Our Sacred To-Do List

"Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only of your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing." -Philippians 2:3,4 (NLT)

The Challenge: Can you give-up your to-do list each day and ask God for a copy of His to-do list?

I wonder how different the world would be without wristwatches – or time itself, for that manner. It seems like everyone is so busy these days. I laughed really hard the other day when my co-worker said he didn't have enough time to make a schedule that would help him manage his time better.

We like our agendas (written or unwritten) – our sacred to-do list. We hold it so close each day. Just ask dad to go for a nice autumn walk on a Sunday afternoon – you'll see our football agendas are right up there on our priority to-do list with breathing... and pumping blood to all major organs. Yes, maybe we hold our agendas too close sometimes. Maybe we put our computer time too high on our to-do list and our Father-Son time (or Mother-Daughter time) not high enough. Actually, maybe we put our whole to-do list a little too high sometimes.

Take some time this week to ask yourself this: Who's to-do list am I more concerned about – mine or God's?

O There's no place like HOME for the Holidays!

Kevin and I are heading to Pennsylvania to visit with my parents for 4 days! My brother, Dave, and his wife, Sarah, will be coming too!

Seriously, there is no place like home! I have never missed my family this much... ever. It will be so wonderful to be with them. I just thank the Lord for this opportunity to go even in such a hard economical time.

A Healing

 The Lord has healed me. Both emotionally and physically.

I have been freed from "fear" of sharing the gospel as a woman and affirmed in God's purpose in my life as a woman of God. He has called me to "open my mouth" and be strong and confident in the Spirit. To declare His love and His purpose!

I have also been physically healed! Praise God! The Lord has healed my back. I have had scoliosis since 2000  and it was a very large curve. It has given me a lot of pain in the past years. Last night Kevin was praying over me and when he was done, the Holy Spirit had healed my back. My spine was no longer curved! I went to the chiropractor this afternoon to confirm the healing... and she said if she didn't know I had scoliosis before she would never have known. It is completely straight! She is one of my friends from church and she was so excited to see God doing a miraculous work! Praise God!

I can't even explain the Joy the Lord has given me through this healing! I feel like I finally TRULY believe in Jesus and the Holy Spirit! I don't think I ever really accepted the sanctification of Jesus.

Can we grasp His Love? Can we accept that our Lord is beyond this world?

We are afraid to let go. We are afraid of reputation. We are afraid of judgement. But the Lord says not to worry for He will judge our enemies. We WILL be persecuted and ridiculed... there is nothing we can do about it so why not LIVE for Christ instead of hiding. 

We must learn to receive His love through the Spirit. There is nothing we can do, we just have to receive it. There is something bigger going on. Let Him enter in. Receive His Spirit!

The Prayer of Faith

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise! Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up! If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE!

James 5:13-16

DO YOU HERE THIS PROMISE?! The God Almighty has given us this promise! Praise Him for his Salvation that we are able to ask for healing with a grateful heart! Pray for one another for there is a great renewal and awakening happening in the world! Praise Him!

Check it out:
http://www.ihop.org/watch

Crazy Day

So today I am tired. VERY tired. And what a day I have had so far!

I woke up at 5:45am in order to get to work by 6:30am to open the store. I got out of work at 1pm which seemed great except I was so tired. I drove over to Roger and Carla's to have lunch with some family before going home to take a nap.

As I was turning into the apartment parking lot I was not paying attention and lo and behold a HUGE CURB came out of nowhere! Well, I am exaggerating. I just wasn't paying attention and was looking at something else and ran right into the curb with the car. Only a flat tire, thank God. But... weirdly enough it only flattened the back tired. I honestly can't say I know exactly what happened either. I pulled into the parking spot looked at the car and realized the tire was flat....I just started to cry. and cry. and cry some more. I'm so bummed to say the least that I made a silly mistake and wasn't paying attention. grrrr.... but anyways.

I also had an interview today at 4pm with The Regional Girls Shelter of Springfield, MO but come to find out there full-time position is an "over-night" position. This means that I would have to be there almost every night sleeping over away from Kevin. Obviously that isn't going to happen.

So, all that to say. Flat tire. No interview. and very tired.

