Themessage

So, first a funny story....

A couple of years ago for Christmas I had this brilliant gift idea to get Mike a copy of The Message by Eugene Peterson. I love reading The Message in addition to the NIV and New American Standard because it creates a very personal feeling to the Word. I love the way Eugene Peterson articulates some very powerful and passionate messages of Scripture. There are times when I think his interpretation is quite different from my own, but I feel like the thought process of reaching that conclusion is also a wonderfully valuable experience.

But, back to my story. I buy this perfect gift for Mike and I am SUPER excited about it. I wrap it beautifully, because anyone who knows me well can attest to the fact that I am CRAZY about beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts. Mike (who thinks my beautiful wrapping makes one feel some level of guilt for unwrapping their gifts) carefully opened his Christmas gift and responded with a very lame, "Oh, ummm, yeah, thanks," or something to that affect.

I was pretty disappointed because I had even written a really nice message on the inside cover. So, in a heartfelt attempt to redeem this moment of gift-giving joy, I suggested that he read my special message. He complied, and then got this really perplexed look on his face. He flipped back to the front cover and it was like a lightbulb went off in his head. "OH!" he exclaimed, "It's The Message."

He then proceeded to get as excited as I originally expected. When he explained his initial confusion, I couldn't help but bust out laughing. Apparently when Mike first read the cover he smooshed all the letters together in his head (because that is the way the graphic designer laid out the cover) and read it as one word: themessage. His pronunciation sounded like a French back rub, and that is EXACTLY what he thought this massive hardcover book was, a book about MASSAGES! hahaha. Poor guy...no wonder he was totally confused.

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Despite a somewhat misleading cover, The Message has wonderfully encouraging interpretations in Scripture that I find to be very refreshing (although again I emphasize the fact that this is an interpretive version of Scripture from Eugene Peterson's point of view, which I don't always agree with substantively). Here is a passage I read last night that really ministered to my heart:

Micah 6:8b

"It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously."

I love that.

You see, I am quite prone, as I believe many of us are, to take myself very seriously. My problems, no matter how insignificant to others (or event to myself at a later time), seem REALLY big to me at the moment they're happening.

But, they're really not that big of a deal. I am really not that big of a deal. And that is WONDERFUL! Why? Because that means that when I mess up, when I fail, when I TOTALLY BLOW IT, it's okay. Because really, it's not about me. It's about Him. It's not about Kathy's glory. It's about God's glory.

And what I can't see on this side of heaven is the beautiful tapestry he is creating of my life, despite my flaws, weaknesses and shameful failures. He is big enough to overcome even the worst of my sin.

That brings me back to a message from Kyle Idleman at Southeast Christian Church that I heard the Sunday after New Years. (You can actually check out the message HERE.) He challenged us to pray a prayer for 2010, and it really spoke to me. It's been coming back up in my heart again and again.

Lord,

More of You. Less of me. Fill me with Your Spirit.

More than anything else, that is what I want. I want to recognize that it's not about me, and to release more of myself each day, so that He can have total control. I want to live my life in a constant state of fullnesses, achieved by the Holy Spirit.

So pray for me, hold me accountable, and feel free to ask me any questions you might have about what this all means. I would love to know what God might be using this simple prayer and this little verse from The Message to say to you.

Dios les bendiga!

Fiestas, townhouses and jazzercise!

Haha, that title makes me laugh. Basically, though, it's a quick list of the things I am most excited about today.

Last night was my somewhat impromptu birthday fiesta hosted by the lovely Suzzy Mangas. It was the perfect fiesta including fajitas, hilarious mustaches and LOADS of laughs. We had the BEST time and I was SO thankful for friends who share their time and funny first kiss memories with me. LOVE YOU GUYS!

Monday, since it's MLK Day, there are no classes at IU and the office I am a graduate assistant for is also closed. So....Mike and I are going to check out a townhouse that we might maybe possibly move into come August! It's a property that my landlord has coming open, and I really, really like me landlord (a rare occurrence in a college town), so we are hoping to stick with her! I'll let you know how it goes.

One final tidbit...I recently started JAZZERCISE! It's not only part of my, Look-As-Hot-As-Possible-for-My-Wedding program, but also part of my plan to discover a more sustainable work-out plan. I LOVE working out, but doing it alone on a treadmill or even alone in my apartment gets SUPER boring after a while. So...I am stoked about the JAZZERCISE! I get to go work out with lots of other women, I get to DANCE and I get my entire workout (and a good one, at that) accomplished in just one hour.

(Side note, one of the instructors asked me on my second class if I would be interested in becoming an instructor...haha. The really funny part is that I am DEFINITELY considering it as maybe a part-time option after graduation! I think it would be a BLAST!)

Also, I am hoping/planning to post on a MUCH more regular basis starting this year for a number of reasons:

1. I want to keep you updated on wedding plans!

2. I want to do a better job of keeping everyone informed on exciting things going on in my life.

3. (Probably the most important reason...) I want to start blogging on some more serious topics that come up from time to time, particularly spiritual topics. If you have any suggestions, please let me know!

