What is our Sacred Intent as we become Women?

I decided to go back to the archives today and re-read some posts and was convicted once again. I thought somehow that when I got married things would get better and life would be ,well, not quite perfect but almost-you know things that many young, dreamy girls believe.

Now I am not saying that I am not blessed with an absolutely amazing husband and marriage, but-it was an adjustment (and I am sure will continue to be for my whole life). When you go from being single minded and one person to all the sudden having a husband to support and love and be a help-meet to things change!

Sometimes I feel as though the house will never be clean enough. Or I get discouraged because I am unable to have piping hot, home made meals three times a day (although I am working on that one!), or the laundry is just a mountain that seems unattainable or...well, you know the things that are every day things for a lot of people.

Sometimes it is easy to forget Jesus.

I get so so busy trying to be the "perfect wife" I have in my head that I do not go to my Savior and spend time with Him in the Word and in prayer listening to what He wants from me.

So what is our intent?

What are we supposed to do as we move from girlhood into womanhood. What an amazing, scary, emotional, uncertain time of life that can be! Sometimes it is hard to even remember amidst the housework and the laundry and the phone calls and work what we are really here for.

I am going to share with you a quote from a post that I wrote on July 14, 2009. Two days before my 19th birthday.

A few years ago and yet, it still challenged me as I re-visited it this afternoon:

"I love this quote from Leslie Ludy and thought I would share it with you girls out there as an encouragement and a challenge:

'God's sacred intent for us goes far beyond just saving

sex till marriage, wearing one-piece swimsuits instead of

skimpy string bikinis, or idolizing Christian bans instead

of secular ones. It is not just making sure we tack on some
Christian morality to our self-indulgent lives.

His sacred intent for you and for me is nothing short of

absolute abandonment to Jesus Christ, entire separation from

the pollution of the world, and ardent worship of our

King with every breath we take.

Yes, it's a huge vision-one that is contrary to everything

our culture presents. In our modern world, we as young

women seem to be presented with only two options for our

femininity-we can either embrace the sensual, sexed-up

version of womanhood glorified by pop culture or we can

go the opposite direction and trade in perfume and makeup

for grit, grunge, and guy-like behavior.

But both of these options cause us to completely miss out

on the glorious pattern God designed for our femininity. We

were created to shine with heavenly beauty, to radiate with Christ-
like feminine loveliness, and to sparkle with the lily-white
purity of our Prince (Jesus). We were created to be set-apart
for Him.

-Excerpt from 'Set-Apart Femininity'"

We were created to be set-apart for HIM. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Who CHOSE to lay down His life for each and everyone of us on that old rugged cross. What a glorious freedom that brings! Is it really a sacrifice to surrender our lives (even the little parts we don't want to let go of) to HIM considering He willing laid down His entire life for us?

Absolute abandonment. Total separation from the pollution of the world. Ardent worship of our King.

This post is more a challenge to me than anything else! I want Jesus! In all areas of my life! I want to radiate HIM. And I want to stop saying that and move forward to take steps towards that end. I no longer want to fit Him into my life when it is merely convenient. No. I want my entire life to be completely centered and revolving around Him.

So what is our true sacred intent?

Oh Jesus, may You continue to teach us each and every day of our lives may we become more and more like you and fall deeper in love with You.

So what about you ladies? Are you living out what God would have you to live out? The intent that HE has for your life?

Just some thoughts that the Lord gave me today and I thought I would share.

What are your thoughts?

In all my ways...

  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 
  In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. 
Proverbs 3:5-6

This morning I woke up with my blog heavy on my heart and so I started to re-evaluate and pray about why I was even writing this blog?

What is my purpose on here?

Am I even reaching anyone? Am I making a difference?

Then I realized what I am not supposed to be doing.

I am not supposed to be writing for people but instead everything that I share on here should be in some way bringing honor and glory to my precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by pointing others to His saving grace.

As a result of what the Lord challenged me with-I have added a new page to the top of my blog and it is entitled: "Am I good enought to go to heaven?" It is a test. The ULTIMATE test. If you are not sure I would encourage you to take it. The result truly is life or death.

So I surrendered this blog to HIM once again realizing that this blog is HIS and HIS alone. The verse says in ALL your ways acknowledge Him. And so I am acknowledging Him here and trusting that He will continue to direct in which way this is supposed to go.

It needs to be all about HIM. In every single aspect of our lives! So that was what the Lord laid on my heart today! :)

So today was a good day :) Here in Florida the weather was absolutely GORGEOUS so we took advantage of it and ate outside then Jason practiced his juggling while I read the Bible aloud to him and journaled. It was so nice!

