Tag Archives: love

The one for the secret to a long marriage

We have been together since we were young, dumb, teenagers. After five years and a half years of being together and one FULL year of marriage sometimes I think about how we’ve made it this far – it’s INSANE to think that he’s stuck around with me this entire time….

I know the typical responses from every single forum or blog on the internet always say “Don’t go to bed angry” or the “Always say I love you when they leave”

Do you know how many times we went to bed angry? How many times we’ve hung up because it’s just easier to click the button than to keep having a “pointless” conversation.

We try not to make it a habit but guess what…all the “secrets”? We have broken them. M A N Y times.

The secret to a long lasting marriage or relationship is that there is no secret at all.

It’s a get up and try again over and over every single day.

It’s hanging on tight when you are in college and living on frozen dinners because it’s all you can afford.

It’s counting pennies when you are newlyweds so that you can build a life together for your future family.

It’s about knowing that nothing is going to turn out perfect, that your marriage won’t be a highlight reel because that’s not real life.

It’s being deep in the trenches of so many obstacles and every plot twist that life could throw you and getting to look over and know that you aren’t alone and that your best friend is walking it with you.

It’s knowing that you can never be prepared for the burdens you might have to help your partner carry but knowing that you are willing to carry it right alongside them.

Just try every single day, in the trenches and on top of the mountains don’t ever stop. Because stopping, that’s one thing that isn’t a secret, it will make you fail.

Dustin, I’ll never stop. Happy First Anniversary.💗

The one for the love of god

The overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God. Man, doesn’t that sound amazing? Think about it – N E V E R ending. That’s amazing knowing someone so powerful loves you unconditionally, F O R E V E R.

Sometimes. usually on my way home from work jamming some Lauren Daigle. I become so overwhelmed by how amazing God really is. I’ll be ugly crying and singing hoping I don’t get pulled over because I’m a H O T M E S S. To be completely honest, that’s one of the best feelings in the world. As I pull into my driveway I feel weightless – like I’m floating.

I am loved by the one who hung the moon. I am enough for the Maker of the Mountain. I am known by the one who hung the sky. He knows M Y name. He built this amazing world, and he thought that it needed M E in it. That is so overwhelming, and it is so A M A Z I N G.

Have you ever had a reckless friend? One who drives like she’s running from the cops? One that trusted everyone in the world despite everyone’s advice otherwise? Yes? Me too. But, I swear, I loved that friend more than anyone else in this world. That’s how God is with us. “Girl have you lost your mind?!” But, he loves us anyway. He loves our reckless not-so-right-in-the-headed selves because his love has N O L I M I T S.

Lord, thank you for loving us unconditionally. Thank you for loving us no matter how reckless we are. Thank you for overwhelming us with your never-ending glory.

<< For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 >>

the one for Facing Fears

When you step into your fears and pursue your passion, you’ll discover that the fear that resides in the back of your head – more often than not is more terrifying than the task at hand.

The task itself – usually is not too scary that’s because God is with you always, and he will N E V E R forsake you. This means that no challenge will ever be too hard to win, no obstacle will be too difficult to overcome.

If you focus on God’s voice and ignore the fear you can sense in your head and ignore the fear of those around you…you’ll reach heights higher than you ever thought could before.

God gives you strength. God gives you courage. Fear will always be there, and that’s okay. Because it’s your job as a child of Christ to step into your passion despite the fear screaming inside of your head.

It’s your job to rise to new heights despite the fear of your loved ones.

You are special, talented, unique beyond measure, and perfectly equipped to achieve your purpose in Christ.

Thank you Lord, for being with us everywhere we go. Thank you for not leaving us, and for never abandoning us. We believe you are here with us. Even when we are terrified, even when we are discouraged. Even when we think we can’t make another step. You are with us. Help us to focus on your voice whenever we are scared.

Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.

the one for when you need to Recognize Your Worth

Let’s all take a minute and look into our hearts. How do you feel about yourself?

If you don’t feel like you are amazing, valued, one-of-a-kind then I highly recommend that you sit down with Christ and talk to him.

We need to begin looking at ourselves the way God looks at us. When we study God’s word we will find out that we are precious, created in our mother’s womb by God’s own hand. We were not an accident. We are valuable, we have worth, we are gifted, we are talented, and we have a purpose on this earth. We are the child of the one true king!

We don’t need to let feelings rule our lives anymore. Let’s take a step of faith and start improving our quality of life today. Believe that you make good decisions, that you are a valuable person with a great future, and something good is going to happen to you today!

Lord, we ask you to imprint your love into the depths of our hearts. We believe that you have a great future planned for us and that we can walk in your purpose..

“…you are precious and honored in my sight” Isaiah 43 : 4

the one for Grace.

