My time in Austin has almost come to an end. I will be heading back to Baton Rouge in the first week of August. It will be hard to leave my mom, especially since her treatments will continue until September. I have to trust that God is in control. I have to do the last thing God called me to do. I will be heading back to Baton Rouge in August. Don't get me wrong. I love HPC! I'm looking forward to being back so much.
I'm including my support letter in this blog. If you want to you can read and pray about supporting me as I commit to the next 15 months of schooling and service through Elevate...
[As many of you know I moved to Austin this summer to be with my mom as she overcomes cancer. I was offered a job at Celebration Church for the summer months. I had a wonderful time working in the church and gaining ministry experience. Now I have the opportunity to do a second year of Elevate at Healing Place Church. The difference this year is that the program has become accredited. I will be able to earn a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies over the next 15 months. Please join me in prayer as I venture to accomplish this second year of higher education and ministry experience. I am writing because I need your help. The tuition for the second year program is $6,000. I have managed to raise most of the cost of my tuition. However, my monthly cost of living (including rent, utilities, phone bill, and food) will be an average of $500 per month. Since I won’t be able to work during my internship I have to rely on your sponsorship. Thank you for your prayerful consideration about how you can help! I am so grateful for your love and prayers during this season of my life.] katherine.sharkey@healingplacechurch.org
I love you all so much. I can't thank you enough for your loving encouragement and support over the last couple months. I am so blessed to have faith filled people like you in my life!
Friday, July 20, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Finally a new entry...
The other day in the movie theater I came to a new understanding about God...
I watched Evan Almighty. There was a profound part in the movie where God is talking to Evan's wife. He says something like - When you ask for patience, does God just give you patience or does He give you an opportunity to be patient? - On a bigger scale: when you pray to change the world, do you all of a sudden become someone great? Or does God give you opportunities to make a difference?
This realization struck home. It parallels what God is teaching me. At the beginning of my first year of Elevate at HPC I started praying hard for humility. When I first started praying I was fearful that God would cause embarrassing things to happen to me: like I would fall on my face in front of tons of people or something. But, against my silly fears I prayed for humility. However, lately as I've come to face the reality and the strength of my pride I've realized something! The Bible never says to "pray for humilty." It does clearly say, humble yourself (Col.3:12). All this time I've been asking God to do something He has promised ME the right to do. I've tried to take the easy way out by asking Him to do the hard work. But I must be the one to choose, in moments of extreme frustration, to be humble. I must choose in the moments where my pride tries to control my emotions, to be humble. In essence, I must choose to die to my flesh. I must choose to walk by the Spirit. God has given me free will and He will not infringe upon that even if I ask Him. Out of sheer love for Him, I must reject myself - no matter the pain - and trust Him. No matter how "spiritually ideal" this process sounds - I assure you, it's not pretty. It is a gruesome fight. A fight that reminds me of Jacob (Gen. 32). One that must be fought with the strength of the Holy Spirit. It is a daily fight. At times, a moment by moment battle. But, it is a fight I must choose to engage in no matter the cost, no matter the injury. It is a fight we all must fight if we desire to know Him more intimately.
I watched Evan Almighty. There was a profound part in the movie where God is talking to Evan's wife. He says something like - When you ask for patience, does God just give you patience or does He give you an opportunity to be patient? - On a bigger scale: when you pray to change the world, do you all of a sudden become someone great? Or does God give you opportunities to make a difference?
This realization struck home. It parallels what God is teaching me. At the beginning of my first year of Elevate at HPC I started praying hard for humility. When I first started praying I was fearful that God would cause embarrassing things to happen to me: like I would fall on my face in front of tons of people or something. But, against my silly fears I prayed for humility. However, lately as I've come to face the reality and the strength of my pride I've realized something! The Bible never says to "pray for humilty." It does clearly say, humble yourself (Col.3:12). All this time I've been asking God to do something He has promised ME the right to do. I've tried to take the easy way out by asking Him to do the hard work. But I must be the one to choose, in moments of extreme frustration, to be humble. I must choose in the moments where my pride tries to control my emotions, to be humble. In essence, I must choose to die to my flesh. I must choose to walk by the Spirit. God has given me free will and He will not infringe upon that even if I ask Him. Out of sheer love for Him, I must reject myself - no matter the pain - and trust Him. No matter how "spiritually ideal" this process sounds - I assure you, it's not pretty. It is a gruesome fight. A fight that reminds me of Jacob (Gen. 32). One that must be fought with the strength of the Holy Spirit. It is a daily fight. At times, a moment by moment battle. But, it is a fight I must choose to engage in no matter the cost, no matter the injury. It is a fight we all must fight if we desire to know Him more intimately.
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