Embracing exactly who He made me to be...

If you know me you know that I talk... A. Lot! I share what's on my mind most of the time, ok all of the time! Even my husband becomes suspicious when I am quiet. My mother has always said that as a child, she knew when I wasn't feeling well because…you guessed it…there was silence. For many years I believe my personality worked against me & a large part of me hated myself for being the way I was. I was lippy (is that even a word?), insecure, and loud! I was also involved in unhealthy relationships growing up that had no boundaries. Now as an adult who has finally found her first love, Jesus, I have stepped into what I believe is real true love not only for myself, but for the Lord, my family & my friends. I am a better person all around because I finally surrendered to the one who created me & knows me best! So I say all that to say.... I love to talk, to share, to encourage, to speak words of wisdom into the life of others. I choose to surround myself with those who embrace me, love me, and receive the love & support I have to give. I no longer care if everyone likes me because I now know that it’s simply not my problem! I refuse to any longer dislike myself for being who He created me to be!  I have gained so much confidence in knowing that God’s opinion is the only one that really counts! I hope you too discover that if you haven’t already. There is nothing better than feeling free to be yourself. God’s grace is most definitely amazing! My name is Katherine Rae Ramirez. I stand 6ft tall. I love God, my husband, kids & friends & in that order! I love coffee with french vanilla creamer, I enjoy deep talks with my girlfriends that are soul stirring. I have a passion to see woman set free from all the strongholds of life & into a life after Christ! Jail ministry is my heart. I am extremely proud of my sons and it gives me deep pride to see them growing into God fearing men that are not only handsome but kind and considerate individuals. I’m grateful for every second of every day & I never expected to learn this valuable wisdom from experiencing the death of my daddy. I will never look at life the same. He always told me the things I would get hung up on were just small things in the grand scheme of life, he was right. He understood grace & in turn gave me the greatest lesson I could have ever seen lived out in regards to God’s grace.

with all my <3, 

Katie

the heart of wisdom...

I recently had a friend express to me that she needed wisdom. I in turn told her that I felt every bit of the wisdom I've gained came through the trials & heartaches I had endured. You see I believe wisdom is priceless. It can not be bought but in a sense it is sought out. We can ask God for it James 1:5. It's so valuable that we must live through life's darkest hours to obtain it. I didn't wake up with the gift of wisdom. Every sigh, every tear, every lesson learned. Wisdom is built when life is faced with faith in God & then based on the Word in light of His truth. It is costly & by far one of the single most valuable gifts God has ever bestowed upon me. It didn't come any other way than facing difficulties & the only choice being to survive…truly trusting God. Wisdom will cost you everything you have every wrongly learned into your brain. If will require you to replace all that you are for all that He is. It will be painful in every sense of the word. In your pursuit you will learn exactly who God is & who He isn't, what He's like, and why He so desires for you to possess it. Wisdom has a way of directing you through confusion towards the light of His truth. Through heartache when all you want to do is give up. Wisdom will assist you in leading others towards the Father too…what a gift we have the opportunity to give others. The beginning or foundation of true wisdom as stated in Psalm 111:10 is the fear of the Lord. Fear not as in scared but as in reverence or deep respect. The scripture goes on to say that.. A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. When I looked up the Hebrew meaning of fear it was yir ah,(yir-aw), it usually refers to the fear of God & is viewed as a positive quality. This fear acknowledges God's good intentions. This fear is produced by God's Word and makes a person receptive to wisdom & knowledge. I began to really become interested because I had never really put two & two together to see where wisdom came from for me. But I do remember deciding in my mind & heart that I would purposefully choose God's way as shown in the Bible & make it my foundation for my life. Every decision I would make I purposed it would line up with the Word of God. It was over time…but it came. I believe wisdom comes ultimately from the awareness of our complete dependence upon God. It's available to all of God's children if they want it & it lay before you ready to gain by seeking God, wisdom is an attribute of the very essence of God. It's He that gives it to those who follow Him in obedience, to those who depart from evil. To those who choose God despite their present circumstance just like Job when He lost everything. My favorite depiction of wisdom is in Isaiah 33:6 "In that day HE will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord will be your treasure." Wow! Treasure! It's no wonder that the enemy tries so hard to distract us with petty things on our journey through life. That is why it is so extremely important to lean on God & His Word for all our direction. We get off the path to our treasure when we forget Who is in ultimate control or when we try to go it all alone with only our own understanding. Choose God's way & wisdom comes…. Proverbs 8:22-31 (AMP) 22 The Lord formed and brought me [Wisdom] forth at the beginning of His way, before His acts of old. 23 I [Wisdom] was inaugurated and ordained from everlasting, from the beginning, before ever the earth existed. 24 When there were no deeps, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains laden with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth, 26 While as yet He had not made the land or the fields or the first of the dust of the earth. 27 When He prepared the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there; when He drew a circle upon the face of the deep and stretched out the firmament over it, 28 When He made firm the skies above, when He established the fountains of the deep, 29 When He gave to the sea its limit and His decree that the waters should not transgress [across the boundaries set by] His command, when He appointed the foundations of the earth— 30 Then I [Wisdom] was [a]beside Him as a master and director of the work; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always, 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited earth and delighting in the sons of men. Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Job 28:28 "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." James 1:2-18 " Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. 9 Believers who are[b] poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. 12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong,[c] and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.[d] He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.[e] 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.[f] Katie

