Your Culture.

Hello and welcome to my blog!

Tonight I got off work at five pm. I was excited, even though I pretty much love my job. I was mostly excited because I was able to make the Saturday night service at Discovery. The worship rocked, as usual. But not only did the worship rock, but the preaching was wonderful too!
The youth pastor spoke tonight and he was talking about being an influence on your culture. One analogy he gave us was really vivid and easy to understand.
His point was about how many Christians just go to church, and then go home and don't live out what they've learned or heard.
He said for example..
Imagine going to a football game, for those of you who LOVE football you may paint your face, or have the fun foam finger and be all excited for it! And the team is excited too! They have warm ups with chants, and then they get in the huddle, talk about the play they're going to make. They're all pumped and they even hit each other as a way to show they are excited.. or something.. haha.
Though, once they release from the huddle, they go sit on the bench.

...
....
.....
......uhm..? what?


Now as a fan, wouldn't you be a little disappointed?

Well, they get back in the huddle to talk about the play and are getting all excited again! "Hey man, this one's really gonna get them! Yeahh!"
They're encouraging each other..
They break..

and once again, they go sit on the bench..

...
....
.....
......uhm...? really??

Do you want to continue watching this team? A team who gets rowdy and excited about what they plan to do. Though they never follow through and even try to play the game...
Chances are, you're not sticking around for this game...

Now look at this in comparison to Christians.
You go to church, hear a great sermon that gets you all kinds of pumped up!
"The service was great today!" "That message really spoke to me!"
But they go home, and go on with life. As if they never heard the message!! 

I am not condeming you, trust me on this. It's a habit many, including myself have been guilty of.
They say people will know you by your testimony. So if someone was to go to your work, or your school and talk to the people you encounter daily. And mention, hey, did you know so and so is a Christian?
What would their response be?
"HAHAHA...funny joke!!"
"Is that why they're so happy all the time?"
"Yeah, I know! They won't shut up about it!"
"I think you have the wrong person here..."

Those are just examples.. So when you're going about your day.. are you hiding the fact that you know a God who can change the lives of your culture? Or have people noticed something different about you? Maybe the way you carry yourself, the way you treat people, the way you act. From another message I heard a long time ago. This lady mentioned how sad people in this world are, if you've people watched, you'll agree with this. Though if you know Jesus, you should be able to smile and rejoice, even in the midst of trails. So if you know about God, the happy God who absolutely adores you and everyone else on the earth. Tell your face about it! Let His joy show in your life! Even in the worst of days, you can smile because you know your God is holding you through it. So next time you get excited about the service you attend, or the right words from God you hear. Do the best you possibly can to let that live through you!
Now I know we're not all perfect, and we're not always going to get this step right! Though the more you try, the easier it becomes to let God live through you. People will know you by your testimony. So when you face hard times, and you make it through easier then most expected, they'll notice. 
So think about it, what can you do to influence your culture? Will you get out there and play, or will you sit on the bench?

Thank You for reading my blog,
God Bless!
Love you all,
KatrinaMarie

Forget sleep, lets write!

Another blog?

Yeah!

But it hasn't even been 24 hours since your last one?

Yeah, I know! Usually they're days or a week apart.

Haha.. alright. Last night I got a lot of rest. Needless to say. I am not very tired.

So I was talking to God, and thanking Him. I have come a long way from where I was a year ago.

And there are people that were removed from my life, for good reason. although those reasons may not have made sense in the past. They sure do now. And it wasn't just people, but situations, environments, and mentalities. Not to say there weren't any good people, situations, environments, and mentalities.. Because there absolutely was! Plenty in which I miss greatly. Anyway, the dreams I've been having lately aren't as terrible as they used to be. They're becoming as pleasant as my new living situation is. They're about living here, and people here. Not only that, but the people I love and miss greatly from before get mixed in too. It's been the best. So I was about to write a status about my happy thoughts on twitter. Then I took the words and started writing. A poem came to be, yay! So here it is.

it's nice to be away from you
to be so far away
to exist in my own reality
no longer bound with shame
I'm free from the trap
the bait no longer tempts me

as often as the chances have always been there
the choices just began to embrace the opportunities
a home I can call my own
a place I can be alone
yet never lonely for my God engulfs me
and places people in the path I'm walking

His promises ring truth
my purpose with Him is fulfilling
the past is really gone
and the present is worth living
now I can live free, so please
consume me dreams..
dreams of my new reality

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did, even though the meaning is personal to me. I will often put my poetry within my blog, so keep on the lookout. =]

Thanks for reading my blog, I appreciate is a ton!

Love you all,

KatrinaMarie

Things I Love Thursday

Welcome back! I hope everyone's week went wonderful! Cause mine did!

One. Thunder Storms. One is currently happening, and it's the most peaceful sound to me.

Two. Sleep. Last night I slept for thirteen hours! Plus I've been resting and taking naps today. It's my day off and my choice of possible things I can do is sleep.

Three. Having a peace about living out what God has for you. When you walk through the doors he opens and notice every detail of why He had opened that door.

Four. Hyatt. Yes, this is where I currently work; I will not be surprised if I talk about this place a lot now. Yesterday I  had Orientation, and today I was reading through my leather bound binder I received during Orientation. I found two pages full of where I would now receive discounts, and just learning more about the place I work. By the way, there are over thirty different things I receive discounts for. Hyatt is definitely a recommended place to work. 

Five. Getting mail. Specifically I got a card in the mail welcoming me to the Hyatt. The card was even personally signed by the people working in Human Resources. How sweet.

Six. Finding out that people I know blog.

Seven. Using purple as my font color, because purple is one of my favorite colors.

Eight. Seeing and talking to a few famous people.

Nine. I get my first pay check tomorrow.

Ten. Having friends visit me in my new apartment.

Eleven. Seeing Eclipse at the 12:16am showing.

Twelve. Finding a cute shirt on a great sale, and loving the way wearing it makes me feel good.

Thirteen. I get off work at five on Saturday. Which means I will be able to attend church at six pm. Yay!

Fourteen. Busting the "good things happen to bad people" myth.

Fifteen. Receiving a free light bulb at Orientation the day after my living room light went out. Haha.

Sixteen. Cracker Barrel's Momma's French Toast with Blackberry Preserves, two over-easy eggs, and turkey sausage. Not only was this meal absolutely amazing from the food, but I was also able to spend time with two longtime wonderful friends whom I haven't seen in awhile.

Thanks for reading my blog, sorry that most of it had to do with work. Though I love my job, what can I say. Till next time. Have a fantabulous Fourth of July weekend. God Bless. 
Love you all,
KatrinaMarie