Thirst Quenched

Tweeted earlier this week: 

"Almost forgot what it feels like to have my veins flooded with God's presence...a genuine thirst for His goodness won't go untreated."

(https://twitter.com/KatHo_BIE)

That very sentence basically sums up this week.

What I meant by my tweet was that in this past week, I admitted in my heart that overcoming my struggles cannot take place in my own strength. Laying down our pride as a human race is basically counter-intuitive.

Yep. It's true.

Humbling yourself doesn't happen unless there's a damn (did you know "damn" among a few other socially frowned upon words here in America is not considered 'bad' in Australia...mate?) good reason it should.

Australia? What? 

I bet you ten shekels that's how you were when you read that. 

This here is what they call a Floyd.
But not the pink kind.

This chick just got back from a revolutionary 12 months in Australia. Meanwhile I've been in the Midwest. Yeah, let's not talk about it. Before she left for the land down under, were what we like to call "fronds" (opposed to the generic term "friends"...far to ordinary for a kind such as us). There, Abby Floyd attended Hillsong College and engaged in various Jesus promoting, people loving and good news sharing activity.

We met up with "Sing Love" (a collective of Christ followers who sing songs of praise to their Maker) earlier this week before they went on stage to lead hundreds of students into a time of musical worship. Hanging out with Abby always leads to passionate discussions and self-reflection. Hearing about her time in a distant land and seeing how God has molded her heart in that time was a blessing I'm totally unworthy of.

When the band was up, 

we stayed backstage and worshiped 

as individuals in the presence of

 a great God.

During that time of worship I sang to Jesus, who knows the depths of my heart and still chooses to listen to me. Coming into His holy presence in song is a beautiful thing. Even when you're like me and your ability to sing is like that of a wild boar. It's not about your performance, it's about your heart. Contrary to the culture we are surrounded by, being authentic, real and vulnerable is the way this God i speak of prefers it.

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers 

will worship the Father in the Spirit and in the truth, 

for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.

-john 4:23-24

The reason I saw the need to lay down my pride this past week was because, there's no reason not to. Ever. Jesus has given me a new life, a love with no condition and living hope to hold to. The last thing I need is something getting in the way of receiving all He has in store for me-and that something is usually myself. I could spend my life thinking I know what's best for me and reading countless self-help books in hopes to stumble upon something worth living for. 

Or. 

I can realize that this life is much bigger than our  eyes can see and our very being has been crafted with more purpose than we can fathom. 

Humbling myself to be receptive to what God wants to speak into my life was by far the best decision I've made in quite a while. 

It's liberating to hope in The One who never fails even when my flesh does.

And it's awe-inspiring to think that the Creator of the universe has something to say to ears that will hear.

"He who has ears, let him hear"

-Jesus (Matthew 11:15)

Being receptive to what your Maker has in store for you is not being naive.

 It's being wiser than a culture who can't see past themselves.

-BIE

The Maker puts the 'art' in 'heart'

Inspiration flooded my veins this past week.

I become genuinely fascinated with

"the simplest of things" is how most tend to describe it.

"I will wrap my heart around it and treasure it." 

-BIE

As an artist I'm expected to:

create and create and then create while I'm creating.

I don't do that.

Inspirations are created in my heart,

 motivation is then created in my mind, 

then naturally I become a deer in the headlights. 

No, really.

"The worst enemy 

to creativity 

is self-doubt." 

                                      -Sylvia Plath

One of the biggest struggles I tackle daily is self-doubt. 

Those lies I choose to believe about my myself kill the artist within me. 

I was created to create.

Fear is a decision. 

It has no hold on you unless you allow it to.

Thoughtful sketch from a few nights ago

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.

 - 1 Peter 5.6-7

I need to remember that it is not I, myself 

that produces artwork worthy of viewing but 

it's my Creator working through me.

Humbling myself would save quite a bit of 

unnecessary worry and anxiety 

caused by feeling inadequate in the art world. 

After-all, 

this life is not my own.

It belongs to my Maker, 

so when I create, 

I hope to reflect the intentions of my heart.

