Divine Memorabilia

Catiana Nak Kheiyn

This is a blog about stories—God's stories. After all, God is in the details, right? Yes, what an awful Christianese cliché. Yet there is truth in that statement, cliché or not. Because He is the creator of every person on Earth and has divinely connected each of us together, God is present even in the finer minutia of our days and weeks. Not a second passes without our Heavenly Father taking notice. If we watch very closely and listen, we will see and hear God's tools at work—even in the everyday.

While He is saving a soldier from flying shrapnel on a battlefield across the world, He is also whispering words into your ear for that friend sitting across the table from you. While He keeps a rickety airplane aloft so a missionary family can reach a remote village in Africa, He is also directing your heavy heart to the coffee shop where the barista will make you smile. His reach is infinite and His adoration for us is boundless. He will care for us and supply all our needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

Catiana Nak Kheiyn is the webmaster and editor of 412teens.org and regularly teaches other young writers through tutoring and workshops. When Catiana is not writing or hanging out with teens, she loves spending time with her “adopted” family of friends, her two kids, and a menagerie of socially awkward animals.

	Stop Saying this to those who Grieve \| Dec 21, 2015 It's hard to know what to say to grieving friends, and too often we fall back on old cliches. Why 'everything happens for a reason' may be the least helpful thing we can say. Read more...
	Lifestyle Evangelism: Why I Don't Tell Everyone I'm a Christian \| Oct 2, 2014 Some are gifted for evangelism; some make evangelism a part of their lifestyle. Read more...
	Getting My Priorities Straight \| Sep 17, 2014 Exercising self-discipline takes priorities, motivation, time, repetition, and steadfastness, then wash, rinse, repeat. And having someone to cheer you on never hurts. Read more...
	Don't Waste Your Worry \| Jan 15, 2014 Is the peace of God real? Can it really change our hearts and take away our anxiety? Or are we doomed to waste our worry? Read more...
	Full Disclosure: The Gift of Confessing our Sins \| Nov 25, 2013 Confession: humbling, vulnerable, sometimes shameful. Why does the Bible instruct us to do it? Read more...
	God's Going to Be Okay \| Nov 20, 2013 The Tinkerbell effect refers to things that only exist if you believe in them, like the orishas of the cult of Santeria. Fortunately, God is self-existent. He does not need us. So why did He make us? For love. Read more...
	Marriage is for Losers \| Nov 7, 2013 One thing I have learned through all my failures and triumphs in love is this: in order to have a successful relationship, you must be ready to let go of your own needs. Read more...
	Sing your Battle Cry \| Sep 26, 2013 The armor of God is the Holy Spirit's way to protect and defend us against spiritual warfare. One way we can join in His work--sing your battle cry. Read more...
	Good Luck...I mean, Go With God \| Sep 18, 2013 Is it appropriate for Christians to say 'good luck'? Does it mean we aren't acknowledging God's sovereignty? Or does it just mean we wish someone well? Read more...
	Robots and Clay \| Aug 21, 2013 Robots or jars? Wired or shaped? How did God make us, and can we change? Read more...
	Draw the Line \| Aug 1, 2013 Salvation takes a moment. Living for Christ takes a lifetime. How do you draw the line? Read more...
	Sleight of Hand \| Jul 19, 2013 Sometimes God lets us in on the plan. But sometimes He tells us what we need to hear to take the next step. Read more...
	Don't say you'll pray for me \| Jun 21, 2013 Don't say you'll pray for me if you won't. Why not just pray now? Read more...
	Impossible Math: Of God and Money \| Jun 14, 2013 When budgeting isn't your strong suit, managing money becomes next to impossible. But God's grace and provision can take the family budget into another realm: impossible math. Read more...
