The Final Day

Eighteen months. 400 blog posts. A year in a new job and a new home. Nine months of marriage.
I think I can officially say, I am settled.

I started this blog with the title "Rediscovering Rocky Top." I wanted to celebrate all the things I was discovering and re-discovering about this city, after a decade away. I changed the name to "KtownKatie" as I got a bit more settled in, but life still had so many changes. Since moving, I have fallen more in love with my family, made wonderful friends, planned and celebrate the wedding of my dreams, become a part of Second Presbyterian Church, found dozens of wonderful restaurants, shops, and special things, and become a home owner for the first time. Most importantly, I am married to a wonderful man and I love it.

So, as I'm turning 31, I am taking a break from blogging. And leaving you with 31 things I have learned over the last year and a half.

1. Sabbath is a commandment.

2. While I may be concerned with happiness, God is concerned with Holiness.

3. Google Reader can change your life.

4. Hospitality can be a ministry.

5. Not every girl is girly.

6. It takes time to become good at things.

7. It is okay to not edit your blog posts. You will have typos. People will judge you. But there is freedom in not worrying what they think.

8. God commands. Sometimes He "calls" us or "gives us peace" about something. Other times, He just says do it.

9. It is better to make food from scratch.

10. People don't give kids enough credit. Especially toddlers and preschoolers.

11. In this life, we will always want for things. That is our nature as created beings. Even Eve wanted something she could not have. Only in heaven will we be satisfied.

12. Homes are supposed to be a haven.

13. People will hurt you.

14. Love delights in truth. Evil loves darkness. The Lord loves light.

15. We are supposed to "make every effort" to love people well and to serve with excellence. But our best effort is all we can do and all we are held to.

16. To analize or discuss something, figure out: What are we trying to achieve? What are we trying to avoid?

17. My home and my husband are even more important than my work.

18. When in doubt, wear cowboy boots.

19. Christmas is so fun in your own home. Can't wait for Easter.

20. I want to make everyone feel important and loved while they are with me. The way my dog does.

21. Spiritual disciplines really do fit into the 21st century.

22. Sometimes, the most important thing you can do is not the biggest, most noticeable thing.

23. Weddings are for brides and grooms. But also families. Especially moms.

24. My mom is wonderful. I am blessed.

25. My mother-in-law is wonderful. I am doubly blessed.

26. Yard work is a metaphor for life.

27. Listen more. Honor people by not talking yourself.

28. Being a team player can be thankless. But it's still right.

29. Two become One. Wow.

30. I am never going to know it all and I am never going to be perfect.

31. I am okay with that.

Day 538: Fast Lunch

This Lent season, 2nd Pres members are fasting the mid-day meal every Thursday. It's been a neat reminder and a practical way for me to welcome the Lord into more space in my day. Some church members are also coming together for a time of devotion, solitude, and fellowship.
This week, I shared the thoughts below from a new favorite blog, burningbushes.org, authored by one of my Converse classmates, Nicole. This is reminds me, what really feeds me.

...I was reminded of the power of His Word and its sufficiency. There is so much reading at my fingertips these days, that I often forget the fact that the truest story, the best story is also the oldest story. I guess at times I can assume that because I’ve already the Bible through a number of times, it’s now old hat. I think that some email or blog post or book or article has more for me at this moment than those ancient words. I forget that God’s Word is living and active…more alive than any person living now. His Word is more relevant to me than any recent story or message...

Source

Day 514: Tim Keller

One of the great things about living in Knoxville is that, in addition to our great church, there are other great churches in this open, challenging community. It is a great place to grow. And Sunday night it was a great place to hear from Tim Keller.

As Keller spoke at Cedar Spring Presbyterian Church's missions conference, he focused on 1 Peter 2:9:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

You can enjoy some of his thoughts by clicking here to visit cspc.net->

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Day 508: Babies, Babies, and more Babies

Hensley Kate.

Eva.

Caroline.

Amelia.

Will.

Wyatt.

Piper.

Cameron.

Kaylynn Grace.

And now one more of my bridesmaids is pregnant...

I am surrounded by babies.

At 2nd Pres, surrounded.

Among friends, surrounded.

