RENEWAL OF THE MIND

RENEWAL OF THE MIND

by Kathryn Bonner

What do Mind and Spirit Have To Do With One Another?

"The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can't receive the gifts of God's Spirit. There's no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit-God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing, and can't be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah's question, "Is there anyone around who knows God's Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?" has been answered: Christ knows, [we have the mind of Christ] and we have Christ's Spirit."

1 Corinthians 2: 15-16 The Message [NIV]

What do you notice immediately here? I see from the first verse listed here, we have "TWO SELVES" an UNspiritual self and a Spiritual self. Thinking about this causes me to burst with passion here! Which "SELF" do you want to live by? For me, and I'm sure for most of you reading this choose your SPIRITUAL SELF. But wait a minute, let's look at this a bit deeper.... go with me here... If we are to be honest with ourselves and were to answer the question: "What percentage of your daily life is lived through your SPIRITUAL SELF vs. your UNspiritual Self?" What would your answer be? Why is it that our UNspiritual self gets such a hold on us? God has given us healthy minds gifted with the power of choice. So why aren’t we choosing to live more fully into our SPIRITUAL Selves? Do we fear this kind of living? Do we? I think we do, and yet I think we want it, even crave it. Then fear creeps in and snatches it away.

The very next part of the sentence states that the Unspiritual self can’t even receive the gifts of God’s Spirit!!! Oh my gosh! That answers SO much. When we choose not to live as the Spirit leads then we basically have what I will call our “Spiritual Antenna” down. We fail to pick up on the leading of the Spirit, we fail to connect with God, our ears are plugged up, our hearts are hardened, our minds aren’t receiving through the Spirit, or the mind of God. Why in the world do we choose this self, the Unspiritual Self? And what’s more, we fail to see the power, the untapped amounts of real life that we could have. We see it from a warped lens, seeing it as “silliness” as ridiculous, stupid, or absurd. It’s like we voluntarily choose to live a powerless life. A life unfulfilled, disgruntled, and dissatisfied. Why? Why are we choosing this over what is readily available to us? What’s here? What’s the reason for this kind of choosing? I know we all do it, I know we blindly choose it. Is it because we are so used to choosing this kind of living? Are we just not really aware?

Well, we need to be AWARE of what we are choosing. Because once we become aware, then our AWARENESS DEMANDS ACTION. Even doing nothing is an action. We need to be awakened to our full potential to live alive, to live powerful lives. To live into our SPIRITUAL selves. As I become more aware and contemplate the power of the Mind and the Spirit, I become absolutely enthralled, especially when contemplating them coupled together. Once we become aware of the action we can choose we can live awakened lives, with the Spirit and mind of Christ. Why do we want to miss that? What would happen if you were to choose this, for one day, one week, one month, one quarter, one year, ONE WHOLE LIFE? What would be different for you? What would be different for the world?

The passage goes on to say these things “Spirit can be known only by spirit-God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing, and can't be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah's question, "Is there anyone around who knows God's Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?" has been answered: Christ knows, [we have the mind of Christ] and we have Christ's Spirit.”

What we have here is a gift that has been lovingly and powerfully delivered to us, living within us is both the Spirit and Mind of Christ, IF we choose it.

“Spirit can be known only by Spirit, God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion” ummm ummm ummm… I LOVE this! I KNOW this; my Spirit resonates completely with this. When I am in the company of others who are “Spiritually alive” my Spirit recognizes this in them immediately, I know yours does the same. We together in communion recognize this within each other. We feel and experience the power of the Spirit in one another.

Let me share another Scripture with you. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting the baby (John) leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:41

This confirms what the 1 Corinthians passage above is telling us. Spirit can be known by Spirit, God’s Spirit and our Spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive! I love this! --Elizabeth was then at least six months pregnant as v. 36 tells us. She notes the reality that John "leaped" in her womb as an indication of his joy that Mary, who would bear the Messiah, had come for a visit. The Holy Spirit also came upon Elizabeth then making it known to her to greet Mary as the mother of Messiah. The Spirit evidently gave her intuitive understanding of Mary's role. She expressed her blessing excitedly in joyful praise to God and because of the Spirit's propelling.

