Spend the Night

Boo had a spend the night on Friday at his grandma's house. He was sooooooo excited...I think he actually forgot to say goodbye to me! We had a social to attend, but we really just wanted a full nights sleep. He has this annoying habit of waking up in the middle of the night and taking his pallet and bringing it to the living room and laying down on it. This morning he actually got up at 5:30 and turned the TV on...uh, no. I told him to turn it off and he did, but then he brought his pallet to my room to sleep. That lasted about 20 minutes until he crawled into bed with us. By this time, it's like 6:30, so I didn't say anything...I mean, good cuddles are fun! He actually fell back asleep, which was nice...

All that to say...nothing. Absolutely nothing.

You want a cute story? Here's the dialogue from this morning:
So after he did all that nonsense stuff, around 7:45 AM, he comes in sniffling. Sometimes when he is acting sad, he sniffles. So, he was sniffling and I said, what's wrong. He said he "wants a baby." Uh. OK. I just look at Jeremy, who starts to snicker. I picked him up and he hugs me tight and says he "wants a baby." Again, OK. So, like what would you do with a baby. Response: "Um, I would put it in the carseat and put that in the stroller and push it." That's sweet Boo...would you like a brother or a sister. "I want a brother AND a sister." On that note he leaves and I look over at Jeremy (again) and he says, hm...I hope he isn't prophetic.
I can't really decide if I would rather Boo not be prophetic about the two kids...I mean, I would like 2 more, preferably not at the same time, but ya know, God knows, and it could happen.
All that to say...I want a baby. Are you praying?

--Karen

THE News...

I know you all have been waiting, holding your breath, for THE News. I wanted to respect the procedures and wait till it was announced in church this past Sunday....so without further ado...
After talking, much prayer, and a unanimous recommendation from the Personnel committe, next Sunday Jeremy will be voted on for the Minister of Administration position! It all started the few days after Jeremy got back from Africa, and I referred to it vaguely here in this Thankful Thursday from July 5th.
This is completely God's dream/plan come true. I can honestly say I was floored. I felt while Jeremy was gone to Africa that the Lord was going to keep us here, which I felt much peace about, but didn't know how He would actually do it...and then all this came down.

There were many things happening around us during this time...we had a few churches calling and we were really at a vulnerable time, but oh my gracious, I could not have imagined that this would be His plan.
After Jeremy met with the committee Wednesday night, they called about 25 minutes after he got home with their unanimous decision to recommend him. I cried, I am not going to lie, I cried! I was just so overwhelmed about God's grace and goodness during this time. It was totally worth working the past year and a half to pay off our stuff and get things in order to serve Him more fully. I look forward to sharing with you more about all of this, but you can be in prayer for the vote this Sunday, which is also Jeremy's birthday!!!!!! How exciting!

Have a great Monday, and start of school for so many kids today!

--Karen

In Other Words

"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading." ~Oswald Chambers~

I wasn't sure which part of this quote hit me more - the part before the comma or the part after. I am taken with the part that says "knows the One". Those three words come with intimacy and sacrifice attached to them. The provide a solid base for placing my faith in Him - the One!

"Righteous will live by faith" Habakkuk 2:4

The Bible is pretty clear about those who live by faith and those who have little faith. Long ago when the Lord moved my heart to ministry, one of the things I said to the Lord was - Wherever. Wherever He sent me I would go. Wherever the wind blew my sail, I would pick up and be there. Some times I knew the next step...other times I didn't, but one thing is for sure, I never knew the end destination of that season or journey. I pressed on each time and with each task.

In my current situation, I know there is an end point of this season of working full time. There is a final date in my head and will be out in the open very soon. Then our season will change and our sails will head in a new direction...I don't know where it will lead and lots of waves may come, but I must remember to draw close to Him during this time - the author and perfector of my Faith! Had the Lord given me the whole picture and showed me that this is what my life would be filled with right now, I would have balked at the opportunity! I am learning to be thankful in the unseen and allowing Him to breathe life into my sail. Set the course, Oh Lord, I am waiting...

For more "In Other Words", visit Iris at Sting My Heart - our gracious host today.

Have a blessed day!

Karen

Let it Rain!

Open the flood gates of Heaven...Let it Rain!

In a literal sense...let it rain! The grass, flowers and trees need it. The rivers and streams need it. The people in South GA/North FL need it.

