ISSUE NO. 9 // SPRING 2018
ASPIRING TO BE MAGAZINE
PURPOSE IN THE SURRENDER Ashley Chambers pg. 07
Editor's Notes
05
Meet the Writers
07
Purpose in the Surrender
10
Look Again
14
The Underdog Will Rise
18
Perspective
STNETNOC FO ELBAT
04
SETON S'ROTIDE
SPRING HAS SPRUNG! I don't know about you but I get so excited when I start seeing buds on the trees and the flowers start to bloom. Especially after cold days that seem to just want to linger. I am also excited for this spring issue of Aspiring to Be. I am so blessed that you continue to read and have stuck with us. We are entering our 3rd year of ministry and it's all because of you, our beautiful readers.
I hope that you will find our Spring issue full of encouragement. I also pray that each article touches the right people at the right time. I believe that this year will be our best year yet and I pray that God greatly blesses you in all that you do.
DIANNA AUTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Meet Our Writers:Â Ashley Chambers is a wife and mother to 5. She is founder of Count it All Joy Ministry on Facebook.
Kristi Willingham lives in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. She works as a Case Manager for the Salvation Army and attends Redemption Church where she has served in a variety of areas as well as assisting other ministries as the Holy Spirit leads. After being married for 25 years, Kristi became a widow and recently tackled the challenge of becoming an empty-nester, as her 2 children embarked on their own unique life journeys. Kristi has a desire to encourage and inspire others to grow in God's Love for them through the written word.
Lisa Wilkerson is a native of Knoxville, TN. She came to Jesus Christ at a young age, but had a shallow relationship with God. After spending 8 years in the military and going through life's trials, she rededicated her life to God and made a decision to go deeper. She went back to school and obtained a master degree in Counseling from Liberty University and is a commissioned minister through Abundant Life Christian Counseling and Training Center. She spent some time providing mental health services and then the hand of God transitioned her to the classroom to teach in higher education. She currently works as a Military Counselor for Helen Ross Mcnabb. She humbly supports her husband in sharing the gospel, while raising their children and ministering to women in all walks of life. She believes in and emphasizes the power and love of God to and through every one who believes. Contact information: www.winningwithgod.org
Dianna Auton holds a Bachelor of Science in Christian Education and grew up in the home of a minister that taught her the importance of ministering where you are at. Her personal ministry is to encourage women of all walks of life to serve God. She lives with her husband of 19+ years, Andy, and daughters in East Tennessee, where she serves in her local church. You can connect with her on her personal blog, "A Little Bit of Everything" at: diannaauton.wordpress.com
... IN MAN’S SEARCH FOR HIS PURPOSE THERE ARE PEOPLE PLACED IN THEIR LIFE TO OPEN THEM UP AND INTRODUCE THEM TO NEW EXPERIENCES. A S H L E Y
C H A M B E R S
PURPOSE IN THE SURRENDER ASHLEY CHAMBERS
There’s a positive and energizing breakthrough
background, age, race, gentile or Jew is to
that comes to those chasing the reality that they
discover ones purpose. Why am I here? What is my
haven’t yet reached their point of purpose. It
purpose and plan? How do I fulfill my destiny?
drives us to inwardly question things. It causes our surroundings to start lighting up like highlighted
I began asking myself those questions around age
words on paper. Scales start falling from eyes,
18. I’d heard others talk about it for years before
hearts are softened, deaf ears start to hear and
that. Even men of maturity and aged women.
new opportunities present themselves to us for a
Around town and in churches. It seemed to be
chance to test our growth.
among the things discussed by many and I began to take notice of the shift in people’s eyes, facial
In the meantime, in man’s search for his purpose
expressions and even their body language. They
there are people placed in their life to open them
would shift as if they desperately desired to know
up and introduce them to new experiences.
the answer yet were incredibly burdened and
God’s love, mercy and grace begin to start
deep sorrow seemed to hold them captive.
coming alive and they take notice of something they’ve never before taken notice of.
