Pardon the interruption...

I love when the Lord just INTERRUPTS my shallow life.
He’s so gracious to do that.

 I blunder ahead in books and business, people and patients.

Busy misery.

 And He just kind of… takes my face. And turns me to Him.

 I wrestle with that sometimes.  How faithful and constant He is with me.  How longsuffering and loving He is with me when I am unlovable.

 I came to the conclusion a week or two ago that there is something (everything?) in our relationship, He and I, that has nothing to do with me.   Nothing.   He Is, Who He Is.   My role in our relationship is unable to change that.   I wrapped my brain around that for a while.

It completely terrifies and completely assures me.

Praise God.

This morning while I procrastinated reading my 100 pg study guide took a teeny facebook study break, I stumbled upon a video that BLESSED ME OUT OF MY MIND by this video a lot of friends were posting,

“Sexual Healing”:

***Pause the Music below so you can watch!***

From the author, Jefferson Bethke- “A poem I originally wrote for open mic at Pacific University. The poem highlights our culture's blind obedience to sexual norms, when it only seems to reap destruction. Pleasure is more at our fingertips in America than ever before, and yet depression steadily rises every year. It only shows that sex as recreation, or just for fun, is unable to satisfy us the way we were meant to be satisfied. Sex is good, in it's proper context. This poem mainly focuses though on anyone who has been deeply affected, hurt, and damaged by sexual sin. Forgiveness and mercy are given freely by Jesus. He cleans, restores, and heals us beyond measure and asks nothing in return. He saw all our sin and filth before he went to the cross and it was still his joy to go get us.”

Watch. This. Video. Now.

“Take a rape victim for example, and once it’s revealed.
When her bruises go away, is she totally healed?
Nah, the damage is lasting- you can see it in her eyes.
But if it was just abused ‘recreation’- why did it ruin her life?
I mean, if sex is just for fun, why did it take such a toll?
Maybe it’s cause you don’t just have sex with a body,

You have sex with a soul.”

Praise God.

He continues:

"This last story, though, is for those who think they’re too dirty.

This last story is for those who think they’re unworthy.

Read John Ch 8- the woman caught in adultery.

The religious leaders throw her naked in the temple

While she yells, ‘Don’t murder me!’

They say, ‘Jesus, the law commands us to stone this woman.’

And you hear the hate in their tone.

Jesus pauses though and says,

‘Whoever is without sin, you can cast the first stone.’

I mean can you imagine the sound? Silence all around.

You hear footsteps walk away. You hear stones hit the ground.

And then Jesus kneels down-

the woman thought it was her demise.

He lifts up her face- you see the grace in His eyes. He says,

‘I don’t condemn you. Go and sin no more.

I love you. I accept you.

Mercy is yours.’"

Praise God.

The video was such a blessing- but it got better!

I checked out the links following the video to Jefferson's website and was COMPLETELY blessed all over again!

"Chisel Season"

The first article blew me away, "Is your life gospel centered?"

9 simple statements that examine your trust in the gospel.

Here's one for example: "If the gospel is ruling I will see others above myself, if self-righteousness is ruling I will see myself above others. Disciples fought over the throne, but we should fight over the towel (what Jesus washed their feet with). 

Philippians 2:3-11, John 13:1-17

Wow.

Don't know about y'all, but I can't wait to plunge into the rest of the articles and the Scriptures he's referencing.

And did I mention Jefferson is a baseball player?

'Cause there ain't NOTHIN

like a baseball player that LOVES Jesus! :D

(Can I get an A-MEN, Lauren?!?)

My handsome, hunky, baseball-playin, Jesus-lovin hubby :)

Well, it's back to the books for me...

Two finals next week!!!

Praying the Lord BLESSES you

this Christmas season.

"O God, I have tasted Thy goodness,

and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more.

I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace.

I am ashamed of my lack of desire.

O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee;

I long to be filled with longing;

I thirst to be made more thirsty still.

Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed.

Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul,

'RISE UP, MY LOVE, MY FAIR ONE, AND COME AWAY.'

Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up

from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.

In Jesus' name, Amen."

-A.W. Tozer

Blessings- Katie

Capturing the moment...

