When I take my eyes away from facebook or my TV screen for one second and look at Jesus, my heart completely changes.
Song of Solomon 4:9
You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride;
you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
The Ephesians 4 Project
For so long,
the beautiful bride of Christ has had internal battles, cruel and deadly. Churches split off because of disputes,
theological interpretation widens, and denominations form all the time. However, God’s will for us from the beginning
was that we would be united in love and conviction (1 Corinthians 1:10 - 10 I
appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you
agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you
may be perfectly united in mind and thought.). Division comes straight from the pit of hell
(1 Corinthians 13:8 - The enemy’s plan is
to get us into strife ensuring that we not walk in love for love never fails).
I am a Christian. Depending on the circumstance some might call
me a non-denominational. Others would
call me an evangelical. Others, a
charismatic. And others, a fanatic
radical. To me, Christ, and the ones who
know and love me, I am simply a Christ follower who has experienced firsthand
the passionate zealous love of God and in response I passionately and zealously
love my Savior.
As a passionate
truth-seeker and Christ-lover, I never want to be bigoted or biased towards my
own perspective. I believe in absolute truth – that Jesus is God and
that God is love and that all who call on the name of Jesus will be saved from
the due punishment of their sins, etc.
However, I recognize that in religion and faith, especially within
Christianity, truth can get mixed with personal conviction. I think personal conviction is great. I think that there are certain things we
learn from God and His Word that are not to be tossed to the wind just because
someone thinks differently. However, I
also believe we must all be open to the reality that God’s word is true and
even though we may have different convictions on minor details, the entirety of
the Bible must be treated as the inerrant word of God and nothing less. Therefore we can’t hold to our denominations
more than we hold to the Bible. (1 Corinthians 3:3-5 - 3 You are still worldly. For since there is
jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like
mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I
follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul?
Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to
each his task.)
Where I personally can often become biased
is my practice of God’s word and my own personal convictions. Worse is where I am prejudice – where I have false misconceptions about what certain
people believe and judge them accordingly.
I refuse to be another close-minded
Christian, holding faster to my denomination than the inerrant word of God and
the Holy Spirit. I refuse to judge
others just because they worship differently than me and have different
convictions – politically, theologically, etc.
And I refuse to be ignorant to the reality and truth of what it really
is some people believe. That is why I am going to several Christian
ministers, pastors, and priests to understand their denominations and debunk
some of the many misconceptions that are made about them. I don’t want to just ask another peer because
to really get down to the bottom of things, who better to ask than the leader
of the church?
I am going to be sitting down with a Roman
Catholic, a Southern Baptist, an Episcopalian/Anglican, a Lutheran, a
Methodist, a conservative Pentecostal, and a Presbyterian (PCUSA) – the largest
and more theologically liberal of the Presbyterian denominations. These are the denominations I have had the
least contact with (besides SB) and the least understanding (I really and
honestly just don’t get why they believe certain things). But hopefully the outcome of this research
project will grant me better understanding
(Proverbs 2:6: For the LORD gives
wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.) and most of all love for my fellow Christian brothers and sisters (Colossians 3:14
- And over all these virtues put on love,
which binds them all together in perfect unity).
I’m calling this
the Ephesians 4 Project because this chapter is devoted to unity and peace in
the Bride of Christ and living out this love like Christ. I encourage reading it: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%204&version=ESV. As I start on this exciting journey, pray
that I have the courage and favor to see this through, God-willing. But most of all that we as the body of Christ
become to convicted to live an Ephesians 4 lifestyle.
Excited and not sure what to
expect, but stepping out in faith,
Katrina Doyle
Friday, May 11, 2012
DC2FL
Well it's done. I'm moved out, packed up, and waiting in the airport terminal to come home for good! (for the next 3 1/2 months at least) I kissed Thurston (my constant party of a dorm) a bittersweet goodbye, and with tears in my eyes wished my best friends off on an amazing summer. I am in awe of how close I've gotten to some of the people here. They have touched my heart, reached in, shaken something up, and changed me forever. It's as if God himself, indwelled in us Christians via his Holy Spirit, used my friends to minister to me and tell me how much He loves me. From camping to insane prayer meetings to sharing our hearts, I have developed some of the greatest friendships of my life. I can't wait to room with two of my best friends next year - Franny and Rohita. We're going to have a bible study in our room and it's going to ROCK. Smiling to myself now, I am realizing that these goodbyes are only setting the stage for a lifetime of awesomeness - the best is yet to come! And this is only the beginning.
