Stretched THIN.

Im sure you've heard or said that phrase- "they are just stretched thin" or "I can't. ..I'm stretched thin."

When you stretch something thin,
what happens?

Whatever you are stretching starts to become unreliable.
It gets holes, it tears, it unravels. 

People are the same way. And God did not design us to purposely stretch thin. He designed us in His image, to dwell in His peace, and REST. Nowhere in the Bible does it say, "Work to the point of frustration.  Giving Me no time of day, taking matters into your own hands." It is the complete opposite!

Lately, I've really dwelled on the phrase "Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy." It struck me one Sunday when I looked at what we were doing and wondered how it fit into this command.  Then ironically a friend posted that SAME question on Facebook.  I call it a reminder, not coincidence.

God is so methodical. He is all-knowing, all-present, all-powerful.  And he designed commands for us. Truthfully, if I had designed commandments for the human race.....it'd be a massive book. But Him-ten. Just ten! And in the midst of those ten commands is to remember one day, snd to dwell on Him. Its in there guys!!! God sees rest as SO important that he put it in the 10 guidelines to human life. How to put Him first. One thing is- - - REST.

I look around me all the time and notice people stretched thin, myself included. People who had great intentions, but have become consumed with the -work- rather than the -reason-.  People who think that we must do everything to be *happy* or fufilled.  If we are working, and do-ing for God...then it should always bring a smile to our face. Right? Even if no one acknowledges what we are doing?

I myself am SO guilty. We all are. But we should constantly be coming back to His presence for rest.

Do your very best.
He will take care of the rest.

...but in order for Him to help with the rest...you have to have a relationship with Him.

Do you?
Are you?

"Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." MATTHEW 11:28

Be a blessing,

Kay

Not a bad thing.

What is your initial reaction when something bad happens?

I'm sure if you're like me, you *first* say, "That's awful!"

Or if its something bad that has happened in our country you join in the chant
"we are going to hell in a handbaslet, I cant believe how awful our country is?!"

I realized recently that it is unBiblical, or more importantly unChristlike, to say these things.

Instead of looking at it as a *bad thing* like I described above, look at it like this-

God is bringing wickedness to LIGHT.
Its all coming out.
And that can be a great thing!!!

Think of all of the *bad* that is coming to light right now, that has relatively stayed hidden.

-Planned Parenthood Abortions
-Funding terrorist actions
-Poor American Leadership
-Increased Homosexuality
-Satanic worship
-Ashley Madison ...or whatever that site is called.
-Kanye naming his future child God West??

People can see this as bad.
That reveals truth.
The truth between good-and-evil.
Because WE know that there is such a thing
People can see this an be saved!
Saved from lives of torture and no hope.

We should ooze Jesus Christ in all that we do.  It should be our first and greatest desire.  Do I struggle with this? YES! Absolutely.  But I won't stop the fight to keep showing his mercy, love, and grace to everyone I meet.  I will take each reaction, each struggle, each trial through the lens of Christ.  And if I don't...point it out to me.  If you know me personally and see me on a daily basis- call me out on it!  It doesn't mean that I'll react perfect, or that you will.  But I can guarantee you, in the end, we will be different than this world.

Thats what my hope stands on.
This country is not my future
But I can help change the future of this country. :)




God, thank you.
Thank you for being greater
And living in us.
Thank he who is in the world.
Whatever may come,
Your strength is enough
Thank you for making our heart at peace.
Amist strife and evil.
Here in Your arms, we know who we are.

We repent for our nation that we live in.
And the nation that we know does not follow you.
We beg your mercy upon us and upon our leaders.
Thank you for Jesus
And for life. <3

Amen.

-Kay

America: That was then. This is NOW.

I heard a song this morning while I was watering flowers that stopped me in my tracks. Its by Josh Wilson and its called "That was then, this is now."

I'm sure this song is written from the perspective of
*to a person*
but I want you to take a moment and imagine this song being sung
*to ALL Christian Americans.*

As soon as I heard it, God told me- "Dont give up hope. You are not Sodom and Gomorrah.  (I was in the past guilty of calling us this) I'm about to release my power across America so that the world can see what you really are. They will see what is being hidden in America. The real gold." I heard it clear as day from Him.

