Wise Words

I just want to start the week off right.

Maybe this will help....

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. - Psalm 51:10

"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us." - Augustine

Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considered important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. - 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

"Characteristics which define beauty are wholeness, harmony, and radiance." - Thomas Aquinas

"The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It's your mind you have to convince." - Vince Lombardi 

Have a blessed week, friends :)

Another One

So Saturday night, I was sitting up in bed reading - when out of nowhere I felt like I should read my Bible. The problem was that my Bible wasn't in our room - it was all the way on the other side of the house. Being tired and worn out from my day - I really didn't want to go fetch it. (Even though it only would have taken me about 3 seconds.) Then all of  the sudden, I got this weird feeling I should look on top of my dresser - that's right next to my bed. Weird. So I did...and I found my chronological Bible laying there. I grabbed it, opened it up, and this is what I was unmistakeably drawn to:

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high,and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3: 16-19)

After reading it, I felt so....prayed for. So tended to. So lovingly recognized, somehow. Those words....delivered right to my heart's doorstep Saturday night.....spoke directly to my doubts, my fears, and my questions. Unbelievable. I had experienced yet another 'inkling' that ended up leading me to something very rich and very good.

Just wanted y'all to know :)

Be encouraged - and have a great week!

My Inklings

Ya know those inklings I prayed for in my last post? I'm getting them. It's wild. And it's good. Very, very good..........

*Yesterday as we were leaving church, my husband said that he had this "strange feeling" we should take a sweet couple we know out to lunch. Since we are trying to be more sensitive and responsive to the Spirit in 2010 - we jumped on it. Sitting there chatting with them - I happened to notice the beautiful red fingernail polish that was so wonderfully swept across the lady's fingernails. I commented on how lovely her nails looked and almost fell out of the booth when she said, "Oh thank you. My husband paints them for me." I could cry writing about it. You see, this lady is legally blind. She can see certain things - but there is a lot that she can't make out.  The hand-in-hand love they share spoke volumes to me.  I don't know if it's always been that way for them. I don't know if they have moments where they struggle with it. But I know that when a man paints his wife's fingernails - It's love. It. is. love.

*This morning, I opened up my Bible - with high hopes of finding some nugget of inspirational truth - and a nugget of inspirational truth is exactly what I found. My eyes were lead directly to this:

Teach me to do your will for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. (Psalm 143:10)

I didn't seek out this verse. I didn't go searching for a verse like this one. It found me. And I will have you know, being the skeptic that I am, I have been known to roll my eyes when people say that God lead them to a certain verse and what not - but y'all - God lead me to that verse. And I felt like He was saying, "Make it yours this year, Kate." With some of the things I happen to be dealing with in life right now - being lead forward on firm footing - sounds perfect.

*As I've mentioned  numerous times here on my blog - I doubt. You might as well call me Thomas. It drives me crazy. It drives the people around me crazy. My questions are endless. I have new curiosities about the Christian faith with each new sunrise.  I have things written in the margins of my Bible that my grandmother slapped my hand for. Things like, "Are you kidding me?"...."How could God let this happen?".....and....."What????". To make myself feel better, I also want you to know that I have things written in the margins of my Bible like, "Lord, help me to remember this."....and.... "The Bible is perfectly enough." So don't think I go around writing bad things in my Bible everyday. And don't feel too bad for me either -because all of my doubting is kind of a blessing and a curse all wrapped up in one big crazy issue. It makes me study. It makes me go to The Word and find out for myself what it says. It makes me do research. It makes me pray the most heartfelt, needy prayers you've ever heard. It makes me humble. And it makes me connect deeply with quotes like this one that my husband ran across today:

"I prayed for faith, and thought that someday faith would come down and strike me like lightening. But faith did not seem to come. One day, I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.' I had closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since." - D.L. Moody

 Mister Moody, I kinda know how you feel.

This week, I'm gonna take off my black fingernail polish (Yes, black. My husband thinks it's weird, too.) and put on some red polish - just to remember what love looks like. I'm gonna memorize Psalm 143:10 - and believe that God is leading me forward. I'm gonna open up my Bible and pray that it opens up my heart. All because of those inklings.

Awesome.

2010

I want to do things differently in 2010.

I want to laugh more.

I want to eat less beef.

I want to take a few more naps.

I want to let go of some fear.

I want to replace some of that fear with faith.

I want to memorize scripture.

I want to discipline my children out of love...not anger.

I want to read things by Emerson and Erma Bombeck.

