katie rose writes

I've been seeing my heart in a slightly strange way lately.  I've seen it emptied out, poured out, stretched out. Like an empty hull of a damaged ship, cargo jettisoned, passengers floating away in lifeboats—fully abandoned in the stormy seas. My worship echoes through that hull, a whisper compared to the waves. The truths I'm desperately clinging to from the Word are like marbles, tossed right along with me, but making so much noise as they go back and forth with the rhythmic force.  Acts 23.11 has been one of those marbles this week. “The following night, the Lord stood by him, saying, “Take courage, for as you testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome.” I find it interesting (a girl in my small group pointed this out) that usually when God visited His people in prison, it was through an angel. But when Jesus needed to be there, He was there. Himself. In flesh, standing beside Paul. I take courage in this p...

I sat with my knees drawn up to my chest, praying with the girls I'm living with here at training. We spent time adoring, confessing, thanking, and presenting our requests to the Father. As I began to ask the Father to strengthen my supervisors, my heart swelled for the people I'm about to live among, for the women I will soon meet.  "I long to know these women, Father. I long to share life with them. I long for them to know You intimately."  Tears come to my eyes even as I write these words. Because, as I felt this longing more deeply than I have before, God brought me back to His promise, made 5 years ago. "Behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I've promised you." Genesis 28.15. He spoke this word over me five years ago. And here we are.  Going back.  Promise fulfilled. This place. This time. These weaknesses.  I cannot express th...

This is just a glimpse into my story. I wrote it in preparation to speak at a church, and the Father told me to share it here. It is my prayer that He impacts your story with it. He is the God who writes our stories, the God who desires greater things than we can ever dream, the God who gives every minute purpose. Trust Him with your story. "I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service...and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus...to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1.12, 14, 17 I grew up hearing about Jesus. I received Him as my Savior at a young age, and I knew Him as my best friend. I knew all He did for me, but no one told me how this relationship worked day in & day out. No one taught me to seek Him or that He was seeking me. So, although He drew me near that...