The Captivating Woman

Designed with purpose.

Meet Katie Juranek

Katie is one of my best friends (and if you’ve been following TCW, she is the one who was completely healed from arthritis in my post The Lost Art of Confession). She is a powerhouse spiritually, is the one who keeps me on track about being vulnerable and asking for the right kind of help when I need it. She is one of my favorite people in the world, because she is exactly who she is, and she loves you (and lovingly pokes fun at you) exactly where you are.

H: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do?

K: Hello! My name is Katie Juranek, from Pasadena, CA and somehow I am involved with four really awesome, life-giving things:

  1. I am a on pastoral staff at my home church working with Middle Schoolers.
  2. I own my own photography company to pay off my student loans.
  3. I am a Graduate student at Fuller Theological Seminary.
  4. I am fundraising to join the staff of YWAM as a missionary in 2017 where I’ll be in South Africa and Kona, Hawaii for two years!

H: Can you describe an average day of running around doing Katie things?

K: Currently, I am a part of some really awesome things, which makes every day different, i.e. here’s a snapshot of my day two weeks ago:

Started off my morning going through final edits of a wedding I had shot, then I worked at the church to prepare my sermon for Sunday and compiled a really tedious list to prepare for an All Nighter we have coming up. I then met with a potential supporter for lunch which incredibly encouraging. Then I drove with our church staff to a conference focused around the value of living life with the poor in our community to together encourage systematic change called CCDA! Oh, and between plenary sessions I was writing a paper for Finals week! Whew!

But those are events, but that’s not my life…

As often as I can, I drive to this spot by my house that overlooks a beautiful, lush valley – I feel ever so close to God as I stop and am still there. I believe that we can all have those moments of feeling that closeness to God, regardless of where we are; when I’m standing there taking in a beautiful landscape or when I’m sitting with a middle school student hearing about their lives. That closeness means that my average day may be a bit chaotic, but my presence is steady, and that is hopefully what I experience and accomplish on an average day! I would suggest this short read called “Practicing the Presence of God” (free in that link!) which has helped shape my thoughts on being present with people and experiencing God!

H:  When you hear the phrase “captivating woman” what comes to mind? Are there things that really stand out to you as those that make women captivating?

K: When I think of the women that I’ve met that are “captivating”, at the core of what I think is most remarkable about them is always who they are captivated by – you know it when you see it – you know when you sit down with someone and they catch you off guard with their presence with you, their intentionality, their love, their encouragement – how they clearly are a reflection of God’s love for you – it just pours out of them!

We could easily think of women that are talented, beautiful, intelligent– but the women that are so captivated by their love for God that it pours out of them in every interaction they have with you and others? That is captivating… I pray that may be said of me.

H: You work with youth and young girls all of the time. I know we’ve talked about the things that are lying ahead for them and wish we could help them understand ahead of time. If you could go back in time to 17 year old Katie, what are a few of the things you’d tell her?

K: Whew… 17 year old Katie… in one year I was about to experience a year of trauma would make me regress and stop trusting people for a long time… I so wish I knew other safe spaces– people, resources like therapy, etc., I so wish I knew how to ask for that help…

For everything I wish I knew, I can see the beautiful ways that God has helped provide spaces for healing in the years since, but having the chance to encourage some thought and discussion:

I just so wish I understood myself more as a 17 year old– I wish understood that pain cycles would trigger me and would leave me stuck in victimization and about the difference between my personality type and others (and the positives to these differences). Just so many things about self-awareness that lacked when I was 17 I wish I could explain to my 17 year old self to, if possible, save me from the painfully long process that it has been. So if anything– I can’t advocate more strongly both for finding a therapist and a mentor – each have their own unique role in your life and finding both has helped give a safe space to grow in my self-awareness!

H: Who are some captivating women you feel like we should be talking about/get to know?

