Love,
Katie
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Happy Birthday
Here is just a quick happy birthday to one of the most amazing girls I've ever had the privilege of knowing, my best friend of 8 years! Happy 16th birthday Desh!!!!! Love you!!
Monday, February 16, 2015
It Is Finished
"It is finished" (John 19:30) three incredibly powerful words spoken by Jesus at the end, on the cross. But what do those words mean? Well, we have the obvious answer, which is that his work as a man on earth was finished. What about the less obvious? Those words mean that our sins are forgiven it means that when we come to Him, it is finished. We are saved, and our sin is forgotten in His eyes. The very MOMENT we repent. There is a quote I read once
When we repent and come to Christ, when He spoke those three powerful words, "It is finished" this is what that means! From generation to generation, over the rivers, and above the mountaintops, may those three words reverberate across the entire earth and time. It. Is. Finished. Never doubt the grace of God, beloved. He has taken your sins as far as the east is from the west, and he will not bring them up. Others will certainly try to remind you, and the devil will tell you that your past makes you unworthy of a brighter future. God calls these things out as lies. The Bible says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17. When we become followers of God, turning away from our past sin, it's gone. It's not just forgotten, darling it is nonexistent. Our past is meant to teach us, not to draw us down. "Ah yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it."~Rafiki (The Lion King) We're not running from our pasts because we are not afraid of them. They hold no power over us, because God is the only power over us. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
~Katie
When we repent and come to Christ, when He spoke those three powerful words, "It is finished" this is what that means! From generation to generation, over the rivers, and above the mountaintops, may those three words reverberate across the entire earth and time. It. Is. Finished. Never doubt the grace of God, beloved. He has taken your sins as far as the east is from the west, and he will not bring them up. Others will certainly try to remind you, and the devil will tell you that your past makes you unworthy of a brighter future. God calls these things out as lies. The Bible says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17. When we become followers of God, turning away from our past sin, it's gone. It's not just forgotten, darling it is nonexistent. Our past is meant to teach us, not to draw us down. "Ah yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it."~Rafiki (The Lion King) We're not running from our pasts because we are not afraid of them. They hold no power over us, because God is the only power over us. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
~Katie
Friday, February 13, 2015
Iyenna: The Search for Bi Delan
http://www.amazon.com/Iyenna-Search-Delan-Gabriella-Allen-ebook/dp/B00JSBDOS2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423856811&sr=8-1&keywords=iyenna
Iyenna, by Gabriella G. Allen is a story of a young adult named Iyenna (Ee-yen-uh) and her friend Yuax (You-ah), who, despite living with their tribe who ever journey onward toward the land of a mysterious, glowing stranger, have always sought after something further. In reading, you will travel along with Iyenna as her tribe comes dreadfully close to the stranger's land, Iyenna learns the Bi Delan about Yeshua, and a battle of faith ensues. Allen's careful description and flowing dialogue brings this story to life, and will keep you turning page after page long into the night. I would absolutely recommend Iyenna to children and teens alike! ~Review by Katie (Author of The Lost Princess and Forgotten Dream)
~Katie
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Proverbs 17:17
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." I think we can all agree that everyone wants to know where to find a friend like this. But... what about BEING a friend like this? Maybe you've got this down, maybe you're the greatest friend anyone could ask for. Or maybe not. Do you ever take a step back and realize that all you've been talking to your friends about is your problems? That you've been taking them for granted, or expecting them to initiate everything? I know I can be accused of this on multiple occasions. Now, there are THOUSANDS of ways to be a friend who loves at all times, and a lot of it can depend on knowing what your friend's love languages are ( http://www.5lovelanguages.com/ ) , so that you can know how best to express your appreciation. However, there's one way that I've been experimenting with lately. The most powerful thing any Christian can do is pray. After all, God is the Creator of the universe, the Savior of our souls! All things are possible for Him, and what better way to love your friends than to pray for them? But with all your many friends, family, and acquaintances, how could you possibly keep up with praying for ALL those people. I would suggest getting a nice journal or notebook. Every. Single. Time someone asks you to pray for them, or you comment on Facebook, "I'll be praying for you!" write it down in that notebook.