You see Americans, He is prepping us for a massive victory.  Hearts are stirring. And its our job to help -equip those hearts to impact the world- *yep my NHCS peeps will like that. (Its our school mission)

So read this song,
let it digest
Pray that God would use you
EVERY DAY
-because HE can-
That He would equip you with peace
That radiates from you
So that others
desire what you have.

And I challenge you,
Share this post.
Share it so that more people can read this truth and get
..READY.
:) -kay

"We used to hide from the light
We made friends with the night
We were headed the wrong way on a one way track
Going nowhere fast

We got used to the dark
We thought this is who we are
And we figured that we were just too far gone
But we were wrong

‘Cause love came running like a river
And we got washed in the water
Then He said you're forgiven
Your sins are gone

That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now

So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then and this is now

We've been remade by grace
We've all got new names
And nothing we do could ever change
What He did that day

When love came running like a river
And we got washed in the water
Then He said you’re forgiven
And you belong

That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now

So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then

If we turn and confess every unrighteousness
He is faithful and just to forgive
Oh, so turn and confess every wrong and regret
And see what it means to live

That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now

So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then and this is now

So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then and this is now"

Move the mountain...okay no prob!

(John 14:12) "Truly I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do. And greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."

Did I read that right?
Jesus said and you will do greater things than I...

Pretty hard to digest huh?

I *Katie* could more than Jesus?
Whaat??
No really, just think about it in a non prideful way-
He means that each of us who have accepted Him, carry Him with us. Its God's will for people to be saved, and for people to be healed so that they can see Him work. We are the messengers!

Now, before you think "Eh, I dont have the faith for that. I know people can heal in Jesus name, but thats not me."

It is.

There are so many promises and provisions that we can unlock by -just- believing, and stating them! Now, how can you state them, and claim what God has given you if you dont know them? Answer is- you cant. You have to dive into His word.

Even if its boring.
Even if you dont think youre absorbing it.

Scripture says that the Word will cleanse you. It will heal you. Of all unrighteousness.  (see the picture of my Bible notes from Psalm 119- our clues from David about the Word.)

So have you sat down to read today?
Have you given yourself spiritual food for the great fight?

If not, do it! You wont regret it one bit!

"We have hope
That His promises are true
In His strength
there is nothing we (*HE*) cant do.

The same power
That rose Jesus from the grave
The same power
That commands the dead to wake
The same power
That moves mountain when He speaks
The same power
That calms the raging seas
Lives in us.
Lives in US."

Blessings!

-Kay

The Parenting Manifesto

We are THAT family.
We always were THAT family.

Limited television,  a bell to call you in for dinner-(you better not let it ring twice), saying sorry because its important,  no cussing, no nasty jokes, rarely going to amusement parks or sleep away camps, family was your rock.

Man..now...am I glad it happened that way.

The image still as fresh as yesterday-

A clunky dodge caravan puttering down the road. The fake "wood siding" on it peeled off and flapping in the wind like a windsock. I hunch down as we turn into the parking lot. Brakes squeeking and the motor sounds like a cat -literally- was dying inside it.
There they were..
all of my friends standing in the parking lot waiting. "Ugh, why didn't they go inside??" I thought to myself. I get out with the understanding that I could turn completely invisible if I didn't say a word. Mama yells, "Bye!!!! Have a good day!!!" In her holey Atlanta Braves tshirt. "Welp. There it went" I thought, they've definitely noticed me now, and probably think Im from a trailer park in West Virginia.

Little did I know- they could have cared less.
Little did I know- that part didn't matter to them.
Little did I know- my mom could have driven a corvette *easily* on the amount of money it took to send me to North Hills for 6 years.
Little did I know- my caring about what others thought, wasn't how I was raised. And it shouldnt have been my main concern.
But that's just it- little did I know.