YROTS ERUTAEF
One common quest for man regardless of
It’s all planned and orchestrated but it’s up to the
distraction and had kept me bound from giving
individual to walk into their purpose and plan. It
Him my whole heart! Something FINALLY broke
has to begin somewhere. Then it comes to pivotal
within me and it clicked and took hold that day.
decision time. To be relentlessly determined to say I just longed to serve and please God and be
walking in your destiny!
stripped of who I was and allow myself to be ink poured out for Him. To use me as a willing vessel
Be reminded that our enemy also has a plan. He
for the kingdom. I dared to trust Him with
will send distractions in the form of people and
everything I was! I asked Him to strip me down
familiar comforts and excuses to derail you. He
and build me back up how He needed to and He
uses things that are tempting so you will grab onto
did just that. He pruned me so much I must’ve
the rope and be dragged away and enticed by
looked like a bare tree without any of its bark. I
our lustful desires. Always we must be discerning
still chose to trust Him. I had no clue that what He
about the things and people we allow in and who
could do in me would produce such a different
and what we say yes to. In times of growth he
outcome years later from what I imagined in that
prowls and then pounces to steal your harvest.
moment.
John 10:10 “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and
When we allow God to do the pruning and we
satisfying life.”
simply submit and say, “yes lord” our lives become so full and so beautiful that we truly
Once I discovered that I had a purpose I was
cannot even imagine it! We just have to continue
already affiliated with a church and had been
to trust Him every single step of the way! There is
introduced to the biblical knowledge and truth of
nothing, no sin, Pleasure or person worth fighting
the familiar scripture Jeremiah 29:11. To know that
against God to hold onto. He prunes us for a
God not only has a purpose and plan for my life
greater purpose than we understand. We need to
but that it’s a good one changed everything for
allow Him to heal all of broken places. He has
me. However, it still required me to believe it,
people to reach through us. We are His vessels in
accept it, choose it and walk in it.
which His work gets done. He sees the entire plan we only see through the smallest lens and know
My story of surrender isn’t one of immediate
not even what the very next second holds.
casting and following. I was tossed to and fro, pulled and pushed and I chose sin and self
Maybe you haven’t even trusted Him with your life
fulfillment over surrender and God’s good plan
in the form of salvation. If that’s you I pray that
many times before I reached a place of my
you would take the leap of faith and give yourself
complete transformation and full surrender.
to Him as savior and then accept Him as lord of your entire life through eternity! His plan is good!
I’m in a place now where I can look back and be
You will bear good fruits and have the abundant
thankful for where I am and grateful that God
life when you surrender to walk in your purpose.
never gave up on me through my long season of doubt, refusal to submit for so many reasons and
Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the way of life,
longing to try in my own strength to fulfill a plan
granting me the joy of your presence and the
and purpose.
pleasures of living with you forever.”
I surrendered myself fully in my living room, in front
Jeremiah 29:11 “‘I know the plans I have for you,’
of my tv after a bible study that challenged me to
says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not
fast from something that was a stronghold,
for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”
YROTS ERUTAEF
and accept whatever it is that will lead you into
EPHESIANS 2:10 “FOR WE ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE. HE HAS CREATED US ANEW IN CHRIST JESUS, SO WE CAN DO THE GOOD THINGS HE PLANNED FOR US LONG AGO.” EPHESIANS 3:20 “NOW ALL GLORY TO GOD, WHO IS ABLE, THROUGH HIS MIGHTY POWER AT WORK WITHIN US, TO ACCOMPLISH INFINITELY MORE THAN WE MIGHT ASK OR THINK.” PHILIPPIANS 2:13 “FOR GOD IS WORKING IN YOU, GIVING YOU THE DESIRE AND THE POWER TO DO WHAT PLEASES HIM.” ROMANS 8:28 “WE KNOW THAT GOD CAUSES EVERYTHING TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE FOR THEM."
LOOK AGAIN KRISTI WILLINGHAM Stuck. There was no other word for the way I’d been feeling. Each day I would come home to the same house I’d shared with my husband and children for five years; the home that held so many memories, both good and bad. The same home we signed for the day we lost my mother. The same home in which we mourned the loss of my father just seven short months later; and the home we buried our loving father and husband from two years ago. Yes, stuck was a very good word for it.
Who could have known the day we moved in that there would be so much loss in this home. So many good days overshadowed by grief. So much love overshadowed by pain and yet, so much thankfulness that the Lord heals our hearts and minds and gives us comfort from His Holy Spirit as He Loves us back to health again.
