What a year 2015 has been. Filled with love, laughter, heartache, and adventure. This past year God has brought things my way that I didn't understand. He has blessed me with a few new friends. He has opened and then shut doors in a way that I didn't always like but some how came to accept. He allowed me to experience new things, meet new people, and grow in new ways. He answered prayers in ways that blew my mind, showed me things only He could, and brought me deeper in my relationship with Him than I ever thought I would go, and I know that as we kick of this New Year the best is still yet to come.
Last year I was blessed to bring in the New Year with my (then) new amazing boyfriend and this year I brought in the New Year engaged to that same amazing guy. This year will bring wedding plans, dress shopping, a new bible fellowship class, and I'm sure new adventures as we prepare to marry. I look forward to all this year holds for he and I and whatever the Lord has in store for us.
I look forward to sharing with you all what the Lord is doing in my life and going through this journey of 2016 with you all. May the Lord bless you exceeding abundantly this year, and overflow your hearts:) I love you all!
-Kelcy
#tobeJaegered ;)
P.S. At the beginning of last year I mentioned how my college ministry was told we were having a change in leadership and how awesome that change has been. Just thought it would be an interesting thing to share, that our "nearly married" class will be taught by the teachers we had when we first met. Who are also, coincidentally, the same people who sat down with us early in our relationship and helped us make sure we were going about things the right way. How fitting:) 2016 HERE WE COME!
Friday, January 1, 2016
Saturday, December 5, 2015
I've Forgotton...
When I was little one of my favorite things to do was to write. As I got older the love continued to increase. I would write little short stories and as time went on they got longer, always fiction. As you can tell (at least if you read my Great News) I still enjoy to write. Enough that I have chosen it as a main part of my ministry...
However, with all of that being said... I have forgotten how to write for pleasure. When I write now I approach each piece with a plan or a strategy of just how everything needs to be within the piece of writing. I'm not saying that this is a bad way to approach writing, especially when it comes to doing so professionally. But at that point even if you are enjoying that writing, just as I enjoy writing devotionals for Great News, there is always a piece of your brain that recognizes it as business. This blog is for pleasure. This is a blog I created to not be bound to any commitment, but to simply just write what I wanted, how I wanted about my life, personally. Obviously, if you've been following this blog for any length of time you've probably noticed that it has been a good while since my last post. In fact it seems that with each post the time in between then just keeps getting longer. I haven't had time, haven't really had much to write about I guess, but mainly I just criticize and critique every little things to death.
More and more often I stop and think about how much I miss writing for pleasure. Growing up, I always wanted to be an author. I wanted to write books for a living, and while I may never do that the way I though I would, I can at least blog about my life with pleasure. Stop holding back because I feel like it's not interesting enough. Stop hesitating because maybe it's too short. Stop critiquing every little piece as if it were more than just a personal blog. So what if no one reads this. I can still write it. Maybe one person in the world who finds themselves awake and unable to sleep late one night will stumble across and find some humor or even better find some hope.
In the last few weeks, as I have remembered how much I used to love just writing for fun, I've sat down and attempted to work on some old, unfinished stories. I've tried to start new ones. Each time balling up pieces of paper or wearing out my delete button. So maybe I won't write stories anymore. Maybe I will just stick to this blog. One way or another, I think it is time for me to stop forgetting and start remembering.
So now I am asking for your help. You reader. You one person unable to sleep for whatever reason.... I need you to remind me that it's okay to write for fun. Sometimes the subject will be serious because there are serious things going on. Sometimes the subject will be funny, or confusing, or completely random. Sometimes it will be sad, and sometimes it will be happy... but if I start to forget again... will you remind me? I sure would appreciate it.
We all have a lot going on in the world. Busy jobs, busy lives, busy business to attend to, but no matter how busy things get we all should have that outlet. That thing we love that we can always go back to. So I'm going to try to start refreshing my memory. See you soon.
