Uno dos tres quatro cinco

God is great!  I got a scholarship to go on a retreat this weekend.  I only have to pay $50.  I am going to Camp Hashawa Westminster, MD and this is on a complete whim.  I had no plans of this yesterday.  But I'm doing it tomorrow!

Second grreeeaaatt thing:  Pam & Gil are coming from Tampa!  I get to see them TOMORROW.  Pam & Gil led a house church in Tampa that I went to as many Fridays as I could.  It was a great environment where I grew the most.

Thirdly.... I am a vegan for the rest of the month pretty much.  I started a strict diet plan to cut out anything and everything that could cause my stomach to be crazy stupid (which it has been for the past 2 years).  This means no meat, dairy, wheat, citrus fruits, onions, spices, or peppers.  So basically I am only allowed to eat SOME fruits, vegetables, potatoes, rice, and beans. And I have to start drinking 4 bottles of water a day.  Fun stuff guys.  Good thing this only lasts a week because I would die.  Each successive day I'm allowed to add ONE food item so I can see exactly what has been the cause of my crazy adominal pains/vomiting/indigestion/constant state of nausea.   If it isn't food, then we can explore other causes.  We'll see what will become of this.

4thly: FINISHED DR.ZHIVAGO after an entire month of reading it.  Just for fun.  It's the first almost 600 page novel I've ever completed.  I read it so I could watch the BBC miniseries reenactment of it.  I probably would've enjoyed the show had I not read the book.  HOWEVER, I found it to suck.  Immensely.

numero cinco: I think I'm joining Intervarsity's worship team - WOOHOO


En conclusion... (that's spanish for in conclusion!).......
Be praying that God heals my stomach!  I believe he can!  Pray for my morale, as I am slightly hungry and slightly irritated.  Pray for my faith to INCREASE, my joy to AUGMENT, and my blessings to MULTIPLY.

Oh and pray for Jacob.  A guy kneeded him in the chest and he bruised it REALLY bad and had to go to the doctor. 

MUCH LOVE,
Katrina Doyle

FEAR OF THE LORD

SO.  Tonight at JHOP, I was stricken with the fear of the Lord.  Worship was incredible as always, and then all of a sudden a terrifying conviction overwhelms me.  I am evil.  I say that I want to proclaim God's name and I want him to bring revival, but I am too scared to fully witness to anyone.  I am full of pride.  And full of the fear of man.  I am evil.  Evil.  Evil.  I fell to the ground panting and crying.  Then I smooshed my face to turn away from the worship leaders and hid in a corner between the bathroom and the couch.  I crouched on the floor crying and repenting to God of my sins.  Everything I ever tried to do in my own power was evil.  It was all phony, hypocritical, and full of pride and flesh.  I was full of sin, and I knew it.  And suddenly the message of forgiveness and grace became brand new.  Condemnation and Repentance was a chapter I had skipped in my life, because I grew up in the church knowing that Jesus forgave me of my sins.  But now I trully knew what that meant. 

And then I opened my Bible to Isaiah 62-63. "..... (2) The nations will see your righteousness.  Kings will be blinded by your glory.  And the LORD will give you a new name.  The LORD will hold you in his hands for all to see - a splendid crown in the hands of God.  Never again will you be caleld the Godforsaken City or the Desolate Land.  Your new name will be the City of God's Delight and the Bride of God, for the LORD delights in you and will claim you as his own.  Your children will care for you with joy, O Jerusalem, just as a young man cares for his bride.  Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.  ..... (11)"The LORD has sent this message to every land: "Tell the people of Israel, 'Look, your Savior is coming.  See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.'"  They will be called the Holy People and the People Redeemed by the LORD.  And Jerusalem will be known as the Desirable Place and the City No Longer Forsaken........ [63] .... (7) I will tell of the LORD's unfailing love.  I will praise the LORD for all he has done.  I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel, which he has granted according to his mercy and love.  He said, "They are my very own people.  Surely they will not be false again."  And he became their Savior.  In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them.  In his love and mercy he redeemed them.  He lifted them up and carried them through all the years."

