Grace and Stuff :)

God's grace is free!! It's soo incredible and amazing and His love that goes along with that blows me away. Now along with this grace comes a new identity, an identity in Christ. And in Christ we are: holy, blameless, without condemnation, free of guilt and shame, righteous, free, completely loved, whole, full of the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and complete. What I think people (most definitely including myself) fall in to though is not being aware of their identity and when reading things that speak of faith being full of deeds, they believe that by doing these deeds they will gain acceptance. The thing is that in Christ you have already been completely accepted!!! There is nothing that we can do to gain God's love-because it is already ours! How amazing is it that the love and acceptance of our forgiving Father who created the heavens and the earth is ours! I think as we come to know and rest in our new identity in Christ our faith will make itself evident through works. Look at Jesus-our sweet Savior-he lived fully human, living completely dependent upon the Father and his life was full of action! I think it's so neat to know that it's not up to me to do great and wondrous works for the Father, but rather Christ in me-as I rest in my new nature does works to glorify Him and love on those around so that they may taste and know the love of Abba.

Just some thoughts as I go through the day. Hope all is well in everyone's world and I pray that you will come to know and rest in your new identity in Him and allow Christ to express himself in your life! It is so incredible to see, and I must say I am so thankful for all those around me who I get to feel, see, and hear God's love from everyday!!

Predictable....

It's funny and almost a little sad how predictable my life tends to be, during the school year I have pretty much the same routine everyday which includes going nonstop from six in the morning till ten at night. Now that sweet summertime is here everything gets a little thrown off, and sometimes it gets thrown off a lot! It's sad to say, but I have a hard time doing nothing-that is being lazy and just not doing a stinkin thing. Let's just say I'll never be known as one of the "Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" (who ironically sing the song, so they really do something), anyways, Papa's been kinda changin things up on me and I tend to react not all that splendidly. I find it hard to not have a schedule, not impossible, but a little more difficult. But I know that God knows what's goin on-it's actually kind of exciting to be in a position "when you come to the end of all the light you know, and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things will happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly" (Edward Teller) So I guess today I'm ready to fly! I don't know what Papa has in store for me this summer, but I'm sooo excited to see what that is, to fall deeper in love with Him, and enjoy the fellowship of my sweet friends and family-laughing the long summer nights away!

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you not to hurt you. Plans to give you a future and a hope!" Thank you Daddy for these sweet words and the promise that I am held in Your hands!

"Timing is Everything"

Wow! It's been a crazy year so far, definitely dropped the A-ball on writing; but here I am now, writing. :D Quick update, had an awesome Thanksgiving and Christmas; although, both were postponed due to illness. Had lots of fun on our new years hike with the fam, everyone was actually healthy! That's definitely a big wow! Swim season is coming to a close by the end of this month. It's been loads of fun, but I think it will be nice to not have practice everyday. Life in general has been great, spending lots of time with friends and doing homework, wish I didn't have to spend so much time on the latter. Anyways, I guess I could get to the whole "timing is everything" idea now.

I've found myself more and more in awe with God's incredible timing. I sent my Christmas gifts out last week (yeah, I know three weeks late), but I received a text from one of my gift recipients (wow that sounded fancy), letting me know that God had greatly encouraged her through my gift. She had recently had a death in the family and my simple gift remindedher of how loved she was. I found myself sitting in absolute awe of God and his timing. I had been trying to send out those gifts for weeks and just hadn't found the time.

Wow, God is incredible! Only He could ever use the fact that I sent my Christmas gifts out three weeks late to glorify Him. It just reminds me that it all comes back to Jesus. I've found myself calling these little "God-cidences", my little hugs and kisses from Papa. It's so incredible to be kissed by Papa, to have Him whisper, "I'm here my beloved child, and I love YOU!!"

Despite how in awe I am of my Papa, I find myself so easily distracted by the world and all it doesn't have to offer. My ears become filled with nonsense and my head full of fears and worries. It's when I realize how unaware I am of Him that I realize my absolute desire and thirst for Him and His love. In times like this I am amazed by God's patience. However long it takes for me to wake up and realize it's all about Him (not me) and all about His love, He waits. He is patient. When I finally open my eyes and ears to him I am flabbergasted by His beauty, His beauty that He desires to flow out of me in all that I do, in every single one of my actions, however small they may seem.

