Last night was the night of The Gathering here in Rochester Hills, MI. It's a place where young teens gather at Oakland Christian Church and it's a place where real change happened in my life. To start with I went to a communication group led by Amy Basel and the spirit was using the words that He had given her to speak to three different aspects of my life including my calling, a mentor, and a specific word that he had given to me for Tuesday.
At the end of the message I felt like God was saying that I needed to hug Amy. And I also felt like He was saying to me that I should share my calling in front of people. Both of those things happened later.
It was at the end of the gathering message and worship that I went up and talked to Amy with one of my friends that I grew up with. We greeted with a hug, and I thought that I was just going to encourage her by telling her that her message had an impact in my life in three areas, but I walked away more blessed than I could ever have expected.
Amy asked me about the three areas that God had spoken about and the one was my calling and I told her what God had placed in Robert and my life...in front of Alyssa...confirming the message that God told me to share my calling in front of people...and perhaps one day it will be so in a larger group...who knows?...anyways we continued talking and Amy mentioned something about my lack of belief in my calling -not because I didn't believe that God was capable, but because I didn't believe that God would call me to something so great.
And that hit home because it was the truth.
And we talked a little bit about community and my fear of it...and she spoke another truth...that I was intimidated by people.
And so we prayed about it and we prayed that the chains of intimidation would fall off of me and in that moment I just felt a complete lightness in every aspect of my being. I felt full of the spirit and I felt brand new and as of today I am free of those chains and I see people in a new light.
Before I had put everyone on a kind of pedestal that had to do with my self-image issues and such, but as was spoken over me...it was all in my head.
And in this moment I'm a little afraid that I might revert back to those chains, but I'm choosing to trust God to help me stay in freedom because I have the power to walk without intimidation from man. I have the ability to stand in front of celebrities and people the world considers important and not feel unimportant in comparison because I am a child of God created in His image -with His spirit pouring through me and I have a great calling on my life- and I am free.
So I look forward to my new relationships with people and the social skills that God is going to cultivate in me and bestow upon me.
Because as was spoken over me...Satan attacks most where your greatest ministry lies.
And that, my friends, for me is community.
And so as I'm writing this to you now, I'm thinking back to one of my lasts posts about fearing community and all I can think about is how awesome the power of God is. I, in my own power, could not have gone from fear to conquering is so short of time. That is the power of God! He is able to do miracles in our lives where we feel like we are going to have to trudge on our own. But our lives are not our own battle, because all our obstacles have already been defeated by Jesus who goes before us and we just have to walk in obedience and faith and trust that those obstacles will not stand in our way because they have already been defeated.
Excited to be standing here in the victory of the spirit,
Kate
Showing posts with label God story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God story. Show all posts
Friday, June 7, 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
Soon
Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon.Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon. Soon.
Soon. This is the word that we've been hearing from God lately. Soon. Will be the transition from training to building. Soon. God will start speaking to us more and giving us more direction for our life. Soon. Robert will be graduating from college and getting a job by June. Soon. Soon. Soon.
It's a little bit exciting, but as with everything....we don't exactly know what soon means with God. To God 1 day is like 1,000 years and 1,000 years is like a day. With that frame of time....what could soon mean?
Robert's graduating soon, but that's 1 month away. Hopes coming over soon, but that's 12 hours away. I get off work soon, but that's 1 hour and 1/2 away.
There's no way to know exactly when soon is to God. Patience has to come with that answer, and when we know...we'll update....soon.
Until then, with patience and excitement,
Kate.
Soon. This is the word that we've been hearing from God lately. Soon. Will be the transition from training to building. Soon. God will start speaking to us more and giving us more direction for our life. Soon. Robert will be graduating from college and getting a job by June. Soon. Soon. Soon.
It's a little bit exciting, but as with everything....we don't exactly know what soon means with God. To God 1 day is like 1,000 years and 1,000 years is like a day. With that frame of time....what could soon mean?
Robert's graduating soon, but that's 1 month away. Hopes coming over soon, but that's 12 hours away. I get off work soon, but that's 1 hour and 1/2 away.
There's no way to know exactly when soon is to God. Patience has to come with that answer, and when we know...we'll update....soon.
Until then, with patience and excitement,
Kate.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Prayer drawing: The hands of God and Adam.
The other thing that I really like about it and what made me first try it when it was explained to me, is that it brings a new perspective to prayer. Instead of bringing a to-do list to God...it gets you praying about different things -more abstract things.
This week I found myself thinking about how God reaches out to God and how I reach back to Him. This was really easy as it was Easter time...the ultimate God reaching out to mankind story. However, things began to get even more personal as the week went on....it was as if my week was following this reaching out theme.
