The Word

I know that I say this a lot, but I so often feel like the things I am learning and are really sinking in for me are such a cliche. I have been in church my whole life and heard the stories my whole life, but every day it seems to come more and more alive. For so long, I have felt like I could say, "ya, ya, tell me something I don't know" ... it felt cold and boring. But. Over the the past few months, I feel like my soul is coming alive. Ginny Owens (have you heard her music? Go take a listen if you haven't. So powerful, such good lyrics.)  has a song on her newest album where she talks about her soul coming alive. She talks about how she was in the dark and now she is coming alive. I feel that way lately.

I have always known that I should read my Bible ... to be a good Christian and to grow in my relationship with the Lord, I need to have a quiet time every day. I also know that in Psalm 42:1 it says, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God." And so, over the years, I have had my quiet time and I have trusted that longing for Him in this way was possible, but not felt its reality for me. To be honest, I just assumed that it was something that was possible for the psalmist or for other people, but not for me. I have loved Jesus and trusted in His goodness. I have known His love and His comfort. But His Word was not something that was alive for me. 

About six months ago I was talking with a friend who was reading through the Bible chronologically over the year (I love you, Reagan). I loved that idea and decided that next calendar year (2018) I would start doing the same. I didn't want to start in the middle of the year because that would mess up the daily checklist (anyone else feel that checklist need?). So, instead I decided to start at the beginning of the Old Testament, at the beginning of the New Testament, and to read a Psalm and a Proverb every day. At first it just felt routine. It also felt like a lot of reading. But somewhere along the line, and I'm not sure where, it changed for me. I started having a hunger to read more and grow more. If I had a chance to read, I pulled out my Bible instead of pulling out a book, not because I was trying to do the right thing but because I wanted to, because I wanted to read my Bible instead of read a book. Say what? Who am I? What has happened to me? People. The Lord has come over me and shown me that His word is incredible, and alive, and such a ridiculously amazing story. He has also shown me that it is all so interwoven ... each part needs the other parts. I was reading last week just in the Old Testament because I was so engrossed in the story of it all. But the weight of the law started to get me down ... and I realized that I needed to go to the New Testament for awhile because that's where the HOPE is. He is all the hope and all the love. 

And so, I feel like a cliche ... maybe that's the wrong word. But, I feel silly saying to you, "GO READ YOUR BIBLE", because that's what people said to me my whole life and it felt so stagnant. But, it isn't. He isn't. He is alive. His Word is alive. He is speaking to you, to me. He is loving us, challenging us, asking us to make hard choices, to love big and listen in. He loves you. Pick up His Word and ask Him to show you, to give you that soul that pants for Him and His word, to help your soul come alive. You won't be sorry. 

- Katie

Snakes

So. If you follow me on Instagram, you've heard this story. And if you live near me, you've heard this story. BUT. If you don't do either one of those, then you NEED to hear this story. I cannot stop thinking about it. And praying that it NEVER EVER happens again. Like ever.

First thing you need to know is that I have pretty much gotten accustomed to all types of bugs and critters and insects in my house ... cockroaches, ants, moths, scorpions, mosquitoes, you name it, we have them in the house and even in our beds. None of these things even phase me anymore. So ya. But this, this is another thing altogether. And just, no.

It was 8:30pm at night. I was on my way over to my neighbor's house, using the back door of my house. We have a regular door and a screen door. I opened the first door first. No problem. I open the screen door, WHAM, a SNAKE fell from somewhere on the door and LANDED ON MY ARM. People. On my arm. I was standing in my house. Inside my house. The snake fell onto my arm and then onto the floor and then crawled into the house. Into my house. Where I was standing. In my house. I may or may not have freaked out. It didn't look like just any ordinary garden snake. It was black and had yellow stripes. I try to avoid snakes at all cost, including any knowledge about snakes, so I had no idea if it was poisonous, but I had heard something about how black on yellow kills a fellow and I was definitely seeing black on yellow ... just NO. Did I mention it was on my arm? Inside my house? Oh, you got that? Ya. Needless to say I ran the opposite direction and called for Peter. He trapped it with the broom and asked me for a knife. I obviously brought him all the knives, because of afore mentioned arm and house. He thankfully and very bravely cut off said snakes head. And now, I will have nightmares about snakes forever ... so, maybe you'll pray for me too? That I will never have to touch or have a snake in my house ever again. 

(I have since been told by some that this snake is poisonous and others have assured me that it is not ... not sure who to trust, but still happy that it's no longer in my house.)

- Katie