I want to pray more.

I want to blog more often.

I want to go on a lot more dates with my husband.

I want to worry less.

I want to trust a little more.

I want to learn how to write well.

I want to see my Texans more often.

I want my Christmas decorations to be taken down before Valentine's Day.

I want to help people.

I want to take more pictures.

I want to take some cooking classes.

I want to read to my kids more often.

I want to be a part of some Bible studies.

I want to chill out and calm down.

I want to have people over for dinner.

I want to stick to a workout plan.

I want to run a 5k.

I want to keep things organized.

I want to stop being so critical.

I want my Mom's 50th bday to be special.

I want to grow watermelons in my backyard.

I want to sew.

I want to cut more coupons.

I want to be a good aunt to my nephew arriving in May.

I want to hang out with my girlfriends more often.

I want to eat less sugar.

I want to serve.

I want to be a little more optimistic.

I want to be spontaneous.

I want to hike.

I want to be patient.

I want to doubt less.

I want to be a doer. Not just a dreamer.

I want to get involved.

I want to follow through with things.

I want to be less intimidated.

I want to lift weights more often.

I want to stop being so indecisive.

I want to take better care of my vehicle.

I want to travel.

I want to learn.

Y'all, I just want to do life better. I was thinking and praying this morning about what I should change in 2010. What I should focus on. What I should let go of. What I should pursue. And there are SO many things. Soooooo many. I could have made a million new years resolutions today - there's a lot I need to work on. But making lots of resolutions and stuff would have been super daunting (and not to mention, unrealistic). So instead, I prayed a simple prayer:

Lord, give me inklings. Give me discernment and wisdom about what YOU want for me to work on in 2010.
 
A part of me feels calm and comforted by praying that prayer. But to be honest, a part of me gets scared. A part of me has a very hard time giving up control and trusting that He knows what's best. Maybe it's because I tend to be a doubter. Maybe it's because I like to be the boss. I don't know. But today....January 1st....I prayed a weak and meek little prayer to a big and capable God. And that's a start, friends. Don't ya think?

Happy New Year's, Sweet Ones :) Blessings to you in 2010!

Totally Random Thoughts

The holidays always make me think.

As I churn my millionth batch of cookie dough. As I wrap presents. As I write Christmas cards. I just think about stuff. About people. About the world. I'm a reflective person anyway. But around the holidays....around Christmas....I usually end up pondering life more than usual.

I'm also pretty scatterbrained around the holidays-so this post will be random. Here are a few of the things that have been on my mind lately. This may be long. Again, please excuse my scatterbrained-ness.....

Sometimes, when I'm buying Christmas presents....I get this nagging feeling that the money I'm spending on silly gifts for people that already have everything could do a lot of good for people that have nothing. The same goes for Christmas decorations and stuff. I'm not saying that giving gifts and decorating your house is wrong.  I have presents under my tree and lights on my house right now, too. But sometimes....I wonder.

You know how everyone talks about the "terrible twos"? I have discovered that age 3 is much more.....interesting. Yes. Ever since my son turned 3....I have turned over a few gray hairs. 


I miss my family. And I think about them all the time. I've been blessed with some wonderful kin-folk, y'all. All of which live 1200 miles away. They pray for me. They send me cards and notes. They call or text when something is going on in my life. And while I wish that I could spend time with them around the holidays....I'm just thankful I have them at all. They are a special bunch. 

Speaking of special...I have some pretty neat grandmothers. My MawMaw sends me nice cards from time to time. The most recent (that she sent a little while after I gave birth to my daughter) said this: "Dearest Kate, I'm sure you are feeling a little overwhelmed at times....but you gotta know it's perfectly normal and this too shall pass! What a special time in your life - one of your 'making memories moments'- although it can be tough, you are learning so much. Take care of those sweet angels, but also take good care of yourself." She even included a scripture verse. (2 Peter 1:3) And my other grandmother? She prayed with me on the phone the other night. And when MeeMaw prays....she pretty much brings the house down. I had been telling her about a certain issue that has been a weakness of mine for as long as I can remember and right in the middle of it this is what she said: (Please, read in a Texas accent.) "Well Kate....I'm gonna pray about that RIIIIGHT NOW, girl. Father God, I just pray in THE-NAME-OF-JESUS that you take this away from Kate. You don't want her to deal with this anymore. I pray in THE-NAME-OF-JESUS- that you not let it be a problem for her anymore TODAY and that you don't let it be a problem for her anymore TOMORROW...and that you take it. Please remind Kate that you are all powerful and that you have good intentions for her. And I pray that you protect her mind and her thoughts and her words........In the powerful name of JESUS. Amen. And girl, I will pray that for you everyday. I surely will." My MeeMaw is special. She can be crazy as a bat...but she is a gem :) A godly one at that.