I have another post about how I'm going on a God-date with Robert. This is because God personally reached into my life and wants to celebrate my efforts as a wife and how I've stood by Robert's side during some hard times last semester. But God wants to celebrate something in my life. How crazy is that! It's a new way that I get to experience God. It's so cute. And it really brings me to look at God in a new way. It's not about rules and doing things. God wants a relationship with us, and like a parent, He wants to be celebrating our successes with us. God wants to be in on our community -in our life...not just us always striving for His... :)
The next little story that I have has to do with one of my friend here at the college. We were having a random devotional life chat date and as usual God just blessed us with wonderful conversation. We were talking about where we were at with God and we were in the same place. We were both talking about how it seemed that God wasn't talking to us at the moment and how it didn't seem like we fit into the tradition explanations to why God was speaking to us (these generally are sin or that we weren't obedient to the last thing God called us to do).
As we were talking we began to gain a new perspective on the situation. That perhaps it wasn't anything that we were doing wrong, but that we were just walking silently, side-by-side with the Lord, like two lovers who are completely content in the moment, just breathing it in. It's like when you get to that point in a relationship when you don't need to fill in the silences. When there aren't any directions needed for the future, no discipline needed -and you're just able to be content in each other's presence.
So this week I would say that I've just gained some new perspectives on who God is and how He wants to relate in our lives. In a world where we are always being told we aren't enough...even in churches we are always being told the next spiritual thing to work on (listen to God, how to pray, etc) God is saying....just being with me is enough. Just spend time with me....no gimmicks, no three step plan to hear my voice, just simply spending time with me in relationship....it's taking it back to it's simplicity.
I think we live in a world where we try to complicate and twist things. In America, we live in a society that says whoever is the most busy is the most important. We idolize church goers who volunteer for everything as the standard to live up to. But really, our relationship with God isn't about how much we tithe, how many hours a week we spend at church, or how much we are out there doing things for God....those are all missing the point.
In any other relationship, it's not about how much we pay someone, how many hours we running errands for them...it's about spending time communicating with them...getting to know them...the heart to hearts. That's what God wants...He wants our lives to be a constant heart to heart with Him....so why are we complicating things?
God date part 1 (4-6-13)
SO, I'm currently getting ready for a God date....you may be wondering what that is...no it's not church. Really it's something completely new to me as well. You see God and Robert have been collaborating on a surprise date for me that's supposed to start in a couple hours and last all day.
CAN YOU SAY EXCITEMENT!
Okay, so you might be wondering how it all got started: A couple weeks ago God led Robert to the Proverbs 31 chapter -you know the one about being a Godly wife....apparently that's me. :) because God wanted Robert to tell me that He's proud of me (which is one thing coming from God and another thing coming from your husband)...it's already hard enough to grasp that God thinks I'm being a good wife -I mean His standards are pretty high....
But I guess God thought I needed some more encouragement, or rather Robert needed some teaching on spoiling me? I don't know, I don't pretend to understand God's motives. But He had Robert go on a God walk three different times and He has inspired Robert to make this super awesome date for me in order to spoil me :)
Well I have to get ready, so I'll update you when it's over!
CAN YOU SAY EXCITEMENT!
Okay, so you might be wondering how it all got started: A couple weeks ago God led Robert to the Proverbs 31 chapter -you know the one about being a Godly wife....apparently that's me. :) because God wanted Robert to tell me that He's proud of me (which is one thing coming from God and another thing coming from your husband)...it's already hard enough to grasp that God thinks I'm being a good wife -I mean His standards are pretty high....
But I guess God thought I needed some more encouragement, or rather Robert needed some teaching on spoiling me? I don't know, I don't pretend to understand God's motives. But He had Robert go on a God walk three different times and He has inspired Robert to make this super awesome date for me in order to spoil me :)
Well I have to get ready, so I'll update you when it's over!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Update-ish
Hey guys,
Just wanted to let you know for clarification...this isn't over.
God is working a lot in Robert and I and telling us things that He plans to do for us/through us for the future, but it's not anything that we can share (God's kinda into secrets).
Needless to say, this isn't a quiet time in our lives. God is speaking to Robert and I daily and often testing us two to three times a week to make sure we are listening to what He is saying and having Him as a priority.
Exciting things are ahead, and I'll share more as I'm allowed. :)
With peace and patience,
Kate Nowak
Just wanted to let you know for clarification...this isn't over.
God is working a lot in Robert and I and telling us things that He plans to do for us/through us for the future, but it's not anything that we can share (God's kinda into secrets).
Needless to say, this isn't a quiet time in our lives. God is speaking to Robert and I daily and often testing us two to three times a week to make sure we are listening to what He is saying and having Him as a priority.
