November 1st - 3rd

So Ive been seeing a lot of "what I'm thankful for" blogs and I got blessed reading them so I decided to join in and share some things that I've been thankful for these first three days of November!
Monday-
I was especially thankful for Perspective! I love getting the chance to gather together with my fellow college folks and just worship our Heavenly Father and fellowship with them!!

This may seem petty and weird but I am thankful for arts and crafts! I cant tell you how many times a week I pull out the coloring book, paintbrush, modge podge and just loose my mind in some art!!! I love it!

I am thankful for hugs! I am such a girl for this- but a lot of times when people hug me I have to fight back tears because I feel so loved!! :)

Tuesday-
I am thankful for friends sending me texts messages to say they are praying for me! That is so very uplifting and encouraging!

I am thankful for God using ordinary people in an extraordinary way!

I am thankful for Physical Therapist who are willing to go the extra mile and squeeze you in to their BUSY schedule!!

Wednesday-
I am thankful for the faithfulness of Antioch's youth kids and their desire to grow closer to God!!

I am thankful for friends who call you up and ask you to go to Chapel with them!!

I am thankful for friends who will walk to Starbucks with you on a rainy day just so you can get some hot chocolate!!!


I am so blessed! I am thankful that I am so blessed that I had to force myself to limit the thankfulnesses :) to three a day!!

Jill

This post has been a long time coming. I started this post over a year ago and though I don’t think I will ever describe into words just how much of an impact she made on my life -I decided to post it anyway.
To say that God has blessed my life with Godly examples is pretty close to being the biggest understatement of the century! I’ve mentioned a few of those blessings in previous posts and will probably post more! Why? I am so stinking blessed and I have to share!!
I had amazing Sunday school teachers, mentors, and Godly examples. However in this post I want to focus on one of the biggest influences on my life- Jill. Some of you may have known her and others just heard about her. So here is a little about Jill from my perspective!
The first time I met Jill was at So@r. I’ll never forget- she had on pigtails and shorts that were overalls on with a drawstring backpack! I have no idea why I remember that but I suspect it has to do with the overall shortsJ! God used her in a big way in my life and I am so thankful He did!
During the time Jill was my Sunday school teacher I grew leaps and bounds in my walk with Christ! Through her God taught me how to study His word! He showed me how to not just read His word but absorb it and apply it to my life! Jill made us memorize scripture and I’m not talking about “Jesus wept” !!! I’m talking about a whole chapter of the Bible! We kicked, screamed, and complained the whole time but we were better because of it! I cant tell you how many times in high school and college that one of those verses came to mind at the perfect time! Jill kept us accountable in our walk with Christ! Every week in Sunday school she would ask us not only if we did our “Seek the Lord time” but what we learned in it!! She did all that and so much more! The three biggest things that I learned from her are-
1. Passion for Christ- I’ve never seen so much passion for Christ come from one person. Her fire for Christ still blows me away just thinking about it to this day! When she was singing praises to Christ you could see her love and thankfulness for her Savior in every bone! She was the first person I’ve seen dance in a Baptist church!! Her passion for Christ was in every aspect of her life- her marriage, her work, her Sunday school class, bible study, relationship with her friends and her mission work! When Jill was in the hospital they had a blog giving people updates. I remember reading prayers from people who were from literally all over the world! She touched hearts in China, Philippians, Ukraine, Nicaragua, all over the United States and many others!! You spent five minutes with Jill and you knew what she was about- Christ!!
2. Prayer- prayer is such a powerful thing! I think sometimes we forget how powerful it really and truly is! There is something so unbelievably peaceful about knowing someone is praying for you- at least I find it peaceful! This is probably a stupid analogy (and could totally be unbiblical) but when someone tells me they are praying for me it’s like these invisible arms just wrap themselves around me and I just lean in on those arms! Scott showed some excerpts from Jill’s prayer journal and I was moved to tears by how many times I found my name and what was beside it! She prayed for me and so many others! When I saw those prayers of hers I decided my prayer life was just not what it could be. So that is something that I’ve been working on this past few years- I want to be a Prayer warrior! I haven’t mastered it and I don’t think I ever will but I will do the best I can!
3. Legacy- The legacy that Jill left is still impacting people today! There are people that were discipled by Jill that are now discipling others. There are missionaries that are still on the mission field today because God used Jill to encourage and to pray for them. When she passed, it got me thinking about the legacy that I wanted to leave behind! I pray I can leave a legacy that is God honor, glorifying, and loving!!
I don’t want you to get the impression that I think Jill was perfect! She wasn’t! She would slap me silly if I placed her on a pedestal! She wouldn’t have done those things had it not been for God’s love in her! I love her but more that I that I love the God in her and I love what God did through her! She is gone from this earth and though I don’t understand why God chose to take her so young -I know that His plan is perfect.
My life is forever changed by God placing her in my life! I miss her and I still think about her almost if not every day! So many times I reach to call her just to talk about life when I realize I cant! My biggest regret is never telling her how much of an impact she made on my life! I look forward to the day when I will see her again and join her in worshipping our Savior for Eternity!

