Does abortion really have to be the only option?

I received a comment on my previous post "Would You Help Fight Against Abortion" this morning and thought I would share both the comment and my response with all of you:

"Anonymous said...

I assume the Pregnancy Center also provides free prenatal vitamins? Free labor and delivery hospitalization? Emotional and financial support to those who are kicked out of their homes? Counseling for rape and incest victims who are pregnant with their attackers child? Food, clothing and shelter for the baby and mom? Early childhood intervention where necessary?

Thanks. You reminded me that my yearly contribution to Planned Parenthood is overdue."

My response is this:

Anonymous-

Yes they do actually provide free prenatal vitamins. I have been given them personally.

 As for the free labor and delivery hospitalization they give the resources to people who have no money or good enough insurance for labor and delivery as well as prenatal care. You can then go through these FREE resources (as my husband and I did) and choose the ones that are best for you. God has so provided for us in this way through them helping us even know where to go.

One of the biggest things the center offers is emotional support through counseling and then also they do what ever they can to help those who do not have a good living situation. I know a lady personally that they helped get into some apartments at a church when she was 6 months pregnant and had no place to go. The director herself came to help her get settled and make sure everything was taken care of financially.

 Not only is there also counseling for rape and incest victims but they also offer amazing adoption support groups and resources so that if the mother chooses to she can give her baby to a couple/family who desperately wants a child. I also know a mother who used that service and is very at peace with her situation and her child is in a wonderful home.

Food, shelter and clothing for the baby and mom-they have so many resources and will work tirelessly to make sure that you and your child are ok. I already mentioned the shelter. As for food and clothing they again help you get plugged in to amazing resources as well as have a 12 week parenting class where you earn baby bucks and use those for diapers, clothes, baby necessities, and at the end receive a FREE brand new pack and play.

As for early childhood interventions there are many resources available for that as well. I am involved in a program where I can earn points and can redeem them for things like clothes and diapers and wipes and any baby need you would have until my child is over two years old!

Many girls are told that abortion is their "only" option. That they could never handle a baby. That it would wreck their lives etc...the pregnancy center also offers post abortion counseling for girls that felt they had no other choice, did not know about these amazing resources, had the abortion and are now dealing with horrible regret and guilt that plagues them for YEARS. They help them see that there is healing and redemption in Jesus Christ! That their sins can be washed away. That He will forgive them and take their guilt.

If anything adoption is always an option. And there are so many FREE resources for girls if they choose life and choose to keep their babies.

Yes, I say babies. Because that is what they are. I saw my son at 9 weeks. He was wiggling all over and his heart was beating. At five weeks his heart STARTED to beat. At six weeks blood began to course through his body. At 7 weeks hands and feet had emerged and his liver was churning out red blood cells (until the marrow formed and could take over). I could go week by week until right now and it would show from the beginning what an amazing miracle is taking place in a BABY. (Source: babycenter.com)

I do not judge these girls at all that have abortions. I pity them because most of them are given no other option. One nurse I know of (from a friend who was there) TURNED THE ULTRASOUND SCREEN AWAY so an 18 year old girl could not see her 11 week old twins MOVING and see their hearts beating. Why? Because they were giving her abortion as her ONLY option.

Another AMAZING resource the pregnancy center gives one FREE is an ultrasound. Last year 64 women came in sure that abortion was their only hope. The ladies at the center listened to them, counciled them, and then said , "Why don't we put you on the ultrasound machine just to make sure that you are indeed pregnant." When they did and these women saw their baby THEIR child moving and their heart beating and SAW that they are in fact a beautiful little person ALL 64 of them CHOSE LIFE and kept their little ones.

Am I saying that it will be easy? No it is not always easy BUT I do know that there are so many people out there who love God and love unborn babies and will do WHATEVER they can to help and support and encourage.

My husband and I have been amazed at how the Lord has provided for us! He is faithful!
There are other choices out there.

Abortion never has to be the only option.

That is my response.

Many of you have seen  my recent posts about the Walk for Life. This is the reason I do it. Jason and I have personally been so blessed with help of even knowing where to go and what to do next. When I first walked into those doors I had no idea where to really start. We were so overwhelmed by love and people that cared so much for us and our baby it just instantly put me to ease.