	Precious Seconds \| May 30, 2013 We are called to love others, but how do we choose to spend our time? On truly valuable friendships or superficial relationships? Read more...
	Silver in the Scars \| Jan 28, 2013 How quickly we forget how God blesses us through our wounds. How quickly we replace the beauty He's shown us with the ugly realities we wrap around ourselves because at least the pain is familiar and knowable. God's magic is something we're terrified to believe in; maybe because if it's real, it can be lost. Read more...
	Pinterest Pontification \| Jan 2, 2013 While Pinterest is a handy, visually appealing way to keep track of information you want to access later, those who delve too deeply may find themselves coveting and missing out on what is right in front of them (Luke 12:15). We construct virtual houses around what we wish we could be—things we want, desire, or make us happy, but we can never become the people we create. Read more...
	Confessions of an AWANA Mom \| Dec 14, 2012 The Enemy delights in tainting our efforts with various abominable adventures—like during AWANA nights for me. He is keen to carve at our patience during the most stressful times. Is perseverance even possible, and is it worth losing our sanity? Read more...
	Keeping it Real \| Dec 4, 2012 Each parent must make their own personal decision about whether or not to allow their kids to believe in Santa Claus; they should do what they feel is right for their family. We've decided to keep it truly real, and this is why. Read more...
	Laughing in the Rain \| Nov 21, 2012 Colossians 3:2 says to set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. God is calling us to trust and follow Him, not to try to understand why life's rainstorms happen. So why do we keep worrying? Read more...
	No Power Over You \| Nov 7, 2012 Sometimes we'll do anything to try and change a person, but only the Holy Spirit has the ability to truly change a heart (John 14:26). God has granted freedom for us to make our own choices—whether digging ourselves a metaphorical grave or climbing out of it. Who are we to think we can make anyone choose anything? Read more...
	Taking Back October 31 \| Oct 29, 2012 Is it possible to take October 31 back for God? Halloween is a day that celebrates darkness and encourages greed, but perhaps we can take the light of God's love and shine it into the shadows. This is how our family has taken on this night and exchanged darkness for the powerful light of Christ. Read more...
	Let Us Eat Cake \| Oct 15, 2012 The Bible says that our strength comes from the Lord. "[He] is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped..." (Psalm 28:7) That's all well and good, but when God is in Heaven and we're here on Earth, how do we access His strength? Read more...
	Still Hope for Hope \| Oct 10, 2012 In a society desperate to rebel, is there any chance that people could be attracted to the good God offers? The recent success of Christian artist tobyMac's album, Eye On It, is a startling sign that the secular world wants desperately to hope for something more. Read more...
	I Love You \| Oct 1, 2012 When we feel joy, do we first turn within, to external things, or to God? There are so many other things in the world to delightfully distract. Rather than seeking external explanations for that warm, fuzzy feeling, practicing perspective may help us tune in to the reason we experience joy at all. Read more...
	The Shadow Proves the Sunshine \| Sep 24, 2012 Is your heart of darkness too deep for God to reach? Believe it or not, God can use the murky walks of our lives to prove His glorious nature and power. Our wickedness is never too evil for Jesus to overcome and transform into light. Read more...
	Waiting on the Spiderweb \| Sep 13, 2012 Sorrow is still sorrow, even if we know that God is bringing us something good. The hard part is not knowing what that good thing is, right? Or is there beauty in the waiting? Read more...