Grandma Norma

Today is a very special day to me! Today was the day my grandma Norma was born! I don't know how many years ago her birth occurred. She claims around 50 ;) and we don't question her!

As some of you may know I was born and raised in West Virginia! When I was about 5 or 6 my mother had to go back to work to pay for my two older sister's tuition. She got a job as a secretary and I went to stay with Grandma- which was an entire 8 minute drive from my house! Mom would drop me off first, then my sisters, go to work, pick up my sisters, and then me!! We did this for about 4 years. Those were some of the BEST years of my life! In those four years she showed me how to cook/bake. She shared with me the most important ingredient of any recipe is love. She taught me how to pick every kind of vegetable and how to can them! I was heartbroken when we moved 21 hours from her. I don't see her near enough but I do get to talk to her on the phone! I cherish those moments with her on the phone!

I have learned so much from my Grandma! She is one of the smartest women I know- if you mentioned this to her she would immediately tell you she only finished a semester of college. Don't let her fool you- Ive played TV jeopardy with her! Besides I don't love her for her "smarts"! I love her for the God in her.

She doesn't see what I see! She doesn't realize that almost every time I talked to her on the phone she makes me cry because she quotes scripture. She will never understand how she impacted my life by simple doing a quiet time every morning and telling me about it when she saw me! She doesn't understand why I tell her ,every time we talk, that I admire her and I'm so thankful for her and the example she lives! She doesn't realize how vivid the lights she shines for God is! She is oblivious to the impact her servants heart has had on me!

I love her to pieces and I thank the Lord she is my Grandma! I pray that I can be at least half the mother, grandmother, servant of God, and Christian that she is! :)

JOY JOY JOY

I am a different kind of individual. If you've spent any time with me at all you would know this and are laughing at that understated statement. I tend to have a hundred thoughts a minute which results in the most random thoughts ever, I have an over active imagination which results in me visiting la la land, and I generally have a smile on my face.
Is it fake?? Hmm... maybe sometimes but not usually. Do I ALWAYS have a smile on my face? HA- no way! Have I always had a smile on my face? NO!

I was a fairly happy kid- there was no reason for me not to be! I was blessed with two amazing parents who loved me and the Lord! Deep down I knew something was with missing but I couldn’t put my hand on it!! I finally discovered what I was missing- Jesus!! Jesus rescued me and came into my heart when I was 9. I wish I could sit here and tell you that I was transformed overnight but that would be a lie! God used different experiences to reveal himself to me and to mold me into the person I am today! I wanted to write this tonight to share with you the experience I had with joy.

When I was in Jr. High I was still a happy kid on the outside! I mastered the art of genuinely looking fake smile very quickly. I never showed my mother my unhappiness or anyone else for that matter! It wasn’t uncommon for me to cry myself to sleep every night. If the tears wouldn’t wait for everyone to go to bed I would go into the bathroom turn the fan on, grab a towel, sit in the shower and use the towel to muffle my sobs. I didn’t cry just because I wanted to, I cried because I was in pain! Not physically pain but emotional!
My personality is cute and adorable for the first few days but I guess after that it crosses over to the annoying side! That what I was told in Jr. High and part of high school! I had a hard time keeping friends for more than two weeks because they would tell me they were getting annoyed with me! I think it goes without saying but just in case you didn’t catch on- that hurt... ALOT! Now, these people weren’t horrible people and I don’t want you thinking that! I tried my very best to mold myself into this SUPER friend! I wanted to please everybody! I wanted to be loved!