-Kelcy
However, with all of that being said... I have forgotten how to write for pleasure. When I write now I approach each piece with a plan or a strategy of just how everything needs to be within the piece of writing. I'm not saying that this is a bad way to approach writing, especially when it comes to doing so professionally. But at that point even if you are enjoying that writing, just as I enjoy writing devotionals for Great News, there is always a piece of your brain that recognizes it as business. This blog is for pleasure. This is a blog I created to not be bound to any commitment, but to simply just write what I wanted, how I wanted about my life, personally. Obviously, if you've been following this blog for any length of time you've probably noticed that it has been a good while since my last post. In fact it seems that with each post the time in between then just keeps getting longer. I haven't had time, haven't really had much to write about I guess, but mainly I just criticize and critique every little things to death.
More and more often I stop and think about how much I miss writing for pleasure. Growing up, I always wanted to be an author. I wanted to write books for a living, and while I may never do that the way I though I would, I can at least blog about my life with pleasure. Stop holding back because I feel like it's not interesting enough. Stop hesitating because maybe it's too short. Stop critiquing every little piece as if it were more than just a personal blog. So what if no one reads this. I can still write it. Maybe one person in the world who finds themselves awake and unable to sleep late one night will stumble across and find some humor or even better find some hope.
In the last few weeks, as I have remembered how much I used to love just writing for fun, I've sat down and attempted to work on some old, unfinished stories. I've tried to start new ones. Each time balling up pieces of paper or wearing out my delete button. So maybe I won't write stories anymore. Maybe I will just stick to this blog. One way or another, I think it is time for me to stop forgetting and start remembering.
So now I am asking for your help. You reader. You one person unable to sleep for whatever reason.... I need you to remind me that it's okay to write for fun. Sometimes the subject will be serious because there are serious things going on. Sometimes the subject will be funny, or confusing, or completely random. Sometimes it will be sad, and sometimes it will be happy... but if I start to forget again... will you remind me? I sure would appreciate it.
We all have a lot going on in the world. Busy jobs, busy lives, busy business to attend to, but no matter how busy things get we all should have that outlet. That thing we love that we can always go back to. So I'm going to try to start refreshing my memory. See you soon.
-Kelcy
Monday, October 26, 2015
It Is Well
The enemy has decided in the last few weeks to really wage a war against my soul. Not just my soul, but specifically my emotions. He has sent people to hurt my feelings and made me super sensitive. He has caused difficult times to rise up and crash over me, but it is well. He has caused struggles, and hardships that I never expected... but.... it is well with my soul.
As I sat down today to write a devotional for Great News, I got about half way through it and the "It Is Well" by Bethel Church came into my ears. What a reminder I needed this morning. There is no sense in me going on this morning about the issues that have risen in my life and walk. There is zero reason for me to share the struggles, heartaches, or more prominently the hurt feelings with you. They are not worth sharing because that would be what the enemy would want me to do. Complain. I am not going to have a complaining spirit today. Instead, I choose to say through it all, it is well with my soul. I have the victory in Christ Jesus (and by the way so do you) and no matter what the enemy does to overtake me, even if I lose the battle, I know that because of the cross, I have already won the war. Therefore.... It is well with my soul.
From one Christian to another today, I want to ask you... is it well with your soul? Is your faith wholly in Christ? Is there something that you need to lay at His feet so that it can be well with your soul? Then do it. He is waiting. He is your Father, your Daddy, and it is time. Give your worries to Him and He will give you rest and peace that surpasses all understanding.
Below I am going to post the song I mentioned above. I want to ask, if you would, please sit down, pop some headphones in and really let the Lord speak to your heart through this beautiful song. I love you friend:)
As I sat down today to write a devotional for Great News, I got about half way through it and the "It Is Well" by Bethel Church came into my ears. What a reminder I needed this morning. There is no sense in me going on this morning about the issues that have risen in my life and walk. There is zero reason for me to share the struggles, heartaches, or more prominently the hurt feelings with you. They are not worth sharing because that would be what the enemy would want me to do. Complain. I am not going to have a complaining spirit today. Instead, I choose to say through it all, it is well with my soul. I have the victory in Christ Jesus (and by the way so do you) and no matter what the enemy does to overtake me, even if I lose the battle, I know that because of the cross, I have already won the war. Therefore.... It is well with my soul.
From one Christian to another today, I want to ask you... is it well with your soul? Is your faith wholly in Christ? Is there something that you need to lay at His feet so that it can be well with your soul? Then do it. He is waiting. He is your Father, your Daddy, and it is time. Give your worries to Him and He will give you rest and peace that surpasses all understanding.
