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Connecting with Christ
The experiences in our lives aren’t meant to defeat us, to break us down, or to make us question our worth. They are opportunities to draw closer to our Father in Heaven and our Savior, Jesus Christ. In Connecting with Christ, beloved artist Kate Lee shares the experiences that have helped her come to Christ and learn to trust Him and the healing only He can give. When we allow Christ to carry our loads, we can begin to see the light He is offering us, the hope He is giving to us, and the love He feels for us. In thoughtful prose paired with her beautiful full-color paintings, Kate invites us to ponder scriptures, explore questions, and record our impressions on the journal pages.
58 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2023
8 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 17, 2023
I was lucky enough to have access to this book before it’s release date. I met Kate about a year ago after feeling an intense connection to her art. She shared some wonderful insights with me about ways to keep fighting through my trials through Christ. This book also shares some of those insights alongside other personal truths she’s learned throughout her life and art. It’s an easy read, very accessible, and is such a wonderful source of strength and peace. Thank you Kate for sharing these parts of you❤️
March 29, 2024
I liked this book. I loved the paintings before each chapter. It helped me to think about things in a new way.
May 12, 2024
This is a sweet little book of testimony by the artist, Kate Lee. She shares her experiences of coming to know and understand the Savior and His love for her and the importance of each of us individually feeling that love and feeling connected to Him. Her artwork is an expression of that faith and invitation. Here are some quotes I liked:
"Although I loved learning about the Savior, I struggled to believe that His love and Atonement included me (p. 1)."
"'Kate, is there anything else you need to talk about?' The word need stopped me in my tracks. I didn't want to talk about anything, but I needed to talk about everything. I couldn't stop the tears from pouring down my cheeks as I expressed every negative thought or feeling I had about myself... We sat in his office and talked. He testified to me of Christ's personal love for me. He told me that Jesus knew me and was waiting for me to reach out to Him so He could heal me (p. 2)."
"Talking with my stake president and allowing all of my pain to be heard helped me to open my heart to my Savior and to finally make room for Him and His Atonement in my life. I left that office lighter, feeling new hope. I was looking forward to building a better, deeper, and more personal relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (p. 3)."
"I sat in my studio with a blank piece of watercolor paper in front of me, wanting to paint something that represented the connection we share with our Savior--something that would show how committed Christ is to us personally (p. 5)."
"Connecting with our Savior means being vulnerable. It means learning to trust His personal and perfect love for us (p. 5)."
"One day I asked her how she knew the Savior so well and how she stayed so close to Him. She said,' It's a daily effort, but I know that He loves me perfectly.' I didn't understand her words then. I wish I had. I went on watching her in amazement, wishing I could have a connection with the Lord the way she did, all the while telling myself that I wasn't worthy of a connection like hers (p. 7)."
"I didn't know the savior the way she did because I hadn't learned to trust in the Savior the way she had (p. 9)."
"Jesus Christ loves you. He wants you to know Him. Through Him, we find our courage, strength, hope, peace, rest, understanding, purpose, and direction. You are His. Do all you can to stay connected with Him (p. 10)."
"I took a deep breath, got up, and walked forward, trusting God's plan for me (p. 16)."
"It didn't matter how much or how little I knew; it only mattered that I put my trust in God and walked forward in faith. I came home happier, with more confidence and a better understanding of who I was. I have tried hard to hold on to the experiences from my mission and to remember that I am enough and that with my Heavenly Father and Savior's help, I can become more like Them (p. 16)."
"The adversary works hard to convince us that we are worthless (p. 17)."
"When we turn to our Heavenly Father and offer all of who we are, it is not just a one-way road. Heavenly' Father is always there listening to us and watching over us. He is constantly giving us strength so we can know for ourselves that we are enough. Through Him and our Savior, we can reach our fullest potential (p. 19)."
"'Only the Master knows the depths of our trials, our pain, and our suffering. He alone offers us eternal peace in times of adversity. He alone touches our tortured souls' (Thomas S. Monson). I was thirty-five years old before I understood what it truly meant to reach out and up to the Savior (p. 23)."
"I had to open my heart more to the Savior... I began to give it to Him, little by little (p. 25)."
"'Don't you realize who you are? Haven't you learned yet that you are a son or daughter of Almighty God?' (Boyd K. Packer) Up to that point in my life, I hadn't realized that, but Heavenly Father did, and He was about to teach me (p. 30)."
"Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are aware of you. When you feel lost, beaten, unworthy, forgotten, or unseen, They are there sitting with you (p. 31)."