Here is another challenge though for all of us that my amazing friend Missie from over at Hidden Valley Simplicity commented on that same post:

"Last year I pleaded with a young woman to not abort her baby. She ended up NOT doing so and fell in love at her first ultrasound. Now, her and the baby are like family to us. One of my big things is, if we are going to cry out against abortion, we must---MUST---then help the women raise their babies after they are born!!! It's one thing to save a life. It's another to get involved in that life. It takes time and sacrifice but it's not enough to just prevent abortion. . . we have to do all we can to help that Mama give her child the best life possible, esp when circumstances are not giving Mama any support (financially, emotionally, etc). Are we willing to be there when the baby won't stop screaming at 2:00 a.m.??? Will we let the Mama and her baby be in our home frequently, just hanging out when we love our solitude and privacy, because she needs someone to be there for her? Will we buy things for them when the job the Mama has isn't quite enough for rent, clothes, formula, and diapers?"

What an amazing story but also what weighty questions that I had to ask myself! Are we willing to not just sit in church shouting out amens and hallelujahs when someone stands up and speaks out against abortion. Are we willing to actually walk the walk and do the hard things? To get out of our comfort zones. To serve and to love and to give as Jesus did?

(Source)



According to the website this picture is found on-this is a 12 week old baby.

"The baby has all of the parts necessary to experience pain, including nerves, spinal cord, and thalamus. Vocal cords are complete. The baby can suck its thumb. "

Is this little ones life worth it to us? Not only in the womb but like Missie, challenged us, outside the womb as well?

What can we do as women of God? How can we make a difference? For each of us it will be different but one thing we can all do is pray. Pray for these little lives. Pray for their Mama's. Pray to be the hands and feet to make a difference, even if it isn't in a glamorous way. Look around and see who are around us. Do you know a young single Mom? What are ways that you can help her and encourage her? Do you know a young pregnant girl? How can you encourage her and support her? Sometimes we all just need a true friend.

These involve doing.

Going.

Stepping out of that comfort zone.

Are we willing to stop just talking about it and start doing hard things for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

These lives are all so precious to Jesus-both the babies and Mama's. Do we tell them that? Do we show them that?

Or do we judge?

Proverbs 31:8-9 says this:

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."

These little ones can not speak for themselves and a lot of these Mama's are destitute, poor and needy.

How can we make a difference for Jesus Christ in these girls lives today?

O Victory in Jesus!

An Excerpt from my prayer journal dated Monday, September 26, 2011:

"Yesterday in church Pastor was in part seven of his series on no limits. One thing I have been learning about lately is taking control of my thoughts. It seemed impossible but then he was talking about how we have guarenteed victory in You Lord!

'But thanks be to God!

 He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.

 Let nothing move you.

 Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,

 because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.'

-1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Wow! I (and every single child of God) have the victory in and through my Precious Savior Jesus Christ!!

The next point was how in our guarenteed victory we have absolutely incredible weapons:

'

'For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;'

-2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Casting down imaginations and bringing into captivity every thought to the obediance of Christ. That is what I really need to work on! The awesome thing though is that I can have the victory over these seemingly giants in my life because of Jesus christ and His power working in my! Thank You Jesus!

And to think-that I also have angels to help me as well according to this verse:

 'The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them. 
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
  Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
¹ The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.'

-Psalms 34:7-10

Wow! Wow! Wow! Oh my Jesus! Thank You! Now Lord, help me today to live this out. To take these precious promises and stand on them believing that You will bring them to pass. Help me Lord...

I have been allowing myself to listen to the enemies lies and live in defeat. Forgive me for that Lord and help me to move forward in victory from that lifestyle. Victory I can claim in and through You as YOUR child! Thank you Jesus!

In Your Name I pray,

Amen "

What is something in your life that you know that Jesus can give you victory in? Our God is so good and we do not have to live in defeat! We have the victory, the battle is already won, in and through Jesus!

So often we live in defeat though...

I needed this reminder and these precious promises today, Lord willing you did too :)

Have a blessed day!