Real freedom...

I'm awake with the rooster this morning but today is different. I've taken the opportunity to sit out on my front porch & breath in the smell of rain. Thunderstorms have been off & on all night and right now it's cool with a little breeze, my idea of perfection. I can hear thunder coming from a distance, the lightening reminding me that a storm is near. But above all of the sounds I hear it's the sound of freedom ringing loudest. Birds of various different breeds calling out so rhythmically as if to announce to the world their location, the vibration of crickets, the singing of the song birds, and even the random butterfly that just perched itself onto my hanging basket of pretty red flowers to get some nourishment. The amazing thing is they aren't worrying, or asking anybody what to do next…their just being..living while they can, without a care in the world. I am overwhelmed & can hear rather loud that God's mercy is NEW every morning. Yes, another day is the opportunity to start over again, to cherish every moment you've been given, to really live! It takes no effort to hear all of natures sounds this morning, I haven't spoken one word, yet I've received so much refreshing inside my Sprit. God & His creation echoing His sovereignty and reminding me that if He will feed the birds in the air how much more, as a child of the King, will He take care of me. That my friends is freedom, REAL FREEDOM!! Taking God at His Word. Believing Him for ALL your needs according to His riches in glory. This is my heavenly daddy I'm talking about & He desires to withhold no good thing from me, from any of His children for that matter. He sent His Son Jesus to purchase this & I am very reminded that He LOVES & with AGAPE love. C. S. Lewis said in his book Four Loves that he believed the highest level of love known to mankind was a selfless love one that was passionately committed to the well being of another person. In a season of loss that's often marred with grief I see the beauty in this all. Oh if it meant that I would have never been able to seek the Lord out had it not been for the trials of life then I would say push repeat. It's the most precious, intimate time I ever recall spending with my HIM. There have been moments when thought I couldn't find God & I allowed myself to battle my flesh for a time. It just made me dig in my heels to seek Him even more…I found Him. He hadn't moved, it was my doubt that separated me for a moment. Hence the grave importance of putting Him first, the connection between Father & child is ridiculously important to a life lived with peace & joy. I'm glad I awoke so early this wonderful Sunday morning…I've been with my Beloved & His love indeed is better than life. (psalms 63:3) God is love, He is ALL you will ever need. He simply desires communion with His children as would any loving parent. Abraham comes to mind today…"In the same way, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith."~Galatians 3:6 My goal: Ever trusting, endlessly loving, always abiding, Katie

so many things...

I was blessed with a father that never took life for granted, that used every moment we had together to tell me how much he loved me & how proud he was. He had a vigor for life & a magnetic personality that was irresistible. He danced at all my middle school dances & always reminded me about the quiver of my lip that made him give me my way when I was little (He would say I couldn't tell you no baby.) He was a lover of the OSU Pokes, conversations with strangers, and food. He had a great smile & made you feel like you were pretty stinkin special. Observing & reflecting on his life has brought about so much & tonight brings me to this: As I type I hear my 3 year old playfully giggling in the bathtub & asking for more cheddar bunnies. Yes. In the bathtub he is munching on organic cheese crackers. I admit, I'm partial! I've learned in a painful way to cherish moments like this with him, that before I may not have. I know it seems mundane but I have often been reminded since dad passed that life is just that, it's life. We aren't waiting on it to happen, it IS happening today…right now, catch it because it is quickly passing by. You see this time a year in a half ago I might not be seeing life from this view but I do now. Life has changed yet it still marches on. How many times do we cut our loved ones conversations or experiences with them short because we are too busy. How many times did your child say mom before you rudely said "What?" I'm as guilty as the next parent but what I'm trying to convey is that every second of every day that you get to spend with your loved ones is a gift. I don't think we begin to understand this until we know what & who we are. I've began to understand the importance of loving who God created me to be. I'm currently reading a book by Paula Rinehart called "Strong Women,soft hearts" in it she says The more completely we belong to Christ, the more of our real selves we become. I LOVE that statement & am finding it to be true. I've noticed that as I have retrained my brain to receive & accept the unlimited supply of the love & grace of God that my passions for life are shining brighter than before. I'm filtering through & making stacks one for non-important & one for extremely important! The cloudy picture is starting to become clearer. What I've been put on this earth for is starting to make since. One of the most beautiful things about life is that God gave each one of us different personalities, quirks, passions,and dreams. He created me with a list of favorites, things He knew that would especially wow me when I encountered them like the mountains, the sound of rain, the vibrant colors of the flowers in the spring, the fresh fallen snow. I guess what's changed the last several years is my ability to quiet my heart & stop to breath in the fresh air & be aware of Who gave it to me. To acknowledge the Lord throughout every day & thank Him for life. Life is absolutely something I am grateful for & far be it from me to be given this gift of life and take one second for granted. xoxoxo, Katie

Fear not little flock….

I feel compelled to write about fear more so because of the recent weather & the fear that has been evoked in the heart of man in this region. There was quite a bit of severe weather yesterday but the forecasters are amped & warning us all for much worse today. While I appreciate the warnings & will take appropriate measures to ensure our safety I will not be letting anxiety, fear, or doubt control me & my prayer is that you won't either. My first thought about fear is always this scripture "For God has not given us the spirit of fear(refers to a disposition of the mind) but the spirit of Power and of love and of a sound mind(self-control)"2 Timothy 1:7 I read that verse to say that my God, my creator, the one who knew me in the womb & even before then did NOT I repeat did NOT give His people a spirit of fear. Think about this for a moment with me Your heavenly Father designed & intended for you to have a mind that not only operated in power but in love & ultimately self control. I looked up some of the Greek translation of the words in this passage & was excited to see that the word power in this scripture means "a spirit of strength, meaning manly vigour in opposition to a spirit of cowardice." I almost feel like the spirit behind some of these storms is strongly lead by fear. Then I imagine God asking me if I trust Him. I can only think in my own human understanding the example of a parent & child. Would you as a parent ever leave your child alone in a storm? To face it & experience it alone? Well heck no!! So why then despite what happens would the Lord let those who call out to Him as children think that we needed to fear? I believe it's because it's our nature to try & figure it out on our own. But today I encourage you to talk to your Father, God about all this. Refuse to be lead by anything less than the still calmness of a loving Father who has your good at the root of everything that happens. Jesus didn't come to prevent anything "bad" from happening in our lives He came so that He might walk with us through them. Truth is I can lose my home, my car, my life & ultimately it's all good because my Father is God. He set my life into motion 33 plus years ago. He has never failed me yet & He won't any of His children. He is faithful, He is faithful, He is faithful….I can not say that enough. Today do not allow words of fear to direct your conversations today. Speak to God, let Him know your concerns He understands them & I know without a shadow of a doubt will replace them with peace only He can give. Encourage your children to breath easy, to not fear. We are teaching valuable lessons to them through our response to such chaotic activity in our fallen world. Pack a bag, know where you will seek shelter if the need arise but above all include the Lord in your planning He longs to lead you. There is safety, peace, and joy found in His shelter.


So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matt 10:31 NIV

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27 NLT

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3 NIV

They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. Psalm 112:7 NLT

But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. Psalm 33:18 NLT

Tuck these scriptures away in your heart, repeat them out loud if anxiety which is rooted in fear, tries to attach itself to you. Take this time if you're a parent to talk about God's protective power, His love, and how important it is to trust Him for everything including the weather. I hope & pray this speaks to someone & by the power of the Holy Spirit you are at peace today & into tonight. It is said that the phrase "fear not" is in the Bible 365 times, I'm thinking one for every day of the year.

Rest, trust, and abide

Katie

the freedom that comes from grace...

