As I'm sure you've seen on the news, Baptist Country has been pelted with storms over the last few weeks.
It seems every other day I see a facebook update from my sister (ten hours from here) that they're in the bathroom for another tornado warning.
Last week we were supposed to get really bad storms during the wee morning hours. Unlike at my sister's college, my school doesn't have a good tornado plan. That made me nervous.
I was checking the doppler to see what we should be expecting over night. The storm covered the whole map. It was more colorful than a sunset. Yellow, red, green...
When I hit "play" to watch the storms roll over the bed where I wanted to be catching some zzzzz, something went wrong. The entire storm vanished, leaving just the map. The map was perfectly clear.
"I could do that, you know," God whispered in my ear.
I thought about it for about and realized how cool it would be if God did make the storm disappear. He's done it before.
Later in the evening, I went out on the porch for some quiet time with God before I went to bed. It was beautiful! The pre-storm weather where the sky's getting dark and the wind is picking up, but there's no real storm yet.
When I came back later, Allyson and Nikki had two videos for me to watch.
Nikki's video was a terrifying video of one of the 150 tornadoes from the same storm.
Allyson's video was an updated doppler. The green band of storms headed for our town had stopped moving. The bands following it broke apart and dodged our town. The first band disintegrated. Nothing was going to hit us.
God had vanished our storm!
We got the beautiful pre-storm weather but no actual storm. Sometimes I wish life were like that. I'd be willing to take this beautiful pre-storm weather that is no real post-graduation plans as long as I knew that the actual storm of planlessness would vanish and a plan would appear.
He could do that, you know.
And maybe He will. But still I'm fretting.
I've seen God's faithfulness in the midst of storms. Literal weather storms and figurative life storms. Why am I having such a hard time trusting Him amidst this pre-storm chaos of a plan-less post graduation?
<>< Katie
PS: For some reason I do not understand, God decided against vanishing the storms elsewhere in the country. Friends, our brothers and sisters are hurting. Their worlds have, quite literally, been turned upside down. There are organizations such as Samaritan's Purse on the ground helping to pick up the pieces; if you are able, please offer your help as well. If you are not able, definitely be in prayer!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The G-Word
As many are quick to remind me, graduation is less than a month away. I'm trying to ignore this fact. If I don't think about it, if I don't write it on my calendar, it's not going to happen, right?
At our mission trip reunion I shared how I'm having a hard time with this whole graduation thing. Later someone mentioned that summer was coming fast.
"Shhhh! Don't remind me!" I protested.
They were all really supportive and told me it's going to take forever to get here, like Christmas. A little while later, someone else spoke about graduation.
"We're not allowed to use the G-word," I said.
Of course, Neal's ten year old son Ethan proceeded to use "The G-Word" repeatedly just to vex me. He counted down the days and told me how fast it was going to come. Typical brother...
It was all in good fun but I didn't really appreciate it. Later, in telling the story to my suitemates, I slanted it to share how I got picked on by a ten year old.
Allyson came in to the middle of the story. "Wait, what G-word? God? We're not allowed to say, 'God'?"
From now until whenever I'm allowed out of time out, whenever my suitemates and I are discussing graduation, I must also say "God is in control." But don't tell Ethan.
God IS in control!
<>< Katie
At our mission trip reunion I shared how I'm having a hard time with this whole graduation thing. Later someone mentioned that summer was coming fast.
"Shhhh! Don't remind me!" I protested.
They were all really supportive and told me it's going to take forever to get here, like Christmas. A little while later, someone else spoke about graduation.
"We're not allowed to use the G-word," I said.
Of course, Neal's ten year old son Ethan proceeded to use "The G-Word" repeatedly just to vex me. He counted down the days and told me how fast it was going to come. Typical brother...
It was all in good fun but I didn't really appreciate it. Later, in telling the story to my suitemates, I slanted it to share how I got picked on by a ten year old.
Allyson came in to the middle of the story. "Wait, what G-word? God? We're not allowed to say, 'God'?"
From now until whenever I'm allowed out of time out, whenever my suitemates and I are discussing graduation, I must also say "God is in control." But don't tell Ethan.
God IS in control!
<>< Katie
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Stench
I am very slowly getting over a cold that has stolen my sense of smell for almost the last week. I didn't really miss smells because the most prevalent smell in our home is a repercussion of the weird food our dog has to eat.
Unfortunately, my sense of smell is returning and I too now groan when the dog lets one rip.
Or when someone starts the stove. Or when Dad gargles and then gives me a hug. Or when my sister uses too much perfume.
Suddenly every smell is suffocating. Anything with a scent makes me gag.
Isn't that life with the Holy Spirit? Sometimes you don't realize what you're missing until you have it. And then once the Holy Spirit begins to change your life, everything you once did makes you gag.
Of course, eventually smells will go back to being a normal part of my day (I can't wait!) and not overwhelming.
As we continue our faith journey, we grow more content with whatever our "normal" has become. Those things that once repulsed us are accepted now. We blaze through things that once made us pause and reflect.
Stop! Pay attention to what you're doing!
