Have you forgotten the ones that need prayer the most? When was the last time you prayed for your brothers and sisters in Christ that you don’t even know?

When you think of your “global” family in Christ, remember to pray for:

• Pastors and missionaries that serve all over the world
• Persecuted Christians
• Military and their families
• World leaders

Also pray for your enemies, pray for:

• Terrorist and people that are persecuting Christians, pray that the Lord will change their hearts if it be His will, and if not, pray that whatever happens it will make a huge impact in this world for the glory of Christ.

The people that are hardest to pray for are usually the ones that you need to pray for the most. Today I challenge you to step up your prayer life, make a list of those that you need to add to your daily prayers, and remind yourself daily of the freedom that you have in Jesus Christ. Never forget about your persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ and let their lives be an example to you, inspire you to grow your faith, and encourage you to be urgent in sharing the gospel with everyone.

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day!

Don’t forget to register for Empowered Jesus Girl 2019! For more info visit: WildernessGrace.org See you soon!

As I look back on the past year, I cannot help but think of the one that are grieving this holiday season. In 2018, I lost my uncle. At Christmas dinner this year, there was a silence in the room, a somber sound knowing that he was not there. He was full of stories and brought laughter and smiles to everyone he met. He was loved and will always be missed. My dad and his brothers and sister, lost their brother, their best friend. My grandparents lost their son, something that they never though would happen. Parents always think they’ll outlive their children. His wife lost her husband, the one that cherished him for his love and laughter. His children lost a father and grandfather to their children. The painful list continues with family and friends as his life impacted so many around him. He was young, but it was his time to be with the Lord. He spent Christmas with Jesus this year.

My mom and aunt lost their mother, the one that loved them from their very first breath. She was the one that was always there for them, cared for their every need, and cherished every moment she had with her girls. I lost a grandmother, a great grandmother to my children, and a friend that always made me smile. She had a lot of struggles in her life, but the day that the Lord took her home, we all had peace knowing that her mind was finally at ease. She was experiencing a calm in the arms of Jesus Christ.

I have friends that have lost their mother, father, and grandparents. At Christmas, there was an empty spot at their family gatherings and broken hearts around the room. Others have lost children, young and old, without a reason or understanding of why. Mothers have had miscarriages leaving them scarred and broken. Young lives have been lost to suicide, victims of depression and pain, and family members are lost not knowing how to comfort those they love. I am broken for the parents that have lost their young children. I can recall two sets of parents that lost a 17-year-old daughter and another that lost all 3 of her young children car wrecks. How will they go on? Will they ever recover from the brokenness that they feel?

Wherever you are, whatever you may be doing this Christmas, take time to tell the ones around you how much you love them. Mend broken relationships, give and accept forgiveness, and appreciate every person around you. You never know when your last Christmas with them might be. Wrap your arms around them and remember how blessed you are to have them in your life.

We may never understand why lives are lost at certain times, why people die so young, and why suffering occurs, but we can always find peace in Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” We can always know that our peace from God alone. Our victory and eternal peace will not be found on this earth, it will be found in the arms of our Father.

To those that have lost loved ones in the past year, know that if they knew Christ as their Heavenly Father, they are with Him experiencing peace that we cannot even imagine. They are healthy, not suffering in pain, and not broken or hurting over the brokenness of this world. Have peace and know that though they are not with you, they are watching over you, waiting for you and the lost ones around you, to trust in the Lord. There is only one way to see them again, and that is through trusting in Jesus Christ. If you know that you are a sinner, and you know that you need Christ in your life, trust in Him and allow Him to help you overcome the struggles of everyday life. Let Him lead your life and your understanding will be transformed, your love for others will grow, and your life will forever be changed. I pray that your next year will be a year that glorifies God, impacts those around you, and is filled with love and appreciation for each moment you are blessed with!

 

May God Bless you and show you His grace every day!