Every single word spoke to me.  So much so, that I can't even explain.  But if you get anything out of reading it then you know what I mean.  Oh how I love God's ministry. 

I was at rebellion against him, and didn't deserve salvation or even his love.  But He gave it to me freely, while I was STILL A SINNER.  And now I am called his Daughter, his bride, his family.  All for the sake of FREEDOM he set me free.  There is suddenly new life to every scripture I know and have read.  All because I was faced with the fear of the LORD.  And now the fear of the LORD overpowers my fear of man.

XOXO,
Katrina Doyle

Wonderful Things - and People.

Wow I've been busy!  But in the best way.  I'm not stressed, nor am I lacking in excitement.  Let me explain.  I've been carving time for just me and God, for me to just rest in his presence.  I'm making prayer a priority, slowly but surely (I'm getting there).  And at the same time I have so many things going on all the time.  Opportunities galore.  School has most of my attention, as I am taking 17 credits and studying hard.  But I am also going to Campus Outreach events, Voice Gospel choir practice (we have a performance next Friday!), Phi Alpha Delta rush (pre-law frat), multiple hang-outs with friends, bible studies, and extra credit events through my Comparative Politics class.  A little side note, Comparative Politics has been a great opportunity in itself.  My teacher gives us extra credit for attending lectures from prominent interest group leaders and policy makers.  Examples include speech and Q&A seminars with the Israeli Major General, the leader of the DC vote movement (DC residents lack voting rights), and more recently today I went to the Israeli and Jordanian embassies (a WONDERFUL experience and I asked lots of questions).  All in all, my schedule is always full of wonderful things but I am trying to make intimacy a priority.  It's hard, but if a college student can do it then ANYONE can.

The weather has been super bi-polar.  One day I am freaking out having to run to the mall to buy my first winter coat because I'm frightened that I will freeze to death.  The next, I am donning shorts and a tee and sun-bathing outside the World Bank.  My favorite is the in-between, when I fell asleep on a quiet hill on the Vern, listening to the birds sing and feeling the nice crisp breeze.

Best part of these past couple weeks is by far the surprise visit from my Uncle Robin and Aunt Giselle, my wonderful neighbors who are family to me.  They chose DC as their family vacation and visited with me the whole time.  What a blessing!!!  We went out to dinner at various metro stops that I had never been to.  My favorites were the Archives, where a trumpet player crooned a gentle ballad as I gaze upon a huge fountain and trees, and Dupont Circle, a wonderland of hip restaurants and beautiful neighborhoods.  The first night they came, they treated me to oysters and I treated them to the Lincoln at night.  The second day, I went with them to the National Museum of Natural History.  The last night we ate in China town.  It definitely wasn't enough.  But it makes me crave them even more for when I come back in thanksgiving.

Downfall: my permanent retainer broke today and I have to get it fixed tomorrow at a random orthodontics office.  It is super uncomfortable but at least I live in a country where I can go down the street and get decent care.  Because it would suck if I was in the Peace Corps right now.  Seriously.   This sucksssssssssss.....

But God makes all things new and He is awesommeeeeeeeee alksdhflaskdjhfalksdjhfalskdjhf !!!!!!*&^(*!&^!^!!!!

I'm crazy.  Pray for me.
Katrina.

