Hope and a Future.

Jeremiah 29:11-
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This is my favorite verse. There is such a comfort and peace in knowing God knows all my plans. He has an awesome future planned for me.

In recent days, this verse has taken on a new meaning for me too. It is for my youth group. After 8 years of awesome ministry, our amazing youth pastor is resigning. I am praying for Pastor Chuck and Emily as they move to Michigan and begin a new ministry as youth pastor there. I know they will have a great impact on lives at this new church, just as they have impacted so many of us in Southside Student Ministry. I am so grateful for the leader and example PC has been in my life personally. He continually poured love into students lives and always pointed us closer to Christ. Pastor Chuck and Emily will be greatly missed.

As I look into the future for our youth group it can be scary. But then I remember Jeremiah 29:11. God has a plan for Southside Student Ministry and it is so far beyond our wildest dreams. This next year will be a challenge, but an exciting challenge. It will be a lot of fun to see what God has in store for this youth group and the lives of the students. We are looking forward to new opportunities to grow this year. I believe that God has something special planned, and I am praying we see Southside explode with love for Jesus Christ and we can reach people in our community. One thing is for sure, God has an amazing future for us!

Please be praying for Southside Student Ministry during this transition time. Looking forward to a spectacular year!

Home Alone

The first week of school is already over! That makes me kind of excited. Overall, the week was good and I am looking forward to different opportunities this year.

Me and my brother are home alone this weekend while my parents and little sister are visiting family. My Nanie had her last round of chemo this past Thursday so family is spending this time to celebrate that. God has watched over her the past few months and I am so thankful that He was able to heal her body. I love my Nanie.

Me and Matt stayed home for a youth activity tomorrow. It is a kick-off to the school year event held at another church in the community. It is always a lot of fun and I look forward to fellowship with some of my friends.

I am looking forward to a great weekend!

I am second

First off, I want to say Happy Birthday to my wonderful mommy. She turned 40 today! I am so thankful for my mom and all her love, encouragement, and support. God really blessed me with an excellent mother and example of christian character in my life.

Recently I stumbled across a really cool website. Its called I Am Second. On this site are a bunch of videos of people talking about their life and things they have gone through, but at the end of every video they say "I am second". They say this because they have realized God is first. God has done something in their lfe and they realize it is not abot them and they have decided to put God first.

What a cool concept! We live in a society that is constantly telling us it is all about you an what you want to to. The world has become a very selfish and self absorbed place. I know I need a reminder that it is not about me. I need to humble myself and relize God is first. How are others supposed to see Christ through me if I have the selfish idea in my head that I am above God?

It needs to be a daily decision to put God first. We need to wake up in the morning and give it all to God, realizing it is never about us, it can never be about us.

I am Kate, and I am second.

Dun dun dunnnnn!

The first day of school has already come and gone! Already it is going by to fast. It was an easy day though because the only classes I had were study hall and guitar. I am super excited about my guitar class this year. Not only are some really cool individuals in there, but I am hoping to learn quick and maybe play guitar in church. The rest of the day was rather uneventful. I am hoping tomorrow will be a bit more exciting.

I am excited about this year and how God is going to use me. I am praying for growth in Southside Youth Ministry, a change at Sebring High School, and for me personally so fall more in love with Christ everyday.

Well I am off to play Egyptian Rat Screw with my family!

Have a happy day!
P.s. Check out Psalm 27:1 today :)

To Save A Life

My family and I watched the new movie "To Save A Life" tonight. If you have not seen it yet, I recommend you stop reading right now and go watch it. It is mind blowing. The main character in the movie is in shock when his childhood friend commits suicide. He decides to start looking for answers and that is when he finds God and gives up his old ways of living. I won't ruin the rest of the story but I will say after he gets saved he is a new person. He begins showing love to other kids at school and in youth group. And that is where the challenge is.

Just a little love and compassion can change someones life. You never know who is in desperate need to be shown some of God's love. I mean that is what it is all about. It isn't going to youth group on Wednesdays, then church on Sunday but on the days in between living a hypocritical lifestyle. Who are we to judge?

So no more judging, just loving. And maybe, just maybe, it can save a life.

I'm lovin' it

Last night was water fight night at youth group. Or it was supposed to be water fight night, but it got postponed until next week due to rain. Yep. Irony at its finest. We still had a good group of kids there and it was fun to start getting back into the swing of things with the new school year coming up. I ask that you will be praying for Southside Student Ministry this year as we undergo some changes. I know God is in control and I am excited to see what he has planned for our youth group.