Everywhere, surrounded.

Disclaimer: Often I resist the urge to write excessively about this. People seem to think that since I am married and Christian and like kids, that I want to have one immediately. But right now, I am a newlywed and eagerly enjoying this season of our life and family. I can't imagine anything else at this point.

Maybe that is because everywhere I turn, every meeting I go to, in the background of every phone call I get, there are babies. I hear them. I see them. I train people to care for them. I listen to moms and dads worry about them. I pray for them. I pray for people who want to have them. I learn about them. I love being with them. I get such a sweet fill of babies.

I think back to the text message I sent on the night I learned Caroline Grace was born. "REJOICE." That was all I typed in response. That was all I could think. And since then, that word, "REJOICE" has been on my mind. I pray continually that our hearts and lives with REJOICE at the beautiful of life. New life and the developmental discoveries babies make are such a captivting reminder. God is good. He is at work. He is worthy of our awe and worship. And when we look into cribs, we get a front row seat to the glory of His creation.

REJOICE.

Day 504: Get ready for summer....

Friday will have VBS planning in full swing! This year, we'll be using Standard Publishing's Main Street cirrculum.
It's inside out. It's upside down. But must importantly, it is "where Jesus makes a difference every day!"

What I like best about it:
-Jesus+Every day people.
-Tells kids that knowing Christ can change a life.
-It is so cute!
-Gratitude.
-Compassion.
-Forgiveness.
-Grace.
-Faithfulness.
-Cooper can come.
-Biblical truth is woven into every activity and station.
-It. Is. Fun.

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. - Psalm 25:4-5

Watch more here->

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Day 503: Developing People

At 2nd Pres, we are immersed in a season of growing, planning, and discerning God's calling for our congregation. I'll spare you all the details and all the committee and all the strategic visioning. But, I wanted to share these 5 questions. They are from Missional Renaissance, from Reggie McNeal. These really got me thinking about what god is doing and how the body of Christ might be involved in that.
• What do you enjoy doing?
• Where do you see God at work right now?
• What would you like to see God do in your life over the next six to twelve
months? How can we help?
• How would you like to serve other people? How can we help?
• How can we pray for you?

Read more from Missional Renaissance->

Day 496: Chi O Bible Study

Monday night, the Chi O Bible study got into full swing. I am so excited Brittany asked me to help lead this group. What a fun collection of girls - ready to study, talk, and prayerfully purpose what god wants! I am so excited to see this grow!

My prayer for this group is that they challenge each other and that leading them is something that develops and challenges me. I pray it will be a place where they can be open and that God will use this group to develop lots of meaningful relationships and real conversations. Or and I pray that we laugh, a lot!

May we each recklessly pursue God - and nothing else!

But Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. - Ruth 1:16

Day 491: Lakeshore and Kris

The only thing that could be better than the 2 mile loop around Lakeshore is walking it on Thursday afternoons with Kris.
I love to run or walk at Lakeshore. This 2 mile loop treks around the former Lakeshore mental health institute. It is a part of the Knoxville Greenway system, has great views of the river, and is situated among 60 acres. That's all nestled in just a few miles from our house. What makes it even sweet are memories from soccer practices and games my brother and played there 25 years ago.
Since moving back, Brad and I often enjoyed it and I have met several friends there.
Lately, I have gotten to spend lots of sweet time there with Kris. She's great and such a blessing. We all need so one to talk to, to learn from. And she is becoming one of mine. She gives great advice and thoughts - on life, marriage, ministry, work, change, and lots more. i am not too involved with Young Life things here in Knoxville, but i am thankful that even the minimal involvement has let me get to know Kris. Here are a few thoughts that have been rolling around in my head as a result of these good conversations...
...we are really concerned with our loved ones being happy or having fun, but God cares more about their character.
...God's teaching is full of lots of hard truth, but most of all, it has hope!
...it's all about relationships.
...relationships take time.
...we are so clearly made for more than this world can ever offer.
...I can never be perfect or make anyone happy all the time (sounds obvious, but it's hard for me to believe sometimes)
...marriage is like the greatest gift this world brings!

