November 2021 – Encouragement for you!!

A prayer and a song

Published on November 27, 2021 by katiesencouragementforyouLeave a comment

The song, All Things New, keeps running through my mind, so I thought I would share it with you all. As I went to look for it on Youtube—I found the backstory of this song–

From Mike Weaver: “We wrote the song ‘All Things New’ as a prayer over my dad as he was dealing with pulmonary fibrosis. My mom said he would listen to the demo of it over and over again. Little did I know that would be the last song I wrote that my dad would get to hear…this side of heaven. I believe the moment he took he last breath here, was just the beginning of how real the meaning of this song is for him now in the very presence of Jesus. Because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross…our broken places are not the defining words spoken over us. Our brokenness is an incredible opportunity for the redeeming work of Jesus to be shown in our lives. So, even in the darkest moment, we can say in faith…from the ashes, from the dust, I will rise up because of Jesus who makes all things new.”

I hope this song encourages somebody today!!

[Lyrics] All Things – Big Daddy Weave:

I’ve heard You can take what’s broken and make it whole again

Well, here’s the pieces of my heart, what can You do with them?

‘Cause I can’t hold them all together anymore

So I let them fall surrendered to the floor

You make all things new

God of mercy and love

Do what only You can do and make all things new

Only You can bring such beauty from the depths of all my pain

Only You can take this shattered heart and make it beat again

Oh, You hold us all together in Your hands

I surrender all I have and all I am

You make all things new

God of mercy and love

Do what only You can do and make all things new

From the ashes, from the dust I will rise up, rise up

Out of darkness into the light I will rise up, rise up

From the ashes, from the dust I will rise up, rise up

Out of darkness into the light I will rise up, rise up

You make all things new

God of mercy and love

Do what only You can do and make all things

All things,

You make all things new

Give Thanks

Published on November 24, 2021November 25, 2021 by katiesencouragementforyou2 Comments

We are approaching Thanksgiving—the day we have set aside as a nation to give Thanks to God for all the blessings He has bestowed on us—as a country and as individuals.

I want to share a video in which people discuss giving thanks to God during one of the most stressful and tragic events of their lives at that time—the Great Thompson flood. Why—you may ask, is this a timely video?

I believe our country is going through a stressful and tragic event right now. People are suffering physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually. Our nation is suffering. The world is suffering.

In this video—a few people retell the events of July 31,1976—the night of the Great Thompson Canyon Flood, in Colorado. 7 women on staff with Cru lost their lives in that flood. A total of 144 people lost their lives in that flood, and 88 people were injured.

Ney Bailey said that she almost lost her life 3 times in this flood. She said that when she and some others got to a safe place –they prayed, they thanked God. She quoted the verse, “In everything give thanks because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thess. 5:18

Later in the video, Ney said, “We become bitter to the degree that we don’t give thanks.” She also said, she did not feel thankful for the flood at the time, and she does not feel thankful for the flood now, but with her will she chose to give thanks to God.

Another thing that struck me, was that they talked about how each of the 7 Cru staff women that died, had been prepared to see the Lord—that God was getting them ready.

We saw this with our son Sean’s life—each of our sons and my husband testified at his funeral—that the last year of Sean’s life, he was serious about his walk with God—making decisions on his own—to draw close to the Lord. I have seen this in other loved ones’ lives as well—that God prepared them to see Him before they died. That is such a comforting thought to me.

Is there any encouragement in this? I think there is—and I think we can find it in the example of other people of faith, and how they reacted during a time in their life where they faced death or faced the death of a loved one.

What did they do? They gave thanks. They did this because God tells us to give thanks in all things.

Why? Because God is King over all—He is King over the floods of our lives—He is using everything for good for us. Psalm 29:10 Romans 8:28

I have found this thought to be true in my own life.

So, this Thanksgiving, let us choose to give thanks to our God in all things!!

Hoping you find encouragement from this video—I have watched it several times—and it never grows old!!

I hope you all have a Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!!!

The Lord Reigns Over The Flood

This was the ad placed in newspapers across the country after the Flood.

A Time of Shaking

Published on November 21, 2021 by katiesencouragementforyou7 Comments

I have recently come through a time of shaking. Do you know what I mean by that? Another blogger, Bill Sweeney, (who has gone home to be with the Lord), has a website called, “Unshakeable Hope”, (His wife has posted some blogs on this site since Bill passed).

In one of his blogs, he wrote about how he was living the dream—a beautiful wife, and daughters, a lovely home, a job he loved—when he was diagnosed with ALS—and given 2 – 5 years to live. (The above picture is one of his family–before his diagnosis.)

Bill stated that he was shaken—and he quoted a verse that talks about shaking—“” . This….. denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Hebrews 12:27 He said that God uses the bad things that happen to us, (not that God causes the bad things that happen), to shake the things out of our life that can be shaken away, so that only the unshakeable things remain. The unshakeable things are the eternal things—that will last forever.

I love that—I love that thought—I don’t love the reality of it happening. It is uncomfortable, often emotionally painful—sometimes physically painful.