Something I've been trying lately is to choose five ladies I know (They can be my close friends, moms I know, or just acquaintances) each month. I will write them a little note of appreciation and encouragement and send it in the mail (because, admit it, everyone just LOVES getting letters in the mail, even if they don't want to write back) and every single day that month, I will pray for those ladies specifically, morning and evening, and anytime in between. I go out of my way to find out if they need prayer and/or encouragement for anything at all. Don't keep it secret either! I'm not saying "start bragging to people about what a good friend you are!!!" but let those five people know that you will be praying for them every day. Praying for your friends is probably the number one MOST encouraging thing you can do for anyone. In fact, if they'd like, you might even call them a couple times that month, and offer to pray WITH them, either over the phone, or to meet up at a coffee shop or one of your homes to pray with them. Do you have a special way of letting your friends know you love them, and you're there for them? I'd love to hear about it!!!
~Katie
Something I've been trying lately is to choose five ladies I know (They can be my close friends, moms I know, or just acquaintances) each month. I will write them a little note of appreciation and encouragement and send it in the mail (because, admit it, everyone just LOVES getting letters in the mail, even if they don't want to write back) and every single day that month, I will pray for those ladies specifically, morning and evening, and anytime in between. I go out of my way to find out if they need prayer and/or encouragement for anything at all. Don't keep it secret either! I'm not saying "start bragging to people about what a good friend you are!!!" but let those five people know that you will be praying for them every day. Praying for your friends is probably the number one MOST encouraging thing you can do for anyone. In fact, if they'd like, you might even call them a couple times that month, and offer to pray WITH them, either over the phone, or to meet up at a coffee shop or one of your homes to pray with them. Do you have a special way of letting your friends know you love them, and you're there for them? I'd love to hear about it!!!
~Katie
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
My Cup Overfloweth
Dear friends, with each new year comes a new set of blessings, and remaining blessings you've had for years. "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." (Psalm 100:4) this is only one example of a verse instructing us to give thanks. However, when life gets crazy, school is hard, or the finances hit rock bottom, it's all too easy to just complain, "God, I thought You said You'd provide. God, why is this so hard? God, is there ANYTHING good happening in my life right now?" so here's where we stop. And give thanks. Now, there are about a hundred different ways to give thanks every day of you life, but here's my number one way.
This is my blessings jar. Every day when you wake up, or every night before you go to bed, write down one blessing you are thankful for that day. Now, you don't have to keep it down to one a day! It's only February, and I have WAY more than 42 slips of paper in that jar. Some days I put 3, 4, even 8 slips of paper in the jar, and that's okay! The point is that EVERY day, you give thanks for at least one blessing God has given you. This can go for the smallest things! That candle you love the smell of, or a phone call from a friend. It can be your parents, or your siblings. It can be a roof over your head and a bed to sleep in! Don't be afraid to repeat blessings either. If one day, you feel really thankful for your car, and two days later you are thankful again, put it in the jar! Any and every blessing from God (yep, even those tough lessons you learn) can all go in that thankfulness jar. The best part? At the end of the year, you get to go back through all those slips of paper. I always try to take a few minutes after each to think how God used that specific person,or thing, or place to bless me, and to help me grow in Him. You'll feel SO blessed by the end of the year, and it's a great way to bring in a new year! All it takes is remembering God's grace in just one thing each day. Remember, all the praise goes to Him!
