Anniversaries

I will never understand why people that we love get taken away from us before we think their time should be up. It's such a mystery to us. But we aren't supposed to know why. God has his own plans and his own perfect timing. I, along with friends of mine, have had to learn that God's timing is absolutely perfect even when we don't understand it at all.

I lost my dad 6 and a half years ago. It's a long story, but it all happened in 3 weeks. I was a senior in high school, ready to embark on my future...and then not so much. Yesterday was not about me. It was about these people:

Graham, Jackson, Cate

Jackson, Margaret, Graham, Cate

Jackson, Graham, me, & Cate

I've known these people for a long long time. Almost my entire life, I might say. Almost.

These people have been a major part of my life for almost 7 years now. Margaret is one of my very good friends. She is a wonderful mother, person, and friend. I am blessed to have her in my life. And her children are wonderful. They are growing up so fast--it's crazy!! Jackson is now a senior in high school. I am so proud of the man he has become. I think he will do wonderful things in the world. He has such a heart for our Lord and I can't wait to see him grow in his faith. Cate is a freshman in high school and I just can't believe it. She has matured into such a beautiful young woman that I am so proud of. She is kind and hilarious and loving--all the traits you would want in a friend. She loves the Lord and continues to grow in her relationship with him. And Graham is in 7th grade. He is absolutely the funniest kid I know. He loves Jesus and I can't wait to see what kind of man he's going to be.

Father, yesterday marked 6 years that these sweet people lost their husband and father. Thank you for Jeff's life and influence. Thank you for letting me and this family bond in such a way that not many others can. It is special and I am truly thankful for it. Give them that peace that passes all of our understanding. Whisper in their ears and let them know that you're there for them. Your Word says "I will never leave you nor forsake you." and I believe that whole-heatedly. You are always with us. Thank you for that knowledge. And Father, bless them as they move into this new journey and adventure of a new man in their lives. I am so incredibly happy for Margaret. I have never seen her happier and I just love it. The kids are happy for her too, which is wonderful. Whatever their true feelings, they will come around in time, just like I did. Continue to bless them and keep them close to you during the next few months.

I love you, Lord.
Amen.

Hope everyone is having a great day!
-katie

I'm baaaaaack...

The main reason I started this blog was to make myself pray, since most of the time I communicate with God through song. I want to be a better communicator with the One who saved me. And I want to have more of a relationship with him, since my current relationship with Him is more of.......a friendly acquaintance. And let me tell you, admitting this is not easy for me. People always tell me that they think of me as a strong, godly person who must rely on God daily for wisdom and courage to get through life. Truthfully, I rely on my friends and family a lot more than God, mainly because I can get an immediate reaction or response from people here on Earth. Sometimes when I'm praying, I just feel like I'm talking to myself.

So, I haven't been on this blog in almost a year. How sad. I'm really ashamed of myself. But I am back and excited about it! Lately, I have been feeling a pull back to blogging and now, I am answering that pull-God's pull. So here it goes!

God, you have been on my case for a while now. I am ready to start back up and be consistent with my prayer blog. God keep me accountable in this journey. I am ready.

Thank you for my journey. You have blessed me immensely and I couldn't be more thankful. Thank you for a new church home. I have been blessed through it and, Father, I ask that you bless me even more as I journey through plugging myself into the church. I am involved in the nursery and loving it so far! I'm looking forward to being plugged into the singles events. Bless it. Thank you for my family--they are the absolute best.

I pray for everyone, including myself, starting school. I pray for consistency and drive this school year. Starting strong and finishing strong. Please.

I thank you for my job. You have always blessed me with every job that I have had. Keep it up! :)

I love you, Lord.
Amen

Hope everyone has a great week! :)

-katie

ATTN: PRAYER WARRIORS!!!

If you want the full story, click here. PLEASE PRAY!!!

Father, I need you more than ever right now.

God, I'm praying for my sweet goddaughter,

Trinity Celeste Tucker. I'm interceding on her behalf

to ask You, the God of the Universe, 

Jehovah Rophi--God who Heals, 

to put your Healing Hand on her little body.

I'm asking for a complete healing. I want the doctor's to 

scratch their heads in disbelief. I want your power

to be SO evident that there isn't any doubt of 

who is at work. Father, Trinity has such a heart for you.

She loves talking about you and to you. She is 

amazed by you. I wish I had her faith. I'm begging

You to heal her completely. May all the glory go to You.

We will praise no one other than the

One who created her. But overall, Father, I pray that 

Your Will Be Done.

Thank You, Father. I love you.

Amen.

-katie

Abandoned

Oh, dear Father, I've been struggling this week. I've also been feeling abandoned. This week, it's been a little difficult for me to know you're near. But, God--your Word says that you will never leave me. So, I know you're with me, Father. Show yourself to me, God. I want to feel you and know that you're present and working in my life.

Tell Daddy that I love and miss him.

Thank you God for all you've done for me.
I love you with all my heart.
Amen.

Thanks

Father God,

Good morning Friend. Thank you for your provision and love this week. Thank you for allowing me to go back to school. Thank you for another chance to make my life better here on Earth. I have felt you with me this week--please don't let me forget you're here. Help me to focus on school and praise you through it. Thank you.

