Category: love

Twas the night before Easter….

“Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭MSG‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/97/jhn.16.19-20.MSG

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

“Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, ‘Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, “In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me”? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.’”
John 16:19-20 MSG (https://bible.com/bible/97/jhn.16.19-20.MSG)

Jesus tried to prepare His disciples through parables, teachings, shared meals, and ministry to the sick, but even the twelve closest to Him missed His message. He declared His purpose and fulfilled it. The night before Easter may have been silent on earth, but Heaven rejoiced as Jesus took His rightful place at the right hand of the Father, His earthly mission complete.

The Crucifixion: A Dark Day

“By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, ‘Father, I place my life in your hands!’ Then he breathed his last.”
Luke 23:44-46 MSG (https://bible.com/bible/97/luk.23.44-46.MSG)

Jesus breathed His last on earth and took His next breath in Heaven. What we see in the natural world doesn’t reflect the supernatural work done on our behalf. While the world mourned, Jesus conquered the devil, reclaimed what was stolen, recovered the keys of death (Revelation 1:18), paid our ransom with His blood, and canceled our debt with His life. The Bible isn’t just a story of Jesus’s life—it reveals why we were created, why the world is broken, and how God made a way for us to return to Him. It’s the greatest love story ever told, showing His abundant love for us before we even knew Him.

The Weight of Sin

“All who had come around as spectators to watch the show, when they saw what actually happened, were overcome with grief and headed home. Those who knew Jesus well, along with the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a respectful distance and kept vigil.”
Luke 23:48-49 MSG (https://bible.com/bible/97/luk.23.48-49.MSG)

The crowd that crucified Jesus soon realized they may have killed an innocent man. As Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” We must be mindful of the crowds we follow. If their values don’t align with the Bible, they’ll lead us down a destructive path. If I had to choose, I’d have been among those clutching onto Jesus’s last words, watching His prophecy unfold through tear-filled eyes.

Preparing for the Resurrection

“The women who had been companions of Jesus from Galilee followed along. They saw the tomb where Jesus’ body was placed. Then they went back to prepare burial spices and perfumes. They rested quietly on the Sabbath, as commanded.”
Luke 23:55-56 MSG (https://bible.com/bible/97/luk.23.55-56.MSG)

Forty days ago, I began preparing for this pivotal moment in history—Resurrection Day. You can deny it, but that doesn’t erase its significance. Historical evidence, both in the Bible and from sources like Josephus and Tacitus, confirms Jesus’s existence. Over 2,000 years of generations have passed down the impact of His life. I choose to stand with the Jesus-following crowd.

The Empty Tomb: He Is Risen!

The story doesn’t end in the graveyard.

“At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn’t find the body of the Master Jesus.”
Luke 24:1-3 MSG (https://bible.com/bible/97/luk.24.1-3.MSG)

Jesus was not there—the tomb was empty! He had told them they would grieve, but joy would follow. He did exactly as He promised. Believers should have been in awe, not surprised, as they witnessed the fulfillment of His words. God has a plan for us today: if we believe and confess that Jesus is Lord, death loses its sting, and we are not separated forever but only for a little while. God is so good.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

“They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: ‘Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.’ So he went in with them… He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him… While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’… He showed them his hands and feet… He took [fish] and ate it right before their eyes.”
Luke 24:28-31, 33-43 MSG (https://bible.com/bible/97/luk.24.28-43.MSG)

Friends, Jesus is who He says He is. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you, and when He does, say YES! It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. God isn’t mad at you—He’s madly in love with you, having gone to extraordinary lengths to prove it through the cross and resurrection.

What does Easter mean to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Friend of God

I am a friend of God

“It is only when you understand the transcendence of God that you see how amazing his immanence is, and what a huge privilege it is to be able to enjoy intimate friendship with God.”

The Bible with Nick and Pippa Gumble, Classic version 2025, day 33

We get to have an intimate relationship and friendship with God.

Transcendence means: God exists apart from, and is not subject to the limitations of, the material universe. He is above and beyond, surpassing and excelling, greatly superior to us. 

Immanence means: it is possible to experience his immediate friendship.

What that spoke to me was, God doesn’t need me, He wants to be in my life, just because of the me He created, to be a deep, intimate friend to Him. He owes me nothing. He gave me life.