I'm uber sleepy right now,

so this post will be brief and mostly photos.

Not quite the most "profound" confession...

This being my first official post after beginning clinicals.

Speaking of beginning clinicals...

Here I am on the first morning!

It's such a beautiful moment

of such a beautiful season,

and I don't ever want to forget this

(and I'm not just speaking of a "weather" season)

That being said, this IS a beautiful weather season:

crisp, autumny, and cozy...

The season where you make yummy goodies like those above:

"Chai Cookies with Pumpkin Spice Kisses"

The girls and I are totally making these ASAP.

Speaking of creations...

The DAY before clinicals began,

I decided to be artsy-fartsy and finished up

this drawing I'd been working on for a bit.

Would like lessons soon to learn how to use

different mediums, like acrylic and watercolor..

(which I ADORE)

Speaking of ADORE- this picture I took a few weeks ago

is one of my FAVE'S.

Mama's Tahoe has a rear camera that turns on in reverse...

Which we did, only to find Daddy doing this...

I laughed for half an hour, no exaggeration.

Nothing quite says "Autumn" like deer season

And nothing says "Hottie" quite like my hubster

We LOVE any chance we get to see my in-law's Mike and Susan

And Dodgie Podgie sure does LOVE him some "Nanny"!!!

Oh, look- my Hottie Hubster again!

Outside enjoying the fall weather with the fam

This. This here.

Is probably my FAVE pic of my in-laws.

Taken during our recent trip to an ASU game in Boone!

(Coldest football game I've ever been to!!!)

Speaking of chilly and speaking of sleepy...

'tis FINALLY the season now to bundle up by cozy fires

like this one in our home,

with the ones you love.

So I'm about to

go face plant my pillow and lapse into a small coma

tell y'all one sweet goodnight.

"For we do not preach ourselves

but Christ Jesus as Lord,

and ourselves as your bond-servants

for Jesus' sake.

For God, who said,

"Light shall shine out of darkness,"

is the One who has shone in our hearts

to give the Light of the knowledge

of the glory of God

in the face of Christ."

2 Corinthians 4:5,6

Blessings- Katie

Where in tha world?!?

Alrighty, so...

23.5 years...

Somewhere over Iceland (wait Greenland?) headed toward Amsterdam

35+ states...

Jumping over the equator, Ecuador

7 countries...

Island Chachauate, Cayos Cochinos off the Honduran Coast

And 4 continents later…

Kyangwali Refugee Camp, Northern Uganda,
bordering Sudan and Congo

I finally make it to New York City!!!

What better way to spend the week between

White Coat and Clinical Rotations?!?

As for the Clinical Rotations themselves…

more to come! Stay tuned ;)

Blessings- Katie

Guess who has her White Coat...

This...

Plus this...

Equals this...

"When Thou didst say, 'Seek My Face,'

my heart said to Thee,

'Thy Face, O Lord, I shall seek.'"

Psalm 27:8

"From the first day that you set your heart to understand,

and to humble yourself before your God,

your words were heard."

Daniel 10:12

"I will bless the Lord who has counseled me...

I have set the Lord continually before me;

because He is at my right hand

I will not be shaken."

Psalm 16:7, 8

"Understand what the will of the Lord is."

Ephesians 5:17

"When someone has been given much,

much will be required in return;

and when someone has been entrusted with much,

even more will be required."

Luke 12:48

"Your will be done on earth

as it is in heaven."

Matthew 6:10

"Better is the end of a thing than its beginning..."

Ecclesiastes 7:8

Blessings ;)  -  Katie



Time needs a speeding ticket

As soon as summer semester ended,

I remember saying something like

"Expect more regular posts from now on"

HA!

At the time that I had initally said that,

I remember thinking,  "... watch that NOT happen"
Yeah, it didn't.

I swear I'm still alive!

Well...More than alive=

I feel like I'm living 9 peoples lives at ONCE!!!

Since the last weekend in July,

I have spent a grand total of

ONE

weekend in town!!!

And it's almost October!

Charleston, Greenville, Boone, Indianapolis

to name some...

I cannot believe our first final is NEXT WEEK

and that my life in a classroom ENDS

THE WEEK AFTER!!!