Breathe in the beautiful scent of life and exhale the rancid stench of sin.
<>< Katie
Unfortunately, my sense of smell is returning and I too now groan when the dog lets one rip.
Or when someone starts the stove. Or when Dad gargles and then gives me a hug. Or when my sister uses too much perfume.
Suddenly every smell is suffocating. Anything with a scent makes me gag.
Isn't that life with the Holy Spirit? Sometimes you don't realize what you're missing until you have it. And then once the Holy Spirit begins to change your life, everything you once did makes you gag.
Of course, eventually smells will go back to being a normal part of my day (I can't wait!) and not overwhelming.
As we continue our faith journey, we grow more content with whatever our "normal" has become. Those things that once repulsed us are accepted now. We blaze through things that once made us pause and reflect.
Stop! Pay attention to what you're doing!
Breathe in the beautiful scent of life and exhale the rancid stench of sin.
<>< Katie
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Sadness and Joy
A large group gathered together in a dark upper room. The door locked out of fear. No one had bothered to light the lamp. No one wanted to speak. Complete darkness. It was not only a physical surrounding but also an emotional feeling.
Their best friend, their leader... was dead. Three years earlier they'd given up everything to follow Him. This is not what they had expected.
Not even a week earlier He'd been celebrated. He was welcomed as a king. Not forty-eight hours previous they'd enjoyed a meal together. Now He was gone. Everything happened so quickly.
The room was filled with a myriad of emotions: hurt, regret, failure, longing, desperation, depression, darkness, confusion, loneliness, loss... the list goes on. Yet the most prevalent had to be hopelessness.
"How could this have happened?"
"I really didn't see this coming. Did He?"
"Now what?"
"Where do we go from here?"
The incessant number of unanswerable questions plagued them as they sat, paced, and cried.
Silence in a crowd. Darkness in the middle of the day. Loneliness among great friends.
"Peace be with you." A voice rudely interrupts their pensiveness. Who would offer peace on such a dreary day?
Only the One who can bring light into their darkness. Only the One who brings hope to the hopeless. Only the One who was dead but lives again!
Can you imagine the relief of the disciples? Can you imagine the pure joy?
Place yourself in the upper room with the disciples. Kneel before Jesus.
Notice the holes in his feet. Touch the wound in His side. When His nail-scarred hand slides under your chin and lifts gently, don't be ashamed. When your teary eyes meet His compassionate ones, don't look away. Think about all of the power those eyes hold, but now their focus is on you.
"I love you."
Accept the warm embrace from the living Savior and never, ever let go.
Their best friend, their leader... was dead. Three years earlier they'd given up everything to follow Him. This is not what they had expected.
Not even a week earlier He'd been celebrated. He was welcomed as a king. Not forty-eight hours previous they'd enjoyed a meal together. Now He was gone. Everything happened so quickly.
The room was filled with a myriad of emotions: hurt, regret, failure, longing, desperation, depression, darkness, confusion, loneliness, loss... the list goes on. Yet the most prevalent had to be hopelessness.
"How could this have happened?"
"I really didn't see this coming. Did He?"
"Now what?"
"Where do we go from here?"
The incessant number of unanswerable questions plagued them as they sat, paced, and cried.
Silence in a crowd. Darkness in the middle of the day. Loneliness among great friends.
"Peace be with you." A voice rudely interrupts their pensiveness. Who would offer peace on such a dreary day?
Only the One who can bring light into their darkness. Only the One who brings hope to the hopeless. Only the One who was dead but lives again!
Can you imagine the relief of the disciples? Can you imagine the pure joy?
Place yourself in the upper room with the disciples. Kneel before Jesus.
Notice the holes in his feet. Touch the wound in His side. When His nail-scarred hand slides under your chin and lifts gently, don't be ashamed. When your teary eyes meet His compassionate ones, don't look away. Think about all of the power those eyes hold, but now their focus is on you.
"I love you."
Accept the warm embrace from the living Savior and never, ever let go.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Obedience
I'll be honest: I've spent quite a bit of time in our campus' prayer room lately. On a regular basis that time has involved harsh words, pleading, and tears.
Even though I'm going for the world record number of bloody noses in a single week, there has been no bleeding in the prayer room. There has been no serious sweating in the prayer room. There has definitely been no sweating blood.
My prayer time always includes, "Not my will but Yours be done." Words I do not even feel qualified to say given the severity of God's will surrounding the original usage of those words. God's will meant pain, suffering, abandonment, death.
"Thy will be done."
Obedience is a hard thing to learn.
Ask Abraham, obediently ready to sacrifice is only son, the son given against all odds.
Ask Moses, asked to return to the land where he was considered a murderer and demand the freedom of his people.
Ask Jesus, asked to live perfectly and die a brutal, undeserving death.
"My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Are you willing to pray, "Not my will but Yours be done"?
Will you be found obedient?
Even to death?
Suiting up for a wild ride,
<>< Katie
Even though I'm going for the world record number of bloody noses in a single week, there has been no bleeding in the prayer room. There has been no serious sweating in the prayer room. There has definitely been no sweating blood.