THIS IS COLLEGE

I am sorry that I haven't posted in forever.  A lot of new things have been happening!  Let's start with my new church.  It is called NewSong.  I found out about it through the President of Intervarsity GWU, Billy, who told me his experiences with IHOP (International House of Prayer), discipling with Lou Engle, and working at JHOP (Justice House of Prayer).  I decided to go with him to his church because I had a good feeling that wherever he was happy, I would probably be happy as well.  And when he told me that Lou Engle and Mike Bickle sometimes spoke there, that was the icing on the cake.  So I go and it is freaking AMAZING!  Five minutes in, and I start to cry because I feel like I've found my home.  The congregation is relatively small, similar to MorningStar.  And the worship is incredible.  I could sing forever in that place.  The worship leaders were all so humble and prophetic and moved with the flow of the Holy Spitit.  The whole freakin church is prophetic.  Everyone is so encouraging and has words of knowledge and visions.  Miracles happen at this church.  People get healed.  One guy shared a testimony of praying for a guy who had been in a cane for 17 years and he suddenly was able to walk normal again.  No more pain.   The congregation is teeming with young adults and college age kids.  It's awesome!  What was more, the message was so good that I think I took more notes then I have ever taken notes on a sermon.  He talked about getting past the miracle and encountering the nature of God, that you can be so trained in what you think God is going to do that you miss it when he shows up.  He reminded me that faith is something we can't see.  Anyway, it was a great sermon and spot on for everyone in the room.  Afterward, they allowed people to come up to be prayed for.  These people prayed with such power and conviction, that prophetic messages were coming down and the Holy Spirit filled the room.  AFTER church, I met the most amazing people - so fun, so honest, so encouraging.  Everyone that was on the "church bus" - that is the bus that shuttles us from GW - ate lunch at my FAVORITE restaurant in DC, Founding Farmers.  I LOVED NEWSONG!  I am going back this Sunday.

On the WAY to church, on the "church bus" that leaves from GW, I met a fellow freshman named Esther.  We had a lot in common and we both love IHOP!  We've hung out and studied and I hope to continue our friendship.

On Tuesday, the really exciting event I had been waiting for finally came.  Campus Outreach put on a mini-lecture called "Are all religions basically the same?"  and I found it very enlightening for Christians and especially non-Christians.  A LOT of people came and the gospel was shared in Thurston Hall!

Speaking of the Gospel in Thurston Hall, I shared the gospel with two girls for 5 or 6 hours in the piano lounge of Thurston a week before the event.  God is moving!

I started my internship with U.S. - Arab Relations.  It wasn't too long of a meeting.  After that, I went to a lecture led by the Israeli Major General speaking on the Peace Process.  I found it very vague and unenlightening.  But I know that there will be more opportunities for me to hear from important people, hopefully better than his superfluous speech.

One thing I personally need to pray and study upon is my take on the Israeli-Palestini conflict.  I want Israel to be a nation, a strong and safe nation, one that hopefully will get to keep Jerusalem.  However, I feel like national security isn't a good enough reason to marginalize and abuse an entire people group.  In international politics, there isn't ever a fully RIGHT side or WRONG side (with the expection of Nazi Germany and the Jews, etc.).  In every situation there are complexities.  There are injustices imposed upon either side.  Israel isn't the sheep and Palestine the wolf.  Israel has to account for stripping many Palestinians of human rights, democracy, places to live, equality, and even life.  However, Palestine needs to shut up and deal with Hammas and other terrorist groups within its own people before they can expect to see any change.  In international politics, there is give and take, not right and wrong.  And so I am trying to reconcile these thoughts with the feelings of the church.  The Church wants Israel to remain its own nation and Palestine to live within its borders.  However, I feel that there are too many polarizing cleavages between the people groups (polarizing cleavages meaning characteristics that pull people toward different parties are so stark in the population that no two people have cross-cutting cleavages, unlike America where you can have a black Republican and a white business owner Democrat) that Israelis and Palestinis will not be able to live together in one nation without stripping one of the other of human rights and democracy.  I hope that somehow Palestine can agree on living in a segment of land so it can be sovereign, have statehood, and engage in free trade (which is a major reason they want statehood) and Israel can be the beautiful nation it is.  Anyway, God is in control and he knows what's best.  It doesn't matter what I think.  It matters what he says.  I learned from JHOP (Justice House of Prayer) tonight that we need to at the very least protect and pray for Israel, because it is a nation of our brothers and sisters and God's children. 

