“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:5-11 In our relationships and in our lives, learn to serve as we have been served. Even as the one greater than all, Jesus did not let His position affect His behavior. He made himself nothing. I am no more than you are; I am no better. I am here in obedience to serve and save; I have come to give and die. And for his obedience God gave Him the best name. Y’all… I look around in all the little circles in my life and am broken over people. Truth is the greater the circle, though, the bigger the problems. We are in a world where it matters what your last name is. It counts what color you are. It makes a difference where you came from. It’s of significance if you have money. I wish I could say I don’t remember when it happened, but, honestly, I’ve known it no other way. Why? Serve as we have been served. Jesus, in His humanness, was KING and He came so humbly that He saw himself no better than you or I. What happened? How did we go from a crown of thorns to just crowns? How is one race better than the other? Or his name better than hers? I cannot imagine how it hurts Jesus to see His people like this. Created for love, we have turned this world into nothing but division.. of color, or success, or status. As people we’re caught up in who WE are, what WE have, or how WE can be better.. and there’s so much me that there’s never an us. We have a heart that longs to prosper, but we always choose ourselves. Selfishness is not our success- it’s our sentence. “Because of the evil they have done.. they aroused my anger…. again and again I sent my servants who said do not do these detestable things that I hate. But they did not listen or pay attention; they didn’t turn from wickedness or stop… my fierce anger was poured out; it raged against the people and made them the desolate ruins they are today” Jeremiah 44:3-6 Over and over the Bible tells us to love one another, be servants to eachother, help your neighbor, give, forgive, and be humble. Instead we criticize. We help when it helps us. We spend more time talking about our neighbors than serving them. We give when it can be returned. We forgive without forgetting, and humble is not even a thing. People are only what we can benefit from them. We don’t even see people as people. And so God is angry and it’s our fault. We are the reasons our circles look like they do. Jesus came as king and walked as man. I am no better than you are. What makes us more if Jesus himself was less? Yes, We are all different. We’re all different colors and shapes and sizes; we have different amounts of money, different numbers of friends, different stuff… but y’all we’re all people and we’re all worth the same. And so God exalted Him and gave Him a name above names. The world tells us to be somebody you have to have some things; the one that rules says just the opposite. “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last” Matthew 20:16 You can be a lot of things for a little while, or you can have it all forever but you’ve got to give now or you’ll be without later. Serve one another as Christ served you. Make most everything about others and focus on making one thing about you. “Therefore since we have these promises, dear friends, let’s purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” 2 Corinthians 7:1 Purify ourselves. If we want to have stronger, healthier circles- there has to be a surplus of change. Start with you, cleaning from the inside out. We cannot live in even circles when we sit in divided groups. “All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish” Ezekiel 17:24 Serve until you’re dry. I want to be empty. Xoxo, Katie #Mercychristfollowerofchristproblemschristianbloggerjesusheisgood #GodTruthTeachMeGuidemeHopeitrustinYou #ChristLightInthewordMadeNewTrustUnfailingLovegracemercyshame #HiswillbrokenpiecesGodreligiontruthMessandmercy #GodTiredMercyReligiousRest

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” Philippians 2:3-4 Be selfless. Lower yourselves. Look out for others. That’s all. Simple, right? I think humans are naturally geared towards self promotion. Always taking the next step to get a step higher, we often put ourselves before others. We also have a big tendency to think we’re better. What if I looked up to you, and you looked up to me? And she looked up to her and he to him? And so on? If everybody is looking up to somebody, no one is getting looked down on and that’s a beautiful thing. Lower yourselves so that no one is beneath you. Do not look at someone’s life and measure your worth by their accomplishments. We’re all set apart, remember? There is no better with Jesus, just different. Of course she is in a different place than you are. It’s physically impossible for four feet to stand in the exact same spot, but wouldn’t it be all together lovely if four hearts would? Community. If we could just admire someone for what they are, instead of adding up the things people are not, less than becomes less threatened. Let’s not look at a person only for what they can offer you. Do not avoid someone when that something is nothing. Be good, do good because of who you are, not what you think someone else is. Lower yourself to meet someone where they are, you do not know what drug them that far. I read a piece of scripture in Ezekiel this week. God was talking to Israel, but just conviction because it can as easily apply to us. “I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations.” Ezekiel 36:22 Not because you deserve it, but because I have a name to uphold. I say I am and so I must be. And don’t we all? As Christians