AHHHHH!!!

After that it's 15 months of working for free

Clinical Rotations!!!

Of which I'll know the specifics at 4 PM today!!!

I know I've been AWOL in the blogging world-

there've been numerous times where I've been

way to busy to post, but I have to admit this is

THE FIRST time I've been so busy that

I haven't even read anyone else's blogs!!!

Can't wait to see what everyone has been up to!

Anyway's... here's proof I've been alive and breathing

just a teeny taste of the past 6 weeks:

Me, Paiz, and Laura @ Rue de Jean
(perhaps my fave Charleston restaurant)
LOVE those girlies ;)

Sidney, Paiz, Mama, Me, and Mrs. Connie @ High Cotton
(perhaps my second fave restaurant in Charleston)



Impromptu dinner party w some awesome people!!!
Pretend I wasn't an airhead having so much fun
that I forgot to get pictures with our GUESTS



Grabbed these roses as I was picking up last minute ingredients-
can you believe how BEAUTIFUL they turned out?!?



Dur Dur and I at Clemson Pres
Loved this church!!!



Garrett 'honking' Mama
This picture cracks me UP!!!

4 Flights in 72 Hours = Exhausing
Weekend in Indianapolis w Loved Ones = Priceless



Mmmm, Dinner at St. Elmo's in downtown Indianapolis
One of my FAVE Steak restaurants ever!
(Even better than Ruth's Chris!!!)
Some 'Peyton' guy likes it too...



Ahhh, beautiful (chilly) fall day in Boone, NC
Gooooo Mountaineers!!!!



Kidd Brewer Stadium
Can't wait to go back again when the leaves change!



Dodgie Podgie turned ONE on September 21!!!



We got him a special treat from the Doggie bakery 'Woof'
The pic is blurry because he would NOT hold still after we gave it to him!

I also did a pile of studying between the scenes.....

And as I will be doing a pile of studying the next two weeks...

I can't promise how many posts I'll get up during that time...

Anyways, gotta scoot to see what rotations I'll be doing!

Crazy!!!!!!

Blessings ;D  -Katie

Giveaway Time! Sarah Pinto Planners

Deliciously Organized is doing a Giveaway!!!

One person will recieve their choice of a Weekly Planner

from Sarah Pinto

They're extremely adorable...

Be sure to check it out!

ps- will post Charleston pics asap ;)

Blessings- Katie

First Year of PA School- CHECK!!!

"He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."

1 Corinthians 1:31

"What god is there in heaven or on earth

who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds?"

Deuteronomy 3:24

"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,

let not the mighty man glory in his might,

nor let the rich man glory in his riches;

but let him who glories glory in this,

that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord."

Jeremiah 9:23-24

"O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O Lord?

Your FAITHFULNESS also surrounds You."

Psalm 89:8

"For Your word's sake, and according to Your own heart,

You have done all these great things,

to make Your servant know them.

Therefore You are great, O Lord God.

For there is none like You,

nor is there any god besides You..."

2 Samuel 7:21-22

SO STINKING EXCITED THAT FINALS ARE

FINISHED

(All ELEVEN of those whoppers)

Umm... as well as my

ENTIRE FIRST YEAR of PA School!!!

Didn't quite realize this fact until my girlfriend Staci

mentioned it during our spur-of-the-moment

shopping trip to Old Navy right after our last final this morn.

Everyone is taking off and we wanted cute things

to wear to our respective places ;D

Speaking of "respective places"...

Mama and I are headed of to this place:

The Battery

Charleston!!! :D

To see this sweet thing:

Paizley Marie

And just finished up a lunch with

this hilarious girl:

Whitney Lynn

Which explains why,

after an hour of laughing till I was in tears,

I am now behind schedule with packing.

So I'm off, but be expecting some more

'regular' posting for a while ;)

"Not unto us, Lord, not unto us,

but to Your Name give glory,

because of Your mercy,

because of Your truth."

Psalm 115:1

Blessings- Katie



Of Balance and Boxes

I really need to be studying at the moment, need to be.

There’s just Someone that I need even more for a while, so I told studying “not now” for a moment. 

