An Interview with Kat Lee {A Crazy Obedience Post}
This week for the Crazy Obedience series, I get to share a few real life stories from real life people who are living real lives of Crazy Obedience.
A few weeks back I attempted to calm some stomach-in-my-throat nerves, took a big gulp, and emailed Kat Lee. God so put her on my heart as someone I wanted to interview and ask about her life and what Crazy Obedience means to her. She emailed me back in less than 15 minutes.
I met Kat Lee at the Allume conference. I had no idea who she was until some of my fellow small bloggers used very hushed tones to inform me who that blogger was that I kept running into, "That's Kat Lee of Hello Mornings and InspiredToAction!" I replied with a very cool, "Oh," as though I knew exactly what all that was (I didn't).
I ended up taking her break out session at Allume, "How to Change the World during Naptime." I was inspired by her passion for Jesus and for empowering women to change their corner of the planet. I will never forget sitting in the break-out when someone asked her about earning an income blogging or with e-books. Kat Lee responded with a very meek, "I do it all for free. I do it because I love it and I believe in it and it's what God is asking me to do." This woman is the real deal! (And by the way, you can check out her FREE ebooks at her blog, InspiredToAction. They might just change you and your mornings ;)
..................................
1. Would you tell us a little bit about your family?
My husband Jimmy and I have been married for almost 14 years. Wow. I don't quite feel old enough for that to be true but it is. He is amazing. Strong, steady, wise - just what a man should be. I'm so thankful for him.
We have three kids. Two girls and a boy. We joke that he has three mothers.
My oldest girl is 10 and she is passionate. That is an immense challenge and profound blessing all wrapped up into one. I feel as though I've been given a superhero to raise and sometimes I'm not quite sure I'm doing her justice. But God is good and gracious, and I trust he will fill in all my gaps and use her incredible gifts for His glory. I love the deep conversations we are able to have about life and faith.
My youngest daughter is 8 and I think she is more responsible than I am. She is sweet and steady like her father. Her hugs are like Kryptonite against my ability to get her to bed on time. She is snuggly and adorable - with an inner strength that is not to be messed with.
My little boy is 5 and he is a handful of awesomeness. He has every female in our home wrapped around his little finger. He wants to be a doctor so that he can fund is race car driving career.
2. If, say, your parents took the kids for an hour, your husband was away working, and you had no obligations… how would you spend that hour of time?
If I was home alone…I'd play my favorite songs really loudly and play along on my guitar. Since my husband works from home, I'm rarely ever anywhere by myself. Not that I'm complaining. I LOVE that he is at home with us, but those rare occasions when I can turn music up loudly and be entirely by myself - those are quite the treat.
3. What is the one “mom-job” you totally stink at or strongly dislike?
Cleaning. Particularly maintenance cleaning. If I'm going to clean, I'd rather clean up a disaster area that gives me a before and after transformation feeling of satisfaction. It's hard for me to clean…just to keep it clean. Weird, I know.
4. What are your top 2 biggest fears?
Heights and throwing up. Consequently, I don't do carnival rides.
5. Why do you do what you do online?
I love, love, love to encourage people. I love the idea of God using my simple words to ignite something in peoples' hearts that fuels change in their lives and their homes.
6. Would you be willing to give us a glimpse into your walk with God? How does He speak to you? How do you “stay fresh?”
Honestly, I feel I hear Him best when I'm running or doing dishes. I can be a "Doer" - an energizer bunny that just keeps going and thinking. But when I'm running or doing dishes, my brain is quiet enough to listen.
I also love music and connect with God in the midst of worship.
I think the key for me, is just to take time to be still and listen for Him. He is always speaking.
7. I would love to hear you define Crazy Obedience in your own words. What does it mean to you?
I think Crazy Obedience is doing something that doesn't make sense apart from God. It's doing something that can only be seen clearly through a lens of faith.
8. Can you think of a time when God asked you to do something that didn’t make sense to you?? Would you share what He asked of you? How did it turn out?