Oh and on a side note:

I took this really neat picture of a Florida grasshopper (or are they locusts?) well, whatever they are they are big! Anyway I took this picture this morning and thought it was so cool!

Cute little guy huh? :) Have an amazing day! :) Keep your eyes on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ :)



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!



Trusting in what?

Ever had one of those moments 

where you read a verse and know 

it was meant just for you?

I had one of those moments the other day:

" Stop trusting in mere humans,
   who have but a breath in their nostrils.
   Why hold them in esteem? "

         -Is. 2:22

So often I look to people

instead of God

to fix things.

So often I look to people

instead of God 

for comfort.

Jason keeps telling me

to not trust in him

but to trust

God with him.

And so this is what I have

been pondering.

Putting my trust in God.

Instead of people.

I am thankful we serve a 

merciful God!

He is good :)

What or who

are you trusting 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

No way.

Ever had one of those times

 when you said:

 "No Way"

 to God?

I had one of those yesterday.

Actually, I have been having one of those for months.

So this whole weekend I have been really struggling.

I had been holding on to things.

I had been refusing to surrender.

I had been relying on my own "strength."

I had not been in the Word or in prayer.

I had allowed myself to get completely overwhelmed.

Then yesterday I got angry.

Now, I am not the type of person that tends to get really angry.

I get frustrated.

I get stressed.

But I don't often get super super angry.

Yesterday I did.

Why you ask?

Well because Jason and Danny had the audacity

to suggest that I delete my facebook.

*Insert look of shock and horror here*

Delete it?

What?

So I tried to laugh it off but then I started to get annoyed.

See, they wouldn't let me laugh it off.

They wanted to know why it was so important to me.

Why I just couldn't live without it.

So I started to think.

And steam.

And think some more.

And suprisingly I really could not think

of very good excuses I mean reasons.

"Ministry"

was the best one I could come up with.

Now, I am not in any way trying to bash facebook.

I believe that you can most definitely minister through it.

However, when it starts to consume you and your time

when do you draw the line?

So, I was just miserable.

I have realized something.

When you know that you are not doing the Lord's will

and yet you are fighting

what you know He wants you to do.

Well.

It is painful.

So this morning I woke up.

And I just felt dead.

No joy.

No peace.

Nothing.

Just spiritually dead.

So I texted Jason and asked him to pray for me.

And he called me.

As I was talking to him the Lord just put this thought in my head.

"What is an idol?"

Now, I love this definition of an idol by Leslie Ludy:

"An idol is ANYTHING

 that claims our ATTENTION

 and AFFECTION

 above Christ."

As soon as I thought about that another thought popped into my head:

"How do I know that something is an idol in my life?"

Here is another quote I think sums up the answer to that quite nicely:

"One way you can tell if

 something is an idol

or another lover in your life

 is that you are unwilling to let it go.

You can't picture living without it.

 Most of us,

 if we were honest,

 would have to admit that

we are unbelievably attached to worldly entertainment.

 Life would seem empty and bleak

 if we didn't own a TV

(or a computer, cell phone, again: fill in the blank)...

Even though we have everything we would

 ever want or need in Christ Jesus alone-

we still look to these other means

 for the peace, joy, excitement, and refreshment

 that HE HIMSELF desires to give us.

 All we have is the counterfeit version

 of peace and joy because

we aren't willing

 to let Him give us the real thing."

 (Leslie Ludy)

All the sudden I knew what I needed to do.

"Jason," I said,

"I need to delete my facebook."

As soon as I verbally spoke those words

I can not even explain the joy and peace that just flooded my soul.

It was as if I had been holding facebook up between me and God.

I would let Him have everything else except for that.

Why?

I guess just because of the status.

I mean I got to share my accomplishments with the world on there.

It was all about me.

Selfish ambition.

Pride.

Now maybe you remember this post that I wrote a few months back.

I didn't remember until just today.

I am going to share a few excerpts from it (in italics).

To view the complete post click below:

An Idol.

Do I think that facebook is bad?

NOT AT ALL!