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Day 476: The Outlaws

That is what they are calling themselves. I am not quite sure why. But, the newest, coolest thing that is going on around my life is a group that I am not in. It's a group of college groups who Brad has started meeting with. Our prayer for them is that they will each know a little more of the Lord.
I don't really know what they talk about, but I think it is a time for the to be real with each other and challenge one another. And i know they are starting to read this book, by one of Brad's new favorite guys Xan Hood. It is about "a journey to re-cultivate masculinity in our culture today. We believe that much of what is missing is only a matter of rediscovering it in people, past, and stories. We are in search of this lost part of a man." Check out more on Xan's blog->

Oh and these guys can really put back the Chicken casserole.

Day 459-466: 2nd Pres Ski Trip. I learned to Ski

I get to spend most days with the sleepers, crawlers, walkers, runners, readers, and cool kids (aka the birth thru 5th graders at our church). But this past week, I joined our youth on their ski trip, as Brad and I found ourselves on our first ministry trip together.
It is not a new thing. Our church has been doing it for 29 years. For longer than I have been able to walk, 2nd Pres has been taking high school kids skiing. Brad and I have been praying for this trip for months and we had a great time.
I learned to ski and so much more. Here are some highlights of our trip:
Fact: If you drive a bus for 24+ hours, it will break down.
Fact: When learning to ski, it is critical to first learn how to stand up if you fall over.
Fact: You don't have to be so afraid of going fast. Let the slope naturally slow you down. (This is true in skiing and in life.)
Fact: 20 below = COLD. Yes, 20 degrees below zero.
Fact: There is never anything you can or will ever do that will make God love you any more, or any less. Nothing.
Fact: Inside jokes never get old.
Fact: The Cross of Christ is were the human story insects with the Holy one.
Fact: "When you are old, it doesn't matter how much money you have. It matters how many stories you have to tell." - The Big Hoohah
Fact: Those who are significant live for God.
Fact: We all need revelation, repentance, resistance, and relationship.
Fact: "Ohana Means Family, Family Means No One Gets Left Behind." - Janette, Tiffany, and Lilo
Fact: The more we know about who we are, the more we can understand about who God is. And vice versa.
Fact: I skied a BLUE!

Source

Day 452-8: I celebrate

This is my prayer...far beyond Christmas, well into 2011.

With this Christmas wish is missed
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let you know
How much you've touched my life because
Here is where you're finding me
In the exact same place as New Years Eve
And from the lack of my persistency
We're less than half as close as I wanna be

And the first time that you opened your eyes
Did you realise that you would be my Saviour
And the first breath that left your lips
Did you know that it would change this world forever
And the first time that you opened your eyes
Did you realise that you would be my Saviour
And the first breath that left your lips
Did you know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare
The things I've felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That you have come to meet me here

To look back
And think that
This baby would one day save me
And the hope that
That you give
That you were born so I might really live
To look back
And think that
This baby would one day save me…

And the first time that you opened your eyes
Did you realise that you would be my Saviour
And the first breath that left your lips
Did you know that it would change this world forever
And the first time that you opened your eyes
Did you realise that you would be my Saviour
And the first breath that left your lips
Did you know that it would change this world forever

And I
I celebrate the day
That you were born to die
So I could one day
Pray for you to save my life
Pray for you to save my life
Pray for you to save my life

- Relient K

Our First Christmas

I started to blog about the top moments of Christmas so far...but there are too many. Maybe I will do that later. It has been picture perfect. But, I am reminded, that is not what it is all about. Jesus entered our rough, broken, imperfect world. So I can come before Him in any way, in any condition. He is my present this Christmas.

Below is my Christmas prayer. This is what I meant to say last night during our family worship at 2nd Pres. I think I remembered most of it. But I was so in love with how our kids literally entered into Jesus's story during the live nativity, that I don't even remember what I said.

Father God,

We praise You for the gift of our Children,
May we always cherish them.

We praise You for time with our family, our friends, and our church,
May we savor it.

We praise You for the truth of the Christmas story,
May we believe it with our whole hearts and let it transform our lives.

Most of all, we praise You for the gift of your Son,
That we don't just hear or read the Christmas story,
But just like every child in the live nativity gathers on the altar around the manger,
We too are invited to come.
To live with Jesus.