One of my girlfriends shared an analogy that Priscilla Shrier had learned from a wise women of God (she didn’t say who, but because she’s British and using analogies- I think it’s Jill Briscoe)…

It was the lesson of “balance and the boxes.” I think perhaps most of us have an incorrect view of balance. If our priorities were “boxes” and our energy was “liquid”- balance to us would mean all those countless boxes are even and full of the “liquid” of our time and energy.

Yet when our lives look like that (or should I say, when we attempt to make our lives look like that) the result is a nasty, frazzled, haggard MESS.

But true balance, as the lady explained, lies in being able to GUILTLESSLY:

leave some boxes less-than-full…

permanently/temporarily empty some…

while bringing some boxes into the foreground…

and pushing others into the background…

knowing that those boxes brought forward and filled to different degrees are done so based on biblical priorities (and conviction and guidance through the Spirit), and they are the ones that truly need that moment’s or that season’s attention.

Guiltlessly putting things aside. I chose to do that this morning (though I confess it was difficult to do at first!)

I am in so much need of His Spirit as I try to prioritize and plan this week as FINALS begin (today at 11:30- pray for me!!) Here is an excerpt from the book Radical by David Platt that I read earlier this morning:

“The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, the Helper, the Guide, the VERY PRESENCE OF GOD living in you. This is the great promise of God in PRAYER... He delights in giving us HIMSELF.”

Last Friday we held Fellowship of Christian Physician Assistant’s at our home. I was excited to share truths from the Word as well as the book Radical with everyone before finals began.

The theme of the book is that of taking back our faith from the American Dream. The American Dream being, as penned by James Truslow Adams in 1931:

 “a dream…in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable and be recognized by others for what they are.”

Of course hard work, high goals, and freedom to do so are beautiful things- BUT, as Platt describes, there is a “dangerous assumption” and a “deadly goal” we find in the American Dream if we are not cautious.

The “dangerous assumption” is that our greatest ability is our own self. The Word of God stands in direct contrast to this concept. “I said to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.’” Psalm 16:2  “God confronts us with our utter inability to do anything of value apart from Him.”

The “fatal goal” of the American dream is that “we make much of ourselves.” When we live by our might alone, we attribute what is accomplished to our own glory. And here the American Dream and the gospel stand directly opposed to the other: “the goal of the American Dream is to make much of us, the goal of the gospel is to make much of God.”

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

“In direct contraindication to the American Dream, God actually delights in exalting our inability. He intentionally puts people in situations where they come face to face with their need for Him. In the process He powerfully demonstrates His ability to provide everything His people need in ways they could never have mustered up or imagined. And in the end, He makes much of His own name.”  Praise God.

And here’s where we can stop and apply this concept to our lives.

“CEASE STRIVING, and know that I am God…”  Psalm 46:10

We blatantly oppose the American Dream when we STOP and plunge into the Presence of the Lord God through His Word and approaching Him in prayer.

Stop. STOP. And be with Him.

Though unfortunately we QUICKLY ran out of time on Friday, our activity was to make Scripture journals that we could keep with us throughout the day that contained Scripture we were memorizing (as mentioned in this post). We’ll just have to finish this week ;)

I was happy, however, that everyone left armed with a pile of Scripture, also from a previous post. Through Scripture and prayer we can KNOW the very heart of God and be in His very presence.

It is the only way we can live.

“I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” Psalm 119:32

Blessings- Katie

Sudan- Heavy on my heart tonight

Below is a prayer request,

one that I get weekly from The Voice of the Martyrs

at Persecution.com

Each Friday they send an email asking prayer over three situations.

They are sobering.

And there are followers of Christ around the world

in desperate need of prayer.

Just wanted to share this one tonight.

South Sudan--Christians Remain at Risk
VOM Canada, Middle East Concern2 Timothy 1:7-12

"For God has not given us a spirit of timidity,

but of power and love and discipline.

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord

or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel

according to the power of God,

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling,

not according to our works,

but according to His own purpose and grace

which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

but now has been revealed by the appearing

of our Savior Christ Jesus,

who abolished death and brought life

and immortality to light through the gospel,

for which I was appointed a preacher

and an apostle and a teacher.