The past couple of weeks have been one of those shaking times—and it is not over—no—there promises to be more shaking to come.

So how am I dealing with this shaking time? Not well. I haven’t written. I haven’t thought I had anything worthy to share. But that is not true. One of the best things about this time, is that I have learned I have really important things to share.

What have I learned? I have learned that I have certain habits, that I go to—to feel loved, and accepted. God actually made me with these needs—to be loved and accepted. He made you with those needs as well. Did you know that babies in orphanages—who are not held and talked to—actually die? We were all made to be loved and accepted.

We also have ways that we meet these needs—apart from going to God to meet these needs. For instance—food, and over-indulging in food, has been a huge way for me to comfort myself and try to meet those needs. If I look at that logically—that seems ridiculous that food could ever fill me up emotionally—in fact—if I looked at this logically—I would see this as the lie it is. However, I have believed this lie for many, many years.

Instead, God wants me to believe the truth—the truth is what God sees. The truth is what God says.

God says, I am loved already. (John 3:16, Jeremiah 31:3, Galatians 2:20); God says I’m accepted already. (Romans 14:3, Romans 15:7); God says I’m forgiven already. (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 2:13, 1 John 2:12) Jesus died so that I could know God, and receive God’s love, acceptance and forgiveness. When I accepted what Jesus did for me and asked Jesus to come into my life—Jesus came in, (Revelations 3:20) He forgave me, (Ephesians 4:32) He made me a child of God, (John 1:12) He gave me eternal life. (1 John 5:11-13) He made me a new creature in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I may not “feel” those things. That doesn’t matter. What matters is that what God says is true, and what God sees is true. I can believe what God says and what God sees, even if I don’t “feel” it, even if I’m not experiencing it. This is what faith is—choosing to believe what God says and what God sees, even if we don’t “see it”.

This is what God has been showing me—He is the rock I’m standing on—even when all my hope is gone—He is faithful forever—and I know He’ll never let me go. (I just quoted the words from this song—which I just love by the way.)

So, yes—I’ve been shaken—and God is the rock!!!

I am praying my story of being shaken—will encourage you!! Much, much love from the Father to us all!!

Angels Among Us

Published on November 3, 2021 by katiesencouragementforyou11 Comments

Have you ever thought that there might be angels dwelling among us? Scripture tells us that angels do exist, and they are God’s messengers and servants.

When I was in my twenties, I think I may have seen and been protected by angels. I was on staff with Cru, a Christian organization. I was working with college students, and I was on a summer project in Virginia Beach.

One beautiful summer evening, I noticed a crowd gathering in front of the house in which we lived. Two sailors were duking it out in front of our house.

I went over to the two men, (by this time they were on the ground, and one was on top of the other, pummeling the other man.) I grabbed the man by his shoulder, yanked him to face me, and shouted in both men’s faces, “I want you to stop fighting, and I want you to stop fighting now!”

As I did this, a knife, (which I had not seen beforehand), scattered into the side of the road. Suddenly, two huge men–came to help. One man had blonde hair, the other had black hair; they each grabbed a man, and held their arms behind their backs. Both sailors continued to struggle and tried unsuccessfully to free themselves.

Then from down the street, police on horseback came riding up. They did not seem to notice the two big, tall men holding the sailors. They did not take statements from the big men.

Later, as I was talking to friends of mine, who had been watching the fracas, none of them recalled seeing the two huge men.

I think God sent his angels to protect and serve. I am reading a book right now, that features angels, who are living among us, as ordinary human beings. It is a fictional book, but it has started me thinking about angels. Angels apparently can take human form because Scripture tells us to give hospitality to strangers, as some have entertained angels without knowing it.

I thought an older lady I met on my walks was an angel. When we pass each other, she gives me a smile, that lights up her face. It seems that the joy inside her jumps out of her, and every single time, I am reminded of God’s love and God’s joy.

The last time I saw her, I stopped to talk with her. My, was she tickled that I thought she was an angel. She owns an antique store—My Best Friends Antique Store in Blanchard. (FYI: The last time they are open this season is November 4, 5 and 6^th from 10 am to 5pm.)

We had a great conversation; I told her I’d like to write a blog about her and took her picture, (which she said I could use in this article), and we exchanged contact information. I have sent her pieces of my writing, (one of them the article published by HERVIEWFROMHOME), and this is what she had to say to me,

“Katie, I just read the blog posts you sent. You are a beautiful writer and have an amazing ability to see through your own pain and grief to give comfort and solace to others. A precious gift that you share freely. I am honored to have met you.”

I told her that she really was an angel to me—a messenger of God’s love, grace and encouragement.”

So, what is the point of this blog? I think God is continually trying to give us messages—that He loves us and He sees us. He uses beautiful sunrises and sunsets, flowers and flora, birds and bees. Often, He will send a message—in the smile of a baby, a smile of a stranger, and sometimes in protection given by angelic strangers. Over, and over again, He shouts to us—I love you! I am with you! If you look—you will see what I mean. If you look, you will see not just the Angels Among Us—but the God who is sending messages through them.

May you be encouraged!!