Exciting things are ahead, and I'll share more as I'm allowed. :)
With peace and patience,
Kate Nowak
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
God's test
I've been learning lately, that sometimes God likes to test people -or maybe just me? Seems like it has been happening to me a lot. God will ask me to do something -that may or may not make any sense- and it will generally have no "fruit". I'm not talking about the physical fruit, but having God tell you to go somewhere to talk to a person and they don't show up -some people would immediately jump to me not hearing God correctly, but I know it to be a test.
This is because I just got over a really massive test that showed me where my heart is -and it's not pretty enough to be on the cover of a valentine, that's for sure.
You know the whole clothes situation I've been writing about? Well part of that was a big test. Nothing to it. Just God checking my obedience and teaching me a lesson about how I view God and where I stand with Him.
The whole dunking myself in the river and giving away my clothes, in my understanding, was more than a test -it was symbolic of the new person I am in my relationship with Christ. This I hold to be true, as even in the last 2 weeks, my fundamental personality and focus has changed in line with the ministry God has called me to.
However,
Part of the clothes situation was a test. You see God didn't want me buying clothes to fill up my wardrobe for a week, is what I heard during the situation and He would provide me clothes. One of my closest friends "had just happened to be" cleaning out her closet and was planning to give me clothes at the exact time I needed them (I don't believe in coincidence friends). So I had clothes, but you bet when the week was up, I bought some of the things I felt was necessity -shorts, shoes, and few more shirts.
Then came the rough test that God put me through. He told me that I needed to give away or plainly could not keep the clothes I had just bought. This one really frustrated me because God wasn't just taking away my clothes, He was taking away my right to provide for myself -after the point when I thought I could.
I wish I could say I dealt with it well. I wish I could say -"I'll trust you God, You know more than I", but that was not the case. I had a really bad screaming fit at God -a temper tantrum of sorts. There was some more stuff that led into this, but really the main one for me was not being able to feel God during the whole clothes thing -except to hear Him say to get rid of my clothes. No other time could I feel His presence and guidance in my life like I normally do -and looking back on it, I think that was His purpose.
After my screaming match, God gave Robert a verse number to have Him look up, and it was the one where God stopped Abraham from sacrificing His son because He was looking for Abraham's obedience (how he'd react), not the death of His son. It soon came to light through this that I could keep the clothes and God was testing my reactions- to teach me the state of my heart.
It took me a while to be able to deal with failure. I'm sure if I knew it was a test -I would have passed. I'm still not so sure it was a pass or fail thing -or if God would have dragged ont he situation until I cracked to see how long I'd make it? I don't know if I'll ever know.
I did learn two things out of the situation:
1. My view and style of clothes has changed. I no longer look at people's clothing as I pass them on the sidewalk in the way that I used to. I was so worried about clothes and how I looked, that because I was focused on how I looked -I was focused on how others looked.
Now it's a different focus. I like to look nice, but I don't really care or notice the style. Now, I see people in style and I don't find the need to go out and match the style. I simply think they look nice. I'm sure you girls will understand the difference. I found it's not about being in style, but being your style. There are still thinks that don't look right on different people or excellent on certain people, but I'm finding I'm caring more about the people than the clothes.
2. What my heart looks like with God. I feel like God purposely withdrew Himself from me to see how I would react outside of His presence -How I would react to Him. Honestly, I had a really hard time with obedience and I didn't know how I could trust Him when I didn't like what He was doing.
Generally with God I don't normally understand what He's doing, but it was never something that I would consider mean, or something I really didn't want to do. I generally don't have a problem doing weird, but found I have a hard time doing hard.
I learned I wasn't able to trust God when I didn't like God. And that's a big revelation. I don't have to know what God is doing, or where He is taking me, but I do need to learn to trust Him more.
Love is not a feeling. And likewise, I don't have to feel God to love Him. I don't have to feel like trusting Him to do so. I can't base my actions upon the feelings of the situation, but always have to put God's directions first, no matter how silly, mean, or simple they may appear.
In all this situation really did help to strengthen my relationship with God and my realization that God is above the situation. God does not answer to me, I answer to Him. This is something I thought I had already known. It was head knowledge, but not heart knowledge.
My actions in the situation did not say that God had more control than myself in my own life, and this my friends is what I am working on. -letting God have everything, even when it does not make sense to.
learning and loving,
Kate
This is because I just got over a really massive test that showed me where my heart is -and it's not pretty enough to be on the cover of a valentine, that's for sure.
You know the whole clothes situation I've been writing about? Well part of that was a big test. Nothing to it. Just God checking my obedience and teaching me a lesson about how I view God and where I stand with Him.
The whole dunking myself in the river and giving away my clothes, in my understanding, was more than a test -it was symbolic of the new person I am in my relationship with Christ. This I hold to be true, as even in the last 2 weeks, my fundamental personality and focus has changed in line with the ministry God has called me to.