 Last night, I delivered a tin of cookies to a sweet couple from my husband's hometown. They go to our church and have just showered us with kindness. As I was getting ready to leave... I happened to mention that I miss my family very much...and do you know what that sweet woman said to me? In the most sincerest voice I've ever heard, she said, " Well we can be your family." I told her that I would let them. It was pretty precious.


I've been thinking here lately how I should really get more involved with what direction our country is heading in. I've been thinking about how I will probably be held accountable for what I did and did not do to help protect the unborn and the oppressed.  I should do something. Maybe even a lot of somethings. I'll be praying about this.



I have a little girl now. Sometimes, I can't even believe it. Oh my goodness. She has been such a sweet little addition to our family. She smiles A LOT. She grabs things now (including my hair) and she puts everything in her mouth. She babbles and 'talks' all day long and she will chat with anything that has a face. For example, we were sitting in church the other day and I had her standing up on my legs - facing the preacher. My baby girl must have thought that he was preaching to her because she started preaching back...loudly. My husband had to take her out - not because she was crying or anything - but because she was trying to have a conversation with the preacher-man in the middle of church. Lord help me.


I could go on and on. My mind is full.


Tomorrow is Christmas, friends! I wish each and every one of you a blessed time - celebrating the birth of our Lord with your loved ones! Consider yourselves hugged....every last one of you :)

Lessons from my Little One

Isn't it amazing how God can use a 3 year old to teach you awesome and lovely things about Himself...and about your walk with him?

It's pretty neat...and very humbling. Indeed, the least among us are the greatest......

Last night, I tucked my boy in bed. I made sure he had his monkey, airplane pillow, footballs, and stuffed OSU mascot, Brutus. I knelt down beside his bed and prayed for him. I prayed that he would stay healthy, that he would sleep well, that he would be safe, that he would have a good week, and so on. Then, as usual, it was his turn. I always sit quietly, grinning, as I listen to my 3 year old talk to God:


"Tank you for Mama and Daddy. Tank you for my baby sister. Tank you for Lala and Papa. Tank you for Grandma and Grandpa. Tank you for my room and the walls. Tank you for my toys. Tank you for my door and the doorknob. Tank you for the corn (that we grew this past summer.) Tank you for Jesus. Amen.

His prayers are always like that. Sometimes he "tanks" God for the floor, his bathtub, and grass. He has even been known to "tank" God for the dirt. Yes, even dirt.

Precious.

But look at the difference between my prayers and his. My prayers consist of mainly requests. My son's prayers consist of mainly thanksgivings.

Ahem.
When my son talks to God.....the gratitude he shows his Maker is beautiful. It's real. There is no fluff. No fancy wording. No frills. Just a young heart that is thankful for what he has been given. And it blesses me. It humbles me. It teaches me.

So this week, as I prepare for Thanksgiving.... I'm making it a point to be thankful for the everyday things and people in my life. And..... I'm filling my prayers with a bit more praise. "Tanks" to my 3 year old :)

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. May you be blessed as you head into the holiday season!

Monday

Oh girls. I have been doing some darn good reading here lately. So good, in fact, that I just can't keep it all to myself!

Enjoy these powerful quotes and have a marvelous Monday, friends....

From More Than A Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa Terkeurst:

So I invite each of us into the possibility of seeing God. Not His actual physical form, but rather evidence of His activity. I want us to be women who lift our eyes up to God everyday and say, "Yes, God, there are some who seek you today! I understand it is possible to experience You; therefore, I want that more than anything else. I will seek to see You, hear You, know You, and follow hard after You in every part of my day." (p.173-174)

From Fearless by Max Lucado:

Become a worry-slapper. Treat frets like mosquitoes. Do you procrastinate when a bloodsucking bug lights on your skin? "I'll take care of it in a moment." Of course you don't! You give the critter the slap it deserves. Be equally decisive with anxiety. The moment a concern surfaces, deal with it. Don't dwell on it......Be a doer, not a stewer. (p.49)

From Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel:

Fear-based parenting is the surest way to create intimidated kids. (p.13)

From Autumn in the Country by Gooseberry Patch:

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year. - Ralph Waldo Emerson (p. 24)