For me personally however,

 it has become an idol

 and because of that it needs to be taken care of

 which is why instead of just deactivating it

I am completely surrendering it to the Lord

and deleting it.

 It had come between me and the Lord.

 Time spent on facebook was more

 of a priority in my life

 then time spent with my Savior.

 It is so shameful to admit that but it is true!

What about other forms of entertainment?

 Movies, internet, magazines, books, cell phones, fill in the blank.

 Are they necessarily in and of themselves wrong

 (well, within certain boundaries of course)?

 No.

What are the things in your life

 that maybe the Lord has been asking you to surrender to Him?

What do you think would happen if,

 instead of spending hours doing

*fill in the blank*

we used that time to get to know our God?

What if we treated our BIBLE

 like our cell phone

 or the internet

or the television

 or movies?

What if THE BIBLE

 was one of the first things

that we turned to in the morning?

What if we had to check THE BIBLE

 at least once every two hours a day

so as to not go through withdrawals?

What if, when we have been away from

 THE BIBLE

 for any amount of time we felt

we had to check it

and then re-check it?

What if we had been away from home

 and THE BIBLE was the first thing

we went to when we got home?

What if THE BIBLE

 was one of the last things

 we thought about at night?

What if we let go of those idols

 that have control of our lives and

instead threw ourselves at Jesus' feet?

What if?

This is something that is between each of us and God.

 No one on earth can make these decisions for you.

I want to live a 110% Surrendered life

 for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I read today in Galations 3:13:

"Christ has redeemed us

from the curse of the law, having

become a curse for us

(for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who

hangs on a tree.')"

To think that He willingly became a curse for you and for me!

He died on that tree...for you and for me!

The least I can do is live for Him.

And I want to.

Oh so desperately.

For Jesus Christ alone.

I want Him to be my everything.

I want Him to be my all.

I want people to see Jesus Christ in me.

So yeah.

Things are going to be changing on this blog.

Like, I am going to be posting a lot more.

The Lord has been teaching me so much and I

 just have so much to share with you all!

So stay tuned for some exciting things!

And to sum up:

Am I a super spiritual person just because I am deleting facebook?

No.

Do I think that people that have facebooks are sinners?

Uh no.

My challenge to you would be this:

really ponder what priorities you have in your life.

What are the things that fill up your time?

What do you turn to for refreshment, fulfillment, and satisfaction?

Is it the world?

Or is it JESUS?

Is Jesus Christ worth YOUR ALL

(even the little, seemingly "insignificant things")?



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

New beginnings.

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there!

So, today. Well lets just say I have a lot to say to prepare yourself for a rather long post! :)

Beginnings.

New beginnings.

Ever had those? 

Where you were drifting through life and then all the sudden the Lord got ahold of you and you realized that you had been really messed up in a lot of things.

So all the sudden there was an end.

An end to old feelings.

An end to old fears.

An end to trying to handle things on your own.

An end to not trusting your Savior.

And end to the way you had been mistakenly making God out to be in your mind.

An end.

Because as we all know-before something begins most the time some things end.

Last night was an end.

Today is a beginning.

For those of you that may not know me very well-I love to journal.

There is nothing more exciting to me then ending a journal.

Each and every one that I have ever completed holds a story.

My story.

The one that the Lord has written for me.

It is so neat to be able to look back and see all that the Lord has done over the years!

I used to try to journal but would normally give up because it just seemed really 

self-centered and all about me.

Well, about six years I was inspired by a dear lady named Karen Miller

to start journaling my prayers to the Lord.

See, Mrs. Miller had lung cancer and one day the Lord decided to heal her

by taking her up to heaven to be with Him.

One Sunday her husband brought in some of her old prayer journals.

I was so young but I remember being really impressed by how she wrote

letters to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

That day she inspired me.

I haven't stopped since then.

It has been six years since I started writing letters to my Lord.

Yesterday I just completed my fifteenth journal in six years.

 It was an ending.

But not just to a journal.

To a period of my life that has stretched over the past six months.

 Here is a glimpse of what was on my heart last night:

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Dear Heavenly Father,

Well, this is my last journal entry in this journal that I started six months ago. 