Lord, have mercy.

I'm taking a nap now. So glad I have a computer to vent to! hahaha 

- kate

One Year down, 74 more to go!

Kevin and I celebrated our one year anniversary this past Sunday. We talked about it and decided that our goal is to still be alive for our 75th wedding anniversary! hahaha! We had a great time. We went out to eat for Japanese thanks to my Mom and Dad's generous gift. Sushi is soooo good! 

Well, I want to take a moment and just give thanks for my husband! 

Kevin Eric Kirchner (seen above) is one of the most respectful, generous, serving, loving, and fun people I know. I am so thankful to have him in my life. I have learned so much from him in the past year. Through the love, grace, and mercy Kevin has shown me I am suddenly understanding the True Love, Grace, and Mercy of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I have grown closer to Jesus with Kevin by my side more than any other time in my life. Marriage truly is a gift from God, intended to challenge us and make us better people through those challenges. I praise God for all the hard times this past year. I praise God that those hard times have been with Kevin by my side. I praise God that the man in my life is a God-fearing servant of Christ. What more can I say? The coolest thing is our wedding anniversary will always fall around Thanksgiving... we will always be reminded to be thankful for not just our marriage but for all things the Lord has given and taken. Praise be to our God! 

Below are some other recent pictures of our recent outings!

pub/diner called,  "Grad School" = best food ever!

Anniversary Picture:

I love you Kevin.

Abandonment

Word from the Lord:

Abondonment:

 –verb (used with object)

1.	to leave completely and finally; forsake utterly; desert: to abandon one's farm; to abandon a child; to abandon a sinking ship.

2.	to give up; discontinue; withdraw from: to abandon a research project; to abandon hopes for a stage career.

3.	to give up the control of: to abandon a city to an enemy army.

4.	to yield (oneself) without restraint or moderation; give (oneself) over to natural impulses, usually without self-control: to abandon oneself to grief.

5.	Law. to cast away, leave, or desert, as property or a child.

6.	Insurance. to relinquish (insured property) to the underwriter in case of partial loss, thus enabling the insured to claim a total loss.

7.	Obsolete. to banish.

More about Ezra from Rwanda!

American Revival Show!

Kevin and I celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary this past Sunday. Even though our anniversary is on the 29th we decided to celebrate by going to the American Revival Show at Missouri State University. It was a concert showing some of the new bluegrass bands with an old style. It was awesome! We had a great time.


We enjoyed listening to Sierra Hull (an incredible mandolin player), The Dixie Bee-Liners, and Uncle Earl. 

Click on the Link to Listen:
http://popup.lala.com/popup/1657606155827156860

Click on the Link to Listen:
http://popup.lala.com/popup/360569455701929412

Click on the Link to Listen:
http://popup.lala.com/popup/1657606173007025804

Day of Celebration and Relaxation!

Praise God! Kevin was hired full-time at Classy Llama Studios in Springfield, MO. He started last Wednesday. He really enjoys the company and his co-workers. Our Lord, blessed me with the day off on Saturday. We decided to go celebrate his new job with a day together hiking and "exploring"! We haven't done this in a long time. It was great therapy for both of us to be among nature and together doing something we love. Ha Ha Tonka State Park is in Camdenton, MO by the Lake of the Ozarks. We had a great time. I even got the chance to do some bouldering! Enjoy the pictures!

beautiful view of Ha Ha Tonka State Park

"the laughing waters" as the Osage Native Americans called it

 

Trip to Texas Pictures

Just sharing some pictures with ya'll from past and recent events:


Road Trip to Texas

 

First time using our wedding present from Dave and Sarah!

sleepy faces.

Wonderful Musician & Friend from Rwanda

Hey everyone: Check these videos out! These are from a guy from Rwanda named Ezra. Girls from my trip got to know him really well. He and his friends have an awesome ministry to street kids in Rwanda where they teach the kids about recording, music, and video production and give them a hope and skill for the future! There hearts are so big! Please enjoy their music and pass it on!

