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Kristin Sterk

Kristin Sterk

Simple, Grace-Filled Living

Kristin Sterk
Kristin Sterk
Simple, Grace-Filled Living

Simple, grace-filled

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  • **TFH EARLY BLACK FRIDAY SALES**

    **TFH EARLY BLACK FRIDAY SALES**

  • Be A Fountain, Not A Drain

    Be A Fountain, Not A Drain

  • Maybe I’m Meant For Thrifting…

    Maybe I’m Meant For Thrifting…

  • Living Differently

    Living Differently

  • A Transformational God, Not Transactional

    A Transformational God, Not Transactional

  • The Tale of Two Restaurant Experiences

    The Tale of Two Restaurant Experiences

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  • Family
  • Simple Living
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Meet Kristin

As a Christ-follower, wife, blogger, author, and advanced heart failure and leukemia patient, my desire is to encourage others in those same roles, through honest and real conversation. May you be inspired to embrace YOUR story of God’s grace in your own life, through simple, grace-filled living.

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Be a fountain, not a drain. We have reached the p Be a fountain, not a drain. We have reached the point in our family where the movies I enjoy watching, Mazy does as well. Ever since I saw “The Forge” in the theaters with my Mom, I knew it was a movie I’d be watching over and over again. With the sun going down oh so much earlier, I find ourselves settling down at night earlier, which means we have a few minutes to watch a movie before bedtime. Not always, but if we have the time, I want it to be worth it. It took a little convincing to get Mazy on board to watch “The Forge”, but now she’s completely hooked. Each time there is a signature “life lesson” in the movie, I try to make a comment to hopefully help her think a bit more deeply about what it’s saying and then apply it to our own lives. I think she might be thinking too deeply (which is good!) because she couldn’t fall asleep last night after watching it because she was thinking about it :). Oops! One of the quotes that has always stuck with me is: Be a fountain, not a drain. In other words, be a giver, not a taker. This concept can be transferred over into every area of life – sports, workplace, friendships, marriage, church environment, you name it. Are we people who offer encouragement, hope in the hard times, grace, gratitude instead of complaining, and live to serve others and not self? Or are we people who are self-focused, looking to get ahead, not worrying about who or what stands in our way, is negative, always looking for the next thing? When people encounter YOU, how do they walk away feeling? Filled or drained? This is a constant challenge to myself. It’s easy to let the problems of the world and in our own lives, rule our actions and reactions. It’s easy to see the cup half empty, but requires a mind shift to see the cup half full. When you picture your life, what is overflowing from it? Are you giving more than you are choosing to receive? When you picture a drain, what are you taking from those around you? From the life God has given you? Instead, what can we daily choose to give back to God out of gratitude for the blessings He has given us? Walk today with this: Be a fountain, not a drain.
Welcoming November in with a little Christmas chee Welcoming November in with a little Christmas cheer at school today! 🎄
I remember as a child, creating costumes at home a I remember as a child, creating costumes at home and being proud of what we created. Mazy had this idea of wanting to be a gumball machine for a couple of years. This year Mazy was bound and determined to make it this year. Pinterest helped with the idea and Mazy took it from there, all on her own. The way I remember how costume was when I was a kid - creativity and having fun doing it! She even made a homemade box with a ribbon that she could pull to open the box and reveal the gumballs inside. Her creativity reminds me that the latest greatest thing doesn’t always bring satisfaction. It’s sometimes the process that brings more joy than the actual item itself. Creativity can be lost in this day and age and that is something I don’t ever want to be lost.
Mine? Muzzy’s in Zeeland! Their melted cheese on Mine? Muzzy’s in Zeeland! Their melted cheese on a bun is still etched in my mind as one of my favorite foods as a kid! Oh, and their cheese broccoli soup. Sure miss that place! What’s yours?
Just ONE word. I’d love to hear your thoughts... Just ONE word. I’d love to hear your thoughts... Mine would be: SIMPLE. Exactly how I want my child’s to be. Filled with the simple joys, creating simple fun, being taught a child-like faith, and nothing was over the top, except my parent’s love for me. I sometimes wonder how to go back to those days, but I can! It may look a little different, but we can still foster simple joys, create simple fun, teach faith, and just live and love well. How about you?
Last week, we had a few days off from school for o Last week, we had a few days off from school for our annual fall break from school. A few plans fell through, which I kept reminding Mazy, “God always has a plan, even if it is frustrating at the time.” Her and I came up with a list of fun things to do instead, and one of them consisted of going to a local shopping mall that we had never been to. For reference, it had been a decade since I had also been there. Mazy was beyond excited to step foot into a mall, as it’s not a place we frequent often. We arrived shortly after it opened and we quickly realized that many did not have off from school because it was QUIET. It was not the hustle and bustle scene that I remember from my teenage years, that’s for sure! As we walked in and out of stores, we both realized something. There is something about getting something “new”, but nothing compares to thrifting. An hour prior, we had challenged ourselves to tackle the Goodwill Outlet store (which was an experience in itself). We had much fun sifting through piles of clothing and finding some fantastic finds to either keep or resell, by spending around $20 for all we found. Meanwhile, at the mall, I found a sweater I LOVED, but it was $74. It stayed on the display. As we walked through each store, Mazy finally commented, “Mom, you aren’t really a trendy person.” She meant that with pure love and honesty, and she was SPOT ON. I felt like a fish out of water in the mall. I found that I would be happier driving to a thrift shop (which Mazy and I did the day prior and found some insane deals), than driving to the city and shopping at a mall. Anyone else find themselves in the same boat? I’m not saying there is a right or wrong in this, but purely opinion. This is just ME. Where would you prefer to find yourself? At a mall or a thrift shop? And what are you often caught trying to find? What are your favorite stores to walk through, whether in a mall or a thrift store?
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but b Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will – Romans 12:2 When someone says they are a “Christian”, what does that really mean? One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Romans 12:2. It basically says, “Don’t follow the world and the world’s ways. Let God transform the way you think so that every decision and choice you make, reflects HIS desires, not the worlds. In other words, we need to let GOD shape the way we think, not allowing the world to shape who we are. We are called to be “set apart” and for our lives to look differently. What does your life look like? How does your life look different from the world’s and how does your life point to God? I desire to reflect the character of God, but boy, do I fall short! When we think about our lives as reflections of His glory, it changes what we focus on. When we focus solely on Christ, all the worldly perspectives, fade away. Christian: Set apart by God to live DIFFERENTLY, so others can see HIS GLORY through US. What changes do you need to make, so His glory is more pronounced in your life?
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