we are the standard. We should never lose an opportunity to protect that. One of my favorite Old Testament stories is in Exodus. Moses is in the middle of a war, hands up to Jesus, and He is winning. As he begins to get tired, though, his hands start to fall and they start to lose. “When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up–one on one side, one on the other–so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” Exodus 17:12 Two friends saw him struggling and they came to help. Moses and his army won that battle because he had someone to be the support he couldn’t be. They were there to help, not to conquer. Not for your interest but the interest of others. If you’re only serving someone for what you may receive, that’s not serving. That’s business. “Whoever is generous to the poor, lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed” Proverbs 19:17 I wish I had pretty words to tell you these things, but I don’t. Sometimes it just is what it is. No one is above anybody. We killed Jesus and with Him perfection died. No matter what anybody tells you, ugly hearts lead to empty lives. It doesn’t matter how you dress them up. God’s humor can change your circumstance faster than you can change your shoes so be so careful that the pair you pick for the day walks humbly. The warning is there: as easy as you can be walked with, you can be walked on. “Those who love only themselves and do not obey the truth, but do what is wrong, will be punished by God. His anger will be on them.” Romans 2:8 “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” James 3:16 “He who shuts his ears to the cry of the less fortunate will also cry himself and not be answered.” Proverbs 21:13 His anger will be on them. They will find nothing but disorder. They too will cry and I will not answer. But all of those are fought with one: “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1st Peter 4:8 All were called to do is love people at least as much as we love ourselves. This world of division is evidence of our failing, but it still doesn’t hurt to try. Love and Tuesdays, Katie #Mercychristfollowerofchristproblemschristianbloggerjesusheisgood #GodTruthTeachMeGuidemeHopeitrustinYou #ChristLightInthewordMadeNewTrustUnfailingLovegracemercyshame #HiswillbrokenpiecesGodreligiontruthMessandmercy #GodTiredMercyAngerReligiousRevengeRest #religionreligiousGod #Messandmercymessandmercywordshehealsbrokenessbrokentrustfaith

More than anything, I answer questions about how I made my way back to Jesus- how I keep it up. I wrote a quick devotional tool with pieces of my journey. It’s a day by day guide with sister scripture and daily reflection! Here’s a sample of the devotional! The link to free download is at the bottom of the page! Hope this encourages you, lovies!

“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” Philippians 2:1-2 A break down: Didn’t Christ do anything for you? Where are all the good hearts? Make me proud, guys. Work together. As Christians we’re all here to be the same standard and seek the same purpose. Forgive me. I have written this small group three times. Three drafts, and it all sounds very un-gentle if we can just pretend that’s a word. So I know it’s later than usual but I always wait on God’s voice and not my own before I publish. If this strikes you wrong, I apologize. The abrasiveness is not my own. I read once that if calling Jesus Lord was an empty statement if it never makes a difference in your life. We are all a broken people. We all fall short. James says we all stumble. But y’all, we use forgiveness as a crutch. I sat in my bedroom one night with a girl so dear to my heart, mentoring her about what it means to be like-minded with Christ and my heart just broke because with every small tweek in her life I suggested she give up, she refuted me with “but Jesus forgives us right?” We’re all going to get it wrong, but the difference with Christ is the heart that wants to get it right, not the one that acts whichever kind of way because there is a get out of jail free card. People make excuses for their sin, but are so eager to point at the fall of their neighbor. I’m not just talking about “regular” Christians even the “leader” ones. What does it say for the change God has had in your life if you’re fresh from an over-seas mission, had this huge heart change, and are back in the break room at work catching up on the gossip you missed. Gossip is not the only thing you missed, baby. You’ve missed the point entirely. I, personally, have felt unwelcomeness of the church. Not just one but several, trying to find the perfect fit for my family. I spent six months running a baby ministry before I was welcomed by a pastor. SIX MONTHS, and half a bible read later, I was so hungry for this community the Bible speaks of, desperate for a mentor, and it still took half a year! It took me that long to decide that people are not what other people say and that the church is as broken as we are and y’all that brings tears to my eyes. Jesus did not put a steeple at the top of a church building, to stand taller than the rest, for it to be thrown around by the wind. The church is a place for the broken, not a place of brokenness. Paul says is there any comfort, is there any love, is there any fellowship. Y’all we are His people. Or maybe you’re not saved? You want to be or you wouldn’t be reading here. It’s on US. His work was finished on the cross. We have to stop pointing the finger and start pointing the light, guys. How do we expect someone to run towards something they are constantly being criticized by? A compassionate heart is