Actually, starting InspiredToAction was a step of crazy obedience for me. I knew God wanted me to focus the site on motherhood - helping and encouraging moms. But I never even knew my mom, and there are few things I know less about than motherhood. I had no idea what I was doing. But God knew I was passionate about it, and He has used it powerfully.
He used the blog to orchestrate my spot a Compassion bloggers trip to the Philippines so that I could meet my mother's family for the first time.
I love how He took my place of weakness and fear and used it as a story of His redeeming grace and goodness.
9. I know you are a stay at home mom, as am I and many of my readers. We have talked about how crazy obedience can also be found in being intentional in each opportunity. Sometimes as a mom, it feels like our opportunities are few. How do you share Jesus and make disciples with kiddos and school and sports and dinner and cleaning and everything else a mom does in her day?? Is there anything you do (or don’t do) that you are very intentional about?
I'm in a season right now where I am very intentional about relationships. I want my children to see my relationship with God as I read the Word each morning. I want to bring them alongside and show them what walking with God throughout the day looks like (as best I can).
I also want to make sure that I always surround myself with a Paul, Barnabas and Timothy - people I'm learning from, walking with and investing in.
All the knowledge and books will never replace the value of one on one investment. By focusing on my daily connection with God, my kids and others I'm weaving accountability and mentoring into my day to day life. It's not always simple and it often requires me to step outside of my comfort zone, but the return on this simple investment has been profound.
It's not exactly wild, bold, move-across-the-world crazy obedience but I believe it's what God has called me to in this season of life. I want to intentional show my children how to lay the foundation to hear God and cultivate relationships that push us closer to Him.
.......................................
I loved how Kat defined Crazy Obedience. I also loved the story she shares in #8. Did you catch that? Talk about God using something that didn't make sense at the time and turning it around for His Glory and as a means of blessing!
What stood out to you as you read the interview??
By the way, um... if you haven't checked out HelloMornings or InspiredToAction... Do.That.Now. :)
By Grace,
Amanda Conquers
To read all the posts in the series, click the graphic.
A few weeks back I attempted to calm some stomach-in-my-throat nerves, took a big gulp, and emailed Kat Lee. God so put her on my heart as someone I wanted to interview and ask about her life and what Crazy Obedience means to her. She emailed me back in less than 15 minutes.
I met Kat Lee at the Allume conference. I had no idea who she was until some of my fellow small bloggers used very hushed tones to inform me who that blogger was that I kept running into, "That's Kat Lee of Hello Mornings and InspiredToAction!" I replied with a very cool, "Oh," as though I knew exactly what all that was (I didn't).
I ended up taking her break out session at Allume, "How to Change the World during Naptime." I was inspired by her passion for Jesus and for empowering women to change their corner of the planet. I will never forget sitting in the break-out when someone asked her about earning an income blogging or with e-books. Kat Lee responded with a very meek, "I do it all for free. I do it because I love it and I believe in it and it's what God is asking me to do." This woman is the real deal! (And by the way, you can check out her FREE ebooks at her blog, InspiredToAction. They might just change you and your mornings ;)
..................................
1. Would you tell us a little bit about your family?
My husband Jimmy and I have been married for almost 14 years. Wow. I don't quite feel old enough for that to be true but it is. He is amazing. Strong, steady, wise - just what a man should be. I'm so thankful for him.
We have three kids. Two girls and a boy. We joke that he has three mothers.
My oldest girl is 10 and she is passionate. That is an immense challenge and profound blessing all wrapped up into one. I feel as though I've been given a superhero to raise and sometimes I'm not quite sure I'm doing her justice. But God is good and gracious, and I trust he will fill in all my gaps and use her incredible gifts for His glory. I love the deep conversations we are able to have about life and faith.
My youngest daughter is 8 and I think she is more responsible than I am. She is sweet and steady like her father. Her hugs are like Kryptonite against my ability to get her to bed on time. She is snuggly and adorable - with an inner strength that is not to be messed with.