During these years I didn’t have a very solid relationship with God. I knew I was saved but I wasn’t trying to get to know Him better! It was one night in the 9th grade when things started to turn around for me! I couldn’t sleep because the day had been bad! I remember just picking up my Bible and just started to read. I read the story of Job and came across this verse

JOB 33:26 He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God's face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state.

The verse stuck out to me but the main part I focused on was he saw God’s face and shouted for joy! This concept of joy caught my attention and I looked up the word joy in the back of my Bible and here are some of the verses I found!
Psalms 4:7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
Psalm 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Psalm 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalm 16:9+11 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

I read those and others over and over again throughout the next few weeks! God began to show me two things
1. I was trying to find my joy/acceptance in earthly friendships.
2. He showed me that it is in Him that I receive joy! He died on the cross for me! HE, the Creator of the universe, the conqueror of many nations, A KING loves me!

I still struggle with having Joy in my life! I have days where it is no problem and I have others where I find myself in my room crying again! Spending time with Christ is a must for me to keep the joy in me! Praying for Joy is something else I have to do to keep joy in my life! Sometimes it’s only once a day others its hourly! Another way I keep reminding myself of the joy and happiness that I have found in Christ is by counting and praising Him for my numerous blessings! My joy comes from the Lord! He alone can sustain me!
I’ll leave you with the lyrics to that song Count Your Blessings

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,Count your many blessings, name them one by one,And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,Count your blessings, see what God hath done!Count your blessings, name them one by one,*Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.[*And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.]

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,And you will keep singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;Count your many blessings—wealth can never buyYour reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,Do not be discouraged, God is over all;Count your many blessings, angels will attend,Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
:)

Love is patient....

My name is Katie. I am twenty-one years of age and have been single for 21 years.
My parents always told my sisters and I that we could date when we turned 16! However, when I actually turned 16 I started looking around and saw that the “pickins” were slim. I’m not in any way trying to put myself down but let’s be real I didn’t have the attention of any guys nor would I’ve been in their top choices! I didn’t mind for the most part- I was busy with school and work! I was content with who I was but every once in a while Satan would sneak in to cause doubts.
I almost dated three guys in my lifetime (even as I type that I cringe- I am such an idiot)! I would like to repeat ALMOST! I praise the Lord He placed people in my life and convictions like you wouldn’t believe that intervened. Now, the three gentlemen weren’t horrible people. They were actually very sweet but there was one thing that was always abundantly clear- they didn’t have a relationship with Christ. I knew that but still I found myself ignoring that. Why? Well besides the obvious reason (Im an idiot) I truly believe it’s just because I wanted something my friends had been experiencing for years- someone who showed interest in them and wanted to spend time with them.
I have a list of qualifications I have for a husband that I made in Sunday school years ago! A lot of those “qualifications” on that list are ridiculous and silly! The first three are of the utmost importance to me!
1. Must have a nurturing and growing relationship with Christ.
2. Must be a spiritual leader in our relationship.
3. Although I’m not expecting perfection (past, present or future)- he must live a life that is pleasing and honoring to God.
Those guys in High school didn’t even make it past number one!
As we all know but sometimes choose to forget – God’s timing is perfect. No, I am not about to go into a rant about how God created a perfect guy for me and someday I’ll meet him and blah blah blah! Do I pray for my future husband? Daily! Do I pray that God has me someone picked out? Sure! I just don’t think that should be my focus or anyone’s for that matter! I am single maybe you are too! ROCK IT!! GET EXCITED!! This is an opportunity for you to get wrapped up in God. Spend your time getting lost in Him- it will make time go by a lot quicker (hehe). We have been given a blessing (until we get the blessing of a significant other) don’t waste it- ROCK IT!!
:)

