According to the World's Standards, We Don't Have Much...What I am Thankful for....

Verse of the Week:

My lovingkindness is everlasting. Psalms 136

According to the World's Standards, We Don't Have Much...WHAT I AM THANKFUL FOR!

I have always been a simple person.  My wedding was small on a 1,500 dollar budget, with an already used wedding dress, and my old prom dressed sewed and made into a bridesmaid dress.  It wasn't my wedding that mattered,  I was thankful for the man waiting for me at the front of the church.  I was thankful for the life we were about to share, not just our wedding day.  Our wedding day was one day of our life together, I was thankful for the many days, weeks, months, and years we would have together.  I was thankful for his heart for Christ and his passion for the things of God.

When I became pregnant with Brayden, the simple part of me came out again.  Our baby room/space consisted of a nice used crib, Brian's old chest of drawers from college, and a few homemade pictures and frames made lovingly by me. We didn't spend 6,000 dollars on our baby's nursery (the average cost today) or buy brand new furniture or paint our walls.  It wasn't the baby's room I was concerned about.  I was thankful for a healthy baby boy.  I am thankful for the privilege God has given me to take care of Brayden. I am thankful for the opportunity to LOVE Brayden.  I am thankful for the sleepless nights, poopy diapers, teething days, and for every boo boo I get to fix.  I am thankful for our sweet boy's laughter and joy in the simple things in life.  I am thankful for the opportunity to learn more about how to trust God and trust him with Brayden.  I am thankful Brayden belongs to Him.

While someday I look forward to owning a nice house, I am content in our little home at the present moment.  While we do not have the newest furniture, updated technology, or a lot of room, we are content.  But it is not the home that matters to me.  I am thankful for the laughter shared, tears shed, prayers said, memories shared, and Christ-like love shown within the walls of this home.  

We are now mostly a one income family.  While we are thankful that money helps meet our needs, it is not money that I am the most thankful for. I am happy to sacrifice our double income to be with our boy.  I am thankful for the opportunity to stay at home with our son and to see every stage  Brayden goes through; from discovering his hands and feet,  to sitting up, crawling, and now walking.  It has been a joy to watch our son grow up, and see that little boy that God made grow and transform. I delight in watching our baby grow up.

According to the worlds standards, we may not have much, but when I look at my life through God's eyes, I am richly blessed! I am thankful for the things of God, not the things of the world. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying having a 50,000 dollar wedding, a 5 bedroom house, and a large salary is wrong, but I do believe the motive behind it matters. Lets face it, we do live in a materialistic society, where it is important to have everything, but is that what truly matters?   Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)   Possessions are nice, but I am thankful for God and his AMAZING LOVE because that is ultimately what lasts and matters the most. Jesus says in Mark 8:36, And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?  What matters the most, your 500,000 dollar home, or your eternal destination? If I lose everything in this world (which I will someday whether through death or something else) including all my possessions,  my family, and my friends, I am still thankful, because of the one who lives inside of me and loves me so much. I will never lose Him. I will be with Him forever.  My soul is secure because of Jesus.


Author, Steve McVey once wrote an amazing letter in his book, The Grace Walk Experience. Using verses he had underlined from the book of Psalms in the Bible.  He strung all of the verses together and wrote an amazing love letter from our Heavenly Father.  

This is what I am thankful for.....

I am thankful for the things of God, not the things of the world.  Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Why study the Bible?

Verse of the Week:

Ephesians 1:17: "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better."

Why Study the Bible?

I remember the time when Dad and Mom presented me with my very first Children's Bible at the age of 8 years old. I was so excited about my new Bible that I was determined to read the Bible all the way through, from the beginning to the end.  So I started in the book of Genesis and delighted in the classic stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and, of course, Joseph and his coat of many colors.  Then Exodus came, and I was swept away by the stories of Moses and the Israelites and their escape from Pharaoh.  Then Leviticus came... ummmmm....I wish I could say that I loved reading about the rules for burnt offerings, rules for grain offerings, rules for sin offerings, clean and unclean animals, rules about leporsy, Passover, and well...the list goes on; lets face it, I was 8 years old!  At that age, I read the Bible for it's stories, and Leviticus looked like a foreign language to me!  So I got frustrated, and on the shelf the Bible went collecting dust for a few months.  Then a few months later I got some inspiration again to read the Bible from the beginning to the end, but I couldn't remember where I left off from last time...sooooooooooo I started over again in the book of Genesis.  I continued to read Exodus; then once again, Leviticus came...Borrrrinnnnggg!  And I gave up again.  And the process would start over.  During those first two years, I must have read Genesis and Exodus a thousand times, but nothing in the rest of the Bible.  Finally my Mom encouraged me to just skip Leviticus and look at other stories in the Bible, and I must say the experience proved to be much better for me. As I grew older and matured in my faith, I began to understand the purpose of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy and their significance to the story line of the Bible, but it sure did take awhile!