Image: Michael Frank Franz; "Nele - Buy me a heating blanket..."; Creative Commons

	Stop Saying this to those who Grieve \| Dec 21, 2015 It's hard to know what to say to grieving friends, and too often we fall back on old cliches. Why 'everything happens for a reason' may be the least helpful thing we can say. Read more...
	Lifestyle Evangelism: Why I Don't Tell Everyone I'm a Christian \| Oct 2, 2014 Some are gifted for evangelism; some make evangelism a part of their lifestyle. Read more...
	Getting My Priorities Straight \| Sep 17, 2014 Exercising self-discipline takes priorities, motivation, time, repetition, and steadfastness, then wash, rinse, repeat. And having someone to cheer you on never hurts. Read more...
	Don't Waste Your Worry \| Jan 15, 2014 Is the peace of God real? Can it really change our hearts and take away our anxiety? Or are we doomed to waste our worry? Read more...
	Full Disclosure: The Gift of Confessing our Sins \| Nov 25, 2013 Confession: humbling, vulnerable, sometimes shameful. Why does the Bible instruct us to do it? Read more...
	God's Going to Be Okay \| Nov 20, 2013 The Tinkerbell effect refers to things that only exist if you believe in them, like the orishas of the cult of Santeria. Fortunately, God is self-existent. He does not need us. So why did He make us? For love. Read more...
	Marriage is for Losers \| Nov 7, 2013 One thing I have learned through all my failures and triumphs in love is this: in order to have a successful relationship, you must be ready to let go of your own needs. Read more...
	Sing your Battle Cry \| Sep 26, 2013 The armor of God is the Holy Spirit's way to protect and defend us against spiritual warfare. One way we can join in His work--sing your battle cry. Read more...
	Good Luck...I mean, Go With God \| Sep 18, 2013 Is it appropriate for Christians to say 'good luck'? Does it mean we aren't acknowledging God's sovereignty? Or does it just mean we wish someone well? Read more...
	Robots and Clay \| Aug 21, 2013 Robots or jars? Wired or shaped? How did God make us, and can we change? Read more...
	Draw the Line \| Aug 1, 2013 Salvation takes a moment. Living for Christ takes a lifetime. How do you draw the line? Read more...
	Sleight of Hand \| Jul 19, 2013 Sometimes God lets us in on the plan. But sometimes He tells us what we need to hear to take the next step. Read more...
	Don't say you'll pray for me \| Jun 21, 2013 Don't say you'll pray for me if you won't. Why not just pray now? Read more...
	Impossible Math: Of God and Money \| Jun 14, 2013 When budgeting isn't your strong suit, managing money becomes next to impossible. But God's grace and provision can take the family budget into another realm: impossible math. Read more...
	Precious Seconds \| May 30, 2013 We are called to love others, but how do we choose to spend our time? On truly valuable friendships or superficial relationships? Read more...
	Silver in the Scars \| Jan 28, 2013 How quickly we forget how God blesses us through our wounds. How quickly we replace the beauty He's shown us with the ugly realities we wrap around ourselves because at least the pain is familiar and knowable. God's magic is something we're terrified to believe in; maybe because if it's real, it can be lost. Read more...
	Pinterest Pontification \| Jan 2, 2013 While Pinterest is a handy, visually appealing way to keep track of information you want to access later, those who delve too deeply may find themselves coveting and missing out on what is right in front of them (Luke 12:15). We construct virtual houses around what we wish we could be—things we want, desire, or make us happy, but we can never become the people we create. Read more...
	Confessions of an AWANA Mom \| Dec 14, 2012 The Enemy delights in tainting our efforts with various abominable adventures—like during AWANA nights for me. He is keen to carve at our patience during the most stressful times. Is perseverance even possible, and is it worth losing our sanity? Read more...
	Keeping it Real \| Dec 4, 2012 Each parent must make their own personal decision about whether or not to allow their kids to believe in Santa Claus; they should do what they feel is right for their family. We've decided to keep it truly real, and this is why. Read more...
	Laughing in the Rain \| Nov 21, 2012 Colossians 3:2 says to set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. God is calling us to trust and follow Him, not to try to understand why life's rainstorms happen. So why do we keep worrying? Read more...
	No Power Over You \| Nov 7, 2012 Sometimes we'll do anything to try and change a person, but only the Holy Spirit has the ability to truly change a heart (John 14:26). God has granted freedom for us to make our own choices—whether digging ourselves a metaphorical grave or climbing out of it. Who are we to think we can make anyone choose anything? Read more...
	Taking Back October 31 \| Oct 29, 2012 Is it possible to take October 31 back for God? Halloween is a day that celebrates darkness and encourages greed, but perhaps we can take the light of God's love and shine it into the shadows. This is how our family has taken on this night and exchanged darkness for the powerful light of Christ. Read more...
	Let Us Eat Cake \| Oct 15, 2012 The Bible says that our strength comes from the Lord. "[He] is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped..." (Psalm 28:7) That's all well and good, but when God is in Heaven and we're here on Earth, how do we access His strength? Read more...
	Still Hope for Hope \| Oct 10, 2012 In a society desperate to rebel, is there any chance that people could be attracted to the good God offers? The recent success of Christian artist tobyMac's album, Eye On It, is a startling sign that the secular world wants desperately to hope for something more. Read more...
	I Love You \| Oct 1, 2012 When we feel joy, do we first turn within, to external things, or to God? There are so many other things in the world to delightfully distract. Rather than seeking external explanations for that warm, fuzzy feeling, practicing perspective may help us tune in to the reason we experience joy at all. Read more...
	The Shadow Proves the Sunshine \| Sep 24, 2012 Is your heart of darkness too deep for God to reach? Believe it or not, God can use the murky walks of our lives to prove His glorious nature and power. Our wickedness is never too evil for Jesus to overcome and transform into light. Read more...
	Waiting on the Spiderweb \| Sep 13, 2012 Sorrow is still sorrow, even if we know that God is bringing us something good. The hard part is not knowing what that good thing is, right? Or is there beauty in the waiting? Read more...

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Divine Memorabilia

Catiana Nak Kheiyn