"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
Thursday, February 12, 2015
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
Friday, December 26, 2014
Merry Christmas!!!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! I know, it's cheesy. I don't have anything else prepared to write, and I apologize for that. More posts to follow soon! (We hope)
~Katie Stone~
~Katie Stone~
Saturday, November 1, 2014
NaNoWriMo~ Beginning with a Bang!
NaNoWriMo. That one phrase that has the ability to strike fear and terror into the heart of authors everywhere, all while making them jump around and get excited because "I'm gonna write a novel in a month!!!" NaNoWriMo in a word is insanity, but that's okay, we love it! I have just a few words to say to all of you today.
1. Do NOT neglect sleep!
2. Coffee is your frenemy.
3. Chocolate is amazing, but it will make you fat. Your choice. (I'll be eating it. :P)
4. Yes you're insane, yes that is okay.
5. DON'T. BACK. DOWN!!!!!!! I know, you get discouraged, "50,000 words in a month?!" but you CAN do it!!!
6. Begin with a bang! The main thing your writing will do as the month drags on, is slow down. Right now, you're actually well rested (unless you're me) and full of energy and excitement. So write those extra words NOW! Go above and beyond your daily goal while you still can! Don't. I repeat, do. not. think you can get away with not reaching your goals within those first few days!
Good luck, and I'll see you at the hermit convention! :P
~Katie~
1. Do NOT neglect sleep!
2. Coffee is your frenemy.
3. Chocolate is amazing, but it will make you fat. Your choice. (I'll be eating it. :P)
4. Yes you're insane, yes that is okay.
5. DON'T. BACK. DOWN!!!!!!! I know, you get discouraged, "50,000 words in a month?!" but you CAN do it!!!
6. Begin with a bang! The main thing your writing will do as the month drags on, is slow down. Right now, you're actually well rested (unless you're me) and full of energy and excitement. So write those extra words NOW! Go above and beyond your daily goal while you still can! Don't. I repeat, do. not. think you can get away with not reaching your goals within those first few days!
Good luck, and I'll see you at the hermit convention! :P
~Katie~
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Look and See
So, I just went to the mall today with my family, and I have a question for you.
How many times do you look, and not see?
I know, you think that's a dumb question, "Look but don't see, what does that mean?" you may be thinking. I mean it though. So many people walk through the store, and the mall, whatever. You look at people, you might even smile at them! What I want to know though, is if you really see them? A week or so ago, I went to Dollar Tree. My cashier's name was Amy, and she had red hair, "So what, anyone can remember that!" you say, but I'm not finished. She had tired eyes. She works hard. She has seen hard times, and she's made it through many of them, though not without some remembrance of the struggle staying with her. Do you think my cashier just stood there and spilled her heart our to me? Nope. She didn't say ANY of those things. No, I'm not some super creepy person that gets inside your head. I just see. I looked at that woman, and I didn't see her name tag and her red hair alone. I saw her struggles. I saw her weariness, and I saw her strength.
Today, my challenge to you is that next time you go to the store, or the mall, or wherever, notice people. Come back here, and tell me not just what they look like, but something about them you realized by looking and seeing. Obviously you don' know a person, or what they are truly like just by looking, but that may be the start to fixing a society that has simply stopped caring whether other people have or are going through a struggle. This may be the beginning to reminding people of one of the many reasons life is so precious.
~Katie~
How many times do you look, and not see?
I know, you think that's a dumb question, "Look but don't see, what does that mean?" you may be thinking. I mean it though. So many people walk through the store, and the mall, whatever. You look at people, you might even smile at them! What I want to know though, is if you really see them? A week or so ago, I went to Dollar Tree. My cashier's name was Amy, and she had red hair, "So what, anyone can remember that!" you say, but I'm not finished. She had tired eyes. She works hard. She has seen hard times, and she's made it through many of them, though not without some remembrance of the struggle staying with her. Do you think my cashier just stood there and spilled her heart our to me? Nope. She didn't say ANY of those things. No, I'm not some super creepy person that gets inside your head. I just see. I looked at that woman, and I didn't see her name tag and her red hair alone. I saw her struggles. I saw her weariness, and I saw her strength.
Today, my challenge to you is that next time you go to the store, or the mall, or wherever, notice people. Come back here, and tell me not just what they look like, but something about them you realized by looking and seeing. Obviously you don' know a person, or what they are truly like just by looking, but that may be the start to fixing a society that has simply stopped caring whether other people have or are going through a struggle. This may be the beginning to reminding people of one of the many reasons life is so precious.
~Katie~
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