I have had my Spirit rise with joy when I am with others who love God. It’s amazing the connection (that communion) – we feel when our Spirit recognizes the Spirit in another human being. I have some really deep soul/Spirit connections with some amazing women, especially on the WPPI Team, and together we grab hold of our God-given passions and go! Have you had your Spirit rise with this amazing joy at a Holy Spirit connection with someone? I’m sure you have. You might not have called it that, but I really want you to become more and more aware of these things of the Spirit. I believe we all experience our Spirit’s rise with joy when we are with others who love God! It’s amazing the kind of connection that comes forth, AND the more power we have together in the Spirit, BECAUSE WE HAVE ACCESS TO EVERYTHING GOD’S SPIRIT IS DOING, we have the Spirit living and dwelling within us. We begin to live our lives with more and more of the Mind of Christ; living out our callings with His power, and His will. His will is amazing and truly rocks! We begin seeing the world more as He does and start doing and being and living by the Spirit…

Let our challenge be to live out this verse in our living! Let us choose our God-given SPIRITUAL SELVES! May you live in that amazing POWER today and always!

OUR BODY TEMPLE

Each of us has been given a Body Temple in which we house our Holy Spirit. Some bodies short, some tall, some round, some boxy... no matter, let us be clean vessels, healthy and holy to be used by our Lord for the work in which He calls...

The Lord has given me these verses as I have prayed for His revelation in regard to my Body Temple, and He has impressed it upon me to share. As I do so, please know that this is just as much for me (if not more) as it is for you. The SCRIPTURE will be written in black and the THOUGHTS that the LORD has revealed to me through the reading of His Word will be in blue.

From Psalm 119:33-40

Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statues God, thank you that you want me to learn, LORD let me always have a keen desire to soak in your teachings, let me have a hunger and a thirst for those things and keep me from my own fleshly hungers, my own edicts, and solidly stand in Yours! When I feel tempted my things remind me of Your Spirit living within me! O LORD, I want to walk only in Your ways, physically, Spiritually and mentally. Teach me God, teach me. And I shall keep it to the end. Let me start each day, each thought, each breath and finish each day with Your will and Your Word for me this day and always. Keep me with you... Keep me, hold me Lord in your endless and overflowing love. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Cause me not to rationalize with my understanding but with Your graceful laws, grant me the reasoning for it, so that I no longer desire my own will but Yours. For Yours is truly best. Let my heart fall in love with Your ways, knowing that You always know what is better for me than I ever could. Let me never lean on my own understanding but in Your as You make it known to me through Your Word and the Holy Spirit that is living in me. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. Oh Lord, MAKE ME walk with You, even when I find myself wanting to walk my own path, draw me back unto Your path! LORD let me truly find Your commandments not to be a harsh thought, as the word commandment seems so strong, it causes me to want to run from it! Stop me LORD from running way and getting lost on my path, but call me, let me follow Your path, with sheer joy as I trust and know that Your path is the path of restoration, wholeness and resurrection! Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things. You Lord cause my heart to beat for the things that Your heart beats for! Keep me from the want of things that You do not want for my Body Temple, which houses the Holy Spirit! Literally TURN my eyes and longing from those foods and things that are not of YOU. In fact let me see then as truly what they are - worthless. So why would I ever want to put anything in my mouth that holds no worth? Father take your hand and turn my head, keep my eyes from even looking! You can, and I will rely on You for just that! Hallelujah! and revive me in Your way. Bring to me a resurrected life in which I only live the way You would have me! YES!! Revival!! Bring me the revival, the new breath of your Holy Spirit which leads me to truth, joy, fulfillment and health! Power me with Your strength to say No to those things easily so that they become no temptation to me and that I don't even see them any more because You have turned my eyes away, I have surrendered to Your power! Establish Your Word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You. Launch me each and every morning into Your amazing and beautiful Word! Mmmmm.... mmmmm it is so good, so true, so full and fulfilling! Your Word causes me to be Yours, fully faithful and committed to respecting Your healthy ideals for me. Turn away my reproach which I dread, Let me never make excuses or try to justify my own cravings which in the end I feel guilty about and ultimately worse for not following what You have guided me to do, which is honestly best for me. for Your judgments are good. You cannot, nor would You ever direct me to anything except for that which is first-class! Your judgements are righteous and holy. I trust that and let that knowing sink down deeply into my Spirit. Behold, I long for Your precepts; Craving Your Word, Your teachings, Your guidelines now I surrender those things to which You have asked me to , take them from me Lord. Let me BEHOLD your majesty! revive me in Your righteousness. Oh what freedom I find here with You!! The revival has begun! Your care and love for me have strengthened me to keep My Body - Your Temple as a Holy dwelling place for You to reside, and to grow in strength so that I might serve You even better!! You live in me, You cleanse me, You revive me!!!