We are a part of the Christmas story!

Let us know Him as our Savior and as our Lord,
And let that change our lives forever.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Here is a great look at Christmas from our great friend Austin. Enjoy and check out his blog at www.whatsleftout.com.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania


His seventeen-year-old fiancé sleeps,
he drives south. Exhaust seeps through
holes in the floor of their Chevy pick-up,
a rusted deathtrap that he curses.
She wakes, she vomits twice, she needs
to pee every two hours. He feeds more
oil into the engine, a scared dog
that shudders above fifty. He watches
her watch the black river of asphalt flow.
Folks back home would be buzzing with gossip
by now. He glances at her
swollen belly, nine months large, not his.
“There’s only one way a girl gets knocked up,”
his best friend’s words pop like distant rifles.

Her water breaks as they pull into town,
a one-stoplight speck, Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania, with no proper hotel
or hospital. Joe ducks inside a bar
to ask about a doctor. Darkness seethes
with folks like them, out-of-towners
needing beds. No vacancies anywhere,
no clean sheets at a bed and breakfast.
Emergency room? Epidural? None.
They hold hands, he prays, “Don’t let Maria
or the baby die. We’ve tried so hard
to do what’s right. People are calling her
a slut and me a fool. You are
our only refuge, our only hope.”

A tap on the window. The bartender
in flannel and jeans nods, “I think I can
help.” They follow him out to pastureland.
He’s called ahead. His wife’s father was
an ob/gyn. She’s cleared off the tool bench
in the garage and spread a faded quilt.
“We’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way,”
she smiles. She has hot water, dish towels,
rubbing alcohol. Joe follows orders.
Maria’s lost more blood than he’s ever
seen, even butchering a deer. He cuts
the cord with a carpet knife. “Tearing
could have been much worse,” she observes.
He’ll believe anything right now.

A crowd has heard somehow and gathers
outside. They sing those happy hymns, laughing,
Glory Hallelujahs, Holy Holys.
He kneels, Maria kisses his fingers
one by one. He wants most to be slow, gray,
kissing her cheek, recalling this night,
terrible, brimming over, okay now,
after he’s known for years that she was
telling the truth, that this really happened,
that he was the one who wiped blood off
the face of God with his busted up hands
and heard in the baby’s first cry
laughter of the Most High, Creator,
Doer of impossible joys.

Source

Day 428: Nurturing Your Soul

Saturday morning, I got to enjoy a wonderful advent retreat hosted by my friend, Lainie Allen, a spiritual director. she and her husband Daniel have an important ministry here in Knoxville. Here is why, in their own words...

Many people sense that they want and "are" something more than the busyness of each day. They have a longing to step away from the pace of life, connect with God and nurture their soul.

To nurture one's soul is to become more aware of God and self through spiritual practices such as quiet, reflection and praise/thanksgiving. It is opening oneself to His love and peace, and finding rest. The early Fathers and Mothers of our faith shared the wisdom of these spiritual practices. Jesus, the wisest Teacher, pointed the way to a deeper spiritual life through these words...Get away with Me and you'll recover your life...Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.... Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

At Nurturing Your Soul, we walk alongside you to help you find the rhythms of grace by listening for God's voice... Knowing more of yourself and God.

Learn more at nurturingyoursoul.com->

Advent Week One: Hope

It is week one of advent and I am trying to set my ideas on the season at hand.

I have always heard that Christmas is the busiest season in church work. Yep, the seems to be true.
In the midst of the many events and ideas, I am a newlywed seeking to establish holiday traditions of our own and make it a memorable season in our lives.
Plus, my task-oriented self just wants to get things done. Christmas cards out on December 1. Tree and decorations perfectly and promptly displayed. Wonderful, meaningful gifts (purchased at a great price) for everyone on my list under the tree and looking like Martha stewart wrapper them herself.

But, meanwhile I pray, pray, pray that the center of my heart is on nothing but Christ, our Savior, who moved into my world to show His love for me and to eventually save me. I pray that my heart will be guarded from all other distractions. I pray that I will know new truths and learn more about him this season. And if Christ is the center of my heart, it will be easier to keep Him the center of our home, the center of all ministry, and even the center of my todo list.