Then flash forward 15 years and I'm the parent.
I'm the one making lasting decisions for, not only one, but two human beings. The level of wisdom (or what you hope is wisdom) rises. It breaks way to an inner beast in you to do what is right above all else. It's now that I realize what a sacrifice private Christian School was for my parents, and I value it like a treasure. They valued the fact that Christ could be the center of my education, and His name was freely spoken.

Recently our church started -July Family Nights- and adults have a choice in a few classes to take. Our choice was the "Culturing your children in faith" class. Its nice, for once, to sit on the other side of the teacher and learn. But it has sparked an interest in my heart to encourage other parents as well. This morning I ran across the Christian Parent Manifesto that a lady created for in her house- its great. Click the link to read her article-

http://wearethatfamily.com/2015/07/the-christian-parent-manifesto/

I'll be posting a recap of our parenting class each week this month, feel free to read it and absorb what God tells us about parenting!

-Kay

Ugh. It's a battle.

Its been a battle.

A battle to have joy..
a battle to be encouraged...
a battle to look forward to the years to come.

But- "The battle is the Lord's" not mine. Whew! Thank goodness, because these days I can't do it alone.

Those have been some of my feelings lately, and for my Christian friends- I'm sure you've felt it too. Now, Im not sure if "the end is near" but man, it definitely seems like things can't get much worse in our world. Millions of sweet babies killed, pridefully endorsing sin, and a government that hasn't the slightest clue on how to function....

Seems a lot like the Israelites doesn't it? They lived in some of the hardest times, and sometimes strayed away from God.

But they always came back,
and he always forgave.
Not because He had to.
Because He wanted to.

So when you feel like there is no hope for the US, there is- its Christ's love.
(Not the worldly definition of Christ's love...the I-know-Him-and-talk-with-Him-love-is-felt-in-the-heart kind of love)
And that should make us keep pressing on more than anything.  :)

Later I'm going to post a parenting post that Ive been working on. Be sure to check it out!

-Kay

Diary of a toddler.

I've been thinking for a while about how to write even just a FEW of the funny things that I deal with on a daily basis, and I just HAVE to share.

Any of you with toddlers currently, or Mommies who remember these days all too well...you will definitely relate.

Let me just say-
....this-is-my-life-with-Princess-Emma.

"Mommy, why are you spraying that smelly stuff on the window.  You're wiping it!  My hand art is beautiful.  When you turn around I will make it again on the window and the oven...and maybe the dishwasher too.  There. Perfect."


"Where are we? 

What is this stuff on the ground.  

It looks like cookie crumbs everywhere!  

You put me in this tight outfit 

...with no sleeves or pants.  

And a weird diaper.  

And rubbed white stuff all over my body. 

Its sticky, and smelly.  

The sun is bright, and I cannot see right!  

OH MY WORD...WHY did you bring me here, 

I do not like walking on these cookie crumbs.

  EWWW!!! 

**Screams bloody murder** 

That is a giant bath tub 

that splashes over there.  

I mean a GIANT bath tub.  

You know I don't like being splashed at all.  

Or do you know me at all?? 

Because if you did, you would not bring your princess here! 

DADDY, hold me!!!!"

(But in Emma language she simply screamed and said- "no beach.")

Emma's new interpretation of the word fork. You can imagine.  

She says it *clear as day* f*ck.  

There is NO changing it, 

no matter how many times we say, yes FORK! :) 

Sweet little innocent Emma has to name everyone's forks at the table.  

Our dinner conversation usually starts off: 

Emma: "Mommy's f*ck, Daddy's f*ck, Emmees f*ck.....Mommy an Daddy's f*ck"
...to which Garrett chuckles and says- "Yep, you're right!!" ;)




*My favorite*-

Mommy: "Emma, I'm going to teach you a very important song that is about America.  Its about the flag.  Here- you can hold a flag and wave it while we sing- 'You're a grand ole flag, you're a high flying flag....can you wave your flag and sing with me?"

Emma: (waves flag and sings in proudest voice) "Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity doggggggg"

Mommy: "Seriously??"