The real question is: “What will I do with the gift of life, He gave me?” Knowing that He did not HAVE to create me or you, but He did. Knowing this, leads to the realization that you and I must have a purpose. The meaning of that gift of life given to you and me, is to find out why & then use every ounce of breath we have in our lungs doing exactly that.

Psalms 25:14-15 the Message

Lord, You are my creator as well as my best friend. Help me remember that if and when I lose sight of that. Amen.

#friend #hope #life #bible #truth

Who Am I?


“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why“. 

Mark Twain

“At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.”
Daniel‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

You are greatly loved. Though this passage was written about Daniel, it’s true for us too. So many think that God is on His throne looking to and fro of whom He can punish, no my friends, that’s the devil.

God is right there with you. Waiting for you to do life WITH Him. Everything He created, including you, He created with a healthy, loving, joyful relationship in mind, with YOU. I assure you that regardless of what you have done, forgiveness and a new start, He would gladly give.

I know this because I read where He joyfully laid down His life for all, even the ones that would reject Him, to make forgiveness a viable option for our sinful man. God is not mad at you. God is madly in love with you. He created you to be in relationship with you. The healthiest, safest relationship available to all who would receive it. Will you receive it?

I pray that anyone reading this, encounters the living God today. In all His fullness. That this encounter leads them to repentance. That today is the day of their salvation. That they understand the vision of eternity in mind. We will all face eternity one day but we will all not end up in the same place. Lord enlighten the eyes of their hearts so that see the one true God that you are. No decision is still a decision. Choose this day who you will serve, God or the devil. For me and my house, we will choose God.

Open the floodgates, Lord

Flow

“He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭105‬:‭41‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.105.41.ESV

Can you imagine waters flowing through a desert and how refreshing that would be? I find myself in seasons of desert-like dryness and just when I think I can hardly take it, the Lord, floods me with His refreshing waters of loving-kindness. He restores my soul. He reminds me of His promises to me, that we are in a covenant that cannot be broken.

It is hard to remember a promise in the middle of a dry season. We are stretched, tested and tried. Often being brought to the edge of ourselves. Then we notice something? A trickle of water coming through the rock of our hearts, that have hardened, become jaded, disappointments, betrayal closed us off from everything, sometimes, including our promise.

Fortunately, for us, God reminds us ever-so-gently, that we have a promise to focus on IN THE DESERT. No matter what it looks like, feels like or be like, God will fulfill His promises, beloved. Let the refreshing waters of His promise, His covenant, with you, restore your soul. Let His truth flow through the desert places of your heart. Do not let the dangers of the desert, let you lose sight of the floodgates of promise that flow through the desert like a river.

Lord, help me, remember who You are, who I am to You, and the promises that will get me through those challenging times in life. Amen.

Embrace the interruption

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.16.9.ESV

If you’re anything like me, interruptions in your plans can be frustrating and bring to the surface a side of you that you’d prefer no one would see.

I’m really working on welcoming those interruptions to see if I am missing something in the bigger picture, specifically the picture that God holds in His hand. My goal is to give room for a God moment, a divine appointment or an adjustment that brings about a better plan for me and whomever is also a victim (er, I mean, gifted) to these unplanned interruptions.

What if interruptions were gifts from God, not situations taking from us but gifting us something better than we could’ve ever planned in the first place?

Let’s picture how many interruptions (gifts) that we pushed aside to focus on our own plans and agendas, sitting on a table. How big is your pile of unopened gifts? Mine is bigger than I prefer to mention here, however, I thank God for giving me a different perspective on interruptions. I don’t want to miss out on anymore opportunities stemmed from my plans being interrupted. Today, I commit to embracing the interruptions that come my way.

What are some ways that we can make room for God, when we’re hyper-focused on the plans we make?

Below are a few ways from Proverbs to soften our hearts to those unplanned moments:

Who Am I?


“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why“. 

Mark Twain

“At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.”
Daniel‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

You are greatly loved. Though this passage was written about Daniel, it’s true for us too. So many think that God is on His throne looking to and fro of whom He can punish, no my friends, that’s the devil.

God is right there with you. Waiting for you to do life WITH Him. Everything He created, including you, He created with a healthy, loving, joyful relationship in mind, with YOU. I assure you that regardless of what you have done, forgiveness and a new start, He would gladly give.

