Who Am I? Part 2: John and Romans

Last week could have been a bit of a downer, but when you look at it, it really is a good thing, who we are without Christ. Because knowing who you are without Christ gives you humility and helps you remember that you need God.

But now we get to look at the New Testament and what it says about our identity in Christ.

Romans 8:16 and John 1:12 says that I am a child of God. And that you are too. The verse in John says that all who believe in Christ are the Children of God. I don’t know your story, but some of you who read this have had a bad family life, an abusive or absent father, or likewise. Well, there’s good news for you- the moment you became a Christ follower, God became your dad. And let me tell you, he is the best dad there is. He will never let you down (although sometimes is seems like he did), and he always, always, knows and does what is best for you.  Period.

John 15:15 tells us that we are Christ’s friend. And, you know, sometimes I could use one of those.

I moved recently, and let’s just say it’s been hard to make new friends. And sometimes I just really need a friend and I praise God that he is the best one around. He listens, he doesn’t judge, he never forgets, he is never too busy, and he gives the best advice ever. And if he ever seems too far away, don’t be discouraged, just seek and ye shall find.

The next verse (John 15:16) reveals that we have been chosen and appointed by Christ to bear his fruit. That’s just a fancy way of saying we’ve been chosen to live like him, but the meaning is clear. In the Bible it also says you “know a tree by the fruit it bears”, and what it means is this; you can tell who a person truly serves by his actions. (Check out the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:19-23)

Now, it may seem like a lot to try to live like Christ- he lived a perfect life, after all- but Philippians 4:13 declares that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Living like Christ comes one step at a time.

Romans 3:24 proclaims that we have been justified and redeemed.  But not of our own means, no, no, no. But by the grace of God.

Have you ever gotten up early in the morning on gone for a walk while the rest of the world was still waking up?  Or sat on the porch and watched the sunrise with a hot drink and a prayer in your heart? Or maybe you’ve risen out of your covers like a dead man come to life in the middle of the day after going to bed at 2 and laying there until 4?  At any rate, there has probably been a time in your life where you’ve felt that you were literally breathing in God’s grace.  The world so bright (possibly blindingly bright), the air so fresh, and your body, heart, and soul so rested. Well, every day God’s grace is completely new, and so are you. And you are redeemed.

Romans 5:1 tells us some of what the last verse said- we have been justified, completely forgiven and made righteous, and am at peace with God. Basically, this says that we have a clean slate- with God and everyone.  All my sins are off the table- poof! Gone. Forever. Yes!

Hey you- yes you! Can you hear me? God does not have a bone to pick with you- he doesn’t want to punish you or put you down. You are at peace with God and he with you.  He wants to build you up and love you and teach you. Amazing, isn’t it?

Next- Romans Chapter 6- is full of Good News. Verse seven declares that we have been freed from sins rule. We are free! I don’t know about you but that word- free- makes my want to shout for joy. But then again, this whole thing makes me want to celebrate- I’m not under sins rule! No more lying, addictions, secrets, shame, greed, anger, any of that! Satan has no hold over me. Isn’t that something worth celebrating? I think so.

Verse 18 and 22 tell us that we are slaves of righteousness and slaves of God. I can hear what you’re thinking- being a slave is not something to be glad about. But you’re looking at it the wrong way- Sin was a horrible master, no freedom, all punishment, all shame and manipulation with promises of riches, pleasures, and happiness. And the slaves who actually get those things are brought down by emptiness and aimlessness and are trapped by their riches or pleasures. But God, oh he is a good master. He is full of love, understanding, forgiveness, freedom, grace, and true joy. He doesn’t promise the easy way, but he promises the fulfilling and purposeful way. God bought us from sin with a price, his sons life, and we should be more than happy to give our lives in service as a thank you.

After, Romans 8:1 says that we are forever free from condemnation. There isn’t a whole lot for me to say on this, just that I am overwhelmed with gratitude when faced with this. I am free from being condemned, I am no longer judged, I am clean. Verse 17 says that we are heirs of God and a co-heir with Christ- and our inheritance is the kingdom of God, everlasting life, never ending joy and peace, unfailing love, and so much more.

Romans 15:7 may hit home the most for me. It says the Christ has accepted us. Plain and simple. Nothing we’ve done could’ve made him do it- he simply did and it is the most amazing thing.