Grace.

This word has a special place in my heart. For many reasons, this word will always be a major part of my life.

* Grace, my sweet girl, my aunt/niece/pretty much daughter depending on how I’ve introduced her to you. (she’s really my aunt, yes, she’s only four..long story) This girl. I cannot even begin to describe how important this girl is to my life. She saved me, she was and is my saving grace. When her daddy, my Pawpaw died, I didn’t think I was going to make it through, but that little girl, the little girl I helped raise – she was always there. She made me smile, she took my mind off of things, she gave me a reason to be strong. I still struggle, almost daily with not having Pawpaw in my life..and every time it creeps up in my mind, I wipe my tears away and I see her, I see Grace and I smile through the pain. She’s not with me, she’s at home, surrounded by the abundance of love (and children) at her house. She is my Grace, my saving Grace; and will forever be such a huge part of my life. *Also today is her birthday so Happy Birthday Princess, I love you*
* Grace. Graceful, something I’ve been called my entire life – served with a HUGE side of sarcasm. I get it from my mama, and well..every other woman in my family. This is probably a little silly to some, but my “gracefulness” is a constant reminder to me. What’s it remind me of? The fact that I’ll never become a tight rope walker, or a good walker in general honestly; but really, it reminds me of who I come from, of where I come from. I like to know that my family has strong genes. Our blue eyes, blonde hair, strong faith, and an innate amount of clumsiness. It is comforting to know that regardless of my last name changing, moving to a new town, embarking on an entire life of my own I still have my blue eyes, strong faith, and my abundance of grace.
* Grace. Just Grace. Our Lord has been so gracious to us. He’s sent his one and only son to die on the cross for us. He’s forgiven us for all of our sins. He’s even given us an entire book on how to live our life. I mean come on, he gave us a handbook!! He’s given us life, given us a purpose, and a future. He’s given us dogs..honestly what more could you ask for? In all seriousness, we’ve messed up. Again, it’s Katie speaking captain of the struggle bus, I know i’ve messed up – millions of times. I have lied, I have cheated, I have envied, and I could keep going. Yet, he still extends grace to us. He gives us another chance – he offers us forgiveness and redemption. How lucky are we?

Lord, thank you for being so gracious in SO many ways. Thank you for continually extending grace to us. Thank you for forgiving us, and redeeming us. Help us to extend grace to others – so that way can be more like you.

| For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 |

the one for relationships

We hear these verses constantly. At weddings, in church, on that super cute couple’s Instagram page. We always associate these few verses as if they belong solely to relationships. I’m not saying they don’t or that they shouldn’t. I actually have a sign with the verses hanging in my living room next to our marriage certificate – so I promise that’s by no means what I’m saying.

These verses shouldn’t only apply to our relationship with our significant other, it should also apply to our friendships, to our relationship with Christ.

When God is working in our lives, when he is closing doors left and right and we’re just so frustrated with the world – and we don’t know what to do. • “Love is patient, love is kind” • Remember – we love Him, we’re so thankful for his sacrifices for us. We need to be patient because he tells us time and time again that he has plans for US. He knows what he’s doing, and we need to quit losing sight of that.

When God blesses someone else’s life – wether it be a promotion, or an engagement, or a pregnancy. • ”It does not envy” • God is working on you, don’t worry about what he’s doing for others. I’m preaching to the choir right now, let me go ahead and tell you I have a season pass on the struggle bus when it comes to this; and I know we’ve all struggled with this at least once, we’re human, it happens. But, remember our time will come darlings, and when our time does • “it does not boast” • Try to remember…someone is looking at you right now praying, begging for a blessing to come their way. Don’t flaunt it – but tell them of times you were envious – of times you begged for a change — give them faith that their time will come – just like ours.

It is very easy today, to see someone acting “wrong”, and for us to get underneath that facebook post and just blast them for not being Christ-like…to tell them that they are acting wrong, and that it is just unacceptable. It’s easy to do a good deed, then turn around and post it all over facebook because you’re looking for the Glory that comes along with it. We should do good things, we should use our faith to remind others of what Christ is – of who HE is, not for likes and comments and replies under our post. • It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ” •

• It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” • This verse. It gets me every time. We should always protect the Word of God, we should always trust that HE will take care of us, we should always hope that can be worthy of the ultimate sacrifice that HE gave to us. Lastly, we should always persevere. No matter what is thrown our way, no matter what obstacle, what tragedy, what heartbreak we encounter. We can and we will preserve with God at our right side walking us through the fire. We shall prevail – because with him, we have it all.

Lord help us to use this passage to not only grow our earthly relationships – but help us to use this as a guide for our relationship with you. Help us to have faith, patience, and hope. Teach us your ways.

| “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 |