Today was orientation day for Highlands county. I turned in all my papers to start my senior year. Yay! I can't believe school is starting on Monday already. I have no idea where my summer went. It is filled with lots of good memories though.

This verse has been on my mind today:
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

It is just another reminder that I can do anything because I have God on my side. I need to be strong and courageous. "And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us? And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?"

Music and such.

I think I can safely say that JJ Heller is one of my new favorite artists. She is adorable, has a great voice, and writes some pretty powerful lyrics. Check out these lyrics from her hit song Your Hands.


I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn’t there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands
Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still

Amazing, right? God is always holding us. The same God who created the universe holds us! So I've been thinking today about hands and holding things. You see the thing about someone holding us is even when we let go, we aren't going anywhere. The one holding us isn't the one who let go. That is the way it is with God. He is holding us, and even when our world is shaking and we feel broken, He doesn't let us go anywhere!

Sometimes we get the idea in our head that we are the one in control. That is when we "let go". But God is the one still holding on to us. Not because of anything we have done but because of who He is and how much He loves us. It is so comforting to know I am in hands that will never let me go. Even when those hard times in life come, God is holding us! God is not going to let us go anywhere!

I love being held in the hand of God.

Kindred Spirits

Today I was able to have lunch with a dear friend of mine. It was fun to catch up on events over the summer and also get some last minute school work done. I was reminded of how precious the gift of friendship is. God really does put special people in our lives to encourage us, pray with us, and sometimes just make us laugh.
I have truely been blessed with some amazing friendships in my life.

I am thankful for each of the kids in those pictures (as well as many that I currently could not find a picture of). They have all had a special impact on my life and I wanted to say thanks to them. I love my best friends!

And I couldn't write a blog about best friends if I forgot to mention the ultimate best friend Jesus Christ. How awesome it is to have an intimate relationship with Him! It is so great to always have a best friend to talk to knowing He will always listen.

I am a friend of God, He calls me friend!

Happy Sunday!

One of my favorite songs to sing in church as a little girl was "This is the day". You know the song: This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it. What an awesome song!

Psalm 118:24- This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. (NIV)

I love the book of Psalms. And I love the truth in that verse. Each day God gives us is a blessing and another opportunity to bring Him glory. We are given this day to rejoice and be happy in Christ, bringing Him praise. I don't know about you, but I kind of feel like singing!

Have a happy Sunday, and remember, be glad!

Rainboots and smiles.

To those friends of mine who laugh at my rainboot fashion statement, don't laugh anymore. They really are catching on. Just look at that picture. One day all of you will be wearing them too. Rainboots are simply wondeful. Almost as wonderful as the little girl wearing those boots.

Abby Beth is my adorable 8 year old little sister. Take one look at these pictures and you will agree with me.

It is a lot of fun to have my own personal model on hand whenever I would like to take pictures. She loves it, I love it and we both have a lot of fun. I love my Abby girl so much.

One last chance.

My senior year of high school begins in just a little over a week. Crazy? Yes. I have no idea where the time has gone. Suddenly I feel as if life is coming at me too fast. At this point in time I am not sure what I want to do after high school and I don't have very many plans. Sometimes that can be a little overwhelming. But God is constantly showing me that He is in control and if I live my life for Him, He has better plans than I could ever imagine for myself. Which makes me ask myself one question: Am I living my life for the King of Kings?

I think about how fast the previous years of high school have gone by and I am reminded that this year will only go by faster. Before I know it, I will be saying goodbye. So I have one last chance to make and impact. This year will be the year that I make a difference in the halls of Sebring High School. God has poured out His love and mercy and I give very little in return. He loved us so much that he sent His son to die an awful death for us. And how do I show my love in back? In all honesty I do very little.

So this year is going to be a change. I am going to put God first. After graduation, the next time I see some of my peers may be in heaven. And sadly, a lot of them will not be there. I want to show God's love in EVERYTHING I do. Kids are going to notice, and kids are going to ask questions. And when they ask, I will gladly point them to the cross. The mighty cross where Jesus took my sin away. The mighty cross where I can find rest. The mighty cross where I am given eternal life.

It is going to be worth it. God promises that living a life for Him, will be. So I'm giving Him control. I am letting go and choosing to follow His ways and not my own.

Till the race is finished and the work is done, I'll walk by faith and not by sight.