God, the creator of the universe, the maker of everything, knows everything you’ve ever done or thought, and he accepts you. You don’t need to care what others think- the most perfect being ever has accepted you.  In eternity, you get to sit at the ‘cool’ table. Nothing could be more precious or awesome.

What verse(s) meant the most to you? Let us know in the comments!!

Join us next week for part 3!!

Kate <3

Who Am I? Part 1: Without Christ

In the past year, I’ve learned a lot about my identity with- and without- Christ.  And he is still teaching me today.

It sort of started with the Matthew West song “Hello, My Name Is”- I found strength in that song, and it was just a fun song in general.

But what I had to learn first was who I am- or was- without Christ.

In John 4:10b, Jesus says that he is the living water, in John 6:35 he tells us he is the bread of life, and in John 14:3 he says he is preparing a home for us in heaven.

And without God we don’t have any of those things- and you know what that makes us?  Homeless, hungry, and thirsty.  Sure, we have physical food, water, and shelter- but without God we have none of those things in eternity.

Without God we are also broken, dirty, sinful, wounded, lonely, and desolate.

But thank the Lord he didn’t stop there- he sent his son to save us, to heal us, to clean us, to commune with us, and to fill us up.

I am lower than low without Christ, but that shouldn't discourage us- in fact it should teach us humility to remember that we are nothing without the God we love and serve.

And who are we when we are in Christ?  Come back next week to find out J

Thanks for reading!

With love, Kate

5 Moments You Have With Little Kids

Hey, it's Kate!

So this week has been a little crazy-

Emma and Bailey (and Family) are on their way to Disney Land for a few days, and we are dog sitting their two Beagles. My Grandparents just returned from their mission work overseas, my dad went back to Chicago for a few days for work, and I went to youth group for the first time.

But the icing on the cake was Saturday afternoon.

I was babysitting so my parents, grandparents, and aunt and uncle could go look at some RVs. During naptime my little sister, Sophie, found some acrylic paints and silently painted herself (from the tips of her hair to the bottom of her feet) and a 4 by 4 (or possibly 6 by 6) foot area of carpet in my closet/bedroom.

She came downstairs covered in what looked like mud. I sent Julia upstairs to check out my room, while I took Sophie outside to hose her off. Not only had she covered all her skin in paint, but she had covered both sides of her clothing in it too.

After rinsing her off, I went upstairs and proceeded to scrub the paint out of my carpet for two hours- and eventually had some help from my Uncle once they returned from RV shopping. (Hint: get the carpet soaking wet, and use tons of carpet cleaner and rubbing alcohol.)

It wasn't funny at the time, but now that I look back at it, it was pretty funny. And that, actually, brings me to the first of 5 moments you have with little kids.

1. The disaster
The most typical version, and often the first, is when they take their poopy diaper off and rub it everywhere.  Other times its food, nail polish, markers, juice, or any number of other things. At the time you panic, but oftentimes the memory brings laughter or at least a smile.

2. So Sassy They're Funny
You know you shouldn't laugh, but sometimes, you can't help it.
Once a few years ago, my mom told Sophie (who was maybe two at the time) to close the door that led from our laundry room to our garage. She replied "Ne-ver." with her hands on her hips and an almost comical sassy face. It was priceless, and we still laugh about it.

3. Inside Jokes
I wasn't really sure what to call this, but we all know what it is. The funny words, the jokes, and the laughter that follows.
For example, my cousin Will (on my dad's side) says "Poof peef!". Its usually followed by a lot of laughing and/or another word- like "Poof peef blueberry!"
Also, Lily, Sophie and I will say "I... Love.... YOU!" with one starting it and the other two joining in.  Its adorable and warms my heart, especially when they say it with each other.

4. Mispronunciations
The sweetest thing, and occasionally the embarrassing thing, is when little ones (or not-so-little-ones) mispronounce words.
Sophie would call fries "frockees", coffee "Pockee", and balloons were always "ballalloons".
My cousins Violet (Emma and Bailey's youngest sister) calls Lily "Liddy", and their brother Luke used to say "Iddikulus" instead of ridiculous. And I used to call animals "aminals" and say "Dach you" when I meant "Thank you".
Needless to say, most of these words stuck and we use them often, especially when we're joking around.