In 2 Timothy Chapter 1-2, Paul is being a spiritual mentor for a younger pastor. Discipleship is simply encouraging and helping another person grow closer to the Lord. Ask yourself, “Who am I mentoring today? Am I leading anyone closer to God?” As followers of Christ, we are called to serve Him by serving others, showing the love of Christ, and leading this world out of darkness and into the Light. How can true followers of Christ serve without helping guide others?

The scripture states in 2 Timothy 1:5, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also”

Discipleship is not a job only for Pastors and leaders in the church, it is a job for each and every believer. Paul reminds the younger Pastor in 2 Timothy of the spiritual guidance that he received as a child through his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice. Speaking of the sincere faith that His family members had, Paul goes on to say, “I am persuaded, now lives in your also.” Through the discipleship of his grandmother and mother, this young pastor was able to grow closer to the Lord each day. Their influence encouraged Him, and I can imagine that their prayers were answered the day that he came to know the Lord. Can you imagine the smile on their faces when their son and grandson told them he was going to share the gospel as a pastor?

As a mother of 2 young boys, I am called to disciple my children. Beyond that, I am also called to disciple other people around me. When a person young or old accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior, their journey is just beginning. Some people are saved at such a young age that all that they know about Christ is that He died on the cross and was raised again to save them from their sins. They know that He lived and died but He lives again, and they’ve confessed that He is Lord, but do they know the entire Bible? Do they know how to lead others to Christ? Do they know their spiritual gifts and how to use them for His glory?

When a person is first saved, the Bible says that they are “babies in the faith.”

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” 1 Peter 2:2

Babies in the faith need nurturing, care, and guidance to grow in the Lord. If you are a new believer in Christ, I encourage you to find a spiritual mentor to disciple you in the faith. Disciple does not mean discipline; instead, it means to guide and help you grow closer to the Lord. A spiritual mentor will help you through hard times and answer your questions when you stumble upon scripture that you might not understand completely. Keep in mind that your spiritual mentor does not have to be the Pastor or a leader at your church. Y

Your spiritual mentor needs to be:
1) Strong in their walk with Christ both inside and outside of the church.
2) A firm believer in the Word of God, not wavering.
3) Available to help you, pray with you, and answer your questions
4) Wise and understanding of God’s Word.
5) A true example of how someone should live and serve Christ

Find someone you can trust and depend on for guidance. I promise that if you will reach out to someone and just ask for help, they will be there for you. If you are unsure of who to go to, go to your Pastor and ask him who would be a good spiritual mentor for me? I guarantee he will be able to point you in the right direction. God does not want you to live this life alone. He wants you to be helped by others so that in the future you can disciple someone else as well. We are all just a part of His plan. Start today by deciding to find the guidance you need.

To the followers of Christ living for the Lord and able to disciple others: Who are you being a spiritual mentor to today? If you aren’t a spiritual mentor to anyone, open your eyes. There are “baby Christians” all around you that need your help. Don’t waste another moment in your Christian bubble. It’s easy to consider yourself a Christian, strong in the faith because of your attendance at every Bible Study and worship service there is, but if you aren’t practicing discipleship and living out His Word, what are you doing?

The Bible says in James 1:22-25, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

You can disciple a young believer by simply praying with them when they are in need. When you pass them at church each Sunday, ask them how they are doing. You must intentionally reach out to new believers and make a point to help them grow in their faith. Remember that they will need nurturing and care just as a newborn baby does. Encourage them daily. Text them scripture or send them a card. Do whatever it takes to help them stay on the path that Christ has laid before them.

The Bible says in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” When you are working unto the Lord, whether it’s by serving in the church or community, or mentoring someone that needs guidance, you are doing God’s work.

We are called to be the hands and feet of Christ. Start today. If you are a follower of Christ, strong in your walk, find someone to disciple, mentor, and guide closer to the Lord. If you are a new Christian, don’t be ashamed to ask for help. Talk to your pastor about helping you find a spiritual mentor, join a small group, and connect to others that will lead you closer to God and not further from His Presence.

Praying for you always!

May God Bless you and show you His grace every day!