So today I pray for whoever may read this that you will realize God knows exactly where you are, and He's not telling you to "hurry up!", He's right beside through it all saying, "My child, take my hand, I want to give you a hug today"

Lots of love in Him,
Kyleigh

Thank You

Wow, what a day. It began not too great and didn't get any better. "Life is hard", as I thought these words I was immediately reminded of the lyrics to a song that go like this, "You never said the road would be easy, but you said that you would never leave" How comforting! Papa knew that life was going to get difficult, but He is always there. He knows our pains and our struggles. He understands us even when we don't seem to understand ourselves. That's something that blows my mind, but brings me so much peace. He made our inward parts and fashioned and formed us in our mother's womb. He saw this day before it even happened, he knew all of the things that were going to happen to me and how I would react to them. He knew all of that before even the earth was created. So in these days that I feel weary, overwhelmed, and sore from the beatings I have taken, I am reminded that He will never leave me or forsake me. He is always there. "Neither height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39 His love is with us always, how incredible!! His love, the love that baffles me with it's vastness, it's mercy, it's compassion, it's completeness; this love is with me always. No matter what situations I have been in He is, was, and always will be there, with me, every single step of the way.
Praise Abba for His love that he showers over us with great joy. It's so incredible to think that He beams with joy saying, "that's my child!" Wow, right?! He is with me always, but not only that He is beaming with pride that He is my Heavenly Father who I adore and love, and who adores and loves me back!!
Praise Him for He is good! Praise Him for He is love! Praise Him for He is JOY!!

Ahhh!!!

First Day of School!! Golly, I'm sitting in Busines Image Management and Multimedia (BIMM). Emily says Hi!! Hee-hee! Well, wow so much amazing stuff happened this summer and I'm so excited to share it. Anyways, crazy day school is crazy!

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the presence of their Heavenly Papa! I'm continuely amazed by my Abba's incredible love for me! A love that longs to have a relationship with me and loves me soo much more then I could ever imagine! Enjoy His love today!!

Lots of CRAZY love in Him,
Kyleigh

Leaving for Camp!!

Hey so, today I'm leaving for camp today and I'm super excited. I'm working on core team which is sort of the in between of counselor and camper. Please be prayin this week for me and all the girls out at camp. Pray that the Lord will use us in amazing ways to reach and touch the hearts of the girls that are going to be at camp. Hope you all have a great week! See ya when I get back on Thursday!!
Be blessed,
Kyleigh

This Crazy Life

So as evidenced by the title life has been a bit crazy. This week especially. I've started working two times a week and then on top of that I have swim practice four times a week and I babysit. So, I think I'm able to say that life's crazy. But in all honesty I wouldn't trade it for the world. I'm tired at the end of the day and sometimes it's hard to get up in the morning, but I'm alive! I have to keep reminding myself of how blessed I am. I have an amazing family that loves and supports me. I can swim and I'm actually pretty good at it. I've been blessed with a means of earning some money this summer, and I get to go to camp this saturday! I am continually amazed by God's deliverance in every situation and his undying presence that whispers I did this for you, because I love you and want to have a relationship with you. I love my God for that. My Abba loves me so much, in those moments that I fall into my flesh and study my "insufficiencies" or look at what I don't have and want, my Abba wraps his arms around me and reminds me that he is all I'll ever really need. I don't need anything in this life. I don't need anything from this world. I am not of this world. I am my Abba's Kyleigh and no one, nothing, no cirsumstance, no thought, no tradegy could ever take that away or change that truth. So, even though life gets crazy and I can get caught up in so many little things and the stress of this life, my Abba's always there for me and always will be. Always whispering gently, "I love you, you're my Kyleigh and nothing will ever change that."