Have you ever strived for something only to fail miserably? Or wanted something so bad but had the preconceived notion that you weren't worthy of receiving it? I feel like that's how I handled God's grace for what seems like forever. I understood who He was, what His son Jesus did, and ultimately had a pretty good understanding of the "right" way to behave. I worked tirelessly at trying to please Him. I would purposefully not cuss, or be moody, you get the point? But then I would get tired or someone who really tick me off & I would blurt out some fleshly response only to live with the guilt of letting God down for a few days until I had forgotten or repented enough that I thought He had forgiven me. You see I was "working" to accomplish His approval. Working?! To please my loving Father?! Father... That's the relationship that I felt like I had to work to obtain. WRONG! I believe the Lord purposefully gave me a Father who I affectionately called daddy to show me exactly what a Father is. My memories are of a daddy who loved, kissed, and chose to believe the best about me in all situations. He always believed my intention wasn't to be evil or to disobey from lack of respect. You see not only did my daddy believe the best about me, I believe God always believes the best about His children. I believe He loves me despite my failings. I believe He lovingly desires me to talk to Him about everything. That's grace friends. Unmerited, undeserved favor. It was obtained for us by way of Jesus & His gruesome journey to the Cross. That is why we no longer have to work to get to God. We only have to rest in who we are in Him. The only way we discover that is by reading the scriptures & reminding ourselves daily that we belong to Him. Our worth is not from men, our purpose isn't created by men, our significance in this world isn't from men either. Our price tag says paid in full! 1 Corinthians 6:20 says we have been bought with a price(Jesus) therefore we should glorify God in our body & in our spirits. It's about living a life that glorifies Him because of what He has done not because you are attempting to earn something. That only causes strife & the potential to fail(which we all do at some point because we are human)When you place your trust & faith in God, He does what He does best & that is guide us into truth. It is a learned response on our part because over time if you understand how much God loves you instead of focusing on how much you love God you begin to operate & function out of the appreciation & love that comes when you realize you are good enough! I believe when I finally understood that I was precious in His sight & valued that I started to "rest" in that promise that His grace was sufficient(2 Corinthians 12:9) & that I indeed was immediately made whole. My goal now is to operate & function in the precious gift of grace. I am enough. You are enough. The challenge is retraining your brain from all that religious rules that no one can ever obtain. When we think we can do anything to be "better" than the next sinner we are operating under law & not grace. The real truth is if you are guilty of breaking any one part of the law then you are guilty of breaking it all (James 2:10) That my friends is why Jesus came & died in the first place to reconcile us back to God. His blood shed is enough to cover you, you need only repent & draw near to the one who made you. He longs to be in your daily life, in your conversations,apart of every facet of your life. And just like a earthly daddy desires all that is good for you so does our heavenly Daddy ;-)

♥ Katie

Your peace is a melody…You sing it over me.

I haven't written in what seems forever…I'm entering into a season of healing, a season of restoration. The Lord hasn't left me although at times I have fought to find Him, to feel His presence. The death of my father has finally hit me like a ton of bricks lately. The tears are falling & I'm thankful. Holding all that in can be worse than the grief, if you ask me. Yesterday I found a recipe he had hand-written for me…again the tears flowed. I miss him so much it hurts at times. The dynamics of my family has been tremendously altered. I have often explained it as missing my arm or leg. It takes practice getting adjusted to such a loss. I lost the first man I ever loved, my encourager, the one who embraced me in his arms as if I was still his "little" girl and everything became alright again. I long for a hug, to touch him in some way…somehow. I am assured with hope that soon we will be reunited, this time forever. Thank you Jesus...I'm more than grateful for my husband who has stepped in and comforted me, who has shown me I will heal and survive, and ultimately who has lead our family through this loss. My children who by being themselves, busy, active, growing, have shown me life does go on. I'm learning to live again. I sense the repairing of my heart with every tear that drops. I can not put into words what it feels like when God pours His peace over me. It is tangible and makes every cell of my body feel alive once again. God has shown Himself faithful over and over and over again. I pray that through the transitions we are making that God enlightens our friends that may feel neglected or ignored. I truly feel like the Lord is being very specific about who it is I share with and minister to in this season. I would be hard pressed to have been given better people to endure this season with me. It has been life changing. I am thrilled about where God is leading us though. Entering into a "new season" that requires the leaving of all the old and the embracing of what He has for us has been uncertain at times but We have chosen to follow God in the dark, and He has richly rewarded us for it. I see the horizon again. It is the regeneration of Katie, never to be the same again, but stronger, more compassionate, more sensitive to the hurting, the broken, the lost. I would walk this all again if it meant my heart would be more like my Jesus. I've learned what it really means to partake in the sufferings of Christ and for that... I. WILL. NEVER. BE. THE. SAME.

“But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are His … He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; He brings light to the deepest gloom.” (Job 12:13,22)


♥ ♥ ♥ Katie