I see DC surrounding me. And I'm not looking at marble-cut monuments or a pencil-like sculpture reaching into the sky. But I see it right now even in this terminal. Because after living here for almost a year, I have a new worldview. God stripped any bit of bigotry out of my bones, put me in situations that made me ask questions and seek answers, and caused me to see through a new lens. I can finally say that I am at that point in my life where I don't know everything! I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING. It's such a freeing statement, and yet it gives me this insatiable obsession for information. Call it college, but I say it's the diversity of DC. So many ideas, so many worldviews. People from all over the world come here to change things, but then they find that they have so much to learn. STORY OF MY LIFE. Well now that I officially don't know everything, I can see how real my passions are, how good and pure my idealistic motives are. I can see them through a critical lens and follow God through every single step, hurdle, and encounter. I'm ready. DC has shaped me, and now I'm ready to shape it.
The truth is, though, DC will have to wait for me for a few months. I'm done with finals, done with work, done with responsibilities, done with stresses, and done with a tiny cramped dorm room - for the time being. Gosh I've been so homesick. I'm ready to go see my family. I want to kiss my sister on the face, embrace my dad in a giant hug, and cuddle next to my mama. And the best part forizzle is no more college food. Good bye PB&J, hello Mom's cooking! I'm ready to see Jacob and cuddle with him for two weeks straight, jam like crazy with his new mandolin and my mediocre guitar skills, and give him a kiss! I'm ready to start a bible study with all my friends back home, and I'm ready to just sit and give God all the praise and all the honor and all the glory. Yes. That'll be the best part of coming home. No more fixed schedules, but just blissful chilltime with my Creator.
Goodbye DC (for now), hello Tampa!
<3 Katrina
I see DC surrounding me. And I'm not looking at marble-cut monuments or a pencil-like sculpture reaching into the sky. But I see it right now even in this terminal. Because after living here for almost a year, I have a new worldview. God stripped any bit of bigotry out of my bones, put me in situations that made me ask questions and seek answers, and caused me to see through a new lens. I can finally say that I am at that point in my life where I don't know everything! I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING. It's such a freeing statement, and yet it gives me this insatiable obsession for information. Call it college, but I say it's the diversity of DC. So many ideas, so many worldviews. People from all over the world come here to change things, but then they find that they have so much to learn. STORY OF MY LIFE. Well now that I officially don't know everything, I can see how real my passions are, how good and pure my idealistic motives are. I can see them through a critical lens and follow God through every single step, hurdle, and encounter. I'm ready. DC has shaped me, and now I'm ready to shape it.
The truth is, though, DC will have to wait for me for a few months. I'm done with finals, done with work, done with responsibilities, done with stresses, and done with a tiny cramped dorm room - for the time being. Gosh I've been so homesick. I'm ready to go see my family. I want to kiss my sister on the face, embrace my dad in a giant hug, and cuddle next to my mama. And the best part forizzle is no more college food. Good bye PB&J, hello Mom's cooking! I'm ready to see Jacob and cuddle with him for two weeks straight, jam like crazy with his new mandolin and my mediocre guitar skills, and give him a kiss! I'm ready to start a bible study with all my friends back home, and I'm ready to just sit and give God all the praise and all the honor and all the glory. Yes. That'll be the best part of coming home. No more fixed schedules, but just blissful chilltime with my Creator.
Goodbye DC (for now), hello Tampa!
<3 Katrina
Monday, April 23, 2012
No place I'd rather be
There's no place I'd rather be
There's no place I'd rather be
There's no place I'd rather be
Than here in your love. Here in your love.
I have decided, at this point, to make prayer a priority. To make intimacy my lifestyle. To worship the God who created me, loves me, saved me, and gives good gifts to me. His presence is so good!
