I'm thinking again...
All the way through the completion of my college degree, I claimed a "pursuit to know God intimately" several times in conversations with friends and acquaintances. It was easy to speak in that direction because it would never be challenged by any of the hearers...just the comment itself seemed to imply that I was already at an intimate level with God.
Have you ever said or heard, "I believe Jesus Christ is my Savior and I trust Him whole-heartedly"...I have. However, I wonder if that statement was more of a claim than actual ownership. For example, when Chris Columbus "discovered" America...he claimed the ground but certainly didn't have ownership of anything...he wanted ownership...eventually he would have ownership (kinda)...but at that moment, all he had was an authentic claim.
I remember "claiming" my relationship with Jesus Christ. It was a Wednesday evening after CYC (can I get a holla from my fellow Crusaders!)...praying on my bed w/ my Mom.
I remember "claiming" my full-time call to serve God as a shepherd of his people...summer after my 7th grade year at youth camp when Gary Schnepp spoke and asked the "called" to come up on stage...also...Impact 90' Youth Conference helped confirm that "claim".
I remember battles with evil when Satan was trying to grab my "claim" or convince me to hand it over willingly...Junior year in college: Maybe I'm supposed to be a psychologist, not a pastor...Moral failure 18 months after graduating college: Maybe I'm not strong or pure enough to pastor.
My call is real...my claim to that call was real...my ownership of that call has now been refined by some of the hottest fires Satan has and I believe it now to be stronger than a simple "heritage". I wonder if there are people I encounter daily who are claiming a relationship with God, however their heart is aching for actual ownership of that claim. How many of us are craving a miraculous healing...a burning bush...a pillar of fire to guide our nights? Wanting that makes me feel weak. What if I required Katy to manifest physical proof that she loves me everyday? I see her...I can touch her...I can smell her hair...I don't need her to physically demonstrate her presence.
Isn't it tough, at times, to recognize the wonders of the human body and perfection of the rolling hills and jaw-dropping mountains? I know God made it all, but it would feel so good to smell his presence and feel the power of his hand on my shoulder.
I am called by God to share the Good News to everyone I encounter. Sometimes that's more difficult when I get so selfish in limiting how God can reveal Himself to me. "You must do this for me to believe!" How arrogant and immature! Hmmm...I wonder if I'm being taught something right now.
Marilyn Manson just came on the radio...perhaps that is causing a little "blockage". Haha...let me change the station. Great...Kelly Clarkson...not a whole lot better.
Here is a summary of my thinking right now: Is it my calling to help everyone I can to stake their claim and then teach how authentic ownership is achieved? Can that be taught?
Thinking to continue later (please give me your thoughts),
DK
Thursday, October 27
Saturday, October 22
Guitars, Birthdays and Ancient Egyptians
Busy Week
This busy week is over, and although exhausted, we're hanging in there! I had my very first experience with parent-teacher conferences, and I can say with assurance that 12-hour days are no fun ... especially when you go from teaching all day with students to spending the evening with students AND their parents. I have never been on my feet so much, nor have I ever before been so tired of talking! :) It really was an incredible experience, and I am so thankful that the Lord gave me the strength to get through it! We have some really incredible students and parents, and so it was quite a joy to get to brag on my students! David had a full week, too ... the traditional "basketball Monday's" started and he came home exhausted but excited about this new season of hoops! He had a softball game on Tuesday evening but they had to forfeit because they didn't have enough guys (usually there are too many!), and spent the Wednesday making my birthday a very beautiful, special one, but I'll get to that later!
