
Single Christians in the House
I recently posted asking what people would like to read in a blog. Thanks Barbie for suggesting the topic of Christian singleness. Truth be told, before becoming a Christian I didn't know how to be single. I went from one long term relationship to another and sadly defined myself through the men in those relationships. When I came to the saving knowledge and grace of Jesus I was engaged and living with a man who was verbally abusive. After rededicating my life to Jesus and re

The Cost of Complexities = Loyalty
When I began my career it was commonplace for employees to remain in the same career and with the same company throughout the span of their life. There was a sense of loyalty, submission, and long suffering attached to the place and people who compensated you. Over the years there's been a major culture shift and the rules of employment have changed. My generation had the mindset of having one job in ten years, whereas the new trend is having two - three jobs (and possibly ev

Part 2: The Other Side of Discipleship
So this is a two part blog on discipleship with this being part 2. So, if you missed part one posted on March 19, 2018 make sure to read both. Part one is from the perspective of the discipler and this part two blog is from the perspective of the discipled. My name is Stephanie Kelleher, the woman who Kaitrin has discipled since 1999ish. There are lots of things that I believe similarly to the Valencia’s. One of those things is that you NEED people “up, across and down” in yo

The Author of Faith
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." Hebrews 12:2 KJV A few nights ago in deep prayer, I prayed these words from Scripture: "God you are the author and finisher of my faith. I trust in you." After these words, I stopped in dead silence from that fervent prayer. Author... Saying that word has a new meaning now. I was hearing it for the first time from the perspective of being an author. Despite fear and insecurities, I've authored regular blogs and wri

Part 1: One side of Lessons In Discipleship
My husband and I have a belief that everyone should have people "up, across and down" in your life. What does this mean? You should have someone older or further along in their Christian journey pouring into you. You should have someone at the same stage as you (a peer) who you're doing life with. And you should have someone younger who you're pouring in to and discipling. This blog is a window into a few things I have learned about the later on the side of discipler. Stay t

Complaining Heart
Whenever we go back to our hometown of Chicago we always battle to see everyone, from friends to family, with such limited time. Of course family always come first and so this sometimes means we don't see friends resulting in some getting hurt, disappointed or sometimes even offended. There's even been trips to Chicago where we go incognito without telling anyone and without posting anything on social media so no one will know we were there. This trip during spring break I

Gradually Cold Christian
It's spring break for our children who attend a Memphis suburban school. I get up, pack and go outside to get in the car and the weather is 63 degrees at a little after nine in the morning. I sigh, see my husband in the driver's seat with shorts on, take my coat off, and get in the car. Why do I sigh? Because we're those crazy people who aren't going somewhere warm for our spring break vacation. We're driving North to Chicago in March when it's cold, to see family The fu

Slandered Character and Persecuted Dreams
In 2003ish my pastor took me and others to an out of town conference. While there, God showed me a glimpse of an enormous dream that was the call on my life. It was a small revelation into a huge vision and at the time I was in no place for the dream to materialize (even though I thought I was lol). God gave me just enough in a glimpse for me to hold on to during the years to follow that were filled with many mountains and many dry dry valleys. Do you remember when God ga

Infertility: "I Can't Do My Job"
I don't share this part of my life very often unless led; however, with it being International Women's Day I want to encourage any women who desperately want a baby and are on the rough road of having challenges with infertility. After two years of marriage we began thinking and praying about starting a family. We were not exactly "trying" to have a baby but we also were not preventing. So not getting pregnant after two years raised some red flags. I went to the doctor and

I May Have Quit, But I'm Not a Quitter!!!
I saw a sign today that said: Now Hiring. Oh how tempting that sign was! This morning is a hard morning. In all transparency, I want to quit. Not quit life or anything like that, but "bite the bullet" and get a job and quit this radical faith journey God has me on. No...no...not quit my faith in God. I love Him. He is my anchor. But quit the "radical, illogical" part of my faith. I've been off work since October, 2017 and really pressing in and hearing from the Lord i