You are not alone! Oklahoma our prayers are with you...

Oklahoma and anyone effected by the tornadoes our prayers are with you!

You are not alone. It's in times like these that people question why a "God" would make this to happen. The answer is: Its not God making these bad things happen it is the sin in this filthily world. Don't get these 2 things mixed up they are entirely different. In times of tragedy come closer to your brothers and sisters in Christ and use the opportunity to reach out to the, lost, broken and confused. 

My Prayer for you today is this......
Dear God our Almighty Protector,We thank you for your abundant love and mercy. In these times of hurt and darkness I pray that you use us to be your light. Please keep all the families that are broken and morning deaths in your tender arms,reminding them that you are present and you will take care of the lost. For the hurt, heal with the hands of God. Lord we know you are with us and we thank you for the blessing you pore into our lives daily, We love you! <3

Amen

My MESS into a MESSAGE....

 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

In this messy world we become this big mess. Kinda like your necklaces, ladies you know what I’m talking about! Multiple chains get wrapped in a ball, all twisted and kinked. You spend hours and hours attempting to fix this mess without breaking the chains. You ask yourself, “How did this even happen? I never intended for this!” It happened over time. Over time careless actions and improper care have made this mess, and you are stuck fixing it!

This is a mess that happens in our Christian lives, over time we let things stack up. Problems from the past get put aside and the next thing you know all your problems become connected and now you have a mess. This creates one big mess to be exact because now instead of having to fix one, you have multiple. They are all connected and require time; time to take apart these knots and carefully remove. This so called mess we have can be referred to as life.  Life can be messy and I don’t know about you but..I don’t like cleaning up a mess by myself and you don’t have to. These problems we have in life can be simplified with the help of our Lord. 

In 1 Peter 5:7 it says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Now isn’t that nice :) haha no but really we are suppose to turn our mess to the Lord and rely on him as our backbone! That’s pretty awesome if you ask me! But don’t let your mess bundle up, take care of the problems one at a time…we don’t want to worry about broken chains!!

xoxoxox Katelynn <3

Relationship with Christ as the Focal Point!

Relationships are: complicated, fun, dramatic, goofy and even stressful. Boys are like unending puzzles and most people are always missing that last puzzle piece. Girls search and search for that “perfect guy.” Along the way people sacrifice one of Gods most precious gifts. Couples build relationships on false foundations like; physical attraction, popularity and common interest such as partying! The relationship ends in heartbreak and then you’re left confused and hurt. You have this sick empty feeling in your stomach like someone just punched you and all you want to do is sleep and be alone. Not all relationships are bad and not all end in heartbreak, butthe majority of people that date just to date, experience heartbreak time after time. That last puzzle piece is actually the most important piece in the entire puzzle. It gives you a sense of completion and fullness. It finally makes you feel like you can overcome anything. That last puzzle piece is God.

All relationships should start on a firm unshakeable foundation. God is that platform. As a couple you should discuss you spiritual relationship with Christ and encourage one another to grow each and every day! I know you are thinking…”Say what? No way we’re too young and that’s awkward!” But the truth is having a relationship with God as the focal point makes relationships a tad bit less stressful! (THERE WILL STILL BE STRESS but this gives you a firm foundation) I encourage you to discuss your boundaries and hold each other to them. It’s easy…SAID NO ONE EVER! It’s not easy but it is possible! Pray together, pray for each other and spend time in the word together! These things will make you a powerhouse couple! 

I speak from experience. I have been dating my boyfriend for over 2 years and we started out our relationship on a foundation with Christ. It has made us so much stronger! It can be done!:) Our relationships not perfect, and there is stress but that’s true for anyone! My boyfriend pushes me to grow and I couldn’t be more grateful! 

When you find the right guy don’t make God that last puzzle piece!!! MAKE HIM FIRST!:)  And single ladies…DON’T SETTLE!

Xoxoxox Katelynn!

P.S….sorry it’s been so long!

Sinking in Grace!

Grace Defined

The word GRACE  came from the Greek. In Greek it was related to chairo, “to rejoice.” It came to signify “favor,” “goodwill,” and “lovingkindness” — especially as granted by a superior to an inferior.

