FAITH

Psalm:73:6

"My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

FAITH! How do you have faith when it feels like you are alone. No one knows you like you wished they knew you. Things are not going as planned. Finances are crumbling. Depression is taking over. Life is just falling apart. To have FAITH that the things you dreamed up as a little girl will come true. To rejoice with others. I don't know how I have faith these days but sometimes it just happens. Maybe it's because there is a piece of my heart that realizes it is not out of His control. He is good. He only asks me to TRUST. To have faith. To EMBRACE today, and to not worry about tomorrow. 
Lord help me in my doubt, in my fears, in my unbelief. Be my strength. And help me till the end of my days to proclaim your great name EVEN when the dark clouds loom, may I still have FAITH in that You are FOR me and NOT against me. 

GIve me Faith

By: Elevation Church

"I need you to soften my heart
To break me apart
I need you to open my eyes
To see that You’re shaping my life

All I am, I SURRENDER

Give me faith to trust what you say
That you’re good and your love is great
I’m broken inside, I give you my life

I need you to soften my heart
To break me apart
I need you pierce through the dark
And cleanse every part of me

I may be weak
But your Spirit’s strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God you NEVER will!"

Steady my heart

One of my new favorite songs. The words in the first verse: "Why is life so messy," "Why is pain apart of us," "Wish it could be easy," are always on my heart.  Not something you want to confess out loud yet this is where I find myself to often these days.  Instead of finding my completeness, wholeness, HOPE in Him. I am fretting about my mistakes from yesterday, what today held or what is even to come tomorrow. Like a daughter runs to her dad when she is hurt or excited to see him, I want to run to my Savior in my darkest hours instead of falling into thinking I can do it all on my own. In the messiness, in the hurt. I want Him to be my REFUGE. I hope this song, these lyrics comfort your soul if you find yourself where I am this morning.  //Even when it hurts/Even when it's hard/Even when it all just falls apart/I will run to You/Cause I know that You are/Lover of my soul/Healer of my scars/You steady my heart// 

Wish it could be easy
Why is life so messy
Why is pain a part of us
There are days I feel like
Nothing ever goes right
Sometimes it just hurts so much

But You're here
You're real
I know I can trust You

Even when it hurts
Even when it's hard
Even when it all just falls apart
I will run to You
Cause I know that You are
Lover of my soul
Healer of my scars
You steady my heart 

I'm not gonna worry
I know that You got me
Right inside the palm of your hand
Each and every moment
What's good and what gets broken
Happens just the way that You plan

But You're here
You're real
I know I can trust You

Even when it hurts
Even when it's hard
Even when it all just falls apart
I will run to You
Cause I know that You are
Lover of my soul
Healer of my scars
You steady my heart 

And I will run to You
And find refuge in Your arms
And I will sing to You
Cause of everything You are

You steady my heart 

His FAITHFULNESS!

2011 was a year I care not to remember. It was filled with LOTS of changes in church, friendships, starting school, looking for jobs. It was also filled with many struggles, turning 30 was a lot harder than I had ever dreamed of, and should I even say it: still being SINGLE was another hard thing to embrace and learning how to truly rejoice with those younger than me doing everything I have been dreaming of.

We are now a few weeks into 2012, and I have been thinking what do I want to proclaim this year to be. How can I honor God? What is He calling me to share? What is He after in my own little world....in my heart? And after much thought I believe it should be His FAITHFULNESS. When I think of this word it makes me want to sing so many songs.

Like, Your grace is enough" by: Chris Tomlin 
"Great IS Your faithfulness oh God
You wrestle with the sinner's heart
You lead us by still waters in to mercy
And NOTHING can keep us apart
So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise
Oh God Your grace is ENOUGH for me."


Or "He has always been faithful to me," by: Sara Groves
"I can’t remember a trial or a pain
He did not recycle to bring me gain
I can’t remember one single regret
In serving God only, and TRUSTING His hand
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me."

or "Great is thy faithfulness."

"Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; 
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!"

The Lord HAS been faithful and WILL continue to be as I WAIT.  In His kindness he has put me in this season to show me how He has over & OVER again provided for ALL my needs. How that through this time of going to school, being unemployed, watching friendships change, friends moving, & so much more that He has not forgotten even one small detail. He has given me everything I could ever need and that is allowing His son to die on the cross so that I could spend eternity with Him.


And when I think of His faithfulness I look back over these years (even before coming to Metro) and all I can see is the Lord's hand in every single moment. I know a lot of people (I can hear all the comments now ;) How blessed am I that I have been to so many places, so many churches and had all these experiences that are not by mistake but by His perfect plan? Even in my sin, He still brings good! And oh the families I have had the privilege to be apart of.  The ones who have loved me, taken me as there own, allowed me to be apart of everyday lives/holiday's, instilled wisdom, cried with me, prayed with & for me and then even let me be apart of their children's lives. How am I so blessed? Aww yes, BECAUSE of the faithfulness of our Father! And in this continued, unique season my HOPE will be in Him. I will SERVE Him with all my heart because of what He has DONE for me. 


Thank you Lord for this season of singleness so that I have the chance to bring glory to your name, & to love, serve and encourage those who you place in my life. Praise you because you are a FAITHFUL God!

Southern Pecan Chicken

SO here is the recipe to all my Orlando friends who have been asking for the recipe of the world's famous Southern Pecan Chicken. This recipe doubles well. I enjoy it with mashed potatoes & some yummy green beans :)

ENJOY!

