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Love Day
It wasn't that long ago when Valentine's Day was an incredibly painful time of year. ..but just as God is a redeemer of our hearts, He is also a redeemer of dates , and Feb. 14th is one of the dates He has redeemed for me... Valentine's Day 2015 was the day I was basically "introduced" to the man I would soon marry, when a mutual friend had reached out to me asking if I wanted to meet a great guy from NY. I was never one for being set up, and would usually always say no
mckirahan7
7 hours ago6 min read


Hard and Holy things
“The world has enough women who know how to do their hair. It needs women who know how to do hard and holy things.” – Ann Voskamp The first time I ever heard this quote was 5 years ago when a dear friend gave me a framed picture of it on the very day I was doing one of the hardest things of my life…leaving my abusive husband and moving out of the state. In the midst of so much pain and heartbreak, these affirming words were like a touch of grace from God, not just for that
mckirahan7
Oct 31, 20255 min read


The God Who Redeems
(Part 9 of my story) Several months ago (April 2025), I was invited to go on a summer retreat with a large group of Christian singles, and wrestled with the decision if I should go or not because of the financial cost. But in my heart, I knew it was no mistake that the retreat was going to be on St. Simon’s Island....a place where great pain and trauma took place in my life over 6 years prior. I could see God's hand of redemption inviting me to go back…something I wasn’t afra
mckirahan7
Aug 1, 20253 min read


The Parting of the Red Sea
(Part 8 of my story) This was my 4th of July 5 years ago in 2020… a safe, peaceful home in Kansas City, far from the terror, torment, and chaos of my abusive marriage, and truly a place of freedom and rest. …It was my miracle home that God provided and led me to in a way that only He could just 4 months after my awakening to the hidden abuse in my marriage. Two months prior, when the Lord made it clear that I was to going to move back to KC, I didn’t know HOW it was gonna hap
mckirahan7
Jul 4, 20253 min read


Walking Free...From Death to Life
10 years... 10 years ago today, I had no idea the horrific battle zone I was walking into, and the hidden abuse lurking behind the mask. I didn't know that within 24 hours, words of "love" would turn into lashes of hate and abuse mixed with momentary acts of kindness. I didn't know that within 3 weeks, I'd be so devastated, I'd want out...but couldn't see a way out. I didn't know the deception and manipulation operating around me that was so well disguised as true devotion. I
mckirahan7
Jun 14, 20251 min read


Obedience
(part 7 of my story) At the end of my 3 week “detox” in KC, I went to return my rental car before flying back to ATL on Mar. 14, 2020. I had spent all morning in the prayer room and felt the Lord speaking to my heart through every song. I knew it was time to go and that I was ready to go back. But even though I was saying goodbye to the prayer room, God wasn’t done speaking…. As I drove to the car rental place about 25 mins away, I was on a long stretch of road when this car
mckirahan7
May 22, 20253 min read


You Are A Miracle
(Part 6 of my story) During the 3rd week that I was in KC, I was sitting in the prayer room and saw a friend of mine who I knew from 2007 who was now a professional counselor. I knew she’d have some insight into my situation as I was in the beginning of my awakening… I gave her a brief summary of what had happened the previous 4 weeks, and how God had opened my eyes to being in a destructive marriage, and I’ll never forget her looking at me and saying, “Michelle, you are a mi
mckirahan7
Apr 1, 20253 min read


The Clean Sweep
(Part 5 of my Freedom Story) …March 14, 2020 was my last day in KC after being there for 3 weeks. It had truly been a mass overhaul and major detox for my body, soul, and spirit after having my awakening moment Feb. 6th. So much had happened in these 21 days I couldn’t even wrap my head fully around it…I just knew I’d gotten a lot of freedom and healing…especially after the 3 days of deliverance sessions. So much breakthrough had happened and so many things were broken off of
mckirahan7
Mar 17, 20254 min read


Healing Through The Body
(Part 4 of my story) As I look back and reflect on that flight to KC and arriving to the prayer room on Feb. 21, 2020, it was literally like I was being admitted into the ER. My body, mind, and soul had been ravaged from the 5-year battle I had been in, and I was now in triage being hooked up to multiple IV’s. When you’re in a hospital, you’re not able to do much of anything for yourself…you’re just receiving from others….which is exactly what the Lord had a young lady pray
mckirahan7
Mar 4, 20253 min read


