Tribute to Dad, News, and Some Updates

Hello again everyone! :)

It has been a wonderful Lord's day! It's been relaxing and restful and also full of laughter! Today is Father's Day, and I just wanted to say a few words to tell my Dad how much he means to me. I don't often know how to thank my parents...but I thought that this would be a good way! Even though I couldn't be with my Dad today, I was glad to talk to him on the phone and hear about the fun he, Mom, and my brother are having in D.C. I am so thankful to my Daddy for raising me up with discipline and true love. He is never afraid to make a sacrifice for us, his family, and knows that this is what true love is all about. He makes sacrifices for us every day when he goes out and works long hours on a smelly dairy (although I'm sure he's quite used to the smell now!) so that we can live a comfortable life with many blessings. So much of what we have is because of all the work he does, and I don't think that he has been thanked nearly enough for all of the hard work he has done for us. He is a hard working man who is willing to give up his time, energy, and money to those whom he can offer his help. He's so smart and I'm so thankful for his willingness to always give of his wisdom to help me in school or give me words of advice in big-decision times! I'll always remember him teaching me about character and I live by his advice that having character is doing the right thing, even when you know nobody's looking. He disciplined me, but I'm thankful for it, because it made me respect him. And even though I could say so much more...I'm glad that he was there to support us kids in whatever we did! He is a father who always wants to listen, absolutley cares about what we're into, and is there to watch and support us in our pursuits! Thank you so much for everything Dad!...especially all the road trips you planned and took us on!! They were my favorite times with you! No matter what, Dad, I will always be your little girl :)

As some of you may know, today was also my 20th birthday! I can officially say that I am no longer a teenager...even though I may still look like it ;) It was a wonderful weekend and I am very thankful! My roommate and her family took me in on Friday night and gave me a mini-birthday party (since they knew I'd be spending it away from home). They bought me a cake, sang happy birthday to me, and we got to play lots of card games together! It was so much fun!! Then on Saturday I got to spend the entire day with Caleb! He took me to the aquarium and we got to enjoy seeing God's many wonderful creatures and enjoy laughing at how cool-looking and cute they were :) Today we got to go to church to a message about our adoption into the house of God! It was very encouraging and the rest of the day was full of rest and enjoying spending time with my best friend!

On that note, I just want to tell you a little bit about Caleb, for those of you who don't know him! I am so blessed to be his girlfriend! I can't believe that so much has happened in the past 10 (almost!) months. Its amazing what God has brought us through and how the two of us have grown together. First of all, he is probably one of the funniest guys I have ever met...but that could just be a result of how weird we are when we are together! :) He is so caring and is a gentleman in about every respect (he's always opening doors for me and always holding out a helping hand). One of his best qualities is that he's a wonderful listener. No matter what we are going through (or how emotional I am feeling) he always takes time to sit, listen, and give me wise advice.

But my favorite thing about him is that throughout our time together, he has encouraged me in the Lord in so many ways. Even before we started dating I saw how he had a great reverence and fear of God and His holy Word. Caleb has encouraged me to see God's Word as powerful and truth. "All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competant, equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:16-17. "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements--surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Job 38:4-7. He inspires me because he desires to live according the Holy Word of God, and do God's will for His glory. His desire is to live God's way. Being at his side has helped me see that God's way is so much better than doing anything my own way. I am also learning that God's Word is absolutley irreplaceable in a Christian's daily walk. It has helped me see that God is so good, no matter what, and that His promises are always true.