Luke 4

In our girls Bible study we are going through the book of Luke and this past week we finished up chapter 4. I love gathering with fellow believers and digging in to scripture! We each have unique lives, personalities, and walks with God so we all get something different out of it! Anyway there were quite a few verses that I found convicting and comforting but none were as convicting as this one; Luke 4:31-37
31Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. 32They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.
33In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil[g]spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34"Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
35"Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
36All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 37And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
Obviously if you read this you would know that this is a story of Jesus removing a demon/evil spirit from a man. Verse 34 is the verse that got me- this is the demon speaking against Jesus. The demon says to Jesus- 34"Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
When we first read that I could help but think what an absolute idiot! He laughed in Jesus’ face! Once again I was thinking- STUUUUPID! In my opinion laughing in someone’s face is the equivalent of slapping them across the face. It’s something you do when you want someone to be humiliated and degraded. Who would dare to laugh at Jesus? That’s when the conviction washed over me like flash flood- I have! I have laughed/scoffed at Jesus! ME- a Christian who prays for Jesus; to live in my heart, change me, mold me to be more like Him, for Him to give me the courage to do His will and to show me how I can change to bring honor and glory to Him! ME I have laughed in His face! How? How many times in my life have I prayed for God to give me opportunities to share His good news? How many of those times did I chicken out? How many times have I asked God to show me people who needed to be blessed in some way -only to disregard them when He reveals them? How many times have I completely ignored a conviction because I was “too busy” or I just didn’t want to? How many times have I laughed in Jesus’ face?
I praise Him for showing me this through His word I pray that I will stop laughing in His face and instead embrace every opportunity He gives me.
:)

Local Local Local Missions

I have been blessed to serve our King on the foreign mission field every summer since I graduated High school! hose trips changed my faith completely! I got to see how other people lived for God and I can never thank them enough for changing my walk with God- however that's a story for another post.
With this post I wanted to focus on local missions. I'm not talking about your neighbors, fellow students, or even co-workers (although those are very important as well). No, I am talking about missions within your family!
I was born and raised in Fort Ashby, WV! I was all of 15 minutes from my mom's parents house and 7 minutes from the church we all attended as a family- uncle included! ! I spent allot of time on my grandparents farm as a kid and loved every minute of it! My sisters went to an actual school while I was home schooled! There were some days when mom would work and I would get to spend the night with my grandparents!! Every morning I would wake up to the smell of coffee, the sound of the news, and the sight of my grandma reading her daily devotional. Most mornings she would fill me in on what she was reading and learning from God's word! Even to this day she is quick to tell me what she is learning in her Seek the Lord Time! How unbelievably awesome!!! I thank God for her wisdom and example.
On the flip side of that I was about 3 1/2 hours away from my dad's parents house. The weekends we went to visit them were the only Sundays we didn't go to church. My Granny taught me my first cuss word. I would like to explain the gist of my granny's relationship with me. I love her and she loves me. When I was a kid I loved going to the movies with her! AS I grew older and bigger- we stopped getting along. I was a jerk of a teenager and would HATE talking with her because she would ask about my weight, grades, GPA, and relationship status! Over time I got so annoyed with the questions I stopped calling her completely.

About three or four months ago, God placed my Granny's salvation status :) on my heart. After much prayer I decided to take a trip to West Virginia rather than head to the foreign mission field again. For years- I am ashamed to say that I hid behind the idea of showing her Christ by the way I lived. I wish I had been honorable about showing her Christ through my actions and words but I wasn't. I was scared. Scared that it would be awkward, embarrassing, and weird to bring it up! I was terrified to be let down. I was more comfortable with leaving the country to tell people about Christ then I was my own flesh and blood.
We were driving somewhere to go shopping ( I was roughing it-hehehe :) ) and we were talking about my dad's latest test results (cancer free- Praise the Lord). She mentioned how impressed she was how well dad seemed to handle himself with battle after battle of cancer! This was my chance- with my heart beating- I stated that I thought it was because Dad, like all Christians, have this sense of peace! The absolute worse thing that could happen to us is death and when we die we WILL SEE THE KING ! MY HEART WAS IN MY THROAT TRYING TO GET OUT! My granny responded with- You're right! The God we serve paid the price of death for our sins! We went on to talk about Paul, heaven, and all sorts of stuff!