I know this because I read where He joyfully laid down His life for all, even the ones that would reject Him, to make forgiveness a viable option for our sinful man. God is not mad at you. God is madly in love with you. He created you to be in relationship with you. The healthiest, safest relationship available to all who would receive it. Will you receive it?

I pray that anyone reading this, encounters the living God today. In all His fullness. That this encounter leads them to repentance. That today is the day of their salvation. That they understand the vision of eternity in mind. We will all face eternity one day but we will all not end up in the same place. Lord enlighten the eyes of their hearts so that see the one true God that you are. No decision is still a decision. Choose this day who you will serve, God or the devil. For me and my house, we will choose God.

Sunday, my favorite Day of the Week

I love everything about it. From the moment I wake up, until the final prayer, to the lazy Sunday afternoon with family and friends. It never gets mundane or forgotten. I plan and await its coming every Monday. I love Sundays.

The gift of rest that Sundays allow are much needed in our world of constant noise, chaos and devices. But Sundays, say, “You can keep going in all of that, or sit with me and recharge, rest, and build relationships, with the ones you love. It’s a gift, not just another day, to fill up with tasks and todo lists.”

I get to open this gift, of Sundays, every week. I get to go to Church and surround myself with the presence of God and people that believe God too. Sundays, the gift that keeps on giving all throughout the week. Just when I think the week will consume me with all its demands, there is Sunday, waiting like a peaceful stream, behind a log cabin in the woods. Thank God, for Sundays.

Boundaries, Commitment and Priorities

How do you balance work and home life?

Balance

Finding balance in an overwhelming schedule is challenging. However, I have found that being successful in the process comes down to these three things, boundaries, commitment and priorities. Out of these three things I utilize techniques, within the process, to stay balanced, effective and efficient with my time, energy and resources.

Boundaries are used in many ways to protect as well as provide a separation between what is allowed in our lives and what is not allowed in our lives. A well thought out boundary will keep wandering things from showing up in our plans. Boundaries also have a door, which is the flexible portion of our day. Through this door we can put out things that aren’t working and welcome in help to get things done more efficiently and often times, quicker. Boundaries protect from distractions and the unexpected things that pop up in life.

Which leads us to the next thing, to maintain balance, is commitment to the goal. Whatever isn’t part of the goal has to be considered a hindrance to end result and must wait until after the goal is met. Commitment to yourself, your family and your work will develop our next technique.

Prioritizing, is probably one of the hardest for me because I often think everything is a priority. As if I’m some kind of super human that can get everything done, never say no to volunteering and always being available for every human in my life. In order for me to prioritize I go through this thought process:

1. Does this take away from my needed downtime?

2. Does this sacrifice time with my family?

3. Does this give me energy or does it drain me of energy?

4. Does it maintain the balance I am fighting for or will it cause imbalance?

Allow me to put this in perspective. If I’ve scheduled some down and an alert pops up or someone asks me to run an errand or really any plethora of things the people we love asks us to do, it’s important to give myself that time. Otherwise, I become rundown, burnt out and sometimes even sick from not taking rest when I need it and when I schedule it.

When something or someone takes time away from my family specifically, mealtimes, bedtime, before school time or vacation time; I actually get offended. I already have to divide my work life from my family life, there is no make up time for supporting my husband at his office event, helping my kids through every stage of childhood, listening to them, going to their events, volunteering at their school and taking them to birthday parties. Truly consider how short 18 years is and you’ll learn to prioritize, real quick.

Never do anything that pulls more energy than it gives. That’s it. That’s the self-guided rule for prioritizing, and when to say yes or no.

That last one is tricky. Some things will cause imbalance but they’re one time, never to happen again, events. If they give you more energy than they take, then be flexible and enjoy it.

At the end of the day, it comes down to this, decide how your day is going to go. It’s your God-given day, treat it like a gift because tomorrow is not promised.

K. Howard, Author of Beautifully Broken

What is your career plan?

My career path has been a twist and turn of events, changing the course when necessary and adjusting the course as needed. As a young girl, I always loved writing but my career path was limited due to our financial situation.