My prayer time always includes, "Not my will but Yours be done." Words I do not even feel qualified to say given the severity of God's will surrounding the original usage of those words. God's will meant pain, suffering, abandonment, death.
"Thy will be done."
Obedience is a hard thing to learn.
Ask Abraham, obediently ready to sacrifice is only son, the son given against all odds.
Ask Moses, asked to return to the land where he was considered a murderer and demand the freedom of his people.
Ask Jesus, asked to live perfectly and die a brutal, undeserving death.
"My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Are you willing to pray, "Not my will but Yours be done"?
Will you be found obedient?
Even to death?
Suiting up for a wild ride,
<>< Katie
Monday, April 18, 2011
A Lot Can Change
"A lot can change in four weeks." Using that often-forgotten fact, I was encouraged about post-graduation life.
Of all weeks to be reminded of that small fact, Holy Week. The time of the year when we remember Christ's warm welcome, final meal, prayerful agony, betrayal, sacrifice, lonely death, and wonderful resurrection.
A lot can change in a week.
On the day now commemorated as Palm Sunday, Christ was warmly welcomed as He entered Jerusalem.
The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!"
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
John 12:12-19
Of course, the next week the same crowd shouted for the death of the same Christ.
As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw [Jesus], they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
John 19:6
A lot can change in a week. A lot can change in four weeks. The challenges that seem overwhelming this week may seem petty next week. Things you rejoice in this week could be devestating next week. And neither is too big for our God to handle.
Take peace in that this week as you remember when God defeated the biggest problem (sin) in the most humiliating, agonizing way (a criminal's death).
<>< Katie
Of all weeks to be reminded of that small fact, Holy Week. The time of the year when we remember Christ's warm welcome, final meal, prayerful agony, betrayal, sacrifice, lonely death, and wonderful resurrection.
A lot can change in a week.
On the day now commemorated as Palm Sunday, Christ was warmly welcomed as He entered Jerusalem.
The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!"
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
John 12:12-19
Of course, the next week the same crowd shouted for the death of the same Christ.
As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw [Jesus], they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
John 19:6
A lot can change in a week. A lot can change in four weeks. The challenges that seem overwhelming this week may seem petty next week. Things you rejoice in this week could be devestating next week. And neither is too big for our God to handle.
Take peace in that this week as you remember when God defeated the biggest problem (sin) in the most humiliating, agonizing way (a criminal's death).
<>< Katie
Friday, April 15, 2011
Free Candy
"Didn't I just see you walk by?" Matthew asked.
I had just walked from the English building to Quick Snacks for a candy bar and back to the English building for class. When I walked in chomping on a Snickers, my classmates started drooling. Even though class was about to start, I asked the professor if I could run back and get candy bars for the seven of us unfortunate enough to have class all afternoon. Of course, he said yes. So back to Quick Snacks I ran and passed Matthew for the second time in five minutes.
Matthew: We have free Twix right here.
Katie: No thanks. They want Snickers and Kit Kats.
I walked away.
I turned around.
Katie: Wait, did you say free?
Matthew: Yes.
Katie: As in I don't have to buy them?
Jacob: You're an English major; what other definitions for the term "free" are there?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, mock me. It's cool. Everyone does it.
Free.
Surely there had to be some catch. Why would some college boys be sitting on a swing offering free candy bars? These weren't the unfun Fun Size candy bars either. These were normal-size candy bars. The kind next to the check out aisle at Wal-mart that we always begged our parents for and our parents always said no. Yeah, those. For free.
Free.
No charge. No catch.
What have you gotten for free today?
What have you given for free today?
Let me rephrase the question: What have you done today without expecting anything in return?
How have you given of your time? How have you given of your resources? How have you given of yourself?
Seriously.
What have you done today without expecting anything in return?
<>< Katie
I had just walked from the English building to Quick Snacks for a candy bar and back to the English building for class. When I walked in chomping on a Snickers, my classmates started drooling. Even though class was about to start, I asked the professor if I could run back and get candy bars for the seven of us unfortunate enough to have class all afternoon. Of course, he said yes. So back to Quick Snacks I ran and passed Matthew for the second time in five minutes.
Matthew: We have free Twix right here.
Katie: No thanks. They want Snickers and Kit Kats.
I walked away.
I turned around.
Katie: Wait, did you say free?
Matthew: Yes.
Katie: As in I don't have to buy them?
Jacob: You're an English major; what other definitions for the term "free" are there?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, mock me. It's cool. Everyone does it.
Free.
Surely there had to be some catch. Why would some college boys be sitting on a swing offering free candy bars? These weren't the unfun Fun Size candy bars either. These were normal-size candy bars. The kind next to the check out aisle at Wal-mart that we always begged our parents for and our parents always said no. Yeah, those. For free.
Free.
No charge. No catch.
What have you gotten for free today?
What have you given for free today?
Let me rephrase the question: What have you done today without expecting anything in return?
How have you given of your time? How have you given of your resources? How have you given of yourself?
Seriously.
What have you done today without expecting anything in return?
<>< Katie
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