In a spiritual sense...let itpour down! I need it. My husband and son need it. My family needs it. My friends needs it. My church needs it. Oh, how we need it to pour down at church.

Soaking it up,
Karen

In Other Words

"What makes life on this frightful sod so exquisite is God's merciful propensity to perform divine tasks amid deeply flawed people."

~ Beth Moore, LPM Blog ~

We are all flawed. There lies within each of us a deep longing to change some aspect of our life. Whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, we want change! I want change!

I love what Beth says here, because we truly are deeply flawed people without the Lord Jesus. He takes what is impure and imperfect and makes it clean and holy. Only HE can do such things! I believe there are things in life that are absolutely of most importance, and one of them is seeing and believing what God has done in the lives of His people. I have seen God do some pretty awesome stuff in my own life, like taking me out of a pit and moving me to a place of better influence. At one time, I was on a road of destruction...I was good at looking like I had it all together, but inside, I was hurting. God raised me up out of that pit and I have never looked back. He is still in the work of performing miracles in the lives of people...I would love to hear the things He has done in your life.

In Christ-

Karen

For more "In Other Words", check out Laurel's blog and Christian Women Online.

Where in the World....

is Matt Lauer?
Have you been watching? I can't watch, because I am normally already at work, but I love to find out where he is and if I guessed right, based on his clue the day before. I never would have guessed where he was today, Day 3 of his trip.
I always liked the computer game and the TV show, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? I can still sing you the tagline...maybe I am just a sucker for adventure and mystery.

Do you often wonder where in the world God is? I know that seems like a funny question (God is everywhere), but one I have asked recently. I don't really mean it in a bad way, like angrily saying, "Where are you, God?"...I mean it in a way of saying, "Where are you working at, cause I want to be there?!" I get that goosebump feeling everytime the Lord takes us in a new and different direction - one that He completely ordained and although I don't know the outcome or even the next step, I get the feeling of taking flight with Him to the unknown. This would now be the very unrealistic side of Karen! The one who embraces each adventure with Him.

Just pondering...

--Karen

Love on Heather

Today is "Love on Heather" Day in bloggity world. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor just a week ago and although battling the tough decisions and issues of doctors and tests, her and her husband are headed to the Mayo Clinic in just another week. We, in bloggity world, are helping send them off in a sweet way with much prayer and funds. If you would like to contribute to Heather's Love fund, you can click on the picture below and make a donation. Everything is anonymous and internet safe.

Heather-We love you girl!!

Serving Him-

Karen

Life

Life is crazy...it's corny, it's fun, it's tiring, it's long, it's short...
It's all kinds of things at all kinds of times.
Can I get an AMEN? I can't hear you!!

I suppose I would be remiss in saying it's not always fair, right? That's how the saying goes, normally. I haven't so much been caught up in the unfairness of life, but just the "I don't want to's" of life. Some times I just get tired of doing the same thing, having the same feeling, and it's time to say I have had enough. Most of the time I sense the Lord saying, if you just would have handed it over to me a week ago.... I am still learning!!
So, we all agree that life has it's ups and downs...which brings me to my point...
God is allowing some very serious storms for some special people in my life - Marla and Heather. Marla is a fellow pastor's wife who is dearly loved by so many people. She is married and has two beautiful boys and her battle with cancer is coming to a close, but God is ever proving Himself faithful and glorified in her remaining time. You can visit her Caring Bridge site at the link provided above. Heather is a sister in Christ that I may never meet in person. She does web design and I met her through the 5 Minutes for Mom site and she helped start and design Moms of Grace and Faith Lifts with her friend Laura. I have enjoyed getting to know her through blogging and was saddened to find out this week that she has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. I was in shock, as was the rest of the community of people we all blog with.
Would you please join me in praying for these two wonderful ladies.

Thank you Lord, that because of what you did on the cross, our life is in your hands.

In Him-
Karen

Easter Weekend

Happy Easter!

I pray you all are celebrating the miraculous death and resurrection of our Lord this weekend. I had the pleasure of being off on Friday, by my choice, and I so enjoyed spending the day with my Boo bear and some friends. Jeremy did some golfing, even in the cool weather, with 3 of the other pastors, and I know they enjoyed themselves despite the wind.