Seeking his face.
There's no place I'd rather be
There's no place I'd rather be
Than here in your love. Here in your love.
I have decided, at this point, to make prayer a priority. To make intimacy my lifestyle. To worship the God who created me, loves me, saved me, and gives good gifts to me. His presence is so good!
Seeking his face.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
The American Slave Trade
Not Quite a Teen, Yet Sold for Sex - Nicholas Kristof
This news story exposes the truth of human trafficking in America. I'm sharing it because we have no excuse to turn a deaf ear or a blind eye to this injustice happening right in our own backyards. This little girl, a normal American kid, went to her friend's house to sleepover after getting in a fight with her mom and was never seen again. She was forced into sex slavery and wasn't allowed to leave. Her pimp emotionally bound her, beat her, brainwashed her, made her feel like she was in trouble, and made daily threats against her life. The story talks about many issues regarding our American blind eye to sex trafficking, how even cops will arrest minors in prostitution when they were trafficked into slavery. How there are no spots for rehabilitation centers for these girls and boys because the need is too high. There's 1000x the need than what is available. And who is fighting for them?
There are so many complexities to injustices in the world. Reading about the stalemate between South and North Sudan is heartbreaking, that ethnic cleansing is still happening and thrives despite the divorce and human rights violations are being committed on both sides. How Hersheys Chocolate uses child slaves to get their cocoa beans. How entire countries run on corruption and dysfunctional division. That's why I am here. To learn about what I can do to be part of the solution. Because problems like these are complex, and none of us can just go in with sword and demand justice (in prayer we can though). HOWEVER, does that mean we just throw our hands up in the air? Oop. Too hard. I don't care enough. Let someone else handle this. I wholeheartedly believe we can't. I wholeheartedly believe that everyone can make a difference, even just by learning about an issue.
Learn about human trafficking in America. It's everywhere. What's more, this is something that can be fought without negative externalities. Better and more informed law enforcement, targeting the pimps and johns and not the prostitutes, criminal trials against the Pimps and the johns - all perfectly feasible goals. Learn about it! Then maybe we can STOP living in our deranged comfortable middle class mindset and pretending like a widespread, networked, global INDUSTRY doesn't exist. It lives and breathes and feeds off of ignorance.
- Katrina Doyle
This news story exposes the truth of human trafficking in America. I'm sharing it because we have no excuse to turn a deaf ear or a blind eye to this injustice happening right in our own backyards. This little girl, a normal American kid, went to her friend's house to sleepover after getting in a fight with her mom and was never seen again. She was forced into sex slavery and wasn't allowed to leave. Her pimp emotionally bound her, beat her, brainwashed her, made her feel like she was in trouble, and made daily threats against her life. The story talks about many issues regarding our American blind eye to sex trafficking, how even cops will arrest minors in prostitution when they were trafficked into slavery. How there are no spots for rehabilitation centers for these girls and boys because the need is too high. There's 1000x the need than what is available. And who is fighting for them?
There are so many complexities to injustices in the world. Reading about the stalemate between South and North Sudan is heartbreaking, that ethnic cleansing is still happening and thrives despite the divorce and human rights violations are being committed on both sides. How Hersheys Chocolate uses child slaves to get their cocoa beans. How entire countries run on corruption and dysfunctional division. That's why I am here. To learn about what I can do to be part of the solution. Because problems like these are complex, and none of us can just go in with sword and demand justice (in prayer we can though). HOWEVER, does that mean we just throw our hands up in the air? Oop. Too hard. I don't care enough. Let someone else handle this. I wholeheartedly believe we can't. I wholeheartedly believe that everyone can make a difference, even just by learning about an issue.
Learn about human trafficking in America. It's everywhere. What's more, this is something that can be fought without negative externalities. Better and more informed law enforcement, targeting the pimps and johns and not the prostitutes, criminal trials against the Pimps and the johns - all perfectly feasible goals. Learn about it! Then maybe we can STOP living in our deranged comfortable middle class mindset and pretending like a widespread, networked, global INDUSTRY doesn't exist. It lives and breathes and feeds off of ignorance.