My little boy is 5 and he is a handful of awesomeness. He has every female in our home wrapped around his little finger. He wants to be a doctor so that he can fund is race car driving career.
2. If, say, your parents took the kids for an hour, your husband was away working, and you had no obligations… how would you spend that hour of time?
If I was home alone…I'd play my favorite songs really loudly and play along on my guitar. Since my husband works from home, I'm rarely ever anywhere by myself. Not that I'm complaining. I LOVE that he is at home with us, but those rare occasions when I can turn music up loudly and be entirely by myself - those are quite the treat.
3. What is the one “mom-job” you totally stink at or strongly dislike?
Cleaning. Particularly maintenance cleaning. If I'm going to clean, I'd rather clean up a disaster area that gives me a before and after transformation feeling of satisfaction. It's hard for me to clean…just to keep it clean. Weird, I know.
4. What are your top 2 biggest fears?
Heights and throwing up. Consequently, I don't do carnival rides.
5. Why do you do what you do online?
I love, love, love to encourage people. I love the idea of God using my simple words to ignite something in peoples' hearts that fuels change in their lives and their homes.
6. Would you be willing to give us a glimpse into your walk with God? How does He speak to you? How do you “stay fresh?”
Honestly, I feel I hear Him best when I'm running or doing dishes. I can be a "Doer" - an energizer bunny that just keeps going and thinking. But when I'm running or doing dishes, my brain is quiet enough to listen.
I also love music and connect with God in the midst of worship.
I think the key for me, is just to take time to be still and listen for Him. He is always speaking.
7. I would love to hear you define Crazy Obedience in your own words. What does it mean to you?
I think Crazy Obedience is doing something that doesn't make sense apart from God. It's doing something that can only be seen clearly through a lens of faith.
8. Can you think of a time when God asked you to do something that didn’t make sense to you?? Would you share what He asked of you? How did it turn out?
Actually, starting InspiredToAction was a step of crazy obedience for me. I knew God wanted me to focus the site on motherhood - helping and encouraging moms. But I never even knew my mom, and there are few things I know less about than motherhood. I had no idea what I was doing. But God knew I was passionate about it, and He has used it powerfully.
He used the blog to orchestrate my spot a Compassion bloggers trip to the Philippines so that I could meet my mother's family for the first time.
I love how He took my place of weakness and fear and used it as a story of His redeeming grace and goodness.
9. I know you are a stay at home mom, as am I and many of my readers. We have talked about how crazy obedience can also be found in being intentional in each opportunity. Sometimes as a mom, it feels like our opportunities are few. How do you share Jesus and make disciples with kiddos and school and sports and dinner and cleaning and everything else a mom does in her day?? Is there anything you do (or don’t do) that you are very intentional about?
I'm in a season right now where I am very intentional about relationships. I want my children to see my relationship with God as I read the Word each morning. I want to bring them alongside and show them what walking with God throughout the day looks like (as best I can).
I also want to make sure that I always surround myself with a Paul, Barnabas and Timothy - people I'm learning from, walking with and investing in.
All the knowledge and books will never replace the value of one on one investment. By focusing on my daily connection with God, my kids and others I'm weaving accountability and mentoring into my day to day life. It's not always simple and it often requires me to step outside of my comfort zone, but the return on this simple investment has been profound.
It's not exactly wild, bold, move-across-the-world crazy obedience but I believe it's what God has called me to in this season of life. I want to intentional show my children how to lay the foundation to hear God and cultivate relationships that push us closer to Him.
.......................................
I loved how Kat defined Crazy Obedience. I also loved the story she shares in #8. Did you catch that? Talk about God using something that didn't make sense at the time and turning it around for His Glory and as a means of blessing!
What stood out to you as you read the interview??
By the way, um... if you haven't checked out HelloMornings or InspiredToAction... Do.That.Now. :)
By Grace,
Amanda Conquers
To read all the posts in the series, click the graphic.