Amen
katie

Hope you all are having a great week! If not, hey--it's half over! :)

All I want is Your Will

God, I've been struggling to know your will for me. I feel that part of my prayers have been answered. And now, all I'm waiting on is the other part. God show me the path I need to take. I feel okay with either options I have right now. Give me the ears to hear and the wisdom and knowledge to recognize what you have in store for me. Help me to trust in you more.

Thank you
I love you.
Amen
-katie

Days 1 & 2

I started that 30-day Devotion, Completely Loved: Recognizing God's Passionate Pursuit of Us, yesterday. God has already showed me how valuable I am to Him. It's incredible. I can't believe I haven't started this earlier.

Day 1 starts off with the creation story--what better way to start?? The title to day 1 is "Completely Loved by...Our Creator". I love that. Because who loves us more than Who created us? We think our parents have the ultimate love for us, but we are oh so wrong. God's love for us is immeasurable and honestly, I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm just now figuring that out. I don't need anyone other that Him. He knows what we need and who we are. Here's an excerpt from day 1:

"We find passion and joy in walking with the One who designed every part of us.

He designed our minds, so He knows how to put us at ease.

He created our bodies, so He knows how to strengthen us.

He formed our hearts, so He knows how to thrill and delight us.

He molded our spirits, so He knows our innermost desires; and only He can satisfy those desires."

And every day ends with a prayer (who would've thought??). And wouldn't you know that the one thing I've really been insecure about my entire life, Shannon addresses in the very first devotion. Blows my mind. After I read it yesterday, I just looked up and said, "Ok, Lord, I get it." The prayer reads like this:

"Creator God,

Help me recognize Your beauty and wonder evident

throughout all of creation---from the tiniest DNA molecule

to the galaxies far beyond our awareness. But most of all, help

me to recognize Your beauty and wonder when I look at myself."

You see, in my entire life, I've never thought of myself as beautiful. Never. THIS explains it all.

Day 2 is entitled "Completely Loved by...Our Witness". Today starts out talking about Hagar and how she felt unnoticed by God. She has a son by Abraham, Sarai's husband. She gets treated so harshly by her. She even runs away pregnant with Ishmael, her son, and she sees an angel. The angel tells her to go back and take whatever Sarai can dish out.

"And the angel also said, 'You are now pregnant

and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ismael (which means 'God hears'),

for the LORD has heard your cry of distress. This son of yours will

be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist

against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes he will live

in open hostility against all his relatives.'"

Shannon points out in here that Hagar didn't put up a fight against this angel. I am amazed at that. I would definitely protest and ask the angel to, instead give me a son who is not a "wild man". But Shannon is right when she says this:

"Her response indicates that she was at peace with her situation,

regardless of how difficult it must have been. Why?

Because she looked past her situation to recognize that

GOD ACTUALLY SAW HER.

Her Maker knew her plight and was a witness to her life.

That seemed to satisfy her; it was enough for her to simply know 

beyond a shadow of a doubt that God saw her

and her circumstances."

I love the next verse--verse 13. I feel like this is Hagar's "AH-HA" moment.

"Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD,

who had spoken to her. She said,

'You are the God who sees me.' She also said,

'Have I truly seen the One who sees me?'"

I love love love how Shannon Ethridge brings forth a new idea. I am truly thankful for this book series. I can't wait to dive into the rest of the books!! She ends today with another prayer:

"Dear God, I may not understand why it feels so

important to be noticed at times, but I thank You that nothing in

my life goes unnoticed by You. Even though you witness my 

finest and worst moments, You never stop cheering me on,

and for that I am eternally grateful."

Have a wonderful weekend!

-katie

Completely Loved: Recognizing God's Passionate Pursuit of Us

July is almost over--when did that happen?? Don't get me wrong, I'm happy. Bring on Fall!

Well, I'm starting a new series of devotionals. It's the "Loving Jesus Without Limits" series by Shannon Ethridge. I've read her book Completely His and it was wonderful! Shannon's testimony is incredible. I'm so glad she's told her story. I'm sure she's helping so many people through these books. If you want, you can click HERE to read my story.

There are 4 30-day devotional books in this series and while Completely His inspired them all, the first is Completely Loved: Recognizing God's Passionate Pursuit of Us. I'm so excited to start this. Insecurities have made their way in my life and I can't wait to again recognize how much God loves me and how he pursues me.

Pray me through this friends! I'll be updating as I read through it and find something that I love.
-katie

God, can You send the answer in an E-mail??

Lately, I have been feeling like a change is near and fairly necessary. For a long time, I've been feeling like I'm being called somewhere else. I would hate to think that I missed an opportunity because I wasn't listening closely to that Still Small Voice or wasn't willing. I guess I was/am being cautious so that I can be sure it was God who was calling me and not my selfish human nature.

So last night, I prayed. And I will continue to pray this until it is answered.

Father God, I thank you for the incredibly relaxing weekend.

You knew I needed that.

God, I need your guidance and your wisdom as I enter into this time of change.

You know how much I don't like change.

I pray that you would give me a clear cut sign to what I'm supposed to do.

I want nothing but your will for my life.

Please give me no doubts about what happens in the weeks to come.

Thank You, Father.

Amen.

Hope you all have a wonderful week! 

-katie

Long time, No post

Friends, I have failed at so many of my New Year's resolutions...I am ashamed...

I hope you all have had a wonderful year so far. It's half over--YAY! I'm ready for colder weather, it is blazing hot here in the South!

As for my prayer today, the serenity prayer is my choice. Here it goes.

Father God, grant me serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

-katie