5. Their embarrassing moments
These are the stories you hide away and tell to embarrass them when they're older.
My parents occasionally talk about the time I drank out of the toilet (I was three, mind you), or the time I threw my dog off of my buck bed and into the pack-n-play because I couldn't get him down, and he broke his leg (I was three or four, then), or how I'd carry cats around against their will because I loved them even though they didn't love me.
Julia was so stubborn, she wouldn't open any Christmas presents when it was her turn- only when everyone else was going (she was two). She also ate dirt  at my cousins house earlier that year (she swears it tasted good).
The embarrassing stories always bring laughter to everyone (although sometimes the person whose story is being told isn't so happy), and eventually they become a regular family joke.

Little kids can be comedy goldmines, and they're always getting into hilarious predicaments.

What is your favorite Little Kid moment? Tell us in the comments!
And send us an email or message if you have any funny kid stories you want us to share!

Kate <3

Oh, and P.S. We'll be posting a new article every Monday!

5 Reasons I Love the 4th of July

Hi Everyone!
It's Kate here for our first post. It's also the week of the 4th of July.

Emma and Bailey are out here visiting for the weekend, and so is the rest of their family. For the Fourth of July barbeque we made Red Velvet Fudge (recipe from the fantastic blog Vittles and Bits), Red Velvet Cupcakes from a mix (are you sensing a theme here?), sugar cookies (to be topped with strawberries and blueberries later), my dad smoked some pork ribs and made his infamous baked beans (maybe someday I'll do a tutorial!). We also had watermelon, chips, corn on the cob, and lots of other delicious sides made by other relatives and friends.

By the time this barbeque was full swing, we had sixteen kids- seventeen if you count the Emma and Bailey's little brother due in November- ranging from 2-3 months to 16 years old.

On the agenda for the party we had a water balloon war- because with 14, 11, and 4 year old boys, it won't just be a fight- a sprinkler, a kiddie pool, a homemade life-sized board game (designed by Julia). And, of course, fireworks, sparklers, and pop-its to end a long, fun night.

So here's 5 reasons I love the 4th of July.

 1. Everyone matches!
A shallow reason at best, but it's always so fun to see everyone matching and competing to see who is THE MOST patriotic and decked out person at the party. When I was young- probably between 6 and 9 years old- I would dress is red, white, and blue for the whole week of the 4th.  But the crème de la crème of my outfits would be saved for the real event.

 2. Parades
The neighborhood parade was the perfect beginning to the 4th as a kid.
I would get up, have a good breakfast- usually coffee cake made by my dad- and once everyone was ready, we'd go outside and decorate our bikes with streamers, balloons, stars, and sometimes glitter. And then we'd head off to 'Town Center' and meet up with most of the families in the neighborhood to follow slowly behind a fire truck for a few block circuit in a parade.  Afterwards, the fire truck would shoot water out the hose for us to play in, and there'd be free face painting, a park to play at, once or twice there was a petting zoo, and a concessions stand. Finally, around lunch time, the party would wind down and my family would go home to prepare for the barbeque in a few hours.

3. Parties and barbeques.
The music, the food, the 30 neighborhood kids, the water fights, the games, the mosquito bites, and the fireworks. It was- and still is- the life.
The 4th of July barbeque was always the highlight of my summer when I was younger. Ever single one of my friends would show up- I'd estimate anywhere between 15 and 40 kids would be running wild in our backyard and sometimes the yards around it. From afternoon until it was pitch black outside we'd play game upon game upon game. Sometimes they would be games of our own invention, and we had what seemed like endless fun


4. The Food
Everything from hotdogs to hamburgers, to chili, to fruit, to deserts.
My dad makes his infamous baked beans maybe 6 times a year, and they are fantastic- definitely one of my favorite parts of the 4th. I also look forward to stuffing my face with too many chips and deserts, and hoping that my occasionally sensitive stomach would be able to handle it. Oh food, glorious food.

5. The Fireworks
They always seem to put me in a Disney mood. :)
There was, and still is, something magical about fireworks- something that makes you afraid to blink because you might miss something awesome.
When I was younger, a few of the dads would get fireworks and set them off- and all of the kids would sit on the porch railings and laugh as the dads scrambled away from the fireworks before they went off. One year, just as we ran out of fireworks, a stranger pulled over in front of our house and asked if we wanted some free fireworks. Our answer was yes, of course, and that man was forever dubbed the 'fireworks angel'. We still bring him up from time to time and laugh.

The Fourth of July is the highlight of every child's summer, and I, for one, will cherish them always.

What is your favorite thing about the 4th? Let us know in the comments!


Kate <3