K:  A few months ago I got to skype with a woman, who totally inspires me, who uses Instagram as a platform to share stories of education in South Africa and Kenya to spur on systematic change (she now has 38k followers on Instagram, woah!) her name is Rebecca (@stickylittleleaves). I’m also a big fan of Christina Cleveland as she spurs on the conversation about privilege, reconciliation and leadership, which is very near and dear to my heart. Also, her insights into the experience of single, Christian women has been so encouraging (she wrote a Liberation Theology for single people in the Church- amen!).  Last, but certainly not least, if you have not heard of Brene Brown– I cannot miss out on an opportunity to speak praises of what she shares as a researcher on vulnerability, it has changed my life, my relationships and my future- go buy her book(s) now! (I would suggest reading “Daring Greatly” and then “Rising Strong”).

H:  Do you have a spirit animal?

K: I resonate the most with Leslie Knope with my passion for justice, insane organization and being an incredible gift-giver, combined with the shameless sarcasm of Chandler Bing, which in a dream world would end up with my being a new roommate on an episode of New Girl.

H:  Favorite bible verse/story/lesson?

K: The story of Jeremiah has been one that God has brought me back time and time again to- which has served as an encouragement to persevere in faithfulness to what God is calling me to do, even when I have been misunderstood- but is also such a weighty example (jeez God!).

Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet because for 41 years he shared the same message persistently (which in of itself is huge). A couple of things about his story really stick with me: 1) In 1:4-10 it shows that Jeremiah knew his Call, he questioned his experience, but not his call, and that is what kept him going, 2) I also love in 1:5-8 that the basis for overcoming fear is the assurance of God’s constant presence. Those two statements have been a consistent theme of the last four years of my life and I hope that they can be an encouragement to you: God knows you and offers a life that is not based on fear, but on life! If I could wish anything for the middle schoolers I work with, my community, the people I meet in missions, thecaptivatingwoman.com readers, it would be that you hear and truly understand that He extends that offer to you as well!

Complacent

A couple weeks ago, I embarked on a backpacking adventure to Iceland. For four days, I hiked the Landmannalaugar trail. The scenery was breathtaking. The weather was perfect. “Not too cold, not too hot. All you need is a light jacket” (If you guess where this quote is from you win! I don’t know what you win, but I’ll find something…).

I felt so adventurous as I crossed and jumped over rivers (I now have a love/hate relationship with rivers due to this trip), quickly set up a tent in the rain and snow, ascended and descended high mountain tops, and rehydrated meals with a little fuel tank and some boiling water. I was unstoppable! I felt amazing! I felt like a new person.

Now see here; when you venture out into the Icelandic wilderness with 30 pounds on your back and hike between 7 and 10 miles a day, your mind starts to race.

My mind would not stop spinning especially about the glory of God and His will for my life.

As I stood on top of a hill and scanned the landscape, I could not help but praise God. The scenery was amazing and to know He created this was absolutely astounding! I could also not help but think about the lives of the people of Iceland and of those in other parts of the world. Do they know Christ? Have they heard of Him? Is there someone who can speak to them about the love and mercy of our Lord? Then my questions shifted…

“Can I be that person to speak to them about the love and mercy of our Lord?”

“Can I be the voice proclaiming the Gospel?”

“Can I go and be a witness and light to others?”

These questions soon became my prayer for the rest of the trip. I began to pray for clarity for the plans God has for my life. I began to pray on how I can witness to my community and to other countries.

I am now back at work and feel complacent. I feel annoyed. I feel bored. I am tired of feeling safe. I am tired of working at a job where I have to walk on eggshells because of how the employees and employers are connected. I want to go out and not be afraid to share my faith. I want to go out and be a light in the darkness.

I have been listening to different sermons from Francis Chan and the fire for preaching the Gospel is blazing. In one of Chan’s sermons, he talks about how American Christians get caught up in living a “safe” life. We only hang out with others who are Christians, we won’t go to certain events unless they are Christian-based, and so on and so on. We get caught up in what our church building looks like, how good the band is, if there is a cool light show, and how many people are in attendance. What Chan says next is the cherry on top. Now here you go. Are you ready?

God did not call us to live a SAFE life.

God did not call us to only stick with fellow believers. God did not call us to sit in a building with thousands of people as the lights are flashing with an awesome slideshow and the band singing Hillsong’s “Oceans”. God called us to go. Go. Go and make disciples. Go and spread the good news. Go into the world and proclaim His name.