one that empathizes with everyone. Jesus understands, y’all, and we’re supposed to too. Be like minded with Christ. People will never remove themselves from where they are in sin if the place they are trying to get is even more critical than the life they are in the middle of. No one, y’all no one, wants a life worse than the one they are sitting in the middle of. People already feel less than. Real repentance is sorry for the things I am and compassion for the things I’m not yet, not conviction of both. Hasn’t Christ taught you anything? Then why has your heart changed nothing? Christ will leave the entire flock to look for one lost sheep. Even when we lose sight of Jesus, He never loses claim to us. He leaves to search for less than, and for whatever reason we’d rather sit at a table and fellowship while we talk about them. This is not the mind of God. We’re all on the same team. We are called to fellowship. To whole-heartedly believe we are not better or worse but all equal regardless of race, gender, or social status. We are the same because none of us got a drop of blood more or less than the one who goes before us or behind us; it’s an even amount. An amount great enough to cover it all. Reorient yourselves to the characteristics of Jesus, yall. If you couldn’t do those things sitting at His feet, you shouldn’t do them at all. Call Him Lord and let that lead your life. Be the Christian, Be the church. #Mercychristfollowerofchristproblemschristianbloggerjesusheisgood #GodTruthTeachMeGuidemeHopeitrustinYou #ChristLightInthewordMadeNewTrustUnfailingLovegracemercyshame #HiswillbrokenpiecesGodreligiontruthMessandmercy #GodTiredMercyAngerReligiousRevengeRest

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have” Philippians 1:29-30 Freedom of consequence does not mean freedom of trial. Y’all Paul is in jail, remember? It’s not his first time either. Suffer for him. I think this is where the church falls a little short. We go to revivals and discipleship weekends and conferences and the message is almost always the same: Jesus is good. And y’all He is good.. but the world isn’t. And so people are left with this false expectation that when you’ve been saved, that’s just it. It’s all good because Jesus is good. Then one day someone wakes up and a family member has died, a house has burned down, or someone has cancer. Or maybe it’s the little things that add up to feel like big things; the rumors or the flat tire, the broken air conditioner or the little fender bender with a not so little repair fee. We’re left feeling defeated and kicked around because it’s always something, and just what kind of God constantly puts these things on me? I thought saved meant safe? I mean isn’t that the same word? And so the picture the church painted failed me. I didn’t understand. We talked about the cross being a one way street in Jesus’s day and y’all, the cross still is. The cross means life but more importantly death. Our own death. When you chose Jesus, you commit to stop choosing you. And that’s kind of the problem. We killed a man. A man literally died for you and for me and as guilty as we are, Jesus said we’re not. The difference is.. when Jesus was nailed to that cross He meant it… and sometimes, when we die… we dont. We die on Sundays at church; we make sure to wear our biggest smiles and speak to everybody- even “those people” when it needs to look good. We die on our social media accounts leaving only the shiny exposed, maybe throw in a few cute photos of the kids crying too- you know, to rule out complete perfection but to paint a picture close enough. We let ourselves die long enough to watch our mouths in front of our kids because we want to set the right example.. but what about Mondays? The only piece of that long death story that’s consistent is pretending we and our lives are perfect when we know well and good they’re not. What about when church is over? we don’t speak to those people in walmart, our attitudes stand unadjusted at work, and our mouths need more than a piece of orbit to clean it up. We don’t mean it when we make the commitment. We move on and off of our cross all week long and then get upset when something moves in our paths between points A and B. Y’all it’s always going to be something- A broken part or a broken path. Jesus saved you; He didn’t kill Satan so be careful. Moving between places is dangerous to your faith. I’ve lived in the same town for 5 years and I’m not kidding when I tell you I still get lost some days trying to get groceries. But I don’t get lost at home…We have to stop moving on and off of the cross. You cannot get lost if you do not move. The further we move from the home of Jesus, the more room Satan has to wedge between us. So stay. Even when it means suffering, stay with the cross. Stay with Jesus. James 1:2-4 says not if you have trials but when 1 Peter 1 says though for a little while you may suffer Psalms 34 says many troubles but the Lord delivers them all But John 16:33 says there have been many trials on earth but I’ve overcome the world. 2nd Corinthians chapter 1 tells us that sometimes our suffering will be so great that it will feel like we’re dying, far beyond our ability to endure. It goes on to say that this is on purpose so that we may not rely on ourselves but on God. He deliberately engineers debilitating circumstances into our lives so that we are in constant, total dependence on Him. The only true consolation is found in Christ, not in a change of circumstance. Yes, we will suffer, but as long as we stay in the same spot- quit moving away from home and stay on our cross, it’s going to be fine. God promises us rainbows, but they always come after storms. Paul was one of Jesus’s #1 men and look at his life? He was unattractive, unweathly, and completely unashamed because he was also unbelievably blessed…even when he suffered.. even when he suffered again. He suffered and we will too, but the result for all of us is the same. When it’s over there’s a rainbow at the end… even if we only have a few in the middle. #Mercychristfollowerofchristproblemschristianbloggerjesusheisgood #GodTruthTeachMeGuidemeHopeitrustinYou #ChristLightInthewordMadeNewTrustUnfailingLovegracemercyshame #HiswillbrokenpiecesGodreligiontruthMessandmercy #MessandmercySalvationJesusSaves #GodTiredMercyAngerReligiousRevengeRest #Messandmercymessandmercywordshehealsbrokenessbrokentrustfaith

