A2b mag spring 2018 edition

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