Ready... Set... SOTB!

SOTB.

That stands for School Of The Bible.

it's 11 months long.

It's in Tyler, Texas (where I was last year for TFN)

and it's what I am doing next.

and it's going to rock my world.

Oh, so excited.

I'll be posting more about it soon.. so stay tuned.

But for now...

You can read more about the details and specifics here.

and here are a couple of videos:

After the Storm

And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.

this is an excerpt from a song that has become very near and dear to my heart. It's called "After the Storm" by Mumford and Sons. And it's delightful. To me, this speaks hope. It speaks life. I think of that moment after a long hike, when you reach the crest of the hill and you see an incredible view. Yes, I believe that for this season of my life. I must be near the top of this hill. I've caught a glimpse of the view, and it takes my breath away. I am headed to a good land with my Love. It does not mean that nothing bad will ever happen again. On the contrary, I know that there are storms and battles, probably ones greater than I can imagine, that await me. But, I will walk on, walk on, walk on, for He is with me. He is faithful. And because of Him, I can live my life with "grace in my heart and flowers in my hair". Yum.

listen to this piece of beauty right here:

Favorite

This is one of my favorite quotes ever. It was written by William Bradford, the Governor of the Pilgrims (from Plymouth, in 1620).
In case it's been a while since you've pondered it, the journey that they took was incredible. and ridiculous. They had already been driven from their homes, imprisoned, and barely escaped to Holland. After 10 years there, working back breaking labour, they realized that this was not the place they were called to be. They dreamed of a land where they could be truly free to worship God freely, and do what was right by their conscience. And God called them to it. Their journey was insane. Across the Atlantic ocean in a tiny boat in stormy weather. And when they finally reached their destination (which, actually, they landed hundreds of miles north of where they intended to land) no one was waiting for them. They were starting from scratch. In this Bradford tells what the Pilgrims told the neigh-sayers in Holland. And it has become great encouragement and inspiration to me. So.. here you go!

It was answered, that all great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and must be both enterprised and overcome with answerable courages.
It was granted the dangers were great, but not desperate; the difficulties were many, but not invincible.

For though there were many of them likely, yet they were not certain; it might be sundry (many) of the things feared might never befall; others by Provident care and the use of good means, might in a great measure be prevented; and all of them, through the help of God, by fortitude and patience, might either be borne or overcome.

True it was, that such attempts were not to be made and undertaken without good ground and reason; not rashly or lightly as many have done for curiosity or hope of gain.

But their condition was not ordinary; their ends were good and honorable; their calling lawful and urgent; and therefore they might expect the blessing of God in their proceeding.

Yes, though they should lose their lives in this action, yet might they have comfort in the same, and their endeavors would be honorable.

TFN Grad Speech

I spoke at my graduation from Teachers For The Nations (TFN). Here's what I said:

I came to TFN expecting to be trained to be a teacher. I figured I'd learn things like classroom management and curriculum development from a Christian perspective and we'd talk about the importance of education in transforming communities and that would be it. Ha ha ha. Little did I know I was coming to a school that would challenge me in every possible way and teach me how to think Biblically. I did learn about classroom management and curriculum development, but I learned so much more than that. I learned that education and all transformation all has to start with the individual. And consequently I became a much stronger individual. I learned to embrace so many of the things that make me distinctly KatiRose. For example: I love puns, banjo music, and recycling. But I was also challenged to examine the ideas and values I've held for so long and see if they were Biblical. And many things changed. Speaking of things that changed, at the beginning of TFN I didn't know how to cook and was terrified of Kindergartners. But as I was providentially assigned to assist in cooking dinner for 30 people every night, and "student-teaching" the 11 cutest, smartest, most amazing Reading Class students ever… all of that changed. Also, I have a much stronger appreciation and love for my country; my state; my city; and most importantly, my family. I have learned the importance of the covenant relationship of the church, and been challenged by a greater understanding of the intensity of the covenant of marriage, and the challenge and privilege of having children.


I learned that education is so much more than memorizing answers and spitting them back out on a page, it is more than moving information from the mind of the teacher to the mind of the student. Education involves the whole person. As we've heard said a million times this year, "the end of all learning is to know God and to love Him more." And the greatest thing is that we've seen this lived out. Our teachers haven't just been transferring their knowledge to our minds, they've captured our hearts. And now, as TFN graduates, we have this challenge. How will we use this treasure we've been entrusted with? Will we be found good and faithful servants? Or will we just burry it in the dirt? Will those Red Books be falling apart from use, or just look impressive, collecting dust on your bookshelf? No, we must invest this treasure and use it for the expansion of God's Kingdom. How you do that will be up to You and God (we're all individuals). However, in case you hadn't already heard, there is the additional requirement of getting married, having 10 children so we can take over the Legislative branch, and save America. So remember, it's all Bambi's fault, and "¡Matale si puedes!"

