MY UNIQUE CHRISTMAS LETTER

I simply love this time of year!

I love the snow that falls and covers the ground, hot chocolate to warm my belly, bundling up in all my outdoor winter gear to go deer hunting, the sunrises and sunsets of a cold winters day, holiday shopping for Christmas presents for my family and friends, the anticipation of family gatherings with great food, and lots and lots of baked goodies.

These are some of my favorite things!

Another thing I enjoy about this season is the Christmas letters that come through the mail to our doorstep. The cards that tell of a person’s most memorable moments of the year.

And that’s what got me started thinking, the Christmas letters that is.

You see, I’ve never written a Christmas letter. Oh, I’ve thought about it, but I simply thought I’d be depressing people with my life because the past 5 years haven’t been a happy life one would want to read about. At least not in the way one would think. This year is different though and I think it’s time for me to share my 5 years in the making Christmas letter. Don’t worry it won’t be long!

The year 2012 was a happy year for me, I grew a lot, made great friendships, and was on fire for the Lord. Although this is the year I got poisoned I can only remember good things from this year.  

(above: My dearest friends who stuck with me through the good and bad.)

The year 2013 was full of tragedy. This is the year that Stephen and I got engaged, that Stephen died, that I graduated with my undergrad, and the year I relied on my friends deeply to help me with life as the fog of sickness and grief overwhelmed me. 

(above: Carolyn, Jill, and I on a Sunday morning, they just got back from church and I had just gotten out of bed. I don't know what I would have done without them.) 

The year 2014 brought new independence. I made new friends who were a huge encouragement to me in my grief, I got a part time job, I came down with vertigo, and came to the realization I had to quit my job and needed to move home and in with my parents. 

(above: My close friend Jill got married and although I wasn't able to be apart of the entire wedding due to health reasons, this was a joyous time.)

(above: Myself, Tiffany, and Aundra after a fun afternoon hanging out together. These girls have brought so much joy into my life.)

The year 2015 brought me back to South Dakota. I moved back home, spent hours walking the cow trails with my dog, was blessed to be in a wedding, went to mayo clinic, was diagnosed with chronic migraines and fibromyaldia, and towards the end of the year started working part time again.

(above: My dog Princess and I after a long 5 mile walk around the pasture.)

(above: My high school friend Stephanie and I at her wedding. This was a very joyous day!)

This year, 2016, has been so different. For this year is the year I’ve felt the best, done the most, and been “normal-like”. This year I started using essential oils which has given me my life back. Along with the oils, I have been blessed to be in three weddings, I have been able to make new friends, enjoy time with old friends, work 20 to 30 hours a week, enjoy numerous days outside, go on my first vacation in years, and enjoy many family happenings.

(above: Myself and Halle, my cousins sweat little girl at my brothers wedding. I had so much fun at their wedding. I love having a sister-in-law, she truly has been a blessing to our family.)

(above: My dear friend Carolyn and I at her wedding. I laughed so much! It was a wonderful joyous time!)

(above: Aundra and I on my vacation with the Reynolds to Branson, MO. I love this family and it was the best vacation I have ever had!)

(above: Beans and I at her wedding. Beans and I have been friends since I was a freshman in college we've been through a lot together and I'm so glad I was able to be in her wedding.)

(above: my first buck, shot him around 400 yards. My dad and I went out at 10:00am and were home by 11:00am. Sadly the buck had already shed one antler but he was still a beauty!)

(above: myself, mom, Jonathan, and Tricia at the McDonalds Day Parade downtown Chicago on Thanksgiving day. I love my family and the time I am able to spend with them.)

God has truly blessed me each year! There had always been an uplifting time of laughter and enjoyment each year. There has always been people God put in my path to help me. There has always been Gods presence never leaving my side.

 I am so encouraged and thankful for how far I’ve come. Without God who knows where I’d be. God’s great love and his ultimate sacrifice have brought me peace. I have chosen to serve him and in my service I have suffered greatly but only for His Glory, and His Alone. I have enjoyed greatly but only because of the blessings that come from God. 

God is good!

Merry Christmas and may next year be full of new tidings and joys to share! 