See how that knife is pointed straight at his forehead? Don't worry it didn't hit him ;) I love what the camera catches!!

So then we went to a park and because we got hungry on the way we stopped at good ol' KFC :) But I did have a salad for lunch so that balances it out right? ;)

The park was absolutely beautiful and not really full at all. I had so much fun taking pictures! I really had missed my photography! Hopefully I will be able to get more and more into it again :)

I am 12 weeks and looking it! Whew. According to my midwife TOMORROW I will be 13 weeks and in my second trimester! I am so excited and so thankful to the Lord! Although-today I tried on some old clothes and they didn't fit. Sigh. Ok why I love skirts so much? First they are amazingly comfortable and cool (especially in the Florida heat) and secondly they tend to hide extra baby weight! ;) And yeah I know you are thinking whew she is only 12 weeks she has a long way to go! Gulp. Well, some women have told me that our bodies do change when we get pregnant and wow I am starting to believe it! :)

Then just some pictures with my amazing husband. Truly he was so worth waiting for! I love him so much and am so desiring to be the wife that God calls me to be! He is my greatest gift from my Savior and oh I am so thankful that God's ways are not my ways because I would definitely not be in the place I am now and that would not be good! God is so merciful :)

What we were looking at :) Creation truly does showcase our amazing God! The water is so blue and just absolutely takes your breath away!

 Well, that was my day :) Tomorrow we are off to get our lives transferred to Florida from NY officially (address change, license change for Jason, etc...) May the Lord richly bless each and every one of you! How did the Lord bless you today?





The spirit of fear becomes faith!

These past few weeks

have been quite the journey.

Never have I battled

so much spiritually.

Never have I known

 the Lord to be

so mighty!

He is so good!

Here is something 

I wanted to share 

with you all.

It is a verse that

the Lord gave me 

many months ago when

I was really

struggling with fear

and then just has

been impressing on me

over the past few weeks

and I just feel led

to share it with

all of you

as well as what I had

journaled about it:

"Because He is at my

right hand

I SHALL NOT BE MOVED.

Therefore, my heart is

glad, and my glory

rejoices;

MY FLESH WILL ALSO
REST IN HOPE."

-Psalm 16:7-9

I love how it talks about the fact that 

He is at my right hand.

Right next to me!

With HIM beside me it says,

not that I possibly will not be moved,

but I SHALL NOT be moved.

Even when my world seems to be

falling apart,

I CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE

that He is with me and I can REJOICE in that!

I can also rest in the HOPE that knowing He is with me

will get me through these battles and spiritual attacks.

He can help me OVERCOME MY FEARS

about my future.

My HOPE for my future is 

FOUND IN MY SAVIOR.

My flesh (I will

insert FEARS about facing the future

and being here in Summerfield

and my marriage

and about wanting a baby

and not sure if I will ever get pregnant again)

WILL REST IN HOPE!!!
I had not realized
that I had been allowing
the enemy access
to me
in different ways
but the biggest one was
through the spirit of fear.
I have always struggled with
fear and worrying but
the past few weeks 
I felt as though
I was being bombarded
constantly with lies
and instead of 
casting out every imagination
and filling my mind
with the Word of God-
I listened to those lies
and it started to effect 
every area of my life.
This past week a 
dear friend came over
and brought to our
attention that, while
spirits can never possess
a child of the 
Most High God, 
they can taunt them
and if we allow ourselves to listen to them 
we can get to the point
where we are so focused 
on ourselves and our problems
that we are not focused
on our Savior any
longer and suddenly
we can not do 
what HE wants us to do.
So we cast out the spirit 
of fear and I really started
claiming promises
from scripture and saying 
truth out loud. 
This past week
we also had some major spiritual
battles and it was so awesome
to see God work!
This area that we are living
in is so full of spiritual 
darkness but our 
GOD IS BIGGER
THAN THAT DARKNESS
and so we have started 
praying over and re-claiming
this ground for our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.
Think that praying for
and entire community to be saved
is too big a thing
for God to do?
After the amazing ways I 
have seen God work this week
I truly do not believe that at all!
I believe
that God is going to 
do some great things!
Things beyond what we could
ever think or imagine!
I believe that we
as believers need to 
rise up 
and realize that there
is a battle out there
to be fought 
BUT
oh the glorious truth-
through Jesus Christ
the battle is already won!!!
What a glorious truth
but how often do we
live in that truth?!
I want to start
living and believing
for my Lord and Savior
to do amazing things
things beyond what I ever thought
He would/could.
I have been limiting God!
I am so ashamed to say it
but for months I have been living 
in fear and instead
of running and taking refuge
in my Savior KNOWING He 
would take care of me-
I have been listening to the enemies
lies and trying to fix things on my own.
How foolish!
But oh we serve
a merciful heavenly Father!
I truly feel as though
this week has been a new 
beginning in so many ways
and OH I CAN NOT WAIT
to see what happens next!!!