Our Little Guy
Hayden has had a busy week, too! He spent some time jamming on his guitar and wowing us with his musical skills! ... and helping daddy get ready for bed! His other favorite thing to do is not so much our favorite thing - Hayden has become adamant about having a diaper that is PERFECTLY CLEAN! If there is any hint of it being wet or dirty, he immediately goes to his room, takes the diaper, and everything else off. He throws the diaper away and puts his clothes in the hamper, then goes to the bath tub and calls for us to start the water. It's not just the "tabbed" diapers, mind you ... it's the pull-ups, too ... so we're guessing that he's become a little obsessive compulsive about being clean (following in mommy and daddy's footsteps!), or he's ready to start the potty training process. We'll see! No matter what though, he's been such a trooper this week as we've had some crazy schedules with school ... through the two years of church meetings and gatherings, and just because of his nature, he has been very flexible and easygoing, which has been a huge blessing in and of itself. He goes with the flow, and I have a lot to learn from him! :)
Happy 24th
David went above and beyond to make my birthday a special day in the midst of a very busy week. He'd already given me my first gift over the weekend; a sterling silver ring from James Avery called the "four seasons ring." It has such a beautiful design and has been on my "wish list" since we've been married. I always thought it was a very tangible expression of God's grace and perfection ... a symbol of the many seasons of life that we go through, with the promise of His love and guidance. It's so beautiful! On Tuesday night he gave me the second gift, a DVD of one of my favorite John Wayne movies (yes, I LOVE John Wayne), "McClintock!" It's wonderful! On Wednesday morning I went to the car and sitting on the console was the Natalie Grant cd that I'd been literally begging for since the Women of Faith conference I went to in June where she performed. What a wonderful way to start the day - each and every song on the cd is just beautiful and so refreshing! Since I would was at school late Tuesday night and would be on Thursday, too for conferences, we ordered in and relaxed for a wonderful evening at home! I couldn't ask for anything more, and am thankful, as always, for the blessing of such a considerate and thoughtful husband!
Food Fair
We have been studying Ancient Egypt in our 6th grade Social Studies class, and after discussing the geography and culture of Egypt, we indulged ourselves with a "food fair!" Parents were extremely willing to donate to our cause, and we had a great day of feasting with grapes, pita bread, honey, cucumbers, and pomegranates.
We took notes on the Egyptian Achievements, and so made our own "hieroglyphic alphabet" and then wrote our names using it! It was great fun! This coming week we'll be making life-sized mummies before taking our test!
This busy week is over, and although exhausted, we're hanging in there! I had my very first experience with parent-teacher conferences, and I can say with assurance that 12-hour days are no fun ... especially when you go from teaching all day with students to spending the evening with students AND their parents. I have never been on my feet so much, nor have I ever before been so tired of talking! :) It really was an incredible experience, and I am so thankful that the Lord gave me the strength to get through it! We have some really incredible students and parents, and so it was quite a joy to get to brag on my students! David had a full week, too ... the traditional "basketball Monday's" started and he came home exhausted but excited about this new season of hoops! He had a softball game on Tuesday evening but they had to forfeit because they didn't have enough guys (usually there are too many!), and spent the Wednesday making my birthday a very beautiful, special one, but I'll get to that later!