I found myself caught up on several of my Daily Visits to the right hand side reading the wonderful words about Easter and our Lord. I am consumed with Him, ya know. I don't understand all of His ways, but oh, I can't imagine a day without Him.

It's sometimes hard putting into words what the cross means to me...I see His suffering there, His pain, and I feel it, but nothing like He felt and endured. I weep for Him, but am consumed with His perfect Love. I raise my hands to Him to see His outstretched arms. I long to be near Him and imagine often what Heaven will be like.

All that gets a little bit fuzzy when I think about my friend suffering with cancer. She is a wife to a fellow minister, mom to two awesome boys, and to be it bluntly, she is escaping this earth a little bit more with each passing day...

It all gets a little bit fuzzy when I think of M, H, and C - three children, among many, who never breathed a breath on this earth, born to two of my dear friends. Their sadness and life realizing they would never see them again till Heaven...and then to see the Lord give them back healthy, strong children to love and care for.

It all gets a little bit fuzzy when I think of B, a dear friend of mine who desires a child more than anything and is struggling to get one.

I have learned to trust His heart on these occasions that come under the unexplained category. I have said on previous posts that God is God! He is in control and He can do as He pleases, which dismays some people. He is no less on His throne and no less the Lord because of the circumstances in our life. Can you handle that? Difficult to swallow? Not what you wanted to hear?

I have been there. I have been in those shoes where it was hard to comprehend why or how the Lord was doing or in the midst of something. The fact is, I don't have to wonder, I just have to have faith. Just have to have faith...as if it's something I JUST GET. Not normally that easy, but I often sense the Lord asking me, "Do you trust me? Can you trust me in this?" If I say no, then I am saying I don't believe in who He is...if I say yes, then I must gather the sense to trust Him. It's daily. It's active. It's relational.

As you approach the cross this weekend, particularly tomorrow, and you burst into songs about it and the Lord rising again, think of what He did and then think of what He wants you to do about it now.

Embrace the cross...

In Him-

Karen

Pictures with Pepaw

I apologize that it has taken me a while to get my pictures up...some of them were located elsewhere and it took me a while to remember where...it's been a long week if I should say so.
I think it's starting to hit me. I am emotional today, and there seems no other reason. The pictures are helping. Enjoy.

Boo was just under 3 months when he attended his first baseball game and got to see why it means so much to us...the plate with my grandfather's name and number on it is in the plaza at Turner Field.

Just a week later, Boo made his first appearance in Florida...he was loved immediately!!!

Here is Pepaw telling Boo his first story...you may be surprised to know it wasn't about baseball, but about life and love.One of my favorite pictures...I think I actually some pics like that with me in his arms.A month later (August 2004) Pepaw came up for the Braves Hall of Fame induction ceremony. That's Pepaw, Boo, me holding him, Jeremy behind me, my momma next to me and Uncle Les, my grandfather's brother.
Here we are almost a year later in June 2005. We stopped off in Orlando for a few days before my 10 year reunion in New Port Richey. Gotta love that paci!
Augus 2005 Pepaw came back up to Atlanta for the induction ceremony again...this was the year they celebrated the 15 year anniversary of the 1991 Braves (the worst to first team) - it was awesome to meet Steve Avery and Dave Justice, but it was even better hearing my grandfather walk around holding Boo saying, "This is my great-grandson!" I was teary.
It would be over a year before I would see him again...Jeremy, Boo and my mom saw him in August 2006, his last trip to the induction ceremony in Atlanta. We would make the trip to Florida in September and knew leaving that it was probably the last time we would see him.

The tests in the weeks ahead proved what we had all suspected, the cancer was there and spreading. Over the weeks between September and December, he would start showing more signs of his outward man wasting away. He was able to celebrate his 80th birthday at his favorite local place, surrounded by family and friends who loved him dearly. I was unable to make it, but my daddy sent me pictures! As the weeks went by from December to this past week, I would talk with my family more than I ever had in years...weekly updates, doctor visits, Hospice entered their lives and so did in-house care. He passed away peacefully, with no signs of pain and that's exactly the way he wanted.

I pray that as the coming weeks come to a close he will find we as a family have been faithful to his requests and honored him in a most loving way. The memorial service on the 24th will be much of a celebration of his life as it is ever could be.

Enjoy the photos!

In the Lord's hands -

Karen

Tags: Lou Burdette

Changing my Life - I am Hungry!