I am just- in AWE of what has happened in the pages of this journal. The joy and the tears, falling more in love with You, realizing for the first time in my life that Jesus You do completely and totally satisfy and when my world is ripped apart You are there to pull me back together, meeting so many new friends, surrendering my future to You over and over and over again, the death of Mr. Clark, me passing my TEAS test and actually getting into the LPN program starting in January, work. Lord, the list could go on and on and on. You have done so much in my life in the last six months! One of the biggest things that happened in my life was I was blind (literally) but now I can see because of the Lasik eye surgery that I got January 19th. My life has truly changed forever. It was an absolute miracle that You provided for it. Thank you Jesus!

So tonight-I fell apart. I think that exhaustion makes everything worse. Little things but they have just been building and fears about...I don't know-getting hurt again and then I see SO many shortcomings in myself and I just hate it! It is like I try and try and try but I just can't change! And I have started looking to God in fear in a way just waiting for something bad to happen. I had a long talk with Dad and I know that is wrong! I just I am just...I have this mindset that nothing good should or could happen to me and last because I am completely undeserving which I am undeserving, but I know God isn't like that. These past two years have been so hard and sometimes I just get this mindset that things won't get better because I am not good enough or doing enough or serving God enough. Which is stupid. But that is why I fell apart.

Oh Lord, I was an absolute and total mess! But a friend just pointed me back to You. To Your greatness and to the fact that everything all goes back to YOU. 

You are great Lord! You are the greatest!

Forgive me for...thinking of You as anything but a loving Heavenly Father. Forgive me for being fearful of You but not at all in the right way.

Lord, I allowed fears to completely overcome me. I allowed doubts and insecurities to take ahold and in the end-my eyes were so focused on me that I was barely even looking at You. Forgive me Lord. Thank you for not only being the God of second chances but being the God of one zillion chances. You are so good Lord!

This is the end of this journal but also of this chapter in my life.

Honestly, I am sort of scared as I look ahead. Please replace that fear with joyful, trusting anticipation in what You are going to do next. Help me to trust in the fact that You are GOOD.

Lord, I just surrender future to You. I surrender my fears. 

Lord, I truly want to bring You honor and glory in everything that I do and say and think.

You are worthy!

I love you so much Lord! Thank You for loving me in spire of me.

In Jesus Precious name I pray and surrender myself to You Lord,

Amen

As soon as I had finished writing that journal entry I opened my Daily Light devotional that is just selections from scripture split up into morning and evening selections.

You know those times when the Lord uses His Word to speak to you in such a direct and clear way? This is what I read:

Daily Light-June 30, 2010

Morning Selection

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline.”

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”—As a father the son in whom he delights.—He wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.—Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.—“I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.”

He does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.—He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

Rev. 3:19; Heb. 12:5, 6; Prov. 3:12; Job 5:18; 1 Pet. 5:6; Isa. 48:10; Lam. 3:33; Ps. 103:10-14
(Source) 

Wow, Wow, WOW! Talk about absolute PERFECT TIMING! I was talking to Dad about how I just seemed to be waiting for God to send something bad in my life because I wasn't as close to Him as I should be and Dad was saying the exact same thing these verses are saying. How God is a loving Heavenly Father Who is looking out for our good and yes, He does need to discipline us at times, but it is never out of spite or because we aren't "performing" like we think we should.

To have Dad talk to me about it is one thing but to be reminded and told again by my Heavenly Father through His word. Wow! I do not need to fear anymore! 

I need to just trust in my God. That He does all things for m good and not just to make me miserable or spite me.

Thank You Lord for this precious reminder and second chance! 

 Last night was an end.

Because of last night today to me marks 

a new beginning.

One in which I am not ruled by fear but instead just look to my Savior in absolute trust and utter dependance KNOWING that no matter what may come my way

He is in control.

What freedom I have found in getting my eyes off of myself and instead

focused back on my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ were they need to be.

Have I mentioned lately that we serve and AWESOME God?

To Him alone be all the honor and glory and praise.

I am so thankful for new beginnings.

I am so thankful for my Savior.

Blessings to you all :)