God is faithful.

I will proclaim it to the world

I will declare it to my heart

I'll sing it when the sun is shining

I will scream it in the dark...

YOU ARE FAITHFUL, YOU ARE FAITHFUL

When You give, and when You take away,

Even then, still Your name is faithful...

This song is one by Steven Curtis Chapman

that one of my dear friends

sent to me this morning.

Honestly, I have

really been struggling

with depression lately.

And I needed this reminder.

Even when things don't make

sense-

GOD IS STILL FAITHFUL!

My old bus driver

used to count blessings

with me

so I am going to count

blessings.

One of the biggest

things is that

my siblings

and some of our

best friends

came and surprised

me for my birthday!

They are staying for 10 days!

What a blessing that is!!! :)

Today I am 21.

What a difference this year has made!

This morning before we

got up I was

telling Jason all that

had happened

this past year and

I stopped and just was

amazed at

how blessed

I am!

What a year!

Falling in love,

 nursing school,

 engagement,

 marriage,

florida,

and our heaven baby.

 The Lord is so faithful!

And you know what-

I feel a little better

just writing this :)

Blessings!



The Lord speaks!

So yesterday

I was weary.

And this morning.

I was weary.

But I opened my Bible

and not once,

but twice,

the Lord reminded me

of something:

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

and why art thou disquieted in me?

 hope thou in God:

 for I shall yet praise him

 for the help of his countenance."

-Psalm 42:5

And then-

as if one time was not enough-

a few verses down

I read this:

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

and why art thou disquieted within me?

 hope thou in God:

 for I shall yet praise him,

 who is the health of my countenance,

and my God."

-Psalm 42:11

What an amazing God we serve!

So today.

I am hoping in my Savior.

What comfort that brings! :)

What are you hoping in today?



Why I Disappeared.

Dear Blog Readers,
I am sorry I have been somewhat non-existent these last few weeks.
Honestly, I have been going through one of the hardest times I ever have in my life and just needed time.
Thankfully though weeping may endure for a night (or in my case almost three weeks)
JOY does come in the morning.
Last night I sobbed.
Gut-wrenching sobs.
The kind that you can't catch your breath after.
And then as I sobbed (and tried to stay on the road and not die in a car accident lol)
I prayed.
And the Lord was there.
And He has been here!
Through it all.
I have never known my Savior to be so real to me.
Truly He is a merciful, amazing God and I know I would not have been able to get through these
past three weeks had it not been for Him.
HE IS SO GOOD!
And the promises and hope He gave me through His Word.
The Bible is powerful!
It is real!
It is true!
God is good.
The beginning of the end of this season.
I know that the Lord has a reason for all that has happened.
But I must say I am so thankful the end is in sight!
God has done so much!
And I am so excited to see what He will continue to do!
So thank you for your sweet comments on my last post
and for your prayers.
I am blessed.
So very blessed!
And Lord willing I will be blogging once again more regularly!
Here are some things I am thinking about wanting to tackle:

• I have a draft for part 2 of our engagement story sitting ready to be finished! Now the trick is just finding the time between work and school and then life
• I am going to be moving into a double-wide trailer after we get married and I need decorating ideas! Any of you ladies have ideas or tips I would LOVE to start working on that kind of thing!
• I am going to be married in 87 days! I can't believe it! A dream come true! But I would love wisdom from those of you that are married. 
• What would you my dear readers love to see more of on this blog? 

I would love some input! I truly believe a new chapter in my life has begun and I would like that to spill over onto this blog as well!
I am off to clean the house! Until the next post here is a picture I thought I would leave you all :)


You will hear more about this in Part 2 of our story but this was back this summer when Jason and I liked each other but were still not admitting it! Lol :) This night...what a magical night! And you will be able to read all about it soon Lord willing :)
Love,
Katy

I have a Fiancee!?!?

So it is a new year.

Something that I am so thankful for.

A fresh start.

A new beginning.

Another chance.

God is so gracious!

This year I have started with a fiancee.

What an amazing blessing that has been!

People say that a relationship should be a

picture of our relationship with God.

I am amazed.

The fact that Jason has seen me at my absolute worse.

And yet he still loves me.