Love you all, grace and peace to you!

A SEASON OF THANKFULNESS IN SOUTH DAKOTA

When I moved back to South Dakota a year and a half ago I didn’t know what to expect. I was thankful to move back in with my parents so that they could take care of me. I was thankful to be in the beautiful state of South Dakota that makes me proud to have grown up here. I was thankful to reconnect with my South Dakota family and friends. I was thankful to be near my dog. I was thankful to have my garden back. There were so many things I was thankful for.

But…

And yes, I did have to add that conjunction. I needed to say “except.”

Because I simply didn’t want to move back to South Dakota. I didn’t want to move away from the Reynolds and my friends in KC. This place I found to call home, that had city and country within a short drive. The place I loved and had to leave, where I learned so many life lessons, a place I truly became an adult, where I always had new places to explore, and the city that I made so many friends in. I hated to say goodbye.

I was thankful to move back to South Dakota for many reasons. I simply was tired and needed to go “home”. But I didn’t want to leave, to say goodbye to so many things.

Now hear me out, I understand that moving is a part of life and I do love a good adventure, God truly knows that about me. And God knew I could handle everything that he has put in my path. I am grateful to have such a loving Heavenly Father. Yet…

South Dakota just wasn’t appealing to me in many areas in life. They weren’t bad, but they have been a struggle. And I have found myself complaining to God quite a bit in this past year and a half.

First, I knew moving in with my parents would take away part of my adulating lifestyle. I would be their “little Katie” again, living under their roof, following their rules, submitting to let them “parent me” telling me what to do, tagging along to things they were going to. I never dreamed I would need my parents to take care of me like I was a little child, yet I did. It’s been hard and I’ve had to stand my ground on some areas of adulating and say, “please let me do this I don’t want to be enabled.” Yet, other areas of my life I really have needed my parents, to drive me places on days when I was unable, to sit with me when I was sad or lonely, to do things for me like make my meals, do my laundry, and help with paperwork on days I was unable. It’s been a struggle but I wouldn’t change a thing. Even on the hard days I’m thankful that God has me hear in this season.

Second, I never imagined I’d be back in this Community again. I will always love our Ranch but never dreamed I’d be back here to live again. I never thought I’d be building relationships with my Tolstoy church family again. I never dreamed I would be working in my home town. I just never thought this is where God would bring me back to, ever. But I have been so blessed, so encouraged by the community that surrounds me and I realize how thankful I am God has me here in this season.

Third, I didn’t know how well I had it in the city when it came to singleness. No one ever gave me a hard time about being single in the city. After everything that’s happened to me and all God has brought me though and taught me, I didn’t know how hard it would be to fight for singleness in my South Dakota community. Now don’t get me wrong, I want to date and get married one day, if that’s God’s plan. But honestly the thought of dating brings up many feelings for me. I don’t know if saying “I’ve been traumatized by dating” is the correct wording for me but it is something close. So, when I move to South Dakota where we have more cattle than people, I never thought so many people would give me a hard time about singleness. I understand that most married and dating people feel bad for the singles out there. But I never wanted anyone to feel bad for me. I never wanted anyone to give me a hard time about my singleness. I simply wanted people to love me, encourage me, and be ok with however my life turned out, single or married. When I tell people that if I date, it would only be when I’m ready and God brings someone into my life, no one seemed to understand and I’ve had to stand my ground telling people to stop giving me a hard time, that dating is a hard subject for me to process through. But through all the hard times, through all the trauma/grief processing God leads me through about dating, I know I am loved by a vast number of people who only want the best for me. As God continues to heal my heart in this area of life, I am thankful and I realize how blessed I am by God in this season of life.

Fourth, when Stephen died my mentor told me that God had big plans. That what God brought me through was something He was going to use to open doors for me to tell people about Him. Yes, I’m still in the process of publishing my book on God’s goodness. But I’m talking about something different. Since Stephens death God has placed me in so many people’s paths that have encountered the loss of a loved one. And each time He places someone into my life I think, “maybe just maybe, quite possibly God knew this all along.” In fact, I believe He did. God blessed me with going through traumatizing losses to be able to love and encourage other people that have gone through loss. Now that I think about it, there have been at least 10 deaths in the past 2 years of people I know that have lost a loved one. And although I never thought this would be my life, I realize how special it is. Not to talk to people about DEATH, but to share about LIFE and how good God is.