In the New Testament, “grace” is used 156 times and takes on a special redemptive sense in which God makes available his favor on behalf of sinners, who actually do not deserve it.

I love the song, "How he loves us." By David Crowder Band. My favorite line is, "If your GRACE is an ocean we are all sinking.” If we look at that line and take into consideration how many times on a daily bases that God gives us GRACE we are definitely drowning! Over and over again we fail, we sin, and we fall short but the amazing part is God’s GRACE is enough. God’s love is unending. I don’t know about you but for me, that’s a hard concept to grasp!

 We live in a society where the media shapes us into the way we think, act and how we feel about ourselves and even others. This false idea of what we are here on this earth to accomplish is planted into our heads at a young age. We focus on all the negative aspects of life and view people according to all the things they've done wrong and when it comes to ourselves we never feel sufficient enough. But we have to remind ourselves that God sent his son to die for all of OUR sins! God simply wants us to live for him and accept his GRACE.

Learn from your mistakes and ask for forgiveness. Don’t take advantage of God’s GRACE but don’t resist it! 

xoxoxoxox Katelynn 

P.S

Heres the Song Link:) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FxaUYjRtkc

Something that will last forever.

We live in a world where people spend hours, days, months and even years preparing themselves for a particular even. Things such as; sporting events, parties, work presentation and many more. All these things require preparation, which requires time. People spend all this time practicing and prepping themselves to perform this event to the best of their ability but the event only last a day, a few minute or even seconds. When it’s all said and done we (humans) spend more time preparing than we actually do participating. It’s crazy to think that we are willing to spend so much time doing things for ourselves, yet when it comes to others or even God 30 minutes is a HUGE sacrifice.

God loves us and wants to be a part of our daily lives. He wants us to update him, just like our best friends he wants to hear from you and know how you’re doing! God offers us eternity not something that last days, months or years, but something that actually last FOREVER. But it requires a relationship with Him, we can’t get to caught up in our own busy lives trying to accomplish the things we want to achieve and let God be our cheerleader. He wants to be the head coach, leading you, guiding you and always supporting you. So don’t get to caught up in what this world has to offer, take some one on one time with God and make sure you’re living your life according to his will.

What’s the point of you being on this earth if you don’t accomplish something that’s going to last forever? Like a relationship with your Heavenly Father. What’s the point in spending all your time accomplishing worldly achievements that won’t matter in the end? Why don’t we take the time we have on this earth to make an impact and work towards something that will last forever.

Xoxoxo

Katelynn 

P.S.

Random fact about me, I LOVE NATURE and I love taking pictures! :)

GREAT BOOK.

JESUS IS _______.

I’m going to be real honest, I don’t read, like ever unless its instagram or my devotional so this is a miracle in the makings! I’m reading the book “Jesus Is_________.” by Juda Smith. I heard a lot of good things about the book and I had to check it out myself. I HIGHLY recommend this book, it hit home for me multiple times! It goes through the daily thought process of a Christian and how we “rate” ourselves on the goodness scale. It’s a reality check and an overall comforting book. Don’t worry it’s a very easy read and guess what? The words are big!!!! JACK POT! It makes me feel better about myself when I’m reading if I get to turn the page often. I’d love to hear yalls perspective on the book!

Xoxoxox

Katelynn

P.S NEW POST/DEVOTIONAL EVERY MONDAY!

Comforting Words!

“The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust my name when they call on me, I will answer: I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

 Psalm 91:14-16

Now if you didn’t read that carefully and absorb every word give it another read……Every word in these verses matter. I don’t know about you but for me, these lines are sooooo comforting. It starts off stating that the Lord is talking, not that anyone else speaking isn’t important but the Lord, King of Kings, The Almighty, The Beginning and the End, Lord of Lords, Creator and many more, you get the point. Our Father is speaking and he’s talking right to us! So listen closely to what he’s telling us.

“…I will rescue those who love me.”