However,
Part of the clothes situation was a test. You see God didn't want me buying clothes to fill up my wardrobe for a week, is what I heard during the situation and He would provide me clothes. One of my closest friends "had just happened to be" cleaning out her closet and was planning to give me clothes at the exact time I needed them (I don't believe in coincidence friends). So I had clothes, but you bet when the week was up, I bought some of the things I felt was necessity -shorts, shoes, and few more shirts.
Then came the rough test that God put me through. He told me that I needed to give away or plainly could not keep the clothes I had just bought. This one really frustrated me because God wasn't just taking away my clothes, He was taking away my right to provide for myself -after the point when I thought I could.
I wish I could say I dealt with it well. I wish I could say -"I'll trust you God, You know more than I", but that was not the case. I had a really bad screaming fit at God -a temper tantrum of sorts. There was some more stuff that led into this, but really the main one for me was not being able to feel God during the whole clothes thing -except to hear Him say to get rid of my clothes. No other time could I feel His presence and guidance in my life like I normally do -and looking back on it, I think that was His purpose.
After my screaming match, God gave Robert a verse number to have Him look up, and it was the one where God stopped Abraham from sacrificing His son because He was looking for Abraham's obedience (how he'd react), not the death of His son. It soon came to light through this that I could keep the clothes and God was testing my reactions- to teach me the state of my heart.
It took me a while to be able to deal with failure. I'm sure if I knew it was a test -I would have passed. I'm still not so sure it was a pass or fail thing -or if God would have dragged ont he situation until I cracked to see how long I'd make it? I don't know if I'll ever know.
I did learn two things out of the situation:
1. My view and style of clothes has changed. I no longer look at people's clothing as I pass them on the sidewalk in the way that I used to. I was so worried about clothes and how I looked, that because I was focused on how I looked -I was focused on how others looked.
Now it's a different focus. I like to look nice, but I don't really care or notice the style. Now, I see people in style and I don't find the need to go out and match the style. I simply think they look nice. I'm sure you girls will understand the difference. I found it's not about being in style, but being your style. There are still thinks that don't look right on different people or excellent on certain people, but I'm finding I'm caring more about the people than the clothes.
2. What my heart looks like with God. I feel like God purposely withdrew Himself from me to see how I would react outside of His presence -How I would react to Him. Honestly, I had a really hard time with obedience and I didn't know how I could trust Him when I didn't like what He was doing.
Generally with God I don't normally understand what He's doing, but it was never something that I would consider mean, or something I really didn't want to do. I generally don't have a problem doing weird, but found I have a hard time doing hard.
I learned I wasn't able to trust God when I didn't like God. And that's a big revelation. I don't have to know what God is doing, or where He is taking me, but I do need to learn to trust Him more.
Love is not a feeling. And likewise, I don't have to feel God to love Him. I don't have to feel like trusting Him to do so. I can't base my actions upon the feelings of the situation, but always have to put God's directions first, no matter how silly, mean, or simple they may appear.
In all this situation really did help to strengthen my relationship with God and my realization that God is above the situation. God does not answer to me, I answer to Him. This is something I thought I had already known. It was head knowledge, but not heart knowledge.
My actions in the situation did not say that God had more control than myself in my own life, and this my friends is what I am working on. -letting God have everything, even when it does not make sense to.
learning and loving,
Kate
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
God's words to me (8/22/12)
This morning, after my devotions, God told me He wasn't done with me. He told me that He has big plans for me, and that I can't compare myself with where others are with Him, not looking at those above or below me -just looking at Him.
God told me that He wants me to have an intimate relationship with Him. He wants me to be focused on Him, so we can be (actively being in relationship -not in proximity) together. He wants me to know that I don't have to be scared about where my walk will take me because in the future "it will be easier". "It will be easier, not because the things will be less hard, but because your focus will be on Me. The more you focus on me, the less important these things will be become."
With my God I will be able to overcome whatever He asks me to give up and whatever persecution He asks me to endure. I will be able to live differently without comparing myself to others because I will be focused on Him. Nothing else will matter. Because of my focus, things will be easier to endure because I will be remade with the same Spirit that filled Jesus. The same spirit that empowered Him will empower me, and just as He endured the cross, I will be able to endure whatever comes my way. I have the Holy Spirit power within me, I just need to let it flow through me -and everything will stem from that.
And I receive it!
Peace & love,
Kate
God told me that He wants me to have an intimate relationship with Him. He wants me to be focused on Him, so we can be (actively being in relationship -not in proximity) together. He wants me to know that I don't have to be scared about where my walk will take me because in the future "it will be easier". "It will be easier, not because the things will be less hard, but because your focus will be on Me. The more you focus on me, the less important these things will be become."
