Transformation Guest Post Series: Krista from Growing In Grace And Beauty

Hi Friends!! Today I have something so special to share with you! The start of a Guest Post series called Transformation Series: Mind, Body and Soul. 

I thought what better way to start off the new year than with some truly inspirational transformations from my fellow sisters in Christ! 

Though this world puts a lot of emphasis on physical transformations, I decided to focus on the most important Transformations of our Minds, Body's and Souls in Christ. Transformations caused by the love of Jesus changing their lives! 

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 Christ enters our lives there must be a transformation -- from a sinner to a saved by grace Child of God who is no longer dead but ALIVE!

These ladies testimonials speak to my heart and I hope they will touch yours in some way too! 

Without further adieu here is Krista from Growing in Grace and Beauty.

I was born into a Southern Baptist family. My mother made sure that my brother and I were in church every time the doors were open. That meant we went to Sunday School and church on Sunday mornings, Bible study/Bible drill on Sunday nights, and Children’s activities when I was younger, youth as I got older on Wednesday nights. We NEVER missed. That stayed with me when I went to college. I found a church and got involved there too.

Growing up, I’d go through phases where I’d feel close to God and phases where I’d feel like my prayers weren’t going any farther than the ceiling. I experienced feelings of depression and desperation, where something was going to have to give before I just completely fell apart.

As I got older, that far away feeling seemed to happen more and more often. I was still going to church, but there came a point where it was basically just me going through the motions. I was there, but no matter how much I prayed and cried and pleaded with God to show me His presence, I just didn’t feel it.

Things at home weren’t so great either. There was a constant cloud of negativity lingering over my home and family. Things were going downhill- and fast. I was desperate to find some way to change things.

            This is where my story truly begins. In the Summer 2011, I met a wonderful man- who just wanted a friendship. He was going through a tough time- and I certainly wasn’t going to get involved with him, he’d been married twice before. (Never say never to God- He has a sense of humor!)

            This wonderful man and I started hanging out more and more and eventually (once things settled down on his end), we started dating. Yes- I said I’d never date him- and here I was, falling in love. During our dating, he came to the Baptist church with me a few times and I started going to the Catholic Church with him and his family. (Which is funny because before he and I met, he had not been going to church). When I was in church with him and his family- it was like a cool drink of water. I felt a peace that I had not felt in many years. I felt a calling from God to make this Church my home.

In the Fall of 2012, I started attending RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) classes at the Catholic Church to learn more about the faith and consider converting. At the Easter Vigil service in 2013, I made my Confirmation and First Communion. Since that time, I’ve grown so much in my faith. I’ve gotten so much closer to God than I ever dreamed possible.

Remember that wonderful man I met back in 2011? Well, he proposed to me November 2012 and we scheduled our wedding for November 2013. In May 2013, we made our Catholic Engaged Encounter (a Catholic marriage preparation weekend), and immediately knew that God was calling us to become involved in this wonderful ministry. Our wedding ended up getting moved up due to circumstances with the mom of his youngest son, so in July 2013, we said our vows. I promised to love him and his boys for the rest of my life. The first weekend we worked Catholic Engaged Encounter was October 2013.

 Shortly after we got married, we picked out a devotional (The Love Dare) and began to read it every night before going to bed. As you probably already know, Catholics offer Mass every day, so we took the daily Mass readings and began reading the Daily Psalms after our devotional every single night. We missed 3 days in one entire year (and we didn’t miss the devotional readings for that day because they weren’t dated). Now, we’re on our second devotional book (Together for Good).

Fast-forward to the Fall of this year (2014). The Catholic Church offers a retreat called Cursillos de Christiandad every year. They have separate retreats for men and women- two per year here in our Diocese (Fall in Mobile, Spring in Holy Trinity, AL). So, my husband was able to get into the Men’s weekend without any problems. The women’s weekend always fills up quickly- so I was placed on the waiting list.

We prayed and prayed- and prayed some more. I was still on the waiting list when my husband left for his Cursillo weekend. He prayed while he was there, he had his group praying for me, I prayed while he was gone….I was still on the waiting list when he got home. The weekends are two weeks apart- so, a week after he got home, the “FINAL” list for the women’s weekend was out. I was still on the waiting list.