Lastly, I never knew how hard it would be to move back to South Dakota and not have close friendships here. What I went through, what my friends went through with me in KC brought us close very close and we became family through it all. So, when I moved back to South Dakota where I had some friends yes, but we were not as close anymore, it was hard to move back and not have that closeness of friendships. Yet, God has brought friends into my life to be close with here in South Dakota. And I’m very thankful for the friends I can hang with, laugh with and be encouraged by. I find myself very thankful, very blessed in this season of life God has brought me to.

I wouldn’t change a thing. Even on those days I really grumbled it out with God saying “life isn’t the way I wanted it to be,” and “this isn’t easy Lord,” I would find myself still waking up every morning to say, “Thank you Lord, thank you for where I’m at.” The joy of the Lord is in my heart even on the bad days, because I know even when the tears are streaming down my face that God is good and that his plan is great! People ask my why I’m so happy if I’m in so much pain, honestly it’s because I see life differently, that pain, trials, and tears bring me as much joy as someone who won a million dollars. For to me, there is a time for everything and in each season I learn more about who I am and who God has created me to be. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says there is a season for everything. And I believe that in each season we can find joy. Whether people are dying (as is the case for our community this year) or people are tired from all their toils. Whether crying or laughing. Whether at peace or at war. There is a time for everything and there is joy in the good and bad.

As I look back and think about this past year and a half of South Dakota living. I am grateful. As a human being I may always have my days of complaining and not wanting change, but I wouldn’t change a thing God has done in my life. God continues to teach me things, to give me this view of life that most people don’t have -that it’s ok to let Him create a new norm for your life. With each season I hope to become even more grateful. To hopefully stop some of that grumbling and instead embrace the changes and work towards a passionate lifestyle praising God no matter what may come.

I didn’t mean to ramble. I guess there was a lot on my heart to share with what God is doing in my life. The life of a gal that sees God’s goodness in her everyday life.

Love you all!

Go be thankful in this holiday season!

TREADING WATER, TRYING TO STAY AFLOAT

TREADING WATER 

This has been an interesting summer my friends. And as life always seems to go, this summer was nothing I thought it would be.

I imagined May-August to be full of summer time fun and relaxation with a little bit of work. I always seem to feel better when its warmer with my health, so I didn’t plan on having any major health setbacks for the summer. So away I went with planning my summer activities forgetting that I get sick so easily. Imagine my surprise with a little bit of frustration, tears, and reminding myself of God’s goodness when I got sick EVERY single month this summer. From terrible migraines to sinus colds/infections that lasted up to 2 weeks each month, I struggled to keep up with life and everything else that came up in between.

Now this does not mean I did not have a fun summer. On the days where I felt good enough I enjoyed many road trips to see friends, mudding adventures, kayaking, long walks with my dogs, naps outside, veggie gardening, and other lovely outdoor summer activities. I loved the days where God gave me the energy and adrenaline to do those things.

I simply was humbled again. I had asked God to humble my life this summer and yet again I forgot what the blessing/consequences would be when I prayed that prayer. To gain Christ, I must give up of my selfish will. To strive after Him. To be reminded why I need Him. To say no matter what came up, “It is well with my soul, Lord.”

Away my summer went and I easily became frustrated to have such a bad immune system this summer. But then everyday this summer God has reminded me through lyrics of a hymn, that He has everything in control and I must trust Him.

You probably know this hymn. The lyrics read:

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well, with my soul

It is well

With my soul

It is well, it is well with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

By Horatio Spafford

(If you don’t know Horatio Spafford’s story and why he wrote this song check it out!)

Although I didn’t accomplish everything I wanted to do this summer, I did a lot and learned a lot. Many days I felt as if I were treading water and I simply did what I could that day to stay afloat. But many days this summer I struggled to keep in good contact with family and friends for even a simple text or phone call. Even that became a struggle to keep up with. Thankfully, God has placed many great people in my life that reached out to me, prayed for me, and simply was a caring friend.