That sounds pretty simple right? Love Him, Okay you can do that, right? Love God like you love your mom and dad, just love Him. That seems easy huh? You love your parents because they have raised you, provided for you and they love you so of course you’re going to love them back. So love God the same way, it’s simple but not that simple. You have known your parents all your life! You know their names, favorite colors, where they work and even their phone numbers. So it makes sense that in order to love God you have to know things about him. In his word he tells us to “Love the Lord with all your heart with all your soul and with your entire mind.” Matthew 22:37 In order to love him with all your heart, soul and mind you have to be filled with his knowledge. He tells us when we love Him he will rescue us, He will be our Prince Charming like the one in Sleeping Beauty.

“…I will protect those who trust my name when they call on me, I will answer: I will be with them in trouble.”

God promises to protect us. Females tend to like the idea of being protected. Let’s just be honest…sometimes we want to pursue a guy because we like the idea of being “protected,” and that okay but there’s more. He tells us that he will protect those who trust in his name, which means trusting God in the good AND the bad! When we turn to God in prayer and talk to him he is always there and promises to be with us in times of trouble. But we have to be willing to communicate in these times. We can’t shut him out or blame him for the hurt, because he never promised it would be easy, but he did promise that he’d always be there to help us through.

“…I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

This last line is…well AWESOME! He tells us that he will reward us with eternal life in heaven and give us his salvation. That’s pretty legit if you ask me! Haha. Sometime we tend to lose sight on the big picture, the big idea that we are on this earth for one reason and one reason only…to glorify him in all we do. When you are doing the right thing and you know it what God wants yet the world surrounding you is telling you the opposite we tend to second guess our actions and decisions. But God tells us and reminds us that he WILL REWARD THOSE WHO LOVE AND TRUST IN HIS NAME. Keep your eyes fixed on the big picture the Lord has for you and your life.

Xoxoxoxox

Katelynn

STRESSED AT MY MAX.

I was in the middle of a dream about my history test when all of the sudden at 6:00 a.m my alarm went off, “Oh happy day, happy day you’ve washed my sins away!” these where the lyrics I woke to that early morning.  It was time for me to get up and hurry along to school so I wouldn’t be late for workout. I had been up late the night before studying for my college and high school credit class, which I had a big test in the next day. I had spent the previous 3 nights studying for this test and not to mention the stress level was at its max. I was juggling dance practice, cross country practice, school work and my life was SO busy all I wanted to do was…well, sleep. But I had no choice, so I crawled out of bed. I woke up early so I could study for an extra 10 minutes before I left for workout, which I had to be at by 6:30 a.m and be showered and ready to take my exam at 7:20 a.m. I had an eventful morning ahead to say the least and I was EXTREMELY stressed. I hoped into my car, which I was expecting to be silent because without hooking my phone up it doesn’t play music but much to my surprise the radio was on. The second I turned my car on and the song “Stronger” by Mandisa had just started. I was in shock, there was NO way that I had turned my radio on. I pulled out of my drive way and all the way to school I was in shock, it was a total God thing, he was in my life reminding me that he’s there for me. The lyrics to the song where so comforting. When I arrived at school I took a moment to thank God for reminding me of his love and comfort in a prayer. When I got out of my car I was no longer stressed or worried, I had casted all my nerves upon the Lord and he promised to watch over me.  My day went well from then on and I even made a 92 on my test.

What’s most important in your life? School activities, family, friends, boys, God or your cell phone? Most typical teens would say one of those things listed. But what is actually most important to you? How can you determine what you value the most? Well, the answers simple, it’s what you spend the most time doing or thinking about. If you’re anything like me your daily life consist of many different activities, so your mind is constantly thinking about what has to be done next. In our busy lives sometimes we forget to leave time for the one that matters most, God. Doing a devotional, reading the word and talking to God daily takes a lot of discipline especially as a teenager, we tend to get wrapped up in our own lives that we leave God behind, when really he should be the one in front leading us. But it can be done. I encourage you to discipline yourself into a daily routine of talking to the Lord, it doesn’t matter where you are or what time of day it is, just make it happen. It’s a constant struggle for me, it’s hard at night to put your phone down and open the bible but I pray that you build that relationship with the Lord and grow with him daily. It makes life so much less stressful to have someone to rely on, and after all He wants you to cast all your worries upon him. So I challenge you to make God the most important thing in your life by spending time with himJ

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox Katelynn!