- Katrina Doyle
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Charismatic? Or Biblical?
I have been struggling with something on and off all year. And it gets more and more personal as it affronts me. Because it grew from just awkward encounters with random Christians, to debates with trained and career Ministers, to my inability to explain this concept with some of my closest friends here - Christians at that.
I had a conversation with someone a few days ago and I mentioned my frustration with denominations because it often gives people excuses to deny things that are Biblical or deem things as unimportant, often because they associate them with another practice or denomination different from theirs. My friend respectfully disagreed, saying that the only difference between denominations are a few words in The Lord's Prayer, the way you're baptised, etc. And then the subject changed before I could get bold enough to say what I really meant. I couldn't really say the prime example I have been thinking about all school year, because I thought it would offend all the people I was with. But I'm going to say it now. And if you are reading this friends, know that I am only using the question I brought up the other day as a gateway into the meat of this blogpost. Please don't get offended and know that this is not aimed at you, but at a serious problem in the Church as a whole.
In the most concise words I can put: "Charismatic" is often used to describe the practice of spiritual gifts, encounters with God, and signs and wonders. Spiritual manifestations are even rejected by many denominations of Christianity. This is a huge problem, as spiritual manifestations and the corporate use of spiritual gifts in the Church is biblical. From Genesis to Revelation, people all over the Bible encounter God in radical ways. And people continue to encounter Him today. Speaking in tongues didn't happen once, it became a practice. From Pentecost on, some began speaking in tongues as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Prophecy wasn't just for Elijah and Isaiah. It is a spiritual gift that Paul wishes "we all have". Signs and wonders aren't only allowed in the Bible. They happen all the time today! If you don't know my story of how I was given life from sudden death as a baby after drowning in the pool, how my parents prayed for me in the ER after the doctors declared me done for and my eyes shot open and heart rate monitor started going after AMEN, email me and I will gladly share. It's good news! It's the gospel! Jesus has come to heal! Amen.
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
- Acts 2:17-21
Speaking in tongues, visions, signs, wonders, demons, angels, prophecy, healing - these are all considered "CHARISMATIC". Before I came to this school, I had no idea what the heck charismatic meant. I had to learn from people here what it was because they think I'm weird. I know they haven't experienced the wondrous works God does today. He is the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He doesn't change. Neither does the Holy Spirit. We all have the same Holy Spirit. So why should Biblical concepts like the ones I mentioned above - speaking in tongues, healing, prophecy, etc. be attributed to a certain denomination or practice, thus deauthenticating their purpose?
Paul says that those who do not have the Spirit of the Lord inside of them are not Christians at all (Romans 8:9). Because of this and verse 21 of Acts 2 above, I believe that those who have truly given their hearts to Christ have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of them. The entering of the Holy Spirit occurs at Salvation. Pentecostals will disagree with me on this, but that's because so many people in Acts and the Church today had been Christians for years but never experienced the Holy Spirit. And then revival - which is messy - breaks out and people experience God for the first time. it's natural to think that someone who has been a Christian for years and experiences God for the first time has also received the Spirit for the first time. Maybe, but not always the case. This because so many Christians are told to reject him, Holy Spirit. It's called "quenching the Spirit" and it's a sin. For some, spiritual growth is immediate - Baptism of the Holy Spirit. For some, spiritual growth is gradual. For some, it is stagnant.
This I took from the Southern Baptist Convention's official website -
As scripture says, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom". I love how this concept is said eloquently in Psalms "There is vindication in the presence of the Lord." Yet, so many Christians I know reduce the Holy Spirit to this ambiguous member of the Trinity who is treated more as a mystical "power force" of God, than an actual person of the Trinity. Holy Spirit is real. He is here. He is now. Jesus said "It is better that I leave you because the Comforter (The Holy Spirit) is coming". Jesus knew that it was better for him to leave for a couple thousand years and leave us with the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit is so amazing! Jesus was in a human body. He could only physically be in one place at a time. But the Holy Spirit can live in all of us, in all of our hearts, and operate through and around us.
