IT’S LIKE THIS, KAT! November 17, 2013 Dear friends: Each Sunday I am answering questions or commenting on topics of which I have been asked. You are also welcome to respond to any of the questions or topics presented here. Comments by others will be printed the following week, unless you decline to be published or I receive material that is in poor taste or inappropriate (for which I reserve the right not to print). No names or personal information will be printed unless I have your express permission to do so. If you would like to contact me but do not want to be published in the column, please do so. Question: When someone asks a question that you don’t want to answer or can’t answer, what should you do? Answer: The tactful way is to simply speak the truth -- that you would rather not answer or that you cannot answer. I have learned that I do not need to give an answer or divulge information unless I know it is ok to do so. If people love and respect you, they will leave it at that. You don’t need to be hateful or take offense. Just lovingly share the simple truth. If they continue to press you, it’s time to go! Again, you can be tactful. Dismiss yourself and say goodbye! Today’s Article from Kat: BE ALERT! Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. I Peter 5:8 The enemy loves nothing more than to stir up something in your life. At the most inconvenient times, he will remind you of something that you need to leave alone. When I was a teen, I had my first love. Everyone remembers their first love. It’s a long story as to why we didn’t end up together, but suffice to say we both ended up marrying other people and life went on. He eventually moved away. I stayed in Tulsa, and soon he was a distant memory. Every now and then I would think about him, but it was quickly gone. And then one day out of seemingly nowhere (years ago), I was curious about what was happening with him. Not a good thing. My interest was no longer there in a romantic way, but more of a grieving for what might have been. I brushed it aside and went on, but little reminders began to pop up and I finally gave into the temptation to do a little digging. This brought up some painful emotions that I did not even know were there. I entertained my search for a while, and I prayed because now I was dealing with something that wasn’t intended for me. God said I needed to stop. Just stop. Put it out of my mind -- take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. It was hard, but I did just that. The enemy will retrieve situations in your life, too! You must be on guard because the enemy of your soul is always looking for ways to trip you up in your Christian walk and, eventually, your eternity with God. It’s not about the old boyfriend, or the hurt someone caused you. It’s about keeping you out of the Kingdom of God, on this earth and beyond. God has given us an inner voice that belongs to Him. He lets us know when we are on the wrong track. You may try to deny it, excuse it, step around it, or pretend it doesn’t apply to you, but God has instilled in your heart and mind what is right and what is wrong. Today, I am one of the happiest women in the world. A dear friend asked me recently, “Are you really happy now?” She meant since I met and married Randy. Of course I am, but what if I had pursued my search for that old boyfriend who is happily married and in ministry? Would I have been so swallowed up with a memory that I could not embrace the future? God has me sharing things with you and the rest of the world that I never thought I would say. This is one of those times, but someone needs to hear this message. Stay out of the fire, and allow God to lead you into peace. Don’t step into something not meant for you! It’s a new day, a new time, and God has wonderful things in store for you! Do you trust Him to lead you? Do you trust Him with your life? You should! Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life! If He is dealing with you to stop, then stop right now. Don’t waste any more time indulging something God has forbidden! May God’s peace and joy be abundantly yours! Kathy Qualifications/Credentials: Kathy has been in the ministry for 32 years. She is ordained with Open Arms Fellowship (openarmstoall), a ministry ran by Kathy and her husband Randy. Kathy and Randy minister in Word and song and specialize in the area of relationships and meeting the needs of the world around them. For church service info, please visit their website or contact them. Between the two of them, they have four children and three grandchildren! They may be contacted through e-mail: itslikethiskat@yahoo or on Facebook, “It’s Like This Kat.” Disclaimer: Kathy Barnes is not a secular, professional counselor. The nature and purpose of her ministry is discipleship, not professional/secular counseling, and she has not been trained in medicine or psychology, nor has she been trained in any type of secular counseling. Kathy Barnes’ emphasis is in the direction of the Word of God, and she trains people to search the scriptures (the Bible) for answers to lifes problems. Neither Kathy Barnes nor any representatives or contributors to this column are responsible for and cannot be held liable for, any harm, injury, or loss occurring in the lives of participants of this column. Kathy Barnes cannot control decisions or events in participants lives or what participants may l decide to do in the future. Quoted scriptures taken from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 03:30:18 +0000
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