Sunday, June 20, 2010

Thank you to my Dad

This Father's Day I wanted to share something that I have been thinking about for sometime. The past year I have learned more and more that my father is an incredible gift to me for far more reasons than I new before.

I have always been grateful for his dedication to our family, making me listen to all kinds of music, supporting me in every dream I have, coming to a million football games to watch me cheer, forcing me to sound out words when I asked how to spell them, take me to get More Than Yogurt when sick, and on and on and on.

Those things were what always made me grateful for my dad. But the past year I have been on an amazing freedom journey with the Lord and what I discovered is my dad painted a beautiful picture of God the Father to me. Many women cannot connect to God the Father because of the earthly father they have. They see him as mean, uninterested, or even hateful because of the way their father treated them growing up.

I easily connect with God the Father and trust in his unfailing love because of my dad and what he deposited in me.

What my dad put in me was value. He valued my drawings, my pitiful tumbling, he valued my broken heart, he valued making my lunch special by drawing my name on the front, gave value to my friends by treating them like princesses also, in everything he did he in-steeled destiny and confidence.

This principle will change the course of a little girls life. I grew up to marry a man who values me and shows me everyday. I know that I can obey God no matter how crazy it sounds. I know that God loves me for me and not for who I could be and I owe this to my dad because he showed me my identity.

Thank you Daddy. I love you.

- Katy

Monday, June 14, 2010

Pearl

A little over a week ago I returned to Main Stage strip club with two other women to wash the feet of the ladies working there. This time was different in many ways because I was not walking in clueless of what would happen, what I would see and what the spiritual climate was like. This being my second time to go I was now a pro. Well until it was time to pull in the parking lot. I turned to Kyle and said "Do want to see or movie or something?" He simply smiled and said "No."

Although I was not going in clueless, there was a brand new set of emotions rising inside me. I knew that the first step in would be like stepping into a thick cloud of sadness because of bondage's tight grip on each person in the club. But this time I was also more determined to ask the Holy Spirit exactly what to say so that the time would not be wasted on small talk but speaking directly to their hearts.

This is where Megan comes in.

I met a beautiful 18 year old dancer and asked if I could give her a pedicure. She was more than happy to have it done so she came over to my tub of water and introduced herself as Donna Paige. We started talking and after a minute she said her name was actually Megan.

We connected very easily, obviously by the power of the Holy Spirit as we had absolutely nothing in common. She opened up to me and basically told me her life story. I won't share the details because I believe one day she will be coming with me to church and I don't want everyone knowing her business. :)

While I was washing her feet she said "Why are you doing this?", I said "Because this has to be a very hard job and I want to bless you." She said "It is. You should feel good about yourself when you go home."

(I am going to pause for you to let that sink in)

My heart dropped. I wanted to start balling. All I could say was that it didn't make me feel good because when I went I home she was still here and her life was still the same.

It felt like a terrible reply but I think my honesty made her trust me.

While painting her nails I remembered the meaning of the name Megan is pearl. The Holy Spirit was obviously opening a door so I told her the meaning of Megan and she was very surprised. I shared with her that although pearls are surrounded by ugly stuff like the shell and the mud that covers it, there is still a beautiful pearl inside. That even when ugly things are all around, she is still a pearl.

It was very obvious that Megan wasn't used to seeing herself as a pearl but she was very receptive as I told her about it. It was an unusual moment of talking intimately, almost like for a minute we weren't in a strip club. It was a brief moment and that is as far as we got, but it was a divine moment brought to us by God and I know we will have many more.

- Katy

Thursday, June 3, 2010

American Dream

Tonight I was in a prayer meeting at the church with six other women. We were meeting to pray for God's daughters in the sex industry; the slaves, prostitutes, strippers and those being abused. It was a powerful two hours as we poured out our hearts and asked the Lord to give us a strategic plan on how to help these women. You could feel the sweet presence of the Lord in that room as we ran to Him asking for help. When leaving my friend Jessica said "I have no words" and she was right, because it was a completely humbling experience and I left with an incredible sense of purpose.

I am so humbled that God is taking the time to speak to my heart about the daughters that He needs rescued. I said today that God is wrecking my life... but in the most amazing way. Kyle and I are definitely not living the "American Dream", but we are praying and serving and fighting for justice which I believe is the Kingdom Dream.

Micah 6:8
The Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.

- Katy