I don’t know where it started. The “I’m better than she is. The “hey lets point the finger.” The “she did it worse.” I’m reading a parable in Luke tonight about two men going to pray. Jesus told this parable to those confident in their righteousness; to those that looked down on everybody else. “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” Luke 18:14 Be proud that your daughter made an A on her spelling test. Be proud that your son hit the home run. Be proud that your marriage, even rocky, has made it. Be proud that you met your weight loss goal… but y’all. Don’t be “proud” that you’re better than she is, that your kids are smarter, that your son plays better, that your marriage looks better, that you’re skinnier.  Do not be proud that your mistakes are not as many as hers; that in some way your life is better than “that girl’s.” Lord, I’m not perfect- but at least I’m not that. Why do we do that?? Why do we take the mistakes of others and make them victories for ourselves? Do you really look better at the end of the day if your neighbor made ten mistakes while you, yourself, only made seven? Only seven? Even then, back in the Bible days, thousands and thousands of years ago people were pointing fingers- judging others, the entire time forgetting that they, too, are guilty of imperfection. Even then. Nothing has changed. No one has changed. Does that not break your heart? Why can’t we stop? At the end of the day it’s grace and mercy that saves us all, both of us..the pointer and the pointee. It all takes forgiveness. Y’all, the only thing we should be confident in is Jesus and His love. There is nothing we can do, nothing we can be…that “I’m sorry” doesn’t cover and thank God, cause don’t we all have something that needs forgiven? He loves us enough to hear us every time.  We don’t have to decorate our prayers. It doesn’t have to be a “God I know I messed up today and I’m sorry but guess what? Somebody did it worse.” Instead it can just be “Gosh God, I’m sorry.” Anything you did today that didn’t glorify God is just as bad as the thing that so-and-so did yesterday that you are trying to talk about. I don’t know where it happened, thinking we have to paint ourselves better by tearing others apart, but y’all- just no. Not in conversation and not in prayer. God loves us for us. He knows you. He even knows so-and-so. And guess what? He loves us the same, and it’s not on a who wore it better; who did it worse- scale. There are two sides: forgiven and not forgiven. Saved and Not saved. Gosh God, I’m sorry. The only thing I’m confident in is that I’m perfect in nothing and forgiven in everything. Im not confident in my ways, but I am confident in Christ. “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” Romans 12:3 Humble yourselves. No, you’re not better… but you are worth it. Let’s be nice humans, y’all. Hugs, Katie Want a free copy of my short devotional on recapturing your Jesus? Click here to download your free copy of Getting Back To Worthy <3 #GodTiredMercyAngerReligiousRest #Mercychristfollowerofchristproblemschristianbloggerjesusheisgood #GodTruthTeachMeGuidemeHopeitrustinYou #ChristLightInthewordMadeNewTrustUnfailingLovegracemercyshame #HiswillbrokenpiecesGodreligiontruthMessandmercy

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but you will be saved” Philippians 1:27-28 I don’t care who said what, does what, plans to do what… you are responsible for you.. and you have to act right. By this- when I see you or hear things about you I will know who you’re really living for because you’re not scared or intimidated by any of these worldly things. When you’re not washed up by circumstances it’s proof that what’s temporary will come to ruin while Jesus comes to save. That’s what this scripture means- act right when others arent “acting right” Christian conduct is something you will have to teach yourself every day but somehow can never be taught enough. This is how I was saved. I will forever be grateful for hurtful words and difficult people. You cannot wait on a fair world and an pretty circumstances to follow Jesus. I’ve been reading in Luke and my church has also been studying a piece of scripture in Luke and several weeks ago in our small group that mentors me we talked about what it looks like to take up your cross daily and follow me. My fellow small group girls are reciting their memory verse right now but many of you don’t know it. It’s Luke 9:23. “For anyone that wants to be my disciple- they must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” Now the cross to us means something a lot different than the cross to Jesus’s early early people. As the old people say back in the old days the cross was nothing but an unrelenting instrument of death. The cross was a one way trip. And y’all, it still is. (We will get more into this next week) We