In-a-Sane Way, I’m-Possible

Below, answer the multiple choice question with the best answer as you see fit.

Q. Does Krinda Joy err more on the side of being impossibly corny or insanely crazy?
             (A). Impossibly Corny
             (B). Insanely Crazy

Please announce your vote, and may the truth be known once and for all. Wait! You may first want to read the rest of this piece before proceeding, for it may influence your decision.

So, I’ve always leaned more towards the fact that I am impossibly corny, since my sense of humor is random. However, lately I think I’ve progressed into craziness. You see, I’ve gone crazy in the fact that I am choosing to laugh at adversity and view things in a way that defies logic, sort of like the Mad-Hatter in the most recent Alice in Wonderland (haha, have you seen it?). The Hatter seems at first to be utterly, well, mad, but later we discover that his insanity really masks his sane purpose for re-establishing TRUTH and the order of what’s RIGHT in Wonderland. Lately, God’s been making me laugh a lot at difficulties and “impossibilities.” I’m sure some people think I’ve gone batty – especially when they see me running alongside the road laughing to myself and muttering (AKA praying) out loud. But, in reality, I feel like this insane behavior is causing me to view the world in-the-most-sane view I’ve yet maintained.

God’s been showing me it’s all about perspective. Yesterday, as I was writing, He was breaking down words for me in a way that caused a little giggle.
     • Insane: breaks into “in sane,” as being in a sane mindset    
     • Insanity: splits into “in sanity”; to be in full sanity
And, finally, my favorite…
     • Impossible: stands for “I’m possible,” because anything that seems impossible is possible with God!

As silly as this seems, there’s a profound truth in God’s little phonics lesson to me. As a Christian, we are called to be set apart. What the world may call insane or insanity is really us living out the TRUTH and RIGHT order of things in our world, as God intended. In John 1, God tells us that Jesus Christ is the light that shines in this world of darkness, but that the dark world has not understood Him or His purposes. And, we are called to be the same: “But you are a chosen people…a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).” If we are called to be in His light, then we can also assume that we will not be understood! When I choose to say no to sex outside of marriage or to wake up early on a Sunday morning to go to two church services, the world may call me insane, but by Jesus’ standard I’m living in true sanity.

Now, for my new favorite word: impossible! Like God showed me, as someone living by the standards of Christ this word should mean “I’m possible,” or “I AM possible.” Who’s possible, you ask? Check it out, Matthew 19:26 clarifies this – “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Anytime we are faced with an obstacle or task that seems totally impossible, we can know that YES, THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. Ha, now you are officially thinking I have turned into the Mad-Hatter because I’m spouting contradictions, but let me finish. It IS impossible, but the thing is that God declares I AM the very definition of POSSIBLE. Nothing to Him is too crazy to do, and there is no circumstance that remains too hard to overcome in His power. After all, Jesus declares Himself to be the “I am” (John 8:58). To understand what this encompasses, we have to go back to the original origin found in Exodus 3:14, in which God declares “I AM WHO I AM,” expressing His infinite, dependable and faithful character as the one who is and can do all things! If we serve the I AM who makes all things possible, then the impossible really just acts as a reason to turn to our “I’m possible,” and declare in complete sanity that if God wills it, IT WILL COME TO PASS.

I’ve shown you a new perspective on these words, and so I shall also tell you my vote for the initial question. I think I’m both (A) and (B): sure I’m-possibly-corny and in-a-sanely-crazy mindset. After all, to truly serve God’s requires that I become both, because like the Mad-Hatter’s riddle – “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” – sometimes we won’t have the answer or any idea of the outcome, all we have is the words God gives us and we must repeat them and declare them. Now, return to the above question and replace my name with your own…are you more impossibly corny or insanely crazy, or both? Will you enter the world of “I’m possible” and viewing the world “in-a-sane” way? The world will call what we claim possible in Jesus impossible, and will label us as insane, but we know the true meaning of these words according to The Word...

©Krinda Joy

Fright’s Flight vs. Faith’s Fight

We have two pathways diverging before us: the Way of Faith, or the Way of Fear. The way of fear seems safe and comfortable; there are not as many blind corners or roots bulging from the packed earth, while the path of faith appears uncertain. As we gaze down the Way of Faith, the immediate bend obscures the direction which the trail will take us. The vegetation along the bumpy way seems to reach out in a threat to engulf the passerby - too few take this way, so the path is overgrown. HOWEVER, though the Way of Fear is comfortable, I must pull out the map for you and point to where it leads. At the end of this path, a swamp awaits. The swamp sucks you in and mud will stop your eyes, ears, and eventually plug up your heart, completely immobilizing any further progress. This swamp is the end result of journeying through life along the way off all your fears and doubts: by entertaining the "what ifs" and not stepping towards trusting in God, our steps eventually take us to this point of immobility in which we can no longer decipher reality as God defines it. Now, let's examine the Way of Faith. Certainly it appears scary because it's always new and uncertain; it requires that we give up preconceived notions and TRUST. However, around each uncertain bend awaits beautiful meadows, stunning waterfalls. Sometimes, on the Way of Faith, we have to climb high, or run hard, but when we reach the end we come into an open field. This field is a place full of color and LIFE, where we feel our heart expand and our vision stretch beyond the mountains and seas, straight towards heaven.


Now that I've painted a picture of the two pathways before us as a church, the question is, Which one will we take? God has been pressing on my heart to no longer live by fear, which constantly keeps me fleeing from the swampy "trap" of feeling helpless and immobile before the pains of life. He has challenged me to rise up in faith and defy what I see with my eyes. As I continue to believe and fight for what I KNOW is right, I begin to feel the forces of our enemy fleeing in fear. The Way of Faith is not easy, because, certainly, the enemy does fight back, but before the power of the Holy Spirit, they must eventually bow and back away. We do not need to go by what is seen - for at times it will look like the enemy is winning - but what is unseen. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinth. 4:18). I plead with every member of the church to no longer flee because of fear or back down because what we see does not look comfortable or encouraging. Instead, allow the Holy Spirit to stir your heart for His cause and declare FAITH'S FIGHT today...

Poem: Fright’s Flight vs. Faith’s Fight
We are a people scared.
Running from the faith we once dared.
Scared to lay on hands,
scared to dream and hope –
What if we don’t see a miracle account?
We fear that we won’t – don’t – amount.
This fright that we aren’t enough,
that we won’t make a difference,
spurs on our sprint from the many needs,
thinking, Not me, someone else will do these deeds.
We are a people letting our hearts callous:
shutting out pain all around,
plugging ears from the children’s anguished sound.
Reasoning, There’s too much – sex, slavery, sin –
we can’t possibly change this world’s battle course.
We fear God’s power won’t manifest in the fight
So we simply continue on this fright flight.
And yet, deep down in our depths we’re stirred.
Like the unsettled waters before a storm emerges,
our souls ripple with the Spirit’s voice
calling forth faith in us to make a choice,
to stop this running and stand;
to rise up and be an army in this land.
The Spirit ask: "Will you trust me?
Hope? Pray? Obey? Love?"
In a world where love has gone cold,
He rouses us to merge our hearts with His Cause, so bold.
So we must fight
We must sing
For hopes to rise high
And dreams to live, not die.
As we imagine greater things,
letting God’s infinite love take control…
We must become a people brave –
confident in the One who has the power to heal and save.
We the church must choose to battle with faith not fear,
turning the tide to send the enemy now on fright’s flight, for the end is near.

Written By: Krinda Joy, September 4th, 2010
©Krinda Carlson