   

You understand what I mean don’t you? Those days that are hard, stressful, and overwhelming that everyday life becomes so exhausting to do everything but the minimum. We all have them. And although I asked for humility and you probably did not, God continues to do things and bring us through things to see Him and His Glory.

...Let us not forget why we're here on earth...

I am continually amazed by the God I serve.

I am continually thankful for the blessings that come every day from a God who cares so much.

And I’m continually reminded every day this summer that “God is good” not because it’s some famous saying, not because everyone seems to say it when life is going good, but BECAUSE God is good especially when life becomes hard.

Love you all!

HUMILIATED

Humiliated by so many things that I don’t have an answer to.

What I once used to enjoy speaking about I have found to dislike.

What I once used to boast upon, I now keep silent.

What I once used to laugh about I now shed tears.

What is this thing? LIFE. I have allowed fears to overpower me and I have become “humiliated by what people say about my own life.”

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I still enjoy telling people about God’s goodness. I still enjoy nature and the life God has given me. I still enjoy laughing at things.

But when it comes to telling people about my life, and the joys and sorrows I have been through, I have started to feel humiliated.

Why?

Because when people find out that I don’t have a job with my degree, a husband or children, and so much more. I get humiliated. Humiliated by people that tell me that I should be doing “better” than what I am.

And so, I have found that instead of speaking, boasting and laughing about the life God has given me, I have found I hide, change the subject, or keep silent when around people who are full of questions.

I really struggle when I meet new people or old acquaintances. The questions that pop out seem like a drill sergeant telling me to fall in line. That my life is too confusing for them to accept and so therefore it’s too different for them to comprehend.

Questions are asked that I cannot answer except to say, “This is where God wants me.” But for some people that’s not enough to stop their questions. And then I become even more humiliated because what people “wish” for my life is not what God has planned. Although I am content with God’s plan for my life and where God has me, I find it constantly hard to tell people.

Why?

 Because having a “God” answer isn’t enough for most people.

And so I struggle. To find a way to boast in God’s goodness when people don’t understand God’s love, plan, or purpose for their own lives. I become humiliated for people because they are so utterly clueless to why they need a close relationship with God.

Life and boasting in God’s goodness is not always easy.

I’ve come to realize how few people I come into contact each day know how to boast in the Lord.

And when I think about it, maybe I never really knew what it meant to boast in my pain and joy until I asked God to humble me. (Which was 4 years ago). So I realized that I’ve had to learn how to boast in God. To boast in His goodness. I realize also that what people think and say shouldn’t bother me, or at least I shouldn’t let it get to me. Because I know God has me here at this spot for no other reason than to know Him better and to boast in His goodness.

So although the past two months I have struggled with feeling humiliated with what people have to say, I know Gods truth. Which is that no matter what people think, God’s say is true, good, loving, just, and perfect. (I feel like making a hashtag tshirt saying #IamachildofGodandIshouldn’tbehumiliatedbywhatpeoplesay). Haha.

Life isn’t about family, money, things, technology, sports, food and so on. Life is about a relationship with Jesus Christ. And not one of us should feel humiliated for living out our faith.

Maybe you have your own humiliation story of life. But remember, as I try to on the hard days, what God has brought us through is way better than what people think of us.

God is good,

I love you all,

Be blessed,

And go out and boast in God’s goodness!

I ASKED FOR SUFFERING AND I FOUND JOY

SUFFERING IN JOY

Being open, real, blunt, and downright honest is something that’s important to me in communication with my family, friends and even the everyday strangers I meet. I want to speak in simple honesty but doing it with love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Being real is one of the first things Stephen said he loved about me when we first met. All that to say it’s been pretty important to me in my life to speak truth in love.

The way I pray, the way I interact in my relationship with God is proof. I talk to God like he is my King, provider, friend, comforter, and inspiration. Because He is all of those things and more. So when I asked God to humble me, I never understood that I was asking to suffer.

What do I mean by that?

