Let the Weak Say, "I Am Strong."

I wrote this on Wednesday, so it's a few days old, but the truth of it remains. The truth of God always remains.


God ALWAYS comes through.

I've been feeling pretty helpless recently, for a lot of reasons that I won't get into. But this morning, I was just struggling with it again, and praying for help.

I was reading Psalm 70, and praying especially this verse.

“But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.” (Psalms‬ ‭70:5)

I have a few things planned for later today, but I anticipate them being a little bit trying, rather than uplifting. I thought about confiding in someone my troubles, but who? And what could they even do?

Then suddenly, I received a text, from a dear, dear friend. We've been through a lot together, and we have often confided in each other when we needed strength, I trust her.

"Maybe," I thought, "she received some divine inspiration to pray for me, or ask how I'm doing."

But no. Her text was a request for prayer. She was having a rough time too.

My first reaction was sadness, self-pity, I guess, that she was not strong enough for me to lean on. My next that I was not the right person to ask, as I had no strength of my own. But something hit me just then, I realized that I was in the perfect position to pray for her.

As someone who was as weak as she was, we could look together for help from the One whose strength never runs out. Verses suddenly came to mind,

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (II Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬)

“Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, Let all the men of war draw near, Let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ " (Joel 3:9-10)

The two of us united in prayer, with the Holy Spirit among us, are the strongest possible team, because in our weakness, Christ is strong.

In all the ways I anticipated Him to answer my prayer for encouragement, I never expected it to be through someone who in themselves, could not encourage me. But this is the power of God.

Keturah's Summer: Ballet Magnificat

Hello everyone!

This post is going to be a little different than usual, because I really just want to tell you all about my newest exciting adventure. Or at least, what I hope will be my newest exciting adventure.

You may have heard of a ballet company called Ballet Magnificat. If you haven't, they are America's premiere Christian ballet company. I saw their performance of The Hiding Place once when I was little, and have been inspired by them ever since.

Every year Ballet Mag runs a dance intensive in the summer, they have a 2 week and a 4 week program.

I've set a goal to go next summer.

The company is based in Mississippi, so that is where the intensive will be. The tuition is $1,931 and then there are travel expenses on top of that.

(You can watch a video and find out more about the intensive HERE)

I've tried for the last few years to earn enough money for classes, intensives, and equipment, but I've been finding more and more that this is quite a challenge. To really earn enough money, I would need to stop spending and just save money for at least a year, but I can't afford to lose that time of training.

All of the money I'm making from working is going toward classes for September-June of 2018, so I have to come up with some creative ways to raise money for the Summer Intensive.

One of my ideas is a Gofundme page! Super original, I know. ;)

I had to have a picture for my page, so I took the opportunity to have a little photoshoot just for fun. I thought you might like to see some of the pictures!

I feel like I look like a ballet-modern version of a Jane Austen character.

For all you concerned dancers out there, yes, my pointe shoes are fine.

I'm just going to take this opportunity to promote my brother Jon, he has a juice/smoothie business. He also sells apple cider. Go to the City Market on Walker Road, buy it.

My niece wanted to wear one of my ballet shoes. How could I resist? (She was previously playing with that stick on the ground. She gave that up for the shoe. There's a true dancer at heart right there.)

Anyway, if you'd like to support my trip, please consider donating HERE. :)

Here are a few IQWATWPBFA's: (If Questions Were Asked, These Would Probably Be Frequently Asked)

-What if you don't raise all of the money, or your application is denied, what will happen to the donations you did get?

Good question! If for some reason the trip falls through, the money will still go toward my ballet education. As I mentioned earlier, I have been struggling to just pay for regular classes, so if I can't make the trip to Mississippi, the donations will still be really helpful.

-....I had another question I thought of, but I can't remember now. So if you ask, or if I remember, I'll just update this later.

Even if you don't donate, (I know a lot of you have donated to help me with things before, so I am not expecting anyone to twice) please consider sharing this post, or just my Gofundme link on your Facebook!