Law is Coeval. Or God is not arbitrary and harsh

so I've been terrible at updating this thing. and I am sorry. And I really haven't been writing much, ok anything at all, about what we've been learning in school. That is not because we aren't learning anything, it's because we are learning so much that I don't even know where to start. So.. I'll start here and we'll see what happens.

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourselves any idols
3. You shall not use the name of the Lord, your God in vain.
4. Remember the sabbath day by keeping it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

My Reading Class (Kindergarten) children are learning the 10 commandments and are going to recite them this Thursday night at our spring program. Words cannot describe how proud of them I am.

The Ten Commandments are a huge part of a key foundational truth that I have learned this year. I've always known that these were God's laws and that they were designed for right living. But as to why God picked these 10, I didn't have a very good idea. It seemed that He was God and He picked them, so that ought to be good enough. In my mind, these laws came into being on Mt.Sinai in Exodus when God gave Moses the tablets. But... that is not where they begin.

We have learned that God's law is coeval. Coeval (co-evil for pronunciation) means "brought into existence at the same time as" something. God's law is coeval with the creation of man. It is not a cause/effect thing, and these laws aren't just the arbitrary will of God. They are the description of how we are designed to live. For example, a car engine is designed to use oil. It's not some clever marketing trick by the oil companies, that they threw into the owner's manual of each car, it is the design of the car. A car can run without oil, but not for long. Just as we can live contrary to our design, seemingly with no side affects. For a while. And then... things deteriorate. I love how much more I see God's heart in these commands; how I can see that He isn't harsh and arbitrary, but He truly loves us and wants the best for us. This is the super condensed version, so hopefully that makes sense.

150 (Ode to a Conclusion)

Dear Conclusion,
I hate writing you.
I Just want to go to sleep.
But you are standing in the way.
What can I say that hasn’t already been said?
In the introduction, of course.
Repetition, repetition, repletion
Man, I am just kidding
Or am I?
I’ll leave that for you to decide
Take it back like counter-clockwise
One hundred and fifty words
Are a lot to demand.
I hate the rehash
I don’t have anything new to say
I’d rather write another paragraph instead
Wouldn’t that be better?
I think so.
Only at 94 or so.
Man, we’ve got a ways to go
Kind of like 6 year olds learning to ask questions
The kids who don’t mind if Wilbur dies: bacon is delicious
But are afraid to read the end because they know
Charlotte’s a goner
And that’s too sad to stand.
Like this conclusion.
Concluded.
Respectfully yours,
KatiRose

camping out

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see." -NET

a verse I've read, heard, studied, quoted, and preached thousands of times. A verse I need to camp out in again.

sure of what I hope for.
what do I hope for?
I hope for a good future.
I hope for a deeper relationship with God.
I hope to be used for His kingdom and His glory.
I hope for Africa.
I hope for restoration.
I hope for fruit from the ashes.
I hope for healing.
I hope that He is enough.
I hope that His promises are true.
I hope for justice.
I hope for grace.
I hope for deep, lasting relationships.
I hope for a best friend I don't have to say goodbye to.
l hope for adventure.
I hope for plane tickets.

Certain of what I do not see.
the reality of the unseen God.
the immortal invisible unending God.
the all powerful all sustaining gracious Lover of my soul.
certain that He is.
certain that He is all I need.
certain that He is faithful. Even when I am faithless.
certain that I can trust Him with all my heart, all my soul, and all my physical life.
certain that the above statement sounds ridiculous. oh, Father, help my unbelief.
certain that He sees the injustice and hears the cries of the broken hearts of an entire continent. certain that He has a good plan for ALL of His beautiful children.
certain that my heart has only hit the beginning of feeling how He feels and loving how He loves.
certain that He makes all things new.
certain that He works all things together for my good.
certain that my definition of good has to be redefined to not necessarily include the words safe, easy and comfortable.
certain that loving is never wasted.
certain that change is always a part of my life.
certain that some relationships are only for a season. certain that this fact doesn't make them any less valid or worthy of my time, heart, attention or resources.
certain that I am worth more than many sparrows, and all my needs shall be supplied.
certain that He knows the deepest desires of my heart.
certain that I need more faith.
certain that if I ask, He'll grow it in me.
:)