Dios les bendiga!

It's a jolly holiday...

Merry Christmas!

Last night was the official beginning of our holiday festivities as Allison and I not only trimmed the tree, but decked out the whole apartment!

Even Willy (my houseplant) got a holiday makeover...

Our happy little Christmas tree...

My very favorite Christmas ornament (Thanks, Frankie!)...

Holly, jolly bathroom decor...

You can actually see our pretty lights from outside our apartment this year! This is our best alternative to hanging outdoor lights (which we aren't allowed to do in this apartment complex).

Enjoy this holiday season!

I know Allison and I will! During our decorating fiesta, we also baked cookies and ate them with ice cold milk. Then, to top off our evening, we stayed up late to watch Elf.

I love Christmas!

Grow a Little Faith

I wanted to share with you a challenge that God is walking me through. I was recently convicted about my lack of faith. I believe in God. This isn't a matter of believing in Him, it's a matter of believing Him and holding firmly to His promises. When God says He is going to do something, I am not good at trusting that He will. I know He will in my head and to some extent in my heart, but the full conviction is not as strong as I know it should be.

So, God has been challenging me to solidify my faith by remembering. That's right. Remembering. It's a part of worship that I probably neglect too often. This week in my quiet time, I have been focusing on remembering His faithfulness and the way He has exemplified it in my life and those around me again and again.

Just a word of encouragement...

and perhaps an idea that will encourage your faith as well.

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Matthew 14: 28 - 31

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

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I want to get out of the boat, keep my eyes on Jesus, and walk right through the wind and the waves.

Get a job and GEEK OUT!

I need to GET A JOB:

Latest update: I should be scheduling a job interview with a nonprofit called FAME next week! (Check them out at http://www.fameworld.org/). The position they are searching for is Director of Missions Resources and I really feel that this is something God could use me to accomplish. Please pray that the interview goes well and that the Lord will make clear whether or not this is His will for me!

Time to....GEEK OUT:

In other news, I wrote a response paper this week on William Easterly's book The White Man's Burden, and I actually ENJOYED writing it! I know, how often does that happen when you actually get to read and write about something that gets you truly excited!? So in honor of my dorky appreciation for this book, I am including a bit of my paper below! Just to give you a brief synopsis, my response focused on Easterly's discussion of smaller, more focused piecemeal efforts for foreign aid. He makes several points as to why this would be preferable and to his list of reasons, I added two additional thoughts (the excerpt included below). I hope that you enjoy...

Piecemeal reform creates opportunities for “baby step” success, something that perhaps the Rest needs more than anyone realizes. For centuries, foreign aid professionals (from the West) have slapped their own diagnoses on the problems facing developing nations. If individuals in these countries were given a chance to claim small, piecemeal successes, perhaps these successes would pave the way for increasing improvement. Although a bit idealistic, improving the international citizens’ confidence in their ability to fix their own problems may be a key ingredient in foreign aid success. If nothing else, it provides international citizens a measure of dignity which some projects do not adequately consider.

Finally, the idea of short run and long run efforts is a concept briefly mentioned by Easterly, but not explored to the fullest extent. In order for international aid to succeed, there are long term goals that must be met. However, if these goals are to be realized or not, people still require that their basic needs be met in the here-and-now. Piecemeal efforts allow Searchers to investigate and provide for short term needs such that international citizens are healthy and stable enough to become partners in developing creative, culturally appropriate long term solutions.

My basic point was that these smaller, more focused initiatives might foster the needed confidence among international citizens to claim ownership of localized solutions to their own problems, which I feel is a more dignified response to international poverty. Furthermore, I think it allows for the creation of efforts that focus on long-run and short-run solutions as being separate, but equally necessary components for successful efforts to eradicate international poverty.

Hooray for a much needed opportunity to geek out. That was long overdue.

Back to B-town

As many of you know, I am back to Bloomington! Classes begin tomorrow and I am excited to see what this semester holds. Say a prayer for Mike and me as we get settled in to our crazy semester. We will not only be working hard on our classes, we are also both leaders in multiple student organizations, we are trying to get more involved in a local church, we are seeking out premarital classes/counseling, I have a graduate assistantship, we will be on the hunt for jobs, and we'll be planning a wedding! Things just might get a bit busy.

Pray that we keep our priorities in order and make time to ENJOY this season of our lives.

Keep in touch and I will post new pics of new adventures soon!

Working on a MRS! Haha!

Sunday, August 9, 2009
A very happy couple...on a very special day!


We were all grins from ear to ear!

Who knew that cheek muscles could get so sore!

That's right! Mike and I are officially ENGAGED! He proposed to me Sunday afternoon at a park near the river. There are pictures of us by the river on Mike's camera, so hopefully I can post them soon!

Isn't the ring gorgeous!
He did a wonderful job....the proposal...the ring...the prayer and thought that went into it all. I am so blessed.