Well with as much grace and love I can muster up in my writing today I want to tell you all that it’s worth it to suffer. Yes, God loves you. Yes, we live in a fallen world. Yes, all people sin. Yes, God sent his only perfect son to die on the cross for our sins. Yes, the only way to Heaven is repentance and believing in Jesus Christ claiming Him as Lord. But being a Christian is so much more. If you want to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you want to surrender all, it is going to be hard and so worth it. I don’t mean to scare you but you need to understand the raw facts. Believing in Jesus is going to be a lot of work, it’s going to create a new focus in life, it may tear apart relationships and build many new ones, it’s going to be hard, and you are going to suffer.

Why?

(I’ve been memorizing Philippians and marking up my bible with the precious truths that come from this book.)

Philippians 3:7-11 says, “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

So why do we have to suffer to achieve greatness?

Well you can disagree with me, but I believe this: All human beings are selfish. Even the most caring person you know can be selfish. Why? Because we were all born with sin in our lives. And if you want to follow Jesus and strive after Him you’re going to have to be willing to be broken. Laying your life down at His feet!

Nancy Leigh DeMoss writes in the Quite Place Daily Devotional,

“You and I will never meet God in revival and experience the fullness of His blessing in our lives until we first meet Him in brokenness, acknowledging out spiritual poverty-that we have nothing and we are nothing apart from Him. Our family’s will never be whole until husbands and wives, moms and dads, and young people have been broken. Our churches will never be the vibrant witness God intended them to be until their members-pastors and laypeople alike-have experienced true brokenness. Then-and only then-will come true blessing.”

By being broken you can attain an even closer relationship with God. When I prayed for brokenness nearly 4 years ago, I simply wanted to go deeper in my walk with God. So I prayed for humility. I never realized that I asked for suffering but I wouldn’t change a thing. All the changes that God has done in my life these past few years as He has been breaking me, I have been drawing closer to Him. God’s plan is way better than my own.

As today mark’s Stephen’s 3^rd Heaven Birthday I remember his life and I also remember why I started this blog a year ago. I started writing to show you that God is good, that everyone struggles in the midst of life, and that suffering for Jesus is so worth it. God has humbled me through my sickness and shown me more of His grace through my grief of losing Stephen. I wouldn’t change a thing.

I think Nancy said it well, “we have nothing and we are nothing apart from Him.” I am nothing without God. He can stripe away my selfish cares of this world so I can be totally surrendered to Him. In order to do so I have to be broken. And in my brokenness I have found joy. Joy in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is worth it.

Suffering is worth it.

Joy is worth it.

Think about it. Don't you agree?

Much love to all who read and remember God is good, all the time!

WALKING ALONE

FORGETTING I'M NOT WALKING ALONE

I love to climb mountains. I love the nature. I choose the hardest of paths simply because "it looks funner." (Bear with me as I make up words. haha.) I love the fresh air. I love walking up and down ravines to get to the final destination of the top of the mountain.

The feeling you get after reaching the top is fulfilling yet exhausting. "I made it," you say to your self. The task is delightful and encouraging when you allow people to walk alongside you. Yet, when climbing alone it can be exhausting, painful, slow, and discouraging.

Mountain's are never ending in my life. Probably yours too! Why? Because if you choose to follow Jesus; He doesn't promised an easy life but salvation, growth and an eternal home. One of my favorite scriptures is James 2:2-4 which says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Mountains will come into my life and I must climb, I must be tested, because through the testing of my faith I produce perseverance. Perseverance to serve the Lord! Perseverance to continue climbing! Perseverance to finish the race strong!

But... I easily find myself doing things on my own. Asking for help is out of the question. You know what I'm talking about, I'm sure you do it too! We all journey the road of faith and we easily find ourselves doing things alone, to prideful to ask for help, for prayer, for accountability, for grace, for love, for mercy, for kindness, for understanding, for wisdom.

The mountain that I've been climbing recently is a feeling of walking alone and feeling unloved by God. I know that Satan and his demons have been tempting me to think that I am alone and that God doesn't love me. Why would I believe such a thing? Although I can tell you of many answers to prayer God has answered in my life and many things God has been speaking into my life recently, I have felt alone and unloved. It's easy to believe a lie when you feel unworthy of love. (You understand, don't you?) I am saved through faith, yet fail miserably at times. I feel unworthy of an all loving God. I feel as if I'm not a good enough child of God's to deserve such love. I can't even comprehend the love God has for me. Can you?