So, this week, in keeping with the tradition's of the Advent season, I have been thinking about "Hope."

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13

I looked at this verse on Sunday, after the candles were lit by one of my favorite families during worship at 2nd.
So, I see that trust leads to peace and joy. Peace and joy lead to hope. And it's all from the Holy Spirit.
Okay.
Makes sense on paper.
But then, let's flash forward to Tuesday morning. This idea of hope is on my mind when I wake up still frustrated and confused about a conversation I had with a friend the previous day. Where is the hope in that; in waking up worried? Then, I talk and pray with a friend who is going through a divorce. I have a long conversation with another friend battling bulimia. I get an email from one of my most academically accomplished friends, who confesses overwhelming feelings of depression and may not be able to continue her academic pursuits. Then, a coworker tells me of the guilt she has for not seeing her grandmother on Thanksgiving, because this grandmother is now in hospice care. I get the news that a sweet Converse and YL family I have known and loved is loosing their father to cancer. Oh, and then there is a leak in my ceiling in my office.

Where is the hope in all of that?
And if we first have to trust God in order to have peace and joy and eventually hope, then how in the world do I tell a hurting world to trust in the midst of all this mess? In the middle of this brokenness?
I know certainly that my God is the source of joy, peace, hope, and trust. He Himself is the author and perfecter of my faith.
But is just blows me away to think, that the Lord of All, would choose to walk into this mess.
He choose to come to earth.
To come into all this hurt and brokenness.
To get His hands dirty.
To fix things.
To love the unlovable.

What wondrous love is this? Oh my soul!

Quote of the Day

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.
- Joshua 1:9

Thanks Rachael

Day 408: The Word Players

Friday night 2nd Pres will host the Word Players! Their traveling performance of the Diary of Adam and Eve will make it's way to our stage.

This organization features year round productions for every type of audience. The Word Player's vision "is a community uplifted by excellent, Christ-centered art, where artists are freed to develop and use their God-given talents in a positive environment founded on Christian principles and values."

So excited about the Word Players at 2nd.

Click here to see their 2010-2011 season->

Source

And how cool to tag this "Christ" and "Arts"!

386: The Cross

Last night I went with Brad to "The Cross". He has been hanging out with some college guys over the past few weeks and looking for ways to serve this ministry. The Cross is all about reaching out to the Greek community through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to establish a community of believers, and to equip them to impact the environment to which God calls.
It was free snacks, great worship, and sincere teaching. This week the guest speak stayed with the theme of "community" (I think that's the theme of the semester. Maybe?) Anyway, he spoke of "Matt" a.k.a. the guy at capernium whose friends dug through a roof and made their way around the huge crowd, just to get their cripped friend in front of Jesus. And getting in front of Jesus changed his life, because of their faith. It no doubt change his life in more ways than just the physical.
I want to be a friend like that. And I want to have friends like that. I want to be so insanely passionate about getting my friends in front of Christ. Whatever it takes. And I want to be the kind of friend that doesn't try to fix things myself, but rather I want to set up my friends to encounter Christ in such a way that He can work in their life. Not me. Not only do I want to have these kind of friends, I want my friends to have other friends who feel the same way and to be that type of friends to others.
Whether we realize it or not, we all need to be in front of Jesus.
And we all need friends to help get us there.

Quote of the morning

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
-Marianne Williamson

Thanks LB

Day 369: Knoxville YL

You were made for this.
Last Tuesday night it was the Knoxville Young Life Banquet.
You can count on the annual Knoxville Young Life banquet for 3 things:

1. You are going to see fun friends that you love, including some you have not seen in a while and some you see everyday. It is a great reminder of the loving, visionary, massive but close community we live in!

2. You are going to laugh. Hard. A complete "who is on first" routine. A massive lip sync event. Yes, you are going to laugh. Very, very, very hard.

3. You are going to hear truth. And I am going to cry. And even if you don't, you are going to be touched with simple, yet profound truth. One leader summed things up with truth: Every kid, just like every adult, every person, everywhere, needs 2 things:

First, we all need to know the love of Christ.

Second, we all need to have real connections with a person who cares about us.

You were made for this.