Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Power of Friendship
A friend is someone you can turn to with-out hesitation when you go through hard times and who sincerely rejoices when things go well for you. She gives you advice when you are worried and encouragement when you need to solve a problem. You can lean on her when your heart is breaking, yet she never exploits your vulnerability.
You can cry on her shoulder when you are sad and laugh with her when you are cheerful. She marvels at your good qualities and loves you in spite of your weaknesses.
She is proud when you achieve your goals, but not ashamed of you when fail. She will speak the truth in love, and you can tell her the truth without fear of offending her.
She will not hesitate to prove her friendship, even at the risk of it being abused. She offers help without expecting something in return.
It says is Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
Ask yourself this:
Am I surrounding myself with friends that lift me up in prayer and encouragement, or am I settling for an acquaintance that just puts a band aid on when you need her. I've been struggling with this for a while and feel that in the times we are living in that we need to evaluate our friendships and choose wisely who we confine in. God will bring people into your life to lift you up and stand strong with you in your weakest moments. Don’t settle, God knows your heart and what you need. But it's up to us to make the right decisions as to who we associate ourselves with.
If anything, this is just food for thought. I encourage you to pray for strong, spiritually fired up friends that will have your back through thick and thin. But remember God knows your hearts desires and will fulfill them as long as you let HIM lead the way.
Sweet Blessings,
Katie
You can cry on her shoulder when you are sad and laugh with her when you are cheerful. She marvels at your good qualities and loves you in spite of your weaknesses.
She is proud when you achieve your goals, but not ashamed of you when fail. She will speak the truth in love, and you can tell her the truth without fear of offending her.
She will not hesitate to prove her friendship, even at the risk of it being abused. She offers help without expecting something in return.
It says is Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
Ask yourself this:
Am I surrounding myself with friends that lift me up in prayer and encouragement, or am I settling for an acquaintance that just puts a band aid on when you need her. I've been struggling with this for a while and feel that in the times we are living in that we need to evaluate our friendships and choose wisely who we confine in. God will bring people into your life to lift you up and stand strong with you in your weakest moments. Don’t settle, God knows your heart and what you need. But it's up to us to make the right decisions as to who we associate ourselves with.
If anything, this is just food for thought. I encourage you to pray for strong, spiritually fired up friends that will have your back through thick and thin. But remember God knows your hearts desires and will fulfill them as long as you let HIM lead the way.
Sweet Blessings,
Katie
Thursday, January 21, 2010
JOY
It's been a tough few months, with my husband deployed and at times what feels like there is no end in site of when he will be home. I have to continually encourage myself to press forward and to stay strong for him, my family and my country. As anyone could imagine, this is a task that takes a ton of strength.
You might be tossing about in a sea of despair. You might even feel as if the waves of life’s seas are crashing in on you, with your battles never won and not enough strength to fight.
This is an awesome, encouraging short story I got from my mom and thought I would share with you.
"It seems a storm caught a sea-faring vessel off a rocky coast. The wind and waves threatened to drive the boat to its certain destruction.
In the midst of the terror, one daring passenger, contrary to orders, made his way across the ship. Groping along a passageway, he found the pilot house. There he beheld an intriguing sight; the ship's pilot was lashed to his post. Secure against the raging elements, he held the wheel fast, turning the ship, inch by inch, once more out to sea. The pilot saw the watcher and smiled.
The daring passenger found his way below deck where other passengers huddled. Encouragingly, he said, "I have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled.... ALL IS WELL."
Steve Goodier, Author
There are times we need to hear those words and be reminded that "all is well”. It’s tough at times to say these three small words to yourself and have enough faith within you to actually believe it..and receive it.
My heart is encouraged and my faith restored as I remind myself that my Pilot smiles in the midst of my raging storm!
The story tells us "The pilot saw the watcher and smiled." I love to stop and think about that.......our heavenly Father...our Captain never takes the back seat and is always there to protect you! We must continually focus upon Him and rest in the comfort and peace of His Smile, knowing that He will fight our battles, calm our storms and heal our broken hearts.
Psalm 107:28-30 says it best..
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven.
"To their desired haven" Hmm...think about that alone in itself, what is your desired haven? Is it a quest to find your identity again? Is it that you've lost hope in your own ability to pull yourself up by your own boot straps? Is it to smile and laugh again?
I received an FB email from an old high school friend yesterday that I have not spoken to in 15 years. In her email she simply said, "It's so fun to see your face again, I can almost hear your laughter" This email really touched my heart and I got to thinking. I realized that I had forgotten how to laugh, or even what my own laugh sounded like. I haven’t laughed with true Joy for quite a while because I've felt so spiritually weak.
It says in Nehemiah 8-9 "The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength". It's so apparent...in order to have peace you must have Joy and without Joy you have no strength!! We all need HIS strength!!!! This is my desired haven. To truly have Joy restored within me again! It's such an awesome feeling to have had connected the dots. This is so simple yet I have made it so complicated.
I encourage you to ask yourself what your "desired haven" is. Whatever it may be, let your Heavenly Father..your Captain take the wheel and direct your course.
Rest in the comfort that you will reach your destiny and fulfill the purpose God has for you and remember "ALL IS WELL"
Can you see your Pilot smiling at you now? How awesome is it to know that you’re never alone! He will always give you the strength you need to make it through the storm. So, SMILE and reach out to Him and let His smile give you peace, strength and JOY!!!