Today though, I read Ephesians 3:17-19 that really spoke to me. God's word is truly living and active! I started to see God's agape love in my life as I read these verses!

Ephesians 3:17-19 says, "Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."

My footnotes in my bible said this:
"God's love is total. It reaches every corner of our experience. It is wide enough to cover the breadth of out own experience, and it reaches out to the whole world. It is long enough to continue the length of our lives. It is high enough to rise to the heights of our celebration and elation. It is deep enough to reach the depths of discouragement, despair, and even death. When you feel shut out or isolated, remember that you can never be lost to God's love." (LASB study bible)

God's love is deep enough, wide enough, long enough, and high enough to go above and beyond the existence of my life to love me. I am loved. I am God's. I am not alone. I am a child of God. I AM LOVED BY GOD!

l

As you look into the richness of the love God has for you. Yes you! May God bring you to an understanding of the love he has for you! As the sun rises and sets each day may you be reminded that he loved you! He loves me! God loves all of us!

REALITY

THE REALITY OF MY LIFE

If I could some up in one word how I've felt the month of February it would have to be the word, OVERWHELMED! I felt so overwhelmed with life that even when I went to go have fun, I felt overwhelmed. Silly right? No really, it's possible! But even in my overwhelmed state I have been so blessed.

God's been doing some amazing work in my life simply because I've been seeking Him more and memorizing scripture. And I think the reason why I feel so overwhelmed is because I keep asking for God to humble my life. Through my insecurities, stress, and the simple fact that February is the most depressing month of the year (at least in my mind); I have been overcome by this gnawing feeling of overwhelmed responsibility to do more. Although it is good to not be lazy I forget I'm sick and need to rest. I forget about reality. I forget to trust God. I forget the fact that I need God every second of every day. Why? Because without God life is miserable!

I wrote this a few years ago and thought I'd share with you another spoken word (poetry). Why? Because I so easily forget about reality and this is truly reality!

Remember dear reader, God is good, all the time!

~REALITY~

The reality is, the truth is, the fact is…

That life is sometimes just hard.

The reality is, the truth is, the fact is…

When life gets hard you sometimes just want to give up.

The reality is, the truth is, the fact is…

“What if” keeps playing in your head like a record, “What if my life continues to be hard” never stops playing.

The reality is, the truth is, the fact is…

“What is this world about? What am I living my life for?” This, my friends, becomes daily questions when life calamities strike.

The reality is, the truth is, the fact is…

I’m lonely, every day and every hour. I think, deep down, you’re lonely too. Deep down you’re lonely, trying to fill your loneliness with things, things that will make you “happy.” Things such as food, money, technology, cars, sinful desires, substance abuse, even people. What if those things were taken from you, your loves of this world? Until I find contentment in my life, until I am content in Jesus Christ will my loneliness then be filled. The same is said for you, find contentment in Jesus Christ and he will satisfy you.

The reality is, the truth is, the fact is…

I am very blessed, you are very blessed, we are very blessed.

The reality is, the truth is, the fact is…

There is a time for everything; a time to laugh, a time to cry, a time to be born, and a time to die. All of this is for the glory of God!

Because, reality is, truth is, fact is, we all need God. Without him we lack everything, let us glorify His name!

Truth is there is a time for everything.

Some people die young while some people die old, that is reality.

Truth is, life is hard.

Some people find their cup half full while others half empty.

Who are you?

Who has God created you to be?

Whether you have 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 years, or 50 more years to live,

What are you living your seconds, minutes, hours, and years for?

Who are you living them for?

What is your purpose in life?

Can you answer that?

Because, reality is, truth is, fact is, we all are searching for something, for a deeper purpose in our lives. When calamities fall before us we look for reality, we look for truths, we look for facts that point us to that deeper meaning and purpose in life.

Reality is…

Truth is…

Fact is…

God is real and He created you for something beautiful.

