Can you get this log out of my eye?

So last week I was a bit hard on the Israelites. I realize this now because I became just like them!!! To re-cap, God made it clear that that He was going to care for them and lead them to a huge promise - a land just for them. Along the route there they constantly moaned and complained that God wasn't capable ("we're going to die here in the desert!!") or could be all-sufficient for them. If God had a plan for them to be in the Promise land then certainly he was capable of getting them there and was soverign to meet their needs along the way.

So fast forward to yesterday. As you know, Tim and I, the Holden's and Tommy Rosalee are heading to Panama tomorrow for a mission trip. Mine and Tim's purpose on this trip was to be part of a large medical ministry to the Guayama Indians. The team of 30 medical personnel dwindled down to, as of yesterday, just the two of us (and yes I do hear the tune in my head :). Talk about temporary insanity. I thought God, if you didn't want us to go in the first place..God how can we do this without even a physician with us...God we don't even speak the language(s)...God I have to wear skirts and pants in the 90+ degree weather (oops, did I say that one out loud???).
Thanks Stephanie for the reality check. Was I sure that God called us to go inthe first place? yes. Then be sure He isn't surprised by the turn of events and that He is SO IN CONTROL.

So for our trip here is what we ask you to pray for:
1. Tim would be symptom free from his medications on this trip
2. God would so be about this trip
3. All our households while we are gone
4. The Holden's clarity of their mission field work
5. We would surender every fiber of our being to Him and give Him every bit of glory
6. flexibility
I'll try to blog whilw out in the field, but doubt it can happen - we'll see.
John 3:16 - Porque tanto amó Dios al mundo, que dio a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo el que cree en él no se pierda, sino que tenga vida eterna.
Thanks! Karen

“God, I’ll take your second best, please”

Reading the book of Numbers is wearing me out! Whew! I want to be so quick to scold the Israelites for all their moaning and groaning. They constantly doubt that God is leading them to a HUGE promise. They complain all the time (well, in every chapter anyway) of the way God is caring for them. He mercifully replies to their grumbling graciously and displays yet again, a means of provision.

They travelled for years and were finally in sight of the promise land. He even provided physical proof that the land was flowing with milk and honey – yet they were too fearful to enter into His promise. How that must have hurt God. God had enough of their “why isn’t the Lord…” and thereafter refused that particular generation from ever entering the promise He had for them…they chose to live in the hood called “Second Best”.

Is God taking you through a trial so you can enter His best? Is He teaching you the word ‘trust’ so He can use you in a HUGE way? Has He been asking for your obedience in a situation that you simply can’t understand? Don’t give in when you feel the grumblin’ coming on. Hold tight and be faithful, patient and obedient! Just when you think you can’t stand it another minute – share that honesty with your Father. God is using your situation to prepare you to receive His best! I can’t wait to hear a testimony of what His best and His promise is for you!

Will you share it with me?

Jeremiah 29 (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

River Run 08

I started this blog October 9 2007 and the first one was “Running the Good Race”. My goals were 2-fold, to increase my faith – dig deeper – grow closer to Jesus and secondly, improve my time and distance at the 08 River Run. Here is a small excerpt from that first blog “Last year at the beginning of the training I could run for 1 minute before I had to stop. Then after 12 weeks I could actually run a mile without stopping. This year, that is my start point. One mile, 17 minutes. Hey, it’s a start!! I have consistently worked out 3 days a week and two of those times being jogging. My goal is to run for 30 minutes without stopping. I’ve reached 22 minutes before. But I want a consistent pace. Building upon an already established work..moving forward, same with my faith..moving forward going deeper.”
Well it is now March and last weekend I did complete the RRun..all 9.23 miles. My personal goal was to be able to run 3 miles without stopping..and I did 6!! I was so excited and pumped. I ran probably total of 8 miles altogether. Walked up the Hart Bridge, as was my plan see this FL Times Union photo: http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?userphoto=0&image=18072230&thispage=2
The wind was so bad my hair was standing up on end! 40 mph winds! Anyway my time was 2 hrs and 7 mins. I started in Oct at 17 min mile run and improved to 12 min mile run and on the course I ran 14 min miles. Before I get too proud sounding, Jackson de’ Ville way beat me..in full costume!! Ugh! Not right.
As for the spiritual growing part – wow. If I could only tell you some stories!! I will say this – the end result – I’ve had to talk to Jesus more, trust God more and depend on Him more..guess I have begun to reach my Oct 07 goal of growing more, huh.

You Might Be A Nurse If . . .

Subject: You Might Be A Nurse If . . .
1. You have the bladder capacity of 5 people.
2. You have your weekends off planned for a year in advance.
3. You believe that "ask a nurse" is an evil plot.
4. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if the phrase "wow, it's really quiet" is uttered.
5. You mutter, "great veins" when being introduced to a stranger.
6. You believe chocolate is a food group.
7. Your favorite sedative is exhaustion.
8. You think that caffeine should be available in IV form.
9. You have ever had a patient look you straight in the eye and say, "I have no idea how that got stuck in there..
10. You have been exposed to so many x-rays that you consider radiation a form of birth control.
11. You have ever had a patient say, "but I'm not pregnant; I can't be pregnant, how can I be having a baby?"
12. You have ever had a patient control his seizures when offered some food.
13. Your feet are flatter and tougher than Fred Flinstone's..
14. Your alcoholically challenged patients know you by your first name, and can point to "their room".
15. The hems in your scrub pants are held in with steristrips.
16. You refer to motorcyclists as "organ donors."
17. You are the only one at the dinner table NOT allowed to talk about your day at work.
18. You've ever had a patient with a nose-ring tell you, "I'm afraid of shots."
19. You believe that the sight of a full moon can ruin a perfectly good day.
20. You stare at someone in utter disbelief when he or she actually covers his or her mouth when coughing.
21. You think of chocolates, coffee, Coca-Cola and the cafeteria's frozen yogurt when anyone mentions the 4 food groups.
22. You've ever sworn you are going to have "NO CODE" tatooed on your chest.

15th anniversary!

A big thanks to Brad and Dawn Burns for letting our kids hang out with their family and friends this weekend while Tim and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary.
We went camping, just the two of us, to Gordonia-Alatamaha, a Georgia state park. Our campsite was right on the lake, it was beautiful. It was great to get re-charged by adoring God's beautiful creation....my husband Tim. I enjoyed God's scenic outdoors beauty too.