In spite of me.

In the same way-

Jesus knows me better than I know myself.

And yet He loves me in spite of me!

Jason is my prince.

Jesus Christ is my King!

I want to start living like Jesus is my King.

I was challenged last night.

See-I am a very fearful person.

Very timid.

Do not like to ever stir things up.

I am a people pleaser.

Always looking for people's approval.

I say that I believe the Lord is in control.

But in my day-to-day life I do not live like I believe it.

No more.

By God's grace I am purposing in my heart

to in this New Year

to start being more bold.

Not bold in myself.

But bold in my Jesus.

Bold in knowing that He will take care of me.

Bold in knowing that my Jesus will keep His promises.

Boldness.

Living for Jesus' approval.

Not allowing what people may think to rule my life.

But instead, just caring about what Jesus thinks.

Not being a people pleaser.

But being a Jesus pleaser

 (living my life for Him alone).

I can no longer just think about it.

Just talk about it.

I can pray about it

and then-

step out in faith.

Trusting the Lord to take care of me.

Fear and worry sometimes control my life.

No more!

I have freedom that is found in my Savior.

What is there to be afraid of

with Him by my side?

These are things that the Lord has been teaching me on this trip.

I am so thankful for a gracious, merciful Savior!

What a trip this has been!

And what fun it has been for Jason and I!

It has finally began to sink in

that we are engaged!

This trip we have
had many adventures-

We got to go to Silver Springs and ride

a glass bottom boat.

You could see 55 feet down in places!

We got to go parasailing

which was so much fun!

Drove through the night and got to Key West

in time to see the sunrise over the water.

I have a fiancee.

I am so so thankful!

This trip has been amazing!

Not only have we been able to have fun together

but we have also been able to minister

side by side

which is the neatest part by far!

It has finally sunk in!

I get to spend the rest of my life with this man!

I am so blessed!

God is so good!

All photo credits: Extreme Teen

A Letter

Dear Blog World,
Hi, my name is Katy just in case you forgot. I have not been able to update as much as I have wanted to over the past eight weeks because I am in nursing school. Now, don't get me wrong, I love school on the days I am not having mental breakdowns most of the time but sometimes I miss being able to have the time to just write like I used to.

So, today I decided to take some time and write. Not necessarily about anything absolutely earth shattering. Not necessarily with any big news. Just write. Because that is what I love to do.

(Source)

So this past week some really neat things happened.  Which is one of the reasons I have a picture of a skull model above. This week I had a skull practical. What is that you may ask? Well, basically I had 10 minutes to name 70 bones on the above mentioned skull. Did you know that you had 70 bones on your skull? You do. Actually you have more than that. You are fearfully and wonderfully made! How does looking at a skull make me come to that conclusion? Well, one thing that I have loved about my Anatomy and Physiology class is learning about the amazing intricacies of our body. And to think that some people think that we all happened by chance? Uh no. Take any sort of biology class and you will see how ridiculous that is for sure!

So one morning I was readying my Daily Light devotional which is a selection of scriptures for morning and evening and came across this verse:

"The LORD is my rock,
 my fortress
 and my deliverer;
 my God is my rock,
 in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the
horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold,
my refuge and my Savior—
from violent men you save me."
-2 Samual 22:2-3

I was so blessed! To think that the God of the universe delights in being our rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, horn of salvation, stronghold and Savior! I was amazed once again that He loves me in spite of me! That He is there for me. That He delights in me! That He loves me! Truly it is beyond my comprehension! He is so so good! I am so underserving and yet STILL He died for me on that cross and took my shame on His own shoulders! WOW! Does that excite anyone else?

Another really neat thing that happened this week was this Thursday. I passed my last simulation! I was shaking I was so nervous but I just prayed my way through it and the Lord gave me strength! He is so good!

So what is on the agenda for this next week? Well, I am kinda nervous about it in all honesty. I have two exams on the same day, two projects due on the same day, and a re-simulation I have to pass to be able to go to clinical. Did I mention those all happen in the time frame of...hmmm...Tuesday and Wednesday? Insert gasp of horror here:__________. It is true. You know what though I am going to prepare the best that I can and do my best all while trusting my Savior to help me make it through. I just want to bring honor and glory to Him and I am praying that I will be able to do so this week especially!