"As you pray, listen to what the Spirit will teach you (p. 32)."
"As I drew out and painted this picture, the Spirit testified to me more than once that Christ loves my sweet friend and that He also feels that same love for me and for each of us (p. 37)."
"Painting 'Peace in Christ' helped to solidify my testimony even more that the Savior lived and died for each of us so we could overcome all things. It helped me better understand the willingness of Christ to lift and carry us through the experiences we face in this life. It taught me that He is there even and especially when we feel unseen (p. 38)."
"Peace can be found when we turn to the Savior (p. 39)."
"Jesus Christ came. He taught them. He gave them hope and comfort. He healed them one by one. He stayed with them and prayed for them. The impact of His presence was so powerful that when He said it was time for Him to go, the people wept, so Christ stayed a little longer because He loved them (p. 46)."
"If I wanted to conquer Satan and find strength, my prayers needed to be more earnest, so I prayed and asked God to help me learn how I could pray and what it means to pray always. With inspiration from the Lord, I decided that I was going to start praying for my friends at school. I prayed that they would have a good day and that they would feel loved. I prayed for them when they had tests or a big event happening, or when I felt like they needed support (p. 54)."
"Prayer gave me strength to push past the fears I carried as a missionary and conquer Satan (p. 55)."
"Prayer, whether it's on our knees, in our hearts, or in keeping our focus on God, changes our perspective. It shuts down Satan's efforts. It gives us charity (p. 56)."
"Your light is needed... You bring hope, strength, and comfort into others' lives. It is through us that God's plan of happiness comes to life. Think about it. God gave us mouths so we could smile and speak kind and uplifting wors. He gave us arms and hands so we could hug each other and wipe away tears. He gave us ears so we could hear, listen, and understand one another. He gave us emotion so we could love and reach out to our brothers and sisters (p. 61)."
"My sweet friend went out of her way to search for, find, and bring me a rose in my favorite color all because I was on her mind that day. This experience might sound simple, but her effort to bring me that rose lifted my heart and brought light into my day--and continues to still (p. 63)."
"We can have confidence in our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is inviting us to come to Him and receive the blessings of His Atonement. He has overcome the world. He has delivered us because He loves us (p. 69)."
"Every experience we have can lead us to Christ... Our experiences aren't punishments but opportunities to improve who we are and turn to Christ, a time to sit with God our Father and draw strength from Him through the Savior (p. 75)."
"Heavenly Father cares about what we care about. He is interested in our lives, and even though He isn't with us physically, He sends His love and support to us, whether that is through our friends and family or our feelings. God wants us to know that He is there and that He loves us (p. 77)."
"We are loved... It doesn't matter what we have done or what we are currently doing: we are loved. Remembering this truth will help us to continue forward on our path to Christ (p. 78)."
"Above all, I wanted them to feel the love the Savior has for them individually. I love the way His hand is stretched out, welcoming us to Him. I love the tender way He is looking over us, letting us know that we are His focus. I love the soft colors that surround Him; I feel they testify of His gentleness. I hope when you look at this painting, it helps you feel closer to your Savior. I hope the Spirit testifies to you that He is aware of you personally and that He is inviting you to come unto Him and find rest (p. 80)."
"I know as you come unto Christ and give your life to Him you will find the strength you need to continue to walk forward. I know the answers you seek through prayer will come. I know the hope and healing you need will be extended toward you, and I know as you reach for Jesus Christ, you will feel His perfect love for you (p. 81)."
"Although I loved learning about the Savior, I struggled to believe that His love and Atonement included me (p. 1)."
"'Kate, is there anything else you need to talk about?' The word need stopped me in my tracks. I didn't want to talk about anything, but I needed to talk about everything. I couldn't stop the tears from pouring down my cheeks as I expressed every negative thought or feeling I had about myself... We sat in his office and talked. He testified to me of Christ's personal love for me. He told me that Jesus knew me and was waiting for me to reach out to Him so He could heal me (p. 2)."
"Talking with my stake president and allowing all of my pain to be heard helped me to open my heart to my Savior and to finally make room for Him and His Atonement in my life. I left that office lighter, feeling new hope. I was looking forward to building a better, deeper, and more personal relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (p. 3)."
"I sat in my studio with a blank piece of watercolor paper in front of me, wanting to paint something that represented the connection we share with our Savior--something that would show how committed Christ is to us personally (p. 5)."
"Connecting with our Savior means being vulnerable. It means learning to trust His personal and perfect love for us (p. 5)."