Why study the Bible?  Many people in today's society consider it out dated and old fashioned. After all, who wants to read about how to sacrifice a bull or what to do when Leprosy goes away (a big help considering we don't even get Leprosy today!).  Even though the Bible is one of the most sold books in America, most Bibles are stuck on people's shelves collecting dust.  Why should Christians study the Bible?

Suppose you are sitting in a coffee shop with a cup of espresso with new friend you just met.  Suppose you want to get to know him/her better.  I suppose you would start asking your friend questions to learn more about them.  You would listen to his/her answers and stories and get a better grasp of your friend's character, personality, likes and dislikes, and many other things.  Now suppose you are in the same scenario,  but instead of asking questions and listening, you start to stare at the TV screen mounted up on the wall  of the coffee shop watching your favorite NFL team play football.  That is all that you and your friend do is sit and watch television in the coffee shop.  Did you learn anything about your friend then?  Probably not, except maybe that they can watch TV just like you!  The same thing with God. When you accept Christ into your heart, He comes to live inside of you.  He places His spirit in you and you now are born again into a new life of righteousness through the blood of Christ.  Don't you want to know more about the one who lives in your heart?  We learn more about Jesus and his character from reading the Bible.   It shows who He is, what He does, and how He acts.  It is a love story that starts off showing how man creates a mess for himself; how man tries to repair his messed up condition by following all of God's laws but fails; and how God sends his son Jesus to come and rescue man from his sin and repairs his heart.  It is a story of sacrificial love that is expressed to all people. Every book of the Bible is significant in understanding this story including boring ole Leviticus! ;) When we fail to study the Bible we might as well be those friends staring up at the TV screen in the coffee shop...clueless.


Sadly enough, people are dependent on Church to learn about God, and those that don't go to church, create their own concept of who they think God is instead of reading the Bible.  By creating who you think God is, you can then determine what standards you live by, no matter how good or bad your standards are.  This can be very misleading and dangerous. You could create a god completely opposite of the God of the Bible!

By studying the Bible, it allows us to be able to distinguish the thoughts that come into our mind.  Are they God's thoughts or the World's thoughts?  Romans 12:2 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.  We renew our minds to be more Christ-like by studying the Word and understanding who we are in Christ. By studying God's character in the Bible, it enables you to see things through God's eyes instead of the world's eyes, and your heart is transformed into His likeness. You begin to display the fruits of the spirit, love, mercy, goodness, forgiveness because you discover those are the traits that are displayed in God and thus the same traits dwell in your own born again heart. As a result, when it comes to making decisions and hearing what God wants, we know what to do because we know of His character.  


As Paul says in Ephesians 1:17, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better."

May our deepest desire and prayer be to know our Lord better. AMEN!

Something for Singles!

Verse of the Week:

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalms 27:14

Something for Singles

Samson finished hanging up the phone.  He has just asked the girl of his dreams out.  After starring at the phone for a whole hour, he finally got the nerve to call her. He asked her out for a dinner and movie Friday night.  She said that she wasn't available that night, but maybe another time. Samson decided to call again next week and see if she wanted to go to the Church picnic with him.  However, when he called, she didn't answer the phone; instead, it went to her voice mail.  Samson left a message and asked her to call him back when she got a chance. One day went by, and no phone call.  "She is probably just busy and hasn't had a chance to return my call," Samson concluded.  Two days went by, then three.  "Maybe she forgot." Samson thought.  After a week of no calls, Samson analyzed the situation, "She might not be interested in me, or maybe she is just shy.  Perhaps I should call and make sure she isn't really interested."  So, he called again.  This time she answered and gave him a resounding NO!  Poor Samson.

Lisa came home from her college English class, frustrated.  She had seen the guy of her dreams in class that day.  He seemed interested in her, but yet after several weeks, he still hadn't asked her out.  She had made sure she talked to him every time they had class together, tried to sit by him during the lecture, and made effort to be available in the hallway for him to talk too after class.  Still, he hadn't asked her out.  "Surely he is interested in me," she analyzed, "After all, he smiles at me every time I see him; he teases me; and I have even caught him starring at me across the room.  I know he teases other girls, but he teases me differently.  He must be shy; that is why he doesn't ask me out.  Maybe he just doesn't know how to approach me yet.  Maybe he is scared because he knows I am the one, and doesn't know how to respond!"  Lisa continued to analyze the situation for the rest of the day.