Now I am not saying not to hang out with your Christian friends. I am not saying to not attend church and be fed. I am not saying that your church is bad if it has a light show and has a band that sings “Oceans”. I am not saying to be of the world. I am simply saying to go.

I know it is not easy to be a Christ-follower. Our lives have been radically changed forever. We want everyone to know about the love of God; yet, when we open our mouths, we get judged. People don’t want to listen to you. People start to look at you differently, especially in the Bay Area, which is the most un-churched area in the Nation.

In all of America, the Bay Area reigns supreme as the most anti-God community. The minute I mention that I am a believer, the look on people’s faces resemble the face of a baby that has tried a piece of a lemon for the first time. Mentioning my faith in God equals to an obscene comment or gesture in the Bay. Funny how an area that heavily promotes love, equality, and acceptance, doesn’t really show love or acceptance to all people. Yet, we can’t let that un-acceptance and the judgment stop us…

Being a Christian, a Christ-follower, means that your life is changed forever.

It’s changed in a glorious way. We have experienced how glorious Christ is and it is time to share that with others. Whether it is something simple or extravagant, local or global, the message of the Gospel must be told to our communities. We must go.

God With Us

Today I woke up scared.

Scared because I didn’t have any other writings to submit that I was proud of. Scared because I hadn’t replied to emails that I needed to reply too. Scared because I didn’t think I was good enough to be a writer for His Kingdom. Scared because, well, I am always scared.

I have lived my life this way for as long as I can remember and as I woke up to this deadline this morning I was scared that I let my fear ruin my chances at writing for my very first blog, ruining my chance at getting published for the very first time. Ironic? I think so. Pathetic? Maybe. Not how God wants me to act? Most definitely.

As I panicked, I ran to Instagram to lose myself in pointless procrastination when I came across a verse,

‘God said “My presence will go with you. Ill see the journey to the end.” -Exodus 33:14

…and this is where is hit me. God is with me! I know you’re probably like “Well, duh Alli!” but, hear me out.

Our Prince of Peace, our Savior, our Alpha, Omega, Jehovah Shammah, our Father, is with me. And He knew I had this journey. He knew I would get scared and let my poor self-esteem hinder me. He planned for that verse to pop up on my feed because He promised to see this journey through to the end.

As I meditated on this word and how it affects my thoughts, I thought about the horror that is surrounding our nation and how this verse can relate to that. Racism. Murder. Hate. I pray daily for a revival in this country but I find peace today knowing that God is there! God is there in Dallas and DC. He is there during every protest and shooting. Every act of terror, our Lord is there. He knew this would happen and He predestined our days. As new places and horrors pop up on the news, I pray that God uses these situations, these people, and these events to put His Holy Name on high! He promised and He will see this journey our nation and our world is going through to the very end.

Our God gave me the kick in the pants I needed today, and while this small, soon to be, Instagram post isn’t my best work, it’s real. It’s in the moment, real, authentic, and my personal, actual thoughts. This is what God wants me to write to the Kingdom today and how He wants to prove His grace and glory through me. This is what He lays on my heart to pray over and I will not allow my fears to keep God’s words from echoing out to others, especially at a time when the world needs more truth and more Jesus.

We get scared.

As a sufferer of anxiety, I get scared a lot. But, we can all relate to this. We get scared and mad and let our minds get the best of us daily. When this happens, however, we just need to remind ourselves that our God is with us. He promised to see our journeys through to the end and with that, He will lay the stones for us to take our steps in His direction. I cannot be more thankful for a God that constantly lays stones of peace and patience in my life and constant seeks to life me up even when I give up on myself.

When I Stopped Growing Spiritually for My Future Husband

For as long as I can remember, I was told to pray for my future husband. “Sarah, pray for him. Pray for his purity. Pray his health. Pray.”

Recently, I’ve found some old journals with prayers for my future husband. I’m sure some of you have journals like that. “My love…where are you? What are you doing currently? Remember that I’m waiting for you.” I feel silly thinking about my little love letters. I’m a romantic at heart and words are my love language, but these letters were a little interesting and somewhat embarrassing. As much as I want to burn them, I just can’t. They are humorous, but sweet.