Since the beginning of our relationship I have seen how Caleb has such awe for God's majesty and greatness. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" Psalm 111:10a. He has always been respectful, self-sacrificing, and pure of heart, and his desire to do things God's way has made him a great leader. I love that he is willing work to make God's truth known! I love to see him get so fired up when someone twists God's Word. It just shows me how pure and passionate His heart is for God's truth. "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" Ecclesiastes 12: 13. "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; You have loved righteousness and hate wickedness." Psalm 45:6-7. Together, God has helped us to find comfort our Father through trials, in times of joy, and in times of uncertainty. Through our relationship, God has grown my desire to live according to God's will. We've learned together about truth, the power of a spoken word, God's true love, and how important it is to encourage each other and be there to support each other day-to-day. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear" 1 John 4:18."Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear" Ephesians 4:29. He has also encouraged me to have a thankful heart! When I'm having a bad attitude, he reminds me of what God has done already and what we have to be thankful for.

I'm not saying that he is perfect, by any means. We are both sinners and know that we fall short of God's standard in so many ways. We both know that we will make mistakes, but we have the love of God to love each other through those mistakes. "Two people are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow...And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him..." Ecclesiates 4:9-13. It's so funny, because I see so much of my dad in him, and it makes me smile :) I'm so thankful that God brought him into my life! We are so blessed and I praise my Heavenly Father thank both of our fathers (and mothers for that matter!) setting such a good example for us, in faith, in purity, and in strength. We are very thankful!

There's also some wonderful news I wanted to share with you before I go! Sinced I talked about my employment situation a little bit in my last post, I just wanted to let you all know that I got a part-time job!!! Actually...I technically got two!...one is a consistent job at a local senior center and one a job that I will do every once in a while. So, to tell you the full story, I didn't actually plan on getting a job when I went to the senior center. I went in to have a meeting to find out how I could help out at the center during the week. I told the directors that since I didn't have a job I wanted to help out in any way I could. I was taken completely by surprise when one of them told me that they'd like to give me some volunteer hours, but that they'd actually like to pay me for my services. My heart basically jumped inside me with excitement!! I couldn't believe what I had just heard. They wanted to pay me! They said since they had such a small budget they could only pay me for half of my hours there...but I didn't care...I was ecstatic!! I get to help write thank-you's to donors, write/design the monthly newsletter, and write grants! I'm so excited because they could really use the help and these are all things that I'm good at!!! After weeks of looking I never thought I'd ever find God's provision for my needs at the senior center...especially one that I offered to volunteer at!! I'm so thankful! I finally feel like this is where God wants me to be this summer. The people that work at the center are so sweet and I'm excited to work with them! I'm praying that God uses me for good and His glory while I'm there! "Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of His servant!" Psalm 35:27b. It was such a sweet gift and surprise from God that I didn't expect. God had a plan for me to get a job, it was just not in the way that I expected and not in my timing. And I'm glad it wasn't! Because this is wonderful!! "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him." Psalm 37:7. "Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life...I will give thanks to Your name, O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me from every trouble" Psalm 54:4-7

"Come and see what God has done: He is awesome in His deeds toward the children of man...Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth and high priase was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; He has attened to the voice of my prayer! Blessed be God, because He has not rejected my prayer or removed His steadfast love from me!" Psalm 66:5&16-20

So basically what I'm saying to sum up this whole blog post is that God is so good! I now have a way to pay for my groceries and gas and a wonderful place to commit my time. I know that He is FOREVER FAITHFUL!! He continues to show me every day that this is true and that His promises are always true! So, when I am afraid of what is ahead or nervous for the day, I will stand strong on these promises: "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you" Deuteronomy 31:6. "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20. And even in trials, we know that our trials only last a little while. We know from God's Word that this world is only a place that we are passing through. We know that we are running towards the prize of our home in heaven, where we get to reach the prize! The prize and the inheritance of being in perfect presence of God himself. Where love and grace abound to His children--us, His saved ones. The ones He purchased by the blood of Jesus."Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the glower falls, but the Word of the Lord remains forever." 1 Peter 1:24-25. "According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" 1 Peter 1:3b-4. We can rejoice wherever we are because of our hope for our future home in heaven with God! So let us continue to run the race with courage: "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" 1 Timothy 1:7. Always remember that this is not our home and we have a perfect one to come, where there is no more pain and no more tears! So, we can rejoice in whatever situation we may be in! And we have no reason to lose hope! Let us rejoice with thanksgiving for all that God has given us! And hope for what is yet to come! "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble." Psalm 107:1-2

"So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever" 2 Corinthians 4:18.