Emily just went through a horrible breakup.  After 2 years of dating, she hadn't seen it coming until she found out from him last week that he was having an affair.  "What is wrong with me?" she asked, "Why did he leave me for another woman?"

Any of these situations sound familiar?  Lets face it, life as a single person is HARD.  The task of trying to find "the one" seems overwhelming, and the frustrations of going from relationship to relationship leaves a person hopeless and hurt.  Guys seem to be rejected more than they are accepted when they ask girls out, and girls seem to be beside themselves hoping a certain guy will take notice of her.  "What is wrong with me?" many singles ask, "Why can't I find the one?"  The process of WAITING seems torturous, and the older a person gets the more they question if they are destined to get married at all.

I was single for several years until I got married when I was 26.  While it was a difficult time in my life, it was also an amazing time as well.  I want to share some things I learned as a single person to encourage other singles out there...

1.  WAIT ON THE LORD
"Wait?  Did you say wait?"  I know what you are thinking,  "I have already waited 4 plus years and you are telling me to wait more!  Thanks for the advice, Katrina!"  Waiting on the Lord has to be the hardest thing to do.  Ever notice that God seems to work slowwwwwwlllly most of the time.  It drives me nuts.  In our fast pace society where we want everything immediately, waiting seems to be foreign to most of us.  Seriously, though, wait on the Lord.  He has your best interests in mind.  Don't try to take things in your hands to speed up the process.  Whenever we try to do things our way, it usually ends up in a disaster.  I have a sweet friend, who was single for a long time after going through a hard divorce.  She was lonely, and wanted to have someone in her life.  Not able to wait, she ended up marrying a man that she wasn't sure about, but because she was desperate for companionship, she jumped into it.  Many of the issues she was initially unsure about became big issues, and she is now in a very tough relationship.  She once admitted to me, "Katrina, I wish I had waited on God and not taken things into my own hands." She is still married and trying to make the best of the situation, but my heart breaks for her.

Unknown to most people, I had the opportunity to get married before I met Brian; the guy had planned to propose to me that summer.  However, I had many uncertainties about the relationship.  I could have chosen to jump into it despite my uncertainties, but I chose to wait on the Lord and seek His direction.  After several months of prayer and turmoil about what to do, I ended up breaking up with him.  It was hard to do, but afterwards, I felt a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).  I knew I needed to wait on God and seek His direction.  Whether His direction led me to a life of singleness or led me to a life with a man, He knew what was best, and I trusted Him.

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalms 27:14

Be strong and take heart, God has plans way better than your own initial plans.

2.  CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE TOWARD POTENTIAL MATES
Here is something major I learned about potential mates when I was single.  Read and re read this sentence over and over until it is imprinted in your mind: I want for potential mates to have the girl/guy God wants for them, and if it isn't me, then GREAT; if it is me, then GREAT too! Here is what I used to pray about with potential guys.  "Lord, if this if the man you want for me, then make it clear for both of us, but if not, then I pray that you find a wonderful woman for him."  I firmly believed that even though I may have liked the guy, if he wasn't the one, then that was ok.  I was ok with it.  Most of the time, when we are rejected, we take it personally instead of realizing that "I" may not be what is best for that person and vice versa. 

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4 Delight in God and the plans He has for you.  Desire His plans. It makes a huge difference.  Before I realized this, I would wallow in self pity when I was rejected and pout.  "I want him!  Why couldn't he have been mine?"  I would analyze the situation and wonder,  "What is wrong with me?"  The truth is that nothing was wrong with me; it was just that we were wrong for each other; and what a blessing to find that out instead of entering into a miserable relationship. I wanted whomever God wanted, that is if He wanted me to have anyone at all.  His plans were best, and I delighted in them.

3. TRUST IN THE LORD
Ok, folks...Here is an important question. Who do you trust more...yourself or God? Do you trust the person who is always messing up and creating problems for him/herself OR do you trust the person who is perfect, who created the world, who cares so much for your well being that he prepared a place of escape from the fiery depths of hell? During the time that my sister was single, she would cling to the following verse: Let go of your concerns. Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth. (Psalm 46:10) Let go of your concerns about finding someone and just trust in God. He really does have your best interests in mind!

