Contact: info@katepalazzi.com
Hello there! I’m so happy you’re here. I’m Kate — child of God, wife, mother to three, creative type, who thinks too much.
I started a DIY + organizing blog and it has blossomed over the years, but my faith posts needed their own space! I have so very much to share with you, friend.
Grace story
I was baptized at 14 years old in my hometown church in Indiana, but walked away from my faith in my 20s. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe in God anymore, I just wanted to do my own thing. I always felt the Holy Spirit had a hold of my heart though. He never let go.
When I was 24 years old, I stood at the beach, crying, and asked God if he was real. I asked for a sign.
A couple days later someone at the office asked me if I would be interested in going to a Bible study. I didn’t know him well and it made no sense for him to ask me this. That was the sign I needed and I went! It was the beginning of turning around my life.
I met Marcello in Italy when I was “studying art” (wink, wink) that same year and we were married three years later. He (a non-practicing Catholic) and I (a wayward Christian) had a lot of ground to cover in our faith life.
My time away from the Word, away from church, away from growth left me stagnant and led to a period of great skepticism. If I was going to believe in a God I can’t see, I was going to have to do some digging.
I used to think that my natural skepticism held me back in my faith. Now I understand that if I don’t stop at only asking a question, but take the next step of actually seeking answers, my relationship flourishes with God. In fact, he invites my questions.
As my questions have been answered over the years, I have changed the essence of my questions from “Do you exist and are you good?” to “Lend me your wisdom, Lord. I can’t wait to learn more about you and your creation.”
I write to share what I’m learning and to encourage people to dive below the surface of everyday routines, chatter and entertainment to see something bigger.
If something has struck you here, if there is something you read echoing in your ears, follow through. Don’t let the birds peck away at the scattered seed on the ground, let those seeds sink in fertile soil and bloom! Oh, how it will change your life!
I’m here for you. Write a comment. Send me an email: info@katepalazzi.com. Don’t hesitate for one moment to do it. I love talking about God and His creation!
Theology
Here’s the short of it:
I am a Protestant, but don’t consider myself of a particular Christian denomination. I tend to be conservative and cautious with my studies. I go to the Bible first. And for study supplement, I gravitate toward classic Christian writers such as C.S. Lewis, Charles Spurgeon, J.I. Packer and the like. You will find no prosperity gospel here. I believe God cares more about our character and spirit than our pocketbook.
Here’s the thick of it:
God
There is one God who eternally exists in three equally divine persons – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is the beginning and end of all things. He is the Creator of the universe and author of all life. All history moves toward Him and finds its culmination in His sovereign plan.
(Genesis 1; John 1:1; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15-23; Revelation 19:6)
Jesus
Jesus, the Son, was born of a virgin and came to earth because of God’s love for humanity. In living a fully human/fully divine life He is both our example and victorious King. He inaugurated God’s kingdom on earth and died for the sins of His people. He conquered death and rose from the grave before ascending to the Father where He reigns with Him. He will return one day in power and glory. He is our Savior and Lord. He is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life.
(Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-18; Matthew 27:54; John 14:6-7; Colossians 1:15-23; 1 Timothy 1:15)
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the fully active power of God at work in the world today. He was sent to comfort and to reveal Truth. He equips, enables, and empowers believers to live out the ordained purposes for their lives.
(John 14:15-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16)
Salvation
Salvation is God’s gift of redemption for His Church. It is the free gift of grace received by faith alone in Jesus Christ to all who would repent of their sins and believe in his finished work on the cross. Salvation cannot be found outside of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
(John 1:12; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9)
Humanity
Created in God’s own image, humanity is God’s crowning work in creation. Our primary purpose is to glorify God along with all of creation. Human beings are sinful at birth, and the only hope for humanity is found in the finished work of Jesus.
(Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:3)
The Gospel
The gospel is the good news that God, our righteous King, because of his great love for us, sent Jesus, the Son, to live, die, and be raised in our place for the punishment of our sins, so that, through faith, we are reconciled to God in order that, by the Spirit, we might live as kingdom citizens in relationship with and in representation of Him.
(Luke 2:10-11; Luke 4:14-21; John 3:16-17; Romans 1:16-17)
The Bible
The Bible is wholly authentic, inspired, fully trustworthy, and without error in the original writings. There is nothing that can be added to it or taken from it. The Bible is the revealed word of God and is useful for teaching, encouraging, and correcting.
(Psalm 19:7-14; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The Church
The Church is God’s chosen instrument to bring His Gospel to every man, woman and child. There is one Church of which Jesus Christ is the head. The Church is made up of every person who places their trust in the finished work of Jesus.
(Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-47; Ephesians 3; Ephesians 4:1-13)