~Katie
This is my blessings jar. Every day when you wake up, or every night before you go to bed, write down one blessing you are thankful for that day. Now, you don't have to keep it down to one a day! It's only February, and I have WAY more than 42 slips of paper in that jar. Some days I put 3, 4, even 8 slips of paper in the jar, and that's okay! The point is that EVERY day, you give thanks for at least one blessing God has given you. This can go for the smallest things! That candle you love the smell of, or a phone call from a friend. It can be your parents, or your siblings. It can be a roof over your head and a bed to sleep in! Don't be afraid to repeat blessings either. If one day, you feel really thankful for your car, and two days later you are thankful again, put it in the jar! Any and every blessing from God (yep, even those tough lessons you learn) can all go in that thankfulness jar. The best part? At the end of the year, you get to go back through all those slips of paper. I always try to take a few minutes after each to think how God used that specific person,or thing, or place to bless me, and to help me grow in Him. You'll feel SO blessed by the end of the year, and it's a great way to bring in a new year! All it takes is remembering God's grace in just one thing each day. Remember, all the praise goes to Him!
~Katie
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Living in Denial
Dear brothers and sisters, I'm sure you've heard many times the story of Peter's denial of Jesus.
" Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept." (Mark 14:72) Now, as a young child, you probably thought, "That's terrible! I would never deny Jesus!" But here's a question for you today. Are you living in denial of Christ? When you're with non-Believers, do you conform to their ways? The Bible says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2). Here's another question. When you're with your Christian friends, and they say or do something that you know is not pleasing to God, do you still follow along? No one wants to be left out, but is fitting into a group in the temporal world worth disobeying our Savior? Dear ones, I speak not from a pedestal, as someone who has kept in righteousness, but as one who has fallen into the very patterns I'm bringing to your attention. It is not easy to follow God in this world of sin and darkness. The more you trust in God, the more the devil will try to bring you down, and tempt you to sin. On our own, we are not strong enough to defy him, but in these times we can call out to God who is our strength. “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”" (Matthew 19:26) So today I encourage you, my brothers and sisters in Christ to stand firm against the torrent of lies, deception, and temptation. Stand firm in Christ, the Chief Cornerstone, and you will not be shaken. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
~Katie Stone
" Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept." (Mark 14:72) Now, as a young child, you probably thought, "That's terrible! I would never deny Jesus!" But here's a question for you today. Are you living in denial of Christ? When you're with non-Believers, do you conform to their ways? The Bible says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2). Here's another question. When you're with your Christian friends, and they say or do something that you know is not pleasing to God, do you still follow along? No one wants to be left out, but is fitting into a group in the temporal world worth disobeying our Savior? Dear ones, I speak not from a pedestal, as someone who has kept in righteousness, but as one who has fallen into the very patterns I'm bringing to your attention. It is not easy to follow God in this world of sin and darkness. The more you trust in God, the more the devil will try to bring you down, and tempt you to sin. On our own, we are not strong enough to defy him, but in these times we can call out to God who is our strength. “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”" (Matthew 19:26) So today I encourage you, my brothers and sisters in Christ to stand firm against the torrent of lies, deception, and temptation. Stand firm in Christ, the Chief Cornerstone, and you will not be shaken. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
~Katie Stone
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Love, love, love
I think everyone knows that February is the month of love. Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and while all the people in relationships are making plans, the rest of us are all
Hold up though! Who said Valentine's Day has to be about romance anyway? Here's where my family is super weird. :P On Valentine's Day, we exchange gifts, maybe go out to eat, we spend the WHOLE day together as a family, spending time together and letting each other know how much we love them. Even more though, I wish my friends a happy Valentine's Day, and pray blessings over them. This day is NOT just about romantic relationships, it's about the love between family and friends as well! So purpose to do something different this Valentine's Day. Are you with me?
~Katie Stone
Hold up though! Who said Valentine's Day has to be about romance anyway? Here's where my family is super weird. :P On Valentine's Day, we exchange gifts, maybe go out to eat, we spend the WHOLE day together as a family, spending time together and letting each other know how much we love them. Even more though, I wish my friends a happy Valentine's Day, and pray blessings over them. This day is NOT just about romantic relationships, it's about the love between family and friends as well! So purpose to do something different this Valentine's Day. Are you with me?
~Katie Stone
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