Thanks for listening! :)
Praise the Lord! For He has blessed us!
Kasey

Peace in Uncertain Travel

So...I've tried to write my next blog post probably 5 or 6 times so far...so, Lord willing, this will actually get posted soon. It's been so long since I've written that its hard to know where to begin...

Okay, so I've officially finished my second year of college...wait, did I just say second???...yes, in fact! I am halfway through college already...and it has gone by so fast. The school year was full of homework, papers, and projects. And although I love learning, I can definitely say that I am thankful for this time of rest from school for the next three months. As many of you might know, I am not living at home for the summer, which is completely new to me. Already, I can see that this summer is a completely different and new season of my life with its own challenges and blessings. But, first of all, I was so thankful to be able to go home for a couple of weeks! It was a much needed time with my family :) I was so blessed to be able to see my brother and sister graduate from high school and my little brother graduate from 8th grade! It was very special to be able to be there for an exciting event! It was awesome to be able to laugh together, be silly, and help keep the house looking clean of course! We got to be silly and watch lots of movies together...Tangled being our new favorite. I got to talk with my parents and listen to their words of wisdom for the future! It was just a blessing to be able to rest and enjoy being at home.

Not only did I get to see my family, but I got to enjoy talking to people that I haven't seen for a long time. Being home I realized how many wonderful people I have in my life. So many people who have helped me through my past and continue to encourage me in the present! I am so blessed with the friends God has put in my life! I can't even count them all! If you are reading this...you are probably one of those people :) Its just such a relief to be able to come home and enjoy some laughter and memories with people that I love. I even got a sweet little package of goodies from home today for my birthday! All my favorite things from my favorite family :)

But now I am back and its been an interesting ride. Its been frustrating time but unexpectedly fruitful as well. As many of you know, I do not have a job. I have been looking for one for the past week and a half with nothing yet. Although I was bitter at the uncertainty that God had placed me in in the beginning, I've begun to appreciate this time of rest and finding peace and hope in God alone. I know that God has placed me here in this place and at this time for a reason. I've realized that God is so so good. All the time, no matter what. "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in His way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand." Psalm 37:23-24. When I chose to think and respond to God each day with a thankful heart, every day was a blessing. I see that God is guiding me, teaching me, and holding me every single day.

"Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, oh my soul and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeemed your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's" Psalm 103:1-5. Even though I may not have a job, I know for a fact that my God provides for me. I don't always know how He is going to provide, day to day, but I've seen Him provide as I seek Him and lean on Him to provide for my every need. He has provided me through others so many times in the past week that I can't even count. He's provided a place for me to do my laundry so I didn't have to pay for it, He's provided me with a roommate who I've had so much fun with and have enjoyed getting to know better every day, He's provided for groceries and meals, He's provided me with a place to stay all summer, He's provided me a way to see Caleb every weekend which is always a special treat, and He has provided me with His Word and His promises for encouragement and purpose in each and every day.

I'm telling ya...when you get into God's Word, it really becomes a part of who you are. It changes the way you think, and its on your mind a lot! God's Word is a guide to life. Its truth and the promises that lie within its pages are exactly what a follower of Christ needs to face the challenges of each day. God's Word says a lot about the unknown...and not knowing what the future holds has been a huge struggle for me not only the the past weeks but in the last whole year. But that's where faith and trust come in. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight." Proverbs 3:5 "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act...be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him" Psalm 37:5&7. We have to trust that He is God and He knows what He's doing. He is the one who created the earth from nothing and formed us in our mother's womb, and we have to be sure and know that He will take care of us each day. We have to know that He's been faithful before and He'll be faithful again. We just have to wait on Him.