Our Little Guy
Hayden has had a busy week, too! He spent some time jamming on his guitar and wowing us with his musical skills! ... and helping daddy get ready for bed! His other favorite thing to do is not so much our favorite thing - Hayden has become adamant about having a diaper that is PERFECTLY CLEAN! If there is any hint of it being wet or dirty, he immediately goes to his room, takes the diaper, and everything else off. He throws the diaper away and puts his clothes in the hamper, then goes to the bath tub and calls for us to start the water. It's not just the "tabbed" diapers, mind you ... it's the pull-ups, too ... so we're guessing that he's become a little obsessive compulsive about being clean (following in mommy and daddy's footsteps!), or he's ready to start the potty training process. We'll see! No matter what though, he's been such a trooper this week as we've had some crazy schedules with school ... through the two years of church meetings and gatherings, and just because of his nature, he has been very flexible and easygoing, which has been a huge blessing in and of itself. He goes with the flow, and I have a lot to learn from him! :)
Happy 24th
David went above and beyond to make my birthday a special day in the midst of a very busy week. He'd already given me my first gift over the weekend; a sterling silver ring from James Avery called the "four seasons ring." It has such a beautiful design and has been on my "wish list" since we've been married. I always thought it was a very tangible expression of God's grace and perfection ... a symbol of the many seasons of life that we go through, with the promise of His love and guidance. It's so beautiful! On Tuesday night he gave me the second gift, a DVD of one of my favorite John Wayne movies (yes, I LOVE John Wayne), "McClintock!" It's wonderful! On Wednesday morning I went to the car and sitting on the console was the Natalie Grant cd that I'd been literally begging for since the Women of Faith conference I went to in June where she performed. What a wonderful way to start the day - each and every song on the cd is just beautiful and so refreshing! Since I would was at school late Tuesday night and would be on Thursday, too for conferences, we ordered in and relaxed for a wonderful evening at home! I couldn't ask for anything more, and am thankful, as always, for the blessing of such a considerate and thoughtful husband!
Food Fair
We have been studying Ancient Egypt in our 6th grade Social Studies class, and after discussing the geography and culture of Egypt, we indulged ourselves with a "food fair!" Parents were extremely willing to donate to our cause, and we had a great day of feasting with grapes, pita bread, honey, cucumbers, and pomegranates.
We took notes on the Egyptian Achievements, and so made our own "hieroglyphic alphabet" and then wrote our names using it! It was great fun! This coming week we'll be making life-sized mummies before taking our test!
Sunday, October 9
Now that Hayden has a "big boy bed," we thought it time to start making the rest of the room a reflection of his growing stages ... the first addition ... a new cubby shelf to help lessen the mess on the changing table so that it can be the next thing that goes!
Isn't he such a stud!? It was easy buying the shelf, but not so easy (for me) to put it in, but I'm thankful that David knows what to do!
Hayden wanted to help too, and put some of his birthday toys (thanks Aunt Terri and Uncle Jim!) to use and got right to work!
Ta-Da! Here is the new shelf ... we've added some jackets and a backpack that hang from the little pegs, and it's been so nice to have the room on its way to being changing-table free! Now if we could only find a reasonably priced dresser to completely replace it!
The last few weeks have been absolute madness! We've been working (David and Katy), fighting off colds and allergic reactions to bug bites (Hayden), preaching an incredible message on "Fellowship" as part of the 40 Days of Purpose for Real Life Church (David), being a part of a good friend's wedding and having an awesome weekend of girl time (Katy), being saddened over KU's loss to KSU last Saturday (David), learning many new words and exciting ways to change your voice to say them (Hayden), and now anxiously awaiting the event of the year - LATE NIGHT WITH BILL SELF at Allen Fieldhouse this Friday(David, Katy, and Hayden)!
We Love You!
Katy
Isn't he such a stud!? It was easy buying the shelf, but not so easy (for me) to put it in, but I'm thankful that David knows what to do!
Hayden wanted to help too, and put some of his birthday toys (thanks Aunt Terri and Uncle Jim!) to use and got right to work!
Ta-Da! Here is the new shelf ... we've added some jackets and a backpack that hang from the little pegs, and it's been so nice to have the room on its way to being changing-table free! Now if we could only find a reasonably priced dresser to completely replace it!
The last few weeks have been absolute madness! We've been working (David and Katy), fighting off colds and allergic reactions to bug bites (Hayden), preaching an incredible message on "Fellowship" as part of the 40 Days of Purpose for Real Life Church (David), being a part of a good friend's wedding and having an awesome weekend of girl time (Katy), being saddened over KU's loss to KSU last Saturday (David), learning many new words and exciting ways to change your voice to say them (Hayden), and now anxiously awaiting the event of the year - LATE NIGHT WITH BILL SELF at Allen Fieldhouse this Friday(David, Katy, and Hayden)!
We Love You!
Katy
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