Some very "Classy Llamas"

As you have read below I have been working at Smoothie King and Kevin has been doing freelance work on the side while continually applying for full-time positions. This week Kevin made it through a few interviews and is now starting a 2 week trial with a web design company called: "Classy Llamas". We love the name as I'm sure some of you may have guessed. He started today and I know that made him feel great to get out of the house and actually do some work. Although it will be no pay during the two weeks we are praying for the Lord's will to be clear during these two weeks.
Well anyway, check out Classy Llamas site here: http://classyllama.com/

Other than that, Smoothie King is going well. It is a really easy job but I think what is a new experience for me is the random hours. I have realized I work better under consistent hours but I'm getting used to it and God is teaching me a lot through this experience. I have met some really great people at work as well including a girl who was born in Kenya (her parents were missionaries there)  and her grandparents have lived in Uganda most of their life.

Here is another little something for you all. I think that this is something that everyone should take the time to listen to. This woman is so inspiring and I just love to see her speaking such truths with such innocence. God is good. He will share his truth through anything and anyone!  Here is the video:

Recent Photos and Update

Happy Fall Everyone!
Today I got a job at Smoothie King! Praise God! So, come to me for all your Smoothie needs! haha!
Besides me getting that job, Kevin and I have become more active in the Northside Christian Church in Sprinfgfield. We started Sunday School and Small Group this Sunday and really enjoyed getting to know more people in the church. Fall has walked proudly and beautifully into the Mid-West with it's cool breezes and toasty sunshine. God's creation is magnificant!

Here are some photos of my photo shoot with Brooke and Andrea and also some random photos of our time here in Springfield. Enjoy.

Mountaintop vs. Valley

"Just a few more steps..." you tell yourself between each breath. With 40 pounds on your back and blisters that have popped and are now screeching for air you begin to wonder if the summit is really all it's cracked up to be. 

If any of you have ever experience climbing up the side of the mountain with some doubt that you will never make it, you know the reward in the end. The Mountaintop! Once you have reached the glorious summit all your doubts are washed away. You have a sense of accomplishment, relief, thankfulness, and joy all wrapped up in one deep breath. Mountaintop experiences are one of my favorite feelings that I have ever had. You can see God's creation from so many different angles. You begin to review your climb and remember the laughter and the struggle.

Today I read a note from Oswald Chambers about this very experience. In Mark 9:2, Jesus brings his disciples up the mountain to be alone with him. While they were with him Jesus decided to transfigure himself. Wow, what an amazing experience! Can you imagine that!? I can only imagine what a great honor that would be for Jesus to be with the disciples like that. I think that experience would trump all others. But then they leave the mountaintop and go down into the valley again where they find a demon possessed boy. Chambers mentions the significance of only being on the mountaintop for a moment and then going right back into the valley where there are hard things to deal with, confusing things, personal struggles, etc. We often go to the mountaintop expecting Jesus to teach us something but instead He transfigures himself. In some ways the disciples were probably confused by this: "why isn't he teaching us something new?".
Chambers says this:
"The mountaintop is not meant to teach us anything, it is meant to make us something."  

Chambers wants us to realize that we are always wanting the answer asking: "What's the use of this experience?" but this is a dangerous trap according to Chambers. He says that we can never measure spiritual matters in this way. We need to trust God that instead of teaching us things on the mountaintop, He is preparing our character and heart for what's to come in the valley. The valley is our destiny while on earth not the mountaintop. God will bring us to the mountaintop for inspiration and encouragement only to tell us to go back down. Seems kind of backwards but also so right.

As Kevin and I struggle in the valley with not having jobs and wondering when things will be back to normal... we are beginning to question what the true norm really is. What is "normal" to God? What is His will for us? In the same way Kevin and I have had some mountaintop experiences recently where the Lord uplifted and encouraged and then asked us to go back down the mountain into the valley again. It is SO hard to be present. I find myself continually trying to climb back up the mountain side only to keep slipping and getting nowhere because God knows it's not time yet. I frustrate myself. If only we could truly understand His ways. But like Chambers said, we cannot measure spiritual matters with human logic.

Today my Lord has blessed me with Oswald's words of wisdom. Hopefully they have spoken to you as well.

Blessings.