With my God I will be able to overcome whatever He asks me to give up and whatever persecution He asks me to endure. I will be able to live differently without comparing myself to others because I will be focused on Him. Nothing else will matter. Because of my focus, things will be easier to endure because I will be remade with the same Spirit that filled Jesus. The same spirit that empowered Him will empower me, and just as He endured the cross, I will be able to endure whatever comes my way. I have the Holy Spirit power within me, I just need to let it flow through me -and everything will stem from that.
And I receive it!
Peace & love,
Kate
Thursday, August 16, 2012
8/8/12
It's been another day at Brown City camp, which means it's been another day of growth and seeking God's presence.
Today's 10 am service finished up everything I needed to learn in relation to the mental breakdown I had.
The speaker talked about not being afraid of being like Christ. And this message began to touch my soul as He began to reaffirm that it's about being in love with God -not focused on doing.
Once again, I learned that if I am focused on Christ, EVERYTHING will fall into place in my life. God will change in me the things He wants changed in His timing.
It's all sooo great! I don't have to "do" anything -except love God! and let God define love! He gets the hard wrok. Everything I become will be because of Him. Everything I "do" will be because of Him. Not me!
Now I'm full of peace & excitement (yes they can go together) as I am focused on loving God with my entire being!
with love and peace,
Kate
Today's 10 am service finished up everything I needed to learn in relation to the mental breakdown I had.
The speaker talked about not being afraid of being like Christ. And this message began to touch my soul as He began to reaffirm that it's about being in love with God -not focused on doing.
Once again, I learned that if I am focused on Christ, EVERYTHING will fall into place in my life. God will change in me the things He wants changed in His timing.
It's all sooo great! I don't have to "do" anything -except love God! and let God define love! He gets the hard wrok. Everything I become will be because of Him. Everything I "do" will be because of Him. Not me!
Now I'm full of peace & excitement (yes they can go together) as I am focused on loving God with my entire being!
with love and peace,
Kate
meet me in the river (part 2) (8/16/12)
So today I was talking to God and He wanted told me to give away all the my t-shirts as well and live off of Robert's clothes for now until He provides me with more. As well as give away all of my shoes except the pair I was wearing.
SO...I officially was down to one pair of pants, two bras, underwear, and one pair of worn out flip flops.
Then Lila came over with clothes she had cleaned out of her closet. So I have three pairs of pants that magically fit me perfectly...ok, so it's not magic- it's God!
It's a start to my new wardrobe that God is going to provide. I now have 4 pants, 8 shirts, 4 hoodies, 2 skirts, 1 dress, 2 cardigans, and 2 scarves. That is currently all the clothes to my name. And they are all from God! Blessings! :/
It's ok though. I really am getting used to it because God explained the purpose for it. It's an outward expression of my inward change. I really did fundamentally change my relationship with God this summer and as I'm transitioning towards the service and ministry God has planned for me, He wanted me to have a public expression of it.
And this is really fitting for who I am. I know some people express themselves through music or art, but for me it was always clothes. So it's good that God is having me change my clothes to express my new personality.
And you know....just like my closet, I'm still starting out. I'm ok with where I am with God because it's a journey and I can look at the finish line as a promise for the future not an evaluation of where I'm not at. At the same time though, I do look forward to the additions in my personality and walk with God (and my closet). :)
love,
Kate
SO...I officially was down to one pair of pants, two bras, underwear, and one pair of worn out flip flops.
Then Lila came over with clothes she had cleaned out of her closet. So I have three pairs of pants that magically fit me perfectly...ok, so it's not magic- it's God!
It's a start to my new wardrobe that God is going to provide. I now have 4 pants, 8 shirts, 4 hoodies, 2 skirts, 1 dress, 2 cardigans, and 2 scarves. That is currently all the clothes to my name. And they are all from God! Blessings! :/
It's ok though. I really am getting used to it because God explained the purpose for it. It's an outward expression of my inward change. I really did fundamentally change my relationship with God this summer and as I'm transitioning towards the service and ministry God has planned for me, He wanted me to have a public expression of it.
And this is really fitting for who I am. I know some people express themselves through music or art, but for me it was always clothes. So it's good that God is having me change my clothes to express my new personality.
And you know....just like my closet, I'm still starting out. I'm ok with where I am with God because it's a journey and I can look at the finish line as a promise for the future not an evaluation of where I'm not at. At the same time though, I do look forward to the additions in my personality and walk with God (and my closet). :)
love,
Kate
Meet me in the river (8/15/12)
SO God has been doing wonderful things! It's soo amazing! I don't even know where to begin. I guess for starters I should let you know that God gave me the entire summer to focus on Him and prepare for what He wanted me to know...
So I haven't had a job all summer...just focusing on Him. Then He began to tell Robert about this international missions opportunity He wants us to do. and be a part of and it's huge! It's wonderful how amazing God is.
And then HE began to teach me that life isn't about doing it's about being. Being in His presence. Being a lover of God. Surrendering everything for Him.
