Our Guest: Katy Stevens
Katy Stevens exudes joy. She is a music teacher, a worship and youth leader, an amazing vocalist, co-founder of Somebody Cares Baltimore, and a wife, and mother of 4 sons. Katy shares the love of God in creative, fun and personal ways that nurture relationships for life.
Key Thoughts and Scriptures from Katy’s story
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NLV There is a special time for everything. There is a time for everything that happens under heaven. There is a time to be born, and a time to die; … a time to be quiet, and a time to speak…
- God was real to Katy from a young age.
- During college, she began to own her faith not just as something she grew up with but as something she chose to do.
- She soon found other people who were hungry to grow more in the faith as well.
- Life happens at the speed of relationships.
- Listening and being there were key components of building relationships with the young people Katy and her husband ministered to.
- The most influence we have is with people who trust us and are friends with us.
- “I don’t remember the sermons from my youth, but I remember the relationships.”
- One of the most human needs we have is to feel seen and heard and understood.
- Katy and her entire family became immersed in ministry.
After the loss of their son, Caleb, several things helped Katy get through:
- Helping their other sons navigate through their grief
- Having friends who would be there, listen, and walk with them through their own grief
- Staying busy was a blessing
- Creating a new normal
- She felt as if God had given her permission to be selfish for a while to take care of herself and her family
- There came a moment when she realized that the season of focusing on herself and her family was over and it was time to return her attention to others.
- We all have something that blocks our sunshine for a while.
There’s no scale of who wins at tragedy.
- We have to pay attention to when it’s time to take care of ourselves and when it’s time to take care of others.
- She realized joy had returned when she started spontaneously singing again.
James 2:23 NKJV … And he was called the friend of God.
Hebrews 6:13-15 NIV When God made his promise to Abraham, … “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” …
Genesis 17:5 NIV No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
- Abraham was a family man. That was his main purpose in life.
- Family is our first ministry priority.
- Give one another permission to be who they are.
- There’s no manual for grief.
- It’s important to love people well and let them process grief the way that they need to process it. Over time, joy will return.
Isaiah 55:8 NIV “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
- Sometimes we just need to understand that we don’t understand.There will be things on this side of eternity that we don’t understand.
- Answers are not owed to us and sometimes we won’t know the answers this side of heaven.
- The Bible doesn’t promise all sunshine and rainbows, but says there will be trials.
James 1:2 NIV Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds
Katy learned that each day is a gift.
- Having a great confidence in the goodness of God will help you walk through the times of pain and uncertainty.
- God is for you and He is good.
- “God is too wise to be mistaken, God is too good to be unkind” – lyrics from “Trust His Heart” by Babbie Mason
- We need to trust that the big picture is in God’s control.
- Katy and her family gave themselves as much time as they needed in creating their new normal.
- When you’re functioning in what you were made to do, it helps pull you through the hills and valleys.
- Their family motto is “Love God, Love People.”
- “We are all for foreign missions, but also firmly believe that there is a lot of need in our own backyards.”
- It doesn’t take much to meet the needs around us. You just have to be ready and willing.
- Once you take that first step, God gives you confidence, boldness adn joy.
- It just takes one step to change your life, if it’s in obedience to God.
- The loss of their son gave Katy and her husband an empathy to the loss that many in their community have felt and the hopelessness that would exist if not for Christ.
- “I definitely felt the presence and support of people in our lives that were upholding us.” – Katy talking about the support when her oldest son was fighting cancer
- God works through tangible things and the kindness of people.
- The things that seem practical are often a lot more spiritual than we think they are.
- We choose to know that we’re never going to know how God works and we walk it out one day at a time.
- Whatever God’s plan is, He’s got a plan and He’s God.
Dos and Don’ts to Help a Friend in Crisis:
- Avoid cliches like “It’s going to be ok.” or “It could always be worse.”
- Be there and do tangible things.
- Look at the real needs and get creative.
- What can you do to lighten their load that particular day?
- Share memories or pictures of the one they’ve lost.
- Go the extra mile and inconvenience yourself to think of what would really make a difference in that person’s day.
- It’s ok to say, “I don’t know what to say.”
Isaiah 58:7-8 NIV Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
- “I’m sad I lost my brother. But I know God spared me for a reason.”– Josh Stevens (at age 11), after being in a car accident that took his brother Caleb’s life.
- Josh’s belief that God had a reason for his life helped him in his fight against cancer.
- That revelation was not just for that time, but for a lifetime.
- While we can’t answer the question of why God lets bad things happen to good people, we can continue to walk it out one day at a time.
- Every day we wake up we get to have another day in the adventure that God has written for us.
- Life is more fulfilling and joy more present when we look for the positive and the lessons that we can grow from.
- Gratefulness and thankfulness changes our perspective.
The Story of the Woman with the Issue of Blood
- This woman decided that nothing would keep her from the presence of Jesus.
- Pursue and hold on to what God is doing in your life.
- Don’t give up!
Isaiah 35:10 NLT Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.
Psalm 30:5 NLT …Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.
- God wants to bring us back to that place of joy.
Psalm 51:12 NIV Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Romans 8:28 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
- God will turn things around for us when we focus on Him.
Psalm 90:14 NIV Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days
Links:
Katy on Social Media:
Facebook: Katy Stevens | Facebook
Instagram: katystevens8
Online Piano Course: www.katysmusicstudio.com
Podcast: The Mo and Katy Show
https://moandkaty.buzzsprout.com
https://open.spotify.com/show/675YBV76xmb0ra3PXd4pJ7?si=c9c6d0c615c941a6
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mo-katy-show/id1528818428
Somebody Cares Baltimore:
To purchase a copy of Katy’s CD, “Finding Me,” email her at [email protected]
Connect with Us:
Website: HerGodStory.org
Website: SomebodyCares.org,
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SomebodyCaresAmerica/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/somebodycaresamerica
Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/SomebodyCares
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_SomebodyCares
Somebody Cares Prayer Line (855) 459-CARE (2273)
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