JHOP was freaking awesome.  I love these amazing people.  We prayed for our nation, Israel, each other, the church, and worshipped 99% of the time.  Three people spoke over me so much truth and I am ready to let God take me into a new season.  These are the prophecies spoken over me -

1.  You are in a season of rest
2.  God has so many opportunities and open doors planned for you in the future, but right now is your season of rest and he won't take you into that new and busy season until you learn to rest in him now.
3.  You are in a season of resting in your identity in HIm
4.  You are in a season of identity, learning who you are in Christ.  He loves you and he wants you to come into agreement of his love for you.
5.  Just rest in the awesomeness that God is and abide in Him.
6.  No more man-made humility, you are taking on the humility of CHrist

Tonight after JHOP I struck up conversation with two random kids and asked them to dinner.  We ate at TGIF and talked for hours.  Then I shared the gospel and we chilled some more.  THIS IS COLLEGE.


PRAYER REQUESTS

1. That I learn who I am
2. That I love God more, by knowing how much he loves me
3. That I have more boldness and learn to STAND
4. My stomach - crazy pains that I often face
5. Test on Wednesday for BIO, papers due on Monday, Economics HW due Monday....aagghhhhdsfasdfasdjfalskdjfa;

LOVE!
Katrina Doyle

P.S. I did NOT check for spelling or grammatical errors or incoherencies, but I hope you got the gist of what has been on my heart!

Shine, Shine, Let it Shine

Life here on earth is so short.  I was reminded that when our pet starfish Larry died the morning after we acquired him (BACKSTORY: Roommates and I went to a Japanese kareoke bar, ate sushi & sang, saw baby starfish in an aquarium, bar owner heard our excited squealing & grabbed one of the starfish and put him in a cup of sea water).  So why is it that I have more Fear of Man than Fear of God when it comes to evangelizing in my school?  Yes, it is VERY liberal and most are atheist/agnostic or devout Jews/Muslim, but that should mean the need is GREATER not LESS!  Our lives here are shorter than Larry's life in that cup.  The bible says in a blink of an eye, the last trumpet will sound (1 Corinthians 15:52).  It is imperative I stay in intimacy with the Father and LET his light shine, not hide it or try and create my own pseudo-light.  And so I am encouraged to take bolder steps even in this time of everything being new for me, not quite knowing everyone, and yet treat people like my brothers and sisters.  College is great, but I do miss home.  The people here I've met who shared my experiences and love God as well are amazing....

Movie night

On our way to church

Much Love,

Katrina :)



 

Ouch

Last night, I went with my friends to the Lincoln Memorial around 1ish.  On the way, we came upon a circular fountain.  Donna jumped across the mote onto the cement middle part.  Her brother did the same.  So THEN, I try.  All of them are like "Katrina!  Be careful!  Don't get hurt!"  But I insist.  So I jump and land barefoot with the most extreme force into the mote, bruising the bottom of my feet, bruising and scraping my knee, and soaking my shorts.  I'm screaming "Oh SSSSHIIIIIIITTTT!" at this point.  Everyone is crowding around trying to check me out.  So then a guy comes out of the bushes after smoking a joint with his friends.  "Are you okay?!" he asks and jumps to the middle.  His friend asks me if I'm intoxicated and doesn't believe me when I say I don't drink.  Donna's brother carries me out and we laugh all laugh.

Then, I ate a chicken quesadilla on the Lincoln Memorial.

FUN NIGHT! :)

YAY!

I got my mom's laptop charger in the mail today, so I can charge my laptop!  She is an angel! :)  Well these past couple days have been awesome.  I had an amazing lunch yesterday with Lauren, the Campus Outreach Girl's leader (she works here).  She really spoke amazing truth into my life when I was feeling down.  I also went to Campus Outreach's first worship event, had an amazing time in my Comparative Politics listening to my passionate activist teacher (as always), and was able to talk to all four of my roommates about GOD.  Yesterday, I had a great movie night with the girls from Campus Outreach.  Today, I ate at the new Whole Foods wonder emporium with Donna, went to Jazz band practice, went to the National Art Gallery, and now I am about to watch a movie with my roommate Rithika!

Prayer Requests: That I become bolder in preaching the gospel