Then today He had me go down to the river to be with Him. And then He told me to go dunk myself in the river. and I did that. I cam back to my room to change and He told me to surrender and give all my clothes away...I still don't know why, but I was able to keep my tshirts, a pair of jeans, and all the shoes that didn't fit my one friend.
and then He told me to call her and have her come to the river with me.
So we dunked ourselves in the river 3 times to symbolize our walk together in my walk with God. and then we both dunked each other.
Then she came and tried on my shoes and took my clothes....
then God told me to do it again. this time one for the amount of years until the missions thing happens or is in full swing.
and later i did it for Robert.
Then Lila had me read 1 king 5:1-19. She told me God had laid it on her heart to have me read it and dunk myself another 7 times.
But God is sooo good. My relationship with Him will be fundamentally changed from here on out!
BE ready
Titus 3:1 states "be ready for every good work". Be ready. It's about being. Being in relationship with God and letting Him mold you. You be. He does. When you are focused on God fully surrendered to Him, you are then ready for good works. Doing stems from being. You can't do to become. You must be then do. That's why Jesus' ministry started with Baptism. It started with being. It started with the pouring of the spirit and being in relationship with God. The time for His ministry came when He surrendered and the spirit was poured on Him. When He was in relation as a man with the Spirit of His God the Father, who is our father. And we have the same spirit. So just as Jesus needed to be to do, so must we follow His example. Be in intimate relation with God and He will do through you.
Free from sin
Good morning my friends! God is soo good. He reminded me this morning that hey you don't need to sin today. You are free from sin. No longer a slave because I became the master over sin. I defeated sin on the cross. I was the perfect blood sacrifice that shook the bondage of sin and freed every person who believes in me from sin.
It is through Jesus that we will come to know no sin. If we choose.
It is through Jesus that we will come to know no sin. If we choose.
Think about it. We are the only thing that is making us sin. Well what about the devil? HE has NO POWER over you! That's why he can only tempt. He can't make you do anything. He has no control over you when you are in the Hands of God!
You are the only thing keeping you from the perfect relationship in Christ. When Christ was on earth He was fully man. FULLY Man. Just like you and I. Jesus paved the way for us to become righteous. We need only focus on God.
Don't focus on not sinning. If you try to do it in your will, you will fail. It's not about your will power. Or your power to do. It's about your diligence to be. It's about how much you love God. The more you love God and get in an intimate relationship with Him, the less you will sin. It's not a natural reaction to sin when you're in a relationship with Him.
I don't know about you, but this a freeing thought!
1 John 3:5 "Jesus came to earth to be the sins of the world and in Him there is no sin".
John 1:29 "look the lamb of God who took away the sins of the world."
2 Corinthians 5:21 "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that through Him we might become the righteousness of God"
You are the only thing keeping you from the perfect relationship in Christ. When Christ was on earth He was fully man. FULLY Man. Just like you and I. Jesus paved the way for us to become righteous. We need only focus on God.
Don't focus on not sinning. If you try to do it in your will, you will fail. It's not about your will power. Or your power to do. It's about your diligence to be. It's about how much you love God. The more you love God and get in an intimate relationship with Him, the less you will sin. It's not a natural reaction to sin when you're in a relationship with Him.
I don't know about you, but this a freeing thought!
1 John 3:5 "Jesus came to earth to be the sins of the world and in Him there is no sin".
John 1:29 "look the lamb of God who took away the sins of the world."
2 Corinthians 5:21 "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that through Him we might become the righteousness of God"
Old yeast vs. New batch
God has been bringing me back to this one passage: 1 Corinthians 5:7 "Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, since you are unleavened. For Christ our Passover has been sacrificed."
In the verse the old yeast is referring to the ways of the flesh, or different sins that plague our lives and keep us from fully surrendering and being the individuals that God desires for us to be.
The cleaning out the old yeast required diligence and thorough searching -as the Jews would have done in ridding their house of leavened bread before the passover meal.
God wants you to search your heart for what is keeping you from fully surrendering to God and He wants you to throw it away -never to come back to it again, so you can become NEW and PLEASING to Him!
This isn't a purposeless call. It isn't some rule that we have to follow. It's for our sake. God's wants us to not live in sin, but to live in Him. God wants us to be a new creation -a new batch of bread. But He won't force us to. Instead He wants us to realize that being like Him is the best thing in the world and willfully surrender.
He wants US to throw out old yeast -so we can experience the fullness of being new!
In the verse the old yeast is referring to the ways of the flesh, or different sins that plague our lives and keep us from fully surrendering and being the individuals that God desires for us to be.
The cleaning out the old yeast required diligence and thorough searching -as the Jews would have done in ridding their house of leavened bread before the passover meal.