...

so once again I sorta fail at the whole write every day thing, but we can't do everything perfect right? Ha-ha, well I already had swim practice this morning and I'm now babysitting the little brothers, Cobi and Elijah. Who, unfortunately are sick. But that just makes everything more interesting..right? Just be prayin that they get better as well as for my dad who is going to get another pain shot for his back today.

Life's great! These summer days are long and relaxing, and I don't think the realization that it's summer has completely set in quite yet, but I'm sure it will. Looking forward to a lot this summer. I get to work at Stillwater Sportscamp as a core team member. Swimming continues with meets every monday. And of course the usual summer stuff, going to the lake, hanging out with friends, and just plain relaxing. Soo, I hope your enjoying your summer too!
Toodles!!
Ky

Summer has begun!!

Well, I gotta say I'm not all that great at posting something new here everyday....obviously. Life's been pretty good. I'm on the summer swim team and absolutely loving it. There's really no way to describe the joy I feel each time I get to go swimming. I keep thanking God for creating water. Isn't it amazing? I mean think about. He could have just made us so all we would need was air, but instead he created us with a need for water as well. And water is so much, it soaks dry ground, it refreshes, it's something to enjoy, something we need to live. There's nothing on earth that compares to it. I continually thank God for water and how amazing it is!

I have a prayer request as well. Last Friday my friend Emily's younger brother Brian (12) was diagnosed with Hodgkin's cancer. He had his first chemo treatment on Monday and was able to come home for the first time yesterday. He's an awesome, active kid. (He was playing golf today:D) If you could just keep Brian, Emily, and their family in your prayers that would be great!

Summer is here and I'm so glad. I've already enjoyed it sooo much. I hope every one's enjoying their summer as well. Hopefully I'll post more often, but no promises :D.
Love in Him,
Kyleigh

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as^a]">[a] the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. John 7:37-38

Last Day of School!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I am super excited because this is my last day of school!!! It's crazy but my head's already reeling from the craziness that has occurred already this morning. I'm excited though because I get to spend the weekend with Megan and Emily, just doin girl stuff. Which should be good.

I'm sorta finding myself asking God why lately and he keeps whispering to me "I know what's going on it's okay." I had my first timings yesterday in swimming and did less than fabulous, but something one of the mom's told me kept repeating in my head, "It doesn't matter who's in front of you and who's behind because God's with you the whole way." I thought that was really cool and something I need to remember not only in swimming. Well I better go...gotta make the most out of my last day of school!!!
Prayin,
Kyleigh

SUMMER!!!

Summer is almost here and I'm super excited. I only have three and a half days of school left which mainly consist of final exams, and I exempt out of most of them, so basically my summer starts wednesday! How exciting is that? I'm sorta geeked about it if you hadn't noticed. I hope to be able to write more about my summer happenings. But, you know sometimes it's hard to write everything down when everything keeps happening. But I'll try! Well, gotta go yummy dinner and dessert here I come!!

What I Want....

I can still remember going through the store when I was little saying, "Mommy, I need this toy", and my mom's response would always be, "Honey, don't say "I need" this, say, "I would like this"'. Well, to this day there are many things "I would like"...perfect weather, no more bad hair days, no fights, no more achy necks, and stressful days, but I really don't see those goin away, and I guess that's fine with me.
There was something that stuck out to me today as I was lookin back through notes I had taken during church and at retreats. A couple of weeks a go I had written down something my pastor said, "We may know what we want, but God always knows what we need." How amazing is that?! No matter how many things I think I want, or would like to have, God will always know what I need. Where I will never truly know all that I need, God knows exactly what I need and when. There are times when I pray for things that I think I need, and in turn God will give me something completely different, then in my humanness I look at it going "Why do I need this?". And he answers me whether it be through the words of someone else, scripture, or a softly spoken word, and I realize what he gave me was exactly what I needed in that situation. God provides. That's simply it, in every circumstance and situation, God will provide, and no matter what we think we want, God will always give us exactly what we need.

Sick...