On that unseasonably warm October morning when my husband and I took over the house, we signed papers for a lease with the option to buy; with the stipulation that we would be responsible for any maintenance needed inside and outside the home. When my husband grew ill, we chose not to purchase
home but rather, to continue leasing. After my
coming to the rescue of the damsel in distress.
husband went to be with the Lord, the home repairs and landscaping became more than I
I went to church on New Year’s Eve and listened
could possibly handle on my own; and suddenly
as my Pastor spoke of hope, resurrection life, and
what was to be our dream home felt like a noose
restoration for the coming year. The joy in my
around my neck, which tightened its grip with
heart began to well up over the next few days as
each passing moment until I no longer felt able to
my spirit overflowed with thankfulness and
breathe or move in any direction towards finding a
gratitude for the good days I’d seen and the
solution.
victorious days ahead. Nothing had changed in the natural, yet I sensed a breaking open in the
Storms blew through and ripped off the guttering.
Spiritual realm and a deep abiding peace
The air conditioning stopped working. Both toilets
stemming from His Perfect Love.
broke, followed by both bathroom vanities. The kitchen sink began leaking and the washing
January 2nd began as any other day with my
machine overflowed filling the floor with water
leaving for work early in the morning and
and leaving damage to the baseboards in the
returning shortly after 6:00 PM. I opened the front
hallway and garage. The landscaping became
door and stepped into the living room and into
overgrown with thorns, weeds, and blackberry
about an inch and a half of water on the floor. I
thickets.
followed the sound of running water to the kitchen where I found half of the ceiling
These issues began to weigh heavily on my mind.
collapsed and water gushing from pipes in the
Tangled feelings of helplessness began to creep in
attic through the hole and into the floor.
and interlace with the depression and grief that threatened to overtake me at any moment.
Not knowing what to do, I immediately phoned
Feelings of guilt and shame for not being able to
my landlord who told me to get my neighbor and
be a better steward of what the Lord had blessed
ask him to shut the water off from the road. Once
us with were a daily battle. Soon the home
the task was done, I began to go through the
became a place of loneliness and isolation
house and survey the damage. The bedroom
choking, it would seem, the very life out of my
behind the kitchen had no ceiling at all and
being.
everything in the room was destroyed. The water had flooded every room in the house including
I would cry for hours and pray to God to send
the garage. The smoke alarms began to emit
help, but none came. I clung to the promise that
their shrill tones as the water seeped into their
my God never leaves me nor forsakes me. I clung
circuits. Not wanting to take for granted the lack
to the promise that My Maker, as my Good and
of fire, I once again searched the house.
Faithful Husband, would take care of His bride; that the reproach of my widowhood would fall to
The next hours were a blur of phone calls and
His Promises of restoration found in Isaiah 54:4-
texts, snapping photos for the landlord, and trying
17.
to make some sense of what this meant for me. My son came and helped me pack an overnight
I began to feel hope spring up inside as I stood in
bag while a local company came and began to
faith believing for His Promises of Love towards
assess the damage and initiate the clean-up
me, which though already done through Grace the
process.
very day He promised them, had yet to manifest in the natural day to day of my existence. With the
Taking one last look around, I went into the room
ending of the year, I couldn’t help but believe that
my daughter had occupied before moving out
true to His Word, my God was working it out and
and found amidst the debris, one of her Bibles
would swoop in and save the day, like the hero
she had left in the bedroom floor. The carpet all
around was like walking on a sponge, and yet the Bible was completely dry. Not one page had been damaged. I picked up the Word and carried it with me to the master bedroom and as I began to walk through the house pondering the sheer magnitude of what God was saying to me through this little miracle, I began to notice something else. Though the living room floor was flooded, the water had gathered in puddles and ran to the left and to the right of my furniture touching none of it except a small inexpensive bookshelf. In the master bedroom, the water had flooded the bathroom and walk-in closet yet had stopped abruptly at the foot of my bed, not touching any of my bedroom furniture.
Much to the amazement of the young men working on the clean-up, I began to laugh as the heavy weight of the past two years lifted off my shoulders like the fog lifting with the sunrise. I began to get the bigger picture. The Hand of the Lord had reached down into my situation and protected me. The enemy had come in attempting to wreak havoc. But true to His Word, like a flood, the Holy Spirit had raised up a standard against him!
Now I no longer have repairs to be made, as the damage was so extensive that the insurance company will cover nearly all of the repairs needed. My children and so many of my church family stepped in to make sure I had a place to stay, and I was able to rent an apartment from a sister in the faith on a month by month basis until I’m able to find the right place for me.
If you are standing on God’s Word and believing in faith, don’t give up! Don’t stop believing He is in the midst of your situation. God is no respecter of persons; and what He does for one of His children, He’ll do for all. At first glance, it may look like you’ve lost everything and you’re finally going down for the count. But look again! In the midst of the ashes, you’ll find Beauty. In the midst of the fear, you’ll find Strength. Look again!
HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME. E C C L E S I A T E S
3 : 1 1
THE UNDERDOG WILL RISE! LISA WILKERSON
prophet was sent by God to his house to look for
wondered where is God? I have and I will also tell
a future king. David was working in the field
you that many great leaders have felt that way,
when his dad sent all of his other brothers to be
too. I am going to share a truth that God gives us
looked at for the choosing. Samuel, the prophet
regarding the story of David and Goliath. David
knew none of his brothers were the one and
was certainly brave in the end, but let me tell you
asked David’s dad, Jesse, if there was anyone
it was a process to get there.
else. Jesse replied in an overlooked way, “There is still one left, the youngest; he is tending the
If you have not read about him, you should! He
sheep” (vs. 11, Amplified). His father could have
wrote poems and songs, and he had many
been implying that Samuel didn’t want him,
accomplishments in life that resulted in him being
because he was not adequate and was not like
a king.
his other siblings. He was in the field, dirty like the sheep, doing something different by himself.
You would think he must have been a popular guy,
I wonder how that must have felt for David to be
right? But he was not, initially. In 1 Samuel 16, the
isolated from his family? I’m sure it didn’t feel
story is told that he had seven brothers, and a
good for him or for us today. In fact, it’s quite
YROTS ERUTAEF
Have you ever felt like the underdog and
a situation now where it seems like you are alone,
and support you, not believe in you and minimize
and no one values you. Let me tell you that you
your value. But let me tell you, when no one thinks
are never alone and as long as you are in Christ,
you are qualified, God will search for you, and
if God be for you, who can be against you? No
relentlessly go after you until he finds you! Isn’t
uncircumcised “Philistine” can spoil the purpose
that amazing?
and plan of God for your life. You are anointed to do something great, so take action now. Your
When Samuel saw David, the Bible says, the future
enemy can be stopped, your power in in your
king “was glowing with health and had a fine
tongue. God’s word is not void of power, the
appearance and handsome features” (vs. 12).
problem is we are void of speaking it! Let me say
How can he be glowing and have a fine
that again! God’s word is not void of power, we
appearance working amongst dirty sheep? God
are void of speaking it!
gives an answer in a previous verse, “the Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look
David defeated his giant with a sling and spoke
at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at
God’s word with so much assurance and faith,
the heart” (vs. 7). God is saying that no matter
saying to the Philistine, “Thou comest to me with
how others see you, He sees you as valuable and
a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I
profitable. He wants to make Himself know in your
come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts,
life. God does not call the qualified, he qualifies
the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast
the called. He will get the “dirt of life” off of you
defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into
and plant you in a purposeful position.
mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine
head from thee; and I will give the carcases of
Many of you may know that my life theme is
the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls
“bloom where you are planted” and I like flowers.
of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth;
As I studied this chapter deeper, I saw myself in
that all the earth may know that there is a God in
the fact that, sometimes others have tried to mold
Israel.” (1 Samuel 17:45,46). As you read the story,
me into something they thought I was or wanted
that is exactly what David, the thought to be
me to be with their beliefs, but I was called to be
underdog, did!
different. When you are different, you may be rejected. If you are created to lead, you can’t be
David depended his success upon God and we
like the crowd. Your life is so strategically
should do no less the same. We pick up the word
designed by the One who created the stars and
of God as a sling and hurl it at our enemies! Now
the moon. Many great men and women have
let me go a little bit deeper with the sling, but I’m
been buried in contempt or obscurity, but God
going to use the modern day sling shot, that has
often exalts those whom men despise. In fact,
two sides and a rubber pulley. The one David
Jesus, the son of David, was He whom men
used had a pouch and he had to manually wind it
despised, “the stone which the builders rejected”,
up and hurl the object. Did you know that the
and yet he has a name above every name, praise
farther you pull the modern day slingshot back,
God! (Matthew 21:42) So don’t worry about what
the more distance the object in it will be
others call you, find out what God calls you and
propelled forward when you release it? Is there
you will also find yourself inwardly advanced in
something happening in your life right now that
wisdom and courage.
seems like a setback? It could be one thing or a multiple of things. If so, think about the slingshot.
David was anointed with royal kingly power and it
God may be setting you up to be propelled
was to come in due time. Galatians 6:9 tells us,
forward into your destiny!
