Katie M. Reid's Blog, page 50

Listen Close, Listen Well: Not Ours to Give Away

As you’ve probably heard, “LISTEN” is my One Word for the year. I want to keep in step with the Spirit and listen better to the Lord and loved ones.

In order to stay focused on this goal, I’m starting a new series called, “Listen Close, Listen Well”.

Every other week, on Thursdays, I will be inviting some of my writer friends to share an experience when God spoke to them and how it impacted their lives.

Let’s grow together as we become better listeners in 2016.

Give a warm welcome to Tiffany...

Choose Joy: Interview with Mary Carver (Book Review)

I’m excited to be interviewing the lovely Mary Carver today, co-author of Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts.

Choose Joy is an encouragement and challenge to live full and whole, even in less than ideal circumstances. Sara lived with excruciating pain yet she chose to go on with purpose—yielded to God’s plan. Sara’s testimony is both inspiring and convicting and I am better equipped to face difficulties with grace and strength because of her example. Co-author, Mary Carver...

Our Love Story: The List, the Lunch and Letting Go(d)

I am a romantic. I dreamed of my Mr. Right for years and years before I actually met him.

I wasn’t sure what our love story would look like, but I was surprised at how natural it felt when the time was right.

A little backstory first:

I was in college during the whole I Kissed Dating Goodbye era. While there were many good things about saying adios to pathetic relationships, I also got caught up on the specifics of what a good relationship should look like. Since it didn’t look like the book...

Trust Is Required If You Want To Be Led

Photo Credit: Adopting Nations Photography

Parenting a tween is not for the faint of heart.

I always assumed I’d be a stellar mom at this stage of the game. Hubby and I are wired for youth ministry and so I thought this would be my shining moment in motherhood.

Not so much.

Darling daughter and I are learning to tango in these preteen years and we step on each other’s toes, a lot.

We assume the other doesn’t really care about what we have to say. We trip.
We raise our voices in frustration....

Dear Tightly Wound Woman: Finishing Well

Dear Tightly Wound Woman:

Sometimes finishing well looks different than you think it does.

You don’t have to be everything to everyone to finish well. You don’t have to do it all and then some to be counted among the greats. You don’t have to travel far and wide or spread yourself thin to be valued.

Finishing well has more to do with your character than your time, status or audience.

Finishing well might mean that someone carries you across the finish line when you don’t have anything left t...

Blindsided to See Clearly by Robyn Dykstra (& The Widow Wore Pink Book Review)

I was working long hours, trying to get my book proposal done for the upcoming Speak Up Conference. And then I got an email from a lady named Robyn, who was on the prayer team for the conference. This is what she wrote:

God has given you a story, a message, or a revelation to share with his people. I have chosen Habakkuk 2:2 for you as I pray for you. “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” May your writing inspire, encourage and change lives! Amen?

As you m...

Provision From A Prisoner and Held Captive by Assumption

Sometimes God works in mysterious ways. He certainly did when he used a ex-con to answer my prayer. I was humbled as God taught me an important truth about His provision through an unlikely source.

This man’s apartment contains a few hand-me-down pieces of furniture, his clothes are plain, and his whereabouts are tethered to the system, yet he gave out of the small surplus that he had.

It made a huge impact on me and honestly, shut me up in the best kind of way.

I definitely did not deserve...

Wound Up in Love

It’s easy to focus on the difficult aspects of being tightly wound women, but let’s turn the phrase and turn our hearts to the One who draws us close—under His wings.

Let’s relinquish our rights and let God wrap us in His encompassing, unconditional affection:

I am the Tightly Wound Woman.

Wound up in a Love that has no bounds.

Created by the One who is truly in control and always perfect.

Delighted in by the Strong, Capable Savior who pursues my heart.

Dependent on the One who upholds me an...

Small Change, Big Impact (Extension 26)

We are pleased to announce that our family will be continuing Extension 26 this year. Click on over for the back-story.

Two years ago we decided to make a small change that we pray is making a big impact.

We give $26 around the 26th out of thanksgiving for all the God has done and out of our desire to encourage others who are ministering in various capacities around the world.

It is a simple way to extend ourselves, be held accountable and introduce you to some great organizations.

This mont...

One Word 2015 Review and Great Deals for Your 2016 Word

At the start of this new year, it’s good to look back and see what we learned in 2015.

Arise and Build

Our One Word (two words) was Arise and Build. When I chose this word, I had a feeling that God wanted me to be faithful to do what He had set before me but the results of building were up to Him. I was to arise and He would build.

In 2015 we bought a home and God surprised us with a pregnancy.

He is definitely a good builder. He tore down some things that needed to be renovated and remodele...