Khristine Joy V.

Today, Khristine speaks to us about her encounter with Christ at a young age, her social media tribe, God being on the throne of our hearts, and how she gets purple hands.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.” Exodus 13:17-20

When God led His people into a long journey into the wilderness to prepare them for the promise land, instead of taking the shorter route.

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: To study God’s Word more, and always set a time for Him.

Profession: Interior Designer / Design studio specialist for Pottery Barn.

A one sentence bio of yourself: I am a daughter of the King, I once was lost, but He never stopped, until He found me and brought me back home.

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? It was during one summer of Vacation Bible School that I encountered Him. I think I was 11 when everything was made really clear to me that in order to be saved, all I ever needed was Jesus.

“[E]verything was made really clear to me that in order to be saved, all I ever needed was Jesus.”

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? My mom, mainly, has helped me grow spiritually in this season and also some amazing people I’ve met on Instagram, who have a passion for Jesus. They say social media is a distraction and would keep you away from God, but in my case, God used Instagram to bring me closer to Him, more than I expected. God has led me towards people who encourage, inspire and have prayed over me, when life gets the best of me. Few of them are @wifeinthewaiting, @biblebite, @smilewithoutreasonblog, @smileshowyourteeth, @its.daniellenicole, @taiteatime and @thefabkara.

“God used Instagram to bring me closer to Him, more than I expected.”

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): Currently reading Dare to Ask by Simcha Natan. It continues to teach me how God should be the only one seated in the throne room of our hearts; nothing should take His place. Our desires should never take His place, He alone can and will satisfy our hearts, nothing else will.

“Our desires should never take His place, He alone can and will satisfy our hearts, nothing else will.”

Top three essentials: Phone, Bible and minty dark chocolate.

How did God speak to you recently? While reading a book, a page really spoke to my heart. What I’ve read went right through me, and it hurt a bit, but it’s also comforting and freeing, as well.

“There is space only for You

On the throne of my heart.

I long and yearn to sit at Your feet.

Just to be with You,

Just to stand in Your presence,

Just to see You in Your glory,

Just to hear Your voice

This is all my soul desires.”

[An excerpt from Dare to Ask by Simcha Natan]

Hobby: Painting, reading and baking brownies.

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong:

• Always make time to pray and read His Word;
• Write down what you understood from a passage or devotional you’ve read;
• Always have a Bible with you, even if it’s just the YouVersion app. It’s your lifeline, when life gets you.

Favorite person in scripture? Job, because no matter how horrible his circumstances were, he stayed anchored in his faith and never once turned his back on God.

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? I want people to know and learn in their hearts that with God all things are possible. With God, we are never alone. With Him, we don’t have to fear anything– even death; we only need to be still and surrender every worry and fear into His loving hands in exchange for peace and joy that can only come from Him.

How do you leave your mark on your community? I try to give as much love as I can to the people God has placed in my life. I try to choose to be kind, as much as I can, even when I’m faced with difficulties, because a kind answer always and almost immediately calms an angry heart. Being rude to someone never fixed anything; it actually makes a simple thing difficult.

“Because a kind answer always and almost immediately calms an angry heart.”

Favorite holiday? Christmas, It’s one of my fondest memories with my Grandma where we are all in one place, together as a one big family, enjoying my favorite holiday with my favorite people. I miss it a lot, because we haven’t done it again since my Grandma passed.

A dream you have? One of my dreams is to have both my parents with me in a place where all three of us can serve the Lord and have a art studio of my own.

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: The day before Christmas is spent cooking my Grandma’s Purple Yam Halaya, wherein everyone has a designated part in cooking it. I’m in charge of peeling and grating it, which always leaves me with purple hands.

“I’m in charge of peeling and grating it, which always leaves me with purple hands.”

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? Do cats and dogs go to heaven, too? Will they recognize us if we meet again in heaven?

Thing you want to raise awareness about: Depression is real, but so is our God, and we don’t have to face it alone. Jesus is always with us. We are never alone. We can tell Him everything, and He knows us through and through, and loves us, still. He understands what we are going through, and He is the only one who can help us through depression.

What do you usually do before 9 a.m.? When I wake up, which is usually by 6 a.m. or 5:30, I pray, then read a devotional on YouVersion app, then head off for a morning walk, for an hour. After walking, I prepare my breakfast, then read the Bible, at least three chapters from Old Testament and three from New Testament.

What is on your nightstand? ESV Journaling Bible, CS Lewis Signature Classics book, and pens and brushes.

Define Christianity in a sentence: Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with Jesus who is our Savior and Redeemer who died to save us and conquered death by rising up again, and we will all rise up, and be together with Him, finally, on that one glorious day.

 

For more Khristine:

 IG: @kristin.yvi

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XOXO