Heal this Generation

"Heal this generation. Set us free from all our sins and pour on us Your precious blood...heal this generation..."
         - lyrics from a song by Brother Agape at Intercessors of the Lamb Conference 2007

How great our Fathers love for us. How deep His scars. How beautiful a cross He carried. How brutal yet breathtaking His crucifixion.

Jesus, the love of my life, died for me and you. How can one truly even comprehend the overwhelming depth of His mercy, love, understanding, patience, and overall beauty. When I look at this society I cannot help but to lose hope in seeing how skewed this world's views are. Yet, I am able to find that hope once again in our Lord's redeeming and healing love. I have no doubt in my heart and in my mind that Jesus truly will heal this generation one heart at a time. The fact that He cares deeply enough for each and every one of us to spend forever fighting for us is so immaculate.

I write out these thoughts not to simply get this hurt off my chest, because in reality, the hurt remains. I write this to reach out to others who maybe already feel and accept His love, and for those who yearn so deeply for the love that only He can truly give. It just breaks my heart to see so many people throw away the beauty that they are as a unique, unrepeatable, irreplaceable sons or daughters of Christ.

To the men of this broken world. Learn to be a gentleman. Step up and be the soldier of Christ that you are called out to be. Be leaders in your faith. Be respectful of woman, especially to those who haven't found the strength and understanding to respect themselves. Reach out to everyone in love.
1 Chronicles 16:11 says to seek the Lord and His strength. Seek His presence continually.

To the women of this harsh world. Fall in love Jesus first and foremost. He is the source of true happiness. Be the woman who is so hidden in our Lord that any man worthy of your love must seek Jesus to find you. We as woman are BEAUTIFUL beyond belief and we should all be treated like princesses. After all, we are daughters of our Savior and King.

Alright I should probably wrap this up. I just yearn so badly to reach out to all those who are hurting and all those in need. Thankfully I can place my hope in the Lord today, tomorrow, always and forever.  Thank you Jesus for your mercy.

He died for us...let us live for Him

"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

Living in such a broken world it's incredibly hard to see that small glimmer of hope. Stretching from gang shootings to pre-marital sex to a complete and utter loss of self worth, value, and dignity. It's absolutely heartbreaking to be a witness to the happenings of todays society. Thankfully, in all the despair and pain I am constantly reminded of John 16:33.

Jesus Christ, my Lord, Savior, Redeemer, and best friend has miraculously overcome this world! How incredibly beautiful is that?! I just cannot comprehend the depth of His love for me, and for every single person He so willingly created in His image and likeness. The fact that with each and every trial and tribulation that causes heartbreak and pain in our lives, there is such hope in knowing that Jesus has overcome each of those temptations and failures purely out of love for us. Not only has He overcome this world, but He surpasses our expectations with flying colors as He brings beauty from our pain. Of course we may not see how our pain could ever be beautiful, yet through Christ all things are possible as He is the source of our strength. He has overcome every possible trial that we face. We alone will never have the strength to overcome the brokenness of this world. But in and through His strength we too can overcome our difficulties.

Ah, what a beautiful word. Overcome. I feel like we are all called to challenge ourselves so that we may better ourselves as sons and daughters of God. I have set the challenge for myself to start with one struggle/temptation that I face daily and strive to overcome it with Jesus' help. It's going to be hard. It's going to be painful. But I am so ready to truly make some changes in my life. I definitely encourage others to join me on this difficult, yet unbelievably beautiful journey toward strengthening our relationships with Christ.

Dear Jesus, I give you my life. I thank you for the abundance of gifts you've blessed me with as well as all the struggles you allow in my life so that I may overcome them and grow in You, Lord. I ask that You would pour Your endless blessings on those who may be struggling right now to commit themselves to You. You, Lord, are our strength, comfort, and Redeemer. You died for us. Help us to take up our own crosses daily and live for You so that we may have eternal life with You. I love you Lord!
Love always, 
Hannah Kathryn

Totally and Completely Overwhelmed by Your Love, Lord

I literally just open my eyes and see God's constant, forgiving love absolutely everywhere.
I
         am
                        overwhelmed
by your love oh Lord. Your beauty is astounding. Your heart is healing. Your embrace is a reminder that
You
            never
                           let
                                       go
of me. Through you I overcame and continue to overcome.
I am madly, deeply in love with You.

Finding Myself in Him

So this is the first time in awhile I've just sat down to really catch my breath and listen to music. I pulled up my blog to write out what I would hope to be some encouraging words and instead I found myself completely at a loss of words. You know how sometimes your mind is enthralled with a billion thoughts all at once? Well, maybe you haven't experienced that if you're a guy, but I'm sure all of us girls have! Well that's where I'm at right now.

My mind thankfully takes some comfort in recalling the bible verse John 16:33...
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."


Even as I feel pain, sadness, and loneliness, I find strength not only in this verse, but in one single, powerful word. Overcome. In the same aspect that Jesus has overcome the world, how can I not see the graces that God pours over me so that I, too, may overcome all my trials. Jesus, our Lord and Savior has overcome the world! I cannot even begin to comprehend that fact! This generation that needs more than anything to be healed, He has overcome. This world in which sex is tossed around as though it is nothing. This world where babies are brutally aborted each and every day. This world where there are more broken hearts than smiles. This world full or hurt. He has overcome it all. Well if that isn't a prince in shining armor, I don't know what is! God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I ask that You would help me to overcome as You have.

As I sit here trying to concentrate on what I'm writing, I can't help but be distracted by the two friends I am sitting with. Stephanie and Miles. They are currently working on sign language for a song for an upcoming retreat. Priceless, let me tell you. I am more blessed than I could possibly deserve. And maybe, just maybe, that's where I'm finding my pain. I often feel as though all of the amazing people who have impacted my life will not realize just how much I cherish all that they are in my life. What if God were to take them from my life before I was ready? How can I possibly show them and truly express my thanks to them? Looking at these two right now I just hope and pray that I can be as faithful and wonderful as they are.

Whew, well I am exhausted. I'm thinking it's time to finish up some art, talk with my best friend, Jesus, and fall asleep listening to some Jesus music.
Thank you God for the people you've blessed me with <3 <3 <3

Just giving some thanks to my one and only...

My dear Lord and best friend, 

I love you. 

Thank you for this beautiful day as I started my second semester of college. 

Thank you for miss Kileen Ann Willis who brightened up my day right from the start. 

Thank you for my family who loves me endlessly.

Thank you for my daddy with whom I share many little memories that are dear to my heart.

Thank you for my mommy who I admire and am proud of for pursuing her art.

Thank you for my sister, Brittany, who I am building a deeper relationship with being her at college.

Thank you for my sister, Dani, who I barely go a day without talking to. 

Thank you for listening to me as I shared my heart with You. 

Thank you for the opportunity to attend Candlelight Mass that leaves me speechless every single time. Thank you for the joy that overcame me as I saw all my other wonderful friends. 

Thank you for those friends who continually make me laugh. And not just simply laugh, but laugh a ton! Thank you for the chances You give me to grow in my faith and really step outside my comfort zone. 

Thank you for Joe, who has no idea how much he impacts my life.

Thank you for Your forgiveness.

Thank you for opening my eyes to see...well, You know what you opened my eyes to see. =)

Thank you, Lord, most of all for loving me with Your infinite, perfect love. 

Love, with all my heart,

Hannah Kathryn

My Very Own Love Letter...

Well shoot it's been awhile since I've written. I've been busy writing a book and well...facing the realities of life! Sometimes I forget just how many trials and tribulations can be thrown at us all at once. It's exhausting, am I right? The crazy thing is that even though I continue hurting and trying to face all that is at hand, if I just stop and really take in the presence of God in my life...it is absolutely astounding. A song that has been constantly in my head lately is Our God's Alive by Andy Cherry. The chorus very simply says it all...

Rise with a shout

Cry out, "Our God's alive"

Rise Holy fire, burn bright, burn bright

Cry out for freedom

Rise, Church, oh, rise

Our God's alive

How true and beautiful that is. I don't know about anyone else, but so often I get so caught up in the hurt that I'm facing that I all the sudden forget to notice the trees around me. Or the birds chirping, or the kids laughing. Whatever it may be, I look straight past it, caught up in myself. And here's the real kicker. Me, being a hopeless romantic, dream about being so loved someday that I will receive love letters from someone who admires and adores me. And really, when I think about that, I imagine a love letter written on paper yea? Hello Hannah, open your eyes! God is sending His breathtaking love letter to me EACH DAY as I am literally surrounded by His love. His love letter to me is the beautiful weather and the stranger who smiles at me. His love the music that brings tears to my eyes and the friends that I have been so incredibly blessed with. His love letter to me is everywhere, every second of my life. How could I be so blind to this dream come true? No one else could ever replace His endearing love letter to me.

What's even more amazing is the fact that God has a love letter for each and every one of us here, and each one is different. What could be better than that? I am loved infinitely. 

So although I have been busy, I have been blessed with God's graces as He opened my eyes to the reality that maybe I should just take that step back and really breathe. And then pause, and take in His love letter to me. And now I must continue on, growing in my faith, and sending my love letter right on back to Him. My Lord and Savior is just too precious, He is my love. 

Beautiful Realization

So over the weekend, something so simple yet incredibly deep became clear to me. Being one with such a romantic heart, I can spend forever searching for a true love who will genuinely love me, care for me, and help me grow in my faith. But in reality? I've already found my true love. Jesus Christ, my best friend, my savior, my true love.

It's absolutely amazing to me how I grew up learning about God and how deep His love truly is, but I personally never realized just how deep His love is until I began really yearning to see for myself. Being surrounded by all these exceptional people here at CSU has been so divine in the sense that each and every one of my friends inspire me to be a better person. Back in my home town, I never felt this. But here, my friends truly want to grow in their faith, and it's so breathtaking for me to sit back and see just how great my God is!

I love the secrets that are shared between Jesus and I! The way I can smile at something so simple, knowing that my best friend is sharing in the smile with me. I love dancing like a fool, singing my heart out, and just resting in my Lord's presence! I have this song that I absolutely love called Way Beyond Myself by the Newsboys (if you haven't heard it before, listen to it!) So anyway, at one point in the song, the lyrics say, "Like the wind that moves the leaves, Lord, You move me to my knees..." So awhile ago as I was walking to my class and listening to my iPod, this song was playing and I was quietly singing along. When those lyrics came up I looked around and sure enough, all the leaves were moving back and forth with the wind. I couldn't help but smile for a good...at least ten minutes! That is a perfect example of how the small things are truly beautiful! It's so easy to take things fore granted which is really sad if you think about it. That's why I'm going to strive to give thanks to the Lord so much more than I do now. When I was a freshman in high school, my best friend at the time helped me stay grounded in the Lord so much that I can remember an exact moment as I was walking over the Ag shop and my mom's favorite type of bird flew by me. I remember how overjoyed I was by this simple bird that I began skipping, smiling, and praising God over and over in my heart! Unfortunately, when my friend and I drifted apart, so did much of my faith in God. More than anything I yearn to find it again. I want to be as thankful as I was then. It may be easy to say I'm going to be more thankful, but the point I'm trying to make is that I want to mean it. Mean it with all my heart.

This past weekend brought me to my knees in awe of my Lord and Savior. I yearn to be beautiful and loved, and it can be much too easy to let my troubles and tribulations tear me down. But God blessed me immensely this weekend as I was reminded that I do have a purpose being here as a beautiful daughter of God. For all the times I feel worthless or not pretty, those moments are times for me to just grow closer with God. It can go one of two ways. One: I can take it to heart and really doubt all that I've been told otherwise by my best friend. Or two: I can let Jesus wrap His arms around me, wipe away my tears, and love me unconditionally. It's so incredibly hard to go with that second choice, but how would I possibly get closer to God if I didn't have these hard times to really rely on Him?

I am just so blessed. I am being romanced more and more each day by the Lord, and it is incredibly hard! Here's a challenge for anyone reading this blog...I challenge you to fall in love with God. Not just tell Him you love him each day, or pray to Him once every day...but fall head over heels in love. I guarantee it will be painful, exhausting, and you may just want to give up. But I can also guarantee that it is the most beautiful gift that anyone can possibly imagine of encountering.

Jesus Christ, You are and always will be the love of my life. Thank you for my family and friends that lead me closer to you each day. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You've captured my heart completely and I won't let you go as I have in the past. I am yours forever, and I've come to the beautiful realization that I will be more than content loving You for the rest of my life and falling more in love with You every single second of my life. I love You.

"Hold me, pull me just a little bit closer. I don't wanna lose this moment. Your love has covered me and know I can't get over you..." - Can't Get Over You by Anthem Lights (listen to it!)