think of the cross as a glorious symbol of safety and power… and it is but we paint these pretty pictures in church that scream come get saved, it’s the best life. Come get saved, it’s forgiveness. Come get saved, it’s freedom. But nobody mentions the hard stuff. How many invitations have you heard that said come on down and accept Jesus, but it’s going to suck sometimes, you’re still going to hurt and get hurt, but awe just come on down cause Jesus is good. You don’t. We forget to share that side… and so when people accept Jesus, they are just set on fire, they are blazing it up and all of a sudden they hit a puddle and they don’t know what to do. Now hold on preacher, you said Jesus was good, my life would be good, my pain would be gone, I would be free. But what’s all this? Hear this. People’s hearts do not change because Jesus changed yours. The cross is hard. The cross is heavy. The cross is still worth it. It wasn’t until I knew God and understood who He was that I realized that all that time before I had not know Him at all.. I had just known of Him. I was going to church. I did a devotional every day. I prayed. Y’all I prayed every day. Over and over, I prayed for peace, for people’s hearts, for change- and God didn’t hear me and I couldn’t understand it. The Bible says pray with all your heart and these things will be given to you. To tears, daily, I would pray for peace. God, please! Have you ever just wanted to shake God and be like did you not hear me? I’ve been asking for this?! Hey, do I need to write it down? If you have.. Maybe you are now- God is teaching you something. I won’t go into great details because I don’t want my story to get in the way of the message, but difficult people let Satan roar at me and I stopped praying. For three days I sat alone in my bed while my husband was at work and my children were with their father and I told myself “katie, breathe” every breath I took. My heart, my chest was so heavy and breathing felt like a decision. I’ve heard God speak to me twice and on that third day was the first time. He told me Stop. You’re ready now and I’m going to use this time and your life to do big things. And He has. That was January 11th 2017. “And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.” Titus 3:8 It says be careful to commit to doing what’s good. Being careful tells you it’s not always going to be easy, but you’ve got to always try. Mama always said two wrong don’t make a right, baby, you gotta do the next right thing. Take up your cross daily. If we responded to every body that hurt our feelings the way we sometimes want to, all we’ve taught them is that Jesus does not take care of us- that Jesus is not good and neither are the people who follow Him. Conduct is so important yall. Jesus hears you; Jesus heard me. We just have to get out of our own way. I thanked Jesus for peace just two weeks after the night He saved me and I had been praying for it for ten months. When you stop living your life for yourself and other people and start living it for Christ- other people’s conduct is not as offensive. You begin to see the things they’re missing before you can feel what they say. As Jesus told Martha… you are worried about many things when you need only a few, indeed only one. Everyday pick up your cross and everyday carry it with you even if somebody else left theirs at home. The scripture says they will be destroyed and you will be saved. I love y’all! Katie #Mercychristfollowerofchristproblemschristianbloggerjesusheisgood #GodTruthTeachMeGuidemeHopeitrustinYou #ChristLightInthewordMadeNewTrustUnfailingLovegracemercyshame #HiswillbrokenpiecesGodreligiontruthMessandmercy #bekindchristianconduct #religionreligiousGod

When God speaks to you, it’s almost funny how things work out. Over the last several days I’ve had to remind myself, well my mouth really, where my priorities are. I’ve heard Gods voice, felt His little nudges.. y’all know the ones I’m talking about, right? So priorities- I have a little something to share…. I’ve been reading off and on in Luke… in chapter 9 God tells some men “follow me” and He says okay, God- yeah but first let me bury my father.. God asks another guy and he says sure God but first.. let me go say bye to my family….. and this is what Jesus says. “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” Y’all, priorities. Reading again in Luke several chapters over.. A man invited all these people to eat dinner with Jesus.. one had bought something he had to attend to and couldn’t come. Another had some other stuff to try, too busy, and couldn’t come. Another somebody had just gotten married and couldn’t come. Y’all nothing, NOTHING, should be placed before Jesus and fellowship with Him. Nothing. Not your children. Not your husband. Not yourself. This does not mean map your day out and pencil in five minutes of quiet time with Jesus at the top. He is constant counsel over our day. You want to start your day out with a quick devotional- that is great- no better way to start the day, but don’t let that be the only time you pursue Him. Instead of a listed complied with Jesus, errands, kids, husband let it be Jesus and Me, Jesus and Errands, Jesus and kids (isn’t this where we need him most?), Jesus and husband. You see? Constant. My kids are not more important than my husband and my husband is not more important than My Jesus. Whatchu say, Mama? Your kids don’t come first? No. My children are #3 because God SAYS they are number #3. The last time I chose to do what was best for my kids instead of what was best for my husband I got a divorce. I put a relationship with my