            At that point, I gave up. That Sunday morning, I got up and spent some time alone in prayer with God. I said, “God, I give up. I’ve worried. I’ve cried. I’ve begged for you to open up a way for me to get on this weekend. I’m done. The final list is out. I’m not on it. It’s entirely in your hands now. I’m not going to even think about it anymore. Amen”

            That truly was it for me. I was done. I did not think about it at all on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday. On Tuesday night, when we got home from our Revelation Bible Study, there was a message on the machine from the Deacon who was sponsoring both of us. He wanted me to call him as soon as I was able.

            So, I did. There was a spot that had opened up at the last minute- would I be available to go? Of course, I said yes. See, I’m a freelance writer, and in faith (before I said that Sunday morning prayer), I had already told my clients I would not be working that weekend.

            I packed up my clothes on Wednesday and Thursday and left on Thursday night for my Cursillo weekend. It was wonderful to be able to spend time with God and with other Christian women- who knew that other women had the same struggles that I do? It blew my mind!

 During the weekend, God spoke to me in some powerful ways. He revealed to me that there are some things that I have not let go of just yet. I’ve always been a bit of a control freak, so it’s hard for me to completely let go and trust God sometimes. He kept telling me- “See? You let it go and stopped stressing and I got you here, didn’t I? See what happens when you simply trust me?

One of the things I was stressing out about was my writing. For several years, I’ve desperately wanted to start a blog of my own. I’ve tried- and failed- several times. I was no longer actively trying, but it was still in the forefront of my mind. I had been writing for one blog for a while, but still wanted to do my own. That’s one of the things I gave over to God that weekend. I came home still with no clue what I was going to do with it, but knowing that God would reveal it to me in His time. That Monday morning, I woke up and there it was: I had a clear title and topic for my blog.

Since my husband and I both made our Cursillo retreat this fall, we’ve added the nightly Cursillo prayers to our readings each night. So, in all, we probably spend about 30 minutes total talking to God and to each other every night. Our marriage has been greatly enriched by this time together. God is using our marriage and our love for each other to touch other people- even those not involved in our Church/ministries. People tell us all the time that they can see God in our marriage- they can see that we have something truly special.

I guess my whole point in all this is that here I am, in my mid-30s, and I finally am “getting it.” Though I’ve always had faith and a relationship with Christ, its finally all falling into place and making sense to me. All God wants is for us to love and trust Him and He will be able to use us for His glory. I keep hearing it over and over, “See what happens when you trust ME? See what happens when you stop freaking out over the small stuff?” So, there’s still A LOT of work that God needs to do with me, but I’m growing more and more every single day.

Every day, I just try to be an example of God’s love and grace to everyone- especially through my blog. God called me to write the blog- and He provides me with the topics most of the time. There are some days that I feel like maybe I’m writing just to write, but then there are those days where God clearly says: “You need to share that with the ones reading your blog.” I just want everyone to know that God has a plan for everyone- when we pray, we have to learn to truly let it go and TRUST God- not try to create the outcome that we want, but know that God will provide the outcome that is best for us.

--Krista

About Krista:

My name is Krista "KK" Mounsey blessed to be married to a wonderful man named Michael. I am also blessed to be bonus mom to three wonderful boys: Thomas, Michael, and Nathaniel. Since I was a child, I always wanted nothing more than to be a wife, mom, and writer.

 In 2012, my dreams began to come true when Michael asked me to be his wife. In July 2013, we said "I do" and in October 2013, we had our marriage blessed in the Catholic Church. In all that we do, we strive to put God first and foremost- and always know that without Him, we are nothing....but with Him, we can do ANYTHING. I am looking forward to the adventures that God has planned for us. 

Michael and I are involved in Catholic Engaged Encounter in the Mobile Archdiocese. We believe that marriage preparation is a very important and necessary part of the process. I am currently a blogger at 50 Things to Know Mom Reviews & Giveaways and I also have my own blog, Growing in Grace and Beauty that I write on. I have written four Scriptural Reflection Books and have more in process.

Michael and I live in Daphne, Alabama with our Chiweenie, Bella Rose. I also make beaded jewelry and do monogramming and Michael makes rosaries.

Follow me on social media: 

Twitter: @kelaine1981

Facebook: www.facebook.com/growingingraceandbeautyblog

                  www.facebook.com/kkmounsey2014

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kkmounsey2013/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/kkmounsey2013

Google+: http://google.com/+KristaMounsey2013



Make sure you all go and check out Krista's Blog at Growing In Grace and Beauty! 

Your Turn: Has Something/Someone In Your Life Caused You To Transform or Lead You to God?? I would LOVE to hear about it in the Comments! 

photo credit: MSVG via photopin cc