What if my first response was to worship Him?
What if? my very first response/reaction. was to worship Him!?

Ever thought about it?
What if my soul responded/reacted first instead of my flesh?

Hm. I think my life would change. I want it to change.
Maybe it is changing.

I am enjoying participating in the Daniel Bible Study on Wednesday nights and also in the Living Worship study on Sunday nights. Each unique and different, yet each, so very similar. Living Worship by John Randall Dennis is said to be "A Biblical Guide to making Worship real in your life." Hm...sounds interesting. I mean, who doesn't want to be real in their worship? What? You mean there are some people that aren't real in their worship? Oh my...
The Minister of Music is leading this class and will be out of town this weekend and has asked me to lead the class. I am honored and completely relying on the Lord to guide me through it. It's an incredible book. This week we study David and Jehoshaphat, last week we studied Job and Isaiah. It's been a roller coaster ride and I am enjoying all the Lord is saying to me.
He is using much of the Daniel Bible Study to speak to me just as equally in part with this Living Worship book. My mind is completely expanding...and so that brings me to my questions above.

Last week as we were going through the lesson Sunday night about worship, one of the questions asked was what do we do when a "circumstance" comes our way...we freak out, we lash out at God, we say 'Why ME?', we question Him on His way, His purpose, Him in general. Some times it takes a while to get over it. Some times people never do. I answered that I would like to think that my lashing out gets shorter and shorter each time. I honestly meant that. I came home that night with the question of "What if my first response was not to lash out, but to worship?"
As I was going along in the Daniel study, Beth Moore wrote something in Day 3 or 4 that struck me..."God is no less on His throne just because chaos happens in the world" (my paraphrase). Oh. Wow. It occured to me that God is no less on His throne right now than He was two days ago when one of my very good friends told me that someone else had entered their marriage and as much as it pains the two of them right now, they are going to seek counseling and move forward...TOGETHER. God is no less on His throne right now than He was on September 11, 2001. Does that strike a cord in you? God will be no less on His throne five days from now should tragedy strike you, your family, your friends, whomever.
He's GOD.
He is GOD.

God is changing my life. I believe it's impossible to read the Bible and it NOT change your life. I am absorbing all I can about my LORD because I am hungry. I am truly hungry for Him.
Oh Lord, you have shown me Your glory and at times I have been unwilling to accept it or to take and eat of it. But Lord, I am hungry now. It's not too late to be hungry or to be filled by Him.

In Jesus-
Karen

In Other Words...Satan's lies

"Satan's ultimate lie is that you are capable of being the god of your own life, and his ultimate bondage is getting you to live as though his lie in the truth."
~Neil Anderson~

Ultimate bondage. Wow. That struck me hard. We all know that no one wants to live in bondage, but looking at this statement makes me realize that you can think you are living and yet be in complete bondage. So...how do we set ourselves free? By not making ourselves God! Sounds simple, huh?

I have a favorite verse..."I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images." Isaiah 42:8

That pretty much sums it up for me! :) Anything that I give glory to that is not the Lord is a graven image. When I give glory to Karen, you know, because I deserve it or I need it, that's a graven image. When I give glory to my husband, or to my son, or to anyone, or to my bank account, or to my car, or to my office...all graven images and all cause me to be in bondage. This is a constant state of checking myself to make sure I am focusing my praise and acknowledgment in the right direction.

Lord, I pray that you would make our souls sensitive to your Word, to your Truth, to YOU. Help us learn to hold everything up against your Word...when it doesn't line up, we come to the crossroads and may you be the One guiding our steps. may we serve your FREELY!