 And from that, 

glorify Him in some aspect of each piece.

Challenge for self:

-to create fearlessly

Believe!

Believe.

As in, Justin Bieber's Believe Tour 2013.

Didn't see that one coming did ya?

J U S T I N     B I E B E R

I don't think I have ever been this crazy excited for a concert.

And by this I'm referring to the shedding of tears before leaving on the three hour trip to the concert. 

Tears of everything good and wonderful that this world has to offer of course.

While he is the embodiment of pop music today, which I guess is a pretty big deal, this genre of music is not my first choice.

I honestly don't know the reasoning behind my adoration for him but it's evidently there and I'm not ashamed of it!

Erika was gifted two tickets to this show and like the doll that she is, invited me!
 Too bad they were in completely different sections of the United Center!
We approached the ticket booth with our hopeless situation to find out there's nothing they can do about it.
There were these young girls ( I guess I didn't have to specify that the girl was young since it's a Justin Bieber concert...and Erika and myself are probably too old to attend for pure enjoyment) who just happened to be selling tickets for $50 a piece. Which is $10 less than each of our tickets were priced originally. 

These tickets were not only cheaper but the seats were next to each other. 

As they should be if bought as a pair!

We made the decision to buy the tickets, which was probably the best option at the time, but now we had yet another issue on our hands;

we had to sell our original tickets in hopes to be reimbursed. 

Erika volunteered me to be the "scalper" as she called it.
So yes, I pranced around the exterior of the United Center advertising tickets to receive dozens of stares and no interest after they saw where the seats were located. 

We got a couple of people saying they'd find us if they were interested but we just kept walking with more doubt than faith that they'd return. 

But they surprised us. 

They ended up buying the tickets for the original price of $60 each which made us an extra $10!

We get inside, after having scanned our single-entry tickets and thought we'd try the will-call table for any miracle opportunities. With all the hope in me I told the lady I want the "best available". She offered us two floor seats 11 rows away from the stage for $95! In comparison to what fans originally paid for the same seats...THAT was a bargain.

We were so thankful that we could afford this amazing opportunity and also that we got to experience it together.
Because we both know that being a belieber is no joke.

He asked us to stop screaming because he couldn't hear himself play! Hilarious moment.

Thankful that the security guard didn't kick me off the chair until after he passed over me.


Justin puts on quite the show but he wasn't the only one...meet our nameless friends:



These hooligans definitely had a significant impact on our experience.
Dancing with these fellas was hilarious!
Whether it was on the chairs or in the isle we danced until security stopped us.
And then danced some more.
I mean, it's Justin Bieber guys! What do they expect us to do? Merely watch the show?
That's absurd.



Dear Justin,
Thanks for the show!

-Kat

Living Hope

Miracles still happen because our Creator is very much alive.

God keeps His promises. His plans are not to harm us but to take care of us, not abandon us, but plans to give us a future better than we can hope for. 

Trouble is inevitable in this world.

It can be self-inflicted or the outcome of others' intentional or non-intentional choices.

Taylor (right) is a friend of mine who has been hit hard with life's struggles for the past couple years.

There's been glimmers of hope but lately things were beginning to seem hopeless in her eyes.

She called me this week to update me on her current status and it blew my mind how good and faithful God is to His creation even if they have yet to truly know Him.

Knowing Christ isn't about religion guys.

It's about liberation and truly living...

Being able to have genuine hope rather than living by a cliche reminders.

Being in touch with The One who intricately crafted you in His image.

Hope is found when life hurts the most.

This week I needed to be reminded of what Jesus said in John 16,

 He said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

 In this world you will have trouble. 

But take heart!

 I have overcome the world.”

 –NIV


Jesus didn't tell us to "take heart" lightheartedly.
He was literally on His way to being nailed to a tree and He had the heart to tell His friends-

"I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace." 

- The Message Version

In those times where our hearts are most fragile and we are shaken, what message are you amplifying to the world?

This is a question I reflected on this week. 

Am I making much of...the issues? Myself? or am I making much of Living Hope.