"One day I asked her how she knew the Savior so well and how she stayed so close to Him. She said,' It's a daily effort, but I know that He loves me perfectly.' I didn't understand her words then. I wish I had. I went on watching her in amazement, wishing I could have a connection with the Lord the way she did, all the while telling myself that I wasn't worthy of a connection like hers (p. 7)."
"I didn't know the savior the way she did because I hadn't learned to trust in the Savior the way she had (p. 9)."
"Jesus Christ loves you. He wants you to know Him. Through Him, we find our courage, strength, hope, peace, rest, understanding, purpose, and direction. You are His. Do all you can to stay connected with Him (p. 10)."
"I took a deep breath, got up, and walked forward, trusting God's plan for me (p. 16)."
"It didn't matter how much or how little I knew; it only mattered that I put my trust in God and walked forward in faith. I came home happier, with more confidence and a better understanding of who I was. I have tried hard to hold on to the experiences from my mission and to remember that I am enough and that with my Heavenly Father and Savior's help, I can become more like Them (p. 16)."
"The adversary works hard to convince us that we are worthless (p. 17)."
"When we turn to our Heavenly Father and offer all of who we are, it is not just a one-way road. Heavenly' Father is always there listening to us and watching over us. He is constantly giving us strength so we can know for ourselves that we are enough. Through Him and our Savior, we can reach our fullest potential (p. 19)."
"'Only the Master knows the depths of our trials, our pain, and our suffering. He alone offers us eternal peace in times of adversity. He alone touches our tortured souls' (Thomas S. Monson). I was thirty-five years old before I understood what it truly meant to reach out and up to the Savior (p. 23)."
"I had to open my heart more to the Savior... I began to give it to Him, little by little (p. 25)."
"'Don't you realize who you are? Haven't you learned yet that you are a son or daughter of Almighty God?' (Boyd K. Packer) Up to that point in my life, I hadn't realized that, but Heavenly Father did, and He was about to teach me (p. 30)."
"Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are aware of you. When you feel lost, beaten, unworthy, forgotten, or unseen, They are there sitting with you (p. 31)."
"As you pray, listen to what the Spirit will teach you (p. 32)."
"As I drew out and painted this picture, the Spirit testified to me more than once that Christ loves my sweet friend and that He also feels that same love for me and for each of us (p. 37)."
"Painting 'Peace in Christ' helped to solidify my testimony even more that the Savior lived and died for each of us so we could overcome all things. It helped me better understand the willingness of Christ to lift and carry us through the experiences we face in this life. It taught me that He is there even and especially when we feel unseen (p. 38)."
"Peace can be found when we turn to the Savior (p. 39)."
"Jesus Christ came. He taught them. He gave them hope and comfort. He healed them one by one. He stayed with them and prayed for them. The impact of His presence was so powerful that when He said it was time for Him to go, the people wept, so Christ stayed a little longer because He loved them (p. 46)."
"If I wanted to conquer Satan and find strength, my prayers needed to be more earnest, so I prayed and asked God to help me learn how I could pray and what it means to pray always. With inspiration from the Lord, I decided that I was going to start praying for my friends at school. I prayed that they would have a good day and that they would feel loved. I prayed for them when they had tests or a big event happening, or when I felt like they needed support (p. 54)."
"Prayer gave me strength to push past the fears I carried as a missionary and conquer Satan (p. 55)."
"Prayer, whether it's on our knees, in our hearts, or in keeping our focus on God, changes our perspective. It shuts down Satan's efforts. It gives us charity (p. 56)."
"Your light is needed... You bring hope, strength, and comfort into others' lives. It is through us that God's plan of happiness comes to life. Think about it. God gave us mouths so we could smile and speak kind and uplifting wors. He gave us arms and hands so we could hug each other and wipe away tears. He gave us ears so we could hear, listen, and understand one another. He gave us emotion so we could love and reach out to our brothers and sisters (p. 61)."
"My sweet friend went out of her way to search for, find, and bring me a rose in my favorite color all because I was on her mind that day. This experience might sound simple, but her effort to bring me that rose lifted my heart and brought light into my day--and continues to still (p. 63)."
"We can have confidence in our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is inviting us to come to Him and receive the blessings of His Atonement. He has overcome the world. He has delivered us because He loves us (p. 69)."
"Every experience we have can lead us to Christ... Our experiences aren't punishments but opportunities to improve who we are and turn to Christ, a time to sit with God our Father and draw strength from Him through the Savior (p. 75)."
"Heavenly Father cares about what we care about. He is interested in our lives, and even though He isn't with us physically, He sends His love and support to us, whether that is through our friends and family or our feelings. God wants us to know that He is there and that He loves us (p. 77)."