The Holy Spirit lives inside of you, makes you a new person, and communicates God's word to you. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit gives you power, and the ability to do the same things Christ did and MORE. It's not blasphemy. It's biblical.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12
We have the power to raise people from the dead, heal the sick, cast out demons, and even more. And it's not by our own strength. Oh no no no. This isn't mysticism. This is done in the only name that has power - Jesus. By His blood, I can speak to a mountain and tell it get lost. (Mark 11:23)
The Holy Spirit came down so many times in the Bible, I don't know how many to count! The building of the temple in 1 Samuel, David, Pentecost in Acts, the Samaritan church in Jerusalem, Cornelius in Acts, Revelation. And speaking in tongues didn't happen ONCE. It happened so many times. Paul would write letters to people encouraging them to walk out in spiritual gifts to strengthen and encourage one another. One who has the gift of evangelism, of teaching, of unknown tongues, of prophecy, of mercy........
It hurts. It really hurts. It hurts that I walk in the Spirit and experience the freedom and joy of chains GONE and some of my Christian friends, and Christian leaders that I see, do not experience this same freedom. How do I know they don't? Because many of them constantly still refer to themselves as sinners and struggling to fight sin. Whereas I am not in a struggle against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities of darkness (Eph 6:12). I know that Christ has set me free from my dark sin that separated me from him, and now that I am liberated I walk in this blissful freedom.
It hurts that biblical concepts are deauthenticated and labeled as "charismatic" by so many. When you umbrella the Spirit under an ideology, you avoid it at all costs. It's really upsetting and it hits home because I've been there. I've thought things were weird, thought that some people had faith that was so big it was "unbiblical" to me. But when I experienced the same freedom in the Spirit that they did, I realized how right they were! And so I have grace for those who are still doubtful. So much grace. If anything comes out of this long, drawn out blog entry that is jumbled with so much stuff I just want to say in the most loving way possible: Spirituality is not charismatic; it is part of our Christian life. Don't reject speaking in tongues, visions, prophecy, demons, angels, etc... just because your pastor said that it was "charismatic" and unbiblical or that it CAN'T occur today. That's because they haven't experienced it. They haven't experienced the fullness of the fruits of the spirit - peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, all those! They come with the fullness of my best friend - Holy Spirit! He is so good. Amen.
I had a conversation with someone a few days ago and I mentioned my frustration with denominations because it often gives people excuses to deny things that are Biblical or deem things as unimportant, often because they associate them with another practice or denomination different from theirs. My friend respectfully disagreed, saying that the only difference between denominations are a few words in The Lord's Prayer, the way you're baptised, etc. And then the subject changed before I could get bold enough to say what I really meant. I couldn't really say the prime example I have been thinking about all school year, because I thought it would offend all the people I was with. But I'm going to say it now. And if you are reading this friends, know that I am only using the question I brought up the other day as a gateway into the meat of this blogpost. Please don't get offended and know that this is not aimed at you, but at a serious problem in the Church as a whole.
In the most concise words I can put: "Charismatic" is often used to describe the practice of spiritual gifts, encounters with God, and signs and wonders. Spiritual manifestations are even rejected by many denominations of Christianity. This is a huge problem, as spiritual manifestations and the corporate use of spiritual gifts in the Church is biblical. From Genesis to Revelation, people all over the Bible encounter God in radical ways. And people continue to encounter Him today. Speaking in tongues didn't happen once, it became a practice. From Pentecost on, some began speaking in tongues as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Prophecy wasn't just for Elijah and Isaiah. It is a spiritual gift that Paul wishes "we all have". Signs and wonders aren't only allowed in the Bible. They happen all the time today! If you don't know my story of how I was given life from sudden death as a baby after drowning in the pool, how my parents prayed for me in the ER after the doctors declared me done for and my eyes shot open and heart rate monitor started going after AMEN, email me and I will gladly share. It's good news! It's the gospel! Jesus has come to heal! Amen.