Just one last note: Gofundme is a great tool, but it does deduct a small percentage from each donation I receive. If you see me in person semi-regularly, it might be better for you to find a way to get it to me in person, with cash or a cheque.

Thank you in advance for any way you are going to help me out!

~Keturah

Listen! There are Pleas that No One Hears

Years ago, I was in a really bad way. I was struggling with issues that I kept to myself, no one knew. If anyone suspected, they certainly never let on. 

There were a couple times when I felt so overwhelmed and burdened by these struggles, that I almost told someone.

One day I was wrestling with it in my mind and feeling overpowered, I suddenly whispered, "Bethany." (the person wasn't named Bethany, but I'm using that instead of her name) She was busy, she just said, "Hmm?" Without looking at me.

I couldn't tell her! I was shaking with fear, I needed her to understand that I was in trouble, and ask me about it. I desperately wanted her to SEE that I needed to be pried into. But she didn't. In my last attempt at courage, I said her name again, but she looked over sort of exasperatedly, and said, "What?"

"Never mind."

I have learned that in the sea of people who may or may not claim to be fine, there are many with stories that they need to tell, but can't, because no one will listen.

I realized this from my own experience, (as I mentioned) and from a few other things. One of them was working at McDonalds, believe it or not.

Countless people walk up to the counter, or pull up to the drive-thru speaker, and say, "Hi, how are you? I would like..."

"How are you?" Is a meaningless question. Most of us don't even try to answer, because we know our answer won't be heard. EVERYONE says they are good, well, fine, and EVERYONE knows that most of the time it isn't true, but who cares enough to find out the truth?

Who cares enough to find out what I really mean when I say I'm fine?

I know I can't be this for everyone. It's a little hard to have a heart-to-heart in the drive-thru, but I do want to be someone who will learn to recognize the silent pleas in people's words.

In a few short days, I'll be heading off to Florida for the Genocide Awareness Project, (GAP) a week of pro-life activism on university campuses.

Last year I talked with a girl named "Dee." Her name was actually a beautiful name (I think African) which I can pronounce, but I don't dare spell.

She and I talked extensively on the issue, and through science and logic, had to come to agreement time after time throughout our conversation. But no matter how much we agreed on, she COULD not say that in the case of rape, abortion shouldn't be allowed.

Near the end of the conversation, I tried to put into action some training we receive when we do GAP, about listening to people and finding out where they are coming from.

Because I couldn't agree with her intellectually, I decided to find out what was going on with her emotionally. I started by affirming her.

"I'm glad you can sympathize so much with people who go through that, (rape) we need more people with hearts like yours." I told her.

"Yeah. I just feel so bad for them, y'know?" She met my eyes and I'm sure I saw tears glistening in hers.

I was speechless. I knew I had been right, that there was something more there, but I lost all ability to communicate beyond that point. What could I say? What could I ask?

I just looked at her for a few more minutes before she told me she needed to get to class. She hugged me and thanked me for talking with her.

I felt like on the one hand, I had made a friend. On the other hand, I had lost an opportunity. I have, SO many times, had that scene replay in my mind. I can still see the tears that I think were in her eyes as she told me, "I just feel so bad for them, y'know?"

No, I don't know, Dee. What was it you wanted me to know? I'm sorry I was never able to find out.

Part of what I am looking forward to this year at GAP, is hopefully another chance. Another chance to hear what people are saying, and understand something different, because I was willing to listen.

But I think this must mostly be up to God. Though I don't think I made the most of that situation, what I did do, I didn't do on my own, and what more I could have done, I couldn't have done on my own either.

I need my Father, who hears EVERY silent plea, to help me hear and know how to respond.

If you would pray for my trip, pray for these things.

1. That lives would be saved.

2. That lives would be changed.

3. That I would be able to listen, and have the wisdom to know how to respond.