For this reason I also suffer these things,

but I am not ashamed;

for I know whom I have believed

and I am convinced that He is able to guard

what I have entrusted to Him until that day."

South Sudan officially gained independence from Sudan on July 9, becoming a new nation. The secession follows a long history of violent conflict, including two civil wars between the largely Islamic north and the Christian and animist majority in the south. Christians, in particular, have endured severe oppression. Although many have expressed hope for a more peaceful future, it is clear that Christians on both sides of the new border remain at risk.

Violence erupted in several areas in the months leading to South Sudan's independence. Government agents and Islamic militants looted churches and killed Christians in parts of South Kordofan state. Many are concerned that churches in Sudan may face further restrictions on freedom of worship if the government implements a strict form of Islamic law. As Christians continue to flee to South Sudan, it is also feared that believers who remain in the north may be especially vulnerable to violence, pressure and accusations of defaming Islam.

Pray that Christians in both Sudan and South Sudan will continue to entrust themselves to Christ, knowing that he is sovereign over kings of the earth.

"When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying,  "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

- Revelation 6:9-10

"Rejoice, O nations, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And will render vengeance on His adversaries, And will atone for His land and His people."

- Deuteronomy 32:43

"Noble death is a treasure which no one is too poor to buy."

- C. S. Lewis

Please pray.

Blessings- Katie

"Decorate with Laughter"

Hello Loves! :D Hope your weekend was restful and restorative!

I knew it was going to be a good weekend when Grayson asked me suddenly on Saturday if I wanted to have an impromptu Raleigh date...Triangle Town Center? Macaroni Grill? Umm, YES!!!

This moring at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church-the worship, the sermon, the fellowship- were all so wonderful.

A question I want to challenge you with as we have been studying the Prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4-

"Are there blessings the Lord would bestow on you

that you are missing out on because you simply wont ask Him

in acknowledgment of your faith in and dependence on Him?"

I was somewhat floored when I thought of all the things (with school, family, ministry, clinicals, duties at home...) that had passed this week and all the things that were to come in the next week that I hadn't asked and hadn't planned on or even considered asking Him.

Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!" And God granted him what he requested. 

1 Chronicles 4:10

God may not answer my requests in the way I want or think they would be answered- but they would be met in His own perfect way.

He loves for me to come to Him as Father, and I am going to make an effort through my faith in Him to seek His blessing in my life each day this week.

"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32

Here are some more Cayman Photos- taken on a rainy morning when we headed over to Camana Bay

Enjoy ;)

Mmm- First Stop: "Frosted Robin Cupcakes"
Oh-My-Wonderful

The "calorious culprits" behind the knock-you-down-divine
smell that teases your nose the instant you open the door

In case women aren't INDECISIVE enough as it is...
Try throwing this sugary scrumptiousness into the mix

Finally decided...and we like options...clockwise from top left:
Strawberry, Red Velved w Cream Cheese Frosting, Caramel Chocolate, Lemon, Blueberry, and Cookies and Cream

Me and Hubs :D
Aren't those glass tea infusers adorable behind us?
Almost got one...

Goodbye my delicious darling...
We shall see you again next year

Over to Books and Books!
Darling, darling, darling, darling bookstore
Fabulous books (that you don't find in the states)
Stacked 9, 10 shelves high on dark wooden bookcases
Complete with wooden ladders, that is (told you = darling)

The (yes, yes... darling...) book mobile in the foyer

The only thing more adorable
than these massive stuffed animals...
Would be my nephew Ollie ;)

I know Daphne, I wanted to take them home too...

Sigh... adore this darling store ;)

Hubster would cause trouble

Line drive, right in the Garrett gut

Caymanian lizards with curly tails waited outside

Why..Yes Ollie, they ARE wicked sweet

Someone remind me when my baby brother got so DANG massive???
(Seriously, his arm is bigger round than my HEAD!)
He'll always be in diapers and a passy to me...

Doesn't get more adorable than that folks!
And I can neither confirm nor deny
that I wanted to run through them with him...

Off to bed- because it's officially the wee hours

of Monday Morning as well as AUGUST!!!(?)

Still trying to figure out where 2011 went...

Night loves :)

Blessings- Katie