husband over my relationship with God and guess what- I got a divorce. There’s a reason they biblically fall in the order they do. I see so many people, have talked to so many people, am watching so many people fall into the same traps I fell into in their marriages, in their homes, in their lives and I cannot CANNOT tell you how important it is to reorganize your life. Map a circle of your responsibilities and put God in the center. It cannot be in “list” format. You can’t move systematically down the line making checks. That’s not how God wants things. Do something, move back to the center, do something else, move back to the center that way everything on your not-list starts with Christ’s guidance. It’s when you forget to start there that gets you off balance. But first let me do this. Actually, I can’t- I have to do that. Oh just wait, I will but first… Its a shame we spend so much time barreling for success, building our own lives that we miss so much of what God already had planned. Instead we’re plowing our way down a more painful path, hitting every hole to get where we’re supposed to be instead of just looking straight. Instead of just looking to God. If the farmer tries plowing a field lookin in a million directions none of his crops are straight and his field looks a hot mess… and we wonder sometimes how our lives look like they do? How did we even get here. More importantly, how do we get out? Priorities. You don’t have to get things in order to put him first. You don’t have to live a perfect life to put him first. “I have come not to call the righteous but the unrighteous” Luke 5:32 “It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous but the sinners” mark 2:17 Jesus calls us right where we are. He meets us in life right where we are. And y’all He wants to use us RIGHT WHERE WE ARE. He just wants to be with us. Literally all he wants is to save us from ourselves, to save us from the punishment we deserve, but if we keep saying just wait a minute or I’ve got something else to do He can’t help us!! I’ve been on both sides, ladies. Jesus has done so much for me. That is why I do this- why I read and read and write and write and answer all of these messages and try so hard to point all of you back to scripture because I want to help. I want people to know what total surrender feels like. I did not have much to give God when I turned my life over because I have spent so much of it on myself there just wasn’t much left but y’all that investment, that surrender was the best one I’ve ever made for everybody. The best prioritizing I’ve ever done for my #3 and my #2 is make Jesus my #1. Surrender. Prioritize. I’m always here if you need some encouragement , some help, a push. Love y’all so very much, Katie #Mercychristfollowerofchristproblemschristianbloggerjesusheisgood #ChristLightInthewordMadeNewTrustUnfailingLovegracemercyshame #HiswillbrokenpiecesGodreligiontruthMessandmercy #priorities #religionreligiousGod

“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me” Philippians 1:23-26 All Paul is saying here is umm, yeah. Sure I’d rather be laid back in heaven, but I have a purpose here. My time is not over and my purpose is necessary. We talk about spiritual gifts a lot at my house. I think it’s important to teach my babies what it means to be set apart, that all of God’s people are made different- each one with something special about them. Once my oldest first told me my gift was dancing and being nice to people, once it was coloring, and this week it was hair and cooking. I love these discussions and seeing their answers change; I love watching their minds move, but always comes down to this: God made us different, each one of us serve a different purpose. Paul said of course I’d rather… but instead this is what I do- I’m here to help you. Heaven is better but this is now. Y’all I have so many “I’d rather(s)” I’d rather be skinner, I’d rather not have Mondays, be more athletic, I’d rather stay home for work; rather not be sick on vacation, rather not have so many responsibilities, rather not feel like I carry the world on my shoulders somedays… be a better wife, a better mother… but why? I mean sure Mondays suck, but what about a lot of those “rathers”? Who picked the standard? Who’s line are we trying to get above but constantly feel less than? Until you lay down the dispiriting throb of comparison you will never feel at home in your own purpose. Paul knew what He was here for, but us? We spend so much time trying to live up to the placebo that we forget to be the person. YOUR person. “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” 2 Corinthians 10:12 Sometimes I look at girls and I’m just like “gah, how can see eat six brownies and still weigh some zero pounds while I can smell one and gain six?? I mean I know we live in an uneven world but geezz, give me something Jesus. But He did… I like to tell myself I don’t have abs because God didn’t intend on me being a swimsuit model, but it’s likely because I’m just lazy. The point, though, is this- your gift isn’t what you envy over, it’s what your good at- it’s where your purpose is. I would have never imagined my life to be what it is. When I’m not throwing the scale across the bathroom- I’m so satisfied with my life, but it looks nothin like I imagined it would. I picked a lot of things for myself that never added up in so many different ways; things were so forced. Simple things, easy things. This is what it feels like when we live for our own purpose, not Gods. I had a girl ask me a week ago ‘how you get your life turned around; how did you get to such a good place?’ And as I sit here in my living room floor, my hair on top of my head, an unpainted face, and a very toy-decorated floor… I can’t help but think oh, so this is what together looks like? I told that girl just because I have a very worn and colorful bible does not mean I have my life together. It actually means the opposite. I can’t hold it all together so I run to the One who can. I run there everyday, all week long because it’s always something. Ain’t it? One girl may look at my life and say Wow, she has a love for the Lord and it has completely transformed her life, like that girl..others say i’ont know who she fooling, she’s a divorced, remarried mom and I heard her say piss last week- she hasn’t changed nothing. Some girls may envy my body while other girls criticize my cellulite-they zoomed in on the picture just to make sure I had it. Some people say I’m a pretty girl and there are others that will tell you quick- she ain’t nothing special.. and I’d be lying if I didn’t say some of those things don’t hurt my feelings. They do, but where I used to cry and cry after a trip to the school to pick my son up because ‘they were staring at me, I wonder what they were thinking’ I just don’t anymore. We have to stop letting people determine what we’re worth. I didn’t turn my life around, I just changed its direction- I stopped chasing who others said I was and tried to find who I should be. I guess my life did turn a little, just not around; it turned over. It turned to God. I say that so casually as if it were just as simple as, I don’t know, socks.. pretty basic. Just turned it to God. Y’all, that direction change, something so basic, turned out being so so big. I don’t know who drew the line on ‘perfect’ that we constantly try and climb but hear this: God made you on purpose. He made you separate, He made you different, He made you- You. Your purpose will not look like my purpose nor will mine look like yours, but you have something to do, something to be- just like I do. Luke chapter 11 verse 33 says “no one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden or under a bowl.” We are little lamps given specific gifts to fulfill a unique purpose. Just like you wouldn’t light a candle to stick it in the sun, you also shouldn’t take your light, your unique gift, and try to make it blend in. Lights shine the best when it sits alone- set apart, remember? “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them” Romans 12:6 The very hairs of your head are numbered; you are worth more than many sparrows says Luke12:7 so the next time you find yourself sitting in the “I’d rathers” or comparison- change directions and sit in purpose. Be who God says you are, not who people say you should be! #ChristLightInthewordMadeNewTrustUnfailingLovegracemercycomparisonworth #Mercychristfollowerofchristproblemschristianbloggerjesusheisgood #religionreligiousGod

“‘Yes and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will always have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!” Philippians 1:19-22 Here Paul is like yeah I’m in jail, so what, I ain’t ashamed to say it- Jesus is working for me- y’all just keep praying. I’m good cause He’s good… and if they try and kill me? Jokes on them cause heaven is much more comfortable than this jail cell. I’m happy right here- it’s okay, I’m okay. I’m happy right here. I’m not sure where you are in life right now, but odds are you’re not totally “happy” in it. We could always have a better something- a better bank balance, a better job, a bigger house, a better relationship…. Are there parts of you that you’d rather not share? Things you’re ashamed of? Things you look back on and think what in the WORLD was I thinking? Just completely embarrassed, maybe even right now. I do. Not only is Paul not embarrassed that he’s in jail, he’s just as happy as I am with my hand in a box of twinkies. How? Happiness is not the bank, the job, or the house. It’s not the relationship, the marriage, or the just because flowers. Happiness is not the size 4, the diamond ring, or the perfect shade of lipstick. Happiness is deeper. Flowers die, yall. Lipstick wears off and your body changes even if the calories in a Twinkie doesn’t. There’s a reason why these things aren’t happiness; they’re temporary. The feel goods aren’t the forevers, they are just feel goods. I’ve learned that happiness is the heart, not its desires. It’s choosing everyday to not be yesterday; don’t be seasons, don’t be feelings- they are ever changing. Don’t let happiness be your circumstances because those circumstances could be your prison if you allow it. Happiness is deeper. Let happiness be faith in a plan that is greater than your own- A plan that’s not always easy, circumstances that are not always as flawless as that perfect shade of pink lipstick, seasons that just don’t seem to shed those painful leaves fast enough. Just because we’re not in the perfect place doesn’t mean we’re not in the middle of the perfect plan. Happy right here- because He knows; He takes care of.. He’s errorless in everything and wrong in nothing. Paul was happy in prison because happy wasn’t a place for Paul but a way. The way. Jesus isn’t just some guy, a Sunday in church, the painful plot in a book of heros- He is the way- He is the happiness. Fulfillment of our salvation and for our hearts. I read once that the only person capable of healing the human heart is the one who created it. If you’ve found yourself with a life full of good things and a heart that’s lagging behind- look deeper. What is happiness to you? If it holds any chance of being taken from you, you haven’t dug deep enough. Not a perishable smile but permanent choice. #GodTruthTeachMeGuidemeHopeitrustinYou #happinesscircumstances #Mercychristfollowerofchristproblemschristianbloggerjesusheisgood #religionreligiousGod