Below I am going to post the song I mentioned above. I want to ask, if you would, please sit down, pop some headphones in and really let the Lord speak to your heart through this beautiful song. I love you friend:)
Thursday, August 27, 2015
God Is Good
GOD IS GOOD.
A simple yet profound fact that can never be properly stated in mere human words. God is so very good. I have been seeing His goodness more and in the in's and out's of my days recently. My mentor told me one time a few months ago at the beginning of a meeting about how she was in the habit of telling people that she is good when asked how she is doing. She said that there is nothing good about her (and this is coming from a woman who radiates the glory of God's Spirit in her), but she is right. Only God is good. This truth that she spoke didn't really convict me until about a month later when someone asked me how I was and I responded with "I'm good." Two simple words but oh how convicted I became in that one moment. From that moment on a friend has been trying to help me and has even started trying to catch herself when asked how we are, we try to respond with we are "well" rather than "good" because as previously stated, there is nothing good about us.
It's a bit amusing, I will admit, when we are walking around and we slip up and say we are good because we immediately realize it and try to remember it, and then five seconds later...
Thoughts: You're not good, you're well, well, well, you're well...
Random Person: Hey! How are you?
Me: I'm good! (face-palm)
Thoughts: WELL!!! I'M WELL!
[walks away shaking head]
I'm not saying everyone has to do this, that is simply a conviction I felt on my heart that day and I have been trying to make that change every since. So with that being said, if you ever ask me how I am doing and I respond with "good" then say I'm "well", just know that I am still trying and God is still working on me:)
Anyway, as I said, GOD IS GOOD. It doesn't matter what circumstances you are in, it doesn't matter if you're in the valley or on the mountain top, He is still good. He is good in the good times and the bad. He is good in tragedy, uncertainty, and the unknown. He is good in sickness and health. He is good in life and death. He is good in joy and in sorrow. He is good during your healing. He is good during your stress. He is good when your finances are not. He is good when you are living pay check to pay check. He is good when you don't know what to do. He is good even when you are deep in the depths of sin... God's goodness isn't dependent on you... He is good because that is who God is. He is the Good Shepherd and the Good Father. He is good in everything He does. You're sick? He is still good. You're hurting? He's still good. You don't know where your next meal is coming from? He's still good. The doctor just told you it's cancer... HE'S STILL GOOD... No matter what, He will always be good.
You see there is nothing, absolutely nothing good about you (or me) at all. Even the things you or others would consider to be "good" about you, they are still not truly good. But God, IS goodness. Everything about Him is good. Everything about Him oozes goodness. Even in your storm...
So just remember as you go through out every day... as you wake up no knowing what the day holds for you, God has got you, God knows what your day is going to bring and He is GOOD, in ALL circumstances. Love you friend!
In Christ,
Kelcy
A simple yet profound fact that can never be properly stated in mere human words. God is so very good. I have been seeing His goodness more and in the in's and out's of my days recently. My mentor told me one time a few months ago at the beginning of a meeting about how she was in the habit of telling people that she is good when asked how she is doing. She said that there is nothing good about her (and this is coming from a woman who radiates the glory of God's Spirit in her), but she is right. Only God is good. This truth that she spoke didn't really convict me until about a month later when someone asked me how I was and I responded with "I'm good." Two simple words but oh how convicted I became in that one moment. From that moment on a friend has been trying to help me and has even started trying to catch herself when asked how we are, we try to respond with we are "well" rather than "good" because as previously stated, there is nothing good about us.
It's a bit amusing, I will admit, when we are walking around and we slip up and say we are good because we immediately realize it and try to remember it, and then five seconds later...
Thoughts: You're not good, you're well, well, well, you're well...
Random Person: Hey! How are you?
Me: I'm good! (face-palm)
Thoughts: WELL!!! I'M WELL!