Reality is, everyone fears death,

Why?

Heaven is beautiful, but Hell is utter misery.

Reality is, everyone hates pain,

Mankind strives for happiness.

Reality is, everyone wants to be happy,

But most aren’t.

Truth is, everyone needs someone,

All humans need hugs.

Truth is, everyone longs for love,

Fact is, without God life is miserable.

Reality is, truth is, fact is…

God’s love is real.

God’s word is truth.

Jesus’ death and resurrection are a fact.

Reality is, truth is, fact is…

Life is hard and God is good!

STRESS

STRESS: Can we really live without it?

I’ve wanted to talk about stress for a long time but I just couldn’t find the right words to put out there. In my thinking, how do I write about stress when I am still trying to cope with it. The best way to explain is telling you about my life. It’s the best way that we as people can understand each other. So welcome to my life of adventures, stress, and humility.

It all began four years ago, the one thing that I had not planned in my life, the BIG UNKNOWN!

I asked the Lord for something four years ago. It was a simple prayer that I knew would have a big impact on my life.  I knew not of what the effects would be, but I asked with all my heart. “Lord humble my life.” With those four words my life changed. Forever changed. I wouldn’t take back that prayer, but that is when my plans were turned upside down.  

I had decided that I couldn’t just pray that prayer once but I needed to pray that prayer daily. For the past four years, every day, I have asked the Lord to humble my life.

God’s answer to me was simple yet purposeful. If I was to ask for humility I needed to trust Him.

With faith that could move mountains I prayed for humility. I was excited to see God work. But, when God started to move those “mountains” in my life to humble me I became confused. “Lord,” I would ask, “what are you doing?” I asked for humility not life changes. But, with every change, with every prayer for humility, I drew closer to God.

And stress, well stress came from unbelief. Unbelief that God had everything in control. Unbelief that God’s plan is better than my own. Stress. Unbelief. Stress.

Oh, we can sure talk about contentment, change, and our plans. But going out into the unknown seeking God and trusting him is a big difference.

In my stress filled mind I have seen…

A never ending sickness

Job-less and money-less

The death of Stephen – the man who made me laugh and who made me want to be more like Jesus

Continual medical problems and tests

Moving, continual moving from place to place

Tiredness, exhaustion, and emotionally drained (This one sums up my life right now)

And I began to think, I didn’t ask for any of this!

On the days where I feel so stressed I wish for a different life. I wish for no more sickness. I wish to be married and provided for. I wish for a future with my "dream job."  And on those bad days, where I wish for the perfect life, I firmly believe that all those things will take away my stress. Being an adult is so hard at times. Making wise decisions. Choosing to do right instead of wrong. So although I have bad days and wish to imagine my life differently than it is, I do realize that the life I have been given has a purpose. A day may come where I will be free from sickness, married, and have a "dream job." But I must remember today...

I must remember, I asked the Lord for humility! I asked for humility today, yesterday and the day before that. My prayer for humility changed my life for the better. And although their are days upon days recently where I have been so stressed out with life, God has everything in control. I must trust Him!

Reminded, humbled, and encouraged I am reminded that I did ask for change. I asked for humility. And with each life changing event God has shown me more of who He is and how much I need Him.

I was asked not long ago why I would turn to God when all these “bad, trauma filled, life changing things keep occurring in my life.” My response, “Jesus is the only thing that makes sense.” I asked the Lord to make me more like Him, to humble me. With every daily prayer my life has been changed, forever changed.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is the reason. The reason to live, to laugh, to die.

My biggest struggle at the moment is trust. Trusting the Lord that he has everything in control. Trusting that His ways are best. Forget about the little stresses, forget about the big stresses, Jesus has everything in control.

 Trusting and not stressing. For when I stress, I realize I do not trust.

I’ve talked to many people recently who feel stressed, attacked, and discontent. TRUST and do not stress. Put your trust in Jesus and He will make your plans straight, stress-free, and purposed!

May our faith become stronger and our stress become less. As the month of February comes upon us remember that our joy comes from Jesus. May you and I begin to live less stress-filled lives as we go out and live our lives with a purpose to trust the Lord!