I chose the career of beauty and fashion through becoming a stylist. 25 years of provision, memories and on-the-job training to hone my entrepreneurial skills.

Then, I fell two-stories and broke my back. This, tragically brought my career to an abrupt end. Which I really could’ve used while I was going through my divorce.

I dabbled in the hospitality business for about five years. I loved the people but the rest of it was a whole lot of work with very little compensation for the work.

Circling back, I found myself at the keyboard, pouring my heart out to God, while I divorced the person who I once loved that became our worst nightmare. As I shared these daily thoughts with my social media audience, these writings started to engage others and help them through their struggles. Though all of our struggles were different, we all shared these common themes: a need for hope again, a place to process these trials through our faith and to stay the course until we were out of the storm, raging inside of us.

Beautifully Broken ministered to me while I was writing it through grief, tragedy after tragedy, financial devastation and the unknown.

The cover with the ceramic piece that represents the Japanese art of Kintsugi. This is the general concept of highlighting or emphasizing imperfections, visualizing mends and seams as an additive or an area to celebrate or focus on, rather than absence or missing pieces, according to Wikipedia.

I’m a momma to 4 beautiful daughters and Nana to 8 grandchildren. I started my writing journey, as an outlet, at the age of 9 when I lost my daddy to a careless murder. I have experienced a journey through life that has not been easy, to say the least. Yet each challenge became a breeding ground of opportunity to share my life’s testimony to God’s amazing grace; reflecting my freedom from the chains that bound me, my victory over unforgiveness, and the God-given ability to overcome many struggles, through the outlet of writing.

As a faith-based author my goal is transparency and intentionality to share my heart with purpose, and given the opportunity, to capture your heart, challenge your mind, and stir your emotions with each stroke of my pen.

My motivation behind the project?

To allow my journey to answer these questions about your journey:

1. Who is God to you?

2. Who are you to God?

3. Why does that matter?

I believe that if we can answer these questions with conviction and confidence, we can maintain our faith through the most diffficult of times.

My hope for the reader/audience?

My prayer is that at the end of this 40 day journey of devotions and journing, the reader would exchange the weight of their worries for the gift of salvation and freedom to clock into an eternal purpose. To allow their creator to repair the brokeness in their lives with His unconditional love.

How did writing this impact me?

This project started with my own difficult season that I was journaling through. I was reminded over and over again that God is cheering me on through all of life’s challenges. He can take what is broken and make it beautiful.

Beautifully Broken is a 40 day devotional that breaks down what we believe, the impact of sin, forgiveness, who God is to us, who we are to Him and why that matters.

Whether you’re new to the faith, struggling with your faith, in the middle of a difficult time or returning to your faith, this devotional will help you be more confident in what you believe and why.

If you would like to join my journey:

Email me at: kelliann@fromthedepthsofkell.com on how to receive a signed copy of Beautifully Broken

or

Click on this link to order from Amazon:

Beautifully Broken: Maintaining Faith During Difficult Times: 40 Day Devotional

https://www.amazon.com/Beautifully-Broken-Maintaining-Difficult-Devotional/dp/197365170X

Don’t label me

What are your favorite brands and why?

I like uniquely designed things that enhance the positive attributes of my body shape, my personality and my style.

It’s not about whose label is on the inseam, it’s about how a piece of clothing, jewelry or cosmetic makes me feel when I wear said items.

So don’t try to brand me with someone else’s label. Just let me shine on in my own identity. (giggles a little) So I guess my favorite brand is me because I’m a one of a kind design.

The Will to Live

What gives you direction in life?

Though life has brought about its various challenges, my faith and family gives me the inspiration and will to live.

There have been seasons in my life that I felt like my life was meaningless and a heavy weight on my shoulders. Not that I want to die or anything but simply that I want the situation or season to pass and pass quickly. Some of those seasons bring a lump to my throat and silent tears roll down my cheeks because the pain is not the kind that one just gets over.

My faith in a God of whom I’ve never seen helps me navigate through those tough seasons. Though not seen, He is ever present with me, from the mountain tops of celebrations to the valleys of despair, He has moved mountains and filled valleys with waves of living waters.

The tangible parts of my journey, the victories, the defeats are that though I may face these seasons alone, I am never lonely. My God is a lamp onto my feet and a light at my path. Though I may only be able to see the first feet or so that the light shines, it guides and directs me in a way that I can trust and believe.