I thank God He opened that door and gave me some reassurance! I wish I could say I came right out and asked her where she was going when she died but I didn't! I'm driving to see her next week in Branson and I intend to do just that! What a blessing it would be surrounded by both sets of grandparents and other family members WORSHIPPING our LORD AND SAVIOUR together!
I think I always say this but I really don't know why I wrote this...... just thought I would share whats going on in my family :) After Granny - its grandpa C!

la la la la la la!!!!

I find such joy in singing songs that praise God! You know the songs that have those lyrics that are so RICH, TRUTHFUL, and JOYOUS that you are about to bust with love, praise, joy, and thankfulness just singing them! Well let me tell you- today was filled with songs like that!!!
The music this Sunday morning was just like it was every other Sunday in that is was AWESOME!! All the songs were amazing but Hallelujah to my King was my favorite! I mean could they fit in more truth and excitement in that song? WHat a reminder!

Hallelujah! What a savior!
I owe everything to Him
Hallelujah what a savior
Hallelujah to my King

With a chorus like that you can’t help but praise HIM for being a God who provides, forgave, forgives, and loves. I about busted with excitement at the last part of the third verse

One day, in Heaven, our eyes will meet
Filled with wonder, all the saints will sing

AHHHHHH- can you imagine!! Or course not!!! Its to wonderful for our minds to comprehend but man I CAN”T WAIT!!

Today, I was blessed with the opportunity to go and help lead worship with Harold Crow, Jason Pierce, and Marty Summers at Marty’s parent’s church. WHAT A PRIVILEGE!!! Oh my word- those folks were just absolutely precious! So warm and welcoming! Precious- just precious!!
Anyway- Harold picked a few old hymns to sing- I Surrender All, Just As I Am, and I’ll Fly Away! I know what you’re thinking- those were some good picks! To that I say- AMEN!!! Man oh man- beautiful lyrics!

I'll fly away, Oh Glory
I'll fly away; When I die,
Hallelujah, by and by,
I'll fly away

This song is talking about death but the tempo is upbeat/faster! That’s the way it should be!!!! Jason and I got into a brief discussion about funerals on the way back to Conway (I would explain but I really can’t remember how we got there! Then again I am me- so there is really no telling). I was telling him that I want my funeral to be a PARTY and a CELEBRATION!!!! I don’t want there to be sadness- I can guarantee you I’m not going to be sad! I will be in the presence of my Maker, my Lord, my Father, and my Savior!


I know this was random and went in every direction! I just thought I would share with you how blessed I was with these reminders I found in the worship songs today!! :)

Passion 2010

So last Friday, at 8 AM, some of the high school and college students of Antioch embarked on journey to Atlanta for a conference called Passion. WE joined 21,000 students in 4 fun filled, convicting, eye opening, and life changing days.
Passion was packed with some amazing musicians- Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Charlie Hall, Christie Nichols, HillSong United, David Crowder, and a band called Fee! People may not know this about me but I love music. :) I love worshipping God by singing praises to Him!! I was l moved to tears almost every time we sang at this conference. There is something so breathtaking about 21,000 students of various race, countries, culture, and continents coming together to praise OUR God!! AMAZING!!!!

I wanted to talk a little bit about community groups. When we picked up our schedules for the weekend we were given two wrist bands- one of the wrist bands told you what community group you were in. I was in the pink one!! Once in the community groups, you break down into even smaller groups- they were called your family groups. I ended up with a group of 8 girls I didn’t know (which is how it is supposed to go)! WE started off with the basics- name, major, classification, college, etc. but before long we were talking about our spiritual struggles and our daily walk with God (etc.). We talked as if we had known each other for years- it was awesome! I added 7 girls to my prayer list this week! I have a group of ladies that are spread all over the United States who I know are praying for me daily and are keeping me accountable of the changes I wanted to make in my spiritual walk. I’m so excited to get to know them better through Facebook!! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for their lives!

There were some AMAZING speakers - Louie Giglio, Beth Moore, Francis Chan, Andy Stanley, and John Piper. What I plan to do in the next few days is post some of my notes on here from each session. My notes are the things that stuck out to ME! YOu need to watch the vidoes of the conference to get the full message!!
That’s it for now :)!