[walks away shaking head]
I'm not saying everyone has to do this, that is simply a conviction I felt on my heart that day and I have been trying to make that change every since. So with that being said, if you ever ask me how I am doing and I respond with "good" then say I'm "well", just know that I am still trying and God is still working on me:)
Anyway, as I said, GOD IS GOOD. It doesn't matter what circumstances you are in, it doesn't matter if you're in the valley or on the mountain top, He is still good. He is good in the good times and the bad. He is good in tragedy, uncertainty, and the unknown. He is good in sickness and health. He is good in life and death. He is good in joy and in sorrow. He is good during your healing. He is good during your stress. He is good when your finances are not. He is good when you are living pay check to pay check. He is good when you don't know what to do. He is good even when you are deep in the depths of sin... God's goodness isn't dependent on you... He is good because that is who God is. He is the Good Shepherd and the Good Father. He is good in everything He does. You're sick? He is still good. You're hurting? He's still good. You don't know where your next meal is coming from? He's still good. The doctor just told you it's cancer... HE'S STILL GOOD... No matter what, He will always be good.
You see there is nothing, absolutely nothing good about you (or me) at all. Even the things you or others would consider to be "good" about you, they are still not truly good. But God, IS goodness. Everything about Him is good. Everything about Him oozes goodness. Even in your storm...
So just remember as you go through out every day... as you wake up no knowing what the day holds for you, God has got you, God knows what your day is going to bring and He is GOOD, in ALL circumstances. Love you friend!
In Christ,
Kelcy
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Front Porch Sanctuary/Fourth of July
In the past few weeks I have found such comfort in the few days that I have been able to sit out on my front porch just me, my dog and Jesus. It has felt so nice these past few weeks and the peace outside is just wonderful (except for when Bear decides to start barking). I love places where you can get away from the world in a way and just be alone with Jesus. Some of my favorite places to do this are places I have mentioned before such as church sanctuaries, the beach and a little chapel in Ecuador. Well, now my front porch on nice days in the summer has been added to this. The scenery is beautiful, the sounds of nature are calming and the best is when we have a nice thunderstorm:)
Today there is a mix of noises that aren't nature but are definitely natural in America. With it being the fourth of July you can hear families gathering, patriotic country music playing and oh the smells of food being grilled. As I write this, five minutes ago it was pouring down rain and now it is beautifully sunny and seemingly perfect for cooking out.
Anyway, my times on the porch I feel are so very nice, there is very little to distract or disturb me, there is a gentle breeze blowing, and of course (as I've already mentioned) the peace and quite. The other day (actually the first day that I decided to sit out here) I spent the entire day out here, I only when in to cook dinner later that after noon and then came back out side. It was such an amazing day spent having quite time. God spoke through His Word, through the book Charles and I are reading together, and just simply through time of prayer. I know God is everywhere but there is just something special about meeting with Him at these places:)
So all that being said, as previously stated, today is the fourth of July. One of the many sounds I hear right now is our American flag that's hanging off of our porch waving back and forth in the wind. What a great reminder today is of the freedoms we have as Americans. A great example at the moment is free speech... the freedom that I have to write this blog and Great News. Freedom of religion also comes to mind. The freedom to go to church, pray and live out our faith in public with out fear of being arrested which is a privilege we have that a lot of other countries do not.
As you go throughout your day thank God for the freedoms that He has provided you as an American. Spend time with your family and praise God for all He has given you. God bless you all today my friends and may God bless and have mercy on America in these last days.
Today there is a mix of noises that aren't nature but are definitely natural in America. With it being the fourth of July you can hear families gathering, patriotic country music playing and oh the smells of food being grilled. As I write this, five minutes ago it was pouring down rain and now it is beautifully sunny and seemingly perfect for cooking out.
Anyway, my times on the porch I feel are so very nice, there is very little to distract or disturb me, there is a gentle breeze blowing, and of course (as I've already mentioned) the peace and quite. The other day (actually the first day that I decided to sit out here) I spent the entire day out here, I only when in to cook dinner later that after noon and then came back out side. It was such an amazing day spent having quite time. God spoke through His Word, through the book Charles and I are reading together, and just simply through time of prayer. I know God is everywhere but there is just something special about meeting with Him at these places:)
So all that being said, as previously stated, today is the fourth of July. One of the many sounds I hear right now is our American flag that's hanging off of our porch waving back and forth in the wind. What a great reminder today is of the freedoms we have as Americans. A great example at the moment is free speech... the freedom that I have to write this blog and Great News. Freedom of religion also comes to mind. The freedom to go to church, pray and live out our faith in public with out fear of being arrested which is a privilege we have that a lot of other countries do not.