God wants you to search your heart for what is keeping you from fully surrendering to God and He wants you to throw it away -never to come back to it again, so you can become NEW and PLEASING to Him!
This isn't a purposeless call. It isn't some rule that we have to follow. It's for our sake. God's wants us to not live in sin, but to live in Him. God wants us to be a new creation -a new batch of bread. But He won't force us to. Instead He wants us to realize that being like Him is the best thing in the world and willfully surrender.
He wants US to throw out old yeast -so we can experience the fullness of being new!
Monday, August 6, 2012
A list of God's plans for us
8/6/12
- God wants us to reach out to Africa and Asia, building, funding, and working with Orphanages and Children's homes
- Provide nonprofit loans to help people adopt children
- provide scholarships to help homeless stay at school over the summer.
- let God provide the money through Robert.
and I think that's so far what God has told us that we will be doing. Will update more as God tells us more. :)
8/6/2012
So today was a bigish day for us.
We are in Marlette staying with my parents and going to Brown City camp...and Robert is commuting back and forth, not doing much of the other two.
However,
He did wake up today with 3 voicemails, and throughout the day received a few more, and so far has 3 interviews lined up for this Friday, so more updates on the job search coming soon.
My neck of the woods has been a bit more exciting.
God has been wanting me to take an altar call as a sign of my complete surrender to Him, except I wasn't taking this lightly and wasn't exactly obeying. I knew this was going to be a switch in ministry time and wanted to make sure I was fully prepared to completely surrender everything to Him. Well, Thursday came, and I didn't take the altar call, Friday came and it was the same result.
Finally over the weekend God began really working on me, to the point that today (Monday) I was completely restless. So I went to Brown City camp with the one goal in mind. The altar call.
I was completely restless the entire sermon, which was really good. It was about missions. Well hey, quite fitting for the day that I had officially decided that nothing was going to keep me from doing the altar call.
I was one of the first ones down to the altar, shaking my way down. (I really don't like people looking at me). and as soon as I hit my knees peace rushed over me. I knew God was pleased with my act of obedience...even though it took me long enough to get there.
This nice random lady, I don't know her name, came and prayed with me and asked me what to pray for and I spilled out the story of what God wanted Robert and I to do. And it was as I was telling her about what to pray for, God told me: it's time to tell people my plans. Well, at least Kim (Robert's mom).
We had a great conversation walking around Brown City camp as I explained to her God's plans for our ministry. And most of she already knew. God had been preparing her to hear, which I think is pretty sweet! But the major scope of it she had no idea about.
So tomorrow I am off to spend more time with Kim at Brown City camp. :)
With love,
Kate
We are in Marlette staying with my parents and going to Brown City camp...and Robert is commuting back and forth, not doing much of the other two.
However,
He did wake up today with 3 voicemails, and throughout the day received a few more, and so far has 3 interviews lined up for this Friday, so more updates on the job search coming soon.
My neck of the woods has been a bit more exciting.
God has been wanting me to take an altar call as a sign of my complete surrender to Him, except I wasn't taking this lightly and wasn't exactly obeying. I knew this was going to be a switch in ministry time and wanted to make sure I was fully prepared to completely surrender everything to Him. Well, Thursday came, and I didn't take the altar call, Friday came and it was the same result.
Finally over the weekend God began really working on me, to the point that today (Monday) I was completely restless. So I went to Brown City camp with the one goal in mind. The altar call.
I was completely restless the entire sermon, which was really good. It was about missions. Well hey, quite fitting for the day that I had officially decided that nothing was going to keep me from doing the altar call.
I was one of the first ones down to the altar, shaking my way down. (I really don't like people looking at me). and as soon as I hit my knees peace rushed over me. I knew God was pleased with my act of obedience...even though it took me long enough to get there.
This nice random lady, I don't know her name, came and prayed with me and asked me what to pray for and I spilled out the story of what God wanted Robert and I to do. And it was as I was telling her about what to pray for, God told me: it's time to tell people my plans. Well, at least Kim (Robert's mom).
We had a great conversation walking around Brown City camp as I explained to her God's plans for our ministry. And most of she already knew. God had been preparing her to hear, which I think is pretty sweet! But the major scope of it she had no idea about.
So tomorrow I am off to spend more time with Kim at Brown City camp. :)
With love,
Kate
Sunday, August 5, 2012
8/5/2012
Things are getting pretty exciting here in our one room apartment. God has really been telling Robert some of the things that we are going to be doing and getting us prepared and in position for the good works He has planned for us.
One of my favorite times in my relationship with Robert is when we have nights like last night. No, surprisingly, being 19 and 21, I'm not talking about the Song of Songs part of our relationship. I'm talking about the dirty work God has called us to do. The staying up late because God has called it on our hearts to have some one-on-one time with Him.