In Christ-

Karen

Tags: Christian Women Online

Shine! Passion 2007

I am just now getting around to telling you all about the incredible four days that Jeremy and I spent with 22,000 of our closest friends in downtown Atlanta. Passion 2007 was...well...as they said on the 268 blog, God. It was GOD. The post-passion dilema they they describe on there is so true...I will never in all my days be able to describe and share all the incredible things God did.The main point that you need to know is He showed up. HE. God. HE SHOWED UP! Now anything is going to be cool when God shows up, but this, well, it took my breath away several times.
I must give props to our small group of Katelyn, Sarah, Trey, Ben and Mark, because they were just an incredible group of college students. They are extremely good kids, but more than that, they get IT. They get God, and I couldn't ask for much more than that.
The speakers. They were AWESOME. God spoke through each of them and they completely poured out all God had for them to say. They spoke of sexual sin and humility and kept our attention with laughter and truth. Beth Moore did a breakout session for just girls and we (me, Sarah and Katelyn) all had a good time laughing it up during that. Sarah and I attended a session with Christy Nockels and Rachel Hughes in which we found equal enjoyment discussing life, boundaries, and juggling all that with career and raising kids.
The music. If you know me, you know I love worship. The songs bring you in and force you to deal with the glory and majesty of our Lord. He is awesome and beautiful and He is just. He is incredible and the reason for my joy and He is also calling me. He knows my name. He calls me friend. It was an awesome experience to worship for those four days. I came home saying every year should be spent opening in four days of worship.
The result. I absolutely went expecting and praying for the Lord to move and speak mightily. I know we were there with college students and I want them so badly to change their campuses for Christ...to change their lives for HIM. And I absolutely knew He would speak to me and Jeremy during it...but, oh, I was not expecting all that. My life is continuing to be burned in the fire and re-molded as I seek to follow His heart, His way, His purpose for my life. Jeremy and I stayed up late several nights sharing about all God was speaking to us about. Changing lives. Changing hearts. This is our heart's cry.
My thoughts. For the past several months I have read Jim Cymbala's books, Fresh Faith and just finished reading Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. My thoughts and life have been moved by the scripture and realizing all that God can do if we call on Him. Attending Passion 2007 just made it more real and gave confirmation of all that God can do through the lives of those who will call upon His name. Putting truth into action and relying on God's power instead of our own...well, it can change your life. :)

May the power of His word be alive in your heart and in your life today.
In Christ-
Karen

Tags: Passion 2007

I See Love...

The song "I see Love" by Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman and Mercy Me , from the Passion of the Christ CD is...well...in a word, Incredible.
The Lord taught me long ago about viewing the cross as His incredible Love and Sacrifice for me, but nothing could put into words what I felt until I heard that song. Making the cross the center of what I believe is absolutely a necessity when viewing Christ. If I can stand in the middle of a storm and view the cross, the my heart is centered and focused in His will. When I can't see the cross, then I know my own strength is leading me and I need to get right with the Lord. It is impossible for me to view the cross and still view myself.
I don't think life was always like that...in fact, I know it wasn't. What changed? Or I guess the better question would be, who changed? I DID! God never changes (Hebrews 13:8), so I had to change! If I want to be more like Christ, doesn't that automatically call me to change? Unless of course, your near perfection, and I don't think you are, so yes, it should cause you to change and you should want to change. And why do I want to be more like Christ? Because the Bible tells me so? (yes, it does tell you so, but that's not my main reason); Because my pastor tells me I should? (Another great reason, but not my motivation); Because of my Love for Jesus Christ?...YES! And even more...His Great Love for ME! ME!? A sinner, condemned, unlcean, unrighteous, unholy, selfish...I could go on forever, but I think you get the point...ME! Karen! God's precious child! Now that is Love. It all goes back to His Love.
Enjoy the words to the song, and worship Him!
In Christ-
Karen

I See Love

by Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Mercy Me

Some see a teacher; Standing on a hill

Speaking words of wisdom

Some see a healer; Reaching out his hand

To give sight to a blind man

Some see a dreamer; Wasting his life

On what can never be

Some see a fool

Dying for his dreams

Chorus:

But I see love

I see love

Light of heaven breaking through

Well I see grace

I see God's face

Shining pure and perfect love

When I see you

I see love

Some see a prisoner; Alone before his judge

With no one to defend him

Some see a victim; Beaten and abused

With all the world against him

Some see a martyr; Carrying his cross

For what he believes

Some see a hero

Who set his people free (!!!)

Chorus again

With your last breath

I see love

Through your death

I see love

I see peace in the eyes of the king

I see hope in your suffering

I see a calm in the center of the storm

I see a Saviour

I see love

I see love

Light of heaven breaking through

I see grace

I see God's face

Shining pure and perfect love

When I see you

I see love

When I see you

I see heaven breaking through

See Gods face

Shining pure and perfect love

When I see you

When I see you

When I see you

I see love

I see love

When I see

Some see Him walking from an empty grave

Tags: Christian, Church, Faith