My prayers soon developed into making sure that I was becoming a woman worth marrying. It was my focus. I thought, “If I serve in church, my future husband would be impressed and more attracted to me.” Or, “If he saw my prayer journal, he would know that I was a Proverbs 31 woman.” I wanted to be everything for a man, even at a young age, that I started using God to make myself look better.

I was serving God to impress a man.

I was using God like men use puppies to gather a group of girls together.

I was growing spiritually for a man and not for the benefit of  enhancing my own relationship with Him.

My Facebook posts were little plugs to get men. Who needs Christian Mingle when you can post a Jesus centered status?! Yeah, that’s what I thought. 

No wonder I never felt content in my relationship with God – it was all for show. I could feel Him press into my heart and say, “You don’t know Me intimately. You aren’t wanting to know Me. You are using Me to grow for a man, for a future husband, for a future life. But what about now?”

I hope I’m not the only one who does this. I’ve heard from a choir of girls that say they are preparing themselves for marriage. Now before you click out of this, stay with me on this thought.

When we spend time with Jesus and grow with Him, it should be because we love Him and want to be near Him. In doing so, our relationships, our friendships, our work atmospheres will change. It’s just what happens when we want to be with Jesus. The Lord has been slamming me with this thought:

If you want to live like your Father, get to know your Father.

The by-product of spending time with Jesus is a life of hope, peace, and joy. In Him, I find true contentment, my identity, my life.

I know that God doesn’t want me to using Him like a puppy. God wants me to serve Him, love Him, & grow with Him because it’s important for me. I can already tell that if my intention to grow spiritually is solely for a marriage, I will miss out on many things that the Lord wants to do and show – I will highly be disappointed.

Keep praying for your future husband and even your current husband, but remember that your relationship with Jesus is for your benefit foremost. Your relationships will look and feel better when you’ve made your relationship with Jesus your priority.

Big Talk. Real Talk. Get down with your real self!

How many of us can say that we are always our true selves?

How many of us can honestly say that we don’t ever wear a mask…we put up a front and act like we have everything under control?

I can honestly say that for many years I felt like I could never let anyone know that I was not okay, that I did not have everything under “control” or even that I needed help or prayer.

A couple of days ago I went out to dinner with a couple of friends and as we were getting ready to eat one of the guys said, “I am going to challenge you guys to continue the rest of the night with big talk, instead of surface level or what you call small talk, let’s be real with each other”.

WOW! I can tell you that changed the whole atmosphere right then and there! I knew that God was challenging me to “get down with my real self” and not only let people in my world but also allow opportunities to really be interested in others lives as well. No more surface level conversations, be completely honest, open and really be interested in listening, encouraging and even praying right then  and there for people around us. When I say people, I don’t just mean close friends and family, I also mean people at the grocery store, your server at a restaurant, your customers, your sisters/brothers friends and the list goes on and on.

One of my daily prayers is:

“Lord, help me be more like You! Let me be Your hands, feet, mouth and let those around me see Your love, compassion, grace, kindness.”

But what good does that do if I don’t ever seek those opportunities to love people and really be generous with my words and time?

For most people when you ask them, “How is your day?” they will answer, “It’s good” when really sometimes it is not good. I found that a lot of people get thrown off and often times tend to try to veer away when someones response is other than, “It’s good”. I believe those are the opportunities we have to really provide a listening ear, encouragement, or even an opportunity to pray right then and there for someone and really show the love of God.

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another in the same way I love you. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples – when they see the LOVE you have for each other.” – John 13:35:36

I challenged myself and now challenge you, to begin to have “big talk” with people and when someone says ” I am good”,  be bold and ask the follow-up question, “Are you really good?” I can assure you that 99 % of the time that follow-up question will lead you to a deeper conversation. I know that has changed relationships all around me and even provided opportunities to build relationships and truly begin to exercise characteristics of Christ. Get uncomfortable, inconvenienced, be generous with your time and words, let people know we are imperfect people serving a perfect God. All God requires of us is availability and obedience, God will do the rest!

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