P.S

 Here a link to the song if you want to take a listen! J

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrgNYhwu5Sw

Accepting Love

             Love is more than a feeling. Love is more than a thought. Love is more than a hug. Love is more than a kiss. Love is more than a kind word. Love it more than a life style.  Love is a gift, more than just a normal gift given or received on a special day like a birthday or Christmas, love is a gift given to us by our amazing Creator. Love is specially created but it can’t really be described. The way to describe it is simply just the way it makes you feel and the things it makes you do and say. Love is the greatest creation God gave to us. He wants us to share this amazing feeling with other individuals. God tells us in Matthew 22:37–39, “you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” God commands us to love him, love one another, and most importantly share his love for us with others!

God has blessed me with people to love. The thought of love used to scare me. Not the idea of loving a family member or loving a pet, but actually loving someone who isn’t “stuck with me,” that’s what I always tell my family. See my parents could leave me but not nearly as easy as a best friend or a boyfriend. I didn’t like that thought, call me crazy but the idea of loving someone who could possibly not love me back or could betray me wasn’t the easiest thing to process and accept. Most people throw the word around like it’s not a big deal. People would say they loved one another one second and then minutes later turn around and talk smack behind their backs. The word is over used and slowly losing its special meaning. That was my perspective on love.

         When I got a boyfriend my perspective didn’t really change too much. I was still just as scared if not even more! It was more relevant than before. This man could potentially “love me.” How could any person love me after only knowing me for a short time? My parents fell in love with me the second I was born. They’ve loved me all my life, but how could someone just step in my life so sudden and totally love me? Actually love me flaws and all? I had to step back and look at the big picture. God loves me. All of me imperfections and perfections! He died for me because he loved me. That love isn’t something to be scared of. That love is something you should be thriving to find.

My perspective slowly started to drift. My feelings for my boyfriend started to grow. Through hard times he was there supporting me. Through good times he was there laughing with me. Through scary times he was there comforting me. He was showing the kind of love that God shows me on a daily basis. I love this man. All of him, imperfections and all! I loved the way he made me feel and things he believed in. I loved the morals he had and how much stronger he pushed me to be. Its not very often that girls find men at a young age that respect their boundaries.I was falling in love with this boy. Believe it or not he claimed to love me to! I was in love, and I was slowly overcoming my fear. Crazy how things work out.

        God wants you to love other and,to grow with them in a spiritual way. God places people in our lives to teach us that love is ok. Risking the chance of being hurt is worth it. God sending His son who he loved to die for us was worth it. God never said the journey on this earth would be painless, he never promised to remove all painful situations from our lives. One thing he did promise was to always love us. Gods plan for us was the RIGHT one because no one knows us better than the one who created us. He places people in our lives along the way to help us become stronger to encourage each other to make a difference. He places people in our lives that we’re suppose to love. Love isn’t something to be taken lightly but love isn’t something that should be hidden or feared either. Love shouldn’t be gone unsaid; what if God’s love had gone unsaid it would have been a disaster. So don't let your love go unsaid either. It’s worth the risk of getting hurt because you're also running the chance of experiencing so many more amazing opportunities and feelings that God has created. Love is a gift given to us from God. Dont be scared to show the love God has for you to others. You never know what kind of impact you could leave.

xoxoxox
Katelynn

Fresh Start.

New Years is a time of year when everyone "starts over." People "let go of the past" and "move on." People celebrate new beginnings and fresh starts. But why? Why only once a year? We are given the chance everyday to have a fresh start and a new beginning yet we don’t celebrate or have a huge party. God gives a new day everyday and it’s not once a year. He forgives us of our sins and allows us to have a fresh start daily. In Luke 7:47 it says: "Therefore I tell you, her sins are forgiven-for she loved much. But he, who is forgiven little, loves little."

He promises to forgive, so take some time daily to repent and ask God for forgiveness. As you enter this new year of 2013 remember one thing, God gives you a fresh start every day if you’re willing to ask.

xoxox Katelynn!