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
- Acts 2:17-21
Speaking in tongues, visions, signs, wonders, demons, angels, prophecy, healing - these are all considered "CHARISMATIC". Before I came to this school, I had no idea what the heck charismatic meant. I had to learn from people here what it was because they think I'm weird. I know they haven't experienced the wondrous works God does today. He is the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He doesn't change. Neither does the Holy Spirit. We all have the same Holy Spirit. So why should Biblical concepts like the ones I mentioned above - speaking in tongues, healing, prophecy, etc. be attributed to a certain denomination or practice, thus deauthenticating their purpose?
Paul says that those who do not have the Spirit of the Lord inside of them are not Christians at all (Romans 8:9). Because of this and verse 21 of Acts 2 above, I believe that those who have truly given their hearts to Christ have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of them. The entering of the Holy Spirit occurs at Salvation. Pentecostals will disagree with me on this, but that's because so many people in Acts and the Church today had been Christians for years but never experienced the Holy Spirit. And then revival - which is messy - breaks out and people experience God for the first time. it's natural to think that someone who has been a Christian for years and experiences God for the first time has also received the Spirit for the first time. Maybe, but not always the case. This because so many Christians are told to reject him, Holy Spirit. It's called "quenching the Spirit" and it's a sin. For some, spiritual growth is immediate - Baptism of the Holy Spirit. For some, spiritual growth is gradual. For some, it is stagnant.
This I took from the Southern Baptist Convention's official website -
There is no official SBC view or stance on the issue. If you polled SBC churches across the nation on the topic of "charismatic" practices you would likely find a variety of perspectives. Probably most believe that the "gift of tongues" as described in the Bible ceased upon the completion of the Bible. Some may view speaking in tongues as a spiritual gift given to some Christians enabling them to communicate the Gospel to foreign cultures in a language the speaker had not known previously. A very small minority might accept what is commonly practiced today in charismatic churches as valid
I don't mean to call out a particular group. Everyone has their faults. But this caught my attention. How could the gift of tongues cease upon completion of the bible? Like I said, God is the same yesterday today and tomorrow. I am not even charismatic. I just was worshipping God one night and then starting speaking in tongues. In a public school worship event. I wasn't at some creepy Apocalyptic basement meeting. It was in the middle of my high school's auditorium. Tell me, anyone, how this is an unauthentic experience. When I speak in tongues, my Spirit "utters and groans things that the mouth cannot" (Romans 8:26). When I don't know how to pray, my spiritual tongues help me out. Through this gift, I've seen people get healed from disease, God's presence fall in a place, and more.
The Holy Spirit lives inside of you, makes you a new person, and communicates God's word to you. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit gives you power, and the ability to do the same things Christ did and MORE. It's not blasphemy. It's biblical.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12
We have the power to raise people from the dead, heal the sick, cast out demons, and even more. And it's not by our own strength. Oh no no no. This isn't mysticism. This is done in the only name that has power - Jesus. By His blood, I can speak to a mountain and tell it get lost. (Mark 11:23)
The Holy Spirit came down so many times in the Bible, I don't know how many to count! The building of the temple in 1 Samuel, David, Pentecost in Acts, the Samaritan church in Jerusalem, Cornelius in Acts, Revelation. And speaking in tongues didn't happen ONCE. It happened so many times. Paul would write letters to people encouraging them to walk out in spiritual gifts to strengthen and encourage one another. One who has the gift of evangelism, of teaching, of unknown tongues, of prophecy, of mercy........
It hurts. It really hurts. It hurts that I walk in the Spirit and experience the freedom and joy of chains GONE and some of my Christian friends, and Christian leaders that I see, do not experience this same freedom. How do I know they don't? Because many of them constantly still refer to themselves as sinners and struggling to fight sin. Whereas I am not in a struggle against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities of darkness (Eph 6:12). I know that Christ has set me free from my dark sin that separated me from him, and now that I am liberated I walk in this blissful freedom.