“don’t grow weary in well doing, because we shall also reap in due season”. You may find yourself in
You have to decide to go forward in the power
YROTS ERUTAEF
painful to have someone that’s supposed to love
of God or sit there and grieve. So decide to let the pain become a catapult, decide to do something bigger and larger, and better. Make the devil pay for your pain! Don’t let your pain be wasted, become a difference maker, like David
disappointments make your future outcomes seem too distant. Use your seemingly setbacks as the catalyst to push you forward quickly, especially in these last days. We have victory over satan and all the powers of darkness and we through Christ are more than conquerors! (Romans 8:37).
Once we know that we have authority over our enemy, we have to exercise, or enforce, that authority. It doesn't work automatically. Just knowing that we have authority over satan is not enough. If we don't use it, the devil will dominate us. Only knowledge that is acted upon will bring results. Jesus triumphed over satan, so our combat with the devil should be from the viewpoint that Jesus has already defeated him. Our battle, so to speak, is simply enforcing what Christ has already won for us. Satan can't dominate us unless we allow him to.
We always win with God. When He plants you in a place or situation, there will be opposition, but remind yourself of the sling shot and your victory in Jesus. The underdog will rise up and be on top in the end! The devil is a liar, he is defeated, and under our feet. So remind him boldly of that, using God’s powerful word and bloom where you are planted right now!
YROTS ERUTAEF
did. Don’t let your present or past
OUR LORD HAS WRITTEN THE PROMISE OF THE RESURRECTION, NOT IN BOOKS ALONE, BUT IN EVERY LEAF IN SPRINGTIME. M A R T I N
L U T H E R
PERSPECTIVE DIANNA AUTON
The End of th the World! I know, it’s pretty
anxious. I tried to keep these things hidden. In
dramatic. Reading something like that used to
fact at first I didn’t even realize it was all from
completely freak me out. I would get nervous and
fear. I just assumed I had picked up a stomach
gulp and try to just gloss over all things prophetic
bug or something but as it progressed I knew this
in regards to the return of the King.
wasn’t a bug nor was this physical.
I know it sounds weird but its true. It didn’t help
The Lord began to reveal things to me through
that satan would try to bombard my mind with
the people I was around and through nudges in
thoughts of “what if this is just stories” but in my
the Spirit. He began to work on me by using
heart and in my spirit I knew the truth. In more
prayer and praise and slowly over time I became
recent years the attacks on my mind had
less and less anxious. I began dreaming and
increased to the point that I became fearful. I
planning for the future again and I began to feel
literally was getting sick. I couldn’t sleep and I was
hope once again.
vomiting because I was so scared. As long as the sun was up and shining I was full of hope but as
My problem was the fact that I was looking at
soon as the darkness came I would become very
things from the wrong perspective.
I was seeing things from the perspective that we
I want to give you an opportunity now, if you
were coming to the end but in reality for Christians
haven't made Jesus your Lord and Savior that you
we will be starting a new and better life.
can do that right now no matter where you are.
In my head I was thinking that I wouldn’t have the
Romans 10:9 & 10 says "that if you confess with
opportunity to be a grandmother and I wouldn’t
your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your
get to experience seeing my kids get married. But,
heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you
God spoke to my heart and asked me “why not?” I
will be saved. For with the heart one believes
began to think on that and started questioning my
unto righteousness, and with the mouth
own reasoning behind it.
confession is made unto salvation."
Now that God helped me to change my
Repeat this prayer:
perspective I’m not thinking about the end of the
"Lord Jesus, I take you today as my Lord and
world but the beginning of restoration in the
Savior. I believe in my heart that you raised Jesus
World. The hope of a wonderful life with the
from the dead. I don't want to waste time any
family and friends he has surrounded me with both
longer following after this world and sin. Sin has
now and in eternity.
no more hold on me. Satan you are not my God. Jesus you are my God. I thank you father for
My heart has grasped the fact that Jesus will be coming back soon and oh how wonderful that will be.
hearing my prayer. In Jesus name. Amen!"
Congratulations!!! Welcome to the Kingdom of God. You are now family. Now there is one more step you need to take. You need to tell 2 or 3 people what you have just done. This is the confession part.
If you prayed that prayer please let us know by emailing us: aspiringtobemag@gmail.com
We would love to hear from you and help you begin this new journey.
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE; I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. P S A L M
1 1 8 : 2 4
G N I M CO OON! S