So enough about school! There have been so many other fun little memories:

• Convincing Jason to walk barefoot through the leaves "because the crunch is so much more amazing when you don't have shoes on."
• Perfect fall days.
• Time spent with friends.
• Eating lunch with some fellow nursing students. My friend Alicia goes: "No offense guys, but have you noticed how nice and put together everyone else looks?" We all agreed then began to bemoan our lack of make-up, baggy eyes, and overall lack of any sort of fashion sense. "People must just look at us and KNOW we are nursing students." Christina laughed. Not 10 minutes later we are walking through the student union and a middle-aged woman walks by and says: "Oh look here are our nursing students." Talk about perfect timing!
• Times spent reading the Word and praying with Jason.
• Making tuna noodle casserole yesterday and it being devoured by everyone.
• Having people love me in spite of me.
• Lipton iced tea.
• Love.
• Joy.
• Peace.
• Contentment.
• God is amazing!

So my dear blog world friends that is my life. I have eight weeks left of school! I can hardly wait! Please pray I make it through and bring honor and glory to my Savior Jesus Christ.
Hope you enjoyed this long rambling letter.
It had been way too long.
Love,
Katy

It has been so long.

It has been so long. 

So long since a lot of things.

But especially this:

I love to take pictures.

I just haven't in awhile.

Mostly because I was just too busy.

Or maybe it was that I just didn't take the time.

Either way I am not the most amazing photographer.

But that is ok.

Because I just do it for fun.

Yesterday Jason, Jen, and I went to a family reunion.

 Jason juggled

and preached.

Jen sang.

And I took pictures.

Lots of pictures.

Of Jason.

Of Jen.

Then on the way home

we came across a flock of wild turkeys.

There were at least 20 of them!

So I took pictures of them.

And of Jen chasing them.

Then I saw the clouds.

And got a gleam in my eye.

So I took more pictures of Jen.

Then ,because I was bitter, I didn't get any pictures,
we took a self-portroit.

And then Jen we grabbed (not literally) our reluctant driver
and we got a picture too.

Then we got in the car

but not before Jen took a picture of me.
Because this is me.

And I am so thankful the Lord is helping me rediscover
these parts of me I had forgotten or just ignored.
He is so gracious.
So merciful.
So faithful.
‎"Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
 BUT God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever."
 Pretty much sums it all up.
Honestly, it has been a hard weekend
 and this morning I felt so completely drained
 BUT what an awesome reminder from
 my God that HE IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART!
Oh how I love my precious Savior :)
I am blessed!

Praise Him!

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there!

It has been awhile!

I am on week #3 of nursing school

and let me tell you it is A LOT of work!

I am sitting in the library at school and I have 

11 minutes so I figured I might as well check in

with all of you to let you know that I am 

still in fact very much alive and well

although probably not functioning at my best

due to a mere four hours of sleep last night.

Sigh.

But that is ok! :)

That amount of sleep is NOT normal for me (I do make sure of that!)'

So, I was reminded through my Psalm yesterday to PRAISE THE LORD!

So I am going to:

I praise Him for a day off of school

(of course I spent it working on school work but it was nice anyway!),

I praise Him for the smell of fall 

(crunchy leaves here I come!),

I praise Him for yummy food 

(I invented a noodle dish yesterday and it was actually a hit!),

I praise Him for Jason,

I praise Him for my amazing family and friends,

I praise Him,

I praise Him, 

I praise Him! 

He is worthy! 

Now hold on a second.

A few of you may be wondering who Jason is.

 Well, I have been working for him the past few months.

I have mentioned him a few times before as 

 "Jason the Juggler" (click here to visit his website).

You may be wondering what this has to do with anything.

I promise it will all make sense! :)

Lately the Lord has been teaching me about joy.

The kind of joy that can be only found in and through Jesus Christ.

These past few months the Lord saw fit to 

bring me even more joy than I ever thought possible

but in a way that I was NOT expecting!

One I was not sure I would ever be able to experiance again quite honestly.

And yet when I was LEAST expecting or desiring it 

 the Lord saw fit to bring someone into my life.

From the beginning I surrendered him to the Lord because I did not

want to allow 

desperation to lead my heart in any way.

And as time went on 

we became really good friends

and then that friendship blossomed into something more.

Something that is so precious and amazing to me 

I can not begin to  

even express in words how thankful I am to God for!

Jason truly is my gift from God.

I am so thankful for him and

so excited to see where the Lord leads us!

So that is what I am praising the Lord for today.

 Joy.

Peace.

Contentment.

I am in awe.

Not of Jason.

Not of the fact that I am in a relationship.

Nope.

Because in all honesty that stuff does not matter in the least bit.

I am in awe of my Precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! 

He is so worthy of our all!

To think that He loves us in spite of us!

Truly there is 

no greater joy than in knowing Him!

What can you praise Him for today?