I had the lovely opportunity to stay home today-sick. I have to say I am NOT a huge fan of it at all. I did get to make this really cool page for my bible study group though. I will attempt to put it on here but no promises. Anyways, the day has been long and all I've eaten is cereal which was okay with me, cuz I'm a big breakfast food junkie! :) In all my free time I discovered an artist I really like, her name is Brooke Fraser. She has a beautiful voice and her songs are great. Especially "Albertine". So, if you happen to have free time, I'd recommend checking her out. Well, I gotta skedaddle, homework.....
Lots of love in Him,
Kyleigh

RAIN!!!

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but I LOVE THE RAIN!!!!! It is one of God's creations that always amazes me, no matter how many times I've experienced it. Now, I'm not just talking the little drizzly rain that makes you feel sticky-eww! I'm talking the hard, cold downpour that I got to experience today. I love everything that has to do with rain, the smell, the feel, the look, the sound! Everything changes when it rains, thunder roars, lighting lights up the sky with beauty, and everything gets a refreshing soak.
I don't know if you've ever noticed, but there's this amazing smell the rain makes. The best is right before and right after it rains. You can't really describe it. I know Bath & Body Works has tried to recreate the smell for a lotion, but you really can't. It's simply indescribable. Now rain has this refreshing quality. When you feel all the little raindrops hit your skin it's like God's repetitive whispering of "I love you and this is for you!". That's so cool!! The feeling of cool raindrops on you skin isn't just surface, it's sort of penetrating and it sends little shivers all over your body! Rain looks sort of like a huge curtain that covers everything for the time it's there and then it slowly fades away. It gives everything a sort of hazy look, fuzzy-like, sort of like you can't be sure of what you're looking at when you're looking into rain.
Finally, my absolute, favorite thing about rain, is the sound! Nothing compares to the sound of rain on a tin roof! The way it makes it's own music as it patters, or thunders, down on the roof and hits the ground, it's incredible. Whenever, I hear rain, I just sit in amazement of God and all he is and all he's given me and all of his creation. It's magical and indescribable, much like God himself. Praise the Lord for love! Praise the Lord for sun! And especially Praise the Lord for RAIN!!

It's Friday!!!

So, it's friday and I'm super glad!! I have the pleasure of watching The Parent Trap and The Wizard of Oz (which I've never seen, but I've been told I haven't lived till I see it). Hopefully, the movies will be good, I'm sure they will be especially because I'll be with Em and Meg, and they always make things fun! I hope everyone has a restful weekend. Basking in the love of the our heavenly Papa!
Bye...Ky

Gracie!!

Well, we have a new addition to the family! An adorable chihuahua mix puppy named Gracie Mae. She soooo cute and a lot of work, but we still love her :D. Here's a picture of her and a short video of her playing....

Happy Easter!

Hope you have a Happy Easter and remember that Jesus showed his love by dying for you on the cross!
Love in Him,
Ky :)

146 days down, 34 1/2 left...

School, I'm getting sick of it, but on the bright I only have 34 1/2 days left!! Now, to many this seems like a lot, it's just over a month. I do realize this, but compared to the 146 days I've already been through it's nothin'. So, if you could be prayin' for me cuz it's goin take some endurance to get through these last few days. And in celebration of Easter we have this Friday off!! (My favorite holiday!!) Well, I gotta scoot, dinner's waiting and I still would like to attempt at getting to bed early. (Probably not goin happen)
In Him,
Ky :)

What's in the Name?

What's in the name? Seriously, while riding the bus this morning I had the random question pop in my head. How did popsicles get the name popsicle? If you have any idea's on this, I'd love to hear them because I'm startin to get bothered by it a bit...well Bye!

My Saturday...

So, I just finished eating my breakfast, and now I will proceed to move my room around. Which should be interesting because I have quite a bit of furniture and no one to help me, but I've done it before, so I should be okay. Now, I don't know if it's just one of my weird quirks, but I can't stand having my room stay the same for long periods of time. It drives me crazy to have all of my furniture in the exact same position for a while, but I guess once you look at the rest of my house you can tell that it's probably genetic because my mom's the exact same way. Like mother, like daughter...or however the little saying goes. Well I better go, pray that I don't throw out my back or something (that runs in the family too!)
Toodles!!