Christ: Our Everything(?)

This sermon by Paul Washer on the Gospel of Jesus Christ is humbling and it's convicting.
Do we really know Christ? Do we even try to comprehend what He did on the cross?
If you're anything like me, than you most certainly don't.
Yes, I realize that it's 103 minutes long. Yes, I understand that time is important to us nowadays.
But I beg of you, even if it takes you a whole week to listen to this, listen and let God work on your heart.
Be reminded of who Christ is and what He has done for us! How different our lives look in the light of the cross. Is He truly our everything?! Do we seek Him and love Him as we ought? The answer is of course not, but do we run with endurance? Are we running after holy things and loving what Christ loves?
Praise be to our LORD who took the full punishment of our sins and gave us His righteousness. What a good God we serve.
Here's another video by Paul Washer that's only three minutes long. Run after eternal things. Live for Christ.

Love,
Katie :)

The Body of Christ

Here's the group of people I was able to spend an entire week with. These people truly personify the body of Christ. I have amazing brothers and sisters. But more importantly, I have an amazing God.

photo credit to Dr. Nisius

Love,

Katie :)

Silhouette

here's a new Owl City song <3

Love,
Katie :)

That Dreaded Word

                                                    Source: jojolete.tumblr.com via My Upside on Pinterest

There's this word you see. This word that I dread saying more than anything else. That one word that I put off saying for as long as I can. Yes, you can butter it up or try and make it as happy as possible, but you can't take away that sorrowful connotation. Some of you may have already figured it out.
Goodbye.
We've all heard that saying, "It's not goodbye, it's see ya later." But does that take away any of the hurt that goes along with that? If you're anything like me, it seems to just hide the pain that we all really feel. Just a mask for the hurt and the sorrow we amplify by giving that final hug and waving that last farewell.
I had to do that today. I had dreaded this goodbye all summer. I put it off anytime I thought of it. Busyness kept it off my mind for sometime. This past week was quite a bit calmer and left me plenty of time to think. It wasn't a bad thing necessarily, but those adios's replayed over and over in my brain. I questioned why I had to be the one left behind. Yes, I know God has a perfect plan. Thank goodness for His promises never to forsake us. But oh the thought of loneliness threatened to overtake a thousand times over.
Believe me, that goodbye seemed to almost kill me. One of my best friends for over 14 years is leaving for college. I know we'll always be close friends and sisters due to our bond in Christ. But no more spontaneous Starbucks runs, no more stupid impulse shopping trips, no more just hanging out to watch movies and paint our nails. I'll be driving over to bug her all the time. She'll be so annoyed with me.
And this isn't the only goodbye. Three other of my dearest friends are leaving. Two to begin their sophomore years at college and another to serve for 9 months in a foreign country. I love these girls. I would do anything for them and I have done everything with them. These are my dear sisters in Christ who have been there for me countless times. Girls who I trust and love with all my heart.
Thank goodness for Sundays. The text preached just yesterday included this verse that I shall hold near and dear to my heart as I struggle to make this adjustment: "And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age." Matthew 28:30b. The LORD is with me to the end of the age. What better promise could I ask for to cling to? Praise God I have an amazing family and good friends to keep me company. I am blessed with a church who seeks God in everything they do and strives to reach out to every person in attendance.
In just a week's time, I'll be with my wonderful CollegePlus! friends who are diligent seekers of our great God. It will be a time of refreshment and encouragement that will be much needed and met with gratefulness.
God is good. Change is hard, but God remains the same through it all.

Home: A New Favorite

I'd have to say this is one of my new favorites. Phillip Phillips and those awesome harmonies just give me the shivers. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

Love,
Katie :)

My "niece"

My family had a precious little visitor at our house last Friday. Brielle Nix is perhaps the cutest baby EVER. I'm maybe a little biased since her mommy is one of my bestest big sisters. But you'd have to be blind not to admit she's adorable in every sense of the word :)

Here's a post showing off sweet Brielle's facial expressions as she celebrated being five weeks old!

Love,

Katie :)

A Quote

                                                    Source: socutethings.tumblr.com via Katie on Pinterest

I came across this quote as I was reading The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller...

"In the imagery describing Christ and the church, we're dealing with male and female, not merely as facts of nature, but as the live and awe-full shadows of realities utterly beyond our control and largely beyond our knowledge." ~C.S. Lewis

Love,
Katie :)