“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of self ambition not sincerely, supposing they can stir up trouble for me while I’m in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” Philippians 1:15-18 Paul is basically saying, Yeah some of these people are fakers, some of these people are not. Some people realize that God’s will isn’t always nice and shiny and I’m here for a purpose. Those people have stepped up out of love.. but for every one that loves me there are two trying to get ahead of me. Since I’m not competing.. this is no big deal to me personally. I’m in love Jesus, not some race. God’s word is being shared.. no matter what people’s intentions are- the word is always good news especially when it’s being told! And as long as more and more people hear about Jesus? Well I’m happy! Don’t y’all just love Paul’s heart? There are so many people out there today concerned with self-image, letting everything they do serve purpose to prove a successful image instead of working to just have a meaningful life, not only wanting a win for themselves but also yearning for the “lose” for somebody else. These “preachers” saw an opportunity to surpass Paul. Oh he’s locked up now; now we can get ahead of him. We will show him. Yall…just what a joke. It’s so disheartening to read this scripture and know that over 2000 years ago this was people..and people still haven’t changed. Our hearts are still the same. Hey, Look at me. Look what I’m doing. Look what I have. Did you hear what they did? There are people, and then there’s Paul. Paul was a man not trying to look like person, but a man trying to be one. Sometimes we get so caught up in being the best, or just being noticed period.. that we will steal the attention by whatever means necessary EVEN at the expense of others, but Paul? “But what does it even matter?” I don’t even care, y’all. But why? Why didnt he care that he was less popular? Why didn’t he care that he was falling behind? Why didn’t he care that he was locked up? That everybody was talking about him- trying to use his imprisonment to make themselves look better? Why did it not matter to him? Paul wasn’t in a competition and winning was not the objective- Christ was. Just Jesus. That’s all Paul was worried about…not where he was, what he didn’t have, not even what people were saying- but Christ. In a world so temporary, all I need is something eternal. Jesus saves in infinitely different ways. It doesn’t matter how you’ve come to receive Him, it just matters that you do. And everything else? All of the little things you worried so so much about before? After you know Him? For me- it was just like Paul. “It doesn’t even matter.. not at all.” #Mercychristfollowerofchristchristianbloggerjesusheisgood #religionreligiousGod #TruthTeachMeGuidemeHopeitrustinYouagoodheartmessandmercymessandmercyblog

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear” Philippians 1:12-14 I could talk about this all day. This message is so very personal to my heart. This is what’s going on. Paul has been put in prison, remember from last week? Now he’s telling everybody, “hold up now… this alllll happened for a reason. I’m in the perfect place to show people Jesus.” I mean don’t we all love the biggest testimonies? Which story pulls on your heart more? The homeless girl that graduated with a masters from Harvard or the president’s son that got the same degree? The work is the same, but the impact is just different- even when we don’t want to admit it. Okay.. back to Paul…”because I’m here now it’s no secret that my circumstances suck- but everybody in here can see that God is with me, even the guards that hold me here. Because I’ve had hard times but have remained faithful and unharmed, most everybody here believes in the good, good lord (because they’ve seen it in me) and have zero problem telling everybody else exactly how they feel” I literally have tears in my eyes as I type…THIS. IS. THE. LIFE. We all have chains y’all. No- were not in a first centurary prison. We are not in the wilderness for 40 days without food or water. We are not being chased into literal caves fleeing from our enemies…. but maybe something in our lives is holding us so far down that we do feel held captive to it, maybe we’re not starving but struggling to buy groceries and meet our bill deadlines, and you may not be hiding from your enemies in caves, but I’d bet you had a few? Chains. GOD WILL USE YOUR CHAINS. Now listen, you who say, “today or tomorrow we will go to this city or that city, spend a year there, carry on a business and make money” Why, you do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “if it is the Lords will, we will love and do this or that” -James 4:13-15 Every day that passes we’re a day shorter on the clock and we have no idea when it stops. Listen for His voice, respond with His correction, and let Him use your obedience as testimony to share the freedom from our chains, from all this brokenness that only He can undo . Luke chapter 6-46 says why do you call me Lord Lord and then do not do what I say? Y’all calling His name is an empty statement if it never makes a difference in your life. Call Him. Change you. Save others. Do it on a bright day, Do it when it’s dark. I love you guys! Katie #Mercychristfollowerofchristproblemschristianbloggerjesusheisgoodministrymessandmercychangejesussavesheisgoodsmallgroupstudychainsbreakingchains