Last night I was having a really hard time with what God wants me to do. He wants me to completely surrender every part of everyday to Him. Seeing as this is a fundamental aspect of my faith and found in the Bible countless times, I should be ok with this right? Well... I'm ok with it...being in the Bible. I'm finding it to be a little daunting living out, and had a little mental breakdown last night.
Anyways, God in His loving and faithful ways gave Robert the exact verse that I needed to hear, and it caused Robert to laugh as soon as he read it. The verse was 1 Timothy 2:6, "The farmer should be the first to share in the harvest". I of course being dullheaded didn't quite get it at first and Robert expanded the verse to say that God has big plans for us, yes, but it's not all going to be hard work. Right now, the preparations can be hard and not all the rewarding, but the harvest will come and we will be rewarded and blessed. It's not all going to be hard work, there will be feasts and celebrations to come with the harvest.
That was the encouragement I needed. Along with what Robert did next. He went, after working 12 hours at work that day, after consoling me and my mental breakdown, he went and had His God time. You see, God had told him that he needed to quit his job. This is the job that he's had since he was 16. His first job, and it's been rewarding. God gave it to him right after we first started going out, and I remember how excited he was when he had enough money to get his first cell phone, and how great it was when he realized it was going to be enough money to provide and allow us to get married.
Recently, it hasn't been so great. Nothing wrong with the store or the business. Except that it's hard work. Not that we aren't capable of doing hard work. It's exactly the opposite. Robert is one of the hardest working people that I know...in fact, he's easily doing the work of 2-3 people at his job. And that's the hard part about it. The hardest part is when he comes home from work so exhausted that the only physical contact we have is a weary, exhausted hug and a plea for a back massage.
Needless to say, his working the amount of multiple people at work has left him with nothing left to give at home and God recently told Robert that it wasn't good. So here Robert was, after consoling me and being the vessel of God that I desperately needed, starting his God time at 12:30 pm knowing that he needed to be up by 6:00am the next day, with the goal of getting 10 resumes in before he went to bed.
I know this post is getting long, but I wanted to let you know the small and big accomplishments along the way. And this is my favorite part of the journey. Knowing that Robert and I are training for our big race together. We are preparing ourselves, and allowing God to mold us, as we are getting ready for the good works God has called us to do.
Peace and love,
Kate Nowak
One of my favorite times in my relationship with Robert is when we have nights like last night. No, surprisingly, being 19 and 21, I'm not talking about the Song of Songs part of our relationship. I'm talking about the dirty work God has called us to do. The staying up late because God has called it on our hearts to have some one-on-one time with Him.
Last night I was having a really hard time with what God wants me to do. He wants me to completely surrender every part of everyday to Him. Seeing as this is a fundamental aspect of my faith and found in the Bible countless times, I should be ok with this right? Well... I'm ok with it...being in the Bible. I'm finding it to be a little daunting living out, and had a little mental breakdown last night.
Anyways, God in His loving and faithful ways gave Robert the exact verse that I needed to hear, and it caused Robert to laugh as soon as he read it. The verse was 1 Timothy 2:6, "The farmer should be the first to share in the harvest". I of course being dullheaded didn't quite get it at first and Robert expanded the verse to say that God has big plans for us, yes, but it's not all going to be hard work. Right now, the preparations can be hard and not all the rewarding, but the harvest will come and we will be rewarded and blessed. It's not all going to be hard work, there will be feasts and celebrations to come with the harvest.
That was the encouragement I needed. Along with what Robert did next. He went, after working 12 hours at work that day, after consoling me and my mental breakdown, he went and had His God time. You see, God had told him that he needed to quit his job. This is the job that he's had since he was 16. His first job, and it's been rewarding. God gave it to him right after we first started going out, and I remember how excited he was when he had enough money to get his first cell phone, and how great it was when he realized it was going to be enough money to provide and allow us to get married.
Recently, it hasn't been so great. Nothing wrong with the store or the business. Except that it's hard work. Not that we aren't capable of doing hard work. It's exactly the opposite. Robert is one of the hardest working people that I know...in fact, he's easily doing the work of 2-3 people at his job. And that's the hard part about it. The hardest part is when he comes home from work so exhausted that the only physical contact we have is a weary, exhausted hug and a plea for a back massage.
Needless to say, his working the amount of multiple people at work has left him with nothing left to give at home and God recently told Robert that it wasn't good. So here Robert was, after consoling me and being the vessel of God that I desperately needed, starting his God time at 12:30 pm knowing that he needed to be up by 6:00am the next day, with the goal of getting 10 resumes in before he went to bed.
I know this post is getting long, but I wanted to let you know the small and big accomplishments along the way. And this is my favorite part of the journey. Knowing that Robert and I are training for our big race together. We are preparing ourselves, and allowing God to mold us, as we are getting ready for the good works God has called us to do.
Peace and love,
Kate Nowak
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