AN Update on whats going on

The easiest way to do this is to just copy our newsletter that our ministry just sent out to let everyone know whats been going on and everything that is changing.



Greetings In the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

I (Katie) am writing you today to let you know about some exciting changes happening in Pastor Jeremy and I’s life as well as changes to Jesus Saves International Ministries. We are very excited about the changes coming in the next few months and years.
Personally, Pastor Jeremy and I (Katie) are excited to announce we are moving to Iowa. This was a long thought out process. The idea of moving to Iowa was put on our hearts 3 years ago when we went to visit right before we were married in the fall of 2010. We have patiently waited for doors to open if this was the right decision. Fast forward to June of 2013 and the biggest obstacle standing in our way was removed in such a way that only God could have done it. We are excited to step into this new chapter in our lives and everything that God has for us.
Changes for Jesus Saves are amazing and scary and faith filled all at the same time. The first change is we brought Pastor Juan onto our board of Directors as our Chief Financial Officer. We also are able to hire Pastor Juan as an office assistant. Pastor Juan served as assistant youth pastor at Harvest Christian Center until 2014. He also has several years of ministry experience. Angela will be stepping down from our board after 2 years of faithful service.  The biggest change goes hand in hand with us moving to Iowa. Pastor Jeremy and I have been praying about how God would use us in Iowa and the new community we will be in. That’s when God began to lay a vision on our heart for the community and how we can reach out and minister in a very real and tangible way.
The vision God has laid on both of our hearts is to open up a community center. We are looking at a building that is currently empty and has been empty for a couple of years. It is a 10,000+ sq ft building with a gymnasium, commercial kitchen, showers, and several classrooms. It is currently zoned as residential which would allow for “civic” activities. We are currently in contact with a local building official who is helping us figure out what we are allowed to do without having to change the zoning and would allow us to live on the campus. The reasoning for us living on campus is two-fold and that is one to be able to watch over the building and two; security. Also depending on how we purchase the building one option is to use the money from the sale of our house to buy the building which is why we would also live on campus. The second option would be to try and get a grant to purchase the building. Right now we are looking into grants. I have been talking to a friend who wrote grants as a job and they were honest and let us know that it is almost impossible to find grants large enough to purchase the building. We also would like to get a grant that would help with payroll and expenses for the first year or at least until we can gain some income from the community building. The payroll grant would go to Pastor Juan as he is prayerfully considering joining us in Iowa and partnering with us in running the community center. He would also live on campus as the 24 hr maintenance man.
Two things you can do for us right now; Number 1 pray, pray, pray, it’s the most important thing; Number 2 is donate money. We hate always asking for money but unfortunately ministry takes money and God has given us big dreams and visions. We know God can provide for what He calls us to do and we know that ultimately He is who will sustain us. I know God never gives vision without provision. Thank you so much for your prayers we covet them daily. Thank you for your support; your funds go to support sending out our daily devotions right now and also sending out salvation packets via mail or email. We truly couldn’t do it without you. You are our biggest partners.
As always please feel free to email anyone of us with any questions.
Pastor Jeremy: jlempie@jesussavestoday.com
Katie Empie: kempie@jesussavestoday.com
Pastor Juan: jlagrandeur@jesussavestoday.com

Until All Hear His Name,

Pastor Jeremy & Katie
Pastor Juan

2012 Bucket List

So I am not real big on resolutions but I do like the idea of a bucket list things that I want to do by the time I kick the bucket but since I don't plan on doing that any time soon. So what follows is a list of things I would like to do this year.

1. Read my whole Bible this year (I started a plan on the youversion app on my iphone)
2. Lose 100 lbs this year. 
3. Fall more in love with God
4. Fall more in love with my husband
5. Build my marriage stronger with God's help
6. Go on vacation with just my husband
7. Strengthen my Faith and trust in God
8. Get Pregnant (at least would love to get pregnant and have the baby as well this year)
9. Get my office painted and decorated
10. Work with my Husband to build our ministry with God
11. Lead a small group @ Liberty with my Hubby
12. Get involved more @ church
13. Develop new friendships
14. Read 25 books that I have never read
15. Make a difference in someone's life. 

Finding my life while losing myself

Yep thats what I said... I started another blog yesterday as I also started an incredible personal journey of weight loss and healthy living and permenant lifestyle change. Come check it out and maybe leave a shout of encouragement a long the way. But remember the old adage from your momma, "If you can't say anything nice you shouldn't say anything at all" This has been an extremely personal battle that I have fought and lost (most of the time) all of my life. So I invite you to come along and watch but nasty comments or jokes will not be tolerated if you don't care about it than don't follow. I will be posting a lot there as I also plan on finding out the reasons behind why this has been a battle and hopefully and prayerfully this will no longer be a battle with me.


Finding My Life While Losing Myself a Journey to Weight Loss and Life.

Smelly!?

So I have discovered a horrible smell in my house today. Not sure what it is have checked all the trash and removed most of the garbage bags from the house (we have multiple trash cans in case you were thinking I had several bags laying around) so tomorrow I will be scrubbing floors with hot water and bleach and floor cleaner. Hopefully I can get rid of the stale smelly dirty diaper smell.