"We are loved... It doesn't matter what we have done or what we are currently doing: we are loved. Remembering this truth will help us to continue forward on our path to Christ (p. 78)."
"Above all, I wanted them to feel the love the Savior has for them individually. I love the way His hand is stretched out, welcoming us to Him. I love the tender way He is looking over us, letting us know that we are His focus. I love the soft colors that surround Him; I feel they testify of His gentleness. I hope when you look at this painting, it helps you feel closer to your Savior. I hope the Spirit testifies to you that He is aware of you personally and that He is inviting you to come unto Him and find rest (p. 80)."
"I know as you come unto Christ and give your life to Him you will find the strength you need to continue to walk forward. I know the answers you seek through prayer will come. I know the hope and healing you need will be extended toward you, and I know as you reach for Jesus Christ, you will feel His perfect love for you (p. 81)."
June 21, 2023
Her art with snippets about the piece, why she painted it, what she likes about it, and stories that go with it.
There are some great quotes in it that I wanted to get down somewhere to reference again at some point.
President Boyd K Packer, “ Don’t you realize who you are? Haven’t you learned yet that you are a son or daughter of Almighty God?
President DieterF Uchtdorf, “ Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, he loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely.”
President Thomas S Monson, “God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.”
President Boyd K Packer, “There is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no offense exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. Restoring what you cannot restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke and you cannot fix this very purpose of the Atonement of Christ.”
Elder Jeffrey R Holland, “ However late you think you are, however many chances you think you’ve missed, however many mistakes you think you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink, lower than the infinite light of Christ atonement shines.”
There are some great quotes in it that I wanted to get down somewhere to reference again at some point.
President Boyd K Packer, “ Don’t you realize who you are? Haven’t you learned yet that you are a son or daughter of Almighty God?
President DieterF Uchtdorf, “ Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, he loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely.”
President Thomas S Monson, “God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.”
President Boyd K Packer, “There is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no offense exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. Restoring what you cannot restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke and you cannot fix this very purpose of the Atonement of Christ.”
Elder Jeffrey R Holland, “ However late you think you are, however many chances you think you’ve missed, however many mistakes you think you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink, lower than the infinite light of Christ atonement shines.”
April 29, 2024
Very sweet testimony and stories shared, and beautiful artwork. Felt the Spirit while reading it. I love the thought that we don’t always think of feeling unworthy of Christ’s sacrifice as our not trusting Him, but trusting Him means that we can believe that His sacrifice is real and for us.
This would also be a great gift to someone if they were interested in genuinely taking the time to consider the journal prompts (I personally got it through the library!)
In summary, it really is a wonderful book all about how to connect with Christ! (Also with touching accounts of how to overcome low self-esteem and find solace even in depression.)
“We were sent here on purpose, with purpose.”
This would also be a great gift to someone if they were interested in genuinely taking the time to consider the journal prompts (I personally got it through the library!)
In summary, it really is a wonderful book all about how to connect with Christ! (Also with touching accounts of how to overcome low self-esteem and find solace even in depression.)
“We were sent here on purpose, with purpose.”
January 17, 2024
This was an interesting look into the artist’s paintings. It made some take on greater understanding. Her beginning words though took away from some of her other words and I didn’t feel the connection there.
April 5, 2024
This is a quick read that feels like an extra long hug from our Savior. Beautifully written with powerful insights that could be read again and again. Also makes me want to see some of her paintings bigger
June 22, 2025
It was fun learning about this artist. I could relate to her insecurities and the way her relationship with Christ has transformed her over time. I loved hearing what experiences inspired different pieces of her work.
July 2, 2023
Learn more about the artist Kate Lee and about some of her beautiful paintings in this book that includes space for introspective journaling.
July 24, 2023
Such a sweet and uplifting book containing stories of love and learning combined with the author's beautiful artwork.
September 16, 2023
So, so,so good!
October 26, 2023
Some pretty basic principles but it really hit home for me. I enjoyed how I felt reading this book and the principle of grace. Beautiful stuff
March 11, 2024
Libby. Beautiful Art Work. Wonderful commentary.
March 24, 2024
This book is beautifully written and inspirational. Kate Lee shares her beautiful artwork and tells the inspiration behind each piece.
June 3, 2024
Loved reading Kate’s testimony and hearing the stories behind her paintings
June 8, 2024
I’m grateful for my Savior and the love He has for me.
November 11, 2024
I love Kate's artwork and I loved reading her words.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews