Imissionation: Where am I going in life

Thursday afternoon, I had the opportunity to meet with two Indy-based PR professionals who are rockstars in the industry. Wide-eyed and with pen in hand, I tried to make like a sponge and soak up every word they said while scribbling bits of the conversation in my trusty composition notebook (almost identical to the ones sitting in front of them. Take that, iPads).

Like gum to the bottom of a shoe, the advice they offered that has stuck with me since that meeting has been the cruciality of strategy in communication. Every word an organization utters, whether it be on a social media outlet, in a press release, or on the company website, must somehow fit into that organization's goals and vision for the future. You must have a plan in which every action fits. 

So that got me thinking. I found myself rewinding to stormy Tuesday night, grabbing a midnight snack with my best goons and talking about life. We were playing "The Question Game" (probably my favorite thing ever), and inquiring about random things. The question, "What is your mission in life?" came up. Dots connected. The same way a strategy must be implemented into a communication plan really should also be a factor in life. 

How often do I find myself just meandering through the day-to-day, with zero forward thinking and no rhyme or reason to my actions? 

I need a plan. And a mission. And imagination. 

I need imissionation. 

imissionation - noun

1. the culmination of one's life mission and vision for the future

2. an attitude which drives one to creatively seize the day

3. a rejection of complacency as to live life to the full

Here we go.

Main Mission:

To spread the love of Jesus in a way that creatively redeems the broken elements of a fallen world. 

I think sometimes, Christ-followers get stuck in the idea that we must either reject the world completely, or throw all caution to the wind and dance on ice with it. I believe, in following in Christ's example, we are called to engage with culture in a way that redeems it. God is in the process of redeeming all creation to Himself, and if we're not helping that process, we're hindering it. A Christ-followers reactions to most situations are the exact opposite of any old human's. With Jesus guiding you, people will notice a difference. And that is exactly what I want. 

Goal 1:

Put God first, others second, and myself third on the priority list. Always.

Goal 2:

Live up to the responsibilities God has given me in being a role model. 

My family is such a unique and beautiful construction. Being the oldest child (by 7 and 10 years), I'm humbled and honored by the role God has given me in my two little sister's lives. Its something I don't take lightly, because I have a responsibility to set a positive example and come alongside my parents in raising them to be Godly women. Burkhardt Babes for life.

Goal 3: 

Carpe all diems. 

I refuse to let opportunities slip through my fingers. My bucket list gets longer every day, and every day Today, Monday, July 1st (holy smokes its already July!?), I'm the oldest I've ever been and the youngest I'll ever be again (thanks for that, Eleanor Roosevelt). Time to get carpe-ing.

Goal 4:

Lifelong bestfriendship with the King of Kings.

"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Galatians 1:10

If any word, thought, or action doesn't fit in with the imissionation I have laid out, its got to go. Life is short, people! Live it up.

Deeper Waters

Ever since I turned 21, I've been feeling God's pull on my soul. Almost like once I reached this milestone, He looked at me and said, "Ok, Kate. Its time to dive a little deeper in your friendship with Me." 

So, after pacing the beach and sticking my toes in the tide to test the water, I've finally got my wetsuit on, holding my Father's hand for the plunge. 

Some things He has been teaching me:

1. I need Him. It is absolutely impossible for me to change my bad habits and hangups. I need His transforming power to flood my heart in order to make me more like Him. I can't do it by myself!

2. He wants all of me. To be unified with God, I must surrender all that I am to Him. EVERYTHING. My dreams. My desires. My life. I am not my own. How liberating it is to rest in the fact that God is in control.

3. I can always count on Him. He cares about even the smallest details of my life! He is so holy, but loves me enough to answer when I call. 

4. The road will be difficult, but worth it. I'm prepared for the world to hate me and what I believe. But that is ok with me, because I have His hand to hold, and He has overcome the world.

Favorite Things Friday

1. Super Nintendo. Mario, Donkey Kong, Frogger, oh my! I'm obsessed with the video game system living in our room that is even older than I am. Last weekend I spent a good amount of time on the couch with controller in hand trying my best to dodge bad guys and snag 1-up mushrooms.

2. Gingerbread Lattes. I didn't even know I liked gingerbread until last week! A perfect blend of spice and sweet, Starbuck's has created the creme de la creme of Christmas coffee perfection.

3. Bre. I had the opportunity to spend three days with this girl while the other six roommates were out of town last weekend. We had a blast watching movies, eating Ivanhoe's, and, of course playing Nintendo. Bre is a fun-loving, dependable friend and I super enjoy sharing living space with her!

4. Jesus. Recently He has been showing up in amazing ways. God has been teaching me what it means to be in a friendship with Him, as opposed to a boss-employee frame of mind I'm guilty of falling into. The invitation to be friends with the King of the Universe is what separates Christ-followers from those involved in any other faith. Other religions are just that: religion. But Christianity is a life-changing relationship. Pretty amazing if you ask me.