It hurts that biblical concepts are deauthenticated and labeled as "charismatic" by so many. When you umbrella the Spirit under an ideology, you avoid it at all costs. It's really upsetting and it hits home because I've been there. I've thought things were weird, thought that some people had faith that was so big it was "unbiblical" to me. But when I experienced the same freedom in the Spirit that they did, I realized how right they were! And so I have grace for those who are still doubtful. So much grace. If anything comes out of this long, drawn out blog entry that is jumbled with so much stuff I just want to say in the most loving way possible: Spirituality is not charismatic; it is part of our Christian life. Don't reject speaking in tongues, visions, prophecy, demons, angels, etc... just because your pastor said that it was "charismatic" and unbiblical or that it CAN'T occur today. That's because they haven't experienced it. They haven't experienced the fullness of the fruits of the spirit - peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, all those! They come with the fullness of my best friend - Holy Spirit! He is so good. Amen.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Day 21
Well it's been an awesome break from facebook and presssing in to prayer. I admit that I could have done better about carving out more hours for prayer, but I know God sees my efforts and is smiling upon me with singing and dancing. I know that He has blessed this fast, as the main thing I was praying for came into completion - my family recieved the provision and favor they needed despite all odds working against us. I was also praying for 4 things that Matt Lockett asked us to fast for: 1) The Health Care Bill to respect religious rights, 2) clarity and transparency in this debate, 3)President Obama, 4) Raising up of the voice of women this year. I know and feel in my spirit that the Lord has this under control, that his will shall be done and we must continue to listen to Him. I believe this year will be a very vocal year in issues like abortion, humanitarianism, and the church itself. I also believe that there is so much more that we don't even think about that will have a huge affect on us spiritually as the body of Christ this year. Much has occured during this time in my personal life, but most importantly I feel completely compelled and hungry for more of Jesus.
Might as well finish explaining the last few things of "List of 21 things I haven't caught you up on".
13) Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan came to my school for a Mock Trial event and served as one of the judges. It was fun! And also super inspiring to hear an actual Justice in person.
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14) I had a really bad week a month ago. Jacob and I got in a bad fight, wasn't doing too well in school, was real sick, and having roommate as well as friend problems. BUT the Lord was great and after clinging to him in the pain, he was faithful to seeing me out of the storm.
15) My BIRTHDAY was awesome! At 12am Feb 9th, whilest Skyping Jacob and two of our friends, my roommates and half my floor came into my room with candles and sang Happy Birthday! After blowing out my candles, Jacob and our friends played Happy Bday on guitar and sang super loud and awesome. It was great. That night, me and 5 of my closest friends went to this place called "Busboys and Poets". We ate organic/vegan food and heard live poetry jam. Then, Franny and I put our names on the list. I sang an original song I wrote and Franny blew us all away by breaking out of her soft-spokenness and getting super emotional and loud on stage with a heartbreaking poem. It made me cry. The day was great, and I got some great gifts from my roommates and friends. Yay Birthday!
16) Valentine's Day was great! Me and Jacob had a Skype dinner date and even dressed up! So cute. Then afterwards, I made cookies with Donna - actually all I did was eat them. Then, we spontaneously went to the Intervarsity V-day party. All the guys of Intervarsity through the girls a VDAY party with delicious dessert, live talent performances by them, an game of making impressions of others, dancing, readings from Song of Solomon, and fun fun fun. We all dressed up and the lovely event was held on the roof of one of our tallest buildings on campus where we had an excellent view of the whole city. Here's me all dolled up!
.JPG)
17) One week, everyone in Foggy Bottom was freaking out about a super contagious virus that put like 50+ kids into the hospital. Insane cleaning, sanitation, and germaphobia occured.
18) IJM is the International Justice Mission. They are a Christian org that combats human trafficking around the globe by providing some of the brightest and most passionate lawyers to bring justice, rehabilitation centers, counseling, rescue missions, and more. They are all about prayer and fasting! There has never been an IJM college chapter in the greater DC area, even though their headquarters are located in DC! So one girl at my school felt super called to start one at GW this past month. I joined and applied for the executive board, and got the exact position I wanted! (Prayer Coordinator). Super excited about this.
19) Franny and Rohita! Greatest girls ever. I am so excited to room with them next year. We are planning on making our room a worship/prayer room.
20) My awesome classes! I am taking Spanish, Contemporary US History since 1945, Intro to International Affairs, and Macroeconomics. All my professors are brilliant, kind, and interesting. My classes have intertwined on a plurality of occasions. It makes for a great college experience.