The Body Knows
(Part 3 of my story) …it was Feb. 13, 2020, just 1 week after I was awakened to the reality of being in a destructive marriage when the counselor looked at me and asked if there was somewhere I could go to get alone with God to ask him what He wants me to do with this information. I remember immediately thinking to go to the prayer room in KC, but we were living in ATL on a tight missionary budget. I prayed anyway and asked God to make a way…and He did! A couple days later,
mckirahan7
Feb 21, 20253 min read


Freedom Day
(Part 2 of my story) I’m celebrating freedom today…the day God finally let someone see the truth of what I was living in and start leading me to freedom. ...5 years ago, on Feb. 6, 2020, I had just come from meeting with the professional counselor that the church leaders had sent me to 2 weeks after the horrible incident with my husband. I had agreed with the pastors that I needed trauma counseling – I was definitely traumatized - but they failed to acknowledge any part that
mckirahan7
Feb 6, 20253 min read


Amazing Grace
It was 2 years ago in TX, that I was sitting in a cute little tea house for the first time and was captivated by this beautiful stained glass cross. The 3 lilies reminded me of Calvary and Jesus being the white lily in the middle - a pure sacrifice for our sins. But He was also speaking to me about how He sees me like this pure white lily because of the blood that he shed on the crossand how in Him, we are the righteousness of God. I was so inspired by the beauty of it, I d
mckirahan7
Jan 16, 20252 min read


Wildflowers and Rainbows
5 years. I can’t believe it’s been 5 years…. At some point during the first week of January 2025, I realized it was 5 years ago that the beginning of the end started…it was the beginning of God rescuing me and opening my eyes to see the emotionally abusive marriage I was in….and it literally saved my life. It was a miracle. It was actually countless small miracles that started Jan. 4, 2020, but came to a head on Jan. 13th. For the previous 5 years since 2015, I had been a
mckirahan7
Jan 13, 20252 min read


Celebrate Every Step
This is what restoration looks like... Today I cleaned my house, and I mean cleaned…I broom swept, swiffer swept, and swiffer mopped every corner, nook and cranny in the whole place for hours....then, dusted, washed the rugs, and more, and I’m still going! Now, this may not be a big deal for the average person, but it is for me. I realized a few hours in that this is the first time in nearly 10 years I’ve actually had the motivation and the physical energy to clean like this
mckirahan7
Nov 4, 20242 min read


Redemption Journey
Just over a year ago, in June 2023, the Lord invited me to come on a journey with Him to the mountains of North Carolina for 21 days - a journey that would lead to me into the unknown of living on the road for the next 7 months and 8,000 miles. I had been living in TX for the previous year, but my housing had ended, and no other housing opened up, so He had me put everything in storage, pack my car, and drive 16 hours to a cabin on top of a mountain where he would begin what
mckirahan7
Jun 7, 20242 min read


Do It Afraid
This day, Feb. 27, 2007, was one of my most scary and courageous moments of saying “Yes” to the Lord 18 years ago that would forever change my life and lay the ground work in my heart for me to say bigger “Yeses” to the Lord in the days to come. I had been living in Cincinnati, OH, working in corporate America at CFC (Cincinnati Insurance Companies) for 11 years, enjoying owning my cute little house , loving my church, ️ and having my family and sweet niece and nephew just 1
mckirahan7
Feb 27, 20234 min read


A Special Thank you
Today, Sept. 19th, is a significant day, and is the 23rd anniversary of IHOPKC starting live 24/7 prayer and worship. I felt to do a...
mckirahan7
Sep 19, 20221 min read


Resilient Queens
We all get knocked down in life...even trampled on sometimes like a beautiful flower in a field. But, the resilient ones come back again and again and again. Sometimes we need help getting up... usually we need help. But with a little strength and a whole lot of grace, we boldly say, "I will try again." This was one of those times for me... It was a normal Friday morning a few months ago when I got a last-minute text from a new friend inviting me to go on a women's retreat w
HisJewel54
Jul 14, 20224 min read
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