5. Jump5. My favorite group at age 11 had a major comeback last night. Joelle and I had an impromptu early-2000's-Christian-teen-group jam session while all the other roommates were out. And I'm not sure if I should be embarrassed or totally jazzed that I still know the words to every song.

Happy Friday!

Prioritizing

For the past few weeks, I feel like I've been living to-do list to to-do list. I jump from one item to the next like stepping stones, rejecting any activity that unexpectedly arises in between.

However, I'm learning that planning is futile, because I am not in control. I'm learning to rely on my Father to lead me through the day, putting Him first and others second before myself. This can be tough, especially in the busyness of life, but I'm growing to understand what it means to live a life fully surrendered to God. As important as college may seem, it is not NEARLY as important as my relationship with God or the people I love. School can easily become an idol, and I know I have to be on guard against that happening.

I'm so thankful He is here to help me, because I am just a weak little human. Good thing I've got the King of the Universe on my side!

Christmas friDay

Fridays are typically good days. Nobody can argue with that. Fridays are electric with excitement for the weekend, like Christmas Eve is the "get hype" day for Christmas. But THIS Friday was different. THIS Friday, was Christmas friDay.

Chapel felt like waking up. Christian hip hop artist Andy Mineo spoke on the topic of God's forgiveness, reiterating that we are saved by God's grace alone. Sitting in my seat, with my Bible opened to Ephesians 2 on my lap, I realized I've been in a spiritual wrestling match with the idea of grace. My feelings of unworthiness of God's love had left me trying to work myself into His good graces. The burden I carried by trying (and failing) to be perfect to get God's attention was heavier than my green bag filled with World Lit books (those things are massive). The message on forgiveness and salvation by grace prompted me to finally drop the bag. I've been given a free gift that I could never earn on my own, and this gives me more joy than any child on Christmas morning. 

As Christmas friDay continued, I shared good conversation with two brand-spanking-new friends. Both of these girls have beautiful souls and a spiritual maturity I found refreshing. As I listened to their stories I felt like I was having Christmas-y fellowship by a cozy fire. The opportunity hear their hearts was an absolute blessing.  

I also got two literal presents on this fine day. A new Fossil wallet and hipster skirt were wrapped in a text message from my mama that I received during class today. I was internally squealing like 12 year olds at a Bieber concert.  

I cannot remember a Christmas without sweets, and I was supplied with a tasty treat as my day continued. Sitting at McConn, I heard two of my favorite words called in conjunction above the hum of conversation. Being six feet from the counter, I figured my chances were slim. But when "FREE DRINK!" I heard for the second time, I sprung to action. The concoction? One of my favorites: seasonal pumpkin pie chai. What are the chances!?

After excitedly proclaiming to my roommates and Twitter about my Christmas friDay blessings, we set out to honor a new family tradition: weekend dinner at Casa Brava. I could liken chips and salsa and Arroz Con Pollo to stuffing and turkey, because my excitement level for both meals is probably abnormal. Laughter and conversation sprinkled over the meal adds the perfect final ingredient, and with those stunning seven, the laughter never ceases. 

I AM BLESSED!

The moon and the stars declare who You are

Last night at this time I was driving through the Indiana countryside, on my way back from a solid 28 hours spent at home with my family. The night was crisp and clear, my headlights slicing the darkness as I drove. I happened to look out the window as the empty fields sped by, and felt my heart flutter inside my chest.

A full array of stars met my eyes.

I wanted to pull over so I could jump out of the car just for a second to marvel at this astounding piece of creation, but an opportunity never presented itself. So I was left to catch fleeting glimpses of one of aspect of God's handiwork that always steals the air from my lungs.

I've never seen God right in front of my face. But when I look at the sky in all of it's brilliance, whether at night, sunrise, or sunset, I get a glimpse of Him, because He made it!

I am amazed that this holy, almighty, powerful God, the Creator of the Universe, the same God who was with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, loves me and wants to be my friend.

What a truly incredible God that is.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

Psalm 19:1

Living for Eternity in a Temporary World

It is so easy to let ourselves get completely preoccupied with the here and now.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul urges us to “look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

           

How often do we forget this earth is not our home! Instead of being concerned about things that will matter eternally (i.e. our relationships with God, pouring into the lives of others), we are obsessed with things that will ultimately pass away (i.e. our bodies, material possessions, our own comfort.)

How much better off would we be if we let the eternal take permanent residence in our thought life, evicting thoughts of the stuff the world deems as “important?”

• My physical imperfections do not matter
• What I wear doesn’t matter
• My worldly success will not matter
• The bumps in the road of life will not matter

….Because it’s all temporary.

I find great comfort in this.

Seize the day! Let your mind be consumed with higher thoughts, and your actions be driven by a higher purpose.