On other news, Saturday the hubs and I attempted to drive out to Robertsdale for my stepsister's graduation party and our van died about 5 minutes from my dads house. AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!! was all I can say about that. For any of you that can remember the craziness we had last year with our van dying all the time and noone (not even dodge(you would think that at least all of them of people would be able to figure out their own vehicle) it was not a good flash back. We managed to get it back to the house barely I mean like we pulled into the driveway and it died again. Not Cool. We get it towed over to our car shop that actually did figure out what the problem was last year and they called to tell me it was our air temp sensor that had come loose and also our throttle was very clogged and dirty. After getting that all cleaned out and plugging the sensor back in tightly they test drove it a couple of times with no problems. I picked up it up today and it ran so smooth and took off without any problems or any hesitations. YAY! Now hopefully this fix will last us at least 9 1/2 more months and than we can replace the vehicle completely.

We were also in the process of saving up to replace our ac unit that died on us right before our car died so needless to say its been a kinda stressful time lately. We are just dealing with the lack of air in the main part of our house by hanging in our bedroom and offices in the part of the house that has ac.


I guess this is all a sign that I need to really start and hit my Mary Kay business hard if I sold everything I had in stock we could replace our ac unit. Hmmm.... Now how to figure out how to get it sold anyone who is reading that would like to buy some I sell to anyone anywhere and would be happy to send you a catalogue. Just let me know.

Had my nieces over the other night and sometimes they make it so that we are glad that right now that we don't have any kids and the hubs view them at times as a great birth control. While I agree at times we still want children and wish at times we could just get preggo the old fashioned way. Especially now at times when everyone it seems is preggo around me, from family members to friends. While we are not doing anything to prevent babies right now and would be ecstatic to have 2 lines show up on a test it makes me relax to knowing that most likely it won't happen the old fashion way. We can enjoy each other as well without any worries of whether or not I took my pill or do we have condoms or anything like that. And financially speaking except for getting our emergency fund going and stay going (i.e. no emergencies) we are set for a baby we dont have any house payments or car payments or anything like that.

Well I have pretty much caught up on here, so I will scoot for now to spend time with my honey as we celebrate tonight 8 months of marriage. Hard to believe that we are 2/3s of the way thru our first year of marriage.

Spring into the New

So I am a day behind on my committment to blog everyday. Yesterday Jeremy and I kinda started doing atkins and we are kinda faltered towards the end of yesterday as I need to do some major grocery shopping and than we can really kick it off with the right foods. Although we kinda dropped the ball there I have been able to keep myself going with a personal goal and that is to get up and read my bible every morning before I start my day off. It has been wonderful to get up and before my day gets going. It has really been great to sit on my back porch and read my bible and drink my coffee. It has been great having my time with Jesus in the morning and get my day going the right way. I feel more productive with everything and I am able to accomplish what I need to. I want to start blogging a lot of what I feel like God is speaking to me as well and what I can share.

My verse today was

Psalm 45:13  "The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace;

Her clothing is woven with gold." NKJV


As a believer in God and He being the King of Kings that makes me a royal daughter. It means that I am glorious and that while my physical clothes of course arent woven in gold I am a precious daughter of the king. and I live a very blessed life by being obedience to God's will to the best of my ability and to honor Him in all I do.

Soap Box

Okay so there is something that bugs me so much and it came up around this past valentines day. (and no my honey didnt do anything wrong) I don't get these promise rings that boyfriends give girlfriends and vice versa. Growing up when a guy gave a girl a ring and a promis to get married it meant they were engaged and planning their lives together. It seems to me that if a guy gave me a "promise ring" and was like one day we will get married but was very clear that we werent engaged would be like a slap in my face as a pretend, practice committment. Come on guys if you really want to make that committment buy the ring and ask the question. Dont get a piddle ring and be like well we cant really afford to get married or in the future i will ask you to get married. Either make the commitment or dont make it. I cant blame you if you arent ready you arent ready and thats okay. Marriage is a big committment and shouldnt be entered into lightly so take your time and dont even make that type of committment lightly which is what I think of promise rings is a way to pacify your significant other. Step up to the plate and make a real committment or dont but dont play around with this. If my husband had given me a ring and said one day I promise you I will propose or one day years down the road we will get married I would have been hurt that he is leading me on and playing with my emotions. Either you want to or you dont or your sure or your not. If you dont or your not sure DONT DO IT. It makes it that much harder if for whatever reason the relationship didnt work out. Even if you cant afford to get married right now you can still ask the question and make the plans. A wedding doesnt have to be a big extravagant affair. Right before I got married my dad gave me the best advice about the wedding (this was about one week before the wedding) dont worry about the small stuff dont worry about anyone else you have a pastor you have a dress and jeremy has a tux you got it handled. When it all boils down a wedding is about you and your loved one and the committment and covenant vow you make between you guys and God. okay okay enough for now all though it does really irk me when i see this in relationships because it is just excuse to not having to make a serious committment and be a man/responsible adult...okay okay really I am done now.