COACHES CALL TO ACTION:

• What are the statutes that the Lord longs for you to grasp regarding your Body Temple?
• Have you been turning your eyes TOWARD worthless things or AWAY from worthless things?
• What might your begin doing to make your Body Temple more holy for the housing of the Holy Spirit within you?
• What do you know to be true for you in this passage?

Doors and More Doors

Doors and More Doors,

Heavenly Doors...

What are the God-given doorways

in your life?

"BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO LISTENS TO ME, WATCHING DAILY AT MY DOORS, WAITING AT MY DOORWAY. FOR THOSE WHO FIND ME FIND LIFE AND RECEIVE FAVOR FROM THE LORD " Proverbs 8:34-35

Have you ever given much thought to the doors that the Lord might be opening in your life? Especially when you wait on him to call you, then as you truly listen to Him and proceed to take the courage to actually do what He asks of you? The LORD God Himself actually escorts you as you take the steps! If you commence to walking with Him you soon will be astonished with the incredible journey He will take you on! For me it has been truly grand!

As I become more and more obedient to Him, to His direction, the blessings just keep coming my way! I have been so busy these last few months experiencing the many doors He has opened unto me! I have been astounded by His abundance and blessing upon my life. All of the Holy Spirit directed connections, the new women He has place in my life and all that we are up to together for Him is huge!

God has so much to bestow upon those who seek Him and seek His will. What perspective do you take as you begin to view the Heavenly Doors? Have you ever really thought about doors and the passageways as heavenly?

Do you choose to stay in the room with your ears plugged and the doors shut tightly all around you in order not to venture out? Does that idea feel safer to you so that you do not have to take any risks?

What would it be like for you if you were to view the word risk and shift the perspective of it? Shift the viewpoint of RISK to FAITH? Faithfully seeing a door as a heavenly opening? What doors are you keeping tightly shut that you know you should be opening? What might be on the other side of the door should you open it?

In the verse above you see that as you listen to the calling of the LORD you will be blessed! I am so amazed at the way He calls us forth to do His work! Until the end of time we must be listening to Him, listening to His voice, His Words of wisdom, His Words of direction, His Words of love. his true desire is to bless us, not to cause us to fear Him or His calling on our lives.

I love the second part of this passage as we are instructed to watch DAILY at His doors. Not just every now and then, or once a month when we think about it, but every single day we are to be WAITING AND WATCHING at His doors, waiting for Him to bless us!

The thought of this is beautiful to me as I begin to become more and more aware of the doors that He is guiding me to walk through each and every day.

Picture the glow peeking through, radiating from underneath the door, beckoning you to come... to draw closer and closer to the door. Laying on your tummy with your face up close to the door, you begin to peer through the opening seeing the lights luminosity and your nostrils take in the smells of fresh air, smelling the sweet fragrance of a magnolia tree! The scent fills you with warmth and hope for the day!

You begin to rise, placing your hand upon the old antique door knob which juts out from the old wooden hewn door - leading to the heavenly places of God, as He calls you forth; you go... you go...

You journey on with expectancy from Him who leads...

On the amazing journey with you,

Kathryn

Taste The Rain...

Taste The Rain!!

It's raining.

I am listening.

Love the sound of the rain...

Wash away everyone's pain...

Allow us to glean and gain...

Thunder whispers...

Thunder roars...

I am listening...

Taste and Flood our veins with love...

Allow us the Holy Spirit's dove...

Heaven here, presence from above...

Taste the Cleansing Grace filling the earth...

Cleansing Grace filling each heart...

Cleansing Grace filling each mind...

Renewal My Lord

Renewal My God

Renewal My King

Grace Raining Down...

Washing away frowns...

Replacing with crowns...

Rain... Rain... Rain...

Tasting...

Listening...

Humbled...

Loved.

GATES & DOORS --- Devotional

"The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, it's gates and its walls." Revelation 21:15

"The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass." Revelation 21:21

Oh Lord, to see the vision of this angel---

This angel talking with John!

I picture this and even can experience it in a seemingly smoky kind of way. I know that this is something extraordinary - yet not to You God - not to You at all.

Gold, glorious gold, the angels measuring rod - obviously yielding powers of You God - with abilities far beyond our earthly comprehension. But you have shown us throughout your Word what power you can bring forth - what amazing acts and mighty power can come through a simple stick - or a staff- even a snake.

So... I know that this Golden Measuring Rod was used in Revelation 11 to ensure protection and here in chapter 21 to be used for measuring.... -- mmmmmm.... mmmmm... I soak in your power and majesty. I soak in awe - and joy- and holy fear of all that you are capable of.