IHOP... no, not the pancake place

Kevin and I took what some might call a spiritual retreat to the International House of Prayer in Kansas City last week. I have family who is a part of the IHOP so it was a double treat. Kevin and I had such a blessed time with my Aunt and Uncle and their six children and we also got to spend a lot of time in prayer.

We embarked on this spiritual/family retreat to seek the Lord's will in our lives. Or really... just the next step we need to take with him. God is truly faithful. During our time there we were encouraged by my family and challenged by the Holy Spirit to give up all our "wants" and seek what our Savior wants and knows we need for our lives. Giving up your wants is a lot harder than you think. It is not just saying, "ok Lord, you can lead us, we are listening..." but I think it takes actually recognizing what we want and verbally giving each individual want over to Him. Possibly even writing them down so that we can look back on them and stray away from picking up those "wants" again and making our load heavier than God intends it to be. God will never give us more than we can handle... but have we ever thought about the fact that we have the free will to put things in our lives that make it harder.... WE, personally, put those loads on our backs that God never intended on putting there. His Grace and Mercy are sufficient though... He will work with us... give us a hand, a knee up, even though he REALLY wants us to get rid of those "wants". Amazing! What a gracious God we serve! What a silly person I am to think that I can handle what I "want".

Well anyway, we learned a lot, heard a lot from the Lord, and were overwhelmingly blessed while we were in Kansas City. We are now embarking on an open door that the Lord has provided for us. The Lord seems to be calling us to Texas. We know that if He wants something else He will change it. We are in His hands.

So, we are heading down to Texas this coming Wednesday where Kevin will have an interview with Point A Media on Thursday. I will be looking around for housing and jobs as he is interviewing and working with them on Friday. Please pray for guidance and clarity as we are following the lead the Lord has given us. Also please pray for safety as we drive down.

(pictures to come)

I pray that we all might learn what it means to daily lay our "wants" at his feet and truly open ourselves to what the Lord wants for us. Be blessed.

Our new/temporary home!

Our new home...

very small living quarters. Vegtables from my Greenville garden

our clothing/closet/storage/book shelf/ whatever else can fit!

still had to make it home

this bed is more comfortable than the one we were sleeping on before! haha

Visit from Drewby and Hunter!

Drew and Hunter came to visit Kevin and I in Greenville on their way back to Massachusetts from Colorado. I was so happy they got to stop by and meet our community of friends.


gotta love it! we had a great time!

Photo time!

So glad they came to visit. It was a blessed time with family. I needed it.

Living within your means...

To update everyone on the current happenings, Kevin lost his job three weeks ago and with me only having 15-20 hours per week at my job we knew some things would have to change. After much prayer and counsel we decided the best place for us was in a bigger town with more jobs, and near family (whom we have desired to be closer too in the past) and some place we didn’t have to pay rent. This place would be Springfield, MO. We are living in Kevin’s brother’s backyard in their camper! We are actually looking forward to this opportunity knowing that God is going to work in our lives and through our lives through this experience. For the past week we have been conquering the internet and family connections to find places to apply for work. Kevin has some great opportunities already and I am excited to have the possible opportunity to do some social work/non-profit work in the city.

Last night we moved into the camper behind Kevin's brother's place. It was hard. I was so exhausted and overwhelmed when I stepped inside. I think the hardest thing for us is that we are losing a bit of our independence as a married couple because we are living with someone else basically. We won't be able to do some of our hobbies like art and sewing because there really isn't any room. But even though it was a rough afternoon unloading and putting most of our life in storage, we slept well and comfortable.
We love sleeping outside/camping so that's good.

The words that keep coming to mind during these past few days have been Sacrafice and Covering. Sacrafice because we are having to give up a lot and we know it is for the best and for the Lord's will to be done. The word "covering" came to me last night... I feel as though all I want to do is be covered in God's word and love and to be in prayer all the time. I just want to be with God more each minute. He is our comfort!
I believe that God is going to do some awesome things in our lives.

Please continue to pray for strength for Kevin and I. Kevin's next interview with Dave Ramsey is Thursday at 4pm. My interview at the Autistic school is Wednesday from 9-11. Also pray for our fridge in the camper... it doesn't want to work...