4. USE THIS TIME TO SERVE GOD WHOLEHEARTEDLY
I am not saying that when you are married that you won't still serve God.  In fact, I believe that marriage should be one in which each spouse helps the other to grow closer in their relationship with God.  However, Paul did bring up a good point when he shared that when you are single your attention is not divided and you can focus completely on the Lord.  Here is what he said: 

I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs--how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can please his wife-- and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how she can please her husband. (1 Corinthians 7:32-34)

I will be honest, since I have been married, I have found it hard to have my one on one quiet time with the Lord; my attention is divided, especially now that we have a sweet son.  Instead of having quiet times with the Lord in the mornings, I am up and about trying to get my husband's lunch ready for work, feed my son breakfast, change his diaper, and get his clothes on for the day.  After that I keep finding stuff to do, and before I know it, the day has ended and I find myself crawling into bed without having that one on one time.   Enjoy having this time to spend with the Lord, making Him your beloved and you His beloved.  As much as I love being married, I miss that.

I have a friend who is single, and she is a blessing to so many people.  She is constantly helping out with the youth at church, helping families when they need her to watch their kids, getting involved in activities such as rebuilding homes for people, bring meals to the sick, giving new Mamas time to sleep as she watches their newborn babies and children, giving people rides from place to place, being a second mom too her niece and nephew, taking pictures in her photography business, and bringing joy to people's lives.  She is constantly on the go.  If she had been married, she would not have been able to do all the things she does because her time and energy would be spent on her family. God has plans for her, and she is able to serve him wholeheartedly because she is single. What a blessing she is to others! Take this time to enjoy serving God with all your heart, because eventually, it will be hard to do so with a spouse.

5.  ALLOW GOD TO  USE THIS TIME MOLD AND SHAPE YOU
I am so glad that things happen in God's timing if we allow him to do so.  If Brian and I had met even a year or two sooner than we did, we would not have been ready for each other.  Brian at the time had a "wild side" to him that this girl would not have approved of, and I was so insecure and lacked confidence in myself, that Brian would have ignored me.  God used that time to instill a strong desire in Brian to grow in Him, and He used that time to help me to firmly establish my identity in Christ. God can use this time to mold and shape you into the person that will first, bring Him glory and second, prepare you for your future spouse (if that is indeed what he has planned for you.).

Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
    We are the clay, you are the potter;
    we are all the work of your hand. (Is 64:8)

Allow Christ who lives inside of your heart (that is if you have recieved Him into your heart) to mold and shape your mind to reflect His heart/mind.  He is the potter and you are the clay!

6.  CHERISH EACH MOMENT
I have found that life flies by.  I remember there being a time when I couldn't wait to grow up!  I was tired of being a child.  My mom would tell me, enjoy being a kid, because you will never get to be one again.  Life has flown by, and I am now 30.  I remember a time when I thought I would never get married, because it was taking forever, but then in a flash, I have been married  for several years and now have a sweet son.  My time as a single person was great, but I wish I had cherished it more.  I am learning to cherish each stage of my life.  I am now cherishing each moment with Brian and cherishing every stage of growth with our son.  Enjoy the time as a single person, there is a good chance that you may not ever get it back once you get married.

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blowsover it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.(Psalms 103:15-16)

7. BE CONTENT 
This is the hardest thing.  We spend our lives thinking, "If I can graduate high school then I will be happy.  If I can graduate college, things will be better.  If I can get married, life will be amazing.  If I can have children, then I will be happy.  If I can retire, life will be bliss."  We are constantly looking towards the future to find contentment.  The secret to contentment is not to look to the future, but to Christ.  Paul discovered the secret to contentment: 

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

Look to Christ for strength not the future.  I was asked this one time and it has helped me so much then and now:  "Katrina, if you aren't content as a single person, what makes you think you will be content as a married person?" Here is another hard question, "What if you never get married?"  I am not saying you will never get married, God places those desires in our hearts for a reason, but the reality is that not everyone gets married.  Here is the point: I realized then and even now, that contentment doesn't come from situations (like marriage) but from Christ.  As a single person, there could have been a chance that I might not have ever gotten married.  Was I going to spend the rest of my life miserable because I wasn't married, or was I going to embrace my life with Christ and serve him wholeheartedly? Find contentment by relying on Christ's strength.

Hang in there, singles!  God knows the plans he has for you, and they are AWESOME (Jeremiah 29:11)! He loves you and knows the desires of your heart.  Rest in Him.