4 pieces of chicken
1 buttermilk biscuit mix (you can substitute with whole wheat flour)
1/2 tsp of Creole Seasoning
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Paprika
1/2 cup of finely chopped pecans
1/2 cup of Buttermilk
1.2 cup of Unsalted butter melted (it's OK to use less :)


Preheat over to 350
Combine biscuit mix, Creole seasoning, salt, paprika & pecans in one bowl
In another bowl pour buttermilk, dip chicken in buttermilk, then in mixture bowl
Place chicken into a 13 x 9 pan
Melt butter and pour on top of all the chicken

Cook chicken uncovered for one hour

"Jesus, I Am resting, resting"

I had first learn this song at Northland about 15 years ago when I had just become a believer, and just recently heard it again. I found it fitting for then as I began to learn to rest in my Savior's arm and even more now fitting now as the season of life I am in, is all about completely trusting Him to provide, for His sustaining grace and for knowing that everything that is going on right now (jobless, family's salvation, my brother in another country, major struggle in friendships, singleness) is all apart of His PERFECT plan. I am learning STILL minute by minute to release those to Him, and resting "in the joy of what Thou art, I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart." SO grateful for His continued work in my life.

I hope you enjoy the video and reading the lyrics below. Verse 3 is my FAVORITE right now :)



 


 1. Jesus, I am resting, resting In the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness Of Thy loving heart; Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, And Thy beauty fills my soul, For by Thy transforming power, Thou hast made me whole.

 2. O, how great Thy loving kindness, Vaster, broader than the sea! O, how marvelous Thy goodness, Lavished all on me! Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved, Know what wealth of grace is Thine, Know Thy certainty of promise, And have made it mine.

 3. Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art, And Thy love, so pure, so changeless, Satisfies my heart; Satisfies its deepest glory longings, Meets, supplies its ev'ry need, Compasseth me round with blessings: Thine is love indeed! 

 4. Ever lift Thy face upon me, As I work and wait for Thee; Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, Earth's dark shadows flee. Brightness of my Father's, Sunshine of my Father's face, Keep me ever trusting, resting, Fill me with Thy grace.

 Chorus: Jesus, I am resting, resting, In the joy of what Thou art, I am finding out the greatness Of Thy loving heart.

Let me tell you how the LORD has been GOOD!

Last night, Janelle handed me an envelope and said that your friend wants to remain anonymous. It had some cash & a VERY encouraging letter. One that brought sweet tears to my eyes. I hope this person does not mind ;) but I want to share what was written and why it was it encouraging:

Katherine:
I wanted to take the time to write you a quick anonymous note to let you know that I am praying for you. The Lord knows what you need before you need it, and during this season of your life He is only going to prove His faithfulness all the more as you learn to continually rely on and trust in Him. Each step we take is a gift. Each road we walk is ordained, even if we don't understand it now. The cool thing is that when we are standing before His throne, clothed in white robes purchased by Jesus Himself, we won't be wondering whether God's plan was good or not. We will be declaring His praise, knowing that He is good, assured that everything He did was perfect, even the tough times having been redeemed by His perfect love. You are a treasured, friend. I hope this encourages you.

There was SO much that encouraged me about this letter, but especially what I put in italics. Then even after that as this sweet person talked about Heaven in all of this. The amazing thing in all of this, is the conversations, thoughts, prayers, tears, songs that I have had with the Lord lately are exactly in this small simple paragraph. Not only the money is a sign of His faithfulness, but the words too as I have not shared with anyone what was going on. He works through others in mysterious ways.

I don't want to end there though in as lately I have SEEN the Lord's faithfulness. Let me share in some of those ways:

Before I lost my job, I had enough money to pay off for the rest of the year my monthly dues for my homeowners.
I have been able to faithfully pay every bill on time, and still with a little money to spare.
I have been given money or Publix gift cards right at the time I would have needed it.
I have been able to help others serving them in a way I could have not done it while having a job.
Things that were broken, or seemed broken are fixed, without anything I did to it.


My favorite one though would have to be me desiring more of my Savior, wanting to spend time in the word instead of it feeling like it was duty. I have enjoyed seeing how I am being encouraged by Spurgeon hundreds of years later, & it being exactly what I need to here. Like yesterday, had part of the lyrics from On Christ the solid rock I stand.

"His oath, His covenant, and blood, Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand."

Or how I read in Psalm 27, where "He hides me in His shelter, and to wait for the Lord, be strong, take courage, WAIT for the Lord." Even though this season has been difficult I look forward to seeing all that the Lord has in store as I continue to walk forward, with open arms, TRUSTING Him, learning from Him. I often image myself lost in worship, dancing, singing, bowing. I want to imitate that childlike faith even now, during this time, and not just image it.

"This is our God, this is our King. This is the anthem of the redeemed. Tell the whole world, let everyone sing. This is our God, this is our King!!!!"

Psalm 16

I LOVE this Psalm, especially right now, at this particularly time in my life. I remember when I received a sweet note on my birthday 6 years ago, and verses 5-6 were on there. I had just started going to Metro. I would have NOT wanted to be where I am 6 years later. I would have never planned this. I would have had that job that I have always wanted. I would have been married. I would have a few close friendships instead of not deep relationships. Family members would be saved. Life would be different.  BUT the Lord has decided that THIS (being unemployed, unmarried, relationship issues, life) IS what the LORD has chosen for me and it is GOOD! 

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight. [2]

4 The sorrows of those who run after [3] another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me. [4]
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being [5] rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption. [6]

11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.