One truth found in God's word has been on my mind a lot since I've been back. Is that God cares for us and He sees our each and every need and He will not forsake us. "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6:26. We are His children and He will give us everything we need! You are His precious daughter or His precious son, and He will watch over you always. Whether it be food, companionship, love, clothing, shelter, education...God knows what we need and He knows our future...and knows what we'll need down the road. He has it all together even if we don't. We just need to trust and do our very best with what He's given us in the moment. "Therefore, do not be anxious saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the [unbelievers] seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:31-33.

I can tell you that it was God who provided two quarters for me that I didn't have at the cash register the other day. It was something so small, but so profound to me. I came up to the register and the lady rang me up at $5.99. I had about $5.40, but did not have any change to pay for the rest of it. In my heart I wondered where the rest would come from and I believe that it was sent up as a prayer. And the next minute the cashier pulled a quarter out from under the desk. But seeing that I needed 25 more cents, pulled another quarter out of her own pocket to help me pay for the rest. You can say whatever you like...but I know that this was a provision from God. It meant so much to me that God would see my need for something so small as a few quarters and give it to me without me even having to ask. It was a gift. A beautiful and surprising gift, with which God reminded me that He is always there to provide. "Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17

One of my favorite verses of all time, that has been coming up again and again, is Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This verse tells us that we shouldn't worry about anything....not even about what we will be doing tomorrow, what other people will think of us, what decision to make, or even about the unknowns of our futures. God wants us to trust Him. We are to thank Him for all that He has already done for us--and let me tell you that just thinking about what God has already done for you will begin to put your mind at peace. And we are to let God know what we need. He wants us to communicate with Him and come to Him, knowing that He has all things in His hands and He won't let us go. And then when we do these things and come to a place of faith and thanksgiving, we will experience His amazing peace! It's far above what any earthly man can understand, because to any man, his life can be spinning out of control and there is no other way he can cope but to panic and be depressed. But if we acknowledge Jesus as our Lord, we can know that our Heavenly Father is watching over us with care and with such love.

I mean, God loved us so much that He made a way for us to be able to come to Him!!! He made a way for a wretch his treasure. We were filthy prostitutes, unfaithful our great and perfect Prince, and He wanted us. How crazy is that?? God in His holiness still wanted us to be with Him forever. He brought us to Himself by the blood of His Son, Jesus!! There's no doubt that He loves us. If nothing else...we can always know of His love for us because of the sacrifice of Jesus for us. It is an amazing love! "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person...but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8 We deserve the unending wrath of a powerful God, but were given the gift of His eternal grace and love instead. Not by anything we had done...but simply through faith in Jesus. "We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." Romans 5:11 Wow. Crazy. I didn't expect to write about this...but I can't help but revel in how amazing the love of God is to us. In everything, but ultimately in giving us Jesus. "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another." 1 John 4:9-10

So, I don't know what you're thinking...but I'm thinking that God's love is pretty undeniable. There are so many ways that we can see it manifested--in God's Word, in His work in our own lives, His provision, and in what He has already done for us. So, when we have uncertain times and need that assurance that God is there and that He's taking care of us, run to His Word. Search the scriptures for His promises. I found that His word is the only place where I find true comfort and satisfaction. I challenge you to go get your Bible...no matter how long or short its been since you've opened it. And go find an verse that promises God's goodness and reminds you of His promises to you (for the future, from the past, or ones that are meant for the present)! You'll see that God is truly good. I hope an pray that the searching you do of God's Word gives you hope and assurance, and fills your heart with praise!

Here are some of my favorites:

"This God--His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?--the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights...You have given me the shield of Your salvation and Your right hand supported me." Psalm 18:30-35

"I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path to life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forever." Psalm 16:7-1

"O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes--it has also gone from me...But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer." Psalm 38:9-10

"Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life...I will give thanks to your name , O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me from every trouble..." Psalm 54:6b-7a

Until next time,

Kasey