The Chosen Few

List the people you admire and look to for advice…

I mainly pray for wisdom and direction from God. However, when I need a human, I go to my husband first, as he usually has the most insight in the situation because he’s going through it with me.

I have 3 adult children, all daughters, that are my best friends now. We often share with each other what’s happening and ask for feedback and lots of prayers for each other.

My sister, and a few friends, also pray for each other and offer feedback and support.

Not only do I admire each one them but I also respect them and appreciate how willing they are to listen and be there for me when I need them.

To say I’m blessed is an understatement.

Best pet ever vs worst pet ever

What animals make the best/worst pets?

Let me start by saying I don’t think there are “worst pets”. I do, however, believe that owners of what they deem worst pet ever did several or even some of these things:

1. Did not educate themselves on that type of pet.

2. Made an emotional decision to take in the pet without a practical, thought-out way of caring for the pet or how that pets fits with their lifestyle.

3. Did not include veterinary care/needs in their budget to ensure that pet has the healthiest option for their life.

4. Did not consider the adult size version of the baby version of that pet.

5. Did not provide the environment, care attention and training for that pet to thrive.

6. Took the pet in when they did not have a permanent or stable home for themselves.

Responsible pet owners ultimately have the best pets, for these reasons:

1. Educated themselves on what pet best fits their current lifestyle.

2. Included the pet’s needs and healthcare in their budget.

3. Made sure that they had time to spend with, train and make that pet part of the routine of their life.

4. Had pet sitters on hand so that the pet is cared for in the event that they have to handle something away from home. Similar to what parents do when they need to do something without their kids.

5. Sought to understand the temperament of that pet so that pet feels safe and secure with them and other pets, kids and people in the home.

All pets are wonderful when they’re chosen with knowledge, commitment and care.

Dear Kelliann…

Write a letter to your 100-year-old self.

What a legacy we have, four beautiful, loving, God-fearing daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. You have lived a full, though challenging life. You have prepared your heart, mind and soul to run to your heavenly father’s arms. All of your prayers, studies, servitude and love for God will come to fruition soon. Everything you ever worried about will make sense as soon as you are absent from the body and present with Christ.

Soon, you will rest for all of eternity. Soon, there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more sorrow, death, suffering, sickness or disease.

Soon, very soon, you will be reunited with many loved ones but most importantly, you will see the one you have worshiped your whole adult life, face-to-face. Joy, beyond comprehension, will be yours for all of eternity. True love will wrapping you in His loving arms. You will see that not one hurt was wasted.

You have waited 81 years to see what has been unseen here, in this world. The supernatural will become your reality. What a glorious day that will be.

Love,

Your 54 yr old self

P.S. It was all worth it.

Insert eye roll here…

Are you superstitious?

The short answer? No. A little more detail? Fine. My mom’s side of the family was incredibly superstitious. To the point of it disrupting our lives. From black cats crossing our path to the numbers 13 and 666, they backed up from all of it. Actually, displayed fear in the confrontation of any of these superstitious ideologies. I can honestly say, I never gave these superstitions any power. Every time these adults shrunk back from broken mirrors that supposedly give you seven years of bad luck to stepping on crack will break your mother’s back, I rolled my eyes, like, “Here we go again.”

Can I just tell you that not one of these superstitions came to fruition. Not. One.

If you struggle with superstition, let me challenge you to inviting the supernatural into your life. The three in one package:

1. Believe God exists

2. Accept Jesus as your Savior from sin and death.

3. Invite the Holy Spirit in to guide and give you wisdom.

The real power is in the supernatural. They aren’t looking to trip you up at your first mistake. Nor are they waiting to dump curses and bad luck on you. They are available to give you life to the full. A life full of blessings and promises that are available to all those that believe. A life full of wisdom to all who ask for it. Faith, hope and love are waiting for you. I am a first hand witness that though the supernatural can’t be seen it can be experienced and it provides shelter, safety and direction for all that life throws at you.

Superstitions only have the power that you give over to them. The supernatural has power that they share with you.

If there is anyone wanting to know more about the supernatural power, feel free to contact me at: kelliann@fromthedepthsofkell.com

May God bless you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.