Kathy Stephens

Time for a Journey
ByKathy Stephens April 2, 2016April 2, 2016

I borrowed this photo from a bible journaling class for the sole purpose of sharing it with you.
I ask myself daily, God What do you want me to do with my time? God who do you want me to seek out today? God who might you have me share your word with today? Then some days I also ask, GOD, Where is this Journey taking me? I have found that if you stay close to GOD he will take you places. Some places that seem really good and some places that hurt you to the core. The journeys that include “valleys” can be really tuff, painful, life-changing.
Can you imagine GOD actually pulling up at your house to get you. Do you think you would want to ride shotgun or would you just hop in the back-seat and try to sorta hide there. Would you holler and ask HIM to turn the radio to your favorite station or would you sit quietly waiting for HIM to ask you what you want to listen to? Truth is He may pull up at any time. He might even help you pack your bags.
IS HE asking you to take a journey with HIM or are you on a new Journey with HIM right now? It might require short travels or HE could be asking you to take a long trip. Truth is sometimes when the DETOUR signs show up, the pot holes get big, your really not sure about the journey at all. I know that to be true cause sometimes Journey’s with GOD are scary… Sometimes you show up with a lot of baggage. You had no idea it cost more for that extra baggage. You know that second bag that is really weighing you down. The one that won’t fit in the overhead. YEAH…. you know the one.
Do you know the familiar sound of GOD when HE says, “we are now boarding?” Get acquainted cause if your not on a journey now… you just might be soon.
Some of My favorite Things…..
ByKathy Stephens March 16, 2016

Today I have reminisced about how many things Dennis did that were my Favorites.
For 23 years He always opened doors for me. I never got into a vehicle that He didn’t reach for the door. It always made me feel so much like a lady. It made me feel protected.
He always acted like my jokes were funny. We could literally get the silly giggles so bad. He would finally holler out STOP IT…. Sometimes he would go to bed before me and leave me sleeping on the couch ( I”d be trying to watch a movie) and then when I would go to bed I would snuggle in beside him and pinch his nose (cutting off his air supply) till it would wake him up. I would be dying laughing and He would wake up startled and say, “are you crazy?” and then we would laugh for an hour and that of course would sometimes turn into the best pillow talk of the week.
I loved it when we would go up to the cemetery together and take a late afternoon walk. We use to do that quiet a bit. I’ve always loved the way the sun sets over that cemetery. We would walk and talk, hold hands and watch as the sun would set. Now I go up about that same time of day and sit on the bench beside his grave and as the sun sets, I’m still having conversations with HIM.
I loved the way he would order dinner for me. We might go round and round about where to eat but once we got there HE WAS THE BEST. ” She will have a Filet, medium, baked potato, just butter, oh and blue cheese dressing.” I loved it that He knew me that well.. …
One of my VERY favorite was the way he would say goodnight. Many nights we would climb in the bed and get all settled in. Sometimes it takes me alittle bit to get my pillows like I want them. (ha) WE might have the radio on or possibly a late night show, but regardless he would reach over and either grab me by my hand or roll towards me and kiss me on the forward and softly say, I LOVE YOU BEST……
OH HOW I MISS MY FAVORITE THINGS…..
What Version are You?
ByKathy Stephens February 17, 2016February 17, 2016

Through the years of studying the bible I’ve owned several different versions. There was a stretch of time where I just used one bible/one version. The NIV. It made it so easy for me to understand scripture. During that time I wrote side notes, underlined, drew stars as needed, etc. Heck i was bible journaling before my time. hahaha Then as time went on I bought up a couple of other bibles, was given a couple as gifts, and now days I use several of them to go back and forth and read scriptures from various versions for a certain purpose.
Today I want to share a scripture with you as a comparison between the NASB and The Message.

When you pass through the waters I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
The flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the lord your God
Isaiah 43:2-3 NASB version
NOW…..
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you;
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
It won’t be a dead end because
I am God, your personal God.
Isaiah 43:2-3 The Message Version
I have clung to these verses over the last 13 months. Started out hanging by a thread….. I kept telling myself that I wasn’t going down, I wasn’t drowning, I wasn’t being consumed with the fire of grief… I just kept telling myself GOD was ABLE…….
These particular verses from The Message are screaming my name. The very first sentence… “when you’re in over your head. I”ll be there with you”… really GOD? “Do you know how over my head I am?” “YES really” , he has been saying. Truth is He’s been saying that throughout my life.
I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that I still sit and cry some days, i’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that my heart is still breaking over losing Dennis, I’d be lying if i said there weren’t still days that I just want to give up BUT….. then I read these verses again and I am reminded that there is NOTHING that I could ever encounter that GOD can’t handle and walk me through. I read them quiet often.
***********I want to challenge you to do something.*************
I want you to write down The Message version on a piece of paper and tape it to your refrigerator. ( I know you will see it there cause you got to eat) and I want you to leave it there for a week.
BUT that’s not all….. I want you to read it out loud every time you go to the refrigerator for the entire week. ( if your willing to accept this assignment please respond with a K) Let’s get the word stirred up this week.
See how God can get in that. See how much HE can lift your spirits with that. JUST SEE…….
‪#‎Betheversion‬ ‪#‎lifechanges‬, ‪#‎wordsofencouragement‬,‪#‎IAMGOD‬

So you know, I’m Kathy with a K. Little childhood story hidden in that. My life has been filled with lots of adventures. Some of those things changed me. I have experienced disappointments, a battle with depression, the reality of losing my Husband of 23 years, YET finding HOPE in the midst of it all.

God used faith-based Yoga, dear friends, and his word to help my heart find a place of peace again. The recovery of grief and disappoint changed me forever.

I love to cook, listen to loud music and laugh a lot, I crazy dance, love the smell of paper whites and I love to tell stories.

I am a wellness advocate #certifiedhealthcoach, Institute of Integrative Nutrition, Yoga instructor RYT-200 #yogafaith as well as a Trauma Sensitive Yoga Instructor. I am a Certified Christian Life Coach and a Graduate of The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Women’s Ministry. I use these tools to help others be the best they can be.

MUCH to my surprise,God blessed me a few years ago with a “new” Love in my life… Now my husband Joe. He is a prince of a guy and his smile just makes you feel good inside. He is caring and funny and just what the doctor ordered. He is my best friend.

We have a puppy named COCO and yeah you guessed it, she’s a daddy’s girl.

I get up everyday with excitement for the mission at hand. I believe that through prayer, conversation with those you trust, and inner healing work, we can all find true peace and HOPE in our daily lives. God is ABLE.

You will find stories of love, loss, faith and HOPE all woven throughout this blog. I hope you will take a seat, stay awhile and join me on this Journey.