21) My awesome friends! What more can I say? I love them so much. I do feel like I am starting to have a family here.
THE END
This whole week, Jacob came in town to visit me. We have had such a blast! No rest, just tons of DC and hanging out. Here's some pics.
Peace and Love,
Katrina
Might as well finish explaining the last few things of "List of 21 things I haven't caught you up on".
13) Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan came to my school for a Mock Trial event and served as one of the judges. It was fun! And also super inspiring to hear an actual Justice in person.
.JPG)
14) I had a really bad week a month ago. Jacob and I got in a bad fight, wasn't doing too well in school, was real sick, and having roommate as well as friend problems. BUT the Lord was great and after clinging to him in the pain, he was faithful to seeing me out of the storm.
15) My BIRTHDAY was awesome! At 12am Feb 9th, whilest Skyping Jacob and two of our friends, my roommates and half my floor came into my room with candles and sang Happy Birthday! After blowing out my candles, Jacob and our friends played Happy Bday on guitar and sang super loud and awesome. It was great. That night, me and 5 of my closest friends went to this place called "Busboys and Poets". We ate organic/vegan food and heard live poetry jam. Then, Franny and I put our names on the list. I sang an original song I wrote and Franny blew us all away by breaking out of her soft-spokenness and getting super emotional and loud on stage with a heartbreaking poem. It made me cry. The day was great, and I got some great gifts from my roommates and friends. Yay Birthday!
16) Valentine's Day was great! Me and Jacob had a Skype dinner date and even dressed up! So cute. Then afterwards, I made cookies with Donna - actually all I did was eat them. Then, we spontaneously went to the Intervarsity V-day party. All the guys of Intervarsity through the girls a VDAY party with delicious dessert, live talent performances by them, an game of making impressions of others, dancing, readings from Song of Solomon, and fun fun fun. We all dressed up and the lovely event was held on the roof of one of our tallest buildings on campus where we had an excellent view of the whole city. Here's me all dolled up!
.JPG)
17) One week, everyone in Foggy Bottom was freaking out about a super contagious virus that put like 50+ kids into the hospital. Insane cleaning, sanitation, and germaphobia occured.
18) IJM is the International Justice Mission. They are a Christian org that combats human trafficking around the globe by providing some of the brightest and most passionate lawyers to bring justice, rehabilitation centers, counseling, rescue missions, and more. They are all about prayer and fasting! There has never been an IJM college chapter in the greater DC area, even though their headquarters are located in DC! So one girl at my school felt super called to start one at GW this past month. I joined and applied for the executive board, and got the exact position I wanted! (Prayer Coordinator). Super excited about this.
19) Franny and Rohita! Greatest girls ever. I am so excited to room with them next year. We are planning on making our room a worship/prayer room.
20) My awesome classes! I am taking Spanish, Contemporary US History since 1945, Intro to International Affairs, and Macroeconomics. All my professors are brilliant, kind, and interesting. My classes have intertwined on a plurality of occasions. It makes for a great college experience.
21) My awesome friends! What more can I say? I love them so much. I do feel like I am starting to have a family here.
THE END
This whole week, Jacob came in town to visit me. We have had such a blast! No rest, just tons of DC and hanging out. Here's some pics.
Picking Jake up from Airport
The National Mall
Actual Stravinskys. Only 600 in the world - only 11 decorated. 4 Decorated right here!
The hat Lincoln wore to Ford's Theatre the night he was assasinated
Agua
The Jefferson
Cherry Blossoms in Bloom!
The White House
Sitting in the grass outside the Jefferson, which ended up becoming a nap
Lincoln at night. A GW tradition.
Washington Memorial from the view of the Capitol
The Capitol
Panda eating something
Cute Meerkat
Lions in a Brawl
Schwasted Iguana
Right now, he is sleeping on my bed :) He and I are both leaving early tomorrow morning. Him to Tally and me to Urban Plunge. I am super excited to be immersed in the service project and mission field of Urban Plunge. Don't know what's gonna happen or what the Lord's gonna do, but Ancostia here I come!Peace and Love,
Katrina
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