My Main Squeeze

Hello everyone:)

Today is my mommy's birthday.

This lady is my very best friend. I honestly don't know what I would do without her. She knows me better than anyone else in this world, and that is partly because I'm just like her. She and I have always be inseparable, and I hope that doesn't ever change.

This is my very favorite picture of us. 

Every since I was a little girl, I've loved my mom the most. I used to have bad separation anxiety whenever she'd try to do something on her own, because I wanted to be with her- I didn't like the thought of her doing things without me. In all my life, she's never talked to me like I was a kid, but always as an equal; I've always felt respected and important because of this attitude I was raised by. While my mom has always been my favorite person, it's only been in the last few years that I really considered her to be my best friend. She always was my best friend, but I didn't always recognize it. Now I do, and I want everyone to know (this is partly thanks to Gilmore Girls). I'm so thankful for her. I want everyone to know that my mom and I love each other, and I want everyone else to love their mom like I love mine.

If you've spent any amount of time with us, you know we're like the same person. And yet, there are certain things we just don't agree on (can't think of many). Even though I've always been like my mom, I still want to be like her as she changes.

My mom is a great example to me. Most importantly, she loves Jesus, and she's raised her babies to know about Him. I remember when I was young, during worship at church, mama's hands were always raised high, and I wanted to be just like that when I was praising Jesus.  I've recently gotten to the point where I'm comfortable with my hands up high too, and I'm glad that that image was never a foreign one to me.

My mama is also one tough cookie. Life has thrown her a lot of crap, and she never let it overcome her. While we all struggle with grief and healing sometimes, and while some seasons of life are longer and drier than others, my mom has always gotten through it with the help of our loving God. I've seen it work for her, and I strive to have that same trust and hope in my own heart.

Last year on her birthday:)

At Designed for Life 

Post-gym selfie ;)

We'd rather be watching Gilmore Girls. 

I always look forward to spending time doing nothing at home with my mom. Many of you know that it takes some convincing to get me to change my mental plans for the day if it requires leaving the house- because that's where I'm comfortable.  

I hope you all realize how big an impact my mom has in my life. I hope she knows that. Words can't express how much I love her, and will always need her (no matter how "grown-up" I become). 

Happy Birthday, mama. Don't ever forget how needed and loved you are. You're my favorite. <3

Prayers in Progress

"How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you." 

~Isaiah 30:19

When we pray, God hears us. 

And as long as what we're praying is aligned with God's Will, as soon as He hears, He answers our prayers! The answer may be dramatic or sudden, or He may begin something that we won't see as an answer until sometime in the future. Sometimes answered prayers are not what we expected.

God doesn't hesitate to answer our prayers: "As soon as He hears". We have to come to Him though and ask; we have to present our requests to God. Luke 11:9-10 says that if we ask, it will be given to us. God can't answer the prayers that we don't bother praying- that's why we are told to present our requests to God for everything (Philippians 4:6) and to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). 

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) 

Why wouldn't God want to answer our prayers? He's already given us everything else! God wants to answer your prayers- He is answering your prayers. You just have to pray them. 

The Same Power

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." ~ Ephesians 3: 20-21 

I was reading this verse the other day, and it jumped out at me in a new way. Let's go through what this verse is saying:

• God is able. He can do all things. Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). God. Is. Able. 
• He provides abundantly. Immeasurably more- more than our wildest dreams. God can do more than you expect. 
• God provides for us and gives through His power. It's because of His power that He is able to do more and give to us so abundantly. He can do "immeasurably more" because His power is immeasurable. 
• God's power is at work. He is working in us and through us. We are filled with the power of the Lord! God is, right now, working in you. "His power that is at work within us". You are filled with the power of God. God didn't stop working on you in the past, and He isn't waiting to work on you in the future- His power is driving, and working, and moving, and transforming you right now! And He's doing in a way that you can't imagine. Don't become discouraged in the waiting or the slow progress or the trials, for God is working. His power isn't simply working around us, or near us, or in your perfect friend, or in your pastor, but within you. <3

What an encouragement! The power of God is in you- is, meaning currently, meaning now. The same power the conquered death and sin is in you. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13). Wow. 

I Want Ears to Hear

As I've grown up, I have learned a lot about prayer: how to pray, when to pray (always), what to pray etc. And as I've grown up, I have also gotten better about praying more and giving things (or trying to) to God, and expecting great things from the power of our prayer. I see God all the time, and see many answers to prayer.

I'm struggling when it comes to listening though.

Prayer is a conversation with God, and I always have a lot to say. I know He has answers and responses for me, but honestly, I don't know if I know how to hear Him. Aside from having or not having peace regarding my prayers, I'm not sure how to determine God speaking to me. I want so badly to have ears to hear God's voice, and to be able to know when He is guiding and instructing me to do something, but it seems like I don't know how to listen.

I feel like a lot of the time I pray for something, and then it either happens or doesn't, and that's my answer, and everything happened without my acting on it. Or, I feel that I may confuse what could be the Holy Spirit with my own thoughts and desires...?  Like, am I getting in my own way when it comes to conversing with God?

I know God speaks to us in many many ways, and I'm not expecting to hear the audible voice of God, but I'm discouraged because I feel like I need to listen better, but I don't really know how. I ask God to make things clear to me, to open and close doors so that I can't mistake false opportunities, and to give me peace or not regarding a situation, but I feel like that's where it stops.

How do you listen to God? How does He speak to you? I don't know how to approach this when I'm already seeking help from Him- how will I find the answer when I can't hear?

I'd appreciate any wisdom and insight, as well as prayers, because I really really don't want to follow my own desires before I follow God's, and I feel like I can't hear what He has to say.

xoxo,
Katie