Measure me my LORD - let me grow taller and stronger and more powerful through you to be used for You. Grow me, stretch me, let me "measure up" let me in my own unworthiness take on and be cloaked in Your worthiness. Keep me within the bounds of your Holy Walls and Gates, let me not step outside of Your will or Your protection. Protect me with Your rod, keep me within Your gates so that I remain always focused on You - serving You - through Your power.

Let me have every bit of the power You want me to have through the Holy Spirit - let me be fully surrendered and keep measuring me. Allow Your Angels to speak to me. Allow Your Angels to measure me. Keep the Angels that You assign to me ever present, let me hear their words, let me respond accordingly. Thank you my LORD for Your amazing protection - for Your amazing love and your amazing creation!!

With love and devotion,

Kathryn

(the photo above is an actual picture of my journaling devotion taken by me of these particular Scriptures)

WOMEN OF PASSIONATE PURPOSE CHRISTIAN WRITERS' RETREAT

CHRISTIAN WOMEN'S WRITING RETREAT NEAR THE POCONO MOUNTAINS

SEPTEMBER 21ST - 25TH, 2009

Oh... ladies!!! Here we go! We are beginning an unforgettable Writers' Retreat together. Each of us will all be woven together forever more as sisters who are on the writers path together. Can you believe it?

Each on the verge of writing... some for the first time, some who have done so for years...

Writing books and plays and devotions and life stories all divulging pieces of our own journey and heart, all for the glory of God. Can you feel it? Can you feel the blowing breezes of the Holy Spirit, the excitement that we all have? Many of you are coming with the ability to finally admit that you have a book or song (or something) within you that it ready to be born. Ready to speak your truth, to be vulnerable as you share the things that God has beckoned you to. You will be a jeweler or words, string each shiny word together, creating something of incredible worth page after page.

We are just a few short weeks away from our writing retreat! Marykay and I have truly enjoyed putting this retreat together for you. We have been in daily prayer for each of you as you prepare and process what you are embarking upon. Please keep both of us in your daily prayers as well.

Here in Austin we have had record high temps that have left many of us parched and thirsty for places just like Pennsylvania! There will be several Texas gals coming who I know will welcome this wonderful reprieve from the heat...

I can see many of you in my mind clicking away at your computers after reading this newsletter booking the best flight for your arrival! I see the cracks of smiles in your faces as you think about the getaway, as you contemplate the beautiful women (from many parts of the US and one all the way from Canada) that you are on the verge of meeting... coupled with a bit of stress knowing that you still have things to do in order to leave. BUT the ability to have these days of pure bliss... writing, worshipping, wondering... mmmmm... mmmmm... soaking it all in is what propels you onward. Ahh... to write and dream and listen to the Holy Spirit's leading.

I can't wait to see each of your faces and I can't wait to hear about all that the Lord propels you to write!

We only have three slots left, so be sure to let your girl friends know if they want to join you. Have them go to the website at www.WomenOfPassionatePurpose.com to register and pay.

Writing & Worshipping,
Kathryn

COME TO OUR FALL CHRISTIAN WOMEN'S WRITING RETREAT! SEPTEMBER 21ST - 25TH, 2009

DO YOU HAVE A SONG IN YOUR HEART TO WRITE?

A small seed of a book that is within you desperate to be birthed?

Poems to share? Devotionals to bring hope?

Could it be a Bible study you have been putting off?

Perhaps it is a special children's book that has been rising up within you!

Songs to sing in praise to our King,

Pages to turn, Passages to scribble,

Quotes to Quote!

Whether you are a beginning or experienced writer, you will be welcomed to this haven where pens are whirling and twirling on the pages all around...

Join us for a Christian Writes Retreat for Women during the breath taking months of Fall in Mt. Bethel, PA. Enjoy this rare opportunity to settle into a week of deep writing, fellowship and workshops from September 21st - 25th, 2009. You will find plenty of quiet time and sacred space to strengthen and enhance your writing practice, to reach desired goals and to explore your relationship to yourself and your connection to God.

RETREAT HOSTS - WOMEN OF PASSIONATE PURPOSE:

KATHRYN BONNER: Author of "CONFESSIONS OF A PASTOR'S WIFE" - Speaker, Life Purpose Coach, Life Plan Facilitator, Pastor's wife and Writer.

MARYKAY MOORE: Speaker, Life Purpose Coach, Life Plan Facilitator, Assoc Pastor, Spiritual Director and Writer.

REGISTER ON LINE AT

http://www.womenofpassionatepurpose.com/