Happy February 14th!

Cat F(olk) Art

The other day I was on Pinterest in search of the perfect inspiration for a painting at the MoJoy Art Retreat. I kind of wanted something whimsical so I thought it would be fun to paint a picture of a cat. Yes, you read that right. I wanted to paint a picture of a cat:-). Insert numerous jokes about the crazy cat lady here.

My original search contained the words "Cat Folk Art" in the search box. Somewhere along the way, I decided to expand my search and take out the word 'Folk'. In the process of changing the words in my search box, I somehow only deleted the olk part of 'Folk' and left the F.  Are you following me? Needless to say, before I knew it I was searching with the words "Cat FArt" instead of "Cat Art." Ain't that nice?!  I was in such shock when pictures actually popped up that I could not help but scroll down the page.  There is something about unexpected humor that is soo funny to me. Hopefully, you will feel the same about this post.

I mean seriously, who would wear this??!! Haha!

Remember, this was an accidental search. I'm just the messenger. 

Okay, I promise this is the last one! You know it's funny.

I'm not sorry.

Bk

p.s. Typically I would encourage you to share one of my posts if you felt led to do so, but please let's just keep this one as our little secret:-). Deal?

A Subject Near and Dear to My Heart

I have never written an entire blog post about another person's writings, but this guy's words resonated with my soul SO deeply I felt like I had to.  I realize some of you probably feel like I do not have alot of credibility in this area secondary to my current situation; however, maybe that should be a reason to pay attention to what I have to share. 

I hope I continue finding the words to share my entire story someday; however, I am not sure if I will ever post it on Hootknows. In order to guard my heart (and the other person involved), I feel like it should be limited to face-to-face conversation(s) at this point. With that being said, I would love to answer any of your questions or lend a listening ear over coffee or lunch sometime if any of you are struggling in your marriage. I promise there is HOPE even if the outcome doesn't look anything like you imagined it would.

In the meantime, I highly encourage you to read this article "The Promise You Can't Keep in Marriage" by John Mark Comer from Relevant Magazine.  Here's a lengthy short excerpt.

God doesn’t look down on Adam and say, “He looks sad. He needs a lift. He needs another human being to quench the thirst of his soul. I will make him a helper to satisfy his deepest longings. Eve, the pressure’s on.” Of course not. Only God can do that. 

A spouse is not a substitute for God. 

The point of marriage isn’t to find our missing half. It’s to help each other become all God intended. Our future, real selves. In marriage, two people partner to that end. They see the best in each other—the person God created them to be—and they push and pull each other toward that goal. 

My wife makes me a better person. She calls out the best in me. She calls me to live up to who I really am, to who God is making me to be. 

She also brings out the worst in me. What Paul calls “the flesh.” The ugly, nasty part of me that doesn’t want to change. She exposes my selfishness and my pride.

That’s why marriage is humbling. I thought I was a pretty decent guy—and then I got married. Turns out I’m kind of a toolshed. It’s easy to be a decent guy when you live in a bubble. But when you step into marriage, your true colors bleed out. It’s like squeezing a sponge. Whatever is on the inside comes out, for better or for worse.

I love y'all,
Bk

p.s. Please do not "assume" you know a person's story without speaking with them first.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:28-31