As you go throughout your day thank God for the freedoms that He has provided you as an American. Spend time with your family and praise God for all He has given you. God bless you all today my friends and may God bless and have mercy on America in these last days.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Please Take Some Time
I know I'm just a few days later than everyone else on sharing this but I wanted to make sure to do so after I was able to watch it all the way through. I have often spoken about how much I love my worship family but I am not so sure that I have communicated that much love towards my church so let me just say that I love my church greatly. Our pastor and our staff have the hand of God heavily on them and there is no other church I would rather be at than Gardendale First Baptist.
With that being said if you are reading this I want you to make a commitment to sit down and watch this service that Pastor Kevin titles "A Biblical Response to Bruce Jenner". I have found this to be such a moving service and believe that you will to. My pastor isn't sugar coating it he is telling like it is and I believe we need a lot of people to do that today. God has given him some powerful words on this very controversial subject and it is definitely worth your time. May God open your hearts and your ears to receive what He has for you through this service. God bless you richly my friend.
TruthCasting - Player
With that being said if you are reading this I want you to make a commitment to sit down and watch this service that Pastor Kevin titles "A Biblical Response to Bruce Jenner". I have found this to be such a moving service and believe that you will to. My pastor isn't sugar coating it he is telling like it is and I believe we need a lot of people to do that today. God has given him some powerful words on this very controversial subject and it is definitely worth your time. May God open your hearts and your ears to receive what He has for you through this service. God bless you richly my friend.
TruthCasting - Player
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
If He Created That....
Due to being home I joined my family going to the beach. If you have been reading my blogs on here from the beginning, you probably saw the one from last year where I said a little bit about my quite time on the beach. Well, yesterday evening as the sun was getting lower I went out and had my first beach quite time since we got here. It was beautiful and quite eye opening. When I went down there I took my Bible and my journal (and believe me was it hard to open my Bible in that wind). After having set there for probably 10 or 15 minutes I felt God whisper. Now before I tell you what He said, let me share with you this:
For some time now I have been working on seeing myself and everyone around me as the beautiful masterpiece that God has created us to be. Sometimes (more often than not) it is much easier for me to see others as a masterpiece before I can see myself as a masterpiece however I know that is a problem and have been trying to fix it.
With that being said I looked at the waves and the sunset and thought about how beautiful it was, then it hit me... If God created that water, those waves, that beach, that sunset and all of the beauty that is held in each (and He did) than don't you think He made you even more beautiful because while those things are not made in His image, WE ARE.
Don't get me wrong we are not perfect, only God is perfect. Perfection for us, will not be obtained until Jesus returns. However, God did create us as masterpieces. His Word even says so;
"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." -Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
You see, we are His masterpiece! My point in saying all of this is that we should first realize that we are HIS and that He calls us His masterpiece. Then with each person that we come into contact with we should see him/her as the masterpiece that he/she is and treat them that way.
So the next time you are at a breathtaking sight whether that for you is a sunset on the beach or the Grand Canyon, remember that yes God created that and all of the beauty that is held in those things, but friend... He also created you and He calls you masterpiece. :) Love you friend!
In Christ,
Kelcy
For some time now I have been working on seeing myself and everyone around me as the beautiful masterpiece that God has created us to be. Sometimes (more often than not) it is much easier for me to see others as a masterpiece before I can see myself as a masterpiece however I know that is a problem and have been trying to fix it.
With that being said I looked at the waves and the sunset and thought about how beautiful it was, then it hit me... If God created that water, those waves, that beach, that sunset and all of the beauty that is held in each (and He did) than don't you think He made you even more beautiful because while those things are not made in His image, WE ARE.
Don't get me wrong we are not perfect, only God is perfect. Perfection for us, will not be obtained until Jesus returns. However, God did create us as masterpieces. His Word even says so;
"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." -Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
You see, we are His masterpiece! My point in saying all of this is that we should first realize that we are HIS and that He calls us His masterpiece. Then with each person that we come into contact with we should see him/her as the masterpiece that he/she is and treat them that way.
So the next time you are at a breathtaking sight whether that for you is a sunset on the beach or the Grand Canyon, remember that yes God created that and all of the beauty that is held in those things, but friend... He also created you and He calls you masterpiece. :) Love you friend!
In Christ,
Kelcy
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