You might be tossing about in a sea of despair. You might even feel as if the waves of life’s seas are crashing in on you, with your battles never won and not enough strength to fight.
This is an awesome, encouraging short story I got from my mom and thought I would share with you.
"It seems a storm caught a sea-faring vessel off a rocky coast. The wind and waves threatened to drive the boat to its certain destruction.
In the midst of the terror, one daring passenger, contrary to orders, made his way across the ship. Groping along a passageway, he found the pilot house. There he beheld an intriguing sight; the ship's pilot was lashed to his post. Secure against the raging elements, he held the wheel fast, turning the ship, inch by inch, once more out to sea. The pilot saw the watcher and smiled.
The daring passenger found his way below deck where other passengers huddled. Encouragingly, he said, "I have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled.... ALL IS WELL."
Steve Goodier, Author
There are times we need to hear those words and be reminded that "all is well”. It’s tough at times to say these three small words to yourself and have enough faith within you to actually believe it..and receive it.
My heart is encouraged and my faith restored as I remind myself that my Pilot smiles in the midst of my raging storm!
The story tells us "The pilot saw the watcher and smiled." I love to stop and think about that.......our heavenly Father...our Captain never takes the back seat and is always there to protect you! We must continually focus upon Him and rest in the comfort and peace of His Smile, knowing that He will fight our battles, calm our storms and heal our broken hearts.
Psalm 107:28-30 says it best..
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven.
"To their desired haven" Hmm...think about that alone in itself, what is your desired haven? Is it a quest to find your identity again? Is it that you've lost hope in your own ability to pull yourself up by your own boot straps? Is it to smile and laugh again?
I received an FB email from an old high school friend yesterday that I have not spoken to in 15 years. In her email she simply said, "It's so fun to see your face again, I can almost hear your laughter" This email really touched my heart and I got to thinking. I realized that I had forgotten how to laugh, or even what my own laugh sounded like. I haven’t laughed with true Joy for quite a while because I've felt so spiritually weak.
It says in Nehemiah 8-9 "The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength". It's so apparent...in order to have peace you must have Joy and without Joy you have no strength!! We all need HIS strength!!!! This is my desired haven. To truly have Joy restored within me again! It's such an awesome feeling to have had connected the dots. This is so simple yet I have made it so complicated.
I encourage you to ask yourself what your "desired haven" is. Whatever it may be, let your Heavenly Father..your Captain take the wheel and direct your course.
Rest in the comfort that you will reach your destiny and fulfill the purpose God has for you and remember "ALL IS WELL"
Can you see your Pilot smiling at you now? How awesome is it to know that you’re never alone! He will always give you the strength you need to make it through the storm. So, SMILE and reach out to Him and let His smile give you peace, strength and JOY!!!
Friday, January 15, 2010
A Navy Wives Prayer
How often we've stood on dark flight lines and piers...
"I love you", "I'll miss you"
whispered through tears.
During long separations, in peace time, at war...
my nights filled with dreams of this man I adore.
With only my memories to hold close at night...
I live for the day God returns my sunlight.
Yes, life goes on when your loved one's at sea...
but the ache never leaves,
the fear stays with me.
Dear Lord, I need Your guidance, Your love...
help me be brave, keep Your watch from above.
Hold my dear one so safe in Your heart and Your hand...
bring him home to his family...this hero...my man.
In us Lord, I pray he'll be filled with such pride...
of how we carried on without him by our side.
Please, help time fly quickly and soon I will hold
the hand of the man whose eyes chase the cold.
Whose voice brings delight, whose touch eases pain.
How will ever say "farewell" again?
With Your help dear God, I'll try to stay strong...
and pray that his time here at home will be long.
Still, "I know that the Navy will need him", I sigh...
but we'll face it together, Dear Lord, you and I.
Sue Combs
MilitaryWives.com
"I love you", "I'll miss you"
whispered through tears.
During long separations, in peace time, at war...
my nights filled with dreams of this man I adore.
With only my memories to hold close at night...
I live for the day God returns my sunlight.
Yes, life goes on when your loved one's at sea...
but the ache never leaves,
the fear stays with me.
Dear Lord, I need Your guidance, Your love...
help me be brave, keep Your watch from above.
Hold my dear one so safe in Your heart and Your hand...
bring him home to his family...this hero...my man.
In us Lord, I pray he'll be filled with such pride...
of how we carried on without him by our side.
Please, help time fly quickly and soon I will hold
the hand of the man whose eyes chase the cold.
Whose voice brings delight, whose touch eases pain.
How will ever say "farewell" again?
With Your help dear God, I'll try to stay strong...
and pray that his time here at home will be long.
Still, "I know that the Navy will need him", I sigh...
but we'll face it together, Dear Lord, you and I.
Sue Combs
MilitaryWives.com
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Dont Tread On Me
I'm just getting this whole blog thing up and running. I am praying for the right words to say, express or somehow share with you just a glimpse or even a taste of what it is like to walk in my shoes as a military wife. (Sassy shoes mind you) I have promised myself not to second guess my stories in fear of how one may interpret it. They are MY stories and how I choose to tell them are up to me, after all...you are the one who has taken just a small fragment of your day to join me as I journal my daily haps and mishaps!. Thank you for not judging me as we "blog